Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-20
Our Bituminous Coal Fields.

ing consumption, the great, undevel-
oped bituminous fields of Pennsylva-
MIA have attracted, and are still at
tracing, the attention Of capitalists
and carrying companies to an extent
that must be apparent 10 every one
who observes with any degree Of in
telligence the ordinary run of current
events. As an evidence of what We
here assert, we lay before our readers
an extract from the letter of CORES.
pondent of the Philadelphia Record,
on the consumption Of both anthracite
and btuminous Goals, and which, at
the same time, speaks "a by authority
of the efforts that are now under way
to reach the heart of the btuminous
coal fields by interests that have n
yet been unable to penetrate 10 the
rich deposits of those regions. This
letter appears in the financial column
Of Monday issue Of the journal
named and reads as follows:
"The official statement Of the output
Of anthracite coal shows an increase for
the past year of over seven million tons.
This increase has been 50 gradual and
widespread that it is difficult To trace
it To the consumers. and yet there has
been no accumulation OF stock at the
leading shipping points, and the belief
is general that next year will show n
much greater increase in consumption,
which will tax the anthracite mines
now opened 10 their full capacity, which
means good prices for coal and diyi.
dends for the coal roads.
"The consumption OF bituminous coal
has also increased very largely The
output from the Cleariield regions alone
will be 10000 tons, an increase of
about 800. 900 tons above last year. The
railroad into this field now pays about
L. per cent. dividend on its capital
stock OF Sl,OO0OOO. This road has no
bonded debt, and is certainly prosper.
ous.
The favorable results Of mixing one.
half coke in the anthracite blast fur.
naces and numerous rolling mills along
the line of the Philadelphia and Read
ing railroad and its connections has
made large demand for bituminous
coal in that region, so that the iron
manufacturers are clamorous for new
and direct connection with the Clear
field coal field, aud It Is reported, upon
what seems unquestioned authority,
that the Reading Company is quite will.
ing to cooperate with its customers in
acquiring connections in that direction.
Ii Is further stated that property owners
representing some seventy thousand
acres OF coal lands in the Cleartield re.
gions are also anxious TO cooperate in
this movement TO secure competing
outlet to market, for even now the oper.
ators cannot get cars from their own
road TO fill their orders, and the Read.
ing Company is sending It's cars over
lines controlled by the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company TO accommodate Gus.
toners along its lines
Looking in this direction also is the
extension of the Reading tracks to Lin.
den, beyond williamsport, and the nc.
cepted proposals by the citizens Of Lock
Haven for the Reading Company to
furnish iron, and give the bonds OF the
line for cost of construction--the bonds
10 be accepted in payment of all freight
to or from Lock Haven.
"The most favored proposed route from
Lock Haven is via Beech Creek and
Philipsburg, thence along the valley Of
Moshannon creek TO its head waters in
the heart of the Clearfeld region. A
an encouragement to construct this
connection it is reported that parties in
interest are willing to guarantee the
sale Of 100000 tons of Clearfield coal
per annum on the line of the Reading
road and its branches. These new and
paying lines into our coal fields will
augment the demand for both coal and
iron, and clearly indicate that prosper.
ity will continue for several years at
least. Thus we may expect increased
dividends from all railroads in the
State, and that general prosperity will
prevail in all departments Of business
So far as the above extract refers to
the intentions of the Philadelphia and
Reading company, we can say that we
are assured by good and reliable au.
thority that those who control the
operations Of that corporation are in
earnest in seeking for a bituminous
coal field into which to extend their
lines, and are now directing their at
tention to the fields of Centre and
Clearfeld counties, including the Snow
Shoe region. This is no longer a mere
idle rumor or suspicion, but work is
now being done to secure The route
and the coal lands. The significance
of this fact must forcibly strike the
Pennsylvania railroad management.
To that great carrying company il is
fact pregnant with Importance; and