The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-02-07

Coal aud Iron In the State OF Senator
Morgan.

| HOEkNhs
TradeSman.
This State is positively happy in possess.
ing, TO q very large degree, these two min.
erals, upon the successful development Of
which her future prosperity, to great ex.
tent, depends. Hon. Abram S. Hewitt
tells US that, owing to the proximity Of coal
and iron ore to one another in Alabama,
no cheaper field for the manufacture Of
iron is yet found on the globe.
The three great coal fields in the State
are, the Warrior, the CoOsl and the Caha.
ba, covering joint area OF nearly G,0OO
square miles. More than thirty coal seams
have been discovered by the diamond
drill. The seams lie one above another,
and are separated by II limestone stratum,
which attains thickness Of 1900 feet in
many places.
1t is only OF late years that coal mining
in this State has been profitable invest
ment. This was, doubtless, owing 10 the
fact that the country had not previously
been opened by railroad system, where
as three prominent roads now pass right
through the heart OF these formations.
They are the Louisville 4 Nashville, the
East Tennessee, Virginia aud Georgia and
the Alabama Great Southern. The scope
Of work has, consequently, widened, in
stead OF combining itself 10 the river banks,
Us was formerly the case.
The MOntevallO mine, located two and
half miles west OF the town OF that name,
on the East Tennessee, Virginia Il Georgia
railroad, has a wide glage road running
from the main line to the mine, SO that no
further handling is required, prior TO trans
portation, after the cars have once been
loaded at the mine. No other mine in the
State furnishes such good quality Of CRATE
coal; and the company cannot turn it out
fast enough 10 meet the demand Of the
public. This coal never Stacks, even when
exposed to the air. The present capacity
Of the mine is l75 tons per diem, and the
summer price varies from 81 80 TO S. per
ton, The coal is brought from the mine
either BY tunnel, which is bored into the
hill on the outcrOp Of the stream, or by
means OF an inclined shaft which cuts the
vein about 10 feet below the surface.
The Helena mines arG three in number
and are situated at Helena, Shelby county.
They have daily capacity oil Go tons per
diem. There are also one hundred coke
ovens, with capacity Of 100 tons per diem,
whose yield is devoted exclusively TO the
Oxmoor and Helena iron works.
The Pratt mines are the largest in the
State, and have daily capacity Of 1900
tons. The vein is reached by means Of a
shalt and two slopes. Upwards oi600 hands
are employed constantly, while six heavily
loaded trains are sent out from the mines
daily.
The Millner Coal Company works 500
men, with daily output OF 1000 tons, on
mine situated eight miles northeast OF
Birmingham.
The Southern Mining and Transports.
ton Company, have a daily capacity OF
about 1000 tons, and are situated six miles
from Birmingham.
The Pierce Company, Welsh firm, own
1000 acres OF excellent mining ground,
about thirty miles north OF Birmingham.
The daily capacity is $40 tons per diem.
The Alabama Mining and Manufacture
ing Company own the lands adjoining
those OF the Pierce Company. Immediate
ly above this seam is stratum Of "black
band ore." Analysis shows 20 per cent.
OF iron in this ore. 1t has also been
claimed that cannal coal has been found
this mine. The iron enterprises OF tho
CStule are bleuulIy luCIehhto' AT ilS PiCs
ent time there are twelve blast furnaces,
employing 1866 hands, and three rolling
mills. The total valuation OF these fifteen
establishments reaches s., 4OG, l9G An al
most inexhaustible supply Of ore is fur.
uished by the Red Iron Mountain, which,
beginning few miles east OF Tuscaloosa,
runs to distance OF one hundred miles to
the northeast part OF the State.
Birmingham is situated at the base OF
Iron Mountain and at the junction OF the
Louisville & Nashville and Alabama Great
Southern roads. Here we find large roll.
ling mill and two blast furnaces, while
numerous other furnaces are TO be seen in
the neighborhood. This place has sprung
up out OF wilderness, in the last dozen
years, and despite the disastrous outbreak
in 1873, which more than deCimated popu'
lation its inhabitants now number 1000.
This truly wonderful and busy little city is
setting Alabama good example, which II
generally acted on will undoubtedly place
her in the front rank; for with her vastarea
Of coal and iron fully developed, few Coun-
tries can compete with her.