The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1909-10-29

the coal was mined and taken from
the out-erop near the surface o.
the ground, the result of the test
is remarkably good, as the coal ii
this region never cokes so vel
when taken from near the crop.
Several old coke manufacturer,
who saw the coke when drawn from
the oven pronounced it excellent. II
possesses in a marked degree, as
you will observe, the characteristics
of our best Connellsville coke, be,
ing bright, heavy and strong, with
an open cellular structure.
The foundry test, made by one
of the oldest foundrymen here tMr
McGrath), bears out the fact OF
the superior qualities when tested
in cupola. We ship our best
and most select coke for foundry
use throughout the country, and il
is considered that coke which will
give good results in a foundry test
will work well in a blast furnace.
The cost of mining this coal from
the examination made of the Pike
county field would be very reas-
enable as compared with the cost of
mining here, the expense of lift
ing the water from out pits being
in excess of that of hosting the
coal. There are few mines here
self-draining, on account of the
heavy incline or dip to the coal
seam, it rapidly recedes below water
level. The Pike county coal field
lies entirely above water level, and
will require no pumping machinery,
. AS you are no doubt aware,
the extent of the Connellsville coal
basis is usually regarded as being
about $4,000 acres. was recently
called upon to examine a tract of
1000 acres of Connellsville coal
that was sold for $3.50 per acre. /
have known sales very recently of
smaller tracts at $1,000 per acre.
Very truly yours,
II. J. MITCHELL
The Boston capitalists. who
held the property at that time have
been wise enough, recognizing its
'uture value, to hold it until the
present time, and are thus in a pos
ton to secure the profit that will
,ome from the development of such |
| vast tract as the 10000 acres
he Big Sandy Company of that
.ity owns.
Recently have made additional
Investigations of the Elkhorn coal
or cooking purposes, and have
brought a considerable quantity to
his section in order to put it to
very possible test of coke-making.
These Investigations have only con-
irmed the statements made in my
etter to the representatives OF the
Merritts in 1893.
Realizing something of the poten-
.ialities of that field and the vast
development of the iron and steel !
interests OF the country, ahead of
is and the urgent need of low
sulphur coke, | have decided to join !
n the development of the Big San
ly property and have taken the
of the Mitchell Coke Co. !
md have become financially inter
ested in it. The company will take
over several coal mines already un-
Ter development in that district,
and will Immediately begin the
of coke ovens.
considering the amazing devel-
Dpment of the iron and steel inter
ests of this country as of the
world, and beai ing in mind that we
must provide wi hin 10 years a coke
supply certainly more than double
hat of today-fOr iron production
will double within that time can
not see why the Elkhorn district
will not show a far more rapid
growth than has ever been seen in
he Connellsville field, and why the
best of that coal field shall not
fully equal in value per acre the
prices of the Connellsville field. No
one regards the $4,000 an acre val
lation in the Connellsville field as
TOO high. Why should not Eastern
Kentucky, with a superior coking
coal, see duplication of such con-
iitions? In view of the certainty
that the next 10 years will show the
most marvellous production ever
known in iron and steel production,
so firm is my faith in the coming
supremacy of that district that | am
my money, my experience
any my knowledge of the coke bust
ness into its development"
ALBERT PHENIS.