National Republican., 1873-10-07
WEST VIRGINIA COAL INTERESTS.
The Monesssbcla Gap Coal Company
Down In the Coal Mines.

Dawn In the Coal Mines.
Correspondence Of the National Republican,
FAfRNosT, W. Va, Sept, n. it7a.
Travelling westward upon arocreatNe trip,
having crossed the Blue Ridge and Allcgha-
nlcs aud ridden along and above Cheat river
with its magnificent scenery, we stopped q
few hours at this promisipg town Of about
1850 inhabitants, which Is situated on the
Monongahela river, and on the Wheeling
branch Of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
and In the nucleus Of the coal interests Of
this section, which are now attracting con-
siderable attention, and arc being rapidly de-
vclopcd. The mines now In operation here
ship from 200 10 800 tons Of coal daily, be-
sides large quantities Of coke; one company
alone having forty coksing ovens, the coke
being sent TO Iron furnaces o. far west as the
Territories of Utah and Colorado, where II 10
used In tho silver mines for smelling pur-
poses. Among the now mines here, several
Of which arc being opened, We werc pleased
to find one, "Thc Monongahela GAs-coal
COMPANY" which Is operated by Washington
capitalists, Gen. Balloch being The president
and O. W. w. &s.csSey' ESQ, treasurer ,,, and sec; s
actively engaged In developing their mines,
we took an interest In learning their situation
end prospects. Their energetic superin-
,endent, Z. r. Halght, esq, took pleasure In
explaining to us their preparations for max
Ing coke, Of getting out coal, supporting the
ground, preventing aro-damp, &c, &C., and
conducted us through their mine, which
already extends into the bowels Of the earth
several hundred feet. Their coal Is moved
| from the mine 10 the railroad on tramway,
down which the loaded car, In Its momentum,
propcils an empty car up to the mouth OF
| the mine,
Exploring coal mine Ia something Of nov
city; 80 we thought rs we plunged through
aisles Of Stygcan darkness, guided only by
tho flckcring lamp Of the mlner, which he
carries on his cap, giving his coal-bcgrimmed
countcnance an aspect riyaling some OF
Dante's guides Of the Inferno. We thought
so again when we crowded into niche or
alcove, TO avoid the rapidly-approachlng coal.
car, drawn by q mule, behind which sits a
little black Imp, with countenance liz up BY
his "hcad-llghts," and shouting git up "
goes laundering by, rushing towards day.
light, Indifferent whether his car goes over US
or whether he plastcrs us against the side Of
the header, there to be found by the Hugh
men Of the genus homo Of the carboniferous
period. We did not feel at all like singing
Down iu coal mlne," &C., but soon sug
gested q change OF air--in fact II was abs0
lutely necessary; We were mot happy" unit
we bade adieu TO the gloomy shapes, occu
paGts Of thcpit who never smile, and emerged
from the subterraneau regions to say, "My
dayllghts, I'm with ye once again, and will
remain, for the shadows or tho foul airs they
breathe dcmoralire the respiratory functions
Of ye tourist"
This vein Of coal Is Of unusual size, teine
nlne feet thick, and extends throughout thi
section, dipping to the north. A large trac
l 81 l.ta ska ntts
river) is owned by The Monongahela Ga,
Coal Company, and learn that Prof. Loomis
Of Washington, has lately been here and mad
geographical survey of their tract and pro
nounced upon the extent Of their coal bed
The yield Of the vein Ia given by the olde
, miners as ten thousand tons TO the acre. Tn
| coal Ia used almost exclusively for gas an,
price; many Of the gas companies OF thu
Eastern cities, not excepting those OF th,
! District being supplied from this v"in. w
might add that the District gas companies
when possible, should extent their patronag
to the Monongahcla, which is essentially
available gas coal lands here, T. Q. those o.
the railroad and river, are already In th
hands Of capitalists, who, from tho late I'D
vance In coal aud the increasing demand a
home and abroad, Cthe foreign demand beinI
, greater than ever BEFORE believe that thi
section will quickly rival northeastern fenn
sylvania In wealth and the value Of Its Goa
: lands, and As this coal Is Of that peculiar b
luminous character which renders II NOR
valuable than any other for making gas; an
with the expected railroad projected by Tor
Scott, which will tap this coal field and Civ
direct northern outlet, together with th
= river transportation to the Southwest, an
! the present railroad facilities Of the Bait
more and Ohio railroad, which arc being IL
: | croa acd t,onthlv EairmOnt and vicinttv wi
, soon have access to the markets Of every SCI
tion OF the country, and command the trad
In gas coal a. they do now In sections accc'
9 siblo to them. TOURIST.