Fairmont Coal Mine History and Pictures
(Presented by Larry Brian Radka)
Fairmont coal and its history in the Marion County region of West Virginia was touched upon in a speech by West Virginia's Ex-Governor A. B. Fleming* to those attending the winter meeting of the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute, held at Fairmont, West Virginia, on December 4-6, 1911.
[An old photograph of Fairmont as it looked in 1911]
The address is recorded in The 1911 Proceedings of the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute, and Larry Brian Radka has taken the liberty of adding several annotated photographs to embellish the Govenor's firsthand recollection, which is quoted as follows:
A History of the Fairmont Coal Region
By Ex-Governor A. B. Fleming
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the West Virginia Mining Institute:
The worthy president of this association requested me to give you some information in reference to the development of the coal industry in the Upper Monongahela Valley, or that part thereof known as the “Fairmont Region.”
[A photograph of Fairmont, West Virginia and its old steel bridge crossing the Monongahela River there]
I suppose he gives me this subject because I am the oldest man now living here who is interested in that industry, and because my memory goes back to the arrival of the first train in Fairmont and the shipping of the first ton of coal over the Baltimore and Ohio railroad from this region.
The B. & O. railroad was completed from Baltimore as far west as Fairmont in the year 1852—railroads were then comparatively new to the whole country; the general idea for many years was that a railroad was to be managed solely for the benefit of its stockholders and that the people, even the patrons of the road, could have nothing to say as to its policies and management. For many years but little consideration was shown local shippers, or the communities through which the railroad ran. When quite young, I remember of hearing it said that it did not pay the railroad to bother with local freights, that stopping trains to put on or off freight and to put cars in and take them out of the sidings did not pay. Indeed, I head it said that Mr. Garrett gave this as a reason for not encouraging local business and the location of industries along the line of the road. This policy of the railroad together with other things and conditions, some of which will be hereafter referred to, retarded the growth and development of that part of our state. Under this blighting policy, it is not strange that the coal business in the Upper Monongahela Valley amounted to but little for many years. We were thus held back until the coal business in more favorable localities had grown to such proportions as to enable the operators in such fields not to “hold us down.”
Not only had railroad policies much to do with continuing this condition but the general prejudice, especially in the north and west, aided or rivals in keep us out of business. Even the matter of the creation of our state would be referred to; one great man called our state “a bastard born of a political rape.” For many years, it seems to have been considered by many that there was nothing good south of the “Mason and Dixon Line.” I am told that when at a later date the oil men traced the line of oil development from New York on through Pennsylvania they drilled all along the Pennsylvania side of the state line, not deeming it worth while to set a drill on the West Virginia side.
CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED
But conditions have changed—our state resources, development and progress have opened the eyes of the people to the our capabilities. It is no longer necessary for us to advertise that we have oil and gas, and coal that will indeed burn and make coke.
[These are coke ovens operating six miles south of Marion County's seat at Fairmont, W. Va. in 1911]
The policies of the railroads have changed—they are now looking more for local than through business; they encourage all kinds and especially the coal business along their lines. The B. & O. railroad changed its policy about the time of the election of Mr. Samuel Spencer, president, and Mr. William M. Clements, general manager, about which time the construction of the Fairmont, Morgantown and Pittsburgh Branch was commenced.
Samuel Spencer, President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1887-1888
Immediately, life was infused into the coal business—the first up-to-date coal and coke plant in the Upper Valley was constructed at Montana under the superintendency of Mr. J. E. Watson. The construction of others followed as will be seen hereafter.
[These are the Monongah No. 8 Mine coke ovens seven miles south of Fairmont, also operating in 1911]
Prior to this change of policy on the part of the railroad, every, or almost every coal operator and coal company in Marion county except one failed, or was driven out of business for lack of profits. Since these changed conditions, I am not aware of any operator or coal company failing.
At this point, I desire to remind my hearers that we must not be too severe in our criticisms of the management of the B. & O. railroad. During the early period of its history, the building and operation of railroads were in the experimental stage. Railroad regulations had scarcely been though of or attempted; this road was the pioneer, it was the first to pierce the Alleghenies, or perhaps any other mountain; its engineering and building was a wonderful feat. It has done wonders for our state. If such crusades against railroads as we now have, had not been then started, when would we have seen another railroad built? Would we now have our three trunk lines across the state from east to west?
