USA > Pennsylvania > Clearfield County > History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 23
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The Moshannon Branch Railroad was commenced in 1864, and completed as far as Moshannon in 1866, with a branch up Coal Run to the old Decatur mine. In June. 1866, a mine on the lands of the Moshannon Coal Company, on the south side of the railroad, was opened by the land owners, the Mos- hannon Coal Company on the tract formerly known as the John Anderson, and called " Moshannon," J. H. H. Walters, superintendent. This mine ran until about 1880, when it was abandoned by its owners, a new one having been opened immediately opposite in 1876, and called " New Moshannon," and which is still in operation, though now leased to the Clearfield Consoli- dated Coal Company. Both of these mines were very successful ventures, and first brought to general notice the Clearfield coals.
The old Decatur colliery, of which mention has been made, was also opened in June, 1866, on the lands of the Decatur Coal Company, on the Coal Run Branch. The owner or operator was John Nuttal, who had previously
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operated the Powelton colliery. This mine ran for about two years, when it was abandoned, the pioneer coal operator having other works opened, and the rails on the branch were taken up in 1869, and the branch abandoned as they thought for all time. Little did they know at that time what wealth lay hidden in the hills surrounding them. The shipments for the year 1866 reached 107,878 tons.
In the fall of 1868 the Kittanning Coal Company, or rather the Beaver Branch Coal Company, which was an offshoot of the Moshannon Land and Lumber Company, opened the Beaverton colliery on their lands about a quar- ter of a mile above Moshannon. This became the largest colliery in the region at the time, though, in this day, it would not be counted very great. The colliery has been " worked out " for some time and is now abandoned. The region shipments for the year 1867 were 169,219, and for 1868 reached 171,- 238 tons.
During the summer of 1868 the Moshannon Branch Railroad was extended about two miles further west, and in the summer of 1869 the rails were laid upon the portion graded, and Sterling No. I commenced August II, 1869, to add to the production. This colliery was opened upon the lands of A. B. Long, formerly the Casper Haines tract, and in a very short time became the largest colliery in the region. This supremacy it retains to this time. The colliery was opened by the Sterling Coal Company ; John F. Blandy, agent ; George D. Wood was the superintendent. In 1870 the Stirling Coal Company sold half of their interest to the Powelton Coal and Iron Company, and in 1872 sold the remaining half to the same parties, who are still the owners. The present superintendent is James Campbell.
The Mapleton Branch was completed in 1869, and Mapleton colliery was opened during this year, on the lands of the Mapleton Land Company (for- merly the Hammerslag farm) and D. W. McCurdy. This mine had been pro- ducing coal for some time, as a "country " bank, the coal being sold to the farmers and others who lived around the opening. It is still " at work," hav- ing passed through the hands of Schofield & Weaver to White & Lingle; from them to Berwind, White & Company, and from them to the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company, the present operators.
The amount shipped from the region for the year 1869 was 259,994 tons.
During the following year, 1870, the Moshannon Branch Railroad was extended a quarter of a mile further, and the Eureka colliery opened and com- menced to ship coal March 14, 1870. This colliery was owned by White & Lingle, and was situated on the lands of Dr. Houtz, of Alexandria, Hunting- don county. The coal in this mine proved to be the purest of any that had been opened up to that time, and the mine itself was without a " fault " from the beginning to the end. In 1874 the mine passed into the hands of Berwind, White & Company, and from them to the Berwind-White Coal Mining Com-
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
pany. It shipped coal to November 18, 1886, when it was closed, except that the company is still mining a small amount and selling it to the citizens of the town of Houtzdale.
The name "Eureka " was registered as a trade-mark by the Berwind- White Company, and its name is significant of the purity of this company's production.
The Morrisdale Branch Railroad from Philipsburg was commenced in 1867, and graded towards Loch Lomond to accommodate the interests of the lum- bermen at that point.
At Hawk Run, about two miles from the town named, another branch northward was built, and the "New Decatur" colliery opened in July, 1868, by John Nuttal, George W. McGaffey, and others, under the name of the " Decatur Coal Company," Mr. Nuttal being the same person who successfully operated the Powelton and the Decatur collieries heretofore mentioned. Some time afterwards they moved further northward and opened another colliery, which they also named " Decatur," and which is still being operated ; George W. McGaffey, superintendent.
