Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-04
COKE FOR WHEELING
MILLS.
The Wellsburg Coal Shaft En-
terprise.
Condensed from the Herald.


Condensed from the Herald.
Wellsburg has been enjoying BOOM
ing season for the past two or three
weeks and the sensation, we need not
say, is rather a novel one in our quiet
old town. The sensation to be particu-
larly mentioned just now, is the actual
commencement of the much-talked-
about coal shaft. The project VAS moot
ed some ten or twelve years ago. 1t
was known that there was a vein OF coal
underlying the town, peculiarly valuable
for its good cooking properties, and 1t
occurred to some one that as 1t would
not pay any one OF the
many property holders in the
town to 90 down for it, possibly il all
would combine for the good OF the
whole, and pool their several interests
in one general deed of release and make
a free gift OF it in that shape to any party
who would obligate himself to sink a
shaft, it would be profitable operation
indirectly, il not directly. There are
about IS acres Of surface, underlaid, it is
assumed, with a five foot vein OF coal.
An acre would yield about 10000
bushels, and leave one-tifth for supports
in the mine, which, suppOsing it to net
only one cent per bushel, would pay
81 200 an acre, or about 100000 for the
entire tract.
Several efforts TO materialize the idea
were made, that resulted in failures.
The enterprise seemed to drag during
the spring and summer, until some
three months ago, a representative OF
the company appeared, and made an
agreement with Mr.. Jas. ID. Lazear to
purchase his property for the purpose !;
the consideration being 500, the agree
ment to be void if not fulfilled within
ninety days, S. was paid down to close
the bargain. 1t was reported that con-
tracts were ont for the necessary ma
chinery, and that it was a sure thing;
but still matters seemed to drag and
faith wavered considerably. Finally,
on Thursday last, within a day or two
of the expiration of the ninety days,
Mr.. Nanderlip, the representative above
referred to, again appeared on the scene,
this time a 500 draft accompanying
him, and in due time the necessary pa
pers were passed and the agreement OF
July was cOnSummated.
On Tuesday of this week, operations
accordingly began by the location OF the
shaft, buildings and site for coke ovens.
The mouth of the shaft is at an eleva-
ton OF ninety feet above the railroad,
and on precisely the same level as the
mouth OF loves shalt on the opposite
side of the river, as determined by sur
vey. One object of this is to gain access
to the road to the east of the premises;
another being to strike the solid rock
far in the hill, avoiding crevices and
leakage. There will be building 5OX5O
feet tOcOver the engines and afford room
for shops and other conveniences at the
shaft mouth. The coke ovens, 200 in
number, will extend, facing the railroad,
in two tiers, covering nearly the whole
west front OF the premises. Two engines
will be used, which are now
ready at Steubenville, except the
boilers, at cost of Sl,4OO.
which is about 81, 900 less than similar
engines could be had at few years ago.
They will be here and in position, in
side of two weeks. Operations, indie
pendent of the two engines, commence
at once and will be pushed with all
diligence, it being the expectation that
they will be ready Tor making coke very
early in the spring. The depth, owing
to the elevation where the mouth OF the
shaft is located, will be considerably
more than heretofore given Quit is,
as near as determined, 2l0 feet from the
level OF the railroad TO the coal vein,
which will make the depth of the shaft
about 300 feet. The coke ovens, &c,
will be about 800 yards south OF the
new glass works, on the same street.
1t is expected that the principal busi-
ness will be the manufacture of coke,
and that market for all OF it will be
found at Wheeling. 1t has been dem
onstrated that the underground coal
will make coke in every respect equal 10
that known as the Connellsville article.
When ii is considered that it costs, (as
was recently the actual experience
here,) $40 to bring s. worth OF that ar
tcle from Connellsyille, the margin OF
profit in saving transportation is not
hard to see.
The company, Robert +. Balloch, an
extensive builder of Washington City,
isjreputed to have abundant means, and
is thoroughly in earnest, and we may
confidently expect no more stoppages
or delays in the coal shaft enterprise.