Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-21


v1se,uaa Copo1ol1o Alaeewe.
One 81 Tie richest md best.lceseed cnsl
propefsles in Alabama y y WelkeI ecu ~
some tsfty niles west o. tns gcw'Ip. ss ~
Of Birmingham. on me seoIsHn "a cre.
r.esd ~ virrii,ia capital, the proprietofs
heinz tke virrinia and Alabama Mining
md NIL, Hunniscturing company, o. which T. 9.
T@sis- r.. az the Grm Of NorvcIl, Leakc q
q. Richmond. h president. This company
was oreaulxed In Nay. 1888. and the work
~ urns Meeting and opening ND the pro.
nertv berau early In the spring OF
issl' Their property consists Of over
sn60 acres al coal land, covering
several workable seams OF coal. Ine
ton seam. on which the company mas
opcped. n four feet thick, and runs norr
zontaliy. Uniting out from the mountain
aides some flfty feet above the creeks. Az
the seams car, be worked with se'i'drain.
ING drists. and the distance above TIE level
al the lowlands or bollows ts sufiicient 70
sfYord ample dumping facilities rom
mininc.cars 70 railroad-cary without the
mid az machinery. These facts make tue
nroperty the most valuable coal properly
IN Al.bsmo. The Georgia Pacific railroad
Rms on the southern edge OF the property
for over two miles. with branch road OF
one mile piercing the western edge and
terminating at Patton mines. Here the
virginia and Alabama Mining and Manu-
featuring Company have made extensive
improvements 10 opening two drifts. erect-
inc buildings for miners, and other perma-
uent fixtures. The mines have DAILY
capaclty of over 600 tons. The town OF
Patton IA Incorporated, has about 800 in
hobisants. and IL nicely laid OF. Here the
company have their Office, store, &c.
The company has surveyed and Is now
negotiating for the construction OF some
three miles OF railroad from junction
with the Georgia Pacific up through the
northeastern boundary OF their property
known ma Coal Valley. on which they have
opeped five drifts and made other improve
mente. This win give them over SIX mi,es
al railroad front to their property, which
will enable them to divide II up into small
sections of seyerul hundred acres for the
purpose Of leasing, retaining the Patton
property for their own operations.
Al OF the drifts opened are noted Tor
their drvnese and rood ventilation In add
tiop 10 the richness OF the coal. Alabama
spljnt coal Is the name given TO the FRO
duct Of the mines Of this company. 1t
surpasses anything yet discovered In Ala
barna for It's hardness and IT'S ree-burning
and stocking qualities. These make 1t a
very superior CRATE and steam coal. IL Is
mined in large Jumps or blocks. The
largest block OF coal from Alabama at the
New Orleans Exposition will be exhibited
by this company. II weighs over $4,000
pounds.
The demand from New Orleans for do
nestle purposes alone far exceeds the CON-
pany's present capacity, and their superior
railroad facilities gives them ADVANTAGES Of
competing markets, such as New Orleans.
Mobile, Galveston, Gull coast, Vicksburg,
Memphis. Meridian, and Columbus, Miss. {;
Selma and Birmingham, Ala; Atlanta,
Ga; and other eastern cities. There is
n large demand for the coal from smaller
local towns.
Our Virginia friends were very lucky,
and display ca good business judgment and
foresight in locating and securing this
property before the completion OF the Geor-
gia Pacific railroad, which has been the
cause Of enhancing the value OF this and
adjacent properties an hundred fold.