The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-08
LOCAL COAL MINES
PLAN BIG THINGS
Carbon Hill Operations 10 Con-
struct Modern Coal-Handling
Plant at Docks.
WILL BUILD a RAILROAD
Line Will Connect Mines and
r., 7. & Build Up James
River Commerce.
WILL BUILD A RAILROAD

II is announced by the Old Dominion
development Company, which operates
the Carbon Hill coal mines, fifteen
miles northwest of Richmond that dur
ing the present year it Will erect a
modern coal handling plant on the
wharf property 1t has purchased from
| the Clyde Steamship Company. in this
city. Besides. 1t Will begin work in
the early spring on Il line of railroad
from its mines to Laurel Station, on
me richmond Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac Railroad
Probably only n small percentages of
the population of the city knows that
thoroughly modern. highly developed
and successful coal mine Is being
operated within few miles OF Rich
lnond. and that plans have been made
Tor greatly extending its operations in
such manner as to aid in the upbuild-
ing of the city's commerce and in the
Increase OF shipping at her wharves.
Historic Mine.
The Old Dominion DEVELOPMENT Com,
pany, n New York corporation. or
Eanizcd in 1905. began. In November
1908. the rehabilitation and develop
lnent of the property formerly known
as the Clayton coal mines. lying north
o fthe James, in the western part of
tienrico county. These mines were IN
operation for many years. furnishing
richmond with large part OF Its coal
supply during the War Between tile
states. Probably the machinery and
equipment speedily became antiquatcd,
and the enterprise finally ceased to
exist, the workings filing up with
water
Fof more than two years the new in
,erests which are now in control have
been steadily developing the mines,
cleaning them out, putting in modern
machinery and gathering together
large plant. The company owns and
controls all area exceeding $500 acres
part of which is very highly i'm
proved. with suitable buildings for
miners. mechanics and laborcrs, iuclud-
ing coal tipples. comnissary building
machine shops and other accessories
incident TO large coal operation
Money Expended Here.
Scores OF miners are now al work
living OH the property, and all possible
supplies are purchased In Richmond,
where the company has disbursed for
the past twenty-five months an average
OF more than $4,000 a month.
All of the output at present is taken
by the Richmond. fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad for use on it's freight
engines. The coal is not snokeless
any engine running into the District of
Columbia, but the railroad hauls Its
freight trains with this coal from Rich
mond TO Potomac Yards
w. ID. Duke, assistant to the presi-
dent OF the road, has caused exhaustive
tests TO be made of the coal. and has
found 1t to be entirely satisfactory for
power uses. In fact, he pronounces IT
fully as good as any OF the New River
Goals.
Lower Cost Possible.
The proximity of the mines TO Rich
mond naturally means that the coal can
be sold at lower price than any other
marketed here. the shorter haul mean
ing lower freight cost. Captain Jos
eph W. Voolfolk, the president of the
Old Dominion Development Company,
says. however, that II will at no time
be the policy of his concern to cut the
price OF coal In Richmond In such
way as to prove demoralizing to the
trade. II intends. however. to give to
| local consumers some part OF the ad-
vantage which will accrue from Its
proximity to the point OF consumption
: he rail haul is. AT present, over
what is known as the Tuckuhoc and
! James River Railroad, which runs from
the Carbon Hill mines to Lorraine, on
the James River Division OF the Chcsa-
pcakc and Ohio. lnis road has recent
~ been rebuilt and equipped. The con-
Meeting line from the mines TO Laurel,
In the opposite direction, will be bu..l
within the next few months, giving a
dual connection with Richmond. Steel
rail and track material for this new
line has been delivered and is now on
the spot. and the cross ties have been
partially provided. The haul by the
Chesapeake and Ohio Is seventeen
miles: that by the Richmond. Fred
cricksburg and Potomac will be cigh-
teen.
Conl Handling Plant.
Both OF these railroads connect with
tho tracks of the Southern Railway,
which arc now laid in the wharf prop
erty owned by the Old Dominion De-
velopmcnt Company. which lies just
below the wharves OF the Old Dominion
Steamship Company. The coal hand
ling plant which the company proposes
to erect Will automatically load into
barges ana other vessels from elevated
MS near the waters edge. 1,...-
bins viii discharge on one sido the
coal FOR local use: on the other side
the bunkers Will empty themselves
directly into the hulls Of tic vessels
without u second handling.
II is the purpose Of the company,
after supplying the wants o1 Its GUS