The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-24
AN HISTORIC PLACE
IN THE PAINT CREEK REaIeN
Of,hs K.nAuhi rlllsy-1A, nlal.s OF splllt
oOal-A New Use for iAs Fssi-ussd By Blast
Furnaces suee.ssfnlIy without CeklaT.
The Condition Of tAs nll.ru.


| Correspondence o. hk IAteLipeHeeT,
PAINT CRKrx, W. Va, May l7.-one
would scarcely think in stepping off the
cars at this place thatit possessed history,
yet here may be found one OF the oldest fam
lilies in Kanawhs county, and their old
homestead had the frst glass windows In
this valley: Henry Clay, and other nots-
bles OF bygone days used 10 stop here, and
the old homestead used to echo with their
heated discussions. 1t was left, though, Tor
new industry to waken the people up,
and coal now bids fair TO make the SLAMS
ford estate" the site OF growing and pros
porous town. The railroad first, then the
Government improvements made this
point accessible, and company OF Ohio
men established the Crown Hill Splint Coal
Company, with Brewer Smith as Super
intendent Threefourths Of mile OF track
leads from the river TO the tipple; an incline
i 200 feet long takes you up the mountain
to the first opening. This Is made into
the "Coalburg seam," and Is now work
cd at thickness Of three feet ten
Iihches to four feet, and an output OF 5000
bushels when running full! "A mile further
in the mine developments show the thick.
ness OF the seam to be seven feet six inches.
A NEW USE FOR THE sPLISr COAL.
Thesame peculiarities show here as else
where in the seam. The market has been
found heretofore In Cincinnati and the east;
but lately new'use has been made OF the
coal, and is being made, and its market is
extending. That use is in making iron
without cokipg the coal. The Alice fur
mace at Ironton, Ohio, Is using this Crown
Hill splint, raw, and with great satisfaction,
in the manufacture OF pig iron. The Bur.
CESS Steel and Iron Works, OF Portsmouth,
O. ,fndlt is splendid fuel for its operations,
and other furnaces are doing the same.
trial, has since sent new order for eight,
and propose to use it in the future. It also
finds market for steam purposes. In the
United States Army in tests, made from
1879 TO 1882, this coal ranked fourth in the
order OF evaporatiye power. In these tests
10 different kinds Of semi.bituminous aud
bituminous Goals were used, from all por-
tions Of the United States. Great Britain,
from Australia and from Vancouver island.
For these purposes this coal is now being
pushed vigorously, and the company ex.
poets great results in the future.
STRIKING A NEW VEIN.
Believing in full development, and not
satisfied with their past success, Mr.. Smith
is driving an entry into the Lewistown
seam, which lies Just above the Coalburg.
He has struck four feet ol coal; fiuds 1t still
gaining, and hopes for at least five feet OF
clean coal. This opening, when in full
operation, will double their force and
greatly increase their output. Il necessi-
tates a second plane, which Is now being
bpilt to the old track. The same long
plane will answer for both mines. Mr..
Smith will soon build new platform with.
two tipple houses. BY this means he can
load cars for river and railroad at the same
time. &. ..,., y. ...g.Ii.at ..l.l.--., ......
But all the resources OF Paint Creek
have not been spoken OF. Directly on the
creek lies the Paint Creek Narrow Gauge
railroad, at present five miles long, and the
Paint Greek Camel Coal Company. Two
companies, the Paint Creek and Wacomah,
own II 600 acres OF very fine coal land.
From the first Of these the Camel Coal
Company leases its property. II. W. Rey.
nolds is the superintendent. .o,
THE PAlS1.cRKEx COMPANY.
This mine is reached by an incline 900
feet long. Two entrances have been made,
and both are being worked. On account
OF FIRE which has been burning In the
coal for years, the first entry Is somewhat
roundabout. Camel IL a very pretty coal
when dry and clean. but when seen in the
bearing the soft and hard bitumineus
al II,a na1 naI1 Il ~
present In entry No. three to four and
half feet Of coalis found on the bottom, ),
then the camel and three feet Of splint coal.
Entry No. 2 gives II feet Of clean coal, s
feet Of soft, 8 feet OF camel, and 3 feet OF
hard bituminous. The company finds its
market east and!west among the gas manu-
facturers With o capacity Of 1900 10
5000 bushels per day they expect to do a
larger business in the future. Their pros
pects certainly are aattering. No other
leases are being opened at present, though
one company composed OF eastern capital.
lists expect to commence operations soon.
The land company OF which Mr.. Web
ster Smith is SUPERINTENDENT, have made
openings in different places over their
property, and have found all the noted
seams Of the valley. They hope for great
things, and all indications show they win
not be disappointed. ''' 'H'''.'
CONDITION OF THE MINERS. ,-'
1have been interested very much in the
condition Of the miners since being in the
valley. They are big hearted set Of men,
ready,to talk with the stranger and anx.
ious 10 know outside affairs Every where
II have found them working in
the interest OF good schools,suppementing
the few months Of the public school hy .
month Of school paid for by themselves.
One miner told me he could not read him
self, but he intended that his children
should learn. This feeling Is general, and
they can scarcely have too much praise on
this point. They think for themselves,
too, on more points than one, as Is shown
by thelast election. Operators here are pay.
ing3 3centsa bpshelfsr coal now. Anaveraee
days work runs from 90 10 100 bushels in
splint, and about l20 bushels OF camel, 80
they make fair wages and live comforts.
bly,. was especially pleased with the ap-
pearance Of the miners homes at this
place and further up the creek. They lave
neat homes and neater gardens, showing
that thrift and neatness are keeping step
with each other. With energetic and edr.
Gated operators, reading aud thinking
miners, the destiny OF this valley Is not
hard 10 foretell. ~ i''. .'F - J,LS,
s...H.H vi.