The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-25
IN THE VIRGINIA MINES.
i PETRIFIED FISH FOUND 1000 FEET
ABOVE SEi liz VEL.
Some Of Naiure'- Secrets That Lie HID in
the Flat Top or focahontas Region
Great Output II coal.
Richmond. Va. May %. 1875.

coal OF value I'm Virginia. 90 not mean
West Virginia outside the limits OF the
field IN which the Midlothian mines, near
Richmond. are located. IL was known
that extensive deposits OF hituminous
coal, camel and splint, AS well as steam
and coke making. existed in West Nlr-l-
MIA, but that these fields EXTENDED INTO
this State was one of Natures secrets
Since that time the Flat Top. or locahon-
tas. seams have been discovered ana de-
FelOpcd i'm TaZeWell county, ana an im-
mense area lying along the lire OF me
'hncn Valley division of the Noriolk ana
Western railroad. The POcahontas coal
the name by which 30 has become known
I'm this country and Europe, is first
class coking coal and has no superior
as a steam generator. The measures
cover an area about sixty miles long hy
thirty wide. and the seam which is being
mined is from four and "a half 90 twenty
IN thickness. some experts consider ih'
coke made from this coal superior 10 mat
Of the famous Conucilsvillc region. while
its steamug properties arc so wei Known
that the United States Navy Department
has shown preference for 10 over an
others for use ON our war vessels. Nearly
all OF the ocean records for passenger
vessels have been made with 30.
The seams lying along the Chnch VAL
ley road contain "A very good coal ioi
domestic use. and some attempt mas nteN
made to produce gas and coke from ll
but so long as the p0calonfas fields are
ugeXhausfei they will mOnOpolize ms
branch of the business.
il ls impossible 20 estimate the value
10 the country. especially TO the two
Nrgnlas. of the development of these
c0ll-fclls hv the Norfolk and western
Railroad Company. s territory. cone
siderable portion OF which was "a wilder
ness twelve or fourteen years ago.
through which one could ride for half
Day without seeing human face or sign
OF human habiiatiOn. is to-day pcopled nt
5000 busy men. women. and children
some OF whom have grown from power
ty tO ailiufncc. while all. or nearly hl'
have found employment AT lving wages.
IL was no small undertaking. even ODD
this day Of modern engineering, when
nothing seems impossible. 70 construct
railroad from the main line Cf the Nor
folk and Western 90 p0canontas, but Che
difficulties encountered in penetrating the
field iu West virginia. along the lime 0f
Elk Horn Creek. wore even greater IT
Involved the expenditure of AN Immense
amount OF money Tine exhibition oi ODD
domi'ablo energy aga pluck. and no small
degree of public spirit on tlis line There
are four or five frcsfle-. ore or TWO oi
which are higher than tle bridge at
FarmViie. Two miles from P0canOnfae,
ON the West Virginia -i4e florc is tHu-
mel $500 feet long. rut through solid
bed of coal THE railroad company pure
chased this property some years ago. of
thought they had purchased ii bat in an
@'"'" "t '"" '"' "' '"..
o'F'l'N i'' anu voiip' que
.p pay ll'"N l'I ui' ''"i 'f'- '..''
neeh ,aN'" ON Jul 1He 'oi'' '''' '' '''.
t...','
nile dfiFnt inls tAh"ei me '"-'.'
came To me n'iy oil I'lI-lie' '"
ts-l''i Hi'i'7 j" "'-i''''l' '''." '''
10 DE removed, 2l course ana IONS
OF }. are 7.i" s".- "'o"' ''' "''-
eo". -' "l.''I l's
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ger 'ii.''y - %"
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1884,.
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