Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-12-13
MILLIONS In COAL MINES OF
VIRGINIA
VALUE OF THE YIELDIN Y EAR JUs1
ENDED IS $4, 1873 991

ENDED IS 81 1873 s91
Figures made public by the
United States geological survey show
that during the year just ended Vir
ginia produced coal running up to tht
large sum of 81, 1873, ,991.
The most notable feature in connec
tion with the coal mining industry II
1905 was the suspension Of mining
operations which followed the termin
alton. on March 81, OF the wage scale
agreements in the bituminous fields
and of the wards of the strike commits.
sion in the anthracite fields of Penn.
sylyania. The cessation of work wat
general IN the anthracite region and
also in those bituminous districts
where the mine workers are we'll or
gauized and operate under agreements
with the mine owners.
From the standpoint Of value the
mining of coal in Virginia was entire
ly satisfactory to the operators. as the
price advanced 10 cents per ton, from
SO cents in 1905 to SO cents In 1906, and
the total value showed gain Of $406,
666, or 10 8 per cent, Notwithstanding
small decrease In production. Ol
the two important coal-producing
counties-Tazewell and Wise-the
former bad a decreased production Of
more than $4,000 tons, while Wise
county increased almost exactly the
same amount. There was a decrease
IN the production in other counties and
of small mines of 20.1T short tons,
which was within 215 tons of the total
decrease of the State.
L The number of men employed in the Q
mines of Virginia during the year was
5, 131, against 5, 730 in 1905. The larger
number of miners IN Virginia are un-
organized, and the coal mining opera
tions were carried on on the basis of q
ten-hour day. In 1905 thirty-ona
mines, employing 727 men. worked
nine hours, and six comparatively
small operations. employing total Of
los men. worked eight hours.
No strikes or other labor troubles
have been reported In the mines Of
Virginia during the last three years.
The first bituminous coal in the
United States was taken from what Is
usually termed the Richmond basin, q
small area in the southeastern portion n
of the State near the city of Richmond.
The basin is situated on the eastern
margin of the Piedmont plateau, thir
teen miles above tide. on the James
river. 1t lies in Goocbland, Henricn,
Powhatan and Chesterfield counties.
The occurrence of coal in this dis
trict was known as early as 100, and
it was used in the latter quarter of tho
eighteenth century.
Two small outlying basins from the
Appalachian fields are found in tn Q
State-One in Frederick county, at the
north, and the other in Pulaski and
Montgomery counties, at the south.
In both the coal is of a semi anthracite
character, but the only developments
on a practical scale have peen made in
the Pulaski Montgomery basin. Dur
ing 1904 and 1907 large amount of
work in opening up was done in Mont
gomery county by the Virginia An.
thracite Coal Company, and it appears
probable that the county will become
one of the important producers. Pre-
viOus to 1904 the coal mined was from
comparatively small mines, the prod
uct being consumed in the immediate
vicinity. Recently the Elkhorn dis
trict of Kentucky has been opened up
by branch of the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad. and a new road is being
graded from the break of Sandy south
eastward toward the seaboard along
the line of the old $50 C's'' road. This
will, if built, open valuable territory
on the headwaters of Russell fork of
3 indy river.
As has been mentioned, the first coal
mined in the United States was from
the RichmCnd basin. At the taking Of
the census of 1S40 Virginia was even
then comparatively important coal
producing State. the Piedmont region
having been Maryland fields a few
years before. With the separation of
Virginia from West Virginia, in 1868,
the mother State was deprived of near
ly all Of her coal. bearing territory,
though the enormous wealth contain
ed therein was not known at that time
The production of coal in Virgins
has increased in every year but two
since 1892, the second exception being
noted in 1900 The maximum produc
tion was in 1905, when .275, ,271 short
tons we're produced.
Il