Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-06-11

movements IN 0tner sections also
Very active.
Many people having holdings in
West Virginia coal lands will be in
tefested in the following published in
the Coal Trade Review: For long
time the dormant riches OF West Vir-
ginia in coal were little known. The
production Of the Western Pennsyl-
yania fields then absolutely controlled
the markets, and their output was
adequate to the demand for bitumi-
nous coal. When the present Indus
trial boom set Ia the development OF
other coal fields rightly began and Of
these the West Virginia fields have
made the most remarkable strides.
In 1890 West Virginia produced S.
394, Goa tons Of coal valued at SO, 20S,-
Us, Five years later its production
was 1l,627, 757 tons valued at SIS, 506,-
sos. The state produced is, ss6,9lO
tons of coal during the year 1900 and
the output for the present year will
be considerable in excess OF last years
production.
The northern coal fields OF West
Virginia, Of which Fairmont and
Morgantown are the centres, are prob
ably the oldest in point Of working In
the state. This field runs through
the entire northern tier OF counties
and extends eastward TO Maryland
That part Of the field lying In Monon-
gala. Marion and adjoining counties
really belongs to the coal fields and
the coal varies but little in chemical
composition from the famous Monon-
gahela gas aud steam coal OF The
Pitts burg district. The Pittsburg
vein In this field has u thickness or
about eight feet and there are seven
other veins ranging In. thickness from
two and one half to five or SIX feet.
The mining operations In this field
are In many ways favored by nature,
slope and drift mines being largely
operated. There are forty five mines
In operation IN the Fairmont field
proper, and they have total daily
capacity of 20, 900 tons. Thousands
of acres Of new coal lands have been
purchased within the past few months
and millions Of dollars OF capital are
still seeking entree into the fields.
New mines are being opened, new
companies are being formed and new
coking establishments are being in
stalled.
Ia the southern part Of the State
the Pocahontas field has long held
front rank. The coal OF this field has
gained a decided point over foreign
coal In that 1t has been preferred for
use in coaling vessels 10 the Orient
and can be delivered at a lower price
than can Cardiff coal. The South
western Virginia Development Assoc
citation has been operating a plant OF
So by-product ovens In this field for
several years and many beehive oven
plants are in operation. This field is
rapidly widening and many new coal
concerns are opening mines and cox
ing establishments.
Richie county Is also the seat of
remarkable coal developments, some
gigantic deals having just recently
been completed. Just south Of the
main Fairmont field, in Harrison
county, the Camden syndicate is oper
ating number Of big mines and cox
ing establishments. Among the 9TH
er concerns ia this Geld may be men
TONED the Riverdale Coke Company,
the Briar Hill Coke & Coal Company
and the firm OF Scion &c Lowrey.
The Braxton Coal Company, recently
formed, controls nearly half million
acres of coal lands in Braxton, Gilmer
and Lewis counties. This company
also controls the Little Kanawha rail-
road, which will be made the nucleus
OF great network OF coal roads.
Stephen b. Elkins and his associates
have just concluded negotiations
whereby they will at once establish
great coal and coke plants on the line
OF the Morgantown and Kingwood
road. A new concern TO be known as
the New York & West Virginia Coal
Company has acquired IL, 600 acres OF
coal lands in Monongalia county and
the Merchants Coal aud Coke Com
pany has secured tract of I 900 acres
In the same county. Pittsburg capit-
alists are interested In the develop
hitdu VI q " WV 0SlC tld0U AN0l AsAtsoT
nington, and syndicate has purchas-
ed $4,000 acres in Upshur and Bar
boar counties.
These are only few Of the many
great transactions in coal and coke
which are destined to place the Noun
tain State close to the front rank In
the production OF these fuels
Already considerable foreign capital
has been invested In the different coal
fields of the State and other negotia
tions are now pending. In all Of
these Goa, and coke fields competition
is already keen and constantly becom-
ing more so. The coal fields Of West
Virginia lying along the Ohio possess
many advantages so far as concerns
Southern trade. The railroad rates
are now quite favorable to the coal
fields of the State and the nearness OF
the upper fields to Baltimore gives
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