Virginian in 1910 -- Unlikely territory

[NW Mailing List]

That Potts Creek is a long way from Rocky Gap. Either the writer is
geographically challenged, or he was aware of a different water course which
was called "Potts Creek" somewhere in Bland County. Maybe! Bland County was
essentially a wilderness in 1910, and in many ways it still is. At any rate,
it would have been a bit of a stretch for the Virginian to go in that
direction. Interesting speculation.        Jim Nichols

 

January 4, 1910

 

VIRGINIAN TO BLAND

------

May Go Over Tracks of New River, Holston and Western

 

    The Hardwood Lumber and Mining Company, which has about 6,000 acres of
timber near Rocky Gap, expects to market the standing timber in a short
time.  In addition to having some good timber the company claims to have a
fine deposit of iron found in Potts Creek.  The property is near the New
River, Holston and Western terminal at Rocky Gap and on account of being
accessible to the railroad is a desirable property.  The railroad, which is
said to be the property of the Lees-McVitty Tannery Company, is perhaps a
real solution of the Virginian question, as it may be possible that the
Virginian will go up that route into the timber, coal and iron deposits of
Bland county. If this should be done the railroad could get plenty of water
and would have a territory which at the present time is practically
untouched.  This plan would not help Bluefield as it would take the railroad
on the side of the East River mountain opposite to Bluefield.

------

[The reason for the reference to Potts Creek is puzzling because Potts Creek
lies generally east (VGN side) of New River whereas the NR, H&W follows Wolf
Creek, which is generally west (N&W side) of New River.

 

This is the last BDT article to be posted until I return home this coming
Thursday.]

 

Gordon Hamilton

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20090809/3ce0d00f/attachment-0001.html>