The Big Stone Gap post. [volume], January 03, 1917, Image 1

About The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
_. The Big Stone Gap Post.
VOL. XXV,
BIG STONE GAP. WISE COUNTY, VA., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY S^rT
No. I
Water
When It Wont Rain, What
Shall We Do? Mayor
Writes Letter on
Subject.
Editor Pout:
This town 1ms a splendid
water system, expect that din?
ing extreme droitt Ii lite supply
falls short. Twice during the
past summer it barely stood in
the upper stories of Poplar Hill
residences aud failed for three
weeks on Imhodeii Hill. If the
furnace had been In operation
and taking water, no tlullbt a
Inrge part of town would have
been without water. In for?
mer years, when the furnace
was in operation and was sup
plied from the town's water
system trouble was much innre
frequent than has been the ease
since.
But if a drouth is prolonged
and severe the supply falls shorl
even if the furnace is idle. We
hail such a drought in the
spring and summer of 1014.
Such expedients -is were qniok
ly available were resorted to
but apparently with Ii Ith sue
cess. There was considcrubli
discussion at the time hut that
seemed to subside when the
rains came ami the supply be.
camo adequate.
If the town i- going to take
steps to remedy 'he situation
and secure a supply of good
water during extreme drouths
it should formulate plans and
execute them before the drouth
comes, as there no time for
such action when the sea re it)
is upon us. About all that can
bo done then is to grumble and
blame the town authorities.
Now let. us see what the town
authorities have within then
roach with which to roun d\ tin
situation,
First; They have a good
pump with all accessories on
Butcher's Fork where the
mains cross it, all counucte I up
ready for use. There is klWuys
plenty of water there and the
pump is of sufficient capacity u,
supply the tow n. Hut the
trouble about that arrangement
is that the Board of Hoaltl will
not permit that water to he
pumped into the in tins mi tin
ground that it is impure. So
much then for Butcher's Fork
Second; There are several big
limestone springs accessible,
any of which would be ample,
but here again the Hoard of
Health interferes because of
impurity ;aud serious consider.!
tiou must be given to any
proposition that involves the
contamination of the mains autl
supply pipes.
Third; Hearing liruncll, in
the Gap, would altord consider
able water during (he tune that
our mains are full hut when a
severe drouth Comes it goes al
most out of business, and that
is the only lime we are interest?
ed.
Fourth; The South Fork of
Powell River would he perfer
ablo to the North Fork hut nei?
ther is worth serious cdnsidera
lion because of contamination.
Fifth; In looking further I
fuiletl to find any water of any
consequence except at the very
place where we draw our sup
ply from. There is always
some water there, na matter
how long the drouth, hut not
enough for our wants. To this
has been ridded at one time by
pumps what was afforded by
two springs each of which
would lill,or rather was thought
would fill, a two iuch pipe, but
while such streams luok^ mi
portant, they prove ^dJsAp
pointing when used to ifiSfply a
town of this size.
So, there seems to bo |Ht on?
ly two ways, one toHiuk a
deep well in the hope of H iking
a sutlicient supply oS water
which can be pump, iff ,>r to
store wator in time nfHpleuty
aud release it in time of {scarci?
ty. It was with the i
storing that the reserved
of lmboden Hill was cur
etl twelve years ag > at a
approximately 4>9.0uu 00.
in it no>v about as much
as it has ever had, |
about a week's supply
wasted. The benefit fro
dea of
back !
istruct
cost of
It has
water
erbaps
if not
in it
that when from any dulse the
supply fai s temporaria lX.such
as leaves or ice stoppiiLg tha
strainers at the intakour breaks'
in Ihn mains, tliu water comes
back clown from it. We use it
frequently; perliaps fifty days
easn year, and don't know it,
and hence do not properly up- (
prectale it.
If it could bo make to hold
its full capacity it might be
enough to laut the town five or
six weeks, perhaps longer, if
not wasted; and while, some
people still have faith that it
can be made to hold. 1 confess
to serious doubts about it. In
my opinion it will continue to
be used for an emergency sup?
ply just as it is now.
Another storage scheine that
has received considerable at?
tention involves a series of con
erete dams across our supply
stream some distance above the
intake. An engineer's report
on this project put the cost till
$30,000 to $40,000 Purchase of
the land would be necessary
and suitable situs for the pur?
pose ate almost inaccessible
owing to the roughness of the
country there. While tlm
scheme appears feasible the
cost is apparently prohibitive
at this lime.
