The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-01-11
Editor Post:

help wondering Why they
have not materslized into
realities. Wherein lies the cause of such
lack of advancement? What force has
worked such blighting effect on our
fondsst hopes? Ia 1t that We haven't the
materials once claimed for the Gap! If
We haven't, / think somebody has over
looked tho adjunets necessary for city
and done US AT injustice in this eyes of ths
outer world. IL it that the Gap is "Spec-
ulated to death?" Surely that is ne sign
thatthe materials for solid future greatness
arc not really here; fer they are present
here in the Gap as in no other spot on
earth. Coal, iron and lumber, each
bonanza Of wealth for the manufactures
are here practically inexhaustible. say
| for the manufacturer, for it ia through
him that our many fair cities have camo
into life and the reality of activity. So
| let US all look heavcnward and with one
| voice cry, "Deiivor ua from apecula-
| tion and spectators forever, and send uf
honest manufacturers" MeA who will
not only try to make money for them
selves, but who will use tho almost limit
less mineral wealth hero, to develop our
resources, use up the raw material and
furnish employment and Ell honest liveli-
| hood to hundreds Of labcrers. Let all our
transactions for the future he strictly on
business basis and with an aye to bust
ness future. With the New Year, let us
put on new strength and ''be up and do
ing" Let us not sleep DIS Of yorc; for if
it is now, it should be, apparent to all
that we cannot ba idle and see mighty
city grow up on the site Of Big Stone Gap,
| Of ito own will. 1t vas once confidently
asserted by all that there'd he great
city here; but it's work TO build city,
and We must work if ever our hopes for
tho future are to be realized and if ever
we expect to 1.-Two to see that wonderful
CITY that was bound :to-comc and Vas 30
magnificent in its prospectcd futare. l
think my fellow townsmen all say IS one
man: ~ am ready TO verk, to help hut
times are SO hard ! caA't=-Ne cant" is
that it9 True, We all feel the weight Of
the fact thet "the times are hard" and it
ia out Of our power to do any great things.
But arc there no little things to he done
for the town. Small beginnings make
big endjngs sometimes, and hon many lit
Ito beginnings might be undertaken right
here. at q small cost, in the way of ind-
vidual contributions, and such contribu-
t,ons to 60 to the worthy poor whom the
churches are trying to help live through
the winter and who would thus be earn
ing their living. Does some enc ask,
"what are these small beginnings? Well,
tile vacant lots, or, at least, great many,
If not all of them, are growing up
bushes. which would be better removed;
and on some lots, old rubbish is accpmu.
lating, which would h hss better burnt I1 Our h
Parks ncsa trimming, and many deadd and p?7.
defaced trees would be better out Of the
way of the Younger and thriftier ones ,apqd
If tho river banks were trimmed ard grNb:
bod and all the Hgase' brush burnt the
yalac Of, property here would be increas-
ed BY thou.ands. If individual contrlbu-
! tions to pay laborers to do this work hs 3
good plan, then lat the Mayor lsaae call
for al! aLle citizens to give days work
or time to ,hia end. Our northern cities
have "arbor days. in which all citizens
give tree or plant or shrub, and set it out.
Let Us emulate the spirit, if not the exact
art OF our northern friends. | know the
idea of removing some Of the trees will
meet With opps,ition,for some oil our cit'-
gems persist in saying: Keep the trees as
nature left them" Now if they were as
nature left them, doubtless it would be a
pitv to remove them and lose that much
natural hsaaty. Bat'I say nature has not
/ left them as they are. The Southwest
Virciniafarmers have left themin their
prcsent state. What would the campus OF
theUniysrsity ofVirgniassbe what Ncald the
rounds of Monticello, or Mt. Vernon, or
any other renowned and beautiful spot be,
iflsft az the farmers left thsnl2 Broth
crs. fellow citizens, one and all, raise o
voice to have, at least, thai ono ete sore
oysr-grown river banks, removed from
! Big Stone Gap. Let the river banks bs
cleared and trimmed go that visitors here
may SEQ The beauties of Powelis river
| and Waller, where we propose to build
! that great city-Big Stone Gap. Let US
as citizens show that NC have desire, at
least. FOR internal improvement and ad-
yancemsnt III our town, snd some get up
and git'' in our makeup. Then, the In n!
creased beauty and elesblipess aill bFine
many 10 aalr midst, Our fine mineral
| wafer will attract many more, Among
| the crowd will donhtless come the man
ufacturer and with hin, shc business In
tsrest NO want here, Let us mako the
ltowa's appearances as attractive IS psssi'
BILE, LIST us do what We can to dra" fhs
manufacturing man tie cur midst and ther
see that proper Inducements, rsasonsb it
charges, yainc Of advantages, ell are Offer
cd him, and let Us all help in ray TO-
wards having tho manufactures here