Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1902-05-05
WEST VIRGINIA'S FUTURE.
Rapidly Forging Ahead on every
Line.
VIII Soon Lead In the Production Of
BItuminous Coal-Deyelopment of the
Past Two Years-Cheat River Valley
Soon to Feel the Impetus
ing Corps In Every Direction.

Past Two Years--Cheat River Valley
Soon to Feel the Impetus-Surfey-
ing Corps In Every Direction.
The development of coal mines,
coke works and railroads in West
Virginia during the last two years
has brought the Mountain State
prominently into the public eye.
Millions have been made specula
ting in it's mining lands and many
times as many millions will be made
from the development of these same
lands. Where no railroad enters
and none is projected coal is still
selling cheap, options being obtaina
BILE on nine and ten foot seams at
from SIS to $40 an acre. Where
the coal is capable by railroad it
cannot be bought for much less than
500 an acre and frequently it is
held at twice that figure. The fol-
lowing are a few instances of the
States development in the past two
or three years.
The southern part of West Vir-
ginia, in the New River, Kanawha
and Pocahontas fields, is furnishing
the greatest illustration of the un-
precedented increase in the control
of one of the best coal production in
this State. Kanawha county, which
is among the oldest coal producing
counties, increased its production
from | ,042,000 tons in 1897 to /, 800,
600 tons in 1900. Fayette county
increased it's tonnage from 5000, 900
long tons in 1897 to upwards of A..
100000 in 1900. Mcdowell county
increased its tonnage from 1900, 900
tons in 1897 to 4,I50,000 tons in
1900. In 1892 the total coal, pro-
duced in West Virginia amounted
to $4,000 tons. This year it will
amount to upwards of $4,000, 900
tons Fayette and Mcdowell counties
alone last year produced as much
coal as the whole State did in 1892.
These fields are illustrative of the
wonderful advance OF this State in
the production of coal. The Chesa-
peake & Ohio and the Norfolk d
Western railroads have each year
increased their ability to carry coal,
until today they are probably as
we'll equipped for coal carrying as
any companies in the world. yet both
of these roads today have immense
orders in the shops for increasing
equipment for the carrying of coal.
The State is filled with the return
ing investors who did not purchase
lands seven years ago when it was
at minimum, and who are paying
sometimes hundredfold tor the
lands they refused at that time. In
Kanawha county the great Paint
Creek valley is being developed, and
nine great operations will be at work
within the next two months and
every effort is being made by those
investors to produce the most mod
ern equipped coal producing prop
critics in existence The Piney Creek
development in Raleigh county is
splendid success, and four great OPP
erations are in progress. Both OF
these seams will produce the hard,
steam, the gas, the domestic and
the coking Goals.
At this date the only great valley in
the state, that Of Coal river, which
has laid silent for so long amidst the
wonderful development of the State,
has taken on activity, and today thee,
are four seperate and distinct surver-
ing corps which have for their objeey
the immediate building Of railroad
into this rich territory Its heretofore
silent valleys are permeated every
where by the coal land and timber
dealers, and within year this rail-
road development, will open to COM
merce probably the richest coal Pro-
ducing valley in the State of West
Virginia.
On the Kanawha half dozen new
operations have been begun this year,
and great changes have taken place
in properties near production. In the
district lying contiguous to the Kama
wha and New river districts on Cherry
river the Baltimore & Ohio railroad
has made extensive developments, and
the West Virginia and Pittsburg, UNI
der its present B. s. o. ownership,
will be extended and improved III or
der that the splendid developments OF
New River coking coal found on Cher
ry river will have adequate outlet.
This will be another OF the great cox
ing coal sections of West Virginia,
and will rival any Others to-day in ac-
tive production.
The Davis Creek railroad, below
Charleston, has been purchased by
strong eastern parties, and it will be
extended to Coal river. They have
purchased the lands lying between
Davis creek and Coal river, and will
Immediately develop them. Such is
the case with the Elk river. The
tract of land known as the Cameron
lands is being actively developed, and
the timber is being taken off in I'M
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