Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-08-05

the foot walks. And thus for period of
seventeen years ended the operations Of
the Lehigh Coal Mine Company.
Some years later, or in 1910, coal was
found in the vicinity Of Pottsville, Schuyl-
kill County. The blacksmiths of the
neighborEood experimental with it and
happily with success and number Of
individuals, among them Col. George
Shoemaker, interested themselves in it's
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
Paramount 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 suo-
ceeded, however, in eluding the officers
of the law and returned home by a round
about route. But while the prospect Of
securing a market for coal thus looked
dark On incident occurred that completely
changed the situation. At the Paramount
Nail Works an attempt was made to burn
the coal. The men raked it, stirred it, and
blew upon it, but without success. At
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
RS
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 1927 over 10000 tons were
shipped to market.
Something Like the Gold Craze.
Immediately q 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 were laid out-roads cut
through the forests, over the mountain
peaks and along their narrow gorges-
railways and canals were projected-coal
mines openeIall was conceived in the
spirit of speculation, and executed under
the impulse of it's 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
spranS into existence like mushrooms, or
as II by the power of magic. The tav-
erns were all crowded, and their walls
streavn with colored maps and Autographs.
All the adventurers Of the large towns
focked to Pottsville, like so many bees
around their queen. They had only to 60
there to be transformed into millionaires
Fortune had seatedherself upon throne
OF anthracite; she held her court leyees
among the rolling mountains, and to be
crowned with her favor it was only es-
sential to appear in person. Within six
months from the beginning Of the specu-
lative hoom nearly $1,000 900 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 $4,000.