The Detroit times., 1915-02-02
COAL MOUNTAIN
TREATED LIKE
FEVER PATIENT
Its Temperature Taken Every
Two Hours Because of Fire
Danger
ELABORATE PRECAUTIONS
ARE TAKEN AT THE MINES
Took Virginian Railway Seven
Months To Accumulate Huge
Fuel Pile

NORFOLK, Va, Feb. 2.-Europe
Is getting Its coal supply these DAYS
from the mines OF West Virginia. The
coal is shipped to italy, France, Eng
land and other countries through the
port OF Norfolk.
During the year OF 1914 there was
shipped from this port l2,O5O,ooV
tons, the biggest year in coal ship
ments In the history of this port. Inc
Norfolk 4 Western railroad hauled
to its piers at Lamoert's Point $685.
793 tons curing the year: the Chesa-
peake & Ohio 3,22l,732 tons at It's
piers. and the Virginia railway deiiv'
cred 2.S30,305. tons at its Sewali POINT
piers.
But all OF the coal shipped from
this port did not reach It's destination.
Many Of the ships were sunk by Ger
man warships. Among them were the
British steamers Strathroy and In
drani, by the German cruiser Karls'
ruhe. The British steamer Charcas
was sunk by the converted cruiser
Prinz Eitel Frederick. With the de
struction OF the German feet In the
South Atlantic shipping men believe
that the shipments from this port Will
steadily increase.
South American cities heretofore
have been unable to secure coal De
cause British ships feared to pro
coed In that direction on account oil
the German feet that menaced that
coast. Since the destruction OF the
German fleet a number of vessels
have been chartered to carry coal to
4 "A ID Nnrto IfQlIaD
government also has contracts with
the railroad for coal supply.
During August, the first month OF
the war, 1,10S,S4S tons OF coal was
shipped to foreign ports. in Septem'
Der the record was 1.272,772 tons
The demand Is still large, and the
railroads are obliged to exert them
selves to the limit to get the coal
here In quantities to meet demands.
The largest coal trains In the world
now pass through Norfolk. 1t Is Q
daily occurrence to see a train OF 13C
cars, pulled by four locomotives, pass
through the outskirts Of this city en-
route to the coal piers at Lambert's
Point and Sewell's Point. The Vir
ginia railway has been operating spe
cial trains, and IL has dumped 100000
tons in its yard at Sewell Point. II II
spoken OF as the BLACK diamond
mountain" by thousands Of visitors
who have seen II. IL is guarded ~
carefully as Uncle Sam guards hii
naval stations. u
Every precaution Is taken to pre-
vent any one from tampering with OF
stealing 1t or throwing q match near
It. Like patient with fever, the
temperature OF this huge mountain Ia
taken every two hours. A mammoth
steel rod with q tiny strip OF thick
glass through which the mercury
runs, is showed down into the coal
mountain to remain Ave, 10, 10 min
utes II the temperature il above q
certain degree the work Of cooling
the coal Is begun Immediately. The
danger Is spontaneous combustion. A
number Of watchmen are employed
and steam derricks are used to move
portions Of the pile as may be neces
sary to keep the temperature at q
point Of safety.
This mountain OF coal Is said to be
the property Of w. p. Tams OF West
Virginia. 1t took the Virginian rail
way seven months to accumulate II.