The cost of an eight inch
well 600 to 700 feel deep is not
j believed to be beyond our reach
I but there is some risk to run
about the volume of water it
I may develop. Having this
risk in mind 1 wrote the Direc-I
! tor of The Uj S. Geological:
Survey and also Dr. Watson,
'State Geologist, After appar?
ently careful consideration
I their replies agree that the
(underlying strata in Powell
1 Valley to the north east are
such as to warrant the ex pond i
lure Of a sum sufficient to drill
down to a depth of several hun?
dred feet if necessary. Mr. J.
M. Hodge, who has bored up
; ward of thirty core wells, sev
erttl of them in this county,
Istates thut while there is no
! absolute certainty of a strong
well until it is tried out the llll
derlying conditions are sufll
cieiltly favorable in thu north
east of H ist Sinne (lap to justi?
fy the expense of trying it out.
I Abundant water, is found til
most every when; in the coal
fields to the north of us where
the strata are more porous, but
to the south of Stone Mountain
but one deep well has been sunk
so far ?s 1 know and this one is
ul the tannery here. This one
is a six inch well 27S feet deep
and has been pumped hard
without noticublu effect for 21
hours during which lime Mr.
Zopp, superintendent of the
Tannery plant, estimates that
one hundred thousand gallons
were taken from it. This water
contains considerable iron and
sulphur but no doubt would be
welcomed by consumers with
empty fixtures until belter
water could be had.
This tannery well is at the
fool of Stone Mountain and our
water line runs along the fool
of the same mountain, and k)> i
dently over the same kind
of strata, from above the fur?
nace on to the V. &S. W. Depot
where it bears away toward
town. Therefore for a distance
of over ia mile along the line
there should be reasonable hope
of striking it as good as the
Tannery did.
Hilt the geologists seem to
favor the locality beyond
Butcher's Itidge and the pipe
line is as accessible I hero as
anywhere. Expert opinion,
while not infallible, is Worth
serious consideration. The
question is should we do any?
thing ami if so what? Any?
thing wo tlo will cost some
money, unl while a deep well]
looks besl to me under nil the
circumstances it must not be
forgotten that there is some
I risk to run. It requires some
fortitude to smile down a dry
hole in the ground where $500
or $1)01? has been spent. Some
can do it and some, can not. Hut
after all if anybody has a better
scheme, the cost of which is
not beyond the reach of the
tosvn, let him bring it to the
consideration of the Council
which now has the tleep well
project under consideration.!
Do not wait until something is
done which may fall short of
expectation and thou say you1
knew better all the time and
the Council ought to have
known butter, but oomu right
out and toll us your ideas
about it and they shall have
careful consideration.
w. s. rose,
Mayor.
The Govern?
ment Armor
Plant.
_
Tim following letter written
l>y General Hut us A. A vers to
Senator Thomas s. Martin
places Wise County upon the
lighting line for the armor
plant:
Big Stone (Jap, Yn.
Dec. :iu, )9!0.
linn. Thomas S. Martin.
Washington, D (J,
Dear Senator:
tin behalf of Wise County,
Virginia, 1 desire through you
to present the advantages we
possess for the location of the
Government Armor Plant to
the hoard having the matter iu
charge.
The location of the plant
should not he influenced in any i
way whatever by partisan do
Mgns, nor the interests of any
particular locality. The inter-'
est of the tiovernment alone
should he considered unin
llueuced hy town boosters or
community builders.
There are three important
points tobe considered: First.
It should be located where it
will he safe from destruction by
hostile forces securing a lodge?
ment upon our coasts and aero
planes from blockading tluets
or squadrons.
Second. It should be located
at a point affording adequate
transport at ion facilities for re?
ceiving raw materials and dis?
tributing the manufactured
products to the ditTorctit points
required by the Government.
Third. It should be located
where (he largest quantity of
the best raw material can be
assembled at the lowest cost
reasonably accessable to the
j points of consumption.
There are only two large
fields of the highest grade COlCe
ing coal iu the United States:
One is the Coimellsvlllo Held in
Pennsylvania, ami the other is
the Wise County, Virginia,
Heidi There are other coals iu
different localities equal to
these two, but the area is small
and the supply would not justi?
fy the erection of a permanent
plutlt expected to grow and de
Volon in size and importance.
Whilst the deposits iu the Oon
nellsville, Ponnsylvania, fields
are large, the enormous produc?
tion required for the huge steel
plants of that section is rapidly
depleting this supply.
