The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-10-01

Until recently there was no mar.
ket for the slack and much OF this
was wasted. Now this. coal pulver-
lied is the most satisfactory fuel
mined for burning clinker Portland
cement. Slack is also used in con
nection with various automatic stok-
ing devices and is largely consumed
in plants having plenty of draught
and CRATE area. On account of its
low cost as compared to ordinary
steam Goals 1t is very economical.
Manufacture of Coke.
In the ruaPrIacture- of coke slack
m solely used in this region. WASH
ers introduced have made the pro-
duct of remarkable uniformity,
which is one of the most valuable
! features of coke. The coke manu-
featured here is not unlike that of
the Connellsville region and both
the foundry and furnace coke are
Well adapted for blast furnaces and
for various smelter!ns and refining
purposes. Great quantities of coke
are shipped from this region to the
shelters of Mexico, Canada and the
western part of the United States
BY the use of crushers furnace coke
is reduced to various sizes for which
there is an increasing demand.
When the value of the Fairmon;
product became known the deman,.
for it Immediately became enormous
and this mas led TO a development
heretofore unknown considering the
short period since it was begun.
Early Development.
The history of the coal industry in
this region is most interesting. Pre-
vous to the construction of the b.
& o. through here no one had
thought of the commercial value OF
the abundant product. There were
openings which supplied the home
trade, which was not at all great.
but the coming of the railrod made
possible the industry which has
! changed Clarksburg from an unim-
portant hamlet, surrounded by for
est and farm, to modern young
city characterized by men whose in
domitable courage, determination
and energy have given 1t place in
the worlds affairs, while not to know
I the Fairmont region in the coal
world is Ito argue yourselves un-
known"
The Pioneer i'll This Region.
The foresight. industry and abil-
| ity of the late James Otis Watson
made him the pioneer in the coal
industry of this region. When the
y. & o. reached here in 1852 he saw
the possibility of success in the min
ing of coal for trade and he ac-
CURED tract Of IA acres almost
within the present boundaries OF
Fairmont. Active operations were
begun and the gratifying degree OF
success met with in his first ven
ture led him to enlarge the scope II
development. As opportunity offer
ed additional property was purchas-
ed, new mines opened and coke ovens
built. Each year saw the business
increase and the foundation was laid |
for ore of the greatest mining de-
vclopments the county has known.
First Shipment Made.
The first shipment of coal was
made by Pierpont & Watson in July, !
1854 The late Governor Francis
II Pierpont. the Father of West
Virginia" was associated with Mr.
Watson in his early mining ventures
The efforts to market the product
al once met with opposition ami
many disappointments. losses and an
noyances were due to the repeated
attempts of wealthy operators in
other and older coal regions to be-
little the Fairmont product and shut
out the operators on small scale.
That determination. characteristic of
the early as well as the modern West
virginians, native and adopted, as