Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-07-14
CLOVER HILL COAL MINES.
cLovKR Hill. cursrrsrIrLD COUNTY, ,

4 n.
July 9Th, 1886. {
| To the Editors Of tAe WAis:
| Senuemcn-Oace more allow me, through your lou,
nal to speak and be heard After finishing nv ,rip up III
seu'h'de OF the James River. narrative Of which hay
presented FOR what it worth through the columns of IN
Wh'g' returned TO Richmond. The next morning too
the Petersburg cars for this place. In crossing the Brids
had hne view OF the city, peeng upwards on its eve
lasting hills. never look upon IL without memory reca
hing the rceolecuons OF YOUTH and eutwniug destiny
my affections with the strongest cords II might have he'll
proud position among the expan ding and magnificent e
ties OF North America; but does cannot but hop
it still may become the pride Of present and the e,or
OF coming generations The political atmosphere we now
and for many yesrs have inhaled breshes death into on
nosus We must escape this alctiou, citizens while tn
power with us, or obscury will become to-
for endurance. The nobes part OF your young mer
will abandon you, seek those treasures and rewards
other lands where better natures rule the State Lot III
combine then, for the good of the State and show spir
worthy Of the This will excite the pride and the en-
erges OF the young men, without whom nothing can be
done.
Ia few minutes after crossed the Bridge the cars took
rapid movement, and went with the speed of the
wind From Manchester on, far travcrsed this
route but few places caught eye which indicated the
dwelling place OF man. All wild when the Abo.
rsiues rOamed undsurbcd hunt their forest game in
this, "their their native land" But away with
such sights and the reflections they bring. BY mis-
take the Clover Hill Rail Road coach did not meet me a,
the junction. Not wishing wait in the SUM- pushed on
up the road with the hope that burthen would soon
be on and should reach the mines IN time for dinner
After going distance through a scorching SUM- put
into the woods and found cabin near by. asked for
some cool water, and surrounded by regiment
OF men, and children OF all coors and kinds bare
headed and bsreooed The water drawn by the CAP
tain OF the company, and the second in command who
slept up with gourd. full OF and full
OF stitches and said Stranger, this mighty
good, but i, chuck full OF triggiefals told her
would bar the tesgifaLs with my teeth rather than 20
without soon found had terrible force to en-.
counter; but water must have, for nearly ehoaking
with thirst Now If any person believes had trouble
with these nsgIetdls, let him go and try In few mo-
ments, distinctly that in a democratic camp
bottle Of whiskey brought out, and OF inyi-
ted TO pariake OF ito which demurred. This how
ever, did them, and they all drank bumpers TO
each other. In little while the whole batch most
deectaby fuddled. This induced talking large scale;
then squabble, and then row-but how ended dontt
KNOW for this uncture heard the cars coming and off
started for the Pits, which reached two O'Clock
Wishing that Satin and Sin
Might not long reign within
The house / left behind.
The Clover Hill Rail Road by which the coal is carried
from these mines TO Richmond Petersburg and Port Wal
thsll, finished IN lS45 IL eighteen miles long
The OF this road was $50 900. IL was the under
taking OF four enierpnzing gentlemen. They built IL
without conventions parade The world Just stands
as 1t did when they made up their minds TO make the
road, the excavations and entertainments IL should
others who make such eatie and do nothing 10
and do likewise. is the desire OF the Stockho ders
carry 1t to the AppomattoK River have no doubt
bat 1t will be profitable the Stockholders and the COM
munity large quantity OF freiglt besides coal now
carried the road. Every hour you can see i'm
mense trains passing and repassing with coal empty
cars The world wsgs fairly yet for only pursue
it right
There are three distinct Companies mining coal with
three quarters Of mile Of each other this place. viz
The Clover Hill, the Beaver and the Tippecanoe. The
inst mentioned coal discovered in tho wear
1889, by James II. Cox, Esq. on his own land He di-
ecy afterwards commenced operations and carried Il on
by himself for II months when Charter was obtained
aud Company formed. The operations, until the COM
pleon OF the Railroad necessarily small they had
10 Wagon the coal distance Of 30 miles Petersburg
for market TIE Railroad now gives them outlet to
Petersburg Port Wsths Manchester and Richmond. be-
sides free access TO foreign markets. They able
have fair tilt with the Of the eoers for a sale OF
their coal. They employ about one hundred hands, the
most OF whom are blacks. The average amount of coal
they able TO, and do raise per year, Is a half
million Of bushels. The fine coal principally goes North
the lump sold usually IN Petersburg, Norfolk, Rich
mond, Washington and other towns in Eastern Virginia
The coal, far has been tined for the purpose Of
manufacturing burning in CRATES and for steamboat use
has proved successful IL been used great accep
tauon by the government board Of the stcaushps-
The coal is and inhammsbc, with but little sui
phu and makes but small amount Of ashes dirt The
character OF Tins coal all respects same with
the other Mines and while speaking OF this intend
my remarks apply with equal force the Tippecanoe
and the Beaver. As nave Partiay for either can
speak dsinierestedly.
