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^ ! 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:-.;