To understand the “downs” and then the “ups” of the coal business in this valley, I think it necessary to make the foregoing explanations, which I regard as germane to the subject.
[Above is J. O. Watson's coal mine once operating within the city limits of Fairmont, West Virginia]
Very soon after the B. & O. railroad was constructed to Fairmont and in the year 1852 or 1853, Mr. James O. Watson, now deceased (whom I will call Mr. Watson in any further reference to him) opened the first commercial coal mine in this country, on ten acres of land owned and occupied by Governor Pierpoint, now deceased, lying adjacent to the town of Fairmont and bounded on the west by what is now Quincy street.
But a few thousand tons of coal were mined each year and was used principally for making illuminating gas. Very little if any of this coal was shipped west of the Ohio river. The business was carried on in the firm name of Pierpoint and Watson. The adjoining coal under the Elmus Hamilton and N. T. Barnes farms was subsequently acquired.
For the purpose of drainage, a tunnel was driven in the coal vein above High street around the north side of the town, emptying the water from the mine through the same into Coal Run below the stone viaduct. From this ten acres and the Hamilton coal, coal was mined until the partnership was dissolved n the year 1874. The unmined coal was sold to the West Fairmont Coal & Coke Company, hereinafter referred to.
[Palatine Coal Company mined east of the Monongahela River in Fairmont, lower half of this old map]
One of the earliest mines opened was by the O’Donnells of Baltimore at the east end of the B. & O. railroad bridge, about a mile above Fairmont. It was one of the mines of the Newburgh-Oral Coal Company. This company mined coal under Palatine Knob and the lands beyond—the principal part of the coal was sold to the railroad for fuel; a part went to the gas works in Baltimore. This property was afterwards acquired by the Palatine Coal Company. Some years ago, a fire was started in this mine, perhaps by boys or loiterers, which the owner, The Palatine Coal Company, did not succeed in extinguishing, so the company sold its surface, including Palatine Knob and its unmined coal to the Fairmont Coal Company, which company extinguished the fire.
[Photo of one of Fairmont Coal Company's operations, from a coal sales brochure published in 1903]
This coal being adjacent to the town is not now being mined and is being held for fuel use in the town and nearby manufacturing plants when the supply of natural gas shall have been exhausted.
AMERICAN
As I now recall, the American Gas Coal Company was formed in 1863 and purchased several hundred acres of coal lying between Fairmont and the bridge referred to and extending from the B. & O. railroad beyond the Farmington turnpike. The majority of the stock of this company was held in Baltimore, and with James Boyce as its president, bid fair to be a success. It started off with a flourish of trumpets, but considering the adverse conditions above referred to, and that it was “flying too high,” it closed its mine in order to prevent further loss.
At a meeting of the board of directors in Baltimore, called for the purpose of considering the closing of the plant, Mr. Watson, one of the directors, was present. One of the other directors said: “Mr. Watson, it is plain that this company is losing money; other coal companies in this region have lost money and their plants have been closed. How is it that you, during these years, have been able to stand on your feet and seem to have made something? Will you enlighten us?”
[James Otis Watson (1815-1902) the Father of West Virginia's coal industry]
Mr. Watson replied: “You have an expensive office rented, a high salaried president and other attaches here in Baltimore; out at the mines at Fairmont you have an office rented, you have a superintendent, bookkeepers, clerks, an office boy, and a boss mule driver, all of whom have to be paid. I am my own president, superintendent, clerk, office boy and a boss mule driver, and carry my office in my hat.”
The board, concluding it could not compete with such economy, ordered the mine closed, and it remained so. Some years after, the mine and property of this company was sold at public auction at the Exchange in Baltimore. The coal field afterward became the property of the Gaston Gas Coal Company; still later of the Fairmont Coal Company.
ATTRILL
In 1868, Mr. H. Y. Attrill, of Baltimore, purchased from the Messrs. Barnes and others quite an acreage of coal on the west side of Buffalo creek near its mouth; opened a mine and built a few coke ovens. The coke ovens were not a success, and their fallen walls remain as a reminder of the failure of Marion county’s first coke enterprise.
