Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-06-03
From The FairmOat True rirgiria".
MOnOngahcla and RayeRswOod Rail-
road,

DEAR Sir: The spirit in behalf ct
this road US hoped and expected runs
high. No improvement ever contem-
plated in this part ofthe countryi,ss eS-
cited such general interest,", and that IN
terest vii! increase as its advantages are
brought in review before the people
The report of the Baltimore and org
railroad company Of tho operations 'df
tina, company during the month # April
will 60 far to increase that interest, when
generally read and understood: We
| find in that report that the Fuirmcnt
coal is styled,he "pure hituminnus coal"
and would infer from that report that
for gas purposes tits considered superior
to any other coal in the United States
1had learned befogs,hatthe Cumberland
coal would not do for making gas, but
until saw that report I had no idsathat
coal was shipped from Europe for inc
purpose Of making gas to supply the
Atlantic cities TO very great extent.
In this northwestern part ofEirginia
we have grea, many coal beds in tho
hills and valleys. The large coal bed
from which are now being shipped, daily
200 tons of coal TO Baltimore is to DO
found all along the Valley of the Mon
ongahela liver from point below Fair
mont some miles 10 at least some fifty
miles up the West Fork river. The
general course ofihis river from Clarks-
burg to the Pennsylvania line is about
north 400 east, and ihrsugh its whole
course the river breaks through these
coal beds. The formation Of these coal
beds is ofsuch character tina, little or
10 coal can be had from this large thick
vein except near tho river. Its inclina-
ton to the southeast is SO great that it
runs OUT while it dips to tho northwest
so that it cannot be had one mile from
the river on the west side. TO thesouth-
west it is about horizontal and is to BIO
found only near the river. The Ravens
wood railroad when constructed will
pass along through this coalbed referred
TO III the report Of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad company for OF least fifty
miles. and probably one hundred; for |
recnllcct that in conversation with Mr..
Briggs, assistant geologist, in 1910 he
stated that he had traced this large coal
bed as far southwest as TO the Great
Kanahwa at Charleston.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad
runs across tho hills and valleys pretty
mich from the Potomac 10 the Ohio
river, running only few miles along the
Monongahela liver; yet tho owners Of
that road are making large calculations
| Judging from the report referred TOY
upon The coal operation from and near
Fairmont And, indeed thclan upon
which this coal bed lies on tho line of,he
Baltimore and Ohio railroad can now bo
sold for from one to two hundred dollars
per acre; and is it not reasonable to sup
pose that when the Raycnswood railroad
is constructed oil the coal lands along
its line will have increased greatly IN
valuel But this is not all. The making
this road will introduce all along It's line
thousands oflaborers to work IL these
coal mines thereby increasing our pop.
ulation and wealth md making homo
demand for all the farmers has to spOro.
In conclusion, lie, me ask, Mr Editor.
who can tel OF all tho advantages that
arc to los from tho construction Of this
road? MARION.