In 1869 this second branch railroad, mentioned as being opened at Hawk Run, was still further extended northward, and Wigton, Doris, Holt and others opened the first of the Morrisdale collieries. These mines were opened on the tract of land originally warranted to Robert Morris, and were named " Morrisdale " in honor of that distinguished Revolutionary patriot. The first change in the firm name was when Doris retired, and the firm was styled Wigton & Holt. Afterwards Mr. Holt retired, Mr. Wigton buying his interest, and he, associating his sons with him in the business, the firm became R. B. Wigton & Sons, the present name. This firm has been very successful, and now operate about six " Morrisdales " in and around the first opening, besides being the owner of the Fire Brick Works at Steiner Station, near Philipsburg. They opened a fire clay mine at the head of the Coal Run Railroad in 1883, and are now working it.
In the fall of 1870 the Kitanning Coal Company made a lease with the Moshannon Land and Lumber Company to mine the coal on the lands owned by the latter company in Woodward township, and proceeded to open the Franklin colliery, at the same time grading a branch from the end of the Moshannon Branch to their proposed site. "This branch was finished, and the colliery commenced to ship coal in the spring of 1871. The lands upon which the openings were made were owned by Dr. Houtz, who owned all the coun- try thereabouts, at that time, he having bought the Philip Loast, William John- son, Jacob R. Howell, and the George Beckham warrants, in 1852.
The Moshannon Land and Lumber Company were possessed of about 30,000 acres of land behind, or south of Dr. Houtz's lands, but they could not reach their property and ship without first going for some distance through
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REVIEW OF COAL INTERESTS.
the lands of Dr. Houtz, and a lease was made with that person accordingly. This colliery was worked until 1886 by the parties who opened it, but it was then transferred to the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company, who are still working it. The colliery has been, and is still a very large one, its daily out-put at this time averaging 1, 100 tons. John Lawshe was its first superinten- dent, then in succession Arthur McHugh, John Cameron, Mr. Ramsey, Alex- ander Thompson, E. A. Foster, and Alexander Cameron, the present superin . tendent.
In 1871 the Moshannon Branch Railroad was extended about half a mile further west, and J. A. Blattenberger & Company opened their Penn mine on the lands of Dr. Houtz. This mine adjoins on the west the Eureka No. I, and is situated with the Eureka, Franklin, Harrison, and Eureka No. 10 in the borough of Houtzdale. The Penn was never a very successful mine, the coal being thinned out in various places to about two feet in thickness, but what- ever the bed lacked in thickness it made up in purity. The Penn coals have a wide reputation, and the mine is still producing, though not more than about five cars per day. George Gould is the present superintendent, and the mine is owned and operated by Rickert Brothers & Co.
In 1872 J. P. Hale opened a colliery on the lands owned by himself, and known as the Reading lands, about one and one-half miles northeast of Osceola Mills. The coal was shipped over the Mapleton Branch. This mine was not a success, and in 1873 he opened another mine opposite, and called it " Read- ing." The Reading is still being operated by Henry Liveright, though not to any great extent. Its production will average one hundred and fifty tons per day.
In 1871 William Wallace, of Philadelphia, opened the "Logan " colliery, on lands owned by himself, on the Mapleton Branch. After successfully operating the mine for some time he sold all his right and title"to the " Logan Coal Company," J. M. Reed, president. They, in turn, sold or leased the property to John Whitehead & Co., who worked it for some years, after which they sold to Barnhurst, Good & Co., January 7, 1878. The latter, meeting with some difficulty, sold to H. J. Smith & Co., and they, January 1, 1883, sold to Henry Liveright & Co., who are still successfully working the colliery. The mine is now shipping about 8,000 tons per month, and its product is looked upon as of superior quality.
In 1873 Nuttal & Bacon opened a mine on the Mapleton Branch, which they called " Laurel Run." This mine was sold soon after 1880 to Josiah M. Bacon, who still works it. In 1882 "Laurel Run No. 2" was opened at the head of the Crowel Run Branch, or, as it is generally known, Mapleton No. 2 Branch. The No. I mine was on lands owned by Richard Hughes ; the No. 2 on lands formerly known as the " Shaw tract," but now owned by Mr. Bacon. Mine No. I has been driven through the hill, and is now connected with No. 2. 29
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Richard Langdon opened a mine on the Crane farm, about a mile below Osceola Mills, in 1873, which he named the "Langdon." This coal was taken over the creek by trestle, and by a tram-road to Dunbar Station, where it was loaded in cars on a siding from the main line of the Tyrone and Clearfield Railroad. This mine was not a success, and was therefore abandoned in 1874.
