The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1947-09-18
New Strip Mining Field Due TO Open Up
In Renrock Community. Noble County

James Shriver of McConnelsville
believes that northern Manchester
township in Morgan county is on the
verge of a vast strip mining oper-
alton and he likens it to the activity
now moving ahead throughout every
sector of Noble county.
Over in Manchester, which ad-
joins Noble county, the question in
the minds of farm owners is
whether to sell their farms outright
or lease and sell on per ton royalty
basis. Offers by coal companies have
been approximately 500 per acre
or lease at 10 cents per ton royal
ty. Best coal veins will yield from
5000 to 1000 tons per acre, it is said.
Operators from Pennsylvania
seem astonished at the number of
farm owners in Manchester who
want to sell and vacate, while in the
eastern state the mineral is sold and
the land owner continues on the
farm.
Mr.. Shriver points out that coal
is the basic energy of industry and
therefore, vital to its existence. Coal
companies are being driven to strip
mining methods because of the ever
increasing demands for higher
wages by. union labor. Operators
say they can market as much coal
with rs men by the strip mine
method as 800 men will mine by the
deep shaft method.
Brookfield Township
A large strip mine is now in oper-
alton in Brookfield township about
two miles south of Cumberland. The
Ohio Power Co., owns and operates
this field with a deposit of an esti-
mated 1000, 900 tons of coal. Author
tiles say so years will be required
to mine out this project. A huge
power shovel moving 1898 yards
per minute is employed to strip the
dirt from the coal which is from
1000 feet in depth. $500 tons of
coal have been processed in five
hours.
Rumors are that a number of
smaller companies said to be sub
sidiaries of the Ohio Power, will
enter the scene of this vast coal
field.
Meigs Creek Vein
A study of the geological map
shows the location and quality of
the Meigs Creek vein This coal ex-
tends from near Cumberland, south
to the MuSkingum river through
Manchester, Bristol, Center and
Meigsville townships of this county.
In Noble county, Brookfield, Shar-
on and Jackson townships are under
laid. Two veins are found at a
greater depth but are not of inter
est at the present time. The Meigs
IL 1z 49,
mining and farms holding deposit
of this mineral are in the spotlight
The depth of this coal, the location
of the land in relation to possible
railroads, and the position of the
layer of lime stone over the coal,
are factors considered the same as
the quality of the coal. The quality
and thickness of the vein shows to
best in Manchester and Bristol
townships.
An ideal area for strip mine oper-
alton is the land extending from
Woodgrove to Renrock along the
east banks of Dyes Fork of Meigs
Creek. This location is near the
valley for a possible railroad, a four
feet, two inch vein of good quality
coal and not too deep for stripping.
Modern machinery can profitably
move so to 80 feet of dirt from three
to four feet of coal. Upwards to 10
feet of dirt can be stripped.
DIR. Rex Farm
In this proposed field, lies the DR..
Z. C. Rex farm of some 500 acres
with approximately $50 acres under
laid with coal. Many attempts have
been made to purchase or lease this
tract, we understand.
The 800 acre, Tilden farm at Rem
rock is one of the most desirable
prospects for strip mining in this
section. The Carl Rex. ]. Lynn Reed