Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-01-19
WEST VIRGINIA LEADS.
Leading London Paper Tells about Our
Wonderful Resources-Compii-
mentarF Notice.

The London Statist of recent date
has great deal of a complimentary
nature to say about the coal of this
state which has come TO be recognized
as the best the world produces. The
article in question which is of the
greatest interest To people of this
state is as follows:
Both for "bunkern purposes and for
export it is probable that the coal OF
West Virginia is destined TO take the
lead. This State has a far larger coal
area than the United Kingdom has,
and the seams are SO placed that prac-
tically all the mining is done by the
simple, easy and economical method
Of working by adits. 1t is this State
that produces the famous "Pocahon-
tas" coal, which has been declared by
some analysts to be fully equal TO the
very best coal produced in South
Wales-that is to say, to the best in
the world. About 5000, 600 tons per
annum of this valuable coal are now
being turned out, and the most of it
finds its way TO Norfolk and Newport
News for shipment. 1t has been the
policy of the Norfolk & Western Rail
road TO foster and encourage the min
ing industry Of West Virginia Gin It's
own interests, Of course by providing
all kinds of facilities in rates and
shipping arrangements for coal for ex-
port. This coal is to be found regu-,-
larly in the bunkers Of the transatlan-
tic liners and in the ships of the Uni
ted States navy. And large quanti-
ty was contracted for to supply the
British naval coaling stations depict
ed during the Welsh strike. The coal
output OF Ohio, Kentucky and Ten
nessee is, in round numbers, about
20, 600, 600 tons per annum, but the
quality is not so good as Pennsyl
vanian and Nirginian coal, and it is
too far from the seaboard to have any
chance in international competition.
1t is, however, Of the highest import
ance to the industries of America.
South OF these deposits is the valuable
coal field OF Alabama, now turning
out 1000. 600 to 5000. 600 tons per
annum and capable of immense de-
velopment. The Alabama seams are
variable, but there is an enormous
quantity OF tirst-cl steam coal,
which finds its way down to Mobile,
Pensacola and New Orleans, gradually
turning these old-time cotton ports
into modern coal ports. The Birm
ingham of Alabama, the center of the
coal district, is d city of some 60, 900
or 10, 600 inhabitantS. which has
sprung up from nothing within the
last tive-and twenty years. This also
is the center of an immense new iron
and steel industry. To New Orleans,
again, is conveyed by water down the
Mississippi and its tributaries vast
quantities of coal from Pennsylvania
and West Virginia. 1t is owing to
the convenient situation of the water
ways that Pittsburg, coal owners can
compete so far away as New Orleans
with Alabama producers. The inevi-
table conclusion of a careful review OF
of the exceptional ease and cheapness
with which they can be mined, Of
their accessibility to home markets by
the vast system of natural waterways,
and of the readiness with which the
very best coal in the States can be
brought to the seaboard, is that in
the near future America will be our
most active competitor in the coal
trade OF the world.
Heath