The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-11-29
A FUTURE RIVAL
To Pennsylvania in Coal Pro-
duction is West Virginia.

That has Been Made In This state 10
the Last Few Years in the Develop
ment OF Coal and Coke Properties
Our Coal Operators Have Become
Important Factors In Nearly Ever
Market.
The Coal Trade Journal, New York,
Nov. IS: Any estimate that does not
ncluJc West Virginia as large fac
| 1or In the future OF the coal trade OF
the country will be as misleading as
it will be expensive.
With almost double the number OF
SQUARE miles Of coal that Pennsylvania
has in bituminous product with seams
that are continuation of the best
seams known in western Pennsylvania
and ranging from four to twelve feet
in thickness; with deposits so situated
that mining can be done above water
levels, giving natural drainage; with
living expenses of workmen much be-
low that OF other districts and larger
earning capacity: because OF the
thickness OF the seams without any
additional labor as compared with
thinner seams In other sections, with
taxation low and investment per acre
less than half that 10 Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Ohio; with timber Gov
ering the surface from which props
and structural material can BIZ OBJ
tanned at fractional cost and with
out transportation charges it would
be singular II the West Virginia pro-
ducers do not make an impression on
the markets of this and other caun-
| tries for the initial stages OF what
promises to be large business IN ex-
porting coal has already been started
and the growth of this business is SO
promising that encouragement to ex-
pand it stimulates efforts to in
| crease it.
Already three of the large produc-
ing ompanies-the Davis Coal s.
Coke Co., the Montana Coal & Coke
Co., and the Monongah Coal & Coke
Co.--maintain agencies In Mexico,
South America and the West Indies,
and their shipments OF coal and coke
are increasing. In addition to these
the Continental Coal & Coke Com
pany, the Pennington Coal & Coke
Company and the Georges Creek Coal
& Coke Company, are preparing to
enter extensively into the export trade
via the eastern seaboard and the Ohio
and Mississippi rivers and the Gulf.
All Of these companies operate in the
Fairmont- Monongah and adjoining
roo jauc b1f fha ccp, no N iac oporafip,f 1 ',
the valley Of the Great Kanawha are
also prospecting for foreign trade, aud
recent declarations in the New River
regions have this idea uppermost as
one of the arguments in favor Of their
consolidation, shipments to be made
both via the Ohio and Mississippi and
eastward via the Chesapeake & Ohio
and the Norfolk & Western railroads
to Norfolk and other seaboard points
to which they,have outlet.
Close to the West Virginia line, in
Pennsylvania, the West Alexander
Coal Company at the head of which is
j. S. Douglass and the Cochrans, of
Dawson, Pa, is preparing for the de-
velopment of a large acreage of coal
that is in the the best section of the
Panhandle Pittsburg seam on the
Wheeling division of the Baltimore &
Ohio road, and which will be prose
,utcd largely from the West Virginia
side Of the line. This coal will seek
IN outlet to the lake markets over the
Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling, Wheel
ng & Lake Erie. and Baltimore &