Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-08-01
ELK GARDEN.
The Growth Of a Mining Town in West
Yirginla-The Industries That Have
Built It Up.

]
ELK GARDEN, W. Va, July SO.-In
the Elk Garden region, opened by the West
Virginia Central Railroad, according to
Professor Pumpsll, special geOlogist Of the
United States Census Commission, there
are more than one hundred million tons of
bitumirous coal especially adapted for
steam ana smlthiug purposes and for coke.
Nearuess to the Atlantic seaboard gives the
field decided advantage, but nevertheless
coal from Elk Garden has been shipped as
far west as Salt Lake City. The mines at
Elk Garden were first opened in May Of
1881. Ga October "a, of the same year, the
first shipment was made. For several
years a tram road and plane were used in
the transportation of coal, but since the
completion Of the branch from Harrison to
Elk Garden, a distance of seven and half
miles, the capacity Of the mines has been
almost doubled, while from five to seven
cents per ton has been saved in the cost of
production. The coal at Elk Garden is
gotten from the magnificent fourteen foot
vein. The coal is of remarkable purity,
Only a single thin seam of slate being yisi-
BILE in the great carbon blocks. Supsrinten-
dent A O. Rawlings, If the Elk Garden
mines, kindly showed the REGISTER re-
porter through the mines and fuIn shed
inf.
Openings Nos. l, and are ia tract of
90 acres. Another opening is being made
in 8 tract Of $50 acres. a mile east of No. 6.
Opening No. Is north Of No. l, AID ie 10
a tract OF 109 acres. 1t is now devoted for
home consumption. No > mine is } miles
north, and Included eight acres, YET to be
worked. Four miles south is another great
tract yet to be opened.
From the first Of January TO the first Of
July 166, 600 tons of coal were shipped
from The Elk Garden mires. About $50
men are employed here and the daily pro-
ducti0n is from LOO to 800 tons TIE
scarcity Of cars Is causing some annoyance
and delay. Mules have rot been used 10
the mires for q number Of years as horses
proved 10 DC more servicsab'e on account
of the steep iucliues at the opening. The
mules were accustomed to maintain q
steady, slow gait, and sometimes were I'M
able to pull through. On the other hand,
the intelligent Eorses would 20 up tire
grades on q ran without difficulty, and the
horses we're altogether substituted.
Tne Town Of i K Garden itself has
shown steady progression. It's foundation
dates from the opening Of its mines and it
is somewhat proud TO refer to the distin-
guehed citzsIs of the republic whom it
has had the honor to entertain.
President Grant and James G.. Blaine
have both bsen there, on different occa-
sions, Of course, and they expressed their
establishment at the great coal field Just
opened for development.
The town has a population of from l 500
to 500 The houses sre altogether OF
wood brick and stone indeed being very
rare along the line Of the railroad. Most
OF the houses are neat and unpreteniious,
but Sup. Rawlings has fine cottsge built
on q site commanding e view of mountain
scenery OF remarkable beauty.
The present schedule Of trains renders il
difficult for the town to be reached by the
daily papers Until recently the news
reached there a whole Gay late and even
now IL is well en- toward night when the
morning papers arrive. Notwithstanding,
this, the people are intelligent, thinking
class and the press enjoys in that region
really large circulation. II is altogether
probable that before many months the
schedule Of trains will be changed for the
better in this respect.
Another important point for coal on the
West Virginia Central ia Thomas, near
where the mines Of the Davis Coal and
Coke Company axe located. They ara on
the Upper Poiomsc field which includes
hundreds Of millions Of tons Of accessible
and merchaniable al. The company has
two mines opened at Thomas. There are
also twenty eight coke ovens at this point
and contracts have besn let for fifty more
TIE coke has been chemically snalyzed
and experimentally testsd, and it has been
found to be equal to the famous COnuells-
Vile coke.
At numerous points along the road
openings arc to be seen. The Spring Gar
den Coal Company Of Philadelphia has
sunk a shaft INTO the Kittanoing coal near
German, and another shaft has been put
down near Wilsonia. Openings sre also
being made at Atlantic, Virginia and
/ Window stations. Last year GOO. 600 tons
of coal were shipped over the IOad, ard it
Is constantly estimated that during the
presen year fully 100000 tons viii be
carried.
In the Thomas mines the experiment
has been tried of using colored labor, and
it has proved to be very satisfactory 60
/ g.