Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-08-03
COAL COMPANY
IS MOVING HOUSES

| The latest developments ut Centralia
seem to indicate that the coal corpora
tion, which so brutally threatened to
engulf into its mines many of the
| homes and business places of that bor-
ough, are afraid to force the issue
when the critical moment arrives. The
first house marked for destruction was
the Martin Maloney home. Mr. NAL
oney owns two lots where his home is
located near the outskirts of the town,
and the mine workings have come so
dangerously near the surface that the
property was roped of as dangerous.
The owner, however, courageously re-
fused to be driven from his hardearn-
ed home, and maintained that he
would sink with the home rather than
move.
When the mountain would not come
to Mahomet, the latter had to go to
the mountain; so also when Mr.. NAL
oney would not be frightened from his
home by the coal company, the com
pany came to him and offered him two
other lots in safe location in ex-
change for his old site and further
offered to move his house to the new
site. The offer was accepted and the
i house is now being moved.
The Patrick Mcdonnell estate next
to the Maloney property is also en-
dangered, aud it is understood the
same sort of proposition has been
made to the owners. by the coal COM
pany, apd the Mcdonnell house will
also be moved to a new site
For the present time, these are the
only properties in danger, and in view
of this fact and the apparent backing
down of the coal companies, the COM
mittee of nine appointed by the citi-
zens to take measures to protect the
town property are just now withhold
ing action watching developments. If
it is decided necessary Judge Evans
will be petitioned to grant in cham
bers an injunction ON the coal COM
pany, but there are now hope that
drastic measures may not be required.
In line with the theory that the coal
company contemplate giving other
land for threatened property, and re-
moving all buildings to safe loca-
ton, comes the report of an alleged
conversation as follows:
SHOULD MOVE THE TOWN.
One of Centralia's widely known
citizens was overheard by newspaper
man in conversation with we'll
known coal operator on the train the
other evening, and the Centralia man
predicted the downfall (whether into
the mines or not he did not state) of
Centralia i'll very short time. He
stated that two houses are being now
moved to places of safety to keep them
from being engulfed by caveins and
that many others will have to follow.
He stated that the Reilly property is
endangered and would have to be NOV
ed
The Primrose vein is being worked
now and the veins run very close to
the top and in some places crop out
entirely. Now the vein is fourteen
feet thick and getting thicker nearer
the surface. These will all be work
ed. and to get the coal the town of
Centralia or goodly portion of it,
must be sacrificed
Years ago when collieries were first
opened up and crude methods were
employed in mining, the smaller veins
We're let alone and only the larger
ones mined. In these later days when
modern machinery greatly simplifies
the work of mining and everything is
gotten down to nicely, nearly all of
the veins are being worked. Veins as
small as two and one half feet are be-
ing worked and in some instances two
foot veins are being worked.
This Centralian was of the opinion
that Centralia is situated in the wrong
place and stated that the town should
have been laid out up on the fiat to
| the north.