Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-02-14
FACTS ABOUT II EAST i liFa TENNESSEE.
Developed Coal Interests.
NO. VII.

One of the greatest sources of future
wealth to East Tennessee is the vasttle-
posits of stone coal in the Cumberland
mountains, extending from the northeast
ern boundary adjoining the State of Vir-
ginia to the Alabama line, below Chatta-
nOoga. This chain of mountains forms the
natural boundary between this section and
of theState and the middle division. It is
impossible to over-estimate the importance
of these deposits when they. are once fully
developed. Some idea may be gathered Of
the quantity of this deposit when it is
known that it is near two hundred miles
from Cumberland Gap to the Tennessee
river. This vast extent is almost O con-
tinuous coal mine. The Knoxville and
Kentucky Railroad, when completed, will
pass through coal region about fifty
miles. The quality of the coal is good, be-
ing the best semi-bituminous.
The discovery of coal in these mountains
was soon after the first settlement Of the
country, but previous to the war it was
worth but little to our people. A few mines
were opened and worked after the most
primitive style, and were not profitable.
The principal point from which the Knox
vile market was then supplied was Win
ter's Gap, fifteen or twenty miles south
west of Coal Greek, on the line of the
Knoxville and Kentucky road. The coal
was then brought here by ox-teams, and
sold at such price. and the supply was SO
small, that the demand was not large. The
Winters Gap mines produce very fine
quality of coal, but are not worked now,
except on a small scale. Boats are, howev-
er, sometimes loaded in the winter season
on Poplar Creek, "a tributary of the Clinch,
and market is found at Kingston and
points below.
The completion of the Knoxville and
Kentucky Railroad, in 1867, to Coal Creek,
presented a favorable opportunity for en-
terprising individuals to engage snccess-
fully in coal mill ing. The first mine
opened was by the Knoxville Iron Com
pany, number Of Welsh miners having
been employed for the express purpose,
and it has been successfully worked ever
since. A branch road was run off from
the main track right up to the mines, the
entrance Of the Knoxville Iron Company's
mine being within $50 feet of the track.
A short tram-rail track enables them to
run their coal out TO the chute, through
which the coal is dumped into cars on the
track, and is then ready for market. This
company has used large quantity of coal
and coke in their rolling mill and foundry
here-and find ready market for what
they do not use themselves.
In very short time Messrs. Wilcox &
Co. made an entrance on the south side of
the same mountain, butt Mountain, o
spur of the Cumberland range,) and found
rich deposits. This company has since
changed its style to the Coal Creek Coal
Company. Their mining was commenced
under the superintendence of Mr.. NJ. Ries.
late of Ohio, and who is the owner of mines
which he has worked for several years in
the township of Chippewa, Wayne coun-
| ty, in that State. He is practical miner.
having spent his whole life In that busi-
ness, and to his practical knowledge the
company is indebted largely for their sue
cessful operations, which have made the r
investment valuable one. Prof Bradley
has made an extended geological survey OF
the entire property of the company, and,
judging from the eye above, he thinks the
area of theseam in the spur In which they
are now at work is from twelve to fifteen
acres. The thickness of the seam will,
perhaps average about five feet, though In
many places it is eight feet thick. This
includes about eighteen inches of ,shale
and brashy coal, and yields an average
thickness of Il to AZ feet of good coal.
This stratum of coal, which is the
same as in the mine above mentioned
naturally becomes more solid as the mine
gets into the mountain. Large portions
however, of the coal, says Prof. Bradley
nearer outcrop, though discolored with
iron stain, are really purer and better for
many purposes than the more solid por
tions, since the sulphur contained in the
pyrite Sulphur or copperas rock of miners
has been mostly leached out By the com