Newspaper Page Text
^ !
VKK KKCBHSmr OF DRAINING THE
FONto?. CUSANTNG TKS 8TBJCKTK
AND ABATING B?CK.-YAK3*
N?ISAN3JE8.
JCpidemteeTlmt HaTwPreYaUwl KlaewlMrr?;
- by ra?tvgard!ng Kanitary Ijtwg, a*? /
the'KLik whWi ha? Kren Eon ?t/j
B1? Stone Gap by the 8*ma ; ,;^r
Stupid Indlffei*nc*~vV *
Waraine Worth ?hr'
The fact that Big Stono Gup has a
healthful situation seom? to be considered
by the authorities, and .?ven bj tho p<>or
p!e themstdros, ?s a 'sn?icicnt gunrahtoo
agaSntit disease. ^It matters not how often
this theory is exploded or how.many cases
of sickness results from a blind and obsti?
nate adherence to it, littje or nothing is
'?done to drain the marshy depressions or
remoyjE the nuisances. The odors from
the hog pen. hack of Brown's saloon and
the barber-shop, and (he equally offensive
ones that rise from slop pools about the
kitchen -of the -Interment hotel, to say
nothing of the nuisances in other parts of
the town, continue to fill the air in those
tninted localities.
Small groups of citizens discuss the
matter, declare that "something ought to
be done," and haggle and haggle over it
until their indignation reaches the usual
harmless height, when some one proposes
some refreshing beverage. Tho'motion is.
carried with remarkable unanimity, tho
nuisances are, for the time at least, for?
gotten, and the programme is repeated day
after day, while the offense becomes ranker
aiid ranker, until it smells to heaven.
We have a city government. Why docs
it not enforce the ordinance against these
evils, and why is not some steady, ener?
getic and intelligent effort made to drain
the pools and compel tho owners of the
hogs that wallow in thorn to pen these
s pests outside the inhabited parts of the
town? These fat and greasy denizens go
about grunting, covered with slime, their
.curled tails twisted over their bucks, on-,
tircly,unmolested, except by the dogs, who
seem oddly enough to have the sanitary in?
stinct- more highly developed than their
>-'masters. They do show some activity,
.^ahd, at times, disturb thegrunters in their
^?allows. But the latter have grown rich,
and powerful and numerous, as it Were,
and have acquired such an ascendency
and 'command of affairs that they pay little
heed to the canine protests which break
.out in distracting clamors, some times in
the day, but offener about midnight, or
just before dawn.
Truly and seriously, "something ought
to be done." It is idle to imagine we shall
.not have sickness, even in this high at?
mosphere, with these pestilential nuisances
under our .very noses. 'No air is so pure
that it cannot be poisoned. With a
temperature of 80 degrees, with stagnant,
water, and hog wallows, and offal piles
and filthy buck yards, disease is as much
a certainty as the revolution of the planets.
The matter is too plain for discussion;
and any community that submits patiently
and servilely to these evils, when they
have the powor to correct them, deserves
all the ill results that are sure to follow.
Koauoke was kept back for several
years by an epidemic which drove its in
" habjtitnts, panic stricken, from their
homes; and n similar calamity here would
not only set Big Stone Gap back for years
?to'come,-but would depreciate every foot
of property 59 per cent., to say nothing of
ihc loss of life.
The Post will'speak plainly about such
matters whether people like it or not. {Vfl
will be too late to cry out against these
...evils after we have fallen victims of
theui; and the only possible way of pre?
venting them is to expose and lash the in?
difference which permits them.
If the managers of hofcls'do not keep
;their premise* clean for the sake of their
guests and thoir own business interest,
they .should be made to do so by the law.
. If pri.'atc citizens do hot cleanse their
back yards and remove their pig pens they
should be heavily -fined. If property
owners do not drain their vacant lots and
are out of the reach of the law, the city
should drain them mid levy a tax upon the
lots to meet the cost.and penalty.
We have an orderly-town, let us also have
a clean one. The volunteer police force.,
have succeeded in -suppressing all forms of
violence: and whenever there is the least
breach of the poice the town marshal or
the police are prompt to arrest- the
offender. The result is, that one's proper?
ty is better protected at Big Stone Gap,
than in; Louisville or New* York. The
: i???i?:-!
