Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-12-18
GREAT DEVELOPMENT
COAL LAND PROMISED
Natural Resources of Berkeley Coun-
y Will One Day Make Martins
burg Manufacturing Centre

II
the anthracite coal, which has been
known for some years to exist in this
county is to be developed in the near
future.
Away back in the days of Henry ST.
John Shepherd, who spent the greater
portion of his life in prospecting in
the mountains west of this city, the
older residents were told that under
lying the surface in that section was
anthracite COAL Some few believed
the stories told by the old prospector,
and when he showed them samples
of the coal which he had found, while
they were convinced that coal existed,
they could not be brought to think it
would ever be developed and become
an important industry in this section
The United States geological sur
vey has always contended that if coal
existed in this section. it was only IN
pockets. They say in their reports
that the formation of the strata Is
such as to preclude the existence of
anthracite coal in paying quantities
There are many today who still hold
to the belief that the coal, If it does
exist in that part of the country, will
never be mined Whether or not these
latter are correct, certain interests in
the past few years have been pros
pecting on An extensive scale in the
vicinity OF Sleepy Creek mountain
What they have found has not been
given to the public Rumors, however,
have come to the ears of many that
field of anthracite coal, the first ever
found in this state, has been discov-
cred on Sleepy Creek mountain, and
that these same interests will in d
short time proceed to develop the
fuel.
Many stories of the finding of this
coal have been brought to this city
1t is said that there are many veins
ranging from two to twelve feet in
thickness, and that there are several
shorter veins that are as thick as
thirty-six feet. A year or more ago
it was thought by residents O: that
section of the county that this coal
land would be opened once Many
diamond drill test holes have been
sunk, and the promoters went so far
as to open up a shaft In order to as
certain to their entire satisfaction,
whether or not the coal was there Ia
quantities that would justly the ex-
time make profit. After this WORK
had gene on for quite a while the
shaft was closed up, the machinery
removed and the residents were thea
o the opinion that the promoters
were not satisfied with what they
had found. Later, however, options
were taken by unknown parties on
hundreds Of acres of land in the vicin.
ity in which this coal is located. From
time 10 time other land has been op-
toned, until now 1t is said thousands
OF acres are held under options by
capitalists, who are known TO be in
terested in the promotion OF coal
properties.
West Virginia is noted for its val
liable beds of bituminous coal, the
steaming qualities of which are known
the word over, and Uncle sam him.
self buys nearly all the coal for his
war vessels from West Virginia mines.
This state is known as a great pro-
Queer OF bituminous coal, but il has
never been dreamed that there was
anthracite coal OF any quality, or in
paying quantities, within It's borders.
The men who are back OF this lat
est development of Berkeley county's
natural resources are men who have
had years Of experience in the devel-
opment of ccal and oil properties. It
is said that several hundred thousand