The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1909-11-12
Coke Field in the World is
ElkhOTn.
The Upper Big Sandy Valley to Be-
come ths Superior Successor Of
COnneIlsYilIe.
CManufacturers' RecOrd.)
Uniontown, Pa. Nov.

Uniontown, Pa, Nov. j.
Great interest has been aroused
BY the announcement made through
the Manufacturers Record that the
Elkhorn coking coal fields OF East
ern Kentucky are TO be Immediately
developed by connellsyille coke
makers OF large experience and the
highest reputation. The announce
ment stated that the Mitchell Coke
Co. had been organized to enter the
Elkhorn field; that the work of
building coke ovens has already be-
gun. and that Mr.. Mitchell, for
many years in charge OF the w. J.
Rainey operations the largest coke
makers In the Connellsyille district
outside OF the Frick Company who
heads the new company, unqualified
ly endorses the Elkhorn coke as OF
the highest purity and strength,
and predicts for the Elkhorn field
q position as one OF the greatest
coke-making centers in the world.
The advent OF T. j. Mitchell into
the Elkhorn coking fields is move
OF great importance and significance.
II means that here is to be estab-
lished serious rival TO the Con-
nellsyille coke field really. that
here Is TO be the successor OF the
Connellsyille field. Some OF the
most noted coke experts In America
say that the Elkhorn coke outranks
even the Connellsyllle coke In pur-
ity. The original Connellsyllle field
IL being worked out. and all along
the railroad as one rides through
the section abandoned coke ovens
may be seen. owing to this fact. II
Is rare thing to find in the Con-
nellsyille coke OF today less than
per cent Of sulphur. In the Elk
horn coke the sulphur runs gener-
ally less than one-half OF per
cent, making il now the purest not
only in this country. but in the
world. as the tables Of the CONT
mental authorities prove.
The late Peter Kimberly OF sha-
ron. Pa. In his lifetime one of the
large iron men OF the Mahoning and
Shenango valleys. said that the Elk
horn coke is intrinsically worth 81
a ton more than Connellsyille coke,
for the reason that II will, cost
more than 81 ton difference to
eliminate from the iron the excess
OF phosphorous and sulphur the
Connellsyille coke contains above
that from the Elkhorn field.
John Fulton. of Johnstown. Pa. I
said in report accompanying an
analysis made September "a, 1909:
''The chemical properties of this
coke (Elkhorn) are much superior
10 the standard Connellsville; It is
remarkably clean coke. exceptionally
low in sulphur and phosphorous.
In the Connellsyille field there G
are today 10000 coke ovens. Under 9
the most favorable circumstances a 6
profit of $1,000 an oven per annum .
has been secured. The magnitude .
Of the development In the Elkhorn Q
field may be understood when 1t is y
stated that the Mitchell Coke Co. q
proposes ultimately to build 1000
ovens. and that the acreage OF cox
Ing coal owned by the interests in
volved will make 1t possible to in
crease the number up to $1,000 or
10000 as the demand will justify. '
Furthermore, the enormous po- :
lential increase in the wealth Of I"
Eastern Kentucky is indicated in the .
fact that $4,000 an acre is the stan = !
lard price for coal lands In the !
district. Some sales :
have been made at much greater >
Ium. The Grand Jury OF Fayette =
county decided at meeting recent "
v held that the coal lands OF the "
county poor farm, in the outskirts -
u Uniontown, should not be sold
or less than $4,000 an acre.
The late Senator ]. N. Camden.
4 Parkersburg. w. Va. is on rec
'rd as stating that the Elkhorn pl
ield, being the only field OF high g,
irade coke and fuel coal left in the Oh
United States undeveloped, and that m
an be controlled. is the most val 4
able coal district in the United gs