The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-06-19

duce to certainty the titles 10 the in
Vulnerable tracts of land which h.
gradually got together, when once h
had determined that these lands wer
valuable enough to deserve acquisition
at all.
The example set by Mayo and hi
associates of the Northern Coal & Cox,
Company in the matter of clearing anC
perfecting their land titles has sine,
been followed to distinct advantage,
by other individuals and corporation.
interested in the mountain lands Of
Eastern Kentucky and the same policy
with respect to titles must be rigidlS
adhered to by all who may hope sue.
cessfully TO adventure into this same
alluring region in the future.
To johnson N. Camden, another
Kentuckian OF wealth, enterprise and
foresight must be awarded high
praise for the part he has taken In en-
tcouraging and promoting the forward
movement OF development In the same
field. Both Of these men have had the
rare faculty OF inspiring confidence
and courage in others. without them
or men like them, the development al
ready noted would have fallen far
short Of the point which il has actually
reached
Nevertheless, II remains true that a
very large percentage, If not all, of the
Captains of Industry both in Central
Kentucky and IN the Falls CITY, have
remained strangely Indifferent, If not
stone blind, TO the wonderful oppor-
tunities in that rugged region about
the headwaters OF the Kentucky and
the Big Sandy.
To all those Of this description who
may still, like so many "doubting
Thomases," hold aloof or hesitate to
join in the effort to develop and bring
into the markets OF the world the UNI
touched resources of the mountains,
this much. we think, may he said and
II stands out as one of the deepest inn
pressions forced upon us during this
recent excursion into the coal fields,
that the present and prospective de-
,yelopment OF coal there gives every in
dication OF being bottomed upon a
substantial and enduring basis.
The old adage that Seeing is be-
lieving" applies here in it's fullest
force. When one not only has ocular
evidence OF coal seam at the open
Ing or entrance on the outside, but
can ride in straight line for q mile
through an unbroken
seam OF eight-foot coal, he certainly
ought to doubt no longer. This was
what was done by the entire party on
the recent excursion. And when II is
true that openings and extensive tests
have demonstrated the fact that the
coal field in question covers an area of
hundreds OF thousands OF acres and
VIII tax 10 the utmost the industry of
both operators and railroads for gem
erations to come, there can no longer
be room for skepticism,
Another Striking Feature.
Another striking feature OF the gem
eral situation is that the principal
operating company at this time In the
field is the Consolidation Coal
Company, corporation organized in
the state OF Maryland several years
prior to the Civil War. and which has
actually been mining coal without in
Ierruption in Maryland, West Virginia,
Pennsylvania and Kentucky since the
year 1864.
The total investment OF the Com
solidation Coal Company and its sub
sidiary and afiiliated companies, at the
close of the year 1913, aggregated
more than $7S,0O0.000. The investment
II the Elk Horn Fuel Company. which,
ike the Northern Coal 4 Coke Com
Dany, is n holding and not an operat-
ng company, is about $50, 200, 600. OPP
rating n large part of the properties
II the Elk Horn Fuel Company is the
elk Horn Mining Corporation, with an
aggregate Investment at this time of
bout s7O00,0O0.
Closely allied to these giant corpora
ions are the Mineral Development
company and the Mineral Fuel Com |
any, but the half dozen companies |
Iere named, although by their size |
hey easily dominate the field, are in a |
Measure matched by a score or more |
( other companies engaged in like |
perations. and yet only fraction OF |
he coal territory has been covered.
One Evidence Of Faith.
As evidence of its faith in the early
nd lasting development of this sec
ion the Louisville & Nashville Rail-
Dad Company has expended on the ex-
ension OF the l.. 81 j.. more than sew
n million dollars. Kentuckians who
ave money TO invest should invest IL
here and banks and trust companies
{ Kentucky, with funds to lend on
lfe and legitimate securities, should
OF hesitate to make loans to reputable
nd responsible borrowers who are
laking investments in this part of the
.ate.
The advantage of such an excursion
) that we are describing, to those
aving. more or less frequent occasion
} visit Eastern Kentucky on business,
that IL affords an excellent oppor-
unity to make observations and to
Ike notes of the conditions and pros
sots of that region without having
eir vision unduly contracted, mar Y
wed or obscured by urgent and dis '
acting business engagements.
The writer himself has been going
to different parts of Eastern Ken
cky for fully twenty-five years past,
I'd during the past eight or ten years
IS visited this particular section with
easurable frequency, and yet he can
call no previous occasion when the
'portunity for so clear connected
ID comprehensive a reconnaissance of
is region was afforded to him. This
rs So Notwithstanding the fact that
Dm first to last, the entire trip might |