I ? . ? _
same .element^should nee that the
health law?, which arc not less important,
arc also enforced. By doing no they
would double the gratitude which the
town already owes them for the incalcula?
ble benefits they have confored upon it.
pBR BUILDING CflllPAN^
JtBJfNOTJt TO THE 3U n.DiNO QV A
CITY. .,j
., The fcljs*^
"StonoGup Bui tiling and Investment Com- i
pany" has bean printed in a neat pam
plilot form for distribution.
No movement has yat )>eun sot on foot
hero which 'will do as much solid, practical j
good for ih* building up of tho future city
as this one. It is tho true keynoto-to th'fr
plnilpiy which tho town must grow. It is
in tho hands of the right set of men, and
thoro is no doubt their plans will be suc?
cessfully carried out. There are a few
thousand dollars of the stocl't yet untnken,
and tho company has completed its arrang?
ements to begin active work as soon as the
minimum amount of stock has been sub?
scribed.
There is no safer or more profitable
investment for capital in this section.
With all the inducements offered by the
land companies as a basis for investments,
it is a practical certainty.
raoseECTLs ov run via stone OAr imi'kovk
M KVT AXI) IS VKSTM KXT CO.
R. T. Iryi ie, President; R. A. Avers, E.
P. Bryan;.;'. Goodloe, E. M. Hardin, W.
E. Addisoi. and H. E. Fox, directors.
Authorized capital, $10(),000.
rCRP<W*ES OK THE OROAXIZATOS.
As its name indi. . tcs, this company was
formed for the two fold purpose of an in- j
vestment for capital, safe and profitable, j
and to attain this end by means of building j
at Big Stone Gap. The class of buildings j
moro immediately contemplated, because i
for this class there is tho most crying de?
mand, and in it, under all circumstances, j
the greatest profit, is homes for laboring
men of the bettor class, mechanics, arti- !
sans and skilled workers in iron and steel;
men who regularly draw good pay, and can j
afford .to maintain their families in neat,
comfortable, and attractive cottages. In
tho further working out of their plans the
company may embrace other classes of
buildings, it being the steadfast purpose
of those who will direct the affairs of tho
company to enhance the value of the stock
always, by supplying such demands as will
pay large profits in doing so. These
houses the company will rent, lease or sell,
either on the usual terms, or, if* it can bo
made to pay them better, on the install?
ment plan, to tenants or others.
It is proposed to build within tho next
twelvemonths not less than two hundred
and fifty, and if possible five hundred
houses of this class, at a cost each varving
from $400 to $800>
PLAN OF THE ORGANIZATION AX1> PERSONNEL j
OV THE OFFICERS.
The charter gives ample scope for car- !
rying out the ends outlined above. It i
fixes the minimum capital stock at $50,- j
000, providing that tho stockholders may
at any time increase this amount to any
sum not to exceed $100,000. Tho capital
stock is divided into shares of the par
value of $100 each. Tho liability of any
stockholder is limited to the amount due
and unpaid on the shares he has sub- j
scribed for.
The stock is to be paid on the call of
the board of directors, in amounts not to
exceed 25 per cent, at any time within one
month from the date of subscription, or
any time thereafter, and not. more than
15 per cent, per month subsequently.
The charter names the officers for the
first year as follows: President, R. T.
Irwin; directors, R. A. Avres, E. P. Brvnn,
H. E. Fox, J. M. Goodloe, W. E. Addison
and E. M. Hardin.
This selection of officers has. as' far as is
.known, given entire satisfaction to those
in a position best to judge. They are all
largely interested financially in building
up the city, and will devote time and en?
ergy to this enterprise.
INDUCEMENTS OFFERED HV THE LAXIl CO.MI'NIES.
