The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-11

New York Times: The output OF coal
In west virginia ID now on a very large
scale, and yet the industry in the state
1, not over ten years old-if one excerpts
The old-fashloned way Of doing things
prior to thar time. In the past ten years
the business OF mining and shipping coal
and making coke has increased fourfold,
and the state is third on the list Of pro-
ducers in the United States. and is only
exceeded in us output by Pennsylvania
and Illinois.
The line of progress has been along
the Norfolk & Western, the Chesapeake
& Ohio, and the Baltimore & Ohio sys-
TENS of railroad. Largely owned and
controlled by the carrying companies,the
interests Of mining and shipping coal
have been favored with low rates, 60
that the market has expanded and West
virginia coal is known in all parts of the
world. AS an evidence of the growth,
Marion, one of the northern counties,
NAV be cited. When the coal develop
ment was started in that county in 1887
the output was about 100000 tons, while
this year 1t win be over 100000 tons.
But even with this immense output the
coal industry of the country is In its In
fancy There are thousands otiacres Of
the best coal lands, notably the Pitts
burgh seam, in which the vein runs
from eight to fourteen feet, which are
as yet untouched by the miners pick or
drill.
One of the important lines in the de-
velopment Of the resources of the north
ern central part of West Virginia has
been the west virginia Central & Pitts
burgh railway, which is owned by the
Dayis-Elkins interests. 1t handles 25,-
900 tons Of coal and 5000 tons Of coke a
week from the mines and ovens along
its line up what are knpwn as the Elk
Garden and Upper Potomac regions. In
addition there are millions of feet Of
lumber in various forms that are sent
to market
Senator Elklns recent statements in
regard to the present happy condition in
west Virginia and its future were verb
fed few days agu by those who went
on an excursion from New York, Phiia-
delphIa, and Baltimore over the West
Virginia Central. They found the lum-
Der, coal, and agricultural interests
thriving. and evidences That even better
times are in store. The railroad was in
capital physical condition. and in shape
10 carry heavy traffic; especially from
Cumberland tn Piedmont.
ofthe places seen by the visitors were
Keyser, (named after William Keyser
once vice president of the Baltimore 6
ohlo) Piedmont and Cumberland. Pied
mont and Cumberland each have a city
government and large trade. One Of the
main Industrial featureSo Of Piedmont is
The factory where postal cards are made
and printed and distributed. They are
made from spruce by the sulphIde pro-
cess. The wood for pulp is from the
forest along the West Virginia Central
road. A few miles from Piedmont, on
the mountain side. 5000 feet above tide.
big coal vein shows AT Elk Garden
Junction are other mines and coke fur
naces. These coke furnaces are large,
and the product finds market even in
Mexico.
At Davis Junction the branch road
which leads on to Davis and passes one
Of the mines was taken. From the hill
side was seen fires Of other coke ovens.
At Davis is the terminus OF the branch
line. Here important numbering inter-
esS are carried on. and another pulp
mill is active. BY the main line going
on to BlkIns the party got into the grand
canon Of the Alleghenies. Hendricks
and Parsons were passed, then Garrick's
Ford. After Moore the party reached
Elkins, the home of United States sena-
tor Stephen B. Elkins, Henry G. Davis
and R C. Rerens. Dlkins's home is
known as HaIllehurst, and Davls's as
Graceland. The stone and timber from
which they are constructed are from the
estate of the Davis Company. The scat
OF these fine houses is on the foothills Of
the Allegheny spurs. and overIopks a
plain some miles in extent, backed by
s,A.. ,,..t- 5000, I.tL,tpa Ia &tft a