The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-10-20
WILL SHIP COAL SOON.
Owosso Coal Co. will Soon Have Track
to its Mine-The Output to be Largely
Increased.


The plans of the Owosso Coal Co.
have long included the building of
branch of the coal mine spur of the
Grand Trunk to its mines, and now the
time has come when the building of the
new spur is assured and the work is
ready to begin. The contract between
the Coal Co. and the Grand Trunk was
returned to the former company We'd
nesday, signed by the Grand Trunk
officials.
One of the oldest Grand Trunk engi-
neers, William Anderson, who for over
thirty years and until quite recently had
much of the laying out and grading OF
of the extension of the Grand Trunk
system, has been secured to take charge
of the grading of the new line and is
expected to begin work today. The
grading will be started at rapid rate
as soon as one of the Grand Trunk
engineers can be got out to pass on the
line and formally "set the stakes"
The ties for the new extension are
already loaded on cars and are on their
way to Corunna and the coal mine
branch. The new spur will take nearly
mile of track and grading, including
all necessary siding, but the direct line
from the shaft to the place where the
new line will branch from the old is but
about half mile
All this ensures the prompt carrying
out of plan which, as said before, the
company has long been awaiting the
opportunity to put through. 1t means
the possibility of increasing its output
to eight times the present amount OF
coal mined.
When the company sunk its shaft at
the present location it made its plans
for handling much larger amount of
coal than it has ever mined up to this
time. The hosting engines were of a
special pattern with extra large cylin-
ders and of the latest, most approved,
and most compact type. Ample steam
power was provided for, not only for
the engines but for pumps. The hoist
ing machinery outside of the engine
room was also of approved types, and
the dumping and weighing device is
one of the simplest and fastest to op-
crate of any IN use in the coal industry.
All above ground equipment was put
in with the idea of filling coal cars from
the derrick within comparatively
short time.
Below the surface similar precautions
were taken. A small steam pump
which had, and still has, sufficient
capacity to just handle all the water of
the mine was Immediately supplement-
ed by one of double its capacity, and
the company has lately purchased and
received another pump of double the
size of the latter one. The new pump
is now at the mine but has not yet been
placed in position below ground. When
it is in position a flow of seven times
the usual flow of the mine could be
cared for.
The plan contemplated the use of the
old shaft eventually for ventilation, and
with that end in view one of the "main
entries at the foot of the new shaft
was started in that direction. To get
the mine opened up in the most con-
venient way for the employment of a
much larger force of men another main
entry was started in the opposite direc.
ton from the first, and at intervals OF
something over hundred feet, cross
entries were cut out from both main
entries. From the cross entries
''rooms" are opened up at intervals OF
some thirty feet, the rooms of one cross
entry extending backward until they
meet those of the next adjoining cross
entry, and extending at the sides until
they meet the neighboring ones in the
same. 1t Is from these numerous
rooms that most of the coal, of course,
is taken.
At present about sixty tons of coal are
being taken out each day and force OF
twelve men only is employed, but as
soon the outlet via rail provides larg.
or and steadier market the whole equip
ment is ready to respond to any de.
msnd up to as high as four or five hun.
dred tons per day, and, just rs 1t is now,
could employ three times the number
of miners without any of them being in
the way of others
The stockholders and officers of the
company are: r. Emmett Travis, presi.
dent and treasurer; Chas. F. Travis,
vice president, and VIM. Beacham,
secretary. Mr.. Beacham is new
conner in the community and to Michi.
gan, and he has his home in Corunna,
but the Messrs. Travis have long been
been known to Owosso people and
throughout the county in general, and
all will receive the congratulations OF
friends on the promising outlook which
has suddenly become so much more
definite In its promises.
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