Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-26
A DIRECT LINE
From wheeling to FairmOnt Now Exists
and the GOAL and Coke Is There.
To tie Editor Of the Register.
Cameron, ". Va.


and the Goal and Coke Is There.
To tie Editor Of the Register.
FAIRMoNT, W. VA, October gath, 1891.
DEAR SIR:-In your issue Of the 23rd.
inst. you notice editorially an interest
ing interview with Governor Fleming
in relation TO large developments going
forward in the vicinity OF Fairmont,
both as to coal and railroads, and the
advantages that Pittsburg would de-
rive from direct railroad connection
extending to this point connecting with
the Camden roads. Your editorial
concludes as follows.
Here our proposed road TO Connellsvile
would come in Just at the right place.
Sbould Pittsburg build a connection to
FairmOnt Wheeling could tap 1t and d.
vert to this city her proper share OF this
valuable trade and rich raw material.
This Connellsville road should be pushed
ahead as fast as possible. If we get there
before Pittsburg so much the better for US.
AT any rate Wheeling cannot afford 10 be
behind Pittsburg.
Now, is il not little funny that the
REGISTER, and for that matter, Wheel
ing also, loOses sight OF the fact that 1t
already has almost a straight line OF
road from Wheeling to Fairmont reach
ing directly all the coal fields and coal
plants now going up in this section, and
All that is necessary is to recognize the
fact. and to use it. a road built from
Wheeling TO tap a road from this sec
ton to Pittsburg in the vicinity Of Con-
nellsville would make the distance from
Fairmont by way Of such connection al
least oue-third longer than the road it
already has, and would come in Jriansu-
larly through Pennsylvania at the back
door.
1t is a well established fact in coal
statistics that the Connellsville field, II
the production is kept up as it is to-day
without any increase, will exhaust every
ton of coal in that district inside OF
twenty years. This coal field is now
practically owned by the manufacturers
OF Pittsburg, bought up for the purpose
OF controlling that field as fuel reserve
to Pittsburg manufacturers, and it will
follow as a consequence that within
short time, the output for the general
public will commence falling off from
that region, and the supply will com
menCe being limited in the interest OF
Carnegie and other manufacturers in
Pittsburg, who own at least three-fOurthS
OF the whole district. Therefore, a road
built from Wheeling to the ConnellSville
district would reach there about in time
to see the output restricted to supply
ing Pittsburg.
1t is also fact, proved by the Census
reports, that at least 80 per cent. OF all
the standard gas coal, and fuel coke OF
the United States is produced from the
PittSburg measures, extending from
Pittsburg through West Virginia, and
southwark along the Appalachian chain,
and that geOlogically there is no other
considerable coal measure in the United
States that can supply standard fuel
OF this kind; therefore, the ratio Of in
creased drain upon these measures will
be very great.
Hon. A. 5. Hewitt, in his Coal and
Iron Statistics places the production OF
bituminous coal in the United States
for 1890 az 1877, 900, 900 tons, and in 1900,
now only about eight years distant at
800. 900, 900 tons, with ratio OF increase
continuing In about the same proper
tion for the future. The largest area
Of the PittSburg coal measures to be
found anywhere, not excepting even
the Pennsylvania, is in West Virginia,
of which Fairmont is the center OF the
Northern West Virginia field, with the
Flat-tOp on the south, and the New
river aud Gauley between. II is, there
fore not so much a question az
fecting the interests of the Fairmont
district as it is Wheeling. This
coal district will have all it can do
TO increase its production fast enough
70 keep up with the increasing demands
mon il, but Wheeling should keep in
touch with the progress in these devel-
opments. and establish its own "Con-
nellsvine" of fuel instead Of depending
upon the distant Pennsylvania field, and
competing with PittSburg manufactur-
ers with Pittsburgh fuel at largely add
ed cost in transportation, when she
might compete in fuel on about equal
terms.
There is now in the vicinity Of Fair
mont over one million dollars expended
in plants, coke ovens, etc, outside OF
the cost OF the coal, and many other new
plants are about ready to commence
operations. This fuel can go direct
to Wheeling in little more
than half the distance that Connells-
Vile coke can come around via Pitts
burg to Wheeling, and at correspond
ingly reduced rates Of freight. A road
built direct from Wheeling to the Con-
nellsvllle field would be nearly the same
distance as from FairmOnt and could
only furnish fuel at about correspond
ing rates of freight as by the B. & D.
from FairmOnt.
1t is possible that the Fairmont oper-
ators may not yet make coke as uni
formly good as Connellsvilie, as it is a
new field, and there is much to learn by
experience in such matters, but the coal
is here, both in quantity and quality,
and both capital and experience will
soon make it the peer Of the Connellsville
district. Come and see US. The string
to the latch on the front door hangs out.
FAIRMoNT.
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