The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-04-08
The Anderson Coal Mines.
From the Nashville Banner.

Il the Anderson coal mine, TOOK Vne
nrs here, last Friday morning, and
oiled up to Crow Creek beyond IN"
unnrl. 'ihc, were received and treat
ii in the most courteous manner ny
he Mcssrs Anderson, to whom the
hanks OF the committee are most
returned. II Mas an old
fashioned heartfelt hospitality found
bcs, in the rural districts OF Tenncssee,
Crow Greek was on high old horse,
and regular ferry had to he lmpro
yiscd 70, the use Of the party lhtA
latter consisted Of the following gen
,lrmcn. Messrs. Cause aud Price, oil
Lebanon Mcssrs. Richardson, Ch'l
dress aud Sparks, Of Murirersboro'
und a representative OF the Banner,
The continuance OF the rain rendered
It impossible to prosecute enquiry
that day, but the following day ne
times, the party was mounted ana look
the road for the mountain. 1t passed
along n field, bottom Of Crow Creek
ms level AS a floor, abou, mile ana n
half Tae field II. the right, and the
mountain on lhe left. Al this point.
the road assembled abruptly the moun-
tain. side. sometimes 50 steep 1t was
with difficulty the ascent could he
made. 1t was, at any other time than
now. n Vely fair road, although a new
one, made by the perseverance oi Mr.
Johns, one of the owners of the mines
The party was accompanied by Capt
j +. Harris, formerly Of the kosnr
Iron Works OF lockwood, who Inows
all about coal measures and mines.
having opened sc,eral on this range Of
mountains. The road wound along
the mountain side, getting higher ana
higher until the clouds got around the
party, penetrating them with It's co'h
msls. At last, near the summit, they
came to the higher vein. Here they
found IL few car loads Of coal IN large
shining Jumps that lay out in the rain
and vet showed no signs Of stacking or
breaking down. A hole near by 'old
where il came from. The click OF a
hammer far in the bowels OF the earth
Informed tue party that work was sllIl
going on within. A large fire made
entirely of coal like wood heap gave
good token of the maammabe chalac
ter of tie coal. The neighhors have
for years been getting coal from this
opening. though the quantity can
scarcely be missed They are loud 10
liz praises, and claim it is the hest coal
in the mountains. 1t will not slack
say they, even VIXEN it lays out all
winter. 1t makes almost no ashes,
nor res it give forth any SCOT Look
here" SAYS one, and he rubbed a white
handkerchief over lump which i'm
parted but very light stain. The open.
in! goes in about l70 feet, and a cou-
pie of miners are driving away with
the intention of going three hundred
feet 10 ascertain the thickness OF the
vcln at that distance At the mouth
Of the out crop i. is, by accurate meas
uie nent. four feet thick. But just
vita it falls down to about 38 inches
which thickness, with hut little varia-
ton it maintains as tar as II has gone
The coal, which breaks with con-
cholda fracture, is lustreless, a llgh
grayish color, and is not as heavy a.
some coal which is found. Hcome
oh in irregular chunks, and is utlerl.
free of sulphur or clnkers. There i
no lntermlx,ure Of shale, hence NJ
popping, and, so lar as our experienc
is concerned and the testimony OF
those who have used it, there are NJ
jets OF gas or blowing Of confined air
like jets from a blow pipe. The entir'
party were surprised at the extent ant
amount of the coal, surprising then
utmost anticipaliOns. 1t IL, to all ap>
peurance, inexhauslible. The neigh
b,rs say it comes out on the opposite
slic OF the mountain. and, at its out
crop. il AZ inches. This would 60 to
show that it parlakes of that thickness
all through. as it is 48 ut the entrance.
After satisfying themselves thoroughs
" OF the value of this vein, they des~
ccnd the mountain about seventy fee,
yh, IL another vein shows itself under
y big rock. The Goa vein is three
feet thick at the entrance, but having
never been penetrated there is no
method of knowing about IL. Capt.
Harris, who claims to he an expert.
says it is identical with the University
coal 1t is laminated, has clear black
shiny bilumenous appearance, and
does not slack, 1t burns tercely and
leaves no ashes to speak OF. Then we
descended about fifty feet to the last
vein, which resembles the first one
very much, the coal being light aud
srayish in color. This vein is thirty
inches in thickness, and promises very
well indeed There are still others,
hut being satisfied with what had been
seen, and not having time TO lay over,
he party returned to ,Ae depot. A,
Falling Clia the out,croY is full eight
inches thick, and there are some four
Or i've other points where it shows
wcp, extending over distance Of
about five miles. The coal ID every
where over these mountains. Not only
are the veins to he seen on this props
erly. bi, it is found almost at every
turn. 1t all lies below the vein or
rather the field operated hy the Tracy
City Company.
Just Why this has remained unwork>
ed so long, right on the railroad as it
Is, We cnnnnl understand. Ihern is no