The Wise. County, Virginia,
field embracing coals of Black
Mountain in Lee County, Vir?
ginia, and Harlan anil Letcher
Counties, Kentucky, is by far
the largest held of high class
coking coal in the United Stales
aud will last fur centuries.
In addition td the coal there
is practically an inexaustihle
field of low phosphorus ami
sulphur, red fossil iron ore lying
adjacent in the counties of Leu
and Scott, Viuginia, and Han?
cock, Tohnessee. All of thin
raw material can he assembled
at low cost, the Big Stone Gap
furnace having a rate of "Jft
cents per Ion for both coal and
cok<- from the holds.
There is probably no point
that can excel Wise County in
transportation facilities, as u
is served by four trunk line
railways, viz: Norfolk it Wes?
tern Louisville i.V. Nashville,
Soulhern and the Cliuchfield
and Ohio, penetrating with
llieir connections every section
of the country, giving easy uc
cess to every seaport on the At?
lantic and Gulf coasts.
Wise County with its abund?
ant railway facilities will en?
able a plant located hero to as?
semble such raw materials na
may be required,"in addition to
those we possess: Such as lake
and interior ores at as low a
freight rate as it can be done
elsewhere, and wo claim the
ability to supply here more raw
material by far than can bo
supplied elsowh'. ro at any thing
like the same cost to produce.
? Located, as we are, west of
numerous mountain ranges
j standing as bulwarks to our
j beautiful valleys we are impreg
I nable to attack from any eue
? my landing upon our coasts.
Wo have held no mass meet
I ings. VVe have sent no solicit?
ing delegations. Wo assume
that tlit* agencies of llio Gov?
ernment want to locate the
plant where the product can be
manufactured and transported i
to destination at the lowest
cost. We invite a careful ex-i
nmiuation and verification ofj
the facts stated. If we can
demonstrate that we have the
location where the armor plate
can be manufactured nod trans?
ported by the Government at
the lowest cost then we want It,
hut if there is a suitable point
where it can be dime cheaper
we do not, as we believe this
principal should determine the
location.
I'lease refer this letter to the
proper official)! having the mat
ter in charge and greatly
oblige.
\ ours trulv,
U. A. A V KKS
CRILL?CARNES.
The lovely home of Mr. and
.Mrs. William Henry fames on
j Procter Street in the Gap was
the scene of a beautiful wed
? ling, when their eldest daugh?
ter, Miss Mary Louise Garnes,
became the bride of Mr. Joseph
Raymond Grill, of Idaho, Mon?
day at high noon. Rev. John
fames, of near Knoxvillo, an
uncle of the bride, officiated,
using the impressive ring cere.
inony,nntl was assisted by Rev.
J. Mi Smith and Rev. W. N.
Wagner, of the (lap.
In the parlor an improvised
altar was formed in tin alcove
made of cedar trees and boll\
in the center of which was the
chandelier softly shaded with
pink in the front of which was
an arch of smilllX studded with
pink crepe rosus.
Just before the ceremony
Mrs. 1. f. Taylor sang very
sweetly "BocaUBe," accompan?
ied on the piuun by Miss Kate
Brown; thou to the beautiful
strains from Lohongrins Bridal
Chorus, played by .Miss Brown,
the bridal party entered. Kirst,
little James Miller Smithy dress,
led in white, carrying the ring
in a while ealla lily, followed
by the little Mower girls, Mar?
garet Maker and Josephine Me
Gorklo, beautifully dressed in
milled while organdie, wearing
little pink satin bodices, pink
hair ribbons and pink stock?
ings and carrying long handled
white Kreuch baskets, the hau
dies of which were Iwinetl with
smilux pink roses and tied with
pink tulle tilled with pink rose
petals. Miss Margaret fames,
the maid of honor, and a sister
of the bride, entered next,
wearing u beautiful dress of
pink crepe de chine and wear?
ing a large black picture hat
and carrying an arm Dotiquol
of pink carnations lied with
pink tulle The bride, dressed
in a handsome (raveling suit of
green broad cloth, witb green
velvet trimmings, wearing a
very becoming green satin and
velvet bat with accessories to
match and carrying a shower
bouquet, comprised of sweet
peas and lilies of the valley,
entered on the arm of her
father, Mr. W. II. Garnes, and
was met at the altar by the
groom, Mr. Joseph K. ('rill, and
his best man, Mr. Will Gose, of
Bristol.
