Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-01-10
THE COAL MINES OF Pennsylvania

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The Philadelphia North American has long
article upon the anthracite coal mines OF Penn
sylvania aud the millions Of dollars invested in
the mining, transportation to tde-water, and ex-
poraon of the article. The amount Of capital
invested is enormous, and though the production
is already great, the trade NAV be said to be yet
in lis infancy. New and valuable markets con-
tnue 10 be opened. Anthracite is daily more and
more used on steamboats, and in Eastern manu-
factories and is finding its way into interior VII
lagos OF New England aud New York and in the
Southern States, as works of internal improve.
ment are extended. The production last year
was near three and half millions Of tons. We be-
lieye it will be more than doubled within the COM
ing ten years. The Schpylkill coal region alone
sent 10 market 604 20S tons by the Reading
Railroad and Schuylki navgation-both very
costly works, which seem TO present a fair oppor-
tuniiy for testing the relative advantages Of the
two ltlads OF improvement with this disadvantage,
however, that the Reading Railroad is the most
costly IN ITS construction and management OF any
IN the United States. Notwithstanding this how
ever, the exhibit made is greatly in favor of Rail
roads, few facts will show.
The Railroad, machinery, cars SC absorb
capital Of l6,100 600 1t employs 900 men,
elghty-six locomotives and five thousand and
elghiy-SlX coal cars. 1t transported last year to
market IL 1000 tons. The gross receipts were
81 $50 ,000.-hc expenses about $3.50 000-lea-
wing balance Of one million of dollars, equiva-
lent to an interest of mole than six per cent up-
on the capital. II was opened in 1912.
The Schuylkill navigation, consisting of canal
and Sack-W alter navigation is l6S miles in length,
and extends from Philadelphia 10 Pottsville. Ii
has been twice enlarged, and has cost in all S.
435,Sl0 81. 1t was opened in 1925, and that
year carried to market $500 tons. And here we
must beg leave TO introduce Renaissance con-
nccted with the subject. Some four wears AGO.
we dined at the table of friend in Philadelphia
and met there Mr. h. gentleman well known
as one OF the pioneers in the coal trade lie mem
toned, as illustrative OF the moderation of the
hopes OF the most sanguine, in the outset of the
enterprise, that the year after the Schuvlkill nav.
lgatlon was completed to the coal-feld, he and
his partners made their usual quarterly visit TO
their mine and partooll of their usual dinner at
PotiSvlIIc. One of the party, dwelling upon the
TACT that SIX or seven thousand tons Of coal had
already been sent in one year to Philadelphia, as
II carried away by the prophetic afatuS, declared
III an energetic manner that there were those at
The table who would live to see TWENTY THOU
SAND tons sent to market The prediction was
laughed at for its extravaganza and attributed
partly 10 the sangulne temperament of the old
gentleman, and partly TO the quantity of wine he
had mbbed. We do not know whether he be
still alive. Mr.. l.. is and has seen last year, as
we have stated, instead of twenty thousand, more
than million and half, tons forwarded from
that reglon-the greater kait by mode Of trans
porahon not then dreamed Of
But 10 return 10 the Schuylkill navigation. In
1911, the year before the Railroad was opened,
1t carried to market $50 5I2 tons. Last year on
~ 4N9,2CS tons-the tolls on which amounted TO
33l2,523 81. we do not see the expenses sta
ted.
The next most important coal region is the I.e-
high. There were sent from this field during the
past year, chiefly TO Eastern ports by the Lchgh
and SuSquchannah Railroad the Lchigh Canal
and the Delaware division ofthe PENNSYLVANIA
Canal, eight hundred thousand tons.
The remaining regions from which coal is ex-
ported, are the Wyoming, the Pine Grove, the
Shamokin and Lykcn's valley.
We sulIoin certain rccapiuatons which will
give an idea Of the Importance to Pennsylvania
OF this interest, which has sprung up within the
last twenty-five years, and the expansion ofwhich
it would be difficult 10 foretel.