The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-28
GREAT &c T|V|TY
At BIG stone CAP.
New Coal and Cooking Regions
Being Developed.
TRIBUTARY TO The TOWN
Many Companies Have Their Head-
quarters There, and All Are Busy
With O.d=rs Aaead-Mary inn
prlvemerts in the Town.
TRIBUTARY TO The TOWN
ESPECIAL Dispatch to The Times.)

ESPECIAL Dispatch to The Times.)
BIG STONE GAP, VA, Dec. o.
Great Developments are going on in the
coal fields he.e and also in Eastern Ken
lucky, where good coming coal has been
! discover ed. The Deering Harveting Ma
chine Company is purchasing large
boundary OF coal land, and will erect q
large coke plant.
The Kentucky coal field is tributary
to Big Stone Gap and the development
will rebound to the material prosperity
of the place. The general Offices Of most
the leau.ng OF. GERS, whose duties are
such that they do not have to reside at
the plants. all have their residences here.
VAGINA COAL AND IRON CO.
One Of the wealtness and s,!'"ngsst
coma pnies is the Virginia Coal a;.d lion
Company. This company is ccnEr"iito
by the Wentz family. of Philadelphia
Two sons of DR.. j S. Wentz. the iresi-
dent of he company. reside here. where
located. Mr.. D. B. Wentz, tie general
manager OF the om!:any. Is q young
man. about thirty years of ase. and Of
independent means. He is proba bly, the
wealthiest young man in the state. He
is graduate Of Harvard. has Travelled
extensively abroad. has fine literary
tas.e and is a great lover OF athletics.
But it is in business that he shines pre-
eminently. He has the management Of
his fathers large and extensive holdings
in this state and Ea tern Kentucky. and
as manager OF the large coke and coal
plants a Stonega and Mud Lick. where
76G ovens are in operation and 2'Ii more
under construction. representing millions
OF dol!as. he has demons rated his abii-
ity. The output from these Plants IS
enormous and increasing day by day.
The other son. Mr.. E. l.. Wentz. has
charge of the land department OF the
company. and is building a h. ds.'me
residence in this place. just opposite that
OF his brother.
STOR---5s -LLIERY COMPANY.
This company was organized about one
year ago by General Rufus a. Ayers.
who recently disposed of his holdings to
New York capitalists. It owns about
five thousand acres of very valuable coal
land and has the prettiest location for
a plant in the entire fed. General
Ayers is president of the company and
is taking a great deal Of pride in the
construction of the plant. which when
completed. viii be one OF the largest
anu most conpiete in the South.
THE BIG STONE CAP IRON co.
The Big Stone Gap Iron Company owns
the iron furnaces at this place, which
make about 100 tons OF high lass pig
iron per day. Mr.. E. [, Harper ST.. who
lives in New York. is the president of
the ccmranv. and is a well known cant
ta!ist OF that city. He bought the prop
ely several years ego. ard haS been
operating it successfully and with great
'front.' to himself cEer since. Mr. z. l..
Ha per Jr.. Is the popular manager ri
the Big Stone Gap department Of the
business and is a young man OF decided
business ability. Mr.. j. n Mathews has
charge OF the bookkeeping department.
and Is recognized az an bic and expe-
rence7 man in the business
Both Mr.. H"rper and Mr.. Mathews rs-
SIDE here with their families. and are
great social favorites
THE NORTON COAL COMPANY.
This company's holdings were purchased
from Philadelphia owners by Aessrs. r
A and H. J. Ayers for NJ. Warren j.
Wiilitts, Of Michigan. The company has
for years been dong e large coal bust
ness, and the quality OF the coal is con-
s.dered. for steam purposes. most ex-
cellent. They are now engaged in putting
in the very latest equipment and are
rapidly pushing to completion 200 coke
ovens MIR. L. O. Petit. a son-in-law
OF General Ayers, and son Of Colonel W.
g.
eral manager OF this company Mr.. Will
let's. the pres dent. and one OF the
largest stockholders In the company. is
q native of Michigan. where ne is Closely
identified with several large corpora tions
THE COLONIAL COAL AND COKE co.
This is another OF Wise county's large
operations. and is owned practically by
the kemmerers. OF Mauch Chunk and
Philadelphia, Pa. Mr.. John a Esser. for
a number OF years superintendent OF the
Virginia Coal and Iron Company's plars.
at stonega. is the efficient superintendent
OF the ocmpany's plant at Dorchester.
where they have $50 coke ovens In opera
ton and 200 more under construction
MR. PARDEE.
Mr.. Calvin .Pardee is preparing TO erect
q large coke and coal plant In this coun-
ty. Mr.. Pardee is q wealthy capitals.
OF Philadelphia, and owns large body OF
valuable coal lands here
There are number Of other plants
contemplating starting UP in the neSr
future,
TANNERY AND EXTRACT WORKS
About three ysars ago General Rufus
y. Ayers built one of the most complete
tanneries e. this place in the South.
q 18th his vi known business sagacity
ne saw this was a most excellent field
for tannery by reason OF the easy ac-
ceSS 70 az unlimited quantity OF bark.
1t was but pioneer movement. and his
foresight. as events have proven, was
pre- en1inentl:' good. Soon after /. = con-
struction of the tannery the United
States Leather Company heard OF the
plant and Of the immense hounda RES OF
virgin forest. and came. 10 the conclusion
that they wanted an extra ct pI mt at this
place. They selected a site near the tan
merry ard commenced the erection OF one
OF the largest extract plants in the South,
which is now running to its full capacity
Trey then concluded that they would
like to own the tannerv. and a de-r 80
soon contaminated by which General
Ayers was induced to sell 70 thsn1. but
at a very large profit to himself. The