Mr. Attrill sold to the West Fairmont & Marion Coal & Coke Company (please do not confound with the West Fairmont Coal & Coke Company, which lacks the word Marion).
The company to which he sold acquired additional acreage and made another opening on the opposite, or east side of the creek and mined out as much coal as could be mined with natural drainage, when the company abandoned these opening and coke ovens and sunk a shaft 100 feet some distance up the creek, about a mile west of Fairmont. To meet its losses, pay for sinking the shaft, constructing a new tipple and other improvements, additional coal purchased near the shaft, the company issued and sold its corporate bonds secured by a mortgage on its plant and property. This plant, which is yet known as the “Shaft Mine,” was worked for some time and until, perhaps two or three acres of coal had been taken out, was finally abandoned by the West Fairmont & Marion Company and allowed to fill with water.
The owners of the stock, although wealthy New Yorkers, became thoroughly discouraged and allowed the mortgaged property to be sold under the mortgage at public sale in front of the court house in Fairmont.
[This is an Ebay acquistion dated 1910 with the Fairmont Courthouse on the right of the trolley tracks]
Mr. J. E. Watson [a son of J. O. Watson] bid the same in and formed a new corporation, called the West Fairmont Coal & Coke Company, of which he was the largest stockholder.
This new company pumped out the water, made additional improvements, increased the acreage, and operated the plant until sold to the Fairmont Coal Company in 1901.
The same Mr. Attrill about the same time disposed of his plants and property near the mouth of Buffalo creek and about the year 1883, purchased several hundred aces of coal under the lands of John Hunsaker, Thomas Rhea, and others, lying in the forks of the West Fork and Valley rivers. He allowed this property to lie idle for some years, when he organized a corporation called, “The New England, Fairmont & Western Gas Coal Company of Baltimore City,” and opened a mine thereon on the east side of the West Fork river about two miles from Fairmont, and build a standard size road connecting his mine with the B. & O. railroad.
Mr. Attrill was an overbearing man. What he could not acquire by consent or a contract to suit him, he, in one instance, at least, endeavored to take by force. He did not have too much regard for the law or courts, or have an exalted opinion of West Virginia’s backwoods operators. It would be too long a story to give more than one instance of his practices.
One Saturday night, after dark, with lanterns and lights on poles and hung on the trees, he commenced, with 60 or 80 laborers to dig down a part of the Gaston Company’s railroad and throw it into the river, because he could not acquire its use upon his own terms and because it was in the way of his building his said new railroad. A warrant was procured for him; his bosses, and his laborers and placed in the hands of the sheriff, who summoned to his aid the miners living at the Gaston Mine. The sheriff with 50 or 60 of these loyal miners from Gaston arrested his bosses and laborers. Mr. Attrill could not be found. It is said he hid in a neighboring house. He was not therefore arrested. Those arrested were kept under guard until Sunday morning, when they were released on bail. This prevented permanent injury, and on Monday morning an injunction was served on Mr. Attrill and others. The plant has always been known as the New England mine.
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{The old New England mine in Fairmont, West Virginia]
Mr. Attrill closed this mine and pocketed his loss, because he could not dictate to the B. & O. railroad and procure freight rates to suit him. The plant remained idle until 1894, when it was purchased by the West Fairmont Coal & Coke Company for the sum of $60,000.
[The power house for the old New England mine, owned by Watson and others]
GASTON
In order to preserve the thread of my narrative, I have sometimes traced the history of old companies through re-organizations or into new companies and have passed the time of the formation of other companies.
The co-partnership composed of James Boyce, James O. Watson, and A. B. Fleming was formed in 1874, which purchased 1,000 acres of coal and opened a mine on the west side o the West Fork river, about two miles above Fairmont, and constructed a standard gauge railroad, which was afterwards sold to the Monongahela River Railroad Company, and forms the eastern terminus of that road.
In 1874, and for some years thereafter, the coal business was at its worst. I remember that Mr. Watson sent me west to try and induce gas companies in western cities to take at least enough of our coal, at their own price, with which to make a test, hoping thus to introduce our product. I went to the gas works of almost every city on the lakes and lying on the railroads between the Ohio river and Chicago and only induced one gas company to take a half dozen cars of our coal, the same to be paid for after they had used it at such price as they were willing to pay.
