The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-07-23
Jhe geafora 6azette.
For the Bedford Gazette
THE BROAD TOP COAL AND IRON RE
GHON.
The Kxemshle Coal and Irom Co.'S Furnaces
af RRfddelshura fT blast Complete
success of this pioneer enter
prise.

In this age of accelerated progress in
the industrial arts, little time is afford
ed in reviewing the stages of progress in
their development. They pass in
rapid review, as the mile posts gleam
for moment before the vision of the
railroad passenger. But even in the
rapid progress of the present age, there
are stations dotted along it, which
claim passing notice.
Fifteen years ago the eagle eye of
capital looked anxiously on the broad
acres of this Coal Field. Scanning its
eighty square miles of coal measures,
and testing the outcrops of its coal
seams.
The old settlers looked in amaje at
this inflow of coal hunters and were
puzzled to know what induced these
strangers to pay so frequent and as
siduous attention to the topography of
their rugged and uninviting Region.
Perhaps there lurked in their minds
vague thought that the keepers of
some of our benevolent institutions
had been somewhat derelict in their
duty. The exhibition however, of
gold pieces, in payment for their poor
and rocky lands, removed this impress
sion, and the homesteads of the Broad
Toppers' passed into the possession OF
these strangers!
In 1856 the Broad Top railroad was
opened from Huntingdon to the mines
Shoup's Run, and subsequently its
base extended along the Raystown Ju-
niata from Saxton to HOpewell and Mt.
Dallas, reaching out branches up the
three valleys which are cut deeply a.
cross the Coal Field nearly at right
angles tothis base.
The latter part of this year Inaugural
ted the opening of the Coal Trade from
the Region, and tested practically the
value of Broad Top Coal at the various
points of consumption along the Penn
sylyania rail road and canal and in the
seaboard cities. 1t was received with
considerableap appreciation by consumers,
and distinguished itself particularly
for generating steam and for use in the
various branches of the manufacture
of iron. With a steadily increasing
demand from year to year, additional
mines were opened, improvements
erected, and miners hamlets dotted
quite thickly over large portion Of
the field. For ten years the main
thought was directed to the develop
ment and shipment of its coal.
This was the era of coal. During the
latter part of this period, pioneer minds
were slowly but surely grasping the
problem SO prominently set forth in
this Region-an inexhaustible supply
of pure mineral fuel in the Coal Field,
| fanked along its western base by a
great valley, along which outcropped
the rich depositsof the fossiliferous and
hematite iron ores. The Raystown
Juniata with its accompanying rail
road, divided the ores from the fuel
and suggested a base of operations,
olong which they could be readily
united and smelted.
But simple as was the act of the fall
ling apple, it required the genius of a
Newton to appreciate this illustration
of the law of gravity. 1t required
capital to erect furnaces, and most of
those familiar with the resources of
Broad Top, had already largely invest
ed in its coal lands and coal business.
Besides, there were other questions
which come up in the discussion, will
your Broad Top coke make good iron
Are you sure you have abundance OF
iron ore?
The coke had not made iron in this
Region and hence suggested a doubt
i'm the minds of capitalists. True, the
iron ores had been thoroughly tested,
for they had been and were now being
smeIted at various points in the Re-
gion with charcoal.
But as the primeval forest was fast
disappearing and the charcoal IRON
masters looked aghast at the widely
increasing circle of their charcoal sup
ply, the continuation of this mode of
iron making could not be entertained.
And here, for breaf time, the matter
rested. Presently the Cambria Iron Co.
began shipping these ores to smelt at
their works. If they could be success
fully worked at Johnstown with coke,
why not in Broad Top?
In 1867, l.. t. Watson, Esq, then
Prest. of the Huntingdon and Broad
Top r. r., introduced this matter to a
number of New York gentleman, who
visited the Region and purchased coal
and iron ore lands, soon after organi-
ziug q company under the name OF the
Kemble Coal and Iron Co., of whom
the Hon. William Kelley is President.
l.. T. Watson, Esq, Vice Prest. and
r. A. Wight, Esq, Sect. and Treas.
During the following year they COM
menced the erection of large furnace
at Riddlesburg, which has been COM
pleted and is now in blast.
The construction of the furnace, af-
ter design by + Rumpf, Esq, OF
New York city, was intrusted to
David Worden, Esq, the present SUI
perintendent, under whose superior
skill and untiring energy, this noble
furnace has been brought to success
full issue. The furnace, is IA feet wide
at bosh, 8 feet at tunnel head, and 60
feet high. It's outside base is trunca-
ted pyramid, having base of 32 feet
square. The masonry is heavy coursed,