went down the shafts OF each Company to examine
their mines Neither OF them deeper than three hun
dred feet The Clovertiil the Oldest and has been
the extensively worked All the circumstances con-
sdered, this Pit has been and worked very udicousy
and skllfuly, and is well ventilated The Tippeca-
Mines lying about hundred and hfy yards South
OF the CloverHi is worked by Mr. George w. Johnson
Toe coal is Of the general character with the Co-
ver-l The water in this mine, like that OF the other
two, (but especially OF the Clover Hill keeps up
regular scue with the miners for the faest share of the
treasures Of the Pit. They troubled now in con-
sequence OF the unusually heavy rains which have latey
fallen. This is Pit and has commended against ma
ny unfortunate, and sometimes unavoidable mistakes and
bunders, getting the coal, and in the general ma
nagement Tor procuring It with cheapness and despatch
This slate OF things however, IN greater less degree
has attended the opening OF all the mines in and shout
Richmond. few errors sometimes necessary 10
make man perfect in his business. Mr.. Howard who
suPernends the mines below, informs me. that the coal
50 Tar as Aas been tied, very satisfactory. IL looks
WELL and burns well. Mr. Johnson, who was absent du
rlng my stay, and who very excellent man. works In
his Pit about fifty hands, and over two hundred
thousand bushels Of coal per year
The Beaver Mines is the property Of the Cloyer-Hill
Railroad Company, OF which William II. Macfarland is
President and j. II. Hopkins General Agent This mine
lies su farther South and is at present the terminus Of
the Railroad. This is likewise new Pit. The shaft Is
22O feet deep went down it with Mr. Hopkins SO
lar the mines have been managed with good deal Of
Judgment, and should think That Mr.. Steel. who has
charge OF ihem Is well qualified 10 look hereaf-
ter This coal varies little respects from that OF
the other mines. several certificates from the
Navy Yard, atWasnington, from smiths and msnufaciu-
tired BY the Baltimore Gas Works and very highly spoken
Of. IL s likewise with the Goals OF the other mines most
acceptable for Crates, smiths work. engines and
tor various branches Of iron manufacture. They work
about seventy hands and per year three hundred and
hiy thousand bushels Of coal The Of the ras-
ed from these mines - shipped from Port Watha Rail
Road 10 which Is complete from the mines.
These Companies have each very extensive fields Of
coal to work-he first and latter, however the greatest
Coal was found and partially worked seventy wears ago
South OF these mines, the AppomaoI River; but the
difficulty OF getting market swamped the undertaking;
and my fears are that these enterpnsng gentlemen, Of
whom have spoken, will have put out their fires and
suspend their operations, If the Sir Robert Walker TanfT
Bill passed by the Senate the "unteuihed" nature Of
democracy 10 the contrary Notwithstanding The Pctou
coal, which more generally resembles the Richmond coal
than any other IN the Atlantic States now under tie
and Of le42 come into Boston aud oil the New England
ports and 70 sold for j. "a per bushe while ours
cannot be sold Tor Ices than from 81 cts per bushe
The superiority alone Of our coal. gives market
but should this English Tariff, passed by part Of the
dmeTeaH COngTet, (umes have changed since the Reyo
lutonJ 20 through the Senlte the Pctou coal can come
into all those ports for Is cents and New York for cts
closing those ports altogether sgainsi the Virginia coal
The main trade Of these mines has been with the States
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