The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-02

and fostered by him grow to be the
most important single pii1ducer OF
coal in the Stateof his birth.
Soon after the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad had fought its way through
forest and mountain gorge to the town
of Fairmont, thus furnishing such con-
nection with Eastern markets as made
the shipping of heavy freight practi-
cable, James Otis Watson, as the &C.
tive partner In the firm of Pterpont &
Watson, the senior member Of which
afterwards became famous as the
"Father Of West Virginia" opened up
a coal mine within the present limits
of this city, and in July, 1854, made
the first shipment or coal from the
present limits of the State. The mine
was small, primitive affair, and the
company's entire holdings amounted to
IA acres OF land. From that small be-
ginning the business has grown un.
til now the legitimate successor OF
that undertaking, the Fafrmont Coal
Co., has more than so operations thor.
oughly up to date in equipment, owns
the coal in 10000 acres Of land and
produces each year what 1t would have
taken that first mine 200 years to pro
duce.
In the beginning the effort to mar
ket new and unknown coal in large
quantities was met with numerous OBJ
stacles and discouragements and at.
tended with many annoyances and fire.
quent losses. The wealthy operators
in fields already opened UP, furnish-I
ing Goals whose quality was already
established as standard, were not
willing to see the product Of a new
field come in and divide their markets
without a struggle to maintain their
own supremacy and retain their profits
unsnared with others. They sneered1
at the efforts of the promoters OF thel
new field, discounted. the quality Of
their offerings and threw in their way
every possible obstruction. But those
who reckoned upon sitting the efforts
of James Otis Watson, without actual
ly sitting the breath Of him, did so In
ignorance OF the character Of the man.
The stern Scotch spirit was ava kened
10 its best efforts by opposition Kim
died into an unquenchable blaze by
obstacles that to others would hare
brought discoIlfa genisnt and ruEn.-t.al1 e
Invited a trial of his coal, guaranteed
its worth and demonstrated its value
in every market possible to be reach
ed, and finally by sheer force OF per-
sonal effort established 1t among the
standard Goals of the fuel-consumingI
world
Having won his place in the mar
kets, the next thing necessary was to
secure reliable tonnage and reasona-
BILE freight rates from the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. then, as now, the
only outlet from this field. The same,
overmastering will displayed In fight
ing opposition from other coal pro-
ducers, the same indomitahle perse'
yerance. coupled with high degree
of diplomacy, succeeded in bringing
about satisfactory arrangements with
the railroad company, and for many
years the product Of Mr.. Watson's
mines and those of the great company
which is its legitimate offspring have
been furnished transportation facili'
ties unsurpassed by those of any other
coal>produclng concern of the coun'
try.
Thus this sturdy pioneer went for
ward, overcoming difficulties as he en-
countered them, beating down OBJ
stacles as they arose in his path, add
ing to his operations by little and lit
tie, until finally the opportunity ar
rived of combining in one company
and under one management practical
ly all the coal operations in what has
come to he known as the FairmontI
field. This occurred In 1901, and al
year later, having seen the fruition
Of the hopes of his youth come to
crown the years Of his age, James Otis
Watson passed away at the age OF Sc,
leaving his great interests to be ad'
ministered by the able hands of his
son, trained to the business.
Some Interesting Facts
About the Fairmont Coal Company and
companies under It's control as set
forth in booklet gotten out by the
company:
Incorporated July 1, 1901.
Number Of mines, 81.
Daily capacity, 4S,95O tons.
Owns S2,124 acres Of coal.
Leases 24,099 acres of coal.
Estimated at 500 millions unmlned
coal.
Number Of coke ovens, 1928.
Daily capacity, 1,750 tons.
Owns 2161 dwelling houses.
Average number of men employed,