The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-30
ZIG COAL OPERATION.
An Unprecedented Purchase of West viz
Einia Mineral Lnnds-AGrt coks Field
IN t,e Ouo,s,i H. y 1N

An unprecedented purchnse OF West ylr-
Einia Mineral Lands-AG Great coks Field
10 be 0psted Up.
Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph Of
ss,h; Pittsburgh capitalists, in con-
Junction with representative business
men Of CORY and Erie, are about clos
Ing a deal which involves the most ex-
tensiye single purchase of coal lands in
tho history OF this or any other state.
The tract in question 10 situated in
Preston county, West Virginia, and
contains 10000 acres. underlaid with a
thick vein OF fine coal, very suitable for
coke. a portion OF this land lies along
the main line OF the Baltimore & ohio
railroad, between Cumberland. Md,
ton known gs Tunnelton and West End
being located on the.t I, Is quite
probalc that the final papers In the biz
deal viii be closed during the coming
week. Among the Pittsburgh members
OF 1.-The syndicate are ]. NJ. Guffey, Mel
lon Bros and L. c. Beardsley. while
Drake. Stratton & Co. and the other
projectors of the Cheat river railroad.
a line which 1t is proposed to build from
Point Marion. Fayette county, TO n
point in Preston county. w. Va, are
also interested. Some months ago John
Sliney, OF Cory. Pa, began securing.
option on this land He was acting
under instructions OF the syndicate,
which Is now about to close the deal.
Mr. Sllney encountered considerable
difficulty on account OF the immensely
OF the tract and the number OF own
ers who held different portions OF the
land, and who had TO be seen. This
matter has been finally arranged. and
options secured Mt $40 per acre, which
In itself means an expenditure OF $780,
Oo0- Mr.. T. L. Mensill, civil engineer
and geologist, who prepared maps OF
the tract by direction Of the syndicate.
said that the deal when closed would
be the most extensive purchase OF any
OF the Coil and coke operations OF this
country, or In fact of the world. Mr..
Menslll Is thoroughly familiar with that
section OF the country, and Is ac-
qualnted with the character OF Its rich
mineral products. He says the coal de-
post Is very thick and is known as the
Freeport vein. 1t is close to the sur
face and a be taken out by the drift
mining process. The vein at some
points is 800 feet above water level, and
at no point will 1t be necessary to sink
shafts. As O coking coal Its excellent
qualities have already been demons
trated. and there is now a coke plant
in the neighborhood. supplied from a
branch OF the large vein, and the show
ing Is so highly satisfactory as to place
the proposed enterprise beyond the
level OF an experiment.
The opening OF this big coal field
means the erection of a great COke
plant, or rather OF a number OF plants,
as coke ovens will be placed 1T different
points, and a powerful competitor OF
the H. C. Frick Coal Company will go
into business. The immense capital
back of the venture is a guarantee that
the plans will be carried out.
With the completion of the Cheat
River railroad, which will likely be ac-
compl!shed next year. a direct
from Pittsburgh TO this new coal re-
gfon will be established.