Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-01
THE GEM CITY.
The Holiday RecorJ-The old rear
and Outlook for the New

PULASKI, VA, December 3L-(Spe-
cial)-Christmas I'm this, the Gem City
of the Mountains" has been kept by all
classes and conditions in a quiet. orderly
manner Not a single case Of arrest
has been made here during the holidays.
The weather has been delightful for
Christmas. There has been a plenty OF
ice and snow for skating and c%oasting
and sleighing, and the young people have
made the most Of II. The health Of the
town has been excellent during the year,
and is now. All the churches here cele-
brated Christmas some way-by Christi
mas trees. suppers. or entertainments.
The Baptists. Methodists. LutheIAns, and
EpiscOpalians had a tree, from which
Santa Claus distributed his presents TO
the delighted little ones. The PTesbyte-
rians had a supper and an entertainment
combined. which proved a great success,
being enjoyed not only by the little chill
dren. but by the 'grown-up children"
your correspondent among the number.
1t was held last Tuesday night in Gem
mells empty stOrehouse. on Valley
street. a delightful meat and confec-
tiOnery supper was had. when a graphO-
phone exhibition was given by Mr.. Dan
Ray. of Pulaski. Song after song and
recitation after recitation were applauded
by old and young alike, but when Bryap's
great Chicago speech was rendered so
distinctly that we could hear and imagine
that we saw the great Tribune of the
People. the applause was immense. the
children being as eager as the old people.
Surely Bryan has a wonderful hold on
all classes and conditions Of the Ameri-
can people.
our merchants report a very fine Christ
mas trade. In fact. Pulaski has had a
successful year in 1897. While other places
and some OF her %neighbors nave suffered
greatly, she has more than held her own
She has made a sure advance, and prom
ises to do well in 1895.
our new courthouse has been occupied,
completed. and furnished during 1S96-lSs7.
The Gardner law building, adjoining the
courthouse. is completed, and is a hand-
some building. 1t has a room for the
Pulaski National Bank, which will move
into Il; a large stOre-rOOm and ten offices
above. fitted up elegantly. Five large
buildings just across the street are being
built for stores, the Pulaski News-Re-
view, and general offices. other large
and handsome business and residence
buildings have been built in 1897, adding
greatly TO the business and beauty of the
town.
our banks are in n healthy condition.
Indeed. they have been so during all the
financial depression.
Our zinc n iron furnaces and foun-
dries have done an extensive business in
1897, the iron furnaces working te their
utmost capacity, and selling all their out
put in advance. They will do the same
i'm 1898.
The mercantile trade Of the town has
increased. several new houses having been
added. and the failures have been few.
our merchants are generally i'm q pros
-..-.-n .lAnfsf.r. A.ss r.,g lar-a had
better crops and prices than for many
years. and have a fine prospect for 1898.
their wheat crop being hourishing and
their cattle looking well and command
ing a gOO0 price.
Mining enterprises are developing here
constantly, among them the new coal
mine Of J.. s. Calfee, on Diapers Noun
tain. one mile south of his town. Pros
pecting there promises good results.
Mining operations on New river. near
Pulaski. are being enlarged constantly.
The health of our town has been ex-
cellent all the year. and our town Is fast
becoming a summer resort for southern
people.
The public school. under Professor G.
NJ. Smith. Is more prosperous than ever.
He is assisted by seven lady graduates
of the Farmvllle Normal School. There
are two good private schools here also.
taught by Mrs. Moryers and Mrs. Sayers.
respectively. The town ought TO become
a school centre. its climate being ideal
and its population so orderly.
The general offices OF the Virginia and
Tennessee Coal and Iron Company, and
those OF the Toms Creek Coal and Coke
COMPANY have been moved to Pulaski
from Abingdon and Roanoke. The stand
ard OH Company has put in two immense
iron tanks here.
Our people look forward to 1898 with
hope Of a good year.