The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-19
MURPHY RUN,

1ue MutPuy nun ulnes tIe Two mlIes
east OF Clasksburg. In speaking OF these
mines the common practice is TO call them
the "Wakeman Mines" out the company
operating them, u Baltimore corporation,
is known as the Murphy Coal and Mining
Company. Charles Kyle is the Eastern
representative, aud Lruger W. Smith, OF
thus place, is the superintendent The coal
is In nine foot vein, and has an enviable
reputation as a gas coal. At present l25
tons per day are mined, the bulk going 10
the Manhattan, N. Y, Gas Company,
which lor fourteen years has used this coal.
In former years large quantities were sold
ut Washington Tor Government use, but OF
late years the firm has allowed this trade
to escape them, on account Of annoyance
growing out OF lntetierences by lobbies and
rarious Government employees. The coal,
like all the coal in this vicinity, is not
heavy with sulphur, and presents clear
"head" Considerable water is enoount-
cred, and in some portions q the mine the
air Is bad owing to causes which had their
origin before tue present company began
work. As las! rs possible the Latlses are
beiHg removed, aud Mr.. Richard Pike, the
mine bOss, il bending every energy to
this task. He IL making many
very decided and valuable changes that
cannot but prove beneficial to those EN-.
ployed in the mine. The entrance is but
u few yards from the railroad, and the
dump is arranged with reference TO speedy
work and saving ot labor. At present
some sixty people are employed here. The
company il awaiting thorough test Of the
coke ovens in this neighborhood, and il
the industry proves profitable, undoubtedly
Il large number OF ovens will be built here
and am inclined to think that the b. 4 o.
ID endeavoring to force the mines in this
section into this busines. 1t will prevent
any competition with their coal trade, and
fill their empty west bound cars with pay.
Ing freight. A well informed gentleman
OF Clarksburg, man who has carefully
studied the situation, and has for years
watched the course OF the B. & o., informs
me that he is convinced that the road has
been Tor years gradually crushing out the
coal business here, with the view oi some
day getting hold 1.-THE coal lands for their
own use, but that the Springing up Of the
coke business played havoc with their
vaclllaling course on coke ireights. MIR.
Smith, the Superintendent Of the Murphy
Kun mines, is a practical busines man, and
10 his untiring efforts is due much OF the
SUCCESS oi the business.
A FINE NINE.
One OF the best managed and constructed
large mines have seen in the State Is the
Despard mines, Just below the Murphy
mine, laid out with mathematical exact
ness. Every entry is laid of by the COM
pass. For six years one man, Michael
Ford, has worked in one heading, driving
It 9, 500 feet in an air line, No Que has aE7
sisted him fra day, and the heading Is
known as "Ford's Air Course" Parallel
10 and fifty feet from all the entries, which
arc six in number, Is wide gallery. From
this gallery the rooms are reached. Two
shafts also aid iu furnishing air Ihave
never been in o mine where the air is so
pure and fresh. Ia tramp OF several
miles ever THIS vast mine found scarcely
u drop OF water, the little l saw being at the
entrance. Not room, gallery or heading
contained drop. save At the shafts, where
It came from nOJve. some luea oil Inc vast
amount Of work done in this underground
storehouse OF wealth may be gathered
tho fact that ons entry is a mile in length,
and the combined length Of the entries,
and galleries is ten miles. Twenty mules
are required to haul out the 800 tons OF
coal mined here daily. The tramways are
all ol T rails, made ut the Riverside Works,
Wheeling. The roof is high, the track per-
feet and the claim Is boldly made that this
is the best conducted large mine In West
Virginia, and after an examination extends
ing over thre, quarters Of the day, ] am
Inclined 10 think the claim Ia well founded.
A serious accident has never occurred in
the twenty-five years the III ne has been
worked. There NrC men In 1t who have
worked here for twenty,.hree year,, and
they all agree that ionl air has never been
An Ctier Of $40 for drop oE
water to be found in any room or gallery,
is kept standing. Sky men are employed
in the mine including the drivers.
An unusually large proportion are for