The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1897-08-12

the foot walks. And thus for period o.
seventeen years ended the operations OF
the Lehlgh Coal Mine Company.
Some years later, or in 1910, coal was
found in the vicinity of Pottsville, Schuyl-
kill County. The blacksmiths of the
nelghborEcOd experimental with it and
happily with success and number Of
individuals, among them Col George
Shoemaker, interested themselves in its
development. In 1917 he loaded ten wag-
ons with the mineral and sent them to
Philadelphia. On the way some of the
coal was disposed of to blacksmiths and
considerable quantity was sold to the
tairmount Nail Works. The rest was
disposed of to individuals in Philadelphia.
The latter, unable to burn the coal, al
though assured that it would burn, re-
garded Shoemaker as a swindler and war
rants were issued for his arrest. He sue
ceeded, however, in eluding the officers
of the law and returned home by round
about route. But while the prospect Of
securing q market for coal thus looked
dark an incident occurred that completely
changed the situation At the Fairmount
Nail Works an attempt was made to burn
the coal. The men raked it, stirred it. and
a
the noon hour they shut fast the furnace
doors and with many a muttered impreca-
ton On the black stones went to their
dinners. When they returned the fur
naces were red hot and the fire within was
seething and roaring like tempest. They
had discovered the secret of burning an
thracite coal-it only required to be let
alone.
This successful burning of the mineral
predisposed many in its favor while the
growing scarcity and dearness Of wood
rendered Il substitute indispensable. And
thus the Lehigh Coal Mine Company ap-
peared once more in the field. In 1890
they shipped 365 tons Of coal, readily find
ing market and three years later their
shipment amounted to nearly 5000 tons.
Both companies then consolidated under
the title of the Lehigh Coal and Naviga-
ton Company. In the Schuylkill region
the development of the coal industry was
rapid and by 1897 over 10000 tons were
shipped to market.
Something Like the Gold Craze.
Immediately a great boom was launch
ed in the Schuylkill region Valleys and
mountains were explored for the mineral
and lands assumed an extraordinary val
lie. Towns We're laid out-roads cut
through the forests, over the mountain
peaks and along their narrow gorge-
railways and canals were projected-coal
mines opcned-all was conceived in the |
spirit of speculation, and executed under |
the impulse of its excitement. Such was
the demand for houses that, in many |
instances, the lumber was wrought into |
shape in Philadelphia and sent by canal |
to the coal region, ready for the Joiner. |
Whole villages along the road side thus |
sprang into existence like mushrooms. O, |
as if by the power Of magic. The tay |
erns were all crowded, and their walls |
strewn with colored maps and lithographs |
All the 1dyenturers of the large towns |
focked to Pottsville. like so MANY bees |
around their queen. They had only to co |
there to be transformed into millionaires |
Fortune had seated herself upon a throne |
of anthracite: she held her court leyees |
among the rolling mountains. and to be |
crowned with her favor it was only es |
sentlal to appear in person Within six |
months from the beginning Of the specu- |
lative boom nearly S5.00O,00O had been |
invested in the coal lands OF Schuylkill |
County. Lands that were purchased in !
1927 for $500 sold in 1920, just before the !
excitement began to subside, for S1G,O0G. |