After the ceremony a delight?
ful reception followed. Tho
bridal party entered the dining
room, which was beautifully
decorated with streamers of
pink crepe paper from thechun
deliei to the four corners of the
table. The large bride's cake
on a beautiful crocheted center
piece over pink was used as the
center piece for the tablo on
each side of which was a large
cut glabs vase tilled wiih pink
and white carnations. On the
ends of the table were silv.-r
candelabras holding while ta?
pers. A delicious Bulad course
and coffee were served to all
the guests, followed by an ice
course. Tne pink and white
ices being in the shape of wed
iliug bells and little pink and
white heart shaped cakes on
the top of which were little
cupids.
After the reception Mr. and
Mrs. Crill left on tho three
o'clock train for Rogersville,
whore they spent a day before
going to Chattanooga, where
Mr. Crill has a position und
where they will make their
future home.
The large dioplay ot wedding
gifts, consisting of cut glass,
silver, chinti and linens, attest?
ed the popularity of this happy i
young couple. The bride being
very accomplished, she having
graduated from the public
school here and from Farmville
State Normal School and has an
abundance of friends who, with
tho Post, wish them a long,
happy ami bright life.
Tho out of town guests pres
Ollt were: Mrs .1. H. Hagy, of
Bristol; Mr.-. Lawrence Hyatt
ami son, Jack Hyatt, Miss Km
ma Duncan and brother, Paul
Duncan, of .lonesville; Miss
Margaret Carnot) and Robert
OarheB, of Ponnington Gap;
Mrs. A. K. MoOlure, of Rogors
vlliej Miss Bess Wigton, of
Hiintsville, Ala.; Mrs. K. Litton
and daughter, Miss Kathleen
Litton, o| Lee County, and Mrs.
Henry Qoodloo, of Koauoke.
Those in town present were:
Dr. and Mrs. W. A. Baker. Mrs.
Kilon Haker, Mr. and Mrs. 0.
L. Rowe, Rev and Mrs. W. X.
Wagner, Mrs II. A. W. Skeen.
Rev. and Mrs. J. M. Smith,
Rev. ami Mrs M. P Carico,
Mrs. J. 11. Maihews, Mrs. 1. C.
Taylor, Mrs. Sally A. liailoyj
Mrs. K K. Goodloo, Mrs. W. V.
Goodloe, Dr. and Mrs. t!. C.
lloneycutt, Mrs M R. MeCor
kle, Mrs. J. A. Giltnor, Mr. and
Mrs. A. L. Witt and Mrs. Geo.
Brown.
Misses Georgia and Minnie
Bostwick, Grace and Oorrie
Long, Kate and Malt Brown,
Luuuu Murrs, ?dna Cation,
t'helma, Mary and I'aeauor
Baker, Kathleen Knight, Sarah
Couhruu. Jess and Clara Me-1
Corkle, Janet Bailey, Margaret
and Mary Buhn, J.iary Skeen,
Nellie and Louise- llorsoly.
Messrs. () C. Bell, Dave Bake'r,
Will Lassiler, J. Adams, Wal?
ter Nickels,' Hugh and Martin
Carnes, Baylor BluuchurJ.
Impromptu Dance.
A very enjoyable impromptu
dance was given at the bos
pitable ho.of Mr. ami Mrs
George Taylor Sutuidiiy night
from nine to twelve o'clock.
M?sio was furnished for the
occasston by uuEdisohDiumond
Disc. During the evening Mr*.
Taylor served refreshing grape
punch ami fruit cake.
Those invited to this informal
affair were: Misses Flelchei
Bailey, of Richmond, BossWig
ton, of Huntsville, Ala., Kuih
leeu Litton, of Dot, Leo (Joun
ty, Beverly Taylor, of White
(late, Florence McCormick ami
Janet Bailey. Messers. Pinl
lipps, McFadden, Gole, Tdtn
Oochrail, J. W. Rush and Jack
Hyatt, of Jouesviile.
Party for Tom Cochran.
MifS Sarah Cochran enter?
tained u number of boys ami
girls last Friday night iu honor
of her brother, Tom Cochran,
who has just returned from
Brownsville, Texas, where he
was a sergeant iu Company II.
Three tables of Hearts and
two tables of Rook was the
modo of entertaining during
tlie evening. At the Heart ta?
bles Miss Tholma Baker won
a beautiful sewing bag and
Peler Wolfe a Hash light. W bile
til the Rook table Miss l.ouella
Johnson, of Tacoma, won it
string of heads aud Simon
Banks a silver checking pencil.
