Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-10-06
Our EASTERN COAL Field.

rtNllbH VI AuN NlOuiHNlh Nbai hNibi uuN
has taken a pretty full inventory o
the Moshannon region In his issu'
of last week he says
The depressing effect Of the Clear
field coal strike, in the early part o
the season, may be taken as an evi
denco of the fact that the business IN
terests Of Tyrone are largely depend
ent on the mining industry of that re
gion, Recognizing the vital import
ancc Of II nourishing and continuous
trade from the mountain coal fields, d
Herald reporter skipped over the
ridge last week, intending 10 spy oui
the land and report the situation.
The new Moshannon railroad, 81
much talked Of, was the first object o.
interest. Should that be completed {,
Keating, Tyrone would no longer b,
tho outlet OF the vast wealth of btu
min stored in the grand old bills of oul
sister county. To our surprise thiI
road is TO be, and soon will be, one o
the fixed institutions OF the coal region
and will result in working a grea
change in the business Of Tyrone-sC
lar ut least as the shipping interests
concern us--but in what way
From Osceola the road is leading ~
tho Moshannon to a new and almos
unlimited coal basin hitherto untouch
cd. Below Philipsburg, on the rout'
TO Keating, is a iorbiddlng wilderness
Of mountains, for distance of forty
or fifty miles, through which rail
road may not find its way for the mex
hundred years. As consequence, al
this newly tapped mineral wealth
must of necessity flow through the iror
gateways of Tyrone, and every add
tional ton Of coal passing through onl
city will leave its mark behind in thC
shape Of increased pay.rolls in th'
Office of the transportation company,
Hundreds of omigrants are now al
work on the new lines of railroad, al
mos. literally digging up the whole
country. AT one point short dis
tance above Osoeola, four railroads
will soon branch out into arteries pen
etrating the carbonaceous stores OF thu
now timberless hills. Themain branch
leads to Houtzdalo and Ramey, and
the new Moshannon road is being
graded up the stream to the left, and
after reaching Wbiteside run will en-
ter that basin-the largest coal feld
in the county. 1t viii then reach the
summit between Janesyille and Ra
mey station.
A short distance above the junction
of this road with the Houtzdale branch
the new road to the left leads to the
Ellis coal lands, around Ellis mill
The company now operating or open
ing this coal, estimates a shipment oi
fifty cars a day for a period Of forty
years--all from one property.
Switching off to the right side o.
Houtzdale branch, is the Decatur
road leading up Coal run. AT this
place, w. ]. jackson has one mine
open, and is about commencing tc
ship from new drift A short dis
tance up Coal run, the Decatur prop
erty, consisting Of 900 acres, is be
ing developed. The road-bed is al
ready graded, and before great
while, the iron draught horse will
steam his way up Coal run to draw
the long hidden wealth away from
Decatur hills.
The Goss run branch leading of
from the Houtzdale road between
Moshannon and Sterling oollieries, is
fed by innumerable mines, chief among
the old ones being those of Whitehead
and Fishers. Whitehead is running
the celebrated Ocean Coliery. This
road has been extended more than O
mile to the new mine of Berwind
White & Co., known as Eureka No, 2
Above most OF the old mines, and
located between Houtzdale and Ra
mey, is one Of Whitehead's new mines
which will soon be ready for operation
The mine cars will be hauled up to the
"dump" at the head of the shutes, by
a stationary engine. The coal is al
most level with the railroad, hence
the necessity of plane or slope. Mr.
Whitehead has SO many mines in thi:
region that he is obliged TO keep 9
book of special record so as not to lose
the name and location OF any OF his
collieres. In addition to bis coal in
terests, he is also proprietor Of Eliza
beth furnace in this county, and il
perhaps the only wealthy operator il
the Clearfeld region who has steadily
but rapidly worked his way up from
the pick.
The Moshannon Coal Company hal
opened a new and very large mine OF
the same road not far above Houtz
dale. The old mines on this brancl
are old and new Moshannon, Beaver
ton, Sterling, Eureka, the celebrated
Franklin, Old Penn, Beaver Run, ant
perhaps one or two more. r
The new mines being opened vii
certainly double the capacity Of TIN
great coal basin and even then, a
the star Of the coal empire rolls west
ward, southwark and northward, th
long trains of black diamonds will
wind down the mountain side at al
ever increasing rate. .,..- ..
Those who Tear that the coal ship
ments may fall off and that Tyron
will cease to bo the outlet Of q bus,
traffic, should visit the Moshannon va
ley now dotted with large camp
where hundreds Of emigrants employ
ed on the new roads "take their grub,
and rest from their labors at night
among gnats, mosquitoes, wildcats
panthers and bears. In the evenings
these imported sons of toll gather i
groups around their camp-fires, ant
for miles along the stream, the fores
valley Is made to ring with the cheer
ful songs of "Father Land"
All this speaks Of pushing, thrivinI
industry, prosperity, wealth, comfort
happiness and peace, a reasonable shar
of which must, in the nature of thing
fall TO the lot of Tyrone and its peopl,
1lfw advertisements.