Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-04-26
SHIPMENT OF
COAL RECEIVED

Nearly month has passed since any
coal was mined and already the gener-
al conditions that are in any way re
lated to fuel are pretty nearly the same
as those that prevailed during the
great miners strike of 1902. Already
the arrival of car load Of coal in
town is an event far out of the Ordin-
sufficient to create quite a stir.
The quality of the coal-wheTe it was
shipped from-how it was procured
all these are questions that concern the
people NIGHTLY
The first shipment of anthracite coal
that reached here since the shut down
arrived at South Danville yesterday
and was consigned to the Reading Iron
company. A little inquiry as to where
the coal came from revealed that we
have comparatively near at hand "A
fairly abundant source of coal not af-
fected by the shut down-a source
nearly identical with the one that
stood our town in such good stead dur
ing the last great strike.
This is at McAuley mountain-the
picturesque old ridge some thirty five
or forty miles to the east of us that
lies on the very borders of the great
coal deposit and holds in its bosom one
or more veins of the black diamonds.
No one can scarcely remember a time
when coal was not mined at McAuley.
Over thirty years ago John Hinterleit-
er, who owned and occupied a farm in
Beaver Valley, that abutted on the
mountain, put in all his spare time
mining coal, which lay near the sur
face and was easily obtained. 1t was
very good COAL trifle soft probably,
and was known as peacock coal ow-
ing to its gaudy colors, which resem-
bled those Of the peacock's plumage.
The farmers who did not burn wood
exclusively purchased their coal of
John Hinterleiter paying for it at the
rate of one dollar per two horse load.
The school houses in several adjoining
| districts were supplied from the same
source. There was no breaker at the
mine and the coal was delivered il
chunks as large as a half bushel,
which the purchaser had to break with
a hammer.
1t was from this small mine, now il
other, hands, that considerable guam
tity of coal was hauled to Danville
during the last miners strike by sew.
eral of our townspeOple, who general
ly occupied nearly day and night
in making the trip.
A more important mine was on the
west For Scotch Valley side of thc
mountain, operated for many years BY
Lossee and Shuman. This mine wal
pretty well equipped and a good dea
of coal was shipped. The methods EN-
| ployed, however, were rather wastefu
and immense culm banks accumulated
containing good coal in all sizes.
After some years, when the mine
was no longer operated, and coal in
creased so much in value, the culn
banks themselves became a factor anC
parties undertook to work them owe
extracting the coal and placing it up
on the market. While the mines were
in operation there was little demand
for the product and the work was no
pushed to any extent. Now, however
since mining has ceased and a genera
shortage of coal has occurred, it is al
together different. a big demand ha
opened and coal from the Scotch val
ley culm piles will be shipped as fas
as it can be obtained.
The coal, which was shipped t.
South Danville yesterday was No. 3
and it was clean and uniform in size
Our townspeople will undoubtedl.
look to the same source for futur
shipments.