The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-09-26

stockholders of this company held q fnee 1tnG
In this city on Tuesday evening last. a tho
rough inspection OF their mining properties,
situated ON the James river twelve miles from
Richmond, In Chesterfield county near Belona
arsenal and eighteen miles from the city, on
the Scott farm, In Powhatan county, having
been made during last week.
As the success of al mining enterprises in
Virginia, and especially those In our immedi.
ate vicinity, contribute to the growth and pro-
sperity of all other branches of trade and In.
dustry, we take pleasure in affording conside-
rable space TO mention the proceedings and
operations Of this company
From the reports of the president, secret tary,
mining engineer and general superintendent
of the company, which have been kindly fur
nished for our inspect tion, we CLEAN the follow
ing items:
The National Coal Company was organ
lied In 1865, soon after the close OF the
war, With an authorized capital OF $780,
Besides the cost Of real estate and leases, the
company have expended in developing their
properties about Sl50,OOO. During the period
in which these expenditures have been made,
they have produced and realized from sales of
coke a1d coal about the sum of $50, 900. They
are operating 6n their Bnrfoot properties, in
Chesterfield county, by three slopes or in
cines and two vertical shafts. by the slopes
they struck the outcrop of the coal seairz a.
few feet from the surface. One OF the slopes
has been sunk to the depth of 497 feet; the Sc
cond 327 feet; and the third, lS9 feet In these
slopes there is found three different seams !!
one of hard coke, eleven feet another Of soft
coke, eight feet, and the lower seam, ten
feet thickness of bituminons eoai-the three
making 4 vein of TWEEN nty-nine feet In thick
ness-and all are now driven to solid work.
ings, and with the two shafts, with veins OF
similar thickness and quality, are producing
daily about l25,0GU tons of fuel.
The main shaft, situated about the centre OF
the property on this tract, now being rapidly
All
stfibed, and to the depth of q lower vein, some
forty feet under the lower seam of the upper
vein, has reached depth of 257 feet; and the
bottom, it is presumed, will be reached about
the middle Of November next, and will have
capacity to raise zoe tons per day Of marketable
coal and coke. -,M
The other shaft is situated within thirty feet
of The bank of the river, on the same pro-
perty, and has now reached the depth OF III
feet from the surface, and is all finished, and
now producing 4 very superior article of btu
minous coal. When the main shaft and its
tributaries are completed, the productions Of
per day; and all Of which will be realized the
present winter.
Their workings at the Randolph Mines "
(Scott tractl consists of I vertical shaft, now
about one hundred feet deep, and which IS
producing bitumiuous coal, which in y short
time will yield very fine fuel for the manu-
facture OF gas.
The company now afford employment in the
extensive development OF all their properties,
and in the mining and shipment Of coal, and
transaction of all branches OF the business,
three hundred miners and laborers.
They have at all times at their stores at Bel
Iona Arsenal and at the Randolph Mines, 4
we'll. selected stocks cf goods, from which
their employees are furnished with Ill their
means of clothing and subsistence.
Their productions have now been in our
market for over u year. The hard coke has
been proved to be Il splendid fuel for steam
purposes, and is consumed principally by
steamers plying from this port. The soft
coke is one of the purest and best native pro-
ductons offered in this market for cooking,
laundry and other domestic uses, and has be-
come 4 successful competitor with the best
article of anthracite Coal. / affords all the
qualities for cleanliness, strength, and heat OF
the an nthracite coal, and the superior aufanA
tage in domest tic use of keeping up fire with
out the incCn venent. care required in the an
thracite and what Is still more desirable, 1t
can be afforded several dollars per ton cheaper,
and yet pay good profit to the compinJ.
The bituminous Goals produced by the Nd.
tional Company are of superior quality. For
steam, blacksmith, laundry, and other uses,
this quality Of fuel finds market.
The company have Il large yard ut the locks
at the foot of the canal, near Rockets, from
which their productions are furnished to
steamers, to the wholesale trade Of the city,
and shipments made to their yards 1T Peters
burg and other points, and their surplus TO
northern markets.. IueJ utNc llSO yul uS oh
the canal basin, from which they deliver ut
retail to the city trade.
The valuable improvements made, the sub
stantial character of machinery and appll-
ances for mining, their workshops, stables,
and means of transportation and sale OF their
productions, Indicate unmls stakably that the
company have organized and prosecuted the
enterprise with reference 10 the building up
of II very large and lucrative coal trade ht
Richmond. The management OF their affairs
is en- ntrusted to officers of fine business talent
and experience, and we speak adyisedly when
we say that in Mr.. Job Atkins and his efficient
corps of miners they have the best engi-
neering and mining talent which can be
afforded in the country,
The stockholders have invested and have
been the means Of introducing into our mining
and other business interests several hundred
thousand dollars of capital, which, coming
from abroad, greatly stimulates our mining
interests, enlivens all branches OF trade con-
nected herewith, and affords our mining
population profitable employment and sup
port The following gentlemen comprise the
list of officers and directors for the present t
year: Johns. Loomis, president; o. II. Dor
rance, secretary Job Atkins, mining engi-
neer ID. G.. Hartwell general superintendent !;
w. II. Abel, general storekeeper. Directors !:
John S. Loomis and ID. G.. Hartwell, Rich
mond; O. w f. Randolph, William IL. AL
len New York; and l.. ). Filbert, Philadel-
uhia