Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-09-21
Now the Second Fuel Producing
=
State Of the Union.
DISPLAY OF VARIOUS SEAMS
Mr.. Neil Robinson Writes Of the
Monument Of Which He is the
Author.
Mel Robinson in Coal and Coke.l

(Neil Robinson in Coal and Coke.)
It is estimated by Mr.. E. w. Parker
chief Of the mining and mineral re.
source division Of the United States
geological survey, that the gross area
Of the Appalachian coal field south and
east OF the Ohio river embraces S.
8O7 square miles. OF this amount IT,
ESQ square miles. or about 30 per cent
are credited to the state of West yir-
ginia. Eliminating marginal areas
1t is probable that the state will carry
about 1000 square miles of mineral
territory with gross coal content
of over 50.000.O00 tons. Again M
ture has dealt bountifully with the
state in supplying every prominent
seam belonging to the Pottsville kan,
awha Allegheny, Conemaugh and
Monongahela series.
During the year of 1906, $3.50 men
were given employment in rs com
mercial mines. The total coal produc-
ton amounted to 46,452,S45 short tons.
and the coke shipments reached a to-
tai of 3,S95,744 tons. (These figures
vary from, and are somewhat larger
than those of the United States geo.
logical survey Nineteen different
seams were contributors to this great
tonnage.
1t has always seemed to me that the
predominating characteristics of every
great exposition should be educational,
and that information and displays re-
lating to the resources of the states
should be presented with an accuracy
becoming to the dignity of the com,
monwealth, and with these ideas in
mind the plans of the West Virginia
coal column were prepared. The col
unm is massive and imposing in aps
pearance, but that is incidental. The
principle upon which it was construct
ed was the representation, in true geo
coal seam mined within the state, in
true form and true thickness. Official
measurements from over four hun
dred mines were used in determining
the average thickness adopted. The
analyses shown on the chart were
made by Prof. B. III. Hite, state chemist,
from samples taken from the contrib
uting members of the state geological
survey. In determining the order in
which the Goals of the northern part
of the state should be correlated with
those of the southern section | have
Professionally identified the Thomas
coal with the Northern Coalburgh of
Kanawha and the Upper Freeport of
Pa: Davis with No. Block; Roar
ing Creek with Belmont; and the Coal
burg of Kanawha with the Thacker
coal of Mingo county. 1t is probable
that some sight changes in the list
will be made necessary when the evil
dence now being gathered by the state
and the United States survey is Yorm-
ulated, but this will not affect the ag-
gregate coal thickness shown in the
column.
The site chosen for the column faces
the water front at the intersection or
Bacon street and Willoughby boule-
ward. To build firm foundation on
shore sands, with water only seven
feet beneath, and at the same time Sc
cure an anchorage that would enable
the structure to resist wind pressure
of City pounds to the square foot re
quired very skillful engineering, and
great credit is due to Mr. II. Rus
Warne. architect, of Charleston, w.
Va, who prepared the working plans.
A concrete base 40 IT square and IL
inches thick carrying heavy railroad
rails. were buried flush with the sur