Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-07-15
A NEW VENTURE.
the KANAwHA COAL FIELDS.
Departure Of Pittsburgh Boats TOR the
New Black Diamond Aines-hore
Facts About the West Vir-
ginia Purchase.
rrnm the Piitshursh Telegraph.

From the Pittsburgh Telegraph.
An account was given in these
columns last week, OF the recent pur-
chase, by a Cincinnati firm, OF large
tract o. coal lands on the Ksnawha. To-
daya re prS sentative Oithe Telegraph had
brief conversation with Mr.. uarmet
the head aud front OF the new enter
prise, and who is here TO buy barges,
etc, and elected some points bearing in
the case, and on the prospective rivalry
of the new coal fields.
"I suppose, Mr.. Marmet, that you
won't buy any more Pittsburgh coal
nOw?'
Not exactly, sir. | have been pur-
chIsing Pittsburgh coal steadily through
Brown x Co, and will need as much as
ever
''Is your Kanawha coal not as good as
ours?'
For some purposes, yes; but Tor
steam, gas and blacksmithing, Pitts
burgh coal will always take the lead.
Way, we send it by rail fully six hun
dred miles into the West and North
west. But for family use the kanawha
article is just as saleable as the Pitts
burgh article"
"Iou are going pretty heavily into
this new enterprise
"Well, yes; my brother Otto and my
self have secured 5000 acres OF coal land
formerly owned by the Raymond Coal
Company. This was formed OF Eastern
capitalists mainly, men who were not
practically posted in the business. They
grew discouraged through having mex
perienced men at the mines.
Don't you have trouble with your
Hggers over ON the kanawha?"
NO, sir; at least not yet. You see
We have things different there. The
pits are isolated more, and the men
can't band together and make mischief
through few unprincipled leaders.
They dig willingly for 2 and p cents,
an haven't struck for anything better.
Have you secured what craft you de-
sir,d?'
Il have. From Captain Moore /
bought the tOwbOat Geo. MathesOn, and
from Phillips x MittenSwei bought six
barges, bran new. Also five flats loaded
an one fuel flat from Redman's success
sor. These will leave this afternoon,
with the assistance of the Geo. Roberts
as lar as Industry
"NOu have considerable advantage
over Pittsburgh operators have you
nOt?"
In the matter OF distance and other
respects, | think | have. In the first
place, with my new boat can make
the round trip 10 Cincinnati and back
in five days. And this can be done
nelrly all the year round"
"HOw do you account for that?
"Why, YOU see, the kanawha shores
are solid rock, and don't grow farther
apart each year. The water is kept
between unyielding banks, and is deep
all the time. BY loading 20 three and
one-half feet only IeXpect to ship coal all
the year round, and moreover, can do
as much business with my little George
MtthesOn rs your Pittsburgh shipper
can with his biggest tOwbOat."
Mr. Marmet spent a portion of this
forenoon in inspecting the complete sur
yeys of the mines of W. III. Brown x
Co, at that firms office, and he express
ed himself as delighted with their COM
pleteness and utility. According 10 MIR.
vi. tue coal DuSlutHo bA kllC hahAhh 10
has 50 far been conducted in a rather
loose and unbusiuess manner.
And what Is the Immediate reason OF
this step on your partt
Mr.. Marmet didn't say solitary word
about the Davis Island Dam, but re-
Piled:
Its because your river Is so unrella-
bic. We may get all the coal We want,
an 4 when We want il; and then again
We can't, as is the case at present.
\ better argument for the improve
ment OF the Ohio, at least as lar down
as the mouth Of the kanawha, could
hardly be- asked, for when that is ac-
complished little tOwbOats, such as the
Matheson, will take out coal all the year
round, and the trade in the superior
fuel OF the MOnOngahela not be endan-
gered by the inferior coal OF the Kama
Wha