During the fall of 1873 and the spring of 1874, the Goss Run Branch Rail- road was built, extending from Goss Run Junction with the Moshannon Branch, four miles above Osceola Mills, to lands owned by Samuel Henderson, two miles ; and several very important collieries were opened, which materially increased the production.
The first mine to ship on this branch was the "Webster," or, as it was known at that time, "Skaith's." It was opened on lands of the late Dr. Houtz, by Schuykill county men-Samuel Parmley, Sheriff Matz, James Simons, Mr. Skaith, and others. They also opened a mine east of the Webster and oppo- site, across Goss Run, which they called "Diamond." These mines were opened for some time before the railroad reached them, as the Kittanning Company, who owned the land at the junction with the Moshannon Branch, refused to sell or permit the road to cross their lands for some time, and the patience of Messrs. Parmley, et als., was rapidly being exhausted, when ar- rangements were effected with the Kittanning Coal Company, whereby the road was graded a little way farther. Another obstacle presented itself; they ran against the lands of the Powelton Coal and Iron Company, and another negotiation had to take place. This resulting satisfactorily, the road was per- mitted to go on, and it was then finished. The Webster folks, though, had thought seriously of building a tram-road, about two miles long, to bring their coal to the Moshannon Branch, and then build their schutes a little above Stirling. This mine is still at work, the firm name being J. C. Scott & Sons. The " Diamond " mine is worked out and has been abandoned for about two years. The "Webster " was another of the very successful collieries, and handsomely paid its owners for their outlay in opening it. The coal from the "Diamond " mine was brought across the ravine on trestle-work and dumped from the same schutes as the "Webster," practically making one operation of the two openings. The present superintendent's name is Philip Hartman. He has been superintendent during the greatest part of the time the mine has been running.
The next colliery opened on the Goss Run sub-branch was the " Ocean," at the head of the branch. This colliery was situated on the lands of Samuel Henderson, and was opened by John Whitehead, of Huntingdon, an old " Broad Top" operator. He bought the farm of Henderson, and on the 23d day of November, 1874, shipped the first coal. This colliery, though not the largest, has shipped more coal in one day, and made the largest monthly ship- ment of any colliery in the region. In August, 1878, the mine worked twenty-
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seven days, and shipped 36,0912 tons, and mined 1,563 tons two hundred pounds in one day. In September, 1878, the mine shipped 26,280 tons four hundred pounds, and in July, 1879, in twenty-five days' work, they shipped 31,435 tons one hundred pounds.
The firm operating this mine was Harned, Ogle & Co., the "Co." being John Whitehead. Afterwards, Mr. Ogle dying, a Mr. Jacobs was admitted to the firm, which was styled Harned, Jacobs & Co. Subsequently this firm opened and operated several other collieries in the region, all of which will be noticed in their proper places. They remained in business until November 15, 1885, when they sold all their interests in the Clearfield and Snow Shoe regions to Berwind, White & Co., Mr. Whitehead, however, retaining his interest until January 1, 1887, when he sold out to the re- mainder of the firm; the firm name now being Berwind-White Coal Mining Company, who are still operating the colliery under review, and which still produces about 350 tons per day. The superintendent of this mine, from its commencement until the present time, is Hugh Roland.
The next to be opened on this branch was the "Excelsior," opposite the " Ocean," at the head of the branch. This mine made its first shipments in January, 1873, from the Jeffry tract, and was opened by Fisher, Miller & Co., of Huntingdon, Pa., their superintendent being Thomas Richards. This mine is still working, and producing quite a respectable amount of coal daily. The firm has been changed since its commencement by the death of one of the Fishers and the withdrawal of Mr. Miller. Mr. Richards is still the superin- tendent for the firm.
In the spring of 1875 the "Mears Bank " was opened on this branch by George Mears, of Broad Top, who, after working it for about a year, concluded there was no coal in the mine, and sold all his interest to Berwind, White & Co., who altered its name to " Goss Run," and proceeded to make a first class colliery of it. Instead of there being no coal in the mine, it proved to be over six feet thick in a number of places, and of the purest quality. The mine was situated on the land of David Blair, of Huntingdon, and was a little below the "Diamond" and opposite the " Webster." The superintendent is Peter Cam- eron, sr.
