The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-31
West Virginia Coal.

Eli tHese nave Decn taxed TO their tit
most capacity, so that the Increased
production during this period is not to
be measured by the mining capacity.
but by tho additional facilities afforded
by these roads, AS far back as 1890,
they could not haul fifty per cent OF
the mine capacity as then developed
and to-day after the expenditure OF
millions In double tracking and better
ments. they are not prepared to handle
even twenty-five per cent. OF the ton
nage that could be offered from mines
now in operation. without any nddI-
tional opening. Large expenditures are
still being made by all three OF these
roads, and their capacity will undoubt-
edly be Increased from year to year
but the Increased capacity Of the mines
will moro than balance the additional
facilities they can provide. The enor-
nous increase OF consumption In our
own country. with prospects OF for
eign trade. together with the concentra-
ton OF the great manufactures under
management of comparatively q few far
seeing men. have brought about the
most active investments In coal lands
ever witnessed In any country. or any
time Practically all OF the coal-carry-
ing roads. and many OF tho large con-
sumers are now purchasing coal lands,
not only for immediate use. but also to
be held In reserve for the future; wise
ly foreseeing the enormously increased
demands that must soon be made upon
the supply.
To meet these enlarged conditions, the
Deepwater and Underwater railways are
now under construction. from No. Pool
on the kanawha River to Sewell's Point
on Hampton Roads: 1t is confidently
hoped that the through line can be put
In operation within two years from this
date. The Deepwater road will run
eighty-five miles along the line of de-
markatton between the Pottsville smoke
less Goals above water level on the east,
and the Kanawha measures above water
level on the west, with the Pottsvlle seams
or the west, with the Pottsvillc seams
just below. 1t will develop new coal
territory-in the same coals--as large as
those OF the Chesapeake and Ohio and
the Norfolk and Western combined.
This road. when completed from Hamp-
ton Roads to the Lakes, at the lowest
grade line crossing the Appalachians,
together with the enlarged facilities con-
templated by the existing lines. should
very nearly double the present produc-
ton of West Virginia. though even in
that event the shipping facilities may
still remain inadequate.
The Coal and Coke Railway, up the
Elk RlVer from Charleston, Is being
rapidly pushed to connection with the
Wabash system near Elklns. and Will
furnish an additional outlet to the north
ward: but this road nowhere touches the
Pottsville, or smokeless Goals. and its
coal traffic will be confined to the Ka-
nawha, and upper measures. The same
is true with the Kanawha and Michigan.
now operating along the north side OF
the Kanawha River from Gauley Bridge
to Point Pleasant. where 1t crosses the
Ohio. and which. In connection with the
Toledo and Ohio Central system, Is
competitor OF the Pittsburg and Hooking
Valley districts. In the lake trade. The
principal seams worked along this line
are: The Pittsburg. below charlestown:
the No. 5. or Afahoning; the Coalburg,
or Lower Freeport the Cedar Grove. or
Middle Kittanning: the No. Gas. or
Lower Ki,tanning. and tho Eagle. or
Clarion. From the Middle Kittanning
upward, the Goals are non-coking, with.
a few local exceptions; but from the
horizon downward they are all good
cooking Goals.
For the fiscal year ending June 30.
1904. the tonnage of coal and coke.
handled by the railroads from the State
was as follows: