The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-10-24


/. NUT sends to market, monthly, about seven
thousand tons. The companies named have
have greater capacity to produce coal than
, their shipments Indicate, but at this time
they are not able to procure cars to transport
it,
The StMary's, Shawmut and Cameron coal
mines have not been opened year yet. They
are new enterprises. In addition to them
there are seven other companies organized,
and now engaged in opening or preparing to
open oal mines. This development may be
: regarded as remarkable. especially, when we
reflect that the Philadelphia and Erie Railroad
was only opened in October last, 1864. 1t is
practically certain that many more companies
will be formed and mines opened, it cannot
, be otherwise, as the region is rich in mineral
coal, and it invites the investment Of capital.
There is no other coal basin so near Buffalo
and Rochester as the one undertaking and
enriching the counties Of Mexican, Elk and
| Cameron and it is an important fact, not to
!; be overlooked that this coal can be reached
by rrilroad not expensive TO build, and that
will forever hold an advantage by reason of
its light grades.
| | repeat that these coal deposits occur at
: different points on the line of the Philadelphia
and Erie Railroad, both eastand west of En-
porium for fifty miles, and they extend south
into the Interior ofPennsylvania for an indef
mite distance. ou will comprehend from
the facts | have furnished, why am justified
in assuring you that the supply of coal is
abundant enough to last forever, and meet all
demands. In support Of this assurance | re-
ispectfuliy refer you to vol. I'd, page 465 Geol-
ogy Of Pennsylvania, wherein Professor Rog-
ers, State Geologist, says, ''all the bituminous
rona 0rtb Of
) Mountains, with the north end Of the Cumber-
! land Basin, comprises an area of twelve thous-
and two hundred and twenty-five square miles"
| will barely add that it is one of the large ba-
sins composing this vast area that has been
&. opened by the-coal mines have mentioned.
] To the inhabitants of Buffalo the introduc-
I ton Of this coal will be a blessing. Fuel is
as necessary as Bread. They who shall be
instrumental in opening the way for steady
supply will deserve thanks as public benefac-
tors.
The foregoing letter shows conclusively
e that there is an abundance of coal at or near
e the terminus of the Buffalo and Washington
Railway at Emporium, more than sufficient to
r supply the wants of all the Lake regions for
t centuries to come. But as reserve in case
t of still greater wants than can be furnished
= from the coal district indicated by Mr.. Ball
i the following letter to Mr.. Wallace. from n. F..
Jones, ESQ., Civil Engineer, Of Philadelphia,
' under date of Sept, IL, 1865, will show an
additional supply, that will be furnished to
2 pass over eighty miles of the Buffalo and
, Washington Railway. He says:
Il take the first opportunity to reply to your
: enquiries, relative to the coal trade that can
be brought to your road from the mines in Nc
Kean county, Pennsylvania.
At Larabees, point on your line, eighty
miles from Buffalo, you are on the Allegheny
5 River at the mouth of Potato Creek, twenty
miles by the valley of that stream from what
is known as the Bunker Hill mines, so that
the total distance from the coal to Buffalo is
: one hundred miles.
} The twenty miles required to reach it from
r LarabeeS, is over ground on which l have
carefully located and prepared for obstruction
line of railroad to connect the mines with
the Genessee Valley Canal. 1t is seldom that
! ground can be found in any country better
, adapted to a railroad line.
The first fifteen miles has an average ascent
, of less than six feet per mile. To save cost
in construction, maximus grade of twenty
one feet per mile is used. None Of the curv-
ature exceed three degrees, and sixty per
cent. of the distance is straight line
On the remaining five miles the same quail
ity of curvature is maintained, bat the grade
is increased to ninety-fve feet per mile for
three miles. All the grades are in favor of
the trade, so that the capacity of a locomotive
; will be limited only by the number of empty
cars she can take up to the mines. Over the
first fft~en miles she can haul $50, ton cars
ane over the upper FIVE miles she can take the
same number In two trips; so that by doub-
ling tha end Of the road, single engine can
E work down $50 tons Of coal IN a run oS fifty
t miles.
the Graduation will reqtire the removal of
100000 cubic yards of material an average
distance of 400 feet very little OF it being rock
r The Masonry will consist of 500 C. yds. lst
e class, 1900 C. yds. I'd class and 500 c. yds.3d
class.
The Bridging will require but two truss
bridges of 90 feet span each-about 900 feet
lincal or plain tringers and some open trestle
f work.
From thsee items you will perceive that the
work is all of the very lightest character. and
can be constructed at very moderate cost
. COAL.
The best coal basin in Mexican county is
penetrated by this line. 1t surrounds Red
i Mill Brook, one of the branches of Potato
: Creek, and embraces au area of about lC, 900
acres.
In the ofcourse examinations recently made
on track that lays in part within this coal
basin, l had opportunity to become intimately
acquainted with its character and capacity
for coal production.
These examinations consisted of drilling
wells, down from the tops of the ridges entire
: ly through the coal measures thus cutting all
the veins in succession, in sinking shafts upon
4 them at various poinls, and opening drifts on
them in the faces Of the hills.
: One of the wells passed through 81 feet A
7 inchesof coal in sixiworkable veins,a follows:
e At 81 feet down, fee. 10 inches coal; at
f 40 feet, feet inch coal at 81 feet, feet