The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-18
.DEVEL0PMENT|N
THE SOUTHWEST
CONTINUED From First Page,


reach the large area OF virgin timber
lands, the property OF the ridewater
Lumber Company, owning large mills
at Glamore,an. and thousands of acres
of rich timber lands. Some large coal
developments Will also be started along
this short line road. Taken all in all,
the next twelve months Will see a
great transformation taking place In
the coal and timber fields OF Dicken-
son County. where untold millions will
be expended
Wise County. the heart of the coal
fields OF Southwestern Virginia, Is still
busy. busting hum Of Industry. From
paNper mountain county-the poorest
in the Commonwealth, Wise has be
come the wealthlcst in the State. and
to-day the county Justly points with
pride to her palatlal residences, her
stately churches. schools and law
abiding. God fearing people; while
Wise. within the past two years has
constructed system of public roads
into all sections of the county. To-
day no better roads can be found In
the State, while Wise County stands
the peer in tho way of educational ad-
Vancement. schools. churches.
HustIinE Virginia Towns.
Big stone Gap, Norton, Appalachia.
Wise. Coeburn and ST. Paul have with
In recent years become thriving, hus-
Ting cities with factories. woodworking
plants. coal mines churches, schools,
fine colleges, and are still meeting with
solid. substantial growths. Wise. the
county seat, is near the centre OF the
county, delightful little city Of over
1000 people. the seat OF Gladeville
College AMI other institutions of
learning. Here one of the best court
houses in the State can be seen, while
well-arranged county Jail and other
public buildings are in keeping with
the push and progress OF the town and
county. In close proximity to the town
are a number Of coal mining settle
ments. including Greenough and Gla-
morgan. the latter less than two miles
away at the terminus OF the Wise Ter
minal Railroad. where the Stone Gap
Colllcry Company has some 30 coke
ovens and some large operations
employing about 1000 men. Both
chrS-chcs and schools predominant at
Glamorgan, where much interest Is
manifested. AZ Glamorgan the Tide
water Lumber Company have some
large lumber mills. stave mills. etc,
in operation, and owns a lumber road
extending to the Pound section, twelve
miles out toward the Kentucky border.
This IL one of the largest lumber
plants In Southwestern Virginia.
Norton. a city of about 5000 people.
has factories. wholesale houses. mines
IN close touch and good schools and
churches. two newspapers. and is the
best city I'm the county. 1t is a s,rate-
gic point for Southwestern Virginia.
being situated al the terminus OF the
Louisville and Nashville Cumberland
Valley Division, the Norfolk and
Western tClinch Valley Divisionj. the
Kentucky and Virginia the Interstate
the Wise Terminal. in fact the rail-
road centre OF the Virginia coal fields,
and is growing rapidly !tich Goa!
and timber fields surround the city.
The Norton Coal Company and the
Huctell coal Company are both oper-
nting extensive plants near the city.
while both companies plan early In
creases OF their plants. At Ramsey.
nearby. there is also a good sized coal
operation, while less than two miles
away are the big plants OF the CO.
lonial Coal Company, Dorchester. The
Blackwood Coal Company. Blackwoon
and tho Esscr Coal Company. at Es-
serville. The Colonial Coal Company
has about 1900 coke ovens and "A big
operation. one OF the larges, in the
county, at Dorchester manned for Dor.
600 men the year round, while the pro-
duet has a ready sale In the leading
markets Of the country.
Dorchester is reached By short
line branch OF the l.. y. system.
which also extends on to Switzerland
Ave miles UP .Powelrs River. which.
within the past two years has become
one of the leading mining towns in
Wise County. Here the Switzerland
Coat Company holds forte. The left
fork OF Powell's River has also a
branch limo OF railroad. Il branch Of the
Interstate. which reaches pardee, a
new mining town within a stones
throw" Of the Kentucky State border
at the head OF Cumberland River Hero
the Pardee interests of philadelphia
have spent large outlay OF capital in
building n first-class plant, The Pardee
Coal Company. They have a battery
of several hundred ovens, and con-
tract has been let for the building OF
500 more.
1t is reliably reported that the plant
is to be extended across the Virginia
border into Kentucky at an early date.
Pioneer among the coal operations in
Wise County and by far the largest
in Southwestern Virginia are the diff
fercnt plants of the Virginia Coal and
Coke Company. at Stonega. Osaka,
Rhody, etc, In close proximity TO Big
Stone Gap. These are reached by the
Interstate, DT3ncn OF the L. d n. Ouf
from Appalachia, Stonega being at It's
terminus. few miles from the Ken.
lucky State line.
I.on1-Drnwn-Out Town,
Stonega. the largest OF the mining
towns. extends for miles up and down
the narrow valley of Callahan Creek.
Here there are LOO coke ovens ir
constant operation. turning out a most
superior quality of coke. meeting a
ready sale in the leading big markets
of the world 1t Is no uncommon thing
to see car load after car load of coke
destined to the isles of the seas and
other far-off points. In all, about 5000
men are employed in the big operation
at Stonega. Osaka and Rhody are
close seconds Both are reached by
the Interstate Branch road. Inman,
Kelley View, Intermont and I,oony are
other coal mining and lumber manu-
featuring points near Big Stone Gap.
the leading residence city Of South
western Virginia. Big Stone Gap has