The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1897-09-23
VALUABLE COAL DEPOSITS.
The Proposed Extension Of the Ohio River
4 Charleston Railroad Inspected by q
Northern Banker.
Manufacturers Record.

In recent issue of the Manufactur-
ers' Record referred to the visit of s.
M. FELTON,, receiver of the Cincinnati,
Southern road, and several Northern
parties to sections of North Carolina and
Tennessee. 1t has been reported that
the tour was one of inspection of the
coal and timber lands of this section,
and that one object was to decide the
question of connecting the two portions
of the Ohio River & Charleston road,
which now terminate at Unaka Springs.
Tenn, and Marion, N. G.
One Of the party of inspectors was
W. A. Paine, Of Paine, \Webber & Co.,
bankers, of Boston, Mass. In an in
terview published in the Boston News
Bureau Mr.. Paine is reported as de-
scribing the resources of this section
and its possibilities as follows:
"This is the only great coalfeld
owned in Boston, and while Pennsyl-
vainia has reaped the profit of the de-
velopment of the Pocahontas, the New
River, the Georges Greek, the Con-
nellsville and the anthracite fields, the
prospect now is that the profit to come
from the development of this new field
which by reason of its advantageous
location for railroad transportation will
equal any of the others, will insure to
Boston capital. In regard to the rail
railroad transportation, Mr.. FELTON,
states that coal can be carried from
these fields to the Ohio river with
profit to the railroad at the rate of one
mill per ton per mile. This seems q
remarkable rate. but is due to the fact
that this line is practically level, and
that single locomotive and crew will
be able to haul one hundred loaded cars
of coal.
| Our trip of about $50 miles was made
entirely on horseback, as there are nc
wagon roads through this part Of the
country. 1t seemed almost as if every
farmer had coal opening from which
he would gather his winter supply
of coal. Indeed, in some cases the
opening was right in the back door O.
the housei in the side of the hill, and al
the winters are open, the coal could b.
gathered all winter long. We saw
one vein of seven feet of clear can
mel coal on which an option has recent
ly been given to London parties at $5'
an acre, which is considered an extra
, ordinarily low figure for such a vein
All OF the veins lie above the bed Of tn
streams, so that the mines would b
, selfdraining and the coal can be mine'
and shipped in very economical way
as pumping would not be ne cessary
| hosting is needless and the ventilatio
of the mine would be accomplished b.
drifts from which the coal taken woul
pay the cost. There are eight differer
veines throughout the district, FIVE {
which are workable veins. The bel
vein that we saw was one of ten feet (
= of solid coal, which underlies abol
half of the entire district. Analysis {
this coal shows it to be very low in asl
:, sulphur and phosphorus, and high
! carbon, possessing the essential el
4 ments of high grade of coking coal.
. This region is not only rich in co
: but it contains the finest timber east
! the redwoods of California, and the
is an abundance of yellow popla
:, hickory and walnut. Beneath the &C
= there has been developed by the Sta
!; dard Co. nov operating in that regio
"a an abundant supply Of petroleum OF t
AZ best quality. There are about 100, o.
. acres in this tract, in all Of which t
+ coal ems are found. "