The Van Buren press., 1872-03-12
Spadra Coal Mines.

We copy from the Fort Smith Independent.
OF the 18th ult. the following article on the
Spadra Coal Mines, which the enterprise of
Maj. 6. A. MEYER is bringing so prominently
to notice all along the river:
The attention OF the public having been
called lately to the coal mining interest OF our
State. and particularly to the Spadra mines
in johnson county, We propose,as matter OF
! interest to those who are watching the growth
of our State TO give a brief history OF this
place.
4. The Spadra property, 1859 acres Of
ground. including the stown OF Spadra, was
formerly owned by f. B. Aston. who, up to
the commencement of the war. resided at the
place and carried on an extensive mercantile
business which. together with his large farm
Ing interest occupied his whole time, and he
seems to lave given sbut little attention to
the vast wealth OF co2l under his feet. About
thirty years ago company was formed to
mine coal shaft was sunk and eleven large
barges were loaded for New Orleans. Tn
fortunately. every boat was sunk and not a
pound of coal reached Its destination. Tow
boats were not then in use, and the plan ct
floating large barges did not prove practiea-
Bile. The company abandoned the works, and
since that time. until recently, nothing las
been done In the way of mining.
In 1869 the whole property was purchased
from the heirs of Mr.. Aston. by Maj. G.. A.
Meyer and Werner Dresel. Esq, of Baltimore.
In the summer oflS10 a new shaft was sunk,
and about five thousand bushels of coal were
taken out, but ii being difficult to keep hands
regularly at work on account of the demand
for laborers on the l.. r. Il +. ). Railroad
then in progress, i, was deemed advisable to
stop until an arrangement could be made to
commence work Systematically. In the mean-
time. the attention of the owners was given
to the improvement OF the town OF Spadra.
The town proper contains twenty-foUr blocks
three hundred feet sluare. Nearly one half
the lots have been sSid and built upon.
handsome and commodious school house has
been erected and fine church is is in progress
of construction. There are five stores and
two steam mills in the town-altogether it
presents fine and flourishing appearance.
About six weeks ago the tow boat Rob
ert Scmple arrived at Spadra. bringing two
coal barges loaded with mining tools, &c.
With the boat came a number of miners ar
tisans, &c. and work has now been commence
ell in earnest by men thoroughly acquainted
with mining. \ new Pit Mouth has been
opened and a tunnel running to the river
with descent of three inches to the foot
The vein will be reached about ninety feet
from the main opening or Pit Mouth"
Coal will be brought out by cars to the main
opening on tract by steam power from
thence by continuation of the tract on a
level grade to the tippe, loaded into barges
on the creek within 100 yards of the Arkan
sas River
The owners have two barges from Pitts
burg holding l60 tons EACH twelve more are
now being built at the mouth of Pincy creek,
about twelve miles below Spadra. The de-
livery of coal will commence shortly by start
ing 800 tons down the river, part to be deliv
cred at Little Rock the balance to 20 to the
of Ian Co.. 10
steamers. A barge will at once be loaded
and placed at the landing at Spadra for coal
ing the Arkansas River boats.
As soon rs practicable tow OF 1000 tons
will be sent to New Orleans. All points on
the river from Fort Smith to New Orleans
will he furnished next season with coal OF
superior quality and alta lop price.
The owners intend to make this business
success. and they have the essentials to do it,
An unlimited quantity of coal of 4 superior
quality, proved by repeated tests. and mar
ket embracing the Arkansas and lower Mis-
issppi rivers the West India Islands and
Central America, to which latter places this
coal can be delivered for the use OF steamers
much cheaper than from the anthracite re-
gions of Pennsylvania.
From our knowledge Of the energy and |
means of the gentlemen owning this proper
ty. we have no hesitation in promising them
a com pletc success in this undertaking, and at
the same time, we regard it as an immense
benefit to our State. We subjOin an eXtracl |
from the report Of Mr. John Blythe Of Pitts
burg. who was sent ont in February, ISL. to
examahe g. tnc N ~ mlinesrY padra. rvv~
survey Of the land. traced the out-crops OF
coal for upward of two miles on your proper
ty From a careful survey. ] find you have
about 1000 acres Of coal land, which can be
got at easily. and can assure you that you
have coal under the whole tract OF land point
ed oft TO me rs yourS-somc fifteen hundred
acres. One thousand acres can be worked
easily ut the price ! shall hereafter name, the
balance will cost you more to mine on ac-
count ofts close proximity to water. en-
amincd the pit" which il some ten feet
deep on the cast side of Spadra creek. and
find q bank of coal thiriy-three inches thick.
In the shaft. some one hundred yards above
the pit. - the vein Is thirty-six inches thick,
this vein Is thirty-two feet below the surface
The indications show that there is another
vein. underlying this one some twenty or
twenty-five feet. but the river was too nigh
for me to ascertain positively. tested the
coal under f. ). Adams 4 Cos. engine and
find that il makes not so much flame as the
Pittsburg coal, but contains more heat. makes
but little smoke. Is free from clnkers, and
makes but u small amount Of ashes 1t is
harder than the Pittsburg coal. and softer
than Anthracite. Tam satisfied that 1t is SIT
perior tor heating purposes to tho Pittaourg
| coal. "
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