The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1915-12-24
LETCHER COUNTY
AND WHITESBURG.
What is Happening in this
Rich Coal Territory
of Kentucky.

WHITESBURG, KY, Dec. 23.-The
past week was a record breaker In
point OF tides, heavy rains, snow, ice.
sleet and mud. and as result develop
ment work OF all kinds is practically
at standstill in the coal fields Til.
first of the week there was heavy
SHOWS, while rain began falling early
Wednesday and continued uninter-
ruptedly until in the afternoon Of
Thursday swelling the North Fork OF
Kentucky river and its tributaries into
a fioodtide. the largest tide in several
years. Thousands OF saw logs were
floated down the river to the big mills
below, which will guarantee their OPP
GRAFTON for several months. Scarcely
had the waters receded when Friday
evening rain began falling again, con-
tinuing until Saturday morning bring
ing another foodtide in all mountain
streams.
In both tides great damage was
wrought along the North Fork. espec-
tally to the L. & f. branch OF the l.. &
n. railroad and telephone and telegraph
lines. Passenger service has been great
ly impaired BY slips and slides along
the river and damage to bridges. trains
running from three to five hours late.
The day train from jackson failed en-
tirely two days to make the run. Prac-
tically all freight trains and coal trains
are standing idle. and as a result no
coal has gone out from the Elkhorn
and Boone's Fork coal fields since Wed
nesday, greatly hampering business
conditions throughout this section
Soma pf hs mi mi . Ia
in need OF provisions and supplies and
are unable to get them. II is expected,
however, by Wednesday or Thursday
that freight trains and coal trains will
be able to resume, that the roadbed
will be put into COZ ditioh ',y that time
that will warrant the operation OF all
trains. The main part OF the damage is
between jackson and Hazard. while
the damage is not so severe above Haz-
ard. Hundreds OF hands are working
day and night to get the roadbed in
order for the resumption OF all traffic |
Other railroads in Eastern Kentucky |
suffered much, but 1T is likely that the |
l.. & n. was the heaviest loser During |
the high tides both telephone and tel |
egraph service was practically out ~ |
Houses all along the North |
Fork were flooded. a part OF Neon. o |
business center in the coal fields was
under water.
1t is reported here from Cars Fork |
west of here that small child OF Ala |
manda Thornsberry, farmer. was 80
severely burned that II died within a |
few hours. a similar circumstance took
place on the headwaters Of Beaver |
creek when 2-year-old child of Silas
Hall was burned to death. In each oc
the children's clothing caugh.
fire from open CRATES, The parents have
the sympathy Of the respective com
While riding horse back across the |
mountains from Applachia, Va, EN-
NETT Collins formerly Of this county |
was seriously hurt when his horse fell
with him. breaking several of his ribs
and otherwise severely injuring hTn
Collins was said TO be unconscious for
some time
1t is reported that the construction |
Of the Cumberland Telephone and Tel
egraph Co. CThe Bell SYSTEM are to
start the work Of constructing their
long distance lines through the coal
fields via this city. which have been
planned for some time II is said the
work viii be rushed rapidly forward. |
Eastern Kentucky awaits with much |
this much needed convenience.
tttt
Mr.. r. p. Franklin Of the Letcher
and Supply Co, here has just
purchased property in Lewis addition
this city asd viii start work at once
on large warehouse and other build
ings to be used by his company. This
viii become one OF Whitesburg's lead
ing Industries and fills long falt
want.
w. l.. McDyer OF the Kentucky state
Road Engineers Department was here
a. foxu 1aNa upn from trn nkfopt looix-