The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-22

November 15): Any estimate that does
not include West Virginia as a large
factor in the future of the coal trade
OF the country will be as misleading as
Il viii be expensive.
With almost double the number Of
square miles Of coal that Pennsylvania
has In bItuminous, product, with seams
that are a continuation Of the best
seams known in western Pennsylva-
mia and ranging from four to twelve
feet in thickness; with deposits 80 Dtt-
uated that mining can be done above
water levels, giving natural drainage;
with living expenses of WOrkmen much
below that of other districts and lar
ger earning capacity, because Of the
thickness Of the seams, without any
additional labor as compared with thin
ner seams in other sections, with taxa
ton low and Investment per acre less
than half that in Pennsylvania, Mary
land and Ohio; with timber covering the
surface from which props and struc-
tuTRI material can be obtained atN q
fractional cost and without transpor-
tation charges, It would be singular II
the West Virginia producers do not
make an Impression on the markets OF
this and other countries. for the initial
stages Of what promises to be a large
business in exporting coal has already
been started, and the growth Of this
business is SO promising that encour-
agement to expand It stimulates effort
10 increase II.
Already three Of the large producing
cOmpan;es-the Davis Coal & 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 ship
ments of coal and coke are increasing.
In addition to these, the Continental
Coal g. Coke Company, the Pennington
Coal & Coke Company, and the Georges
Creek Coal & Coke Company, are pre-
pairing TO enter extensively into the
export trade via the eastern seaboaru
ana the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and
the Gulf All Of these companies Oper-
ate in the FairmOnt-M onongah and
adjoining regions, but the companies
operate in the valley OF the Great Ka-
nawha are also prospecting for foreign
trade, and recent declarations In the
New River regions have this idea up
DeTmost as one of the arguments III
favor OF their consolidation, shipments
10 be made both via the Ohio and Mis-
slssippi, and eastward via the Chesa-
peake 6 Ohio and the Norfolk & West
ern railroads to Norfolk and other sea-
boaId points to which they have outlet.
N the lake markets, the West Virgin
ia-s pgomIs, to be Important factors.
Already they are shipping extensively
10 Toledo Lorain and SanduHky and
new railroad combinations that are be-
ing perfected will bring them into
Cleveland: while by an Rll-rail route
they can reach Detroit and large area
OF Michigan and further north. In the
Chicago markets they are factors OF
moment and are gradually perfecting
their facilities for an enlargement OF
trade in both coal and coke.
New railroads now being constructed.
and still others that are projected, Will
greatly contribute to the development
OF new territory for production. Among
the most Important OF these projects
now under construction and being
pushed with all possible energy, Is
short line, n stem Of the Ohio River
road from New Martinsville. on the
Ohio river, TO Clarksburg, the southern
extremity of the Falrmont- Monongah
field. This line cuts through vast de-
poslts Of coal ranging from six to thir-
teen feet in thickness, and that It rs
there ls evidenced from the fact that
for miles along the route the grading
has been cut through the outcrop OF the
coal. exposing It to view. Even the
road-bed. in places. VIII be laid over a
coal foundation. This road win be
tWenty-six miles shorter than any ex-
listing route to the Ohio river, and the
grade is only fifteen feet 10 the mile as
compared with something like eighty
feet by existing lines. In addition 10
the COAL valuable timber lands. enor-
nous deposits OF fire-clay, potters' clay.
superior sand for glass making and
other minerals are found along the
line, promising future important manu-
featuring industries which Will Furnish
local market when the natural gas.
which is now so abundant. will have
petered out, as. from experience In In
diana md other sections. II is certain
to do in few years.
Still other raiirond projects that arc
being pushed ahead have the propulsLye