The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-05

placing the famous Elkhorn coal region
500 miles nearer the markets Of Chicago
and the Northwest. Senator Camden is
rapidly extending from Fairmont the
lines Of his railroad system through a
rich belt OF country toward the south
and will soon tap the Chesapeake &
Ohio railroad. Senator Davis and his
associates are extending the West Vir-
ginia Central as rapidly az possible
south toward the iron fields OF the State,
and north through the great coal beds
of the MoDongahela river to q conneC.
ton with the Pennsylvania railroad
system at the State line. The impetus
which theDe lines building and the new
roads constructed will give to the growth
and material advancement OF the State
is incompatible.
COAL AND COKE PRODUCTION.
Perhaps the industry that will be most
advanced Is that Of coal and coke produc-
ton. Rapid as has been the expansion
OF this industry in West Virginia, II 10
manifestly but in its incipIenCy. The
great Appalachian coal measures are
known 10 embrace the entire State, with
the exception OF the lower Potomac
counties. 0ne-thirteenth OF the aggre.
gate coal field OF the country is con-
tanned within the borders Of West Vir-
ginia, and taking into account the greater
thickness OF her workable seams, the
State easily outranks ell others in the
extent and value OF her coal beds. Her
coal area is computed at 5000 square
miles. A great portion OF 1t is easily
and cheaply mined, all Of it is Of the
highest grade OF excellence, such OF 1t
lies in close proximity 10 Vast deposits
Of iron ore and limestone, and is admira-
bly, located in point Of accessibility to
the best markets.
In 1850 the State produced 1,56S,0O0 |
short tons OF coal, ranking seventh
among the coal.producing States OF the
Union, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio,
Maryland, Missouri aud Iowa having
each in the order named larger pro-
duction. In 1889 she produced 4, ,726,0 6,047
long tons OF coal and 665. 1893 tons Of
coke, advancing to fourth rank in coal
production and second in production Of
coke. From the official report for 1890
Of Mine Inspector Spruce, of the second
district, just received, may safely esti-
mate the States output OF coal in 1880 at
5,359, 900 long tons and the coke prOdnC-
ton at LOGO, 900 tons. 1.-THE report from
the first district OF the State shall verify
this estimate, the increase in West Yir-
ginia's coal production during the cur.
rent year will be over l3 per cent, and
in coke production over 6S per cent.
Comparing the output Of 1850 with that
OF 1850 shows an increase OF 2S5 per
cent, or an average annual increase Of
2Sl per cent.
While this ratio OF ineEeass exceeds
that OF any other coal.producing State, q
combination OF peculiar advantages and
high merit in favor Of West Virginia
GOALS must bring about O much more
rapid increase in the production during
the pext five years. There is, indeed,
at this tipe unprecedented activity In
the Coal-mining industry. Within the
year the Monongsh Coal & Coke Co.,
which owns large bodies Of coal between
Fairmont and Clarksburg, has opened
mines in the vicinity oi Fatrmont at two
points, with an output daily capacity
approximating 1000 tons, and is
constructing plant Of 500 coke
ovens, Several other large oper.
neutrality-suspicious. who recognize
superior quality OF coal when
they see it-purchased large boundary
OF coal in the same field few months
ago. and will open mines on an extensive
scale. The payis syndicate has also re-
Gently purchased and will operate two
extensive tracts OF coal there. The vein !
operated is the Pittsburgh seam, 3 feet
thick, the one persistent and important
seam Of our coal series. The coal is un.
eduGiInd es gas coal, and the coke
product sells rerdily in the markets in
Competition with the famous Connells-
vile coke, The U. s. Geological Re-
port contains the following comparative
analysis Of these two cokes, pages SI0-
VS4HS Vile. carbon. Ash. pSSf Authority.
Bradford mincS.Sg.57s 9ll3 O,s2l A.s.AcC.oath
Montana Rines,Ol.ssO GS0 O.IsO D. T. Day.
In the Kanayha and New river dis
trict with large area Of uudeveloped
coal field, the demand fer coal conttn'
ues to exceed the output, notwtthetrnd-
ing the rapid increase in production,
hence Ye may look for greater percent
age OF incEeare every year. By reason
OF cheap river transportation the mar.
kets OF the great OHIO and Mississippi
valleys are open beyond any controlling
competition TO the Kanawha coal trade,
while over the Chesapeake 4 Ohio Rail-
road it has access to the tide'waLer
wharyes at Newport News, distant only,
nay 365 to 39S miles. The Kanawha and
New river Goals exceed the Pittsburgh,
Youphiogheny end Hooking valley Goals
in per cent Of fixed carbon, have a less
per cent OF ash and sulphur. and are
quite as rich in volatile matter. they
are second % none in the world as steam
raiseTs. New riYsr eose gives OFT an 10:
tense heat, leaving only nonipal guam
tity Of ash, and itS excellence is freely
admitted and commands Tor II the best
prices in the market.
But perhaps the most notable deVel'
opnent In this State is taking place 10
he PocahontaS and Elkhorn districts.
This field, extending from Webster and
Nicholas counties In this state 10 TaEe.
we'll and Russell counties 10 ViTgtnta, Is
opened up by the extension OF the Nor
folk & Western railroad. It was only In
1883 that shipments begau, but last year
the output had already reached Low, 400
toms Of coal aud 25S,l70 tons OF coke.
Thia growth is phenomenal That u
will continue, IL not indeed increase, is
bsvond dorht. The coal 10 oi superior
o,,i,t, and thicknsas. Toe Norfolk 4