Recognizing the fact that the future of
Big Stone. Gap rests upon the laboring
men for a foundation, and seeing the abso?
lute necessity of furnishing them with
homes, the various land companies here
have readily agreed to offer to the Build?
ing and Investment Company liberal in?
ducements in the way of real estate, in
order to insure the carrying out of their
plans. They have offered very desirable
lots at prices deemed nominal, not more
than from one-half to one fourth the.
market value of the property, and in some
cases offering to donate them. They give j
j most liberal terms, also, asking no cash, j
bur the notes of the company, at one, two
and three years, so as to allow all the ready
money of the company to go at once into
building. As a further inducement they
agree to put the building restriction on
only one-half of the lots so sold, leaving
the company free to sell tie other half on
speculation, if it seei fl^ii a large profit
1. Xht these tcrm&tfij^Big Stone Gup
Improvement Ccmpahf put? into the Build?
ing and Investment Company 100 very de?
sirable lots, mostly 50 hy.l?O feet in giste,
well locateojfof^thia purpose; boing near
the S.A. k 0. dopot, and tho furnace sites
and other labor centres. These lots wer?
scheduled at from .$250 to $350. and .are
put to this company ut'$T00 each.
"i. Tho East Big Stone Gap Land and Im- |
provemeni Company is equally liberal. It
will donate twenty-five admirably located
lots for actual business* purposes; or. tf the
Building and Investment Company desires
as many as KM), they will sell thuui on the
same terms and conditions as before men?
tioned and at about one-third their sched?
ule price, in no case to exceed $100 pcrlotJ
3. The Fayefto Land Company (sub?
dividing the E. & NJ, B. R. property) makes
equally as valuable concessions upon their
centrally located property. They will put
j in to the company a large number of lots
j (the number to be agreed upon hereafter)
! upon as liberal terms and conditions as
J the Improvement Company.
4. The Sulphur Spring Company, which
I hat sold on" the bulk of its' holdings, yev
j makes a propeosition to sell twenty lots,)
i mostly f)0 feet front, upon terms und conV
j ditions similar to the others, at pricesV
I ranging from $37.50 to $100 per lot, being
! almost a nominal price.
5. The Southwest Virginia Mineral Land
Company.
0. The "West End Lund Com pan v.
7. Gen. P. W. Hardin.
8. Messrs. Foxi Whittridge.
All the above mentioned own valuable
and extensive plats of town-site lands, ad?
mirably adapted to tho purposes of tho
B. k I. Company, and all have made propo?
sitions similar to the other land compa?
nies and equally as liberal, embracing in
the aggregate about 300 lots.
In addition to this President Ayres, of
the Improvement Company, acting for his
company, has offered to the B. k L Com
pmy a complete brick plant, now owned by
his company, at a very low figure and on
very easy terms, and a long lease on five
acres oi valuable brich clay land for
nothing.
Overtures have been made to thclB.&I.
Company,'also, to put in to them at a low
price and favorable terms, a controll?
ing interest in the stock of an excellent
planing mill and dryer.
The periods at which construction must
begin on the lands of each company, in
order to secure the offers made by each
company respectively, can be so arranged
as to extend through many months, and
[ make it highly probable that a paid-up
j capital of $50,000 can be so operated as
i to comply with all conditions, and secure
: to the B. k I. Company all the benefits
: offered.by all the land companies enuuier
j ated above. It is practicallv certain
[that a paid-up capital of $100,000 will
do so. A capital of $50,000, by means of
making sales from time to time after the
first houses are completed, and of using
to advantage the large amounts of good
collateral security that will come into
thu hands of the company, can bp made
to do a business of two or three times
I that amount.
Thus it will be seen that nil the land
j companies here arc fully awake to the im
j portnnce to them and to the lasting in?
terests of Big Stone Gap, to have in
I successful operation, for the purposes
? indicated, a strong financial company,with
J a large amount of ready money amassed
and concentrated upon one purpose.
[ With these exceedingly liberal induce
j incuts, so unanimously offered, it is doubtful
i if any other stock in Southwest Virginia
is at once so safe and so profitable an in?
vestment to capital.
BASIS OK l.WKVrjIKXTS.
The foregoing statements, made some?
what at length, already indicate the main
elements of profits to be derived from in?
vestments in this stock, but there arc
other important features still. From
j these statement? it seems that the Build?
ing and In vest nt Company with a paid
up capital stock of $50,000, extendable to
$100,000, can get control of real estate
amounting at the present market value to
from $75,000 to $100,000, if sold to indi?
vidual purchasers, bv an outlav of from
$25,000 to $30,000 and that payable in one,
two and three years.
By erecting a large number of buildings
of about the same pattern, they can be
built at a minimum cost. The best and
most responsible builders and architects
can be easily secured, and by faking large
contracts and being sure in their puy, they
can afford to huild at minimum profits.