[Old carbon arc lamps on the street to the Flatiron building in New York]
Soon after this, I went with Mr. Watson to the gas works in Baltimore in an effort to sell them a part of their supply. We failed to secure an order, and as we walked back to our hotel I looked up a the brilliant electric street lights, the first I had ever seen, and said, “I believe this kind of light will drive us out of business.”
[A maximized demo of a dazzling carbon arc light by Larry Brian Radka]
Mr. Watson replied, “You are too easily discouraged, we will sell at least 10,000 tons this year,” and further remarked, “the people will go blind if they use these dazzling lights very long.”
[Old Ebay-purchased postcards illustrating carbon arc lights popular in the 19th and 20th centuries**]
These were discouraging times. Our coal was only shipped to the cities for the making of gas, and we were having to compete with what was called water gas and electricity.
In the spring of 1880, an explosion of fire damp occurred in the Gaston mine, killing two miners and injuring John Burns, a mule driver. The explosion was caused by carelessness of the miners, who lost their lives. Burns sued for damages. The jury gave him $2,000 dollars. The case was appealed and reversed, see 27th W. Va. page 285. I refer to this explosion as one which may be of interest to you, because it was said to be the first in the state, and because this was, perhaps, the first suit ever brought in any country for damages growing out of an explosion of gas in a mine. The judge, rendering the opinion of the court, on page 303, used this language: “* * * And there is no other case in the books so far as my research extends like this * * *.” Counsel for the appellant made diligent search and was unable to find a report of a similar case.
Not long after this accident, the partners formed a corporation bearing the same name, “The Gaston Gas Coal Co.” The company, in the year 1886, acquired the coal belonging to the American Gas Coal Company above referred to. This parcel of coal extends down to the present western corporate limits of the City of Fairmont. The mine is the oldest in this county now being worked. Several tipples have been worn out. It has been operated continuously since 1874. It was in this plant and at this mine that the several sons of Mr. Watson gained their first knowledge of and experience in the coal business. This property later passed to the Fairmont Coal Company
HITES
Mr. P. Y. Hite in 1865 purchased about 600 acres of coal on the west side of Valley river, but did not open the same until about 1891, when, with his three sons, organized the Virginia & Pittsburgh Coal & Coke Company, which opened a mine thereon at Kingmont, added to their plant over 500 acres of coal, built an iron bridge across the Valley river over which the coal is taken to coke ovens and the B. & O. railroad. This company recently acquired a coal property on the west side of the Monongahela river below Rivesville, and opened a mine thereon at Morgan. Mr. P. Y. Hite recently died; his sons, Rolph, Sam, and John are successful operators and are in charge as heretofore. They have mines in Preston county.
Oliver Jackson and A. N. Prichard each opened a mine some years ago on a few acres of coal they owned individually. Mr. Jackson below Fairmont and worked out a part of the coal under what is known as the Jackson Addition.
Capt. Prichard’s mine was on the M. R. R. R. between Monongahela and Bryan. These mines sold coal principally to consumers along the railroad for fuel purposes.
I have already referred to the B. & O. railroad having adopted a more liberal policy toward shippers and toward the coal business especially, which caused Mr. J. E. Watson and his associated to organize the Montana Coal & Coke Company, which purchased a block of coal on the F. M. & P. R. R. This company constructed the first up-to-date plant, and built the first successful coke plant in the region.
The coal and coke from this mine attracted much attention and was examined by Senator J. N. Camden and his associates, the Clarks and Coltons, of Philadelphia, who came here from Parkersburg for that purpose.
[A photograph of J. O. Watson's old coal operation at Gypsy, West Virginia]
This visit led to Senator Camden’s acquiring in 1888 and 1889 bodies of coal on both sides of the West Fork river from J. O. Watson and others at Monongah, and J. E. Watson at Gypsy, and the taking over of options on several thousand acres of caol held by J. E. Sands, A. N. Prichard, Wm. Hood, and A. B. Fleming.
[An early coal mine operation along the West Fork River in Monongah, Booth's creek enters on the right]
The title to these early purchases of coal was acquired at from $15 to $30 per acre. The title to his property was in 1891 vested in the Monongah Coal & Coke Company.
