Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-07-20
COMPLETE HISTORY
on CENTRALIA

LII bflt stlSbOEy VI tIe uubllTaClb6 re-
gion there has never been case like
that of the borough of Centralia which
is now threatened with destruction by
the Lehigh Valley Coal Co., which
has notified or rather ordered the luck
less property owners to move out of
their homes.
A newspaper reporter visited the
town which has population of about
3, 900. 1t is an old town, having been
originally called "Bull's Head" The
name was changed to Centerville and
then to Centralia. The coal lands in
that neighborhood We're picked up for
very few dollars, about $l5 an acre
in fact, by Israel W. Morris and others
away back in the early days. They
were thrifty Quakers. They drove
hard bargains and shouted about their
poverty when the assessor came around
to tax the land. They organized the
Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co.,
as holding company. 1t had chart
er that allowed it to do anything. 1t
leased lands to operators. 1t drew up
cut throat leases that marvels of malig-
nant ingenuity. They laid out Cen
tralia. They told the miners where
they could build. Their agent promis-
ed the men, verbally of course, that the
company needed men and also houses
and they would assist them to build
houses. The men bought and built and
paid high prices-from $3.50 upwards
for lot. The Locust Mountain direct
ors gave deed which had Shylock
skinned mile. The workmen were
not lawyers. The question of under
ground rights were not understood in
1860 even by lawyers and the men
thought they owned their own homes.
They didn't. The company had the
right to build railroads. to drive air
through the lot and not pay damages
| for anything. The man who bought the
surface hadn't any right to the air in
the hole over the ground if he could
use it.
A man named Michael Madden
brought suit in May 1909. In June,
1902 the company's attorneys appear
ed. In September. 1902. the defendant
| plead not guilty and ruled for trial
in December, 1902, which was post
poned at the Lehigh's request to Feb
ruary, 1908. In March, 1904 the plain
tiff ruled for trial at the May term.
| IQnl yyhan IL
count of the apparently endless dis
ability of chronic disability of the
court. In May 1904, a case stated was
filed and on January is. 1905, the Col
umbia county court filed its opinion
giving Judgment in favor of plaintiff
with costs The opinion of the judge
who has since died, was a marvel, but
the supreme court sustained him and
the company now uses the Madden
case as precedent. The company has
now started to draw down the town
and the case has attracted the atten-
| tion of many thinkers and property
owners who are to organize an associa-
tion to assist the people of Centralia
because the Importance of the ques-
| tion cannot be over estimated. 1t will .
take the form of engaging lively law
yers who will act both by criminal
and civil process. 1t will have drawn
up certain legislative acts to meet such
cases, because the entire anthracite
region is threatened. Canvassers are
out now getting the names of property
owners and trades bodies will be call
cd upon. Philadelphia and Harrisburg
lawyers who have been consulted be-
lieve the work can be stopped until
the matter has been fairly tried before
| a jury. A threat has been made by an
eminent Philadelphia lawyer who was
appealed to that he would cause the
arrest of the president and board of
directors of the coal company on a
criminal charge, and that he had sew
eral causes for such arrests. The peo-
! pie of Centralia being employed by
the Lehigh, fear to move, but a meet
ing has been called for next Thursday
when an appeal will be made to the
governor and State authorities and to
the outside anthracite towns for assist
ance. The metropolitan papers will be
| asked to help and it looks as if the old
town will not be destroyed without
fight.
The Locust Mountain Coal Co. has
received in cash for the surface in the
! affected district about $3.50, 200.