New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-16
ANJURz,ITE cor.
NyYoNr1NG vAILEY-v1UNlS AND MiNiNG O'Il, "a,
COZ TRADE. r.,EsLNT AND PROSPECTIVE

~
,.,;,;,, 80 a. natural attractions and the unsUr-
,as.d ,,ty Of is scenery, presents many 1ea'ui %
- ,..liar interest not found IN other localities AS
III ~ t,o,Vn anthracite Of the world Is conlncd 70
Ujs little area il is doubtful il any ioc"Hy
of the. ike area and population IS OF moro lc'H
i,,n,rtapcs to all sections of tho cOun<y' Inc
Anthracite Basin, which embraces the MyO
ming. Carbondalo and Nanticook districts
a. about 80 miles In length, aud averages lour ia
width Ii lies between two unbrOken mountain
ranges which rise 20 an average hight OF lUV zee"
In general shape il is not unlike q canoe-terhina'-
inc NJ either end in narrow deiiie and widening
toward tho center. The surface of the valley is pm
crally low plain, rolling gently in places and pre-,
snnting most charming appearance When 49,
from any of tho surrounding hills. Inc son % -
duCtiVe ana uidOF high cultivation; IaisihE ffi;'L
aud corn in large Quantities on the farm ANUS W. ~
ON the western side. rise nearly 10 inc 'op IL, tbo
InOuntgins. Through tho cehltr OF tiT rn,Ttons
SusquahBuna iUst assuming the dighlheu PlOno;,"j
of river windS ggac,fUlY passing l1ul'' v T. H.
islands and twImug among the geHtS l T; "a 80
i'.;,e =, re"iou oore favored by nature, and tpOso
who have visited 10 will never lotgoI uie tvn'"nsIO
beauty Of IT. scenery, even though tneY ii 10 g
Giate It's ever inCr, asing prosperity a"u 'I'o Va
i Th h,cf fafTr of this beautiful valley is the vast
beds of the purest anthracite coal eNtendlng Us en-
A. i,nvth and width from Carbonate to Nanti-
cook On the sides and gt the foot OF the mountain
tGs veins c,,u out-the lower strata showing them
surface of tho valley. The mean depth oil the desf-
able strata VI shafts are sunk about eql-uiS'3ht lou
either range Of hills, * iron, four 20 I'VE huhoitu
feet Ii is perfectly SAFE, 80 IA rs silh!us SOdi 10
concerned, 10 sink shaft anywhere WITHIN lne iiul-
its Of the coal bso tho only choice ot S5nalloh be-
ing where 10 rs most convenient 10 erect 'uc iOs'
r. shoots and ,ar merry where the least boiihH IS
Tcuuircd 20 reach the Vcill ENtiYW mere hhucIhtah
YOU is coal and If they continue working III al t9e
present rate. IN one two generations lheS "iu
have bored this beautiful country rs tuli oil NOTES rs
kitchen cuiiondrr. ne Coz" iles III stials " f"i
Il. .fNvf ltpuip
fle .Iate and soft ciumhling shae. THIS, tOcethet
with the beds 81 Erc-clay and rock something's iouh9
between the VEINS Of coal is ofien sevCai hundred
feet in it's aggeEatr thickness. Iahhg an tuc NS7
there Is about silly feet OF available coGl uhAVl-
9ying the entire Vailey-enOngh 10 Supply Is many
succeeding general niiS HS wilA it'lutet "i'h 1--we
discoveries and inventions shall nave rendered
coal fires a. rare now tue backlOgS ana open
1rrpiacOS 81 traditional memory. -
Notwithstanding the fact that Goa! was discovered
here some 80 years ago by those WHO hneW ana
proclaimed it's value fuel, 1t Is only Wtnih Tug
last few years that the attention of outside cAtai-
lists ms boed called to its Importance, and any con-
siderable amount of capital invested IN mining opera
fious The anecdotes told of those VINO were NANNY
Instrumental ia introducing II INTO genera use gre
very entertaining one of these was the Hon Charles
Miner the venerable historian ~ wyoming ,Honi
whom your correspondent, several years ago. hedhu
many amusing stories OF his own experience as a
coal operator. One OF two mines We're opohed ~ He
Irhlqh Coal Company az early as 1906 but. owing 10
the prevailing dStruSt OF any such stony ine among
ali classes OF society it found unpTohtable 10
work it, A Mr.. Allen. who attempted IT'S hTst htfO-
4
tion for swiudiing those who had yainly attempted
10 bun the stone in wood stoves. About the same
time al attempt was made to use II III Wno,hlh
AT SChuylkill Falls Two wagon lOadS were plleu III
TO the furnace and the fire kndled; but all the men
in the mill could not poke it into heat Dlgusted
at the failure the wOrkmen shut up the furnace ana
went away. Accidentally returning few minutes