Materials can he furnished here, or
shipped in from the open markets, as
cheaply as any other point similarly loca?
ted. These houses can readily he sold at a
handsome advance on the house itself, or
held by the Company and rented at a
large per cent, on the investment. The
instalment plan of making sales to work*
Ingm en has been found to be n very safa
and profitable ono.
The demarid' for this class of buildings
at Big Stone (lap will for many years ho
far in advance of any probable supply.
. To summarise, then, wu have thol'ollow
ing means of realizing profits on the in?
vestments:
L Profits from rents and leases.
'2: Profits over the cost prico to tho
company on the buildings themsfclvos, if
sold.
3. .Profits over the cost price to the
company on the lots, if sold, on which the
buildings stand.
4. Profits over the cost price to the
company from the sales of one-half the
entire number of lots., which number will
be freed from the-building restrictions.
."). Miscellaneous profits, such as from !
the brick yard and plaining mill, should
the Company see. fit to embrace these inj
their .scheme. /
EAST BIG STONE GAF.
^. SUBURBAN TOWN WITH KNKKtiV
AND CAPITAL BEHIND JT. <
juHtrieK Projected That Will he Kapldly
V Pushed to Completion.
One of the most useful adjuncts in
making Big Stone Gap* a commer?
cial metropolis, as well as one of the most
enterprising land companies in itself in
Southwest Virginia, is the East Big Stone
Gap Laud and Improvement Com?
pany. This company have incorporated
several hundred acres of beautiful
town-sito land immediately adjoining the
corporate limits of Big Stone Gap on the
east, and they propose to make a suburban
town of great importance. To the suc?
cessful accomplishment of this object,
nature has done all that could be desired.
The land itself is admirably adapted for
business and residence purposes. No
more healthful location can be found any?
where. The South Fork of Powell's River
flows with swift descent through the
town limits, giving all the water supply
needed for any number of manufacturing
industries, ho matter how extensive. To
I further this feature of their plans, the
! company have reserved ample mauufac
j hiring sites along the river, on both sides,
which, although it is worth thousands of
dollars per acre, they offer to donate to
worthy "manufacturing enterprises, and
give substantial aid of other kinds also.
The S. A. tc 0. R. R. runs through the
town, and is putting in extensive side
tracks, depot facilities, etc. Other rail?
roads that enter Big Stone Gap will
build into the town, besides the Belt
Railway and Dummy Line, which will
connect the suburban town closely with
all parts of the mother city, in addi?
tion to these, it is within easy reach of
all the modern city improvements, now
being put into the latter city, such as
water works, electric lights, etc., branches
of which will be extended into tin's town
as occasion may demand.
This company's lands occupy a central
position in the town-site lands of the'
Powell't Valley here, and, as there is no
reasonable doubt that all the available
town-site lands around them will be in
demand for town purposes at an early
date, it follows that any development in
any part of the Valley will only
serve to enhance the value of these
lands. The Big Stone Gap Improvement
Company's pints bound them on the west
and the north; the South Appalachian
Land Company's town-site lands on the
east, while on the west these lands com?
mand the entrance to Powell's Valley by
the Wildcat Valley route, and also the
entrance to the vast iron ore deposits in
Wallen't Ridge, near by. as well as to
as fine forests of hard woods as can be
I found on tho continent.
The sites <ff the Iron Furnaces anil
other great industrial enterprises are
within a few hundred yards of (his town
site.
The hundreds, and by and by the thou?
sands, of workingmen employed here w ill
be driven by the high prices of other real
estate near by, to seek cheap homes in
the town. It will be the steadfast policy
of this company to meet the demands of
these classes, until their residence proper?
ty is compactly built up with the homes of
industrious and independent workingmen.
The company have made a plat of their
property have laid off and graded streets,
alleys and boulevards, and arc now build?
ing a handsome and convenient $li>,000
hotel, which is situated on one of tha
most beautiful knolle in the entire valley.
A male academy building and scve3|$
church buildings are being agitated, and
numerous private residences, and busi?
ness houses will be constructed us soon**:
labor and material can bo gotten together.
