The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-02
VIRGINIA COAL IS
IN GREAT DEMAND
Mines Of the Southwest Have
Had 5 Year of Phenomenal
Activity.
APPALAcHIA, GROWING TOWN
Railroads Doing Their Best to
Help the Cause-Improve-
ments and Engagements.

Annalachia. Va. February The
6-sf month Of the new year has beeh
most propitious in Southwest Nlrsihl.t'
n, tact. never before since the coal
aelss were opened has there been
such wide and general prosperity III
the mining industry and other INES OF
business dependent thereon. Nor mas
there ever been time when the out
look for a continued good business
was brighter
purinr the month the coal com
nantes have placed orders for large
amount Of new equipment. and plans
stnouut OF new equipment. and plans
have been made for many addltlonai
improvements at the various plants IN
the field The Stonega Coke ana Coal
,.ompanv has notified your cOrrespon-
dent. through its vice-president ana
general manager. 4. H. Reeder OF the
following expenditures which have
h.en authorized A so per cnt in
crease al the power plant at lmboden'
and 100 per cent increase at the
osaka plant: thirty seven new houses
al lmboden and a lodge hall: forty
five new houses at Roda; tewntN new
houses and lodge hall at osaka ana
nttv new houses and lodge hall at
Arno-aI of them five and six room
weather boarded and plastered build
ines The company has also purchas-
ed 52J new mine cars and sixteen
electric mine licmotives. The total
amounts TO approximately 100000.
Railroads Keeping Pace.
The market conditions were never
more favorabl for the Virginia
mines than at the present time IN
deed the entire year that has passed
was one OF practically unbroken de-
nand for Virginia coal; and. except
ing that caused by an occasional car
shortage. not Il day was lost by man
who wanted TO work.
The railroads. too. to keep pace
with the growth of coal shipments
from the southwest counties. have
been doing n considerable amount OF
track and terminal work as well as
providing more rolling stock. The
Interstate Railroad has begun to re-
ceive the firts of it's 500 fifty tons
rapacity steel cars-another invests
rlcnt of s50e. 900 in the mining indus
nv Of Southwest Virginia. Also the
Virginia and Southwestern Railroad is
arranging for extensive shop and ter
minal facilities at Appalachia.
Town of tPpalachia.
Tho activities of the mining com
panies and railroads are reflected IN
all lines Of business. and, particular
IL in the towns OF this coal neld.
Here in Appalachia, which is quite
marvel of a town in the way OF
growth. a great deal OF improvement
is TO be completed this year. new
water works and sewerage system.
town hall and street grading. and q
large number of new houses are to be
built Also several new enterprises
aye being organized-a machine shop,
laundry. new hotel and railroad de-
not. The town already has whole
aro.art- rourips, mill. ice plant.
battling works two bakeries, cold
storage plant. two flourishing banks.
two hotels and a modern printing
pIant. which issues the widely known
newspaper the Cumberland Progress
sive The population is about 2.5Oo
and growing rapidly. 1t is centre OF
the largest mining operations i'm Viz
ginia and also. of Wise County 3
great 81 900. geo road system