Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-02-13
AIANDOF OPPORTUNITIES
AND
MONEY GETTING.
Rush of Coal Operators to New
FieId---A Great Industrial DeveI-
opment---Staunton People and
Their interests.

FieId---A Great Industrial DevsI.
0pment---Staunt0n People and
Their interests.
| (Staff Correspondence of the Spectator.)
Charleston, w. Va Feb. 10.-Where
fortunes are making and where the
| hand of opportunity is yet extended
the willing investor, is land we wish
to know and read about. Such an
Eldorado have l just visited-the
'Bonalza mines" of the Kanawha coal
| fields-vasG in their natural wealth,
great in their opportunities. But to
make money, he who enters there must
have his wallet already full, or else
going In poverty, return, but to cOvet
bis neighbors goods. Perhaps there is
nowhere better opportunity for money
getting than in the new developing
coal regions along the Z. q o. railway
Particularly is this so In reference to
Cabin Creek and Coal River fields just
now coming into public notice
Of the two, Cabin Creek has the lead
and is likely to maintain it. Both are
tributary to the Kanawha field; the
former east of Charleston, just IL
miles; the latter west ~ miles. During
the last few days it was my pleasure
and profit to go over most of this new
field. At Coaiburg Oh the Kanawha
river we left the main line OF the T.. q
o. and taking a train on one of this
company's branch lines assembled the
valley of Cabin Creek. 1t is narrow
strip of country, hemmed in by short
mountain sleeps, that break away
here and there where a stream ruShes
in or where the main creek divides
On either side, these steep slopes are
full of coal deposits, the seams five in
understanding through and through
the mountain and varying in thickness
from 81 to feet. A year ago the G.
Il 0. acquired the short road that
penetrated this valley and at once be
gan the work of extension, following
up both forks of the stream to their
headwaters. Until this time but three
operations were doing business on the
creek, but IN the past ten months a
rush has been on, and within that time
twenty two more have crowded in
making rs in all. Every one of which
is now employing large forces in the
work of development. Thus early, coal
shipments equaling the freight haul OF
three trains per day. ARE sent out of the
creek, and ere another year rolls by
the operators hope to Quadruple this
production. Cold weather has done
much to retard the work of opening
the mines, building the tipples, con-
structing tenant houses. stores, etc.,
but the near approach of spring will
bring a sharp onward movement.
Already for 10 months development
nothing like it has been witnessed by
the oldest operators. Little towns have
sprung up around the various camps
as If by magic, and the houses are oc-
cupied ere the carpenters leave them.
And as for paint-well that can wait
for times when there is nothing better
for idle men to do
The G. & o. people, not content with
the richness of this field, are pushing
across the mountain INFO Coal River
Valley in Boone and Randolph coun
ties. To this end grading is being
done up to the steep where tunnel
three quarters of mile in length is
being driven through, large force
working at either end. In Coal Valley
the road will pass through country
rich in coal and lumber, where oppOr-
tunity for investment now is good and
where fortunes will doubtless be made.
To add to the prospects Of this section,
another railroad is building up Coal
River from the direction of st. Adams.
A day or two spent amid these great
to hear the men talk and see
them maturing their great plans for
wealth, is all very pleasant
and makes one feel good-provided it
doesn't give him the blues. So leaving
my readers to figure out which way 1t
works, will hurry on to speak of
other places and things.
This place-CharleStOn a busy
growing city, the abode OF much
wealth, and withal, submitting year
after year to q great public outrage,
the toll bridge. In most cities one
paws to ride, but in Charleston he pays
for the privilege of walking, not for
lust ordinary easy walking along the
streets, but for the privilege of tug.
cling up two lofty flights of winding
stairs and then walking a quarter of
mile. Nor can he escape this privl-
Iege, it is per force "thrust upon him"
AZ are political honors. II one ever
gets into the city or ever gets out OF 1T,
he must pay walking expenses. Ii
he has business on the railroad side OF
the town across the river his walking
privilege may easily cost him the price
of his board bill. How city of Char
lesion g size and Importance submits
to such public nuisance is past flnd
ing out. Outside of this irritant, life
in Charleston must be pleasant. and to
a stranger visit is most enjoyable.
Here find located many Staunton and
Augusta people, all of them doing we'll.
Those met were the Abneys, who
came from near BrOokwood, proprle-
tors in a large double four story
wholesale dry goods house; ID. A.
Lightner and brother, sons of Rev. Geo.
s. Ligntner, are statesmen in the same
store: Attorney d. G. Gallaher of Way
nesboro; J. E. McQualde, druggist;
Mrs. H. Il. Putney (nee Ast) and Mr..
Putney, merchant; j. b. PeytOn, book
keeper in Citizens National Bank; w.
C. Shelton, druggist, and 8. Taylor
Weller, craftsman at foundry and ma
chine works.
THE NEW RIVER COAL FIELDS.
On the coming out trip, stopped off
at Thurmond, a point we'll within the
New 6lV0r S6CUIOu VI SooA anu NONO
operations. This is the point from
which one leaves the main line for the
Loop Creek branch, a road just IL
miles long, but famous for the enor--
nous tonnage of coal and coke brought
out over it every day. This is proba-
bly the most fully developed district
on any branch line of the G. q 0. A
freight line from Hawks Nest follow
ing the south bank OF New River also
terminates there, bringing to that ter
minal its quota of heavily laden trains.
These railroad conditions, bring to
Thurmond many men of wealth and
affairs, who while remaining in the
coal fields looking after their interests
find this good point for headquarters.
This circumstance has justified the es.
Establishment in these mountain wilds
of an elegant hotel, The Dun-Glen
Inn," equipped with every comfort
and luxury that city life is heir to-
The hotel is picturesquely located too
on the great horseshoe bend of thu
river and just above the rapids II
front of the big double steel bridge.