The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1903-04-16

t'l wv A'tttr 10 AMt N0trts WutIt Inc
lmboden Coke Company is buildiug
a large plant. Mr.. v. ST. Clair
Pal ne, who has the eompapy's affairs
in charge. showed us the foundations
for the two hundred coke ovens and n
half dozen coal openings. Mr. J. A.
L. Minor and his nephew. Mr.. VIII
Minor. who are experimenting the
construction Of the ovens, were there
pushing the work ahead. A number
Of houses built on the mountain side
sre completed and occupied by the
miners, and grading and building is
being pushed rapidly forward. The
grading for the branch road. which
will connect with the Louisville and
Nashville railroad two miles below, is
being done, aud the wagon road is
changed to the opposite side OF the
river snd runs higher on the noun
tain and when completed will enter
the Gap below Bee Rock. The I'm
bodep Coke Company, OF which Mr..
G. Perrin, Of New York, is President.
owns about 1000 acres Of valuable
land here ana the openings make a
I fine showing. The veins range from
5 TO 5 feet in thickness.
On either side Of the road to Grab
Orchard are splendid forests. the
land is rough but fertile and the
greater part Of i, is in cultivation.
Oak. beech, poplar, chestnut and ash
make wealth Of timber. The
tradition runs that tho first settlers
found the trees in regular rows IN
orchards Of an acre or two In esch,
and that they were set
out by the Indians. Crab
Orchard gets its name from the great
number Of crab apple trees which
grow there in large numbers. Here
we were at the foot Of Little Black
Mountain and the frequent outcrop-
pings in the mountain and 10 a number
Of spurs, show the abundance Of coal
stored in the locality
Mr.. w. $. Palmer and his wife
treated MS Hospitality. lut perhaps
there was the feeling that we were
most too comfortable when we ex-
pecied such rough trip. such good
things 90 eat. We had delicious
butter and milk aud plenty OF cream.
During the night there were
high winds and rain and the
next morning the ground was COW
cred with snow The little violets /
and arbutus were covered with snow
and ice Such % contrast 60 the day
before which was like summer Do its /
warmth. and we hsd eaten our lunch
in true picnic STYLE by tho river eide
with yiolcts and terms growing near
We were discussing distances and
some one asked an old lady who had
lived an BIER lile boz the Crab Orchard.
how far 10 was Co Pennington Gap.
which was about toentv miles
"Neil / hain't never heerd." She
said simply
.....t..- .sr-.....,,- ...-,
anon. ,b.n, D. - p.ila.l i!,''''....'
Cl..,i.s p.Ii..s vlu.11
r'.r. "a ooo 'l'' ~ c''"
..... r.,1t... ..t:.t ..'.'.s.. "',
49,. ..' W .'''' we '''''''' =
made and show fne co,l The r.,
maus coking coal tbo Tee,
Seam" j.. fonn3 hone ana h. ci..a
and bright without r,rtin, ana ,bc
ton and walls aro NJ sol;5 co.l tIoI
vein being Is feet and lOi.ches ,t;cr
Tins is the voin found Nv X IT,
CART on the Virginia Goal ana I.r,
Comrapv's land vbile ,,,sr,..,i,..
some wears ago. In the v,iiev ir
one place alone. betvaen t,., .s,,,. ~
Che iitle Black IS room I'm 600
o,cu..a tippls bon.e Win ,be c.,s,.l
offices ou ,he mountain side overlool
ing che whole oi.era,ion Ansrt,.is,
we'll was drilled some time AGO which /
is over COO feet deem and viii Furnish /
2oOO gallons per asv TIE timber
alone on this proYertv is worth 5000 !