Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-03-24
EMPIRE LAND
CORPORATION.
Something About What Mr.. John A. Esser
And Associates Are Doing to Develop
The Goal and Timber Wealth
Of TazeWeIl County.

10 Nhc GhlplNc bdnu corporation, IS be-
ing created just north of Richlands. in
this county.
In September, 1907, John A. Esser,
OF Dorchester, Wise county, Va, and
associates, purchased and took over the
holdings of the Tazewell Land Corpora
tion, Seaboard Coal Company and the
West Fork Lumber Company. These
three corporations held eleven thousand
acres of land, every acre of which is
underlaid with valuable coal seams, and
the boundary was estimated to have up
on it twenty-five million feet of mer-
chantable timber. A new and exten-
sive mining plant and one hundred coke
ovens that had never been fred at Sea-
board were acquired by Mr.. Esser and
his associates along with the land.
About the time the purchase was made
the industrial and financial depression
came on and no effort was made to de-
velop or work the property until six
months ago. Then, Mr.. Esser came
from Dorchester and located at Sea-
board, now Alfredtsn, and since has
been making things move. The coke
ovens were gotten ready and put in
blast. The coal vein, known as No. l,
that had been previously mined, was
abandoned because its coking qualities
were not such as were desired; and two
openings have been made on vein IL and
flve on No. 2. These are furnishing a
quality Of coal that is unsurpassed for
Its coking qualities. Four of the new
openings have been made within the
past ninety days. 1t is estimated that
the seven openings whsn sufficiently de-
veloped will yield 1000 tons of coal a
day, while the capacity of the ovens
now in use have a capacity of 5000 tons
of coke month. One hundred new
ovens are now in course of construc-
ton. After these are completed, which
will be within from four to six months,
and II sufficient coal is then available,
fifty more ovens will be added, which
Will give the plant capacity of twelve
thousand tons per month. This will
mean the use of twenty thousand tons
OF coal month, and will require the
employment of between four and five
hundred men. There are six tipples at
the mines and large tipple at the coke
ovens. The seams that are being mined
are approximately one hundred and
Eeventy-five feet above the tipple at
the oven plant. The power for hauling,
crushing and elevating the coal and
charging the ovens is generated by two
15O-horsepower electrical generators.
Two stationery engines with boilers Of
6OO-horsepower are used for running
the electrical generators and other pur-
poses. The coal is hauled from the
mines to the tipple at the ovens by elec-
trio motors, where it is dumped into a
powerful crusher and crushed before
placing in the ovens.
The timber interests of the property
are also being developed. One large
band saw mill has been in operation for
some time at point one mile north of
Richlands, and there are now two mil
lion feet Of lumber sawed and stacked
upon the yards. Another mill will be
put in operation in short time. About
three hundred men are now employed
by the company in mining and other
operations. and the monthly payroll
mounts up into the thousands. The en-
tsrprise is one of the most valuable that
has ever been started in Tazewell coun-
ty, and it will add greatly to the wealth
of the west end.
Mr.. Esser is one of the most success
full manufacturers of coke that has been
known in Virginia or any section of the
United States, for that matter. He has
operated plants in Pennsylvania, Ken
tucky and Virginia and made the bust
ness a success wherever he has oper-
ated. He built the first coke ovens that
were placed in the Wise county coal
fields and is, therefore, the founder Of
the present extensive col1ing business
in that county. He first located at Sto-
mega and after being there few years
moved to Dorchester, where he created
the magnificent coking plant that
brought great wealth to him and his as
sociates. We haven't shadow of doubt
but that he will meet with greater sue
cess at his present location than even at
Dorchester, as he says that the quality
of coke he is now making is the best he
has ever made; and the demand for his
output is much greater than the present
possible supply.
The development and upbuilding of
this splendid enterprise will be watched
with much interest, as it means much
for our county and section.