The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-15
THE KANAWHA MINES
ABOUT THE coALBvReH SEAM.
The Pride aud Advantage OF the Plslts In this
SsetIOa-An,iquity Of the Tap-Ths Improve
ments ProJsctsd-rhe Coal Traue.
The Boating Stage Figures.

The Boating Stage FIEurtG.
Sporia! Correspondence Of The IRIeligencer.
CoALuuRuH, W. Va, May lO.-Here,
too, is another coal company which plumes
itself little on its age. In 1855 the seam
was first opened aud operated successfully
until 1859, then closed till after the war.
Since then It has been running constantly.
In 1874 the present management took
charge. they have seen It grow from 4
small to large mine, and have a daily out.
put Of 1000 bushels Of lump coal; OF all
kinds-lump, nut and slack, about 900
bushels. Being the frst opening in this
seam it has made It famous, the reputation
alone Of Pittsburgh coal making II sell
higher in the market. They have seen
nine mines open up in their immediate VI
cinity, seemingly satisfied II they can strike
the Coalburgh seam. The seam Is Of great
extension, extending, perhaps, through the
whole valley, in some places only the
quality Of the coal paying for the mining.
At this point II lies about $50 feet below
the "Black Flint LEDGE" which Is start
ing point in all measurements. 1t Ia work.
ed in the upper seam $50 feet above the
river.
THE MARKET AND THE MINES.
The coal is carried down an incline to
either the railroad or the river tipple.
While the larger market Is found in Gin
Cinnati, not inconsiderable portion OF the
output is shipped East over the Chesapeake
4 Ohio railway, finding an easy sale. No
mine on the river is worked more economi.
cally than this. The mine boss, MIR Brab-
ben, has full control on the hill. Under
his direction entries are pushed, rooms
opened, and the general work Of the mine
carried on. Competent and able engineers
visit the mincs al times, but his works are
always found correct. The main entry In
nearly mile long and straight as die.
The ventilation is by natural openings,
and nowhere does one find purer air.
Drains lead from all directions to large
'sumps," from which the water is removed
by means OF siphon. With an average
thickness OF feet l inch the seam Is mined
for 81 cents per bushel. A peculiarly oi
the Coalbnrgh niggerhead is found here in
small seam only. No "honsebacks" have
been met with under the present manage
ment, SO the seam can be called nearly
clean. In the front hills, with no tracks
and locomotives with no serious accident
ever having happened 1t thus possesses an
enviable reputation.
MORE IMPROVEMENTS TO DE MADE.
Not content, though, with their present
surroundings, the company will "blow
out" the first OF June for one month, in or
der to make improvements in their plane
and erect fine, new tipple. By their
present method The screens are on the up
per side OF the railroad, and all river ship
ments have 10 be pushed from the screens
10 the river tipple; by the new the coal
will run over screens into either barges or
railroad cars. With about 1900 acres Of
coal land the company will then be able
to push the capacity to its fullest.
Mr.. Neil Robinson, the manager OF the
company, one OF the best informed and
most hospitable gentlemen OF the valley,
said to me: "While wild over the gold and
silver mining Of the West, capitalists have
overlooked prime Investments in this val.
ley." And it is true. With plenty Of coal
land, two means OF transportation, cheap
land or leases and small royalties, there 10
nothing to keep capitalists out except their
ignorance. With from $4,000 to $4,000
an operator can place coal on the river from
the upper seam, while from the lower
$1,000 will cover the cost. have no
figures for the increase Of river shipping
i at. ,bnk loa
by rail, l give tho following figures:
TRAFFIC. FIGURES
In 1881 the q. < o. Railway coal and coke
traffic amounted to 773.42G tons; in 1882 to
$50, 700 tons, gain Of $50, ,S3S tons. This in.
crease is tor the past year; what the future
will bring remains to be seen. The coal is
here, good investment is here, and the
moneyed.mcn are finding it out. l hav.
heard the question asked often during my
stay in the Valley as to the reliability Of
the Great kanawha as means OF transpor-
tation. MIR. Robinson kindly furnished
me the following interesting tables, which
Iappend. The average stage OF channel
water at Charleston for five consecutive
years az taken from the records OF the
United States Engineers. In the dams
the same depth Is found:
.t,., .vo.s,o oep . IN 1.,s oooh ,..x
ieet H ~ ssch ssr
feet and upwards AYeIHRG l5I 10 days eRt year.
feet and upwards, ave Rge l3 2l0 days each year.
See! and Gp%Slds aysIaSe e days each year
10 iset and upwtds, average 80 days each ysai.
From careful records kept by Mr.. Robin.
son, the following averages as to the car