Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-29
BLOSSBURG TO THE FRONT
The Largest Coke Works in the South
west to Be Erected in This THIRTY
ing Suburb of the Gate City.
The LATEST IMPROVED MACHINERY
The Output of the Coal Mines at Bloss-
burg will Soon Be Increased to
1000 Tons Per Day by the
Opening of New Drifts.

Special Correspondence New NJ exican:
Ration, N. NJ, May 27.-If any one
imagines that the use of the latest and
most improved machinery and ideas are
confined to the east alone, he has not
visited Blossburg. Yesterday evening
Mr.. Harry Whigham, manager of the
Ration Coal & Coke company, took me to
the bustling suburb of this city that l
might see what was being done by the
company in the way of improving the
coal mine plant at that place. | found
large force of men at work grading the
ground and preparing for the erection of
one of the largest coke works in the south
west; and more than that, the most i'm
proved plant in use anywhere in the coun-
try is to be put in. At present the COM
pany is mining 1900 tons of coal per day,
but in a short time that will be increased
to 1000 tons by the opening of new
drift, the tracks for that purpose already
being in place.
THE NEW COKE OVENS.
The coke ovens, however, are a new
enterprise and are now under construc-
ton. They will consist of two double
batteries connected by gas hues and sup
piled with the most improved appliances
for the economical and rapid handling of
the coal used, and the finished product.
While the plant is in the constructive
stage, q general outline of the methods
and machinery was given me by Mr..
Whigham, and believe it will interest
tine readers of the NEW MEXICAN.
When the new works are finished, which
will be about the LIST of next August,
everything will be run by electricity.
Steam for the generation of the current
will be furnished by four 100-horse power
boilers heated by gas from the coke ovens,
thus avoiding the use of coal and the ex-
pense of handling heavy fuel. The cur
rent, which will be 400 horse power, will
be conveyed to the mine and other parts
of the works by half inch copper wires
and will do the work usually performed
by engines. The motive power used in
hauling coal and coke cars will be an cleo
trical engine, and the tramways will be 80
arranged that the entire mining property
can be reached with the trolley line. On
account of the great heat over the coke
ovens small steam engine will be used
on the tracks over them, but nowhere else
will steam be used in direct way. 1t is
impossible to here give complete or
clear description of the works as they will
be when completed, but enough has been
told to convey some idea of the improve
ments under way. Before buying the
machinery Mr.. Whigham visited the prin-
cipal mines in Pennsylvania and the south
and examined the workings of the mines
which are equipped with the most i'm
proved appliances, and the machinery
now stored in Blossburg was bought af
the result of careful Investigations. l fee
safe in saying that when completed the
Ration Goal & Coke company will have ar
ideal plant and will be able to meet almost
any kind of competition in the market for
the output. Knowing that it is a difficult
matter to convey definite idea of the
magnitude of the work under way | asked
Mr.. Whigham about how much money his
company intended to spend on the plant
After thinking for moment he replied;
"Well, whole lot" And judging from
what l had seen I thought he told the
truth, and as he was once newspaper
man was not at all surprised.
THE VILLAGE OF BLOSsBURG.
The village of Blossburg is located in
canon three miles southwest of Ration
and is a very pleasant little town. The
population numbers about 1900, and the
greater part of the men is employed II
the mine. When the coke ovens arr
ready for active operations the number
of residents will be increased to about
1000. Good schools are maintained
while the spiritual welfare of the com
munity is guarded by resident clergy ant
priests. In business way the Blossbure
Mercantile company has large store
we'll stocked with general merchandise
and can supply almost anything person
could think of to eat or wear, and an all
of comfort and content hangs over thu
whole place. transportation facilities
for the output of the mines ana genera
freight are furnished bya branch of thu
Santa Fe, which leaves the main line q
Dillon, some three miles south of Ration
The grade from Dillon to Blossburg il
considerable and the train men have tt
exercise great care in handling cars OF
the way from the camp to the main track
Only few days ago train of rs loaded
cars got away from a crew and took
skate down the hill. When Dillon wa
reached, and that was not many minute
after the start, things were badly mixed
and the purchasers of that particular 10
OF coal will find nearly the proper amour
of kindling already mixed in. Two line
of telephones also connect with the out
side world, one private, the other for put
!. lie use.