The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-15

Continued from First Page.)

IL. such an unexpected discovery, the
continuity of the bed was traced down the
valley Of Bluestone River, having 1t out
cropped at the various tributaries OF the
latter, which take their sources in the
Great Flat Top range and flow In
sou1heasterly direction to Bluestone XIV
err including Mill, Simmons. FlippinS,
Crane Widemouth Rich and Camp
Creeks, and following the outcrop via
NIcCagre's Ridge, leading to the head
waters OF the Guyandot River. The crop
line was followed by way Of the Pinnacle
Fork of the latter to where the road goes
to cover under the Guyandot waters at
the junction of the Pinnacle Fork with
the main stream.
GREAT COAL BED.
To trace further the extent Of this coal
led. Indian Ridge. the watershed between
Guyandot and Big Sandy waters, was
pissed and Elkhorn was reached at the
mouth of Browns Creek, a short distance
below the present site of WEIGH, the
present county seat of Mcdowell county.
The valley of Elkhorn was traversed and
the bed first examined #at Nelson's and
followed. as has been shown, to Camp
Creek. was discovered above the cover
of Elkhorn at the mouth cf Bottoms
Greek, the then residence of Tobias Bel
cher. one Of the carly settlers of the
country. now the loca ton of the Bottom
Creek Coal and Coke Company.
The Elkhorn was followed to its head
quarters from the Great Flat Top Noun
tain. and the coal was outcropped on
the various tributaries and It's continuity
was well established. 1t may be a matter
of some interest in connection with the
early history of this coal-feld and its
subsequent developments to state some
thing about its early history.
SPARSELY SETTLED.
There We're only scattering inha bita nts
along the valley of the Bluestone River,
and at the present site of the city OF
Pocahontas there was an almost i'm
penertable jungle of hemlock and rhode
dendron Between that and the mouth OF
Simmons Creek, a, tributary of Blue
stone. four miles below its junction with
Laurel Creek, near the site of Pocahontas
there was a solitary cabin, now the resi-
dence OF Mr. Jenkin Jones, surviving
partner of Freeman & Jones. where there
is now a large and thriving. coal and
coke plant of 2s1 coke ovens and also
the headquarters of the firm of Booth &,
Bowen. who have a coal and coke plant
on Simmons Creek under the very able
mana cement of Jonathan Bowen and his
son. Harry Bowen. and the Buckeye
Coal and Coke Company. at present
under the mana cement Of Mr.. John D.
Hewitt.
A SMALL STORE.
There was a small retail store at the
mouth of Crane Creek. just a mile be-
low the. mouth of Flipping Creek At
the latter there are two coal and coke
operations, one unuer the management
Of Philip Goodwill: the other is ting
Louisville Coal and Coke Company From
that point by way of the valley of Blue
stone. passing Richland and Camp Creek
and following its valley to Flat Top
Mountain. there was only here and there
solitary cabin. in some instances sepa-
rated by six and eight miles. including
the southside of Bluestone River
There was not a shovel or spade; the
prospecting had to be done with mar
uow hoe used by the natives for dig
ging the roots OIL ginseng. then the mos;
important industry in the entire sec
ton. For a shovel. a seasoned white
oak board. sharpened. with a handle made
| from the body OF the board. which served
| the purpose for moving the loose ma terra
| everything the coal. In that way the
| entire area comprising the headwaters
| of the Guyandot, the Elkhorn, North
| Fork Of Tug River. the East side of Blue
stone River. including its tributary
| streams flowing from the Great Flat ToI
| Mountain Mill, Simmons Creek Gran,
Creek. Flipping Greek. Widemouth, Ricl
| and Camp Creeks was examined, en-
| bracing an area OF 4S0 square miles, al
| OF which is underlad with the Great
| Flat Top coking Goals above water leve
| of the streams.