The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1908-01-10
GOOD REPORT
On Big Sandy Goals
Made By The United STA tes
Geological Surv.y Officials.

oNdNCo ocOAD6ANdl Jul NN-s hao Aha%@~
IN important report OF a reconnois-
sance OF portion Of The Eastern
coal field OF Kentucky, embodied in
ne counties of Pike and Letcher.
-hich has a special value at this
time. when it is being made :cces-
sible by the construction OF L-.--ieh
OF the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad.
The Kentucky Geological Survey in
1906, published a very valuable re-
port OF the coal deposits in several
other counties of the same field ira
versed by the Big Sandy river and
its tributaries. and the present bull
letin containing the results Of the
Federal examination comes as
very useful additional contribution
respecting the mineral sources Of
rich but much neglected portion Of
our coal territory.
Until 1906 Pike county was mac
cessibIe save by wagons, except dur
ing the prevalence OF floods. when
steamboats, were enabled to reach
Pikeville, the county seat; but con-
ditions did not make the mining Of
coal for commercial purposes prac-
ticable. The quality Of the coal in
er.t. -..-s.., nro.~,, .. U,Isr..rrr, cooI
from a tributary Of the Big Sandy.
on which 1t has its best development,
has long been known. specimens hay-
ing been exhibited at the New Orleans
Exposition in 1855. showing a thickne
OF 103 inches. Analysis proves it tc
be a very rich bituminous coal. quite
equal as a coking coal to lie famous
Poeahontas coal OF West Virginia
Within the last few years coal mines
have been opened in Pike county b.
means Of foreign capital Their out
put now finding a market by rail. A
year ago the production had reachet
900 tons a day.
The coal field examined contains
six workable beds over four feet IN
thickness and above drainage. as I,
the whole field. and all the coal a,
well as that specially referred TO Il
Of superior quality. Mr.. Stones re
port gives an analysis Of the coal ans
contains an estimate Of the quantity
for mining in the several beds. which
he places at S00.eOO.OOO tons Thii
relates only TO the comparatively lin
lted field which was exploited b.
him. To have a better idea Of th'
great store of mel which only need
additional railroad extensions for {
development, il must be borne il
mind that the field extends, with va
iation as to the number Of veins an'
quality. the former sometimes nor
and the latter OF high standard. fron
the Ohio river TO the Tennessee lin
distance Of over $50 miles.
The lower portion Of this grea
field has been made productive by III
building Of the various branches o
the Louisville & Nashville Ta:.-oai
to Jellico and Cumberland Gap. Wit
numerous subsidiary lines. from III
mines thus made accessible cominl
about one-third of the eommercia
product OF the State. Had there bee
similar extensions OF railroads int
the Northern portion of the fiel'
there would have been similar de
velopment. But too much relianc
has been placed in the faith Of m
, Federal Government as to its com
] pletion Of the Slackwater Navigation
, OF the Big Sandy. which has mad
but little practical progress withii
more than a quarter Of century
since the system was osded to it an
work on II begun fhls experience
gives but little hope of the develop
ment OF this valuable field through
that means. But from the proximit
TO coalless areas northward vher
there is a large demand for fue
In manufacturing industries. tAer
would seem hOPe for the early exten
sion Of railroads adequate to the de
velopment Of this rich field. Alread,
a very marked impetus has been give
to business in the counties traverse'
BY the Chesapeake and Ohio extension
and II Is only . question OF tint
portions Of the State.-cOurier Jour
nal.