The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-12
SOUTHERN PROGRESS
REVIEW BY THE MANUFACTUR
 ERS' RECORD.
Great Coal Development Under Way Around the Meeting Point of
 AAhe States of Tennessee,
 wKentucky and Virginia.

Baltimore, March .-(Special)-Around
 the meeting point of the States of Ken
 lucky, Tennessee and Virginia great
 coal development is under way and a
 vast amount of work is promised for the
 coming spring and summer, long plan-
 ned railroad extensions to penetrate the
 more remote sections are now materializ-
 ing and coal territory Is eagerly being
 sought after, fancy prices being paid In
 many cases. Commenting upon this the
 Record at Middlesboro, Ky. says:
 "In this immediate vicinity the daily
 production now approximates 30O cars, and the figures are gradually being in creased. The facilities for marketing coal are excellent the Louisville and Nashville Railroad extending through the coal region and furnishing a line north, while the Southern's line gives direct outlet to the South. Once the necessary branches to penetrate undeveioped divis- bituminous coal from this region will compare favorably with that of any other coal field in the country.
 up the valley of Yellow Creek In Claiborne County, Tenn, during tho past few years about a.dozen large companies have opened up extensive mines in ter ritory that would seem inaccessible at first glance, and along the winding f1f- teen miles of railroad extending from this place up the valley the mountain
 
 tipples and mining camps Nearly all the companies operating in that region have contracted with the Southern for their entire output for the next five years, and the contracts involve a vast amount of money. The grade of coal Is best suited to steam purposes. although there is considerable gas coal. Altogether there are dozen seams of coal, rang ing in thickness from 20 inches to feet 6 inches, but not over half of these seams may be worked profitably. and but four seams up to the present time have been opened up. All four of the workable veins are above drainage, and consider ing the condition of the country, are easily gotten at. Tho vein that is most easily mined is five feet In thickness and has no working. What Is known as the Mingo seam has a small parting, but 1t is extensively mined. being thicker than the other veins. Within the course of the next year 1t Is very probable that six veins will be worked. and the opera tors are gradually getting acquainted with the nature of the deposits.
 The developments over in Virginia are rapidly being extended. and numerous railway extensions are being planned, and some are under way. Along the lines of tho Louisville and Nashville and Southern some extensive deposits are be- ing opened up, and vast fields of coke ovens are being constructed. The coal Is best suited to coking purposes and tho coke is marketed in. the east. Up in Lone Mountain territory the Black Noun tan Railway Company is extending a line to open up some coal territory, and this io only small part of the work now going on in that region. An Ohio con cern is the latest companyain the field. and has acquired a considerable acreage in the Black Mountain field and is pre- pairing to construct large number of coke ovens. The Black Mountain Coal and Coke Company Is also extending a branch line to their territory. These developments are taking place in what is known as the Pocket Valley. Here there are number of veins of coal. most of Them being above drainage, while a few deposits are below drainage
 ''The developments on the Kentucky side are progressing with greater rapidity even than in the adjoining States. Several railroad extensions have been several arc now under way. The Louis vile and Nashville Is the only road that extends through this part of the field, and there has been a great deal of diff ncnlty m getting. sufficient cars to ac-' commodaee the increased output. In the counties of Knox. Bell Whitley and Laurel some extensive mines have been opened up during the past year and the daily output of coal reaches several hun dred cars.
 Several companies have investigated the possibilities of Harlan and adioin- ing counties during the past few months. and find tho deposits richer even than those in the moro developed regions. Several seams have been opened up, varying in thickness from A inches to SIX feet. In the more remote sections of Harlan County. and over in Leslie County eleven different seams of coal have been opened up. eight of them be- ing above drainage. The principal seam. known az Elkhorn No. 5. is seventy ln ches thick and has no parting, and is ad- mirahly suited to cooking purpoens. The experts whom the coal companies have sent to investigate the deposits agreo that it is the best in this country. and ia not inferior to the ConnellsyiIIe product Tho three ether principal seams in thick ness from 5S to S8 inches. the s inch seam being splint coal. The splint coal is fine for steam and fuel purposes while the others are best for coking purposes There are several small seams abovc drainage, but none of them la of anv mine." "dIu to
 ihe construction now under way oe ., branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio B r'+ ii.l.i iolu throusn the southeastern par ,,f kentucky to the Breaks" of tn,. 1.,e, NS@