The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-02-02
WILL not DECLINE.
Mr.. Ayers on Goyernorship
and Southwest.
A Section That Is Emerging
From an Era OF Specula-
tion-Mineral Pro-
ducts, Etc.
friehmo,nl r,isnsfrh. jim. %. j

! fEichmond Dispatch, Jan. %.
Ex-Aftorney-G General Rufus A. Ayers
ifof Big Stone Cap, is a guest at the E1-
change Hotel. He was approached by a
Dispatch reporter last night in reference
to politics and other matters of interest
TO Virginians just now. The converse
ton very naturally turned to the up
preaching gubcrnatorial contest, and Dir.
Ayers, whose name has been frequently
mentioned inaconnection- with the Demo-
cratic nomination, being asked If he weuld
be candidate, replied:
"Some of my enthusiastic friends in
the Southwest taking advantage OF my
absence in New York. and refusing TO
take mo for an answer have placed my
name before the people of Virginia as d
candidate for Governor, and l am sup
posed to have acquiesced in their action.
81 personally have no desire to enter
into contest for the nomination, as
know there are great many true and
tried Democrats in the State who have
rendered invaluable party service and who
are equally MS deserving rs | am, any of
whom would he an honor to the State were
they nominated.
NOT AN EASY ROAD.
"My experience in Office" the speaker
went on to say, "has beensthat there is no
easy road for conscientious and faithful
servant of the people to tread. / regard
public office rs public trust in the
strictest sense, and know that the man
who attempts to correct the many evils
which have crept into the enactment and
administration of our laws will have un-
dcrtaken n task bristling with difficulties
which can only lie overcome by the united
support of the people and their repre-:
sentative.
81 have been for years aiding in the de-
velopment Of Southwest Virginia, and
now that we believe. the fruition of all
our hopes and expectations is near Mt
hand would fain remain a private citizen,
the most Independent and tranquil con-
dition of any man. am, however, fully
sensible Of the honor my friends confer
By even mentioning my name in conncc-
ton with the nomination for the exalted
and dignifed office Of Governor, and am
deeply grateful for the words of encour-
agement have voluntarily received from
them throughout the State.
WILL not DECLINE.
81 have not sought the nomination. y
Mr. Ayers assured the scribe, land do not
propose to enter into any contest for If,
but should the people decide to confer it
upon me will accept it and endeayor to
win success for the party in the interest
of the true and lasting reforms which the
people have SO vainly sought in the past
and which is to he hoped they will pro-
vide for in the coming contest by the in
telligent exercise of their rights Mt the
ballot-h0x."
AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHWEST.
Mr.. Ayers, speaking of the condition of
affairs in Southwest Virginia, said that it
was slowly but surely recovering from i'll
effects of the era Of speculation which
swept over that section three years ago,
and is laying frm foundations for future
growth.
ga great many towns" continued the
speaker, (which were established without
reference to conditions conductive to
growth and prosperity are practically
dead, but those contiguous to the great
coal and iron deposits are growing and
prospecting. Radford, Bristol, Graham,
Pocahontas, Blucfeld, and Big Stone Gap
have been steadily growing in wealth and
population.
"Southwest Virginia is destined within
the near future to be the greatest pro-
Queer of iron and coke in the United
States.
DEVELOPMENT IN IRON.
81 note with pleasure and approval,
remarked Mr.. Ayers, enthusiastically,
"the figures published by the Dispatch this
morning showing Virginia to be next to
Alabama in her iron product, but the next
decade will place Virginia far ahead of
any other southern State. Whilst the
development has been great tits yet in its
infancy. For instance, take the two fur
naces at Big Stone Gap, one of which is
in blast. The ore is mined within two
miles and the coal for coke is mined four
miles away. The product, which is who
" from fossil hematite ore, is sought oil
over the West and Northwest, having
largely taken the place of charcoal iron
in the manufacture of a great many arti-
Giles.
WHERE IRON Is Shifted.
Large quantities of this iron," Mr
Ayers asserted, $50 to Detroit, and a
shipment has been made to Canada. So
for nc know there never has been any