Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-10-05
A LAND OF CONTRASTS
ia Model Mining Town

another branch, running up ono Of
the forks of Kentucky River, and
Jenkins, across the divide from Nc
Roberts, at the head OF tho valley
OF Elkhorn, a tributary OF Big Sandy
River. are older canps. iess up 70
date, less conspicuous as models. less
Interesting 10 students OF welfare
Work az 1t Is doDo BIZ mining COM
panies. But in rome respects tbess
camps have been improved by time.
jenkins lies IN a narrow valley II
Alpine appearance, not without tn
blue lske to carry out the ressrnb-
lance 10 Swiss scenery. and pienu-
fuzzy supplied with vine covered cot
tages and flower gardens bespeakfng
ions occupancy. The lake, GONE 20
acres OF the water Of the mountain
stream irnpoundcd by dam which
provides power, Is surrounded by
homes OF company officers. and upon
one side Of IT IS the company club
house which serves as q. borns for
unmarried miners and Office employ
ees. Canadian canoes and sa1
boat. cat rugged. give tho lake the
appearances Of similar body % wa
ter fanked by cottages occupied by
summer colony for pleasure.
The Famous Tran.
Above IL where blue sky and ear1<
pine tops meet, runs the "rraG OF
the Lonesome Pine" described by
John Fox. Jr., in a novel OF that IT,
tie which has been seen in drama
tized form on both the stage and the
screen. II Mr.. Fox drew upon his
Imagination for the ioveliness Of hfs
heroine ne did not have to depart
from reality in describing tho rars
beauty Of the scenery.
And almost within sieht of the
club house and the lake the primitive
life Of the mountains which Fox de-
picts still survives. a June Toiliver
OF the heights might stand at the
Lonesome Pine at nightfall looking
down upon dark valley starrhd wifi
electric lights, and return home TO
nearby log cabin lighted only by a.
log FIRE In the evening.
> Czechs. Dithuanians, Greeks. Mag
vars. italians. men Of many races
occupy the cottages Of Jenkins en-
powered In vines and flowers. which
; cling to precipitous mountainsides
g resembling In their surroundings
r not in architecture, chalets In Swift
. zerland
When jenkins was founded by mon
some OF whom remain in charge 10
company officers. the machinery and
r building material were brought ir, bv
4 OK teams TO transform a fors..ed
e gorge into miniature city with vfds
Il lawns of bluegrass and streets a,
Il smooth as those Of Washington.
9 Communication between McPoh
a erts and Lynch is maintained for IN.
purpose Of the coal mine operator
a by means Of a tunnel under tho a.
q vide through which mine Cart aIon,
!, are run. Passengers cross the A,
; vide In light automobiles whe, m,
. weather il dry. 1t is rougher vuor,
4 than riding mule but somswha
faster going.
!. Such coal camps AZ I,vnch o.,
/. jenkins; and many smaller one, los
y handsomely equipped, surrounded r,
the old mountain life. draw az l,ho,,
ers. by the lure Of high wage, so-,
or the native nnounta.neer, o.bay
more conservative remain steadfa.,
= ~ by their cabins, cultfvat.ne cron
:. IN fields SO slanting that corn canno
- De gathered in wagon. but only +
D. slide. ' =
- no wages would tempt the felIo-
;" VINO lives UP there" said A rn.utn
man pointing upward to n NOM
laineers horne perched where an ga
O nnsnr nave made its nest 9TH
IN o. inoicaung a group {
70 earn more IN a wee
&c than the native ever had az sona t;-,,
~ out MS type prefers poverty ana ~
es freedom of the hills"