Daily Republican., 1882-09-22
IN THE COAL REGIONS,
A DelAWarean doing uD Iho Coal
REGIONS and tells Something
about Them.

A DelAWarean doing up the Goa
RoRiODs and tells Something
about Them.
Special Correspondence Of the RRPUBLIoAH
SCRANTON, Pa, Sept. Goth, 1882
Scranton, the mistress Of the LaCkawan'
ma Valley, has become great on account
of the large field of anthracite coal
which she represents, the develope-
ment Of which Is q great source of in
dustry, and great means of substan-
tial wealth to the community. Though
younger In years she has outrivalled
her sister Wilkesbarre In the Wyo-
ming Valley which claims to be the
wealthiest vale in the State.
The latter may be compared to an old
man who has gotten his wealth by
mining and does not care to divert his
mind to other pursuits, while the form
or may be compared to q young man
full of hope and energy, fully aware of
the existence of other resources Of
wealth as we'll as coal and inspired by
this thought the Lackawanna Iron and
Coal Co., In 1912 incorporated with one
million dollars capital, surveyed the
ground laid off the town, and fin
ished their rolling mills and blast fur
naces and proceeded on the plan Of q
western town to invite every body who
had an eye to business, money to in
vest or men to employ.
1t was about that time that 1t became
evident that the consumption OF coal
must soon become enormous.
Invention was embracing within tts
scope the application of steam by land
and BY sea for almost every eonceiv'
able appliance. Population was in
creasing and New York aspiring to
half a million though she would grow
to million in an incredibly short time.
Chicago was not born, but Buffalo and
Cleveland were rivals for the great city
Oil the Lakes. Philadelphia and Bal
timore were marching on, and 1t be.
came evident that three canals could
not put out an adequate supply, one for
New York, one for Philadelphia and
one for Baltimore. Railroads were the
resource to fly to, but locomotives were
not then made 80 as to scratch up and
down hill like cats, and the steam rook
dri II had not been invented TO tunnel
under the mountains, so they resorted
to inclineplains having STATIONARY en'
gines attached to draws and a
long coil of rope (not steel wire rope
either) which was known to part at
times and let the cars down with great
crash,
But invention was not Idle and the
barrier of the Mountains as we have
seen was overcome. The Invention OF
the steam hammer has forged heavier
and better machinery than human
bands could do and the steam drill
has penetrated the mountain that
weary muscles gave up as q hopeless
task, and to. day the locomotive is in
Lackawanna Valley and in nearly
every other valley throughout our
broad land.
They came here one bv one until
they radiate from all points OF the com
pass freighting away untold train loads
OF the back aud lustrous carbon to the
amount OF millions OF dollars year
Scranton Is really gem that sheds
her lustre on neighboring hill tops and
includes in her corporate linesBellevue.
Providence and Hyde Parks and
counts up her population at about 5O,-
| 900, the last Cenans was 46, $50. 1t was
not incorporated Borough until 1865
and city in 1873. 1t is handsomely
built, modern and substantial In de
sign, attractive in appearance and has
all city convenienCes. 1t has gone fal
beyond O mere mining town where D
strike of miners has a prostratlng ef'
feet; there is a diversity OF pursuits,
rolling mills, machine shops, locomo-
tive and car shops, iron and brass anC
glass works, large foundries, door ant
blind factories, silk mandatory
making goods in plain colors, tobacco
mandatory and the usual amount o
Touring mills, carriage factories, &C
&c, The first enterprise, the Lacka
wanna iron and coal CO., has grown u
the number ofsix blast furnaces, anC
has added Bessemer steel WORKS pro
ducing / 900 tons week. The last Du'
not least enterprise is the new Scranton
Bessemer Steel Co., costing one million
dollars and Is to produce 1,OOO tons
day. -,
This fall will see it in operation will
large double acting engines and tn
improved rolling machinery to make
Bessemer steel rails in one hundredteet
lengths to be cut in three lengths, II
desired after rolling. No sounder hnan
ciers in the country than the stool
holders of this new enterprise.
One grand source OF attraction t
manu- 'acturers is the economy of fuel
There is what miners call Culm o
screenings in piles as large as the neigh
boring hills, free to all for hauling. B!
the use of blower 1t is turning nearl.
all the machinery in town and 'th'
quantity in sight from the watch towe
Is estimated sufficient to last two hun
dred years, and the miners would b
glad to have it taken out of their way
Two Delaw areans are here, Rev. j. I
Smith, D. D., and J. T. Porter VIII
is doing lively business in Delawar
peaches. Mr.. P. is not here temporar!l.
but is a fixture of the town, doing 8
wholesale business in tropical and do
mestic fruits and canned goods.
1t has been said that but few Westerl
cities have been more rapidly bull
and none more substantial nor
brighter future than Scranton.
Yours truly, RAMBLER.
S-w%