Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-05-28
COAL MINES.
THOSE IN COLFAx COUNTY oPER-
ATED BY NEW MEX.
lCANS.
Las Vegas Men at the Head of the
MISREPRESENTATION Results Being
Obtained.

| An item has recently appeared in
some Of the territorial papers speak
ing OF the coal mines at Blosshurg and
Willow, near Ration, in Colfax county.
as being those of the Colorado Fuel
and Iron company. This is an entire
mistake. The mines in question.
which are the most extensive in the
territory, are New Mexican enter
prise, and the Colorado Fuel company
has nothing to do with them. They
belong To and are operated by the Ra-
ton Coal and Coke company, a New
.lexico corporation, at the head OF
which are some of the most promi-
nent citizens of Las Vegas, who with
characteristic modesty. have not ad-
vertised the fact of their connection
with this great industrial enterprise.
although 1t has been in operation un-
der their direction for several years.
The president Of the company Is MIR.
Frank Springer, and DR.. ]. NJ. Gun
ningham of the San Miguel National
ban is the secretary and Treasurer.
Mr.. ]. Van Houten of Ration is the
general manager, and through his
courtesy an Optic representative, on
a recent visit to Ration, was enabled
to obtain interesting information con
cerning the company, and was given
an opportunity to inspect the mines
and pant. The extent and magnitude
OF these is certainly surprise to any
whose attention has not been called
to lem before. The company owns
several very large tracts of coal land,
containing the finest quality of cook
Ing coal, in beds which range from
five to eleven feet in thickness. 1t
operates mines both at Blossburg and
Willow. In the two localities there
are eight main entries, which now ex-
tend INTO the mountains an aggregate
distance of about $4,000 feet and are
being driven further at the rate of
about 5000 feet per month The pres
ent output of these mines is about
1000 IONS per day, and this is being
steadily increased to meet the rapidly
growing demands for coal and coke.
There are seventy-iive coke ovens
now burning coke, and these are to
be largely increased soon. The COM
pariy employs from 700 To 500 men,
and It's pay roll ranges from $25 900
to 100000 every month. Over 900
mine cars are used to haul the coal
out of the mines to the railroad cars.
The entire plant is operated by elec-
tricity, which runs the cars, drives
the coal cutting machines, and lights
the mines. The electricity is furnish
ed by Two large batteries Of boilers
and engines of $50 horse power The
plant, which represents an outlay OF
several hundred thousand dollars. is
considered by experts the finest and
most complete Of any in New Mexico.
and fully equal to that of the best
modern coal mines elsewhere. The
new town at Willow, called Van Hou-
ten In honor OF the able anu efficient
general manager, has a population OF
nearly 1000 people. composed exclu-
sively Of those engaged about the
mines and their families. 1t is situ-
tted ten miles west OF the main line of
tne A.. I. & S. f. railroad, on branch
bulk by the railroad company ex-
pressI to reach these coal mines.
The company supplies coal to the
Santa .Fe, Mexican Cestral and South
ern Pacific roads, and cske to various
copper smelters in Arizsna. It rep
resents an extensive nd g,owing busi-
ness which has been builtNpp to its
present dimensions quietly. W strict
attenti)n and careful and abk man
agement. The gentlemen who ke at
the ne1d Of this great enterpriseare
to be congratulated upon the success
which has attended their efforts.
-O--