Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-08-31
MATERIAL INTERESTS
Clearfeld Bituminous Goal, &c.

The editor OF the Tyrone Herqt{ is writing a
seuez Of articles relating 10 the tridie of the
Branch Railroads etc. In referring to the Clear
fed county coal fields he says
Some days since, in the grey of cool,
flesh morning, the writer left Tyrone in "a
special car provided by Superintendent Geo
Z, Wl!k ms, and accompanied by that gen
l.=uiaa and Messrs. 1hos. j. Maitland,
Stewart Greek, d. T. Caldwell, Wm Short
EaEe, uade = tour OF inspection OF the great
Luminous Goa! deposits along the line OF
IL. Tyrone and Clearlield Railroad.
the distance from Tyrone to the inter
section Of the two Divisions-Bald Eagle
Valley and Tyrone and Clearfield roads-is
1900 miles, and the grade 40 feet to the
wi.e. From the intersection to the
summit is 10 miles, the maximum grade
being l45 feet to the mile; average, I25
fec. This road was built, originally, be-
cause its builders couldn't build any other
Ind Of road Whereyerdhe least prete1t
presented itself out of which the engineer,
could frame a curve, it was used, and a.
C:lIence that none were missed we state
tlat between the intersection and Philip.
uGrs-a distance of 20 miles-there is not a
straight stretch Of track to exceed mile
between any two curves. It reminded US
Of the story related OF a new engineer ON the
New York and Eric road While running
te.Jw Deposit, he discovered light just in
fToa' Of his engine. With great difficulty
the train was halted and the engineer dis
coTered that the light came from lantern
On tie platform Of the rear car of his own
train. Well, the poor fellows who engi-
Eeered the Tyrone and Clearfeld road viii
never be called upon to locate road over
worse territory, or under greater emGarrass-
Hents
At present this road, under the personal
Direction of that most indefatigable of wor
k-r,-Stswsrt Greeks one Of the best
yass,rd best surfaced, aud reliable branch
roals in the State. At first, As lb. rails
were used, bat are now supplanted by SO
il. rails. Those used upon the main line OF
the Pennsylvania Central road are 81 Id.
rails The stone for baliastiDg is obisined
from adjacent ridges, are finely broken and
carefully adjusted Above the Deep Fill.
the read is being gradually straitered,
curves consequently avoided, and at the
summit the cut has been lowered some five
feet The siding at this point is three
tOugths Of mile in length. About one and
three.tourths Of mile from the summit
sud "A 7l0 from Tyrone we came to Sandy
Ridge, Of which We intend speaking more
extsndedly at some future time. Powelton.
three miles from the summit. is half way
between the summit and OsceoIa, and is
the first point on the road from Tyrone
wtege coal IS mined. The grade between
the summit is at the rate OF l05 feet to the
nile At Powelton We examined the
PowELToN COAL AND IRON CoMPANYs
worEs-Ro5t. Hare Powell. President; O.
/ Sharp, dispatcher, D. R. Shorthill, su
pcr.n'enient This colliery was the first
opened in this section, and formerly the coal
aai ore was shipped to Tyrone by means of
wagons. These works employ 220 men and
boys, and average $50 tons per day; have
mined AS gross tons in one day. In con
nectlon with these work. are tenements of
capacity for 55 families stable with 40
stalls, and a farm from which all hay and
grain necessary for horses and cattle is cut.
lhe miners employed here own over 90 good
mich cows, and average $50 per month per
man. The mine is three fourths of mile
IN length, with numerous branches and
chambers. The main vein is three feet nine
inches in thickness and without slate. Thl,
Is the second vein, and the company is open
ing up the ''D'' vein, which is two feet ane
ten inches in thickness. During the pas
SIX years the accidents at this coliery have
been comparatively few and unlmportant
One boy was killed one man, leg broke
boy, arm broke, and boy had wrist broke
As usual with companies Of this character
there is large company store under tn
Immediate management of Mr..
The coal mined here is of superior quality
and the management is most excellent Il