The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-24
THE qlsdEs RICHMOND. "a, SUNDAY, AUGUST q, 1902.

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GINA, has been remode1ed to finish,
while aanumber Of handsome residences
have been completed. There are yet, how
ever. many old relics Of her boom days,
but Big Stone Gap. with her natural adj
vantages at hand, must blossom into
prominence.
coeburn, six miles below Tacoma, is
a thriving city OF 1900, and has consid-
cradle interest with the Toms Creek
mines Toms Creek has three NAM
moth coke plants, ell told. employing an
aggregate of $500 laborers. and Is only
two miles from Coeburn- Each OF the
towns OF Cincinnati, Bondtown ana May
town, suburbs of Coeburn, has large
mining interests Over 1000 laborers are
employed in the mines at these places.
An even 1000 coke ovens are In operation
at Toms Creek, Cincinnati. Bondtown.
and Maytown-within two miles OF Coe-
burn. The lumber interests OF Coeburn
and surroundings employ about LOCO men.
There are three mammoth stave mills
In operation daily. Most of the stave
product is f1oated down Clinch River to
adjacent towns. while part Is shipped
over the Norfolk and Western railroad
Coeburn has fine churches. fine school
building and a number of churches. The
place was formerly Guests Station, but
HASsAAAS
changed to Coeburn.
NORTON.
Norton. at the terminus OF the two
great railroad lines. the Louisville and
Nashville and the Norfolk and Western.
ais CITY of 1900. delightfully."- situated on
the waters OF Guests River, at the foot
of that lofty eminence High Knobs.
whose towering peaks can be seen for
hundreds of miles. Norton sprang into
existence when the boom struck Big
Stone Gap. and for time 1T, likewise,
doomed. but all the while its growth has
been steady and solid. Norton has be-
come the trade center for hundreds OF
miles around and is now wholesale
center of a fine trade. Less than SIX
months ago three wholesale grocery
houses, one packing house and one hard
ware house began business in the town.
A dry goods and notion house is now in
process OF erection. Two banks. a local
and national, have just been organized
and business begun. Two newspapers,
The Free Press and Herald. each have
splendid patronage, Street cars will be
an addition within the next two months.
and will run from the depot through the
heart OF the town, into High Knobs. q
delightful summer resort, where fine
hotel is now in process of erection. From
the windows of this hotel guests can see
into the five States-Virginia West Wiz
ginia, Kentucky. Tennessee and
North Carolina-being the highest point
in the five States. Norton has a splen-
did water-works. a. telephone and cleo
trio lights. and up-to-date buildings Her
mining industry gives employment 70
about 1000 hands. while the lumber and
stave business employs equally as many,
or more She is destined to become the
mart of Southwestern Virginia and East
ern Kentucky.
Wise c. H. the county seat, has no
mining interests but has considerable
business for a town Of 1000. Three or
four stave and saw mills are in operation
all the time. giving employment to about
500 men. Electric lights. telephone ex-
change and water works with the latest
conveniences. It has only one railroad
the notwithstanding from Ramsey
Station on the Norfolk and Western.
This line is shortly to be extended into
the Kentucky coal field, which will great
~ increase the trade of Wise c. III.
Cadet is the name Of a new mining
town, one mile west of Wise c. H. which
sprung into existence less than month
ago There are 300 miners houses up
ready for occupancy. Mining has begun
and the coking business will be begun
within fifteen days There will be n
thousand hands employed after September
lst Cadet will be connected by telephone
at once The Indian Creek and Pound
River Railroad is nearing completion. 1t
will be ready by the time the coke Is
manufactured ready for shipment during
September. This line connects with the
Louisville and Nashville at Norton. 1t
will also be extended into the FOUND
River country in n little while
Dorchester does a thriving business on
Powell's River two miles from Norton
There are two ten-foot veins of as 1'ne
coking coal as can be found in Wise
county. Eight hundred ovens are in ope-
ration turning out from 1000 to 1900 tons
daily. Two thousand five hundred men are
given employment in the Dorchester
plant. Good wages. in fact the pest $500
are being paid in Wise county, are paid
the Dorchester men.
The lumber interest around Dorchester
is hustling. Several tramways are pelns
built in different directions in Inc noun
trains. over which t otransport logs to the
mills.
There is population Of nearly 5000 at
Dorchester, and the place is stu booming.
Il has every convenience possible.
Wise county is the richest county In
the State outside of a few cities, such as
Richmond, Lynt-4burg etc. Less tran
ten years ago. hunger. misery, want a,l1
Oscillation roved at will, and the wild
hear stilled the monot9hy Of the forest.
To-day business fills the land; churches
and schools dot Wise county from east
to west, and it is prosperous country
W. B. w.