There was one other mine opened on this branch during 1875, about a half a mile above the junction, and was called "Stirling No. 2." It was opened by the Powelton Coal and Iron Company on lands of their own. This company it will be remembered was one of the objectors to the Goss Run Branch going forward, and when they asked for a switch to connect their siding with the branch it was refused them unless they paid their share towards the cost of the branch. This they refused in their turn, and the issue was joined. The coal company sought to put in their own "frog," and for that purpose shipped one by freight, but it was lost. They then hauled one over the mountain by wagon
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
to make sure that it would not get lost, but the railroad people found it very convenient to make a siding of the lower part of this branch during each night, consequently no " frog" could be laid. Matters rested thus for some weeks, when an amicable understanding was arrived at, and the siding connected with the branch, and Stirling No. 2 added its quota to the already long list of coal producing?collieries. The mine is still at work, though nearly exhausted.
The Moshannon Branch was extended during the year 1875 three miles, to enable D. K. Ramey, of Altoona, who owned the lands at the then terminus, to get his lumber to market. The extension of this branch also opened the way to a very extensive coal field, and in the fall of 1874 William Kendrick commenced to sink a shaft two miles from Houtzdale, on lands of Mr. Ramey, for the purpose of proving the " E Bed," which had dropped below water-level at that point. This shaft is seventy feet deep, and was the first in the region, if we except the Sackett shaft at Osceola Mills, sunk in 1866, to reach the "A Bed," 'but which was never worked. Mr. Kendrick, however, did not work this shaft to any great extent, but considering the cost of producing the coal too great for that time, he abandoned it, and going east for about three- fourths"of a mile nearer Houtzdale, he sank a slope and opened an extensive colliery. This slope he called " Beaver Run." It was situated on lands of the Madera Improvement Company. After working this colliery for some time he sold it to the Beaver Run Coal Company, who operated it for some time longer. They, in turn, leased it to Barnhurst, Good & Co., who failed, and the property reverted to the Beaver Run Coal Company. They sold the improvements to John Whitehead, who removed them. The coal remain- ing in the ground was leased to the Houtzdale Coal Company. In 1882 Mr. Whitehead commenced to pump out the Kendrick shaft, repaired it and com- menced to ship coal from it March 10, 1882. He called the colliery " Ocean No. 2." This mine was turned over to the Berwind-White Coal Mining Com- pany, along with the other mines of Mr. Whitehead, in 1885, and is now being operated by the latter company.
During 1876, '77, '78 and '79 there seemed to be a falling off in the open- ing of new collieries, but the spring of 1880 witnessed quite a revival in the business. It is true the production steadily increased during these years of seeming stagnation, but some mines that had been previously opened showed signs of exhaustion, and new fields were explored. The "Goss Run, No. 2," sub-branch, was built in the spring, commencing one mile above its junction, and Berwind, White & Co. opened a new colliery at its head, calling it " Eureka No. 2." This colliery was ready for work July 3, 1880, in fact, made its first shipment (one car) on that day. It is still working and good for 20,000 tons per month. It was situated on the Petrican & McNeil tract, form- erly warranted to Mathias Barton, two miles northwest of Houtzdale. This has also been a very successful venture. Its superintendent is Peter Cam- eron, jr.
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REVIEW OF COAL INTERESTS.
On the same day, viz., July 3, 1880, the new colliery, a mile and a half west of Houtzdale, opened by the Moshannon Coal Company, on the Mos- hannon Branch, also made its first shipment (one car). This mine was named " West Moshannon." There was quite a rivalry between the superintendent of the " Eureka No. 2," and the superintendent of the " West Moshannon," as to who should ship the first car to market. As stated before, both collieries shipped one car on the same day, and both were hauled to Osceola by the same engine, the Moshannon car ahead. At Osceola the first car down the branch became the hind car when placed on the parent road, and the coal from " Eureka No. 2 " was hauled over the mountain first.
The " West Moshannon " was opened on the Loraine tract, owned by Dr. Loraine, of Philipsburg. It was originally warranted in the name of Israel Wheeling, and adjoins lands of the Houtz estate on the east. P. B. Zent- meyer was and is the superintendent of the company. The coal in this mine has rarely decreased below six feet in thickness, while in places it is up to seven feet. This was the first mine in the region to employ " rope haulage," the tail rope system being in successful operation. The mine was worked by its owners up to January 1, 1887, when it was leased to the Clearfield Consoli- dated Coal Company, who are operating it at present. Its capacity is about 750 tons daily.
