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

aSHkEul pGuAhu SAGAllg anu
aim to connect with the Ohio River
road, which Is substantially a stem of
the Pennsylvania system. and also to
extend through from Point Marion, to
which point grading is under way from
West Brownsville to Charleston. to
which point right-of-way has been
secured through one Of the most con-
tlnuouB coal seams on the continent,
and as well one OF the thlckest and
broadcast, several counties being en-
tlFely. underlaid with coal ranging from
four to eleven feet in thickness. while
atlll other seams overlap It that are
workable, and possess qualities Of coal
that are entirely different.
In the valley Of the Little Kanawha
which Is naVigable for fifty miles from
Its mouth at Parkersburg, there are
untold deposits Of coal of various quail
tiles The most important Of these are
classed as belonging to the Freeport
and Klttanning seams while still 9TH
ers Overlay them, one OF which shows
the following qualities from chemical
analysis and tests:
Moisture. O4l per cent; volatile carbon
34.65 per cent; fixed carbon, bs.55 per
cent: ash. SIS per cent.
This shows a lower percentage OF ash
than Connellsville, and higher per-
centage Of fixed carbon, but as there
are no railways that come nearer than
thirty miles, nothing has been done in
the way OF development. However, n
railroad is projected to bring the coal to
the Little KRnHwha. whence II can be
shipped via that stream to any point in
the Ohio or Mississippi valleys or be-
You'd.
In this same region there is found
ten workable seams Of coal In one hill,
all varying in quality. One Is Splint
coal that so closely Stimulates Camel
that It would readily pass for that
grade in many markets. A pecuiinrity
Of this coal Ia that It mines In long
chunks, like wooden billets. and which
the miners have dubbed fence rail-
coal. II possesses little friabllity, and
burns with lambert flame much like
pine wood, and with little or no smoke.
It seems that this coal Is little known
outside OF the immediate vicinity where
1t Is found, but parties have within the
last month been trying to get an option
price on the land With the ultimate OBJ
feet of Investment and development.
There are several points In the state
where from three to eleven seams OF
workable coal are found In single hill,
and all above water level. From this
It Is easy TO see that West Virginia Is
destined to exert q potential influence
on the coal markets Of the country
and Of the world Just as soon as rail-
ways are built TO penetrate to the In
land counties. where so many OF these
valuable deposits of coal are, and where
other minerals in abundance also tempt
capital to go after them.
As the mountains and ridges are
covered with virgin timber. embracing
all the hardwOods, particularly oak
and poplar with considerable pine,
hickory. beech and maple. with ex-
haustless deposits of coal and valuable
clayg, shalc and building stone beneath
and between these ridges are wonder
fully fertile valleys. suitable in high
degree for agriculture and fruit cul-
ture, grazing and wool growing, and
the land, with Its mineral rights can be
purchased for a price less by about 60
to so per cent than coal lands can be
obtained for in any other Of the coal
producing states, capital Is coming into
the state in large quantities, and Inn
portant development enterprises are
under way, while others of magnitude
are projected. It Is, perhaps, pertinent
to mention some Of these newer enter
prlses. Among the most important are
the developments being made in Mar
ion county by the Georges Creek Coal
& Coke Company, which has purchased
several thousand acres Of valuable coal
land, coming over from Maryland.
This company is sinking n shaft to a
depth OF $50 feet and building n model
mining village. The work OF sinking
the shaft began August 30, and Is. IN
connection with the erection Of tippleS,
power house, dwellings, railroad accom-
modntiOns and other adjuncts, well I'M
der way, and expects to be producing
coal In iarge quantities by next April
Another is the Continental Coal &
Coke Company. also n Maryland en-
terprIse from the Cumberland region,
which owns 10000 acres In Preston
county, and Is now producing coal from
mines which we're already opened. This
company has arranged for shipping ia
cllIties via the Ohio River, having en-
tered into arrangements with Lewis
Pope & Sons, OF Parkersburg. the most
extensive shippers from the Little ka-
nawha Valley, TO carry their coal to
the Gulf ports. Coal will be transfer
red from cars TO bRrges at Parkers--
burg. Another Is by company not
vet chartered, but ready for incorpora-
llUIlp Ut lAAG llGhA va "uANh 80
James n. Guffey and others, OF Pitts
burgh. This company owns approx
mateIy 10000 acres Of timber and coal
lands along the Cheat river In Preston
county. and Will hurry the construction
Of the Cheat River railroad. a charter
and riEht-Ot-wNy for which Colonel
GufTey obtained some years ago. and
construction Of which has been going on
slowly since the panic years OF 1895
The development OF tho timber and coal
Will follow the completion Of the road.
In the same county. Messrs. Jordan &
Chapman. also Of Pittsburgh. own ~
O34 acres OF timber and coal land nlonE
the Morgnntown & KngwoOd railroad,
known as the BLACK Bottle line,
which they are ut work preparing to
devotion by the erection OF saw-mills.
Mines will be opened next year. Stlll
others nre two new companies at the
head Of which Ia ]. a. Clark one OF the
most extensive producers Of the FAIR
mont MononEah district both Of which
win open mines Of large capacity along
the line OF the MOnonRnheln river
rnllruud, Jordan e. Chapman also owl!
$4,000 acres In Taylor county near
Grafton, which they nre preparing to
develop. The Davis Ilkins Company
has bought m extensive acrenBe along
the wps; bnNk Of the MonoHgaheIa, eS-
tending from the Pennsylvania line,
near Point Marion. TO n point OF juno
tIon with tile holdings Of the Montana
Coal & Coke Company, nenr Fnirmont
Development here Is delayed only untll
the pittsburgh. Virginia & Charleston
division of the Pennsylvania rnllrond.
now under way, n completed Tar
enough,
Into the came district the Wander
bllia have projected an oStotsI2n Of the
MOnunEahcjn divisnu Of the Pittsburgh,