Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-10
rELEPHoRE1.

EATuHpAY, ....,...,. JANUARY 10, 1904.
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THE RICHMOND COAL FIELD.
port, presented to the Chamber Of COM
nerce Thursday evening, discussed sever
Il questions of moment to the city of
Richmond His report was a review OF
present business conditions here. with OBJ
scrvations as to our wants and recommen.i
dations as to work that should be done
Mr.. Sabell belongs to what may be cali
ed ''the young business men," Of Rich
nond, yet he is noted for mature iude-
ment. and the care and dilgence he brings
to the dischagc of every duty which the
public confldesin him. 1t is, therefore
with pleasure we find him taking special
interest In the development Of the Rich
mnnd coal fields.
1t is good news. too. to hear from him
that one Of the members Of the Cham
Der, who Is fully. acquainted with the
conditions has offered to become one Of a
fund ito secure i;r1der the auspices of the
chamber scienific and up-to-date In
vestgan and report On this coal field
The water power OF the James river at
and near Richmond Is a blessing Of great
value. especially as now used in conjunc-
ton with the development of electric pow
er: but our coal fields are of equal I'M
portshcs.
The coal is here 1t lies In a section Of
territory from ten to thirty miles distant
from the city. This coal was mined for
century. and proved to be Of good quality
and only lost Its Importance in the mar
kets because West Virginia coal could be
mined cheaper. and the railroad compa~
nies were willing to bring 1t here at ex-
fraor6inarily low rates. But now the rail-
roads are pursuing the policy of exacting
high freight rates and the West Virginia
labor market is often unsettled. AS for
the demand for steam coal, why, 1t never
YVES 80 great and never will be less.
It is true that the bltuminous coal of
this neighborhood Is not quite so rich as
the West Virginia Goals. and 1t is fact.
loo, that 1t is more costly to mine than
those are: but as an Offset to these dis
advantages 1t must be remembered that
we are SO very near to market These
mines ara In sight of Richmond and Of
ddewater. The facilities for shipping by
water or rail could not be better. Again.
this is more desirable labor market than
Is TO be found In most mining sections
matter OF prime importance to Investors.
Men of means. quiet and cautious, are
even now preparing to explore the old
abandoned Grove mine in Chesterfield
county. An explosion. with loss OF life.
occurred In this mine about twenty years
ago, since which time 1t has not been
worked. and the water has accumulated
In 1t TO a great depth. The gentlemen
who have an option upon the property,
are going to considerable expense to pump
the mine dry. so that they may explore 1t
propsrly. II the coal Is there In quan,i-
lies, as reported. It Is far below the sur-
face OF the earth; but now there are
melhods OF reaching It and mining 1t
much better than those which were In
rogue OF old. So It is reasonable TO sup
bose that the old Grove Will be worked
Bgain, and we shouldn't wonder II 1t
became more Of a money-makcr than
over before. And it must be remember
I'd that hereabout we have not only fields
OF bituninous coal, bu: OF that rare and
useful product Of natpre-natural coke.
BY the way, as we have said, the Ches-
fe-field mines have been worked for
long time-but In tho beginning IN the
most superficial and desuitory way--by
open epts-fer in the early days the peo-
pie had not the use for coal that they
have now. IT was not until the employ
uaent OF steam as power that coal be-
gan to grow In great demand
The exploration at Grove shaft has to
10 with one piece Of property only: Mr.
Cabelrs proposition refers to the entiro
Richmond fleld--prcnerty on each side OF
the river. We trust he will succeed In
raising tho fund needed. and that the
field win be fully explored and investi-
gated and mapped out. much more fully
than it ever has been
OF the Importance TO mnnufa cturers of
having cheap and reliable supply OF coal
near at hand. NE shall say little It is
generally appreciated. II is all that is
now needed to give us position among
the cities that are foremost in faculties
for manufacturing purposes.
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50 Ne have the greatest plenty of coal
fignt hare y Riehrnond! what i pity IL
u ~ uzlauIs.spnA
d. La r. mr. 1al'rs iat43 a. say-
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