During the summer of 1880 John Whitehead commenced the Atlantic mine on lands of Wallace, Reading & Company, formerly a part of the estate of Samuel Hagerty. This mine was situated on the Moshannon Branch, two miles above Houtzdale, and nearly opposite the Kendrick shaft. The coal here rose up to about water level, or very near it, and the drainage of the mine was had through the shaft. The first shipment from this mine was made in January, 1881. This was another of the Harned, Jacobs & Company collieries, and passed with the rest to the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company, by whom it is now operated ; Robert Whitehead, superintendent.
During the fall of 1886 the company determined to place "rope haulage " in this mine, as the territory that could be reached by this opening was very extensive, and to that end they employed Mr. H. M. Morrison, of England, to place his system in the colliery. This system is the " cable," or endless rope haulage, and is now in successful operation, it being the first of its kind in the region. The opening for this mine is erroneously called a "slope," but it is not a slope in the general acceptation of the term, as nearly all of its coal is above water level, and a " slope," as generally understood, means an opening to bring coal or other substance to the surface, by means of an inclined plane, and from below water level.
In the spring of 1881 another sub-branch was built from the Goss Run Branch, commencing about a mile and a half above its junction, and about half a mile above the junction of the No. 2 Branch. This was called " Goss
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HISTORY OF CLEARFIELD COUNTY.
Run No. 3 Branch." It is about a mile in length, and was built to enable Harned, Jacobs & Company to open another colliery on the Hagerty estate, which they called "Pacific." This mine commenced to ship June 3, 1881, and its present daily production is about 1,200 tons ; David Allgood, superinten- dent.
On November 16, 1882, another colliery was opened by the same company at the head of this branch, and on the same estate, which they named " Pacific No. 2." This colliery has a capacity of 1,000 tons daily, and was transferred to the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company, with the other mines mentioned before. Edward Lloyd is superintendent of No. 2. This makes three large collieries mining coal from this estate, viz : " Atlantic " and " Pacific " Nos. I and 2. The company has also opened another mine on the western side of these lands, which they have named " Atlantic No. 2." This colliery com- menced shipping this present year. The mine is fitted with air compressor, hoisting engines, and other appliances to make it a first class colliery.
In the summer of 1881 Beadling Brothers effected a lease with Dr. Houtz's heirs, whereby they opened a colliery on a piece of land between Stirling and Franklin collieries, and called it " Harrison." Coal was shipped from this mine August 10, 1881. The mine is situated opposite Eureka No. I, and south of the railroad. The coal is carried over the Moshannon Branch and Beaver Run by means of a trestle, and is dumped from the schutes and shipped over the siding of the Eureka. After operating this mine for about a year, they sold to Lang & Company, who operated it until December, 1886, when they sold to the Elizabeth Coal Company, by whom it is now operated.
The year 1881 was productive of new collieries. On August 22 of that year the Empire Coal Co. commenced to ship from their colliery "Empire," situated on the Pardee Branch. This connected with the Morrisdale Branch at Hawk Run. The coal from this mine is now being shipped over the Beech Creek Railroad, the Pardee Branch becoming a part of the Philipsburg Branch of that road.
In September, 1881, the Spring Hill mine was opened by the Leonard Coal Co. on the Derby Branch. This company also own the "Leonard " on the same branch. The Leonard was opened some time before and was worked by John Ashcroft. The combined production of these collieries will average 500 tons daily.
Another mine was opened by R. H. Chipman & Co. during the year 1881, at Coal Run Junction with the Moshannon Branch, which was called " Coal- dale." The territory upon which this mine was operated was small and the coal was soon exhausted, consequently the mine is now abandoned.
At the head of the No. I Mapleton Branch in September, 1881, Mitchell & Keller commenced to ship from their Columbia mine. At the beginning this mine gave its proprietors much trouble, and local prophets predicted a
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REVIEW OF COAL INTERESTS.
failure. In December, 1881, Mitchell bought out Mr. Keller, and worked the mine alone. His faith in the property was justified in a short time, for the objections were overcome, and the Columbia is now a good producer. Its average capacity is 700 tons daily.
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