The Washington herald., 1909-08-29

Big Stone Gap. Va, Aug. 2.-In the
heart OF the Southwest Virginia noun
tains. surrounded by coal and coke oper-
ations, within a radius OF three TO ten
miles. which represent investments OF
millions OF dollars. lies Big Stone Gap.
Not an acre Of coal land in this vicinity,
accessible to railroads, can now be bought
for $500 per acre, whereas, twenty years
ago II could have been bought from
Is cents 20 81 per acre.
As an Illustration OF tho wealth OF
this section. the first coke plant in Wise
County was built on lease OF 1000
acres. on which the lessee paid a royalty
OF Is cents a ton. lie made improve
ments on the property in the way OF
a railroad spur. coke ovens. &C, at a
cost Of over $4,000. In two years and
three months time, he had cleared over
$4,000, above cost Of Improvements and
expenses. and had not mined a fourth
OF the coal on the lease.
This Lessee Succeeds.
Another party purchased 1900 acres OF
coal land, at cost OF about S an acre.
including all expenses. such as abstrac-
ting. commissions. &C. He now gets
$4,000 a year royalty and Is cents ton
for all coal mined over and above that.
The lessee has made over $4,000 worth
OF improvements on the property, having
installed an up-to-date by-product coke
plant operated by electricity. The lessee
has the privilege within FIVE years Of
purchasing the property at S2S5 an acre.
Southwest Virginia mines all the coal
practically that is produced IN the State
OF Virginia. having an area OF over1. 800
square miles Of coal land.
Big Stone Gap, Va, Is a thriving little
city OF $500 population, and first sprang
into T-ominence in the early nineties. It
has grown steadily until 1t has become
the largest town in Wise County, and is
the gateway 70 the coal fields OF this
section.
New Buildings Erected.
Conspicuous among the new structures
Of the town is a new three story office
building and two hotels. One Of these,
The Monte Vista, carries out the modern
idea even TO the individual baths and
telephone service.
With its efficient hotel service and ex-
cellent climate. its hooks and crannies
20 be explored, sparkling mountain spring
water, altitude OF 1850 feet. and mean
average temperature Of nfty-four degrees,
the town Is an ideal place to spend
vacations and has as an extra induce
ment fine streams rich with FISH.
It's industries are an iron furnace, tan
merry, tanning extract works, harness
factory, handle factory. and a number OF
small factories, with splendid sites for
moro Of any kind. large or small The
town is electric lighted, and has a fine
water system.
MRintnina n High School.
Believing education to be an essential
factor for the future OF the town II
maintains a handsome native cut-stone
high school building. valued at $4,000
and is SO thoughtful OF the welfare Of
the children OF school age living within
Its bounds that daily the pupils residing
IN the suburban sections are transported
70 and from their studies in a dummy
train Of two cars-a feature that has
won much favorable comment.
Tho site for a government building has
been purchased IN the heart OF the town.
an appropriation OF $4,000 having been
made for such a building which will
probably be commenced this summer
An active board Of trade is maintained
and is always on the lookout for new
Industries. Correspondence with them
would bring any further information de-
sired. G. p HENDRICKS.
Secretary Board Of Trade.