Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-19
A MODEL MINE. THIS
That Of the Coal Valley Mining
Company at Sherrard.
THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD.

A visit to This Little Mining Town, where
Last Spring mot . House stood-Sights
to be Seen Going Through the Country
Notes Of the Trip.
Through the courtesy of Supt. H.
b. Sudlow, an ARGUS representative
was invited to accompany the Off
Gals of the r. !. & P. railway and
Coal Valley Mining company ON their
regular monthly trip on the pay car
Saturday afternoon, all the towns on
the Mercer county division being
visited. Supt. Sudlow, Trainmaster
H. P. Greenough, Paymaster Lippin-
colt, of the 4. 1. & P. Harry Harri-
sion, paymaster of the Coal Valley
company. the Misses Grace lobe and
Mamie Lee. stenographers in the
companys' Offices, and Hiram Cable,
manager of the Pixies Peak cog-wheel
railway, composed the party. The
special car, which was in charge of
Conductor Hansen and Engineer
Parks, and pulled py engine No. II,
left the depot at the foot of Twentieth
street at 1:25 p. m.
The Trip.
10 one who never had the pleasure
OF making the trip on such an occa-
sion, it is indeed a novelty. On ap-
preaching the different stations could
be seen small delegation of men.
each.of whose countenances evidenced
expressions of welcome at the arriva,
OF the train which they knew bore
the fruits of their service. The train
comes to a standstill, the men stand
on the outside. and enter as their
names are called, departing more
richly clad, financially. This for
mality is gone through at each town.
1t was an ideal day, the glistening
rays of the sunshine as they shone on
the frost bitten leaves of the trees.
which were robbed of their green
clad appearance by the effect of
the autumnal weather. lent beauty to
the scenery plentiful while passing
through this fertile strip of country.
Between Taylor Ridge and Preemp-
ton could be seen large farms of corn
stalks, which were being stripped of
their bearings by the contented and
Independent ruralist, who was reap
ing the fruits of his seasons labor
When Presumption is reached, there
are two tracks-one leading to Cable,
and the other to Sherrard, the town
which, while not heard much of as
yet, would surprise mapv with its
beautiful surroundings and size.
Sherrard.
This rapidly growing mining town
was the next to be visited. 1t is sit
uated about five miles southeast of
Presumption and two and one-half
miles from Cable, just over the line
in Mercer county. The land on
which this thriving little village is
situated was last spring nothing
more than a barren strip of country.
A wonderful transformation has
taken place in the past few months. a
village SURPRISING in residences. nu-
merically speaking. to say nothing of
its beauty and advantageous sur
roundings, many of the older neigh
boring towns. which is ample encour-
agement to its promoters that the
establishment OF city here is a
prophecy, while doubtful, is deserv-
ing of consideration. There are al
ready constructed about forty
residences, all occupied. while
a number are yet to be COM
pleted this fall. A hotel, me-
tropolitan in dimensions and de-
sign, is about finished. 1t contains
80 rooms, will be heated by steam,
lighted with gas and furnished with
water by means of a tank, which will
be stationed at the top of the build
ing. the water falling by gravity to
the different compartments. The
lower floor will be used as a bank.
and will be conducted by Evans 4
Jones, of Reynolds, who also run a
banking business at the latter place.
A general merchandise store, the
property of the Coal Valley Mining
company, which also contains the
posteffice, is already in running or
der, beside other business houses.
A depot recently built by the r. 1. &
p. railway company is in keeping
with the city-like appearance of the
rest of this little town.
The fact that the Coal Valley Min.
ing company has sunk at this place
the largest bituminous coal shaft in
the world warrants the rapid up.
building of Sherrard, as it will yield
when in full working order. ovel
twice the amount produced by the
company's shafts at Cable, the out.
put there being something like sew
enty car loads per day. Operations
in the new mine will be commenced
some time during this week. and
while only about fifty men will be
employed at the start, the number
will be gradually increased to the
hundreds. The shaft, which is To-
Gated about ninety rods to the north.
west of Sherrard, is 225 feet deep.
The hosting machinery is built after
q model constructed by Supt. Robert
Lee. and indeed it would be super
fluous to attempt of description. He
has equipped the shaft with two
huge iron buckets, in connection
with the ordinary cages, which are