The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-24

NORFOLK WESTERN
AAULS MUCHCOA!|.l|
July tonnage Heaviest in Road 5.
History.
sEAB0ARD 10 B in THE. RACE.
Its Line from Lincolnton to Southport
VIII Be Put Up in the Ranks of
Bituminous Coal Carriers.
3 Building Up Trade.
SEAB0ARD TO B in THE RACE
Especial Dispatch to The Times.)

Especial Dispatch to The Times)
BALTIMORE, August 21.-1n an art1-,
Gle in this weeks Manufacturers Record,
+ discussing the development OF Southern
mineral resources through the railroad
. extension, Mr.. Frederick E. Seward, al
ter pointing to the fame won by New
River steam coal and to the expansion
OF the coal mining industry in Alabama
III recent years, and to the prospects OF
that Industry when the Warrior River.
coal may be laid down at New Orleans
by the all-water route at less figure
than coal is to be had for now at any
seal board point, says:
The West Virginia Central is making
every preparation to increase it's tom
mage, and statements have been made
by parties connected with it that the
annual tonnage will run up to 5,0O0C O0
tons, and that it will be marketed with
out any Interference with what might be
called the interests &c other lines sim
ply because there will be demand for
this coal. and the West Virginia Gem
trail Will have equipment to take care OF
it
There is a demand for soft coal in all
the cities, both East and West, and the
production is increasing In all the States
: OF the South. but demand keeps up so
that in many districts the price has al
ready been advanced. The coal tonnage
of the Norfolk & Western for the month
of July was the largest for July in its
history; and am told that August is ex-
tpected to be even greater; the possibili-
ties for the next year are ahead of any
tonnage heretofore known, and yet
Norfolk & Western turned over $685.. $40
tons coal and 1,390,147 tons coke in the
fiscal year last reported on. If the rail-
road company can furnish the facilities
for transporting the coal. the fields out
At
in its history.
SEABOARD A COAL CARRIER.
The activity of the Seaboard Air Line
in southwestern Virginia has already been
made public: but when the line from Lin.
been completed another large carrier OF
bituminous- coal will be available for the
coastwise- trade; in fact 1t is said that
this will give the Seaboard position as
a bituminous coal carrier equal in many
respects to, the leading system devoted to
that trade.
THAT the railroads of the South are
making every effort to build up the gen.
eral trade of the cities in the South is
seen in the competition for business. The
rate of freight on coal has been made 81
per ton from all the coal mines into Mem
phis. The Illinois Central was the first
to make this advantageous rate, followed
the b ana tine ?uh me ana
roads have given in the coal rates will
amount to over 100000 annually from the
tariff of the past winter and spring; That
amount will be saved to the coal dealers
of Memphis and manufacturers using
steam power, and at the same time in
dustry and general business will be in
creased by this stimulating effort of the
ra'iroao coT To oPEN MINES.
The land taken up by Senator Elkins
10000 acres. on which mines are to be
opened as soon as the surveys have been
completed. a railroad is to be built to
f9nneet with the Bam9 re- and o Hnl9
w Guffey, of Pittsburg, has taken up
the options which he secured several
Haofan age on roe Y and it
is stated that the newly-acqufred prop
erty will be opened up at an early date.
work on their 2s:ot}.acre. tract down in
the Pocahontas district. things will hum
along the Norfolk and Western. | am told
tina development wor-- will be going on
we need all this coal development, Tor
our industrials devoted to the production
of everything. needed at home and abroad
al Or sfIMg asa coal o and the
IN THE SOUTH.
In the South. also, much is expected OF
coal development Correspondence OF the
Manufacturers Record from Fort Smith,
Ark. says on this point.
1T is felt that in coal wealth alone,
trading center. the most important point
and the destined permanent metropolis,
there is sufficient to build UP here a city
of large proportions. Three measures Of
coal are worked in this district. Although
nothing like extensive DEVELOPMENT has
occurred in many places, some 5000 coal
miners are at work within a radius of
forty miles, including the we'll known
Jenny Lind mines Of the Missouri Pacific
road in this county, and they produce
duction is certain to be vastly Increased
in the near future, and there will be
greater introduction of coke ovens, the
product of which is now shipped to Mex
leo as well as to local points. The three
Goals forming the bulk OF the product. in
this section are a bituminous. carrying
% per cent. of fixed carbon; semi-an-
thracite. the field extending from Fort
Smith to within sixty miles of Little Rock.
and a smokeless coal, SURPRISING the
Pocahontas. found in large part of
Sebastian and Scott counties. and BEGIN
ming a few miles to the south of Fort
smith. These veins are in thickness from
thirty-two inches to eight feet. and in
some places are so near the surface that
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