The Washington herald., 1909-03-21
LEASES A COAL Mine
Thomas Boswell Invests in
POcahOntaS District.
TAKES BROWNING PROPERTY
PennsyIvania Operator Gets Vir-
giniH Output for Fifty TearS-Pays
Generous Royalties and VIII Work
No. Vein in farewell County-The
Navy Uses This Coal for Streaming.

TazeWeu. Va. March 2o-The largest
coal land deal IN Southwest Virginia for
several years was recently consummated
here. whereby Thomas T. Boswell, Of
Boswell. Pa. leased for fifty years the
well-knOwn Browning mines. OF POca-
hontas. TaZewell County. containing the
famous No. vein OF Pocahontas coal
The terms Of the lease are believed 70
be the most liberal of the kind reported
from any section OF the coal field 4
cash bonus OF $4,000 is 70 be paid on
April / by Mr.. Boswell 20 the BrOwnings.
and in addition I5-cent royalty is 10
come 10 the lessons from each ton OF
coal mined. and 24-cent royalty from
each ton or coke manufactured The con
tract states that a minimum royalty Of
81 so for each year for three years IS
TO be paid. and az the end OF the third
year minimum royalty Of $500 Is 20 be
paid TO the lessons
Famous POeahOBtRs Coal.
The lands embraced in the lease lie
near the famous mines OF the Poca-
hontss Consolidated Collieres Company,
said 10 be the largest soft coal plant in
the world. and contain much OF the same
vein as the Colleries COmpany-
The coal in the Browning mines Is what
is known among coal operators as No.
Pocahontas. and embraces eleven feet Of
solid coal The greatest bulk OF this coal
has been used for years by the United
States navy, and in construction work on
the Panama Canal. and is said 10 be the
best steam producing coal mined.
Col Browning owns about 4000 acres %
fine grazing land. ly.ng south OF the TOP
OF the summit OF Laurel Ridge, adjoining
the lands embraced in this lease
The probability is that instead or full
filing the contract which has 20 do with
the royalty for ffty years. Mr- Boswell
will buy the lease outright. a clause in
the contract permitting the lessee 10 pur-
chase the land embraced in the lease
within a specified time for $4,000 Col
Browning has reserved 20 himself the
right 20 mine ar any time veins Nos >
and 4 which underiie and Overlie respec-
lively. the No. vein. The No vein IS
about five feet thick. and the No. IS
about seven feet
Big Confederation.
The sale AT this zine OF this valuable
operation. and the almost fabulous con
sideration. has given a slight impetus 10
the business outlook in this section. and
the many holders Of stock in coal COM
panies. who live In TazewelI. feel much
encouraged and say that the Browning
sale sounds the death kneI Of business
depression and stagnation that has had
the coal helds IN its grip for several
months For several months past the
price OF coal has been so low that in
dependent operators both in the Clinch
Valley and Pocahontas fields have found
It almost impossible TO operate their
mines at a profit and consequently they
have closed down
II is reported here that Mr.. Boswell
has bids on the coal supply for the Pan
anna Canal. and a certain portion OF the
tinted States navy supply. but on ac-
count % the specific grade OF coal de-
manded in the government specifications
he has been unable 10 compete with 9TH
er soft coal producers. II this rumor
has any ground in fact. and the gentle
man is successful in his bids for the
government supply. the entire output Of
the Browning mines. run at their fullest
capacity. viii be used by the government
Hence n great pay roll viii be created
in the POcahOntas field in addition 10
what is already there
Takes Charge in April.
This company viii take charge the first
OF april. and oontemplates extensive i'm
provements including 100 new houses.
electric power house. two steel tipples.
cote ovens. and a large building to con
tain the commissary and local Offices.
The company expects TO increase the out
put and VIII at once employ SO men in
and about the mines that are now run
ming and push as rapidly as possible the
other mines
The lease is for the No 3 vein, which
is now being worked. and the Br0wnings
retain their rights TO the other veins.
several Of which are considered very val
uable.
One clause which Mrs. Browning was
very insistent on inserting. and which
she is very proud OF accomplishing. is
that no intoxicating liquors. shall ever
be sold on the property conveyed
The Merchants 5 Coal Company. having
Offices IN Chicago. Philadelphia. Boston.
New York. Baltimore and Savannah.
has large contracts with the govern
ment. and as a great deal Of POcahontas
coal is specified in their contracts. the
purchase Of this property is for the spe-
ciaI purpose OF filing the government eol;-
tracts
The Browning mines have a very er-
viable reputation. having been in oDer-
alton for the past eighteen years, during
which time they have never had a car
OF coal rejected. or an explosion or a
damage suit for injuries 20 employees.
Pennsylvania. New York. and Ohio in
the order named. have led in the coun-
try's sandstone industry for the past three
yaarz