The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-07-20
A TOUR OF EASTERN :
BY NJ. r. Vaughn

The tour of twelve counties that
President Hutchins, DIR. Trawick and
son, Of Louisville, and | have just
completed was the most interesting
and instructive that | have ever
made into Eastern Kentucky. We
saw mountain life, primitive and un.
SCARED by the advent of modern in
dustry. We saw machinery that cost
millions, in industrial centers, bring
ing to the surface millions of tons
of black diamonds for the use OF
man. In some of these centers
paved streets, electric lights, public
lighthouses, and conveniences that
are to be found in any city were the
common possession of the inhabi-
tants. Therefore, the term typical
mountaineer" or typical mountain
conditions" can no longer be applied
We can, with propriety and truthful
ness, speak of primitive mountain
conditions and industrialized noun
tain conditions, but not typical noun
tain conditions.
My first stop was at Mckee, the
county seat of Jackson county.
where, on the Fourth of July, a great
celebration was held. 1t is estimat-
ed that at least 1000 people were in
attendance, and the spirit of progress
and good fellowship prevailed as
never before. The greatest tribute
to the efficacy of the law and the
efficiency Of judge that ever saw
was paid by the Mckee crowd on the
Fourth of July. Not the slightest
disturbance broke the tranquil spirit
that prevailed thruout the day. Judge
Hiram johnson, who had wrought
such wonderful changes in the life of
Jackson county, died July Bird, and
the good citizens of the county were
in mourning.
The County Achievement Contest
that is being promoted by the Exten-
sion Department of Berea College
and supported by Judge Bingham, of
the Louisville Courier-Journal, was
launched at the big Mckee rally.
Many definite improvements were
started. A new courthouse, a road
from Mckee to Madison county and
vast improvements in the schools are
projects that are to be started at
once.
While / was at Mckee President
Hutchins was attending similar
meeting at Pine Mountain Settlement
School in Harlan county, where he
made the Fourth of July address.
On the day following the rally the
President went on an inspection tour
of the rural schools with Miss But
Ter, Extension Agent for the Pine
Mountain School. While on this
journey he spoke at the Medical
Settlement on Big Laurel Greek.
The four of us spoken of at the
beginning of the story met for
the first time, on this trip, in
Harlan, Thursday, July the 9Th.
DR.. Trawick was commissioned by
the State Board of Health to make
a survey of a number Of counties
with the view of holding Orthope-
die clinics.
A number of examinations were
made in Harlan and arrangements
perfected for a clinic to be held, to
which as many cripples as possible
will be brought by the local physi- !
clans. Our itinerary took us next to
the famous Lynch mines, where the
United States Steel Corporation OPP
crates subsidiary under the name
of the United States Coal and Coke
Company. When we inquired for a
guide to show US thru the great mil
lion-dollar steel tipple that has a
loading capacity of 500 sixty ton cars !
per day, the superintendent of the
grounds proffered his services. Up
on introduction, we found him to be
Samuel r. Riley, an old Berea stu
dent, of 1906, '07 and '08. The en-
tire Lynch operation was one of the
greatest surprises of the journey.
We were informed that the entire !
outlay of the plant was more than
seventeen million dollars. A quarter
million dollar hotel accommodates
the visitors who go to Lynch, and !