No better man in Southwest Virginf? i
than tho Uon. John II. F. Mills could' no,
foimcMo houd ?och an enterprise and lead
it to ultima to success. A native of Wise
county, his heart is in its development to
that high piano of commercial prosperity
that he knows its unrivaled natural re?
sources entitle it to occupy. East Big
Stone Gap is the child of his brain, and
his wido acquaintance with tho leading
men-of Virginia,fhis unbounded energy
?uul enthusiasm, his liberality, sagacity
and forosight, backed up by a wise and
progressive directory and aided by the
active and efficient secretary of the com?
pany. Mr. S. C. Borryman, he will un
I questionably make of. this town not.only
I a Conspicuous success in itself, but a most
'importantfactor in the building hereof
I a great industrial city.
^BEAVE MATTIE HESTER.
An Interesting Employe of the
Post-Offlce Department
-
I A Uttlo Georgian Woman Who Wtm au
Enviable Reooru?Three Times a W??k
j She Carrie* the Mail* from One
County to Another
One of the mo9t interesting figures in
?very-day life in this section of tho
State, says a New York World corre?
spondent at Tweed, Oa.. is pretty Mateie
Hester, who carries Undo Sam's mails
from the Tillage to bhe point at whioh
she lives on a farm, twenty miles away.
The fair mail-carrier drives a little road
?art, in which she has bravely gone over
her route every day, rain or shine, since
she succeeded in obtaining tho posi?
tion. If the mails are late ono may be
sure the delay did not occur in her ter?
ritory, for no stress of weather can deter
j this undaunted little public official
i Tho whole country side knows and ro
i srjeote hor, but if any protection isnoed
' ed on her lonely journeys her own oour
: ago and determination of character .will
j supply it.
This yoar Mottie succeeded over all
' competitors in securing tho mail route
' from Condor in Laurens County to Lo
j thair in Montgomery County, and three
j times a wook she covers a distanoo of
i about forty miles through a wild
[ and sparsely settled section, and her
I cheery voice Lb often heard along
the road in her efforte to drivo
dull care away. At her side in a small
pocket, fully exposed to view, is a
handsomely polished No. 38 Smith &
Wesson of the most approved model,
and as she is a crack shot woe be to the
I highwayman or tramp who tries to bar
! <tbe way to that part Of the United
j States malls under tho immediate care
! of Mat-tie Hester. She has perfect oon
| fidenoo in her own ability to defend
i nersolf, and looks with contempt upon
? those timid members of bor own sex
who fear to go anywhere without an
\ escort. Independence of spirit la so
i striking a characteristic of this unique
1 young porson that the narration of
some of her remarkable undertakings
would convey an impression of mascul?
inity. In her own home or under
ordinary eircumstances Miss Hester
is the embodiment of womanliness.
She lives with her widowed mother, two
sisters and a young brother, but is the
real head and director of the family.
Her bojuty la of the true Southern
type?wavy black heir, deep blue eyes,
beautiful figure and complexion and
the whitest set of teeth imaginable.
Her jaunty air and pretty face never
fail to attract the attention of strangers
oa she rattles swiftly by in her cart,
looking neither to tho right nor to the
left, but attending strictly to business.
Attention to business, indeed, is tho
chief distinguishing featuro of a
character whose strength has made
Miss Hester remarkable in many ways.
Still in her twentieth year and full
of lifo and energy, sho is determined to
make her way to fortune Sho has al?
ready shown business qualifications
?that would do credit to any man. Last
rearshe axrperintaj-aets.wt* sue worn on
the farm. Sbo beVpod to plant and
barv^ti??op-*n? trq?kiti to market,
*hTb^K^ Charit sho a&w a chance to
foake son?money laat winter, she went
in to the woods and goi ft quantity of
pSnWr which she r?ff^ and placed ia
the bands of her "toother, to bo disposed
In the Darias lumbermarket. Th?r,
venture netted the enterprising little
'-\5^kcrM a handeoma ptoflt. Later on.
wtth ber own hand*, ei*. cut down and
spilt enough *???' ??? to inclose br*
section of the- fano. So it seems hard
work baa no terrors for ?laa Mattlo, nor
of work rf>4 nndertolwa,'. provided only
thatftoflera-promis? of betterlnjr hnr
condition. With: ?11 her various duties
she etill finds some leifcure and 8he em?
ploys it In teaching writing.
