The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1900-06-15
THE VALLEY
OF DIAMOND DUST.
The Development Along the
Monon Branch Of the B. & O.
Railroad Greatest in the
State.
Fine New Plants
Being Constructed
And Numerous Towns Being
Founded, Which Will Shortly
Result in one Continuous
Town from clarksburg
to Fairmont.

The coal development between
Clarksburg and Fairmont is possibly
the most marvellous In the United
States. The distances about "a miles
and the number OF mines is nearly as
great. In fact the West Fork and
Monongahela valley Is almost one CON
tinuous coal field and the prospects
are that, within half dozen years,
the entire valley from Clarksburg to
Fairmont will be one magnificent
mining town. Besides the operations
established from time to time the past
several years, there Is much new at
yelopment and considerable in incip.
iency and contemplation. Gangs OF
workmen, teams, lumber, boilers, en-
gines, other machinery and building
materials may be seen mt numerous
points, revealing the work in con'em-
plation and giving testimony to that
already begun. The tonnage Of the
mines In the valley nov reaches fully
500 gonduas day and In only short
while it will be augmented TO ut least
a Thousand railroad cars per day. 1t
is safely estimated that the present
production affords constant employ.
ment to At least 800 and possibly y
600 miners. When this number is
doubled, the country will marvel at
the magnitude of coal mining opera
tions along the West Fork and Mo.
nongahela rivers.
Al present the major portion OF de-
velopment is on the Marion county
side OF the dividing line, but that in
Harrison county is OF no mean magni-
tude and 1t promises to shortly out
strip the production on the Marion
county side. There is much more ac-
tivity in new development in Harrison
county than in Marion and the fields
to open are larger and more inviting.
The most prominent and magnificent
in new development is the very splen-
did plant at Gypsy in process OF con-
struction and To be operated by Wat
son Brothers, of Fairmont, or more
particularly the Briar Hill Coal and
Coke Company. 1t is to be known as
Mine No. OF that company's. Not
only are they erecting and construct
ing the finest and largest mining plant
in the state, hut they are also found
ing town Of considerable proportions.
The grounds, OF which they own a big
acreage, have been laid oil into streets
and 10 single and 10 double dwelling
houses and cottages have been built
and others are in course OF erection. A
large three story hotel, a hospital and
churches are yet to be completed. The
double dwellings will be fitted up with
all modern convenienceS, such as bath
rooms and closets, and wired for cleo
trio lights and plumbed for water.
Water andSewerage systems have been
laid. Another good feature OF GYPSY
will be large store room, 7lxl00 feet,
three stories high. in which will be
carried complete stock Of merchan-
disc. The present station house will
be supplanted by new, elegant and
spacious building, and extra tracks
will be laid.
The plant is one worth the seeing.
impresses the spectator with wonder
and affords an insight into the inge-
nuity of man in the use OF machinery.
The main power house is being built
and is one Of lar" dimensions The