The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-10-25
The pawnIng Of a New Era.

Few people in Somerset or throughout the
county have an idea Of the vast amount Of
labor that has been performed by the Listie
Mining Company in developing their plant
az Lisiie Station, Eve miles north of Somer-
set.
Two years ago only a few persons were
aware thai andeTi ing ihe preeipitous hills of
that section Of the county was one Of the
heaviest and purest deposits of bitnminous
coal in Penn'a-in fact unsjority of our people
held to the opinion that the coal was Of an
inferior quality and would not pay for the
mining and 50 far as marketing il in manu-
featuring towns was concerned no one ever
dreamed Of such thing.
To-day all is changed: L site IS the busiest
place in Somerset county, and where two
years ago only single man could be found
in the coal bank at that place. to-day al av-
erage of eighty men can be found steadily
at work in the "Krebs Nine and instead of
the coal being of an inferior quality it has
been demonstrated by practical test that it
is equal to the best steam producing coal
found any where in the Unitsd States, and
orders for il are increasing each week, as the
product of the mine becomes better known
in the market.
The opening now being worked is one-hAlf
mile east Of Listie Station. A well ballasted
side track connects It with the 5 & C. r L.
The coal is dumped into cars through
shute only few feet above the cars and
about six rods from the mouth Of the mine.
Everything about the mine IS activity.
Cars come shooting through the darkness of
the pit-propelied by gravity-And after
their contents have been weighed aud dump
ed into car, they are Immediately hauled
back to the room where the miners are at
work Everything works Systematically
and every employees knows wha. IS sexpected
Of him and does it promptly.
Oae day last week the manager, Mr.. Geo.
Krebs. learned that an incip.ent strike was
brewing. Without saying word to any Of
the dissatisfied men he promptly discharged
the ring-leaders, and to day everything IS
working as smoothly as could be desired
The opening Of the mine is six and one
half feet and this height IS continued until
the out crop has been passed, when the vein
five feet-is followed. The ditferent head
ings have been pushed forward until they
are back distance OF about 500 feet at the
present time. The main heading is back
I5oo feet.
All of the mining is done under the per
sonal supervision Of Mr.. George Krebs, a
graduate Of an engineering sshooi-one
unfamiliar with mines and mining does not
have to be told this as a trip through the
mines demonstrates 70 even the most casual
observer that all Of the mining is being done
systematically and with the greatest care,
not only for the protection Of the men en-
ployed, but in order to get the best results
All Of the headings are parallel and the mo-
ment room has been dug out il is hermeti-
cally sealed as ii is only in this way that the
excellent circulation Of pure air that floods
the mine can be secGFei and maintained.
OF course the mine is provided with two
openings and as many Eir shafts.
Lis;ie is shipping an average OF twelve car
loads Of coal per day and when il becomes
better known in The market lis product
must command more ready sale. The
managers Of the company have in contem-
pla,ion the erection Of number Of coke
ovens in the near future, as theeoal has been
tested and has proven that it will manuiact-
ure a. good coke as any coal in the State.
When it is remembered that Lisiie is the
pioneer mine ia this section Of the county
and that ali OF the coal territory between il
and the Cambria county line has been leased
lin a msjority of cases bought out-
right by home and foreign capitalists during
the past two years-snd promises IN many
instances 10 be speedily developed, one is
irresissably drawn to the conclusion that a
new era is about 10 dawn-in fact has dawn
ed-in this section OF the county and tha,
our hitherto hidden resources viii bring Us
increased wealth.