The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-07-30

s6s tho frst coal mine in PsImvra tovnshin |
was nut in oneration Inv James ZONES. at pres.
emf the sheriff of this eountv. and Evan and
Thomas Bowen and David Griffith. The shaft
was sunk in the woods on the Mervin farm, |
where. armed with pick and a-few other tools |
of a simple kind Mr. Jones struck the first
blow that ever loosened the earth in n success |
ful attemnt to mine the black diamonds that |
have since made PaImvra faneus. Previous to
this. Andrews and Hitchcock (Chauncey An
drews, who afterward built the Pcs T.R.R1,
two CT the heaviest coal operators in the Ma
honing valley, hired Job John, very compe-
tent driller recognized as one of the best that
section, to prospect on this same site. and he
drilled until he pierced vein Of the mineral,
but pronounced it too thin for profitable opera
ton. and his employers abandoned the fed.
Mr.. Jones, however, was of a different opinion
and resolved to test the correctness of his judg-
ment by sinking shaft to what he believed to
be a valuable deposit of coal. He accordingly
secured lease OF the land, and alone and un-
aided, compelled to labor with the simpler i'm
plements that fall to the lot of those on whom
the golden showers have never descended, he
commenced task that few would care to un-
dertake. The obstacles were numerous and
discouraglng, sufficient to discourage many
less determined man. But among other excel
lent characteristics apounding in his make up
is the one Of perseverance in whatever he un-
dertakes. He says he has always made it
rule never to abandon an enterprise once under
way until every reasonable effort has been
made for its continuance, or it has been fully
demonstrated to be of impossible consumation.
Handicapped by lack of money and appliances,
he nevertheless made the venture with the un-
certainty of any favorable outcome, and the
certainty of hard labor, multiplied hlndrances
and expense of time and money. The difficult
ties of sinking a coal mine in the woods are
many degrees removed from the ordinary, and
| in casting lots with the fates, he was encoun-
tered at every blow of the pick with the inter-
+ris4i,,o nat,rorf, of roots that effectuaIIv i'm
node all nropress bnt the slovest. Rut gradu-
| alIv the 1ax!2 shaft was sunk lower and lower
toward the black goal of inspiration.
| In the meantime his three associates Griffith
and the two Bowens contributed their assist
ance. and together the four continued theil
digging through hard-pan and rock with thei
home made implements patiently meeting an(
overcoming every obstacle, even to the colonie
of MOSQUITOES that gleefully buzzed the musi
of Hades in their ears and with their torturin.
stincs nernetuallv tormented their victims
The numps and rigging were all made from
the surrounding timber. and there was not
tool or appliance of any kind brought in from
without Palmyra Notwithstanding all this,
depth of 60 feet was finally attained and a sub
stantial find of coal rewarded the worker:
They pursued their labors during that Fal
under disadvantages that seemed to accumulat
steadily, and it was not until one year late
) that they commenced operating the mine. Isc
lated at that time from the outside world, thei
sales were limited to the market afforded b
, L..
The opening of coal mine was hailed. {
course, with the greatest satisfaction by ii
citizens of Palmyra The mine was operate
! by Mr. Jones and his three associates for abol
: two years, the local trade gradually iCcreasin
!, the while. But this was before the days of
rail road in Palmyra, and the lessees of tt
mine soon found that the small volume OF bus
!, ness was insufficient TO pay expenses, and
sale or shut down were the two alternatlv
= left. They were in about the same situation
= the man in California who wandered, a!on
9 miles from any human habitation. and there
a the desert found a piece of gold whose ponde
g Gus weight defed his every effort to lift. whi
s there was no means of transporting it where
Il would be of any value to him. Unable
= formulate any plan that would secure his tres
&c ure to him, he kept faithful vigil over it un
If he died from starvation,
"a Wishing to escape financial ruin, the lessC
sold their interest in the mine to W. B. Wilsc
at that time a merchant of Palmyra, who
once equipped it with the best of mode
machinery, and commenced taking out lar
!. quantities of the mineral. a rail road W
subsequently constructed through Palmy
, that gave an outlet to foreign markets, q
from that hour the successful operation of
~ mine was assured and for years it continued
yield thousands of tons of coal. which in tU