The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-05-15

8. Pond Creek Coal Company, one
of the largest coal mining companies
In the State, owns 10000 acres of land
in fee; six mines in operation, eigh-
teen under constructions; has about
500 miners houses employs about
1000 men; has a mammoth electric
power house and plant; this company
has been engaged in developing this
territory for the past eighteen months
only, and expects within the next two
years to more than quadruple this de-
velopment, average monthly output
10000 tons; payroll. $4,000, includ-
ing construction work.
8. Borderland Coal Company, about
three miles east of Big Creek; two
mines in operation; 1000 acres under
lease; four marketable seams of coal;
two power plants; aerial tramway and
steel conveyor across Tug river; 100
miners houses In Kentucky; employs
about 400 men; average monthly out
put, 23,500 tons; payroll, s1S.800
Big Pay rolls.
The monthly pay-rolls of these
companies aggregate something near
the development of this section of
Eastern Kentucky. With the compile
ton OF railroads under construction
herein referred to, coal development
viii. within the next three years, more
than double the present capacity in
the number OF employees and the
amount OF payroll disbursements
What has already been done, what
Is in actual progress i'm the way of en-
largement and development of opera
tons in this field, exists in tangible
present day form, subject to personal
verification of anyone making a visit
to this section. The future of the
field, as to development and market
ing of its coal resources, concededly
depends upon the factors involved in
production and in marketing, but not
at all upon either the quality, quantity
or permanence Of coal deposits.
Richness of the Fields.
We may set forth, with the rule that
Is accepted as sufficiently accurate for
practical purposes that from each
acre OF coal 900 tons for each foot of
thickness of the seam can be gained.
A seam OF coal five feet thick, there
fore, produces 5000 tons per acre Of
coal, There are three or more veins
Of such thickness in the proposed new
county. In 400 square miles are 257,-
900 acres. Three seams of coal, each
five feet thick, assuming but 40 per
cent. OF each in the entire area OF
257,920 acres, an ultra conservative
statement Of the matter, gives 100 per
cent. Of entire acreage as carrying one
seam; hence 3o9,504 acres, carrying
5000 tons to each acre. and yielding
l,547,52O,000 tons, are stored in the
hills Of the territory Of the proposed
new county Between 1914 and 1907,
inclusive, Kentucky's total coal pro-
10 per cent. of the tonnage in the pro-
posed new county.
kentuoky's Rank as Coal State.
In 1912 Kentucky produced 15,159,-
5l5 tons of coal. The United States
as whole produced 377,O0O,0O0 tons
of bituminous coal the same year.
Quantities from the United States
Geological Survey, shown also in
Worlds Almanac, 1910 1t may be
regarded as fairly astounding in re-
suits that the extent OF coal deposits
so shown is such that. were we to as
sumo that all coal mining operations
now employed throughout Kentucky,
should be exclusively conducted and
confined to the territory OF the pro-
posed new county. an output equaling
the maximum total production of Ken
lucky for 1912 could be maintained in
this county for little more than 100
years" Any doubt as to the correct
ness of the factor assumed as deter
mining the amount of the coal there
deposited. is effectually answered by
the fact that but three instead of four
workable seams have been taken, and
all these above drainage.
II Is mentioned, without adding to
the table of resources. that there is
not only fourth workable seam above
drainage, but below drainage, and by
actual drill tests coal seam, ejual in
extent of thickness and in quality to
any seam above drainage, is equally
available by shaft mining operations,
conducted according to methods en-
ployed in the Western Kentucky and
other fields.
+ Value Of kentucky's Coal.
The average value of coal mined in
Kentucky at the mines in 1912 is
placed slightly in excess of $1.00 per
ton. In mining this coal, assuming
the low basis of SO cents ton to rep
resent labor cost, the outlay for labor
will be in excess of s75O,OOO.OOO. In the
nature of things, 1t cannot be mined
within 100 years, but there is the
storehouse, there the quality, and
there are the means Of transporting
the coal to market.
DEEP HOLE.
The pie social at this place was o
SuccesS Proceeds 81 Il 40