Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-10-20
A HINT TO HINTON.

the east, out lrOm tuo Weo1, lIoH J" 0So
Virginia, mounted their camels and
went upon journey. We do not know
whether any stars guided them, but we
think not, at least from the result we
would Judge not. These wise men as
sembled in q small town known as
Hinton, a point where the beautiful
Greenbrier mingles Its limpid waters
with the turbulent and muddy flow OF
New river. They journeyed from their
homes to the halls where the ''city
council" of that town was wont to
meet, others journeyed to the hall
where the "Board of HEALTH held its
sage assemblies, others where the
water works" officers discussed the
purity of the beverage they were so
abundantly supplying to their patrons,
and all discussed the momentous ques-
ton of the preser walton of the fish OF
the Greenbrier. The Estate Board OF
Health, q ponderous body of about as
much service to that State as a glass
eye to bull frog, was notified OF a
portentious event about to take place
in that quarter, and. its counsel was
sought. The learned Doctors gather
ed their brows and talked of sanitation,
of water pollution, of microbes, and
anamalcules. The cause of these gath
erings of wisdom and prudence was
the fact that pulp mill was about to
be established at point known as
Caldwell on the Greenbrier. This was
the first enterprise of any kind that
had proposed coming into that part OF
the State, for many years the quiet
sleepiness of that portion of the new
commonwealth wac about to be dis
turbed. The avocation OF the fisher
men, heretofore the only avocatlon OF
many, might be broken up. High
offici ais, and doctors, and lawyers and
other distinguished personages who
were won't to while away some hours
of their abundant time and grace the
shady banks of the aforesaid stream
with fly and rod and quaff their
Farmers Favorite, might have their
sport curtailed. This must not be.
The water might be polluted, the din
of machinery would be annoying, the
smoke from the tunnels of the engines
might disturb the olfactory nerves,
and the sight of bread winners might
harrow their tender sensibllities.
The result of the gathering of those
various wise men was that the pulp
mill did not find residence on the
banks of the Greenbrier, and the fish,
the dear fish, were not killed, but were
left for the high officials, the doctor
and the lawyer. The pulp mill so much
dreaded went to more congenial soil, a
soil where men were notso wise, where
savants were not so numerous, where
boards Of health, and boards of trade,
and boards of aldermen, and boards
of various and sundry kinds. sizes,
and weights were not SO
fond of showing their Importance and
their wisdom. The pulp mill went to
COvington. 1t took with it the most
industry that ever thought |
of locating in those parts. A plant
that will cost a million, plant that |
will give employment to a thousand |
nan11n Sfvaaa ~ ri Of /
West Virginia various writer's and
many takers, have proven that pulp |
mills are the most baleful affairs |
which ever afflicted a country. Vari- |
BUS writers in the newspapers of the
lection in and near Hinton have given
,lace to correspondents and other PEN
~ liners who elucidated the subject
II pulp mills and their bllghting effect.
4 distillery no doubt would have been |
ar more acceptable.
But the pulp mill located at Coving-
ION, and what is the result? That |
own is now becoming one of the most |
in the State. Real estate |
las advanced over two hundred per
,ent. An improvement company which |
vas incorporated about 1890, and |
which never paid cent of dividend |
before, has declared 25 per cent div
dend. A gentleman a few days ago |
howed us five shares of stock which
lad lain among his worthless assets as
le thought for nine years, the face
7alue of which was $500, and along
With it a check for $125, as the first
dividend. He had offered the stock at
,l5 per share in March last, and found
10 buyer. He also has some lots in the
own which he has refused twice as
much for as he offered them at in the
pring.
These are few of the modes by
which CovingtOn is being ruined by
he pulp mill. We especially call the
ttention of Hinton to this, and trust
or the benefit of Virginia towns she
will continue to see that the fish in
river are carefully preserv-
d. and that no Industries of any kind
e allowed to locate there which by /;
ny possibility could to Virginia.
We often speak of our West Virginia
rethren as "Our friends over the
me-" This is no misnomer. Her :
shsrmen are legion, they consist of
er most distinguished citizens and we
ave no De sire to see their sport alb q
.eviated, or their luxurious habits I
Hanged. No more do we care to lee the n
Lrious boards, even the board walks u
Hinton with nothing tn 70