Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-07-15
The Mahoning Valley.


Of its agricultural capacity, its pro-
ducts of butter and cheese, and the cat
tie yearly sent to market, bear evidence.
1t is not famous as a grain producing
district, but this is only because its
farmers think they find it more to their
interest 10 turn their attention in other
channels. Suffice it 10 say that it is
not surpassed as an agricultural district,
in natural advantages. by any other
part of Ohio.
In minerals, especially in coal and
iron ore, it is exceedingly rich. Of the
extent of its coal fields, we do not pro-
fess TO be able TO make a very accurate
calculation, but taking the Report Of the
Geological Survey made by Chas Whit
tlesey in 1842, and such information as
we a gather from practical men, who
have formed their opinions from actual
experience, and investigation, as a basis,
We are confident that il would be a low
estimate, TO say there are $4,000 acres
of coal land in the Mahoning Valley
1t is computed that a coal vein four feet
in thickness, viii yield 5000 tons per
acre. The G.. & Nj. Railroad is now de-
livering at Cleveland, of this coal, about
500 tons per day, 5000 tons per week,
or $50. 900 tons per year. Assuming
that the P. 81 o. Canal, takes one half
as much, and that the demand for
home consumption, is the same in amount
as is carried on the canal, the whole "a
noun mined per year is 800, 900 tons,
or the product Of 60 acres. II this cal
c%ulalion is correct, land it is certainly
acithin bounds it would require 500
years, at the same same rate, to exhaust
the coal of the Mahoning Valley.
Between Warren and New Castle,
some 80 or 40 coal mines have been
opened. Of these, three, only. are at
present connected with the C. & II. R.
R., and from these alone are taken the
500 tons daily. They are, first, the Min
eral Ridge, owned by Rice. French &
Co, connected with the G. Il II. R. II.
by a raj. road, two miles in length, of the
same guage, so that Railroad Cars are
run directly under the schu.es. and load
ed there. From this mine have been
shipped since the 1st of Nay, about
10, 200 tons.
The next are the Girard Mines, own
ed By Tod & Morris, connected by a
horse railroad, with schutes at its juno
ton with the G.. & NJ. Road. From
this mine has come the bulk OF the coal
as yet carried by the C. & M. R. R., or
from three, TO four hundred tons per
day.
The third, is the yeritable Briar Hill
mine, owned by Hon. David Tod. He
has shipped about 60 tons per day.
by rail.
Large quantities of coal have been
shipped by the P. q o. Canal, from the
Briar Hill, and Girard mines, during the
season thus far, besides the amount sent
by Railroad.
These three mines are only at the Dor
der Of the coal-ielJ through which the
c. d NJ. Il r. runs, and when the road
is completed to New Castle, we predict
it will be the Reading Road of Ohio.
As to the quality Of the Mahoning
Coal, we venture the assertion
without fear Of contradiction, that no
coal in the Cleveland Market, can COM
pete with the Briar Hill. for marufactur-
ing or steamboat purposes, or with the
Mineral Ridge. for The manufacture of
iron or gas. These facts are becoming
known, and the consequence is,
hat although the amount Of coal deliv-
cred in Cleveland this season, far exceeds
hat Of any past year, still the supply !
does not equal the demand. There is :
therefore, every reason to believe that
he amount of coal shipped. will be {
doubled, if not quadrupled 10 two wears. S
But this is not all. What is there to
this Valley from becoming one !
immense mandatory? Let US estimate
he value of one pound of coal in its
Mechanical application in producing |
steam. as compared with a mans labor.
Il has been demonstrated that a man of :
ordinary strength, a raise $50 pounds I
through a height of 10000 feet per
lay. or one pound 1900. 900 feet.-l
Then. in order to estimate the mechani !
;al value of coal. il is necessary to as ,
certain The number of pounds which a q
,iven quantity OF fuel will raise to a S
,iven height. In the steam engine, this |
5 called tie duty of fuel. Now the =
present maximum duty of one bushel, II
81 pounds,) of good coal, in a good }
engine, is equivalent to 1OO.- r
700, 900 pounds. though a single bushel P
las been made to raise 195. 1000. 900 Of =
pounds one foot in height. Thus one i
,ound of coal will raise one 100000
ret in heighth, or $50 pounds, 10000 \
eel, which is exactly the same as the
esult Of a mans toll per day. ii
Now if a man can. upon the average, P
abor twenty years. of three hundred l
each. during his lifetime. or 5000 =
the total mechanical effort of his "
would be equivalent 10 60O0 r,
'ounds Of coal, or just three tous. Il