[An old photograph of a steamboat on the Monongahela River at Fairmont, West Virginia}
Senator Camden and his associated, having acquired many thousands of acres of coal, built the Monongahela river railroad from Fairmont to Clarksburg, 33 miles in length, in 1890 and 1891.
[Monongahahela River Roadroad owned this railway long before the B & O, tracks here were removed]
The Monongah Coal & Coke Company opened several mines at Monongah and after operating the same until 1895, conveyed the mines and coal property in Marion and Harrison counties to the said Monongahela River Railroad Company.
THE MONONGAH COMPANY
The Monongahela River Railroad Co. in 1899 sold its mines and undeveloped coal to the Monongah Co.
[The Fairmont Coal Company opened the No. 8 mine, which, with the No. 6, blew up on Dec. 6, 1907]
This company leased the mines and coal so acquired to the Fairmont Coal Company in 1901.
[Fairmont Coal Co.'s Monongah trestle crossing west over the West Fork River to No. 6 mine in 1907]
BRIAR HILL
Senator C. W. Watson and his associates organized the Briar Hill Coal & Coke Co. and opened 11 mines in the counties of Harrison, Marion, and Monongalia, which were sold to the Fairmont Coal Company.
J. H. Wheelwright, A. J. Ruckman, and others organized the Highland Coal & Coke Company and opened a mine at Highland,*** which was operated profitably until they sold to the Fairmont Coal Company.
M. L. and C. E. Hutchinson and their associates organized a company called the Luther Coal & Coke Company, and opened a mine at Murray, on the F. M. & P. R. R. and another called the Worthington Coal & Coke Company, at Hutchinson, on the M. R. R., in Marion county, and several plants in Harrison county.
These plants were successfully operated until they sold them to the Fairmont Coal Company.
J. A. Clark and his associates organized the Clark Coal & Coke Company and opened a mine at Anderson. The J. A. Clark Coal & Coke Company opened a mine at Chiefton, on the M. R. R. R. in Marion County, and several plants in Harrison county, which were successfully operated by said companies until acquired by the Fairmont Coal Company.
The Messrs. Hutchinsons and Clarks were and are successful coal men. After disposing of their several mines in Marion and Harrison counties, they acquired other coal lands in Harrison county, opened mines thereon, and are now engaged in the coal mine business there. While their plants are in Harrison county, they reside and have their offices in Fairmont, and we are pleased to call them Fairmont operators.
Harry B. Clark and his associated organized a company called the Harry B. Clark Coal Company and opened a plant on the Killarm branch of the M. R. R. R., and are successfully operating the same.
The Fairmont Coal Company acquired a lease from C. L. Shaver, opened a mine thereon, and are loading coal there from at Monongah. This lease is now being operated by the Consolidation Coal Company. The Fairmont Coal Company acquired the assignment of leases covering the coal under the Bryan farm at Bryan.
JAMISON COAL & COKE COMPANY
The Georges Creek Coal & Coke Company in 1899 purchased about 7,500 acres of coal near Farmington, in Marion county, opened a shaft mine near that town, now called Underwood, and in 1910 sold to the Jamison Coal & Coke Company, which company had acquired some 8,000 acres of coal adjoining, near Barracksville, and constructed a fine plant thereon; also opened a second mine on the property purchased from the Georges Creek Company, about a mile from the B. & O.
[A more recent version of a fine Jamison coal mine operation near Fairmont, West Virginia]
These plants are first class. The owners of this company are Pennsylvanians. Mr. Morris W. Head, of Fairmont, is general superintendent.
THE FOUR STATES COAL COMPANY
The Four States Coal Company. This company is owned by persons residing in Pittsburgh, who purchased about 6,000 acres of coal on Treverbaugh creek, which empties into the West Fork river, a short distance above Worthington, in Marion county. A branch of the M. R. R. R. was constructed by that road a distance of about three miles to the plant, which is a very modern one. Mr. E. F. Miller is the superintendent.
NEW CENTRAL
The New Central Coal Company operates two mines in Maryland and one on Pawpaw creek, in Marion county. Its mine in Marion country was opened in 1901 on 1,405 acres of coal. This is a first class plant. Mr. Duncan Sinclair, of Fairmont, is general superintendent.
