Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-09-17
pITTsBURa's RIVAL.
The development Of the Coal Fields
OF the Kanawha.
Advantages in Shipping Over Pittsburg--,A
Rival Come to Stay - Rail-
road and General
Facilities.

The following interview from the Pitts
burg Times will be of interest to this sec
ton:
Prof j. p. White, of the United States
Geological Survey in West Virginia, was
one of the guests of the Seventh Avenue
Hotel last night. Prof White is best
known as member of the Pennsylvania
State Survey, having been employed in the
anthracite coal regions for seven years pre-
vious to last year when he began work IN
the Kanawha Valley. 81 do not think the
Kanawha coal field will amount to as, much
as people in Pittsburg seem to expect, he
said to Times reporter. There is a vast
extent of coal, but not as much as there Is
around Pittsburg. 1t has been reported
that there are eight or ten veins all worka-
bic. The fact is that not more than
two or three, or, in few instances, four are
constantly workable in the same hill. Take
the whole length of the valley and each OF
them can be worked at some point or other.
The average thickness of the veins, as tar
as have observed, is only about three feet.
In some localities the vein reaches seven or
eight feet, but that is exceptional, and in
other places they thin out so far that they
cannot be worked at all. The great advan-
tage Of that region over Pittsburgh is the
free lockage. Then they are 250 miles
nea rer the Southern market and being
farther south the river does not freeze so
hard and there is not so much damage BY
ice. The Kanawha has its source as far
south as North Carolina and frequently they
have foods there when the Monongahels is
dry and can get their coal to the southern
markets when Pittsburgh men cant get
their boats out at all.
COMPETITOR CONE TO STAY.
"Do you think the field is extensive
enough to make the Kanawha valley per-
manent competitor of Pittsburg"
They have great fields that are yet un-
developed. Coal is found along the streams
that flow into the Kanawha, tine Coal river
for instance and the Little Coal and Cabin
Creek. They are building railroads up all
these streams, by which they can bring their
coal to the boats. They say that as they
70 back from the Kanawha the veins in
crease to thickness of seven or eight feet,
but don't know whether that is true or
not. The Norfolk 4 Western Railroad
Company has projected a branch connect
ing this valley with the Pocahontas region
n Southwest Virginia and giving the Ohio
Central Railroad access to it. If that is
built and the Ohio Central can get across
The river it will give Kanawha coal mar.
ket in Ohio"
NOT DANGEROUS TO PITTsBURG.
go you think Kanawha coal is likely to
drive Pittsburg coal out of the market?
Looking the whole field over | do not
think it will especially if Pittsburg gets the
Go, eminent to give her free !ockage in the
Monongahela. Pittsburg coal veins are
thicker and more easily and cheaply work
ed. Pittsburg coal always brings a cent
more per bushel in the Southern markets
Under these conditions don't see why
Pittsburg will not have as good show at
onpeition as she has ever had. As to
he quality of the Kanawha coal cannot
express an opinion. l have not yet made
an analysis Of it. In fact my work has
only begun The geodetic corps which al
Saj $ proceeds the geologist, has only got its
map far enough completed to allow me to
make beginning AT present l'have no
assistants. 1t will take year or two be
lore their map is finished far enough to
Justify putting a regular corps of biologists
nto the State