The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-06-26
Triumph of West Virginia Coal.

There are many people in West
Virginia who, though they realize
the rapid advancement that is being
made in the development of the coal
industry of the state, and are post
ed upon the vast extent of the terri
tory, the richness of the coal veins
and the important place the state
occupies as a producer, are not
wholly aware of the triumphs that
are being achieved by our product
in the outside world.
AS already stated in the Intelli-
gencer, the statistics of coal produc-
ton in the United States last year
showed West Virginia to be third
in the list of states, and is hustling
Ohio very close for second place.
Our production last year was almost
100000 tons, the exact figures be
ing 1886, 296, valued at 1885, S5.
This was an increase of million
and half tons over the previous
year, in spite of the general business
depression.
So much for our progress in point
of production. 1t is very gratifying
to all West Virginians; but in this
connection we desire to call atten-
ton to fact which is not generally
known outside of the coal trade,
with regard to the reputation held
by certain of our Goals abroad,
which insures future enormous
market for them, a market which
has hitherto been controlled by for
eign Goals.
1t may not, for instance, be known
by many that Pocahontas coal,
mined in the Pocahontas region in
this state, enjoys the unique dis
tinction of being the only coal in the
world that has been officially en-
dorsed by the governments of both
Great Britain and the United States
as the best steam fuel now mined.
Heretofore the Cardiff coal, mined
in Wales, has had that distinction,
but the rapid exhaustion of the Car
diff fields and the relative cost of
Cardiff and American Goals have
caused the British government to
look into the possibilities of the
British coal trade in South Ameri-
ca being supplanted by the Ameri-
can product.
The British ambassador at Wash
ington, who has, at the direction of
his government, made a thorough
investigation, reported more than
two years ago that for steam vessels
the West Virginia Goals were equal
to if not superior to the Cardiff pro-
duct, and in report made by Mr..
Arthur Peel to Sir Julian Paunce-
forte it was stated that if favorable
freight rates could be secured on
American coal the foreign (South
American) coal markets, held by the
English shippers, might soon be
flooded with supplies from the fields
of Virginia and West Virginia.
This admission promises much for
the industry in this state. Added
to this testimony as to the quality
of these Goals is the fact that the
Cramp Ship Building Company are
using our fine steam Goals exclusively
ON the government cruisers built by
them, and by order of secretary of
the navy in 1889, they were used on
all trials trips. Since that time they
have helped the builders of govern
ment vessels to earn millions of dol
lars in bonuses for speed exceeding
that stipulated in the contracts.
The great markets lying south
OF us, waiting for the entry Of our
superior Goals, and the opportuni-
ties awaiting our shippers, are just
now being discussed more than ever
in connection with the subject Of the
upbuilding Of our American ship
ping interests, and the two subjects
are almost inseparable. Intelligen-