after Of the operatives was astOnlSheo 10 ma te
furnace at o white heat and blazing up to the
very top Of the chimney. The letting
alOnen process was subsequently repeated with
equally satisfactory results When me uuhfy ol
coal came to DO recognized however, IL ~s Iom, a
profitable to mine u, and cOnSldeiahle caWtI Vas
Invested by the residents of the locality III mining
operations When once generally introduced, u was
found to he necessity. and, rs rs usually the case
with such ENTERPRISE general rush OF mOneyed men
fOllOwed-all anxious 10 engage IN so prOltable a
business. During the war TINS became almost
mania in certain localities and In consequence OF the
large number of new companies having eXliumed
vast surplus OF coal tbs business has been spoiled
for the present 10y beiun ONcTdOne. As IODg as the
working of the veins was IN the hands OF the lew
resident capitalists who commenced 1T large fortunes
were made In few yt&is Inc pr song 63eT
mined 20 take advantage OF the opportunity COM
pauies were formed IN the cities ana operations
begun OH more extensive scale lheSe c0fPcrSJlohs
commenced purchasing lands III the valley, Dtgh-
ming in the neighbOIhOOd Of Scranton aud carbon
dale and gradually extending south and West-ae-
aurng vast tracts that are either held OF worked,
according TO circumstances The great demand Tor
coal and the high prices obtainabe during the laJe
war; induced heavy investments, ana many millions
were expended on the improvements necessary 10
the opening and working of mines. As soon as the
however and the market value of everything fell
with the return Of peace TO what more nearly reSen
bcd the old standard OF prices II was suddenly
discovered that an immense stock remained on hanu
Rt the mines and coal depOts. In spite OF TINS the
operators continued shipping rs before, hoping Tor
favorable change in the condition of affairs, until an
absolute want Of the market compelled cessation of
operations IN some instances, ana very nOueIate
procedure i'm others. Were II possible TO do so with
out actual loss, it is certain that most companies
would temporarily suspend operations, and close w
their works until better times came The desire 10
retain and provide for their workmen, rs well as 10
keep their valuable machinery III OTdeI iOT Iutuie
use has prevented total stOppage IN most INSTANCES
although the value of coal delivered at Maucl
Chunk, which is the main depot and shipping port
of this district does not more than cover the mining
and freighting expenses, In one instance large lot
of first quality coal was consigned by 9 WlikesDarTe
operator to q commission merchant at Mauch Chunk,
by whom IT was sold for 3 . per ton, which was
the highest price then Obtainabe. In settling up
accounts it was found that the cost OF mining and
transportation had entirely consumed the value OF
the coal leaving the operator debt to his agent 10
the amount of his commissions In view OF these
facts it hardly be expected that the mines viii
be worked very vigorously for some time TO come.
Those who well acquainted with everything per-
tanning to the markets and the coal trade pTOphesy
that more than year must elapse before the MINES
ran be worked at profit 1t is very certain that but
little dividend, If any, can be expected from the
aggregate millions Of capital invested through STOCK
companies in mining operations, whose certificates,
though by no means worthless, have more OF pros
pective than present value.
The pressure on the coal trade from the aboveenu-
nerated circumstances has operated against the IN
terests of the great mass OF consumers by directly
preventing ultimate competition. Much individual
capital has been withheld IF late that would other.
wise have been invested in small operations, and the
large companies are gradually absorbing the entire
anthracite coal interest into their own hands. These
cOmlauies have purchased all or nearly all, of the
available coal lands of the district to the exclusion
Of individual operators and smaller corporations In
short, the tendency is toward wealthy mOnopoies,
and in few years II will be impossible TO obtain, at
any reasonable price, land enough on which to sink
shaft and commence mining operations ON a scale