FEDERAL
The Federal Coal Company some years ago purchased a body of several hundred acres of coal on Pawpaw creek, and opened a mine thereon. This company is controlled by Boston men.
THE CONSOLIDATION COAL COMPANY
I believe my subject was intended to embrace the coal business and something of the mines in Marion, Harrison, Lewis, and Monongalia counties, as they are within the upper Monongahela or Fairmont-Clarksburg district.
I cannot give a history of the coal business and plants in Harrison, Lewis, Monongalia counties for lack of sufficient information and for want of time.
I will, however, as a matter of information, say that there are in Marion county 30 mines now in operation; of these 15 are being operated by the Consolidation Coal Company, viz:
Murray, Montana, Shaft, New England, Shaver, Gaston, Monongah No. 2, Monongah No. 3, Monongah No. 6, Monongah No. 8, Highland, Middleton, Chiefton [***], Hutchinson No. 1, Hutchinson No. 2.
[One of Consolidation Coal Company's mining operations, note the carbon arc light hanging on the pole]
And by sixteen other companies, viz:
Virginia & Pittsburgh Coal & Coke Co. 2 mines
Jamison Coal & Coke Company, 3 mines
New England Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
Harry b. Coal Company, 1 mine
Four States Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
Hoult Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
Parker Run Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
Dakota Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
Killarm Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
Pittsburgh Steam Coal Company, 1 mine
Catawba Coal Company, 1 mine
Pennois, 1 mine
Anderson, 1 mine
There are in Monongalia county 10 mines now being worked. By the Consolidation Coal Company, 1, viz., Beechwood mine; by other companies, 9 viz:
Elkins Coal & Coke Company—Richard No. 1, Sabraton.
Opekiska Coal & Coke Company—Opekiska
Connellsville Basin Coke Company—Rock Forge, Nos. 1, 2, and 3
Great Scott Coal & Coke Company—Great Scott
Antler Coal Company—Round Bottom
[An old photograph of Consolidation Coal Company's coal mine operation at Enterprise, West Virginia]
There are 58 mines in Harrison county; of these 27 are being operated by The Consolidation Coal Company, viz: Enterprise, Viropa, Riverdale, Ehlen, Solon, Robinson Run, Owings, Gypsy, Meadowbrook, Globe, Dunham, Fall Run, O’Neill, Reynoldsville, Pinnickinnick, Despard, Columbia, Ocean, Lynch, Two Lick, West Fork, Interstate No. 1, Interstate No. 2, Perry Coaling Station, Pooz, Lucas [only 26 listed], and by other companies, 31, viz:
Marion Gas Coal Company, 1 mine
Hutchinson Coal Company, 3 mines
Maderia-Hill-Clark Coal Company, 4 mines
Pitcairn Coal Company, operated by Harry B. Coal Company, 1 mine
Cook & Hart Coal Company, 1 mine
Summit Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
O’Gara Coal Mining Company, 1 mine
Fairmont & Baltimore Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
Marshall Coal Company, 1 mine
Rosebud Fuel Company, 2 mines
National Coal Company, 1 mine
Short Line Coal Company, 2 mines
Corona Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
Jane Lew Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
Virginia, Maryland Coal Corporation, 1 mine
Hero Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
Blue Ridge Coal Company, 1 mine
Fayette Coal Company, 1 mine
Lamberts Run Coal Company, 1 mine
Harrison County Coal Company, 1 mine
Central Fairmont Coal Company, 1 mine
Vincent Coal & Coke Company, 1 mine
Washington Fuel Company, 1 mine
Haywood Coal Mining Company, 1 mine
The following companies operating mines outside of Marion county have offices in Fairmont, viz:
Antler Coal Company, Monongalia county
Lowe Coal Company, Monongalia county
Hutchinson Coal Company, Harrison county
Maderia-Hill-Clark Coal Company, Harrison county
Rosebud Fuel Company, Harrison county
Red Rock Fuel Company, Upshur county
Potomac Valley Coal Company, Mineral county
Ferndale Coal Company, McDowell county
Manitoba Coal Company, McDowell county
There is a general impression among the people that the coal business in this region has been very profitable and that the coal men have made “big money.” I desire to call attention to the fact that no large amount of money has been made by operating coal mines. The dividends declared are insignificant compared to the profits realized by the speculators in coal lands, many of whom never mined a ton of coal in this valley. Many of these speculators, ten to twenty years ago, purchased coal at from $10.00 to $30.00 per acre, now worth and which has since been sold for several hundred per cent. advance. It has only been a few years since coal under water level and which could not be worked by drift, was considered of any value or gave any value to the land containing it. Thousands of acres of coal above water level in the four counties named were purchased only twenty to twenty-five years ago for that many dollars per acre, while coal under water level as late as ten to twelve years ago, sold for that many dollars per acre.