At the close of the games
Miss Cochran served at the ta?
bles delicious ice cream aud
fruit cake in the shape of Santa
Clansu.
Those present were: Missus
Fannie and Louellu Johnson, of
Tacoma, Mary Skeen, Thelma
and Mary Baker,Nelliellorsley,
Grace Long, Kathleen Kuighl,
Lillian Wolfe, Helen Young
and Lau n a Mdrrs. Messers.
Waller Nickels, Simon Banks,
Martin Carnes, Peter Wolfe,
Carlisle Skeen, Lester .lessee,
Blieben Banks, Campbell uml
Tom Cochran.
Shot and Killed.
Freeling, Va.,Dec. '26.?News
just received here from Shelby
Gap, a nereby town across tho
Kentucky border, is in effect
that Denny Vanover, aged 60,
or thereabout, was shot aud
instantly killed by Ira Potter,
iiIbo u resident of the samo
town. The report carries only
meager details of che affair, bht
a grudge had existed between
i the two men for some time.
The deceased was well known
in this vicinity. He leaves a
wife and several children.
Miss Mullins Entertains.
Miss Glcssie Mullins enter?
tained very delightfully a num?
ber of her young friends at iier ?
home near the Southern de?
pot last Saturday night from 8
until ll;30 o'clock. A number
of games were played, after
which refreshments, consisting
of oranges and 3 kinds of can?
dy, were served.
Among those present wero:
Misses Uuth Moore; NTaomiQo'(T,
Mary Witt, Mae Williams,Kthel
Cole, Mamie Bolton and (lies
sie Mullins. The boys were:
William Uolo, Howard, des.,
Krank Allman, Doyal Baker,
Bryan Willis, Glenn Bel ton, K.
L ino and Marry W all.ice.
Young Policeman Killed.
Krecling, Yu., Dec. 27?The
body of George Moouoy, sou of
James 0. Mooney,of Clint wood,
who was killed at Ualeigli,N.C,
was brought to the home of his
father for burial on Christmas.
Voting M??ney was on the po
lice at Italeigh, where he was
shot by a negro. Mooney was
Well known here, and the alTair
has caused quite a stir.
DICKLNSON COUNTY
NEWS.
[?reeling, Vn.. Dec. '2S.?The
rough weather during thu past
two weeks is having a bad ef?
fect on live stock, as generally
speaking there is not sufUcinut
protection. Cattle, especially,
are allowed to "stand out".
There is a scarcity of feed in
this immediate section.
Alexander Mullins,tin- special
justice of the peace appointed
at the recent term of Judge
Burns' Conn, is looking closely
liter the offenders of law in the
Cumherlnnils, He goes at it on
principal that to spare the rod
is to spoil the child.
The in ids have been very
seriously congested during the
holiday season, and the car?
riers over the star routes are
complaining of being overload?
ed.
Recommended
By A Friend
And Since Taking Advice the
"National Ionic" Has
Helped and Her Im
? provement Been
Wonderful.
Upon the recommendation of
it friend Mrs. B. O Leo, of 131
Jefferson Street, Danville, Va.,
bought two bottles of Tunlnc,
the "National Tonic", and her
relief through tin- use of it is as
follows, winch is a copy of n
statement made by her.
"1 Buffered from nervous
headaches, general run-down
condition, my symptoms wero
it constant sick or nervous head?
ache, couldn't sleep well ut
night, 1 suffered intensely. I
hail l.n suffering for tpjite u
long time, and had tried a num?
ber of other remedies without
result. Since taking two bot?
tles of the new medicine my
improvement has been wonder?
ful. I no longer suffer from
those terrible headaches, my
nerves are in better shape and i
now -sleep well at night In fact
1 feel a great deal bett- r in ev?
ery way. I honestly believe it
is a lino medicine. It has
helped me beyond words and I
believe it will help others suff?
ering as 1 was. The medicine
has proven auch a bonne in rny
case that I shall continue its
use."
Surely after redding this if
you are suffering as this lady
did you will give it n trial. It
can be secured ut the Mutual
Drug Company.?adv.
We will buy good second hand
furniture or exchange. Write
us if you want Pianos, Organs
or Victrolus. Wo will exchange
new pianos for old pianos and
organs. Would like to trade a
piano for >.? good horse and bug?
gy. Write Blankenship, Box
?7, App'alachia. 1-t
When you make up your
mind that you can't do a thing,
lake a fresh start and do it.