Miss Mattioin her relations with ihn
opposite sex preserves the saino marked
individuality which characterizes her in
other things. She doesn't euro a rush
about men; in fact, she has no tlm<- ?<>
think about other mails than those it U
her duty to distribute.
The little rniil-carrier is very poorly
paid, and tho forty-milo journeys aro
rapidly taking the flesh off tho sturdy
broncho that draws her cart.
"Idon*fc think I shall carry the mails
three times a week much longer," said
she to tho World correspondent. "It is
telling on my horse. Besides, tho small
pay I receive does not warrant It. If I
can get my petition signed, I will por
heps get off with twice a week, which I
think will suit the public quiteas well."
IN A HOG'S STOMACH.
Oer? X? a Very Strang* story ar a Mont
togeaiaa? hie.
A Winston County' (Ala.) peddler tolls
a story which, if not true, evinces an im?
aginative power which no one would
ever suppose him to possess.
^ A farmer named Greene while In town
was persuaded to buy a few Chinese lily
bulbs, which will grow 'if placed in a
bottle or jar. They.resemblo In appear?
ance a diminutive steer's head, and sell
on the streets for*, mere twiflo.
Farmer Greono took a fancy to them
and bought a dozen of them. When ho
reached home ho had no bottle or jar to
put them in *nd throw thorn into tho hog
lot with a bucket of spoiled potatoes.
A few days afterward one of his larg?
est hosrs became sick, refusing food, and
lyinjdown in a corner grunted as if in
oonscent pain. No signs cf disease
could be discovered, buta few days after
tho hog died. The cause of death was
discussed in the mual family council
around thp supper table, and it was
finally concluded brs,t to cwt op tho hog
and find out, if possible, whether or not
the disease was oontrkrrlotw.
This was done, arid tho cause of death
was instantly apparent.' Tho animal
had swallowed a Chinese lily bulb whole,
and thsre w.n .i.:;r.ea"nt' mof.?uro in tho
stomach to car.v> It)zo grow. The bulb
had not only STr-lb-d a.td sprnnrotl, but
lesvrs had actually formed-. Yh ? ;t::i:nal
was not adapted to tlie pnr-pe.i.'H of a
flower garden and diM.
A Word About Sloan Willa.
Hnsbanda who profess to love their
wives intensely, sometimes play them
a very mean trick when about to depart
for that better land where tne.ro is
'"neither marrying nor giving in mar?
riage.'1 One might suppose that a ten?
der Bponse, on the eve of being divorced
by death from the partner of his joys
and sorrows, would be governed In tfao
disposition of Iiis worldly goods by an
earnest desire to render her earthly
future a happy one. If be bos a fort?
une to bequeath to bor, why should he
make a dog-in-the-maugor will, provid?
ing that sbo snail enjoy it only during
her widowhood? What ri^bt has ho to
condemn her to a lifo':?? ?loneliness,
under penalty of pauperism in case she
shall marry again? Hnsbanda about to
9hufflo off this; mortal OoU, if yoo de?
sire to bo tenderly horned in mind by
yoor relicts, don't deal with them aft?
er this contemptible fushio?
Try the, Post's new jab office. It turns
out every variety of jab work on short,
notice.
BJ^AXJ^M^IJIv TOWN SITE
MIDWAY BETWEEN THE
Adjoining the City of Big Stone Gap on one side, and the South Appalachian Land Company's valuable and extensive Town Site Lands
, on the other. *
Being on the South Fork of Powell's River. Only a few hundred yards from the great FURNICE SITES and other centres of Industry. Surrounded by
unrivalled FORESTS OF HARD WOODS. On the line of the S. A. & O. R. R., and accessible to all
the railroads centering at Big Stone Gap.
"Within reach of all the the GREAT PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS now going forward there?BELT RAILWAY, DUMMY LINE, ELECTRIC LIGHTS
WATER WORKS, Etc. It is the key to the building in the beautiful Powell's Valley of
Foundation of a $10,000 Hotel begun. Buildings, street and other internal improvements, of various sorts, now actively going forward
Desirable and Cheap Homes.
Most Liberal Inducements Offered Manufacturing Enterprises of Ail Kind?
For Information in detail address, at Big Stone Gap, .,
THE EAST BIG STONE GAP LAND AND IMPROVEMENT
gags
J. B. F. MILLS, President, or S. C. 3ERRYM A'N, S^cr:-.;
