Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-06-06
ON to WellstOm.
Dayton Journal, May ss.

On to WellstOn.
Dayton journal, May %.
Several gentlemen who hold neither
Eastern, and who participated to some
extent in the impression that the road had
not been projected to the best point for
obtaining cheap coal, and that the Hook
ing and Straitsvi1le were more desirable,
determined to see for themselves, wheth-
er there was any force in the objection to
to the location of the road to WeIlston.
With this purpose, they made an excur-
sion over the Narrow-Gauge to Mussel-
mans, and proceeded from there to the
coal fields, near Wellston. They were
agreeably disappointed in the amount of
freight and passenger business which the
Narrow-Guage is doing, as well as with
the business of the country through
which it is located. They saw grain ready
for shipment at some stations, and fine
quality of limestone, from quarry near
Cezar's Creek, is now being shipped in
considerable quantities to points east on
the road. The best of timber abounds
on the line.,
The beautiful valleys of Paint Creek
and Scioto, studded with fine farms and
good improvements affords a pleasant
prospect.
At Wellston and Jackson the visitors
dOnned the miners working suits, aud
with lamps in hand. descended the shafts
and conversed with the miners, who in
formed them that they were paid the same
prices for mining as were paid in the
Hooking and Straitsville districts; that
they had worked in both regions, but
preferred the Jackson, because more coal
could be mined daily on account of the
absence of slate in the veins, while much
time was lost in the other districts in sep
arating the slate from the pure coal. In
some of the Jackson mines mules were
used in hauling the coal from the rooms
to the shaft. The veins, by measurement,
were from 3 feet inches to 4 #. inches
in thickness, which was of sufficient
height to allow the miner to sit on a chair
and dig the coal; this coal is dug and
loaded on the cars as cheap as at any
mines in Ohio.
The road in reaching WellstOn will pass
through hill coal, which will not req uire
the water to be pumped nor the coal hoist
ed from the mines, the vein of coal being
on level with or above the track.
The d. Sc S, E. trains are now running
to Musselman's, beyond which no iron is
laid, but the grading is nearly completed
to the terminus at Wellstou. The road
will pass through Chillicothe, large and
beautiful town, very similar in its general
appearance to Dayton.
Both the S. j. s. p. and D. s. S. Z. pass
through Washington, the latter taking
the direct line to Wellston, while the
former veers to the south, and reaches
WellstOn by route about 10 miles longer
than the latter. The S. j. & P. has few
perceptible advantages, but many disad-
vantages, in increased distance and heavy
grades. The s. j. & p, after reaching
Jackson, turns at right angle and runs
nOrthward to Wellston, the coal being of
better quality and more abundant in that
locality than at Jackson. The visiting
committee were reliably informed by
several persons that vein of coal feet
thick lay only miles east of Wellston.
D. 6 S. E. that the road is now earning
s., 500 per month, and that if completed
to Wellston will earn twice that amount,
which will more than pay the running
expenses and the interest," on the bonds
required to complete the road. These be-
ing the facts, it seems all important that
the bonds should be placed on the market
and the road be completed without delay.
The party acknowledge their obliga-
tions to Mr.. j. E. Gimperling, General
Freight and Passenger Agent of the D.
6 S. E., for attentions which enabled
them to complete their examinations to
entire satisfaction.
To this brief statement should be add
ed the fact that the gentlemen who made
the examination of the coal mines in the
neighborhood of WellstOn are practical
men, who have had opportunities of ex-
amining the coal mines of Hooking and
Straitsville, and are, therefore, qualified
to judge of the superior facilities afforded
by the miners in jackson county.