The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1883-11-22
ANTHRACITE COAL.
whore the First Crate Fire or An
thracito Was Kindled.

ANTHRACITE COAL.
where the First Crate Fire or An
thracite Was Kindled.
WiLKEsBAREE, Ocr. 27.-Visitors to Ply I
mouth, a mining town six miles below
this city on the Susquehanna River, will
If they care to look for it, find there one
of the first openings that was ever made |
to the anthracite treasures of Pennsyl-
yania. 1t is in the side ola hill, whose
base for nearly 100 feet is almost per.
The opening ID IN the shape |
Of the letter A, and is fully twenty feet
high. It was made in 1907, and some |
idea of the vast amount Of coal stored
away in the hill may be formed when it
is stated that this mine is still worked
with great profit to its owners. There
are probably very few people OF the
present day who have an idea Of the dlf.
fculties that beset the early diggers OF
anthracite coal. The pioneer in the
business was Abijah Smith Of plymouth,
who settled there in 1906. A year after
Smiths arrival in the valley, he pur-
chased seventy.five acres OF coal land for
which he paid $500. At that time $500 was
who sold the land thought they we're
getting good price for It. It could not
be bought to-day for less than $3 600 or
5000 an acre. The year following his
purchase Mr.. Smith opened the mine
described above, and began taking out
coal. In the fall of 1907 he came to the
city, bought an ark of merchant. fioated
it down to Plymouth, loaded with fifty
tons Of anthracite, which he safely land
ed at Columbia, in Lancaster county,
late in the season. This was the first
cargo of anthracite coal ever offered for
sale. at least so the local historians as
sert. The production Of 1907 was fifty
tons; that of 1870, in round numbers,
was sixteen millions tons. ltmay be es.
timated that the production OF 1888 Will
reach thirty million tons.
Anthracite had been used to a certain
extent in the valley long before, MI.
Smith began operations. AS early as
l775 the blacksrniths here had discov.
cred that the "black stones" as they
called them, which they picked up on
the surface Of the ground, made good
fuel for the forge. But for years nobody
believed that anthracite could be used
without an air blast, 80 the FORCES and
| furnaces had monopoly of its use. 1t
was the Hon. Jessie Fell OF this city, one
of the Judges Of the Luzerne county
courts, who first practically demonstra-
ted the fact that anthracite could be
| used for ordinary purposes. The
| revelation came on the 18th day
| of February 1903, and in less than six
months after the departure OF the first
cargo from the Plymouth mines. Judge
Fell was then proprietor OF tavern on
| the stage turnpike to Easton known as
| the Fell house. The greater portion
| of the old tavern is still standing. 1t ls
in the heart of the city, and is occupied
as q saloon and variety theater. The
| iudge being acquainted with the compo-
ton of anthracite, concluded that all that
was required to make it burn freely was
| a good draft. Accordingly he constructed
a CRATE of green hickory saplings, and
putting a large fireplace in his bar-room
filled it with broken coal. Putting aAuan.
Fifty of dry wood under the coal he set
fire to it, and soonthe anthracite ignited
and cracked merrily until the whole
body was mass of glowing fire. The
wooden CRATE was quickly consumed OF
course, but the success of the expert
ment was complete. subsequently
Judge Fell constructed a wrought iron
crate, and had it fixed in the old fire.
place with brick and mortar. Into this
the "stone coap' was heaped, and for
the first time anthracite was utilized
without the aid of an air blast. The
Judge made this memorandum at the
entitled s'The Free Mason's Monitor
Feb. II, of Masonry 58u8 Made the ex
| pertinent of burning the COMMON stone Goa
of the valley in a CRATE in on ire
place in my house, and find it will answer
the purpose of fuel, making clearer and
better ire at less expense than burnire
wood in the common way.
Feb. II. 1908. JESSIE FELL.
} The experiment was noised abroad
and the farmers and others IN the vein
, itv f1ocked to the old tavern. AS thu
days passed the interest deepened. a am
circle after circle gathered about thu
g;owing CRATE in the low, rafter- crownee
barroom, where, over bowls of punct
and mugs of flip the Judges health was
drunk with enthusiasm. Soon the In
nabitants of the valley introduced TIT
CRATES generally in their homes.
, The important discovery made by
Judge Fell led Mr.. Smith, in the yea
succeeding his first shipment, TO intro
r duoe anthracite coal into the market
In 1908 Abiiah Smiths brother Johl
came to the valley. He purchased the
, coal in tract of land adjoining that o
his brother designated in the deed a
l"Potts of Coal" for $500. It was trac
| of 100 acres. In those days the Goa
j was sold in pots, or basins. The Smiths
= came from Derby, Conn. From thu
t time they began mining coal in 1907
they did nothing else, Abijah dying il
!: 1926 and John in 1852. While nelthe,
lived to see their anticipations realized
, Their descendants, who are still the own
!, ers of the land they purchased, are reap
!. ing the benefits of their ancestors fore
sight. The coal business was continued
in this small way until 1920, and as lat
. as 1910 it was not regarded as success