Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-01-01
Continued from last week
BY A. S. MORTON.


form beneath the spreading sheds at
the C.&O's. new passenger station Tho !,
covered way is very similar to tho
structure we have in Stanton and the
depot. though yet incomplete, Will not
when it is, be handsomer or better |
EQUIPPED than our own. The arrange
ment, however. is altogether different. |
Ascending a broad stairway Of sixty
steps that leads through the roof OF the
shed, We emerged on the deck of the
great bridge of Charleston, the only
one the city has that spans tho Kama.
wha. From this vantage point the
visitor looks out upon scene OF ami
nation that is both inspiring and pic
turesque. 1t was after night fall and
from across the river thousands of
lights along its banks cleaned and re-
| f1ected in the water. A full moon ris-
| ing above the distant churches towers,
shed its beams in silver paths ath wart
the restless waters, while to and fro
beneath the bridge and far out upon
the river fioatsd the vessels of COM
merce. The red lights the sound of
pilot bells, and the hOarse snort Of
freight laden steamers, all went to
make up scene as impressive as it was
beautiful.
So much for the sesthetic-the first
impressio which we all know are
often tho most lasting. In Charleston 3
case these first favorable Impressions are
born out by further acquaintance
with the place.
Charleston has more the appearance
of a great city than any town of its
size l have ever visited. II one could
be-as it were by maGic-drOpped into
the center of the business district,
without knowing his Whereabouts,
his guess would be that he had been
landed in a large and wealthy city, for
the shopping quarter gives that inn
preston. 1t has its sky scraper office
building in buff brick, its great de-
partment stores, its wholesale houses,
| it's handsome bank buildings. its mod
ern hotels, its stately public buildings,
it's well paved streets, congested with
hurrying traffic, and all that goes to
make the picture of metropolitan life
SO seldom seen, save-as have before
said-in the great cities IL one walks
into the suburbs there are to he seen
handsome homes OH every side, and if
on the river front above the city, he
stroles into u shaded vista of we'll
kept lawns and elegant mansion houses.
In point of wealth Charleston is the
Plttsburg OF w est Virginia, the home
of it's great coal operators, and the center
of great coal field. 1t il in easy reach
of this territory both by rail and wat
er. and being the capital of the state.
political and Industrial influences alike
have combined IN concentrated effort
that is making it, if indeed it has not al
ready made it, the foremost city OF the
common wealth. The coal fields in the
vicinity have shown great activity in
recent years. many of the largest ope-
ratiops being of recent development. On
Cabin Creek for example an output so
large Is being shipped that it has earn
ed the name of tho Loup creek of the
Kanawha." In addition to the many
new developments. the tonnage OF the
old mines has also been greatly increaS
ed, crowding to the limit every increase
in transportation facilities. To such
encouraging trade conditions. another
most important factor is added-ths
completion Of the Coal Il Coke rail-
road to Elkins. There the new line
connects with the railway system Of
the West Virginia Central. This road
will, not only be important tO. Charles.
ton on account Of valuable connec
tions, but it has opened up vast and
undeveloped coal field that will pour
there to seek further transportation
either by rail Or water. With so many
new and ever increasing sources of
trade, West Virginia's capital city
must indeed look with confidence to q
great future. Huntington just fifty
one miles distant, is mentioned by
that it's progress will injure Charles
| ton or that it can ever equal Charleston
az a center Of wealth. 1t has its pecu-
liar advantage, but they do not hold
out the promise of such great and
abiding possibilities as does Charles.
tons.
Huntington has its large Industries
and its broad we'll laid streets. but its
streets are not so full of traffic, nor are
the buildings on those streets so hand
some or imposing, as in Charleston.
Nor am l alone in such estimate Of
Charleston, for scores of my own
townsmen, some OF the youngest and
most energetic-have shown their pre-
ference by locating there.
Charleston has accordingly become
the home eff quite colony OF Staunton-
ians, all of whom are doing well.
Among them l notice the large de-
partment store of Coyle & Richardson
occupying several floors, and fitted
with every modern convenience. Mr..
g. F. Coyle and Mr.. j. L. Richardson,
the proprietors, were formerly statesmen
in Staunton at the dry goods house of
s. D. Timberlake, and will doubtless
be remembered by many. They have
been verv successful in Charleston,
and have accepted plans for the erec-
ton of their own sky scraper building,
the work on which will begin next
spring. This is done to make room
for their increasing business, the up
per floors of the building will be fitted
for oft es or commercial purposes.
Another big concern is the whole