Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-02-16
The Anthracite Coal Basin iu

bberAefey SOuntys-ln IHE REGISTER
of the I'd instant we republished an article
from the Baltimore Ners in relation to
the anthracite coal deposits In the western
part of Berkeley County, which are now
being successfully developed by '.Thc
Meadow Branch Anthracite-C Coal, Iron
and Lumber Company" of Baltimore, and
! ut the same time We also took occasion to
call attention to the economic advantage
which will accrue to this and neighboring
communities in having the source Of their
coal supplies so much nearer to them than
they are at present, whereby corre-
spending reduction in the price Of anthra-
cite fuel will be secured to them. Since
the appearance Of that article we have
! taken some pains to ascertain further facts
concerning these deposits, and are now
enabled to give our readers such addi-
tional Information on the subject as will,
we think, be interesting to them and like
wise to the public at large.
The existence Of pure anthracite coal
in Meadow Branch Valley between Third
Hill and Sleepy Creek Mountains has been
known to number of persons for many
years past, the indications of an extensive
coal basin being apparent ut different and
distant points throughout the valley, as
we'll rs along its mountain sides, and the
coal itself found to be Of excellent quality
But although different attempts have been
made there by different persons in the
past to open up veins of sufficient size for
profitable mining, all efforts in that drec-
ton heretofore have failed from the sim
pie and sufficient fact that those who I'M
dertook the exploration and development
of the deposits had no practical acquaint-
ance with the proper methods to be pnr-
sued in accomplishing the objects they
had in view. Veins of excellent coal
were found, which varied in size from
two, three and four feet TO six; but from
the want of engineering skill and mining
experience they could not be made avail
able. In the case of the siX-foot vein, no
precautiOn having been taken to prevent
the influx of water from 4 mountain
spring whose head was above the mouth
/ of the shaft, the men employed in the
drift were driven out by an overflow,
which so diSheartened the owners Of the
property that they abandoned all further
attempts to work the mine. In c0nso-
quence of these abortive efforts by incom-
petcnt persons there has been prevailing
impression that it would be useless to
make any further attempts to find anthra-
cite veins sufficiently large and of suitable
! quality for profitable mining, either in
the Meadow Branch Valley or in any
other section Of the two Nirgnias.
Fortunately, however, there were those
who did not believe the lavish distribu-
ton of antiiracitcs along the mountain
ranges east of the Allcghanies was con-
fined exclusively to the State of PennSyl-
vania and withheld altogether from the
southern extension of the same ranges on
/ this side Of the Potomac. So, turning
! deaf ear to the dogmatic assertions of Sill
perfcial pretendcrs to scientific attain
|
so much as seen the valley of Meadow
Brancll--and disrcgarding the equally re-
| liable and no less positive afiirmations of
those who knowing neither how nor
where to look for coal, nor what to do for
! its development when found, had failed
/ TO make their experimental mining sue
/ cesSful i'm the aforesaid valley-which to
/ them had become "yalley of humilia-
ton" because OF their own ignorance
! they determined to investigate the subject
! for themselves and TO form their own
ideas from a personal exploration Of the
valley as to the character and capabilities
! of the anthracite deposits it was said to
I contain.
Accordingly they took occasion last
! summer to visit the region referred to,
and finding its geological formation to re-
scmblc that which characterizes some Of
| the most prolific coal fields of Pennsylva-
mia, and its other physical features to be
favorable they came to the conclusion that
it would be worth their while to make 4
determined effort to solve the long-mooted
, problem rs to whether the deposits found
there were such in quality and extent as
to insure profit in their development.
Their next steps were to purchase some
six thousand acres Of the best Of the coal
lands in question and to organize joint
stock company incorporated under the
code Of "Public General Laws of the State
of Maryland" which confer liberal adj
vantages for mining and manufacturing
purposes. These preliminaries having
been arranged, they then, last fall, went
quietly to work under the intelligent di-
rcction of the experienced president Of the
company, John +. Ehlen, Esq, Of Balti-
more, a gentleman who, being familiar
with all the latest and best methods for
properly conducting mining operations,
has been practically engaged for more
than thirty years in opening and super
intending anthracite and bituminous coal
mines in Pennsylvania and Maryland,
and the result has been that their pluck
and perseverance have already found
their appropriate reward, as will be seen
from the subjoned report OF the expert
enced manager:
HEDGEsvILLE, W. Va, Dec. C, 1888.
John F. Ellen. Esq, President Of the
MeodOv Branch Anthrd cite Coal, Iron and
Lumber Co., Baltimore, Nd:
SIR-IIaving been employed by you, on
behalf of your company, to superintcnd