Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-01-02

ing taken up an empty car can be lowered
TO the exit-ffty.five feet below. This litter
or elevator is wonderful piece of machin'
cry, working with the smoothness and pre-.
cision of the fine elevators that are used in
the tall buildings in the cities. 1t is OPP
Grated by l50-borse power engine and
has capacity of lifting 1000 cars in
day of ten hours. This is the only lifting
machine in the Flat Top field, and it has
attracted much notice from other oper'
ators.
A Porter mine locomotive was used in
the mines until recently, and it will be re-
fitted in few days and be again used to
haul the coal from the interior of the
mines to the tlpple.
There is sixteen.foot fan of the most
improved pattern, made by Crawford &
Brooks, of Brazil, Indiana, which supplies
the mines with fresh air and removes all
impure air. 1t is driven by an automatic
engine and has a capacity for supplying
three or four hundred men with fresh air
and throwing the current in the mines
distance Of three fOurtlis or of one mile.
In the boiler house there are five boil
ers, with an aggregate of four or five hun
dred horse power. Three of these boilers
are always in use, the other two being
he'd in reserve for any emergency. There
are four stationary engines, with an aggre-
gate of four or five hundred horse power,
and which furnish abundant power to all
the machinery connected with the plant.
There is also machine and blacksmith
shop, with all the necessary equipments
for meking repairs to machinery, imple'
ments and tools.
In connection with the mines there is a
general merchandise store, where the EN-
ployes Of the company ran purchase such
supplies as they may want or need. 1t
does business Of about 81, 500 per month
and furnishes to the miners the finest Of
meats and oil er food stutis.
The output OF the mines is about 25O or
800 tons per day, with CAPACITY with
preseLt equipments Of turning out lOO, OOC
tons annually. There is no trouble in dis
posing of all that is mined, and the cause
for a non increase of the output is not &C.
casioned by lack of demand, bat inability
| 70 no, ca,S and other ca1eps
ASSOCIATE INDUSTRIES.
Connected with the valuable coal lands
the Browning mines have $3.50 acres OF
correspon lingly valuable grazing and
farming lands. The most of this is located
in the historic Abb's Valley, just south of
and adjoining the coal land. The grazing
land extends about two and a half miles
up and Gown Abbs Valley. The farm is
stocked at present with 325 head of stock,
of which the cattle number 26O, and of
these 100 are "exports." A dairy is run
ON the farm, from which Colonel Brown
ing's family and all the employees at the
mines are supplied with milk and a con-
siderable part of Tie butter they use. All
the liza required for feeding forty mules
and horses at the mines and saw mills is
produced on the farm and also consider
able amount for shipment. A large por-
ton of the corn and nearly all the oats
needed for feeding The stock al the mines
il al % grown on the farm. Nearly enough
vegetables, such as cabbage, potatoes, tur'
nips, onions, etc., are produced to supply
the miners and other employees. Most OF
the meal for the commissarv is ground
from corn raised on the farm.
There is a corn mill with capacity for
grinding $50 bushels of meal day. 1t IL
EQUIPPED with improve Nordyke Mar
mon Company corn mills and necessary
boiling and other attachments. 1t is the
purpose of Colonel Browning to put in
roller Touring mill as early as possible in
1902. Then all the meal and flour con-
sumed at the mines can be ground at the
company mills.
Two saw mills are operated by Colonel
Browning as an associate industry OF the
mines. These mills have capacity for
manufacturing one million feet Of lumber
annually. The necessary lumber for min
ing purposes and construction of houses If
thus supplied and large surplus left,
which is sold to customers in and about
Pocahontas.
BUILDINGS.
The buildings at the mines consist of a
handsome and conveniently arranged resi-
dence, occupied by Colonel Browning, of
fees, storeroom, warer0om, boiler houses,
large stable, about fifty tenement houses
and number of out houses. The invest
ment in houses, machinery, fixtures and
permanent improvements in and about the
mines will amount to at least $50, 900.
In addition to the above named build
ings, Colonel and Mrs. Browning. in the
town of POcahontas proper, have ten
| houses, business llOusSS anu IteluehCco'
They have there also lot on which they
propose to erect this year double business
house, which will be 50xl50 feet, two
stories, built of brick and will be one of
the largest buildings in the town.
Among the contemplated improvements
in the near future will be arrangements for
shipping lumber and cattle from a point
at tie MINIS A cattle shute will be built,
which will be great convenience for the
graziels of Abb's Valley as well as Colonel
Browning.
The Norfolk & Western Railway is now
surveying route for branch line through
the Browning property up Laurel Creek.
The branch line will go to the upper
Browning mines and beyond, which will
open up a splendid coal bearing territory.
The Browning mines is one of the most