In conclusion, I will say that the coal people may congratulate themselves upon the present favorable condition of the coal business, notwithstanding the over-production of soft coal, the low prices, and the unfair treatment by some of the operators in Pennsylvania, especially in their past and present efforts to get the advantage of us in freight rates.
We owe much to the present management of the B. & O. railroad, which is rapidly improving transportation facilities, and under the intelligent direction and liberal policy of President Willard and his associates, we may expect to hear no more complaints such as the operators have been ringing into the ears of the B. & O. officials.
In this connection, I would like also to pay a deserved compliment to the State Mining Department, Chief Laing and his deputies. They have done and are doing much to improve conditions and make the mines in this state safer than formerly.
I embrace this opportunity to say that we have a good mining law, plainly written and easily understood. It might be improved by a few amendments, but, executed as it is by the Mining Department, and assisted by the most of the operators, who are doing all they can to improve conditions, explosions and accidents, both fatal and non fatal, have materially decreased in number, and will continue to decrease.
[A U. S. Bureau of Mines photograph showing a rescue party entering a mine after an explosion]
Congress acted wisely I creating the Bureau of Mines, which is doing a great work. This bureau has done much, especially in an educational way. Its usefulness will increase with time.
ILLUSTRATED NOTES
*Aretas Brooks Fleming was born in Harrison County, Virginia (now West Virginia) on October 15, 1839. He was Governor of West Virginia from 1890 to 1893 and died in Fairmont, Marion County, W.Va. on October 13, 1923. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery at Fairmont, W.Va.
**The Electric Mirror expounds much more on carbon arc lights.
***This colored picture of Anderson Bend of the West Fork River surrounding Middleton, across from Highland and Chiefton, all lying between Worthington and Shinnston, a few miles south of Monongah, West Virginia, is courtesy of Dave Sloan.
An old photograph of the Fairmont Coal Company Store at Shinnston, West Virginia
He gave it to Jim Davis in November of 2008, who passed it on to me in December to find a home for this rare view on one of my coal-mining pages. Jim tells me that according to Harry McIntire, an old Monongah High School classmate of mine, the river still looks the same today.
Fairmont Coal Company's old Chiefton coal-mine operation on the West Fork River
He added in a recent letter to me that on the left is pictured Chiefton, in the middle is Middleton, and on the right we see Highland, and that the B & O Railroad Company had a “turn-around” for their steam locomotives at Chiefton.
An old colored postcard picture of the West Fork River passing through Monongah, W. Va.
In 1903, the Fairmont Coal Company merged its Chiefton, Middleton, Highland, Monongah No. 2, Monongah No. 3, Monongah No. 6, and Monongah No. 8 operations as well as many more of its mines with the Consolidation Coal Company headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.
The worst industrial accident in United States history occurred in the Monongah No. 6 and No. 8 Coal Mines when they blew up on December 6, 1907.
The death toll was in the hundreds.
Records of the number of workers in the mines at the time were lacking, so no precise count of the Monongah coal miners (estimated at over 500) who passed on in that disaster will ever be known.
One of several Monongah coal-miner memorials in the cemetery on Tower Hill
The catastrophe brought about some mine safety reform, but it did not prevent another terrible West Virginia coal-mining tragedy—the explosion that killed 78 miners at Consolidation Coal Company's Farmington No. 9 Mine, not five miles from Monongah.
On the 20th of November 1968, the futures of many more of West Virginia's finest went up in smoke, another great tragedy in the Fairmont Coal Mine Region's history.
This page was last modified on Thursday, August 19, 2010