USA > Pennsylvania > Schuylkill County > Frackville > History of Frackville, Schuylkill County, Pa. > Part 2
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RAILROADS
and Reading and the Pennsylvania Railroad Companies, all the way from Philadelphia up each striving to get into the coal fields first. On February 9th, 1886, the Philadelphia and Read- ing Company sent a small squad of men here to begin the work of' grading, and on the night of the 10th, knowing that the
" Mahanoy Plane "
Pennsylvania Company would attempt to interfere with them, they already began laying the ties and spiking down the rails. About ten or eleven o'clock that night the Pennsylvania Com- pany rushed a squad of their men in who, after a spirited tus- sle, picked up the whole business, men, rails, ties and all, and
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RAILROADS
dumped them down the mountain-side. During this bitterly-fought battle there was considerable shooting done, but no one was killed. The Pennsylvania Company then erected a temporary building on the spot, in which they kept a number of police for a time, after which they completed the road through to Shen- andoah. In the meantime, however, the building at the plane was completed, and operations were again started in September, 1886. It was then that these two companies decided to work together, at least to the extent as to allow the Pennsylvania Company to run its trains over the Philadelphia and Reading road from Wetherill Junction to the "Loop", north of Frack- ville. The Lehigh Valley Company having in the meantime leased the right of way on this road, ran the first passenger train over the route on Monday, November 22nd, 1886. From this time on the citizens of this community enjoyed the accom- modations of three roads,-the Pennsylvania, and Lehigh Val- ley through, and the Philadelphia and Reading to this point. Finally the Philadelphia and Reading Company realized that they could only compete with the Pennsylvania road by con- necting their southern trade with the north. They, therefore, entered into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Company to run over their "Loop," into Mahanoy Valley, and there connect with their own road and thus open up to them a northern out- let.
This road, from its southern to its northern limit, winding through canyon and rugged cliff, and ascending in several points at a grade of one hundred and seventy-five feet to the mile, with a series of short curves, required the most skillful engineering. During the construction those were not wanting who looked upon this enterprise as a hopeless undertaking. There were, indeed, not a few who predicted that not even an empty engine would be able to make its way up the steep ascent. But the sequel of about twenty years of successful operation has proven both the wisdom and skill of its projectors.
CHAPTER IV.
COAL MINING INDUSTRY.
The origin and subsequent growth of a town is almost uni- versally the result of some industry which centers in that par-
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COAL MINING INDSTRY
ticular locality. Frackville being no exception to this rule must, therefore, be the result of some enterprise, which caused the early settlers, in such goodly and ever increasing numbers to locate on this particular spot. We find this particular enter- prise to be the Anthracite Coal industry. And it is this indus- try alone that is responsible for the existence of Frackville to- day. But as Anthracite coal sustains such a peculiarly import- ant relation to the comfort and happiness of the human race, it will be of interest to go beyond the simple production of this material, as an industry, and briefly touch upon the remark- able discovery, and wonderful development of this useful pro- duct.
The presence of Anthracite coal within the region now in- cluded in the southern and middle coal fields must have been known as early as 1770. As Scull in his map, published during that year, indicates several localities, especially along the head waters of the Schuylkill, as being the depositories of the "Black Diamond." But the first discovery of Anthracite coal in Schuylkill County, of which we have any record, was acci- dentally made by Nicho Allen in 1790. This man, having come into this community, as a lumberman, from one of the New England States, and living with his wife in a little cabin on Broad Mountain, led somewhat of a vagrant life. One night during this year while out on a hunting tour, he kindled a fire amid a mass of rocks, and then laid down beneath the over- hanging branches of several trees to sleep. Some time during the night he was aroused from his slumbers by an intense heat at his feet. Then it was that he observed a glowing fire, as though the rocks themselves were melting away in a white heat. This proved to be the outcrop of a coal vein, which Al- len had accidentally ignited. Having from this time forth, for a number of years, advocated the value of anthracite coal, with- out receiving the consideration due him for the important ser- vice he rendered, not only this community, but the world, he finally left the region in disgust for his native home in New England. Although this was the first signal of the beginning of an industry which would not only develop wonderful pro- portions, but carry untold comforts and blessings to the world's millions still unborn, yet it was not without great difficulty that anthracite coal was inroduced into general use. It was in the year 1795 that it was first successfully used by a Mr.
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COAL MINING INDUSTRY
Whetstone in his blacksmith shop. In these early days of the anthracite industry, this coal was known by the name of "Black Rock," or "Black Diamond." It was not, however, until the year 1808 that Judge Jesse Fell attempted to first introduce the "Black Rock" on a wooden grate, the Judge declared that he would continue its use only on condition it would consume the grate. It is needless to say that the Judge continued its use, but was soon compelled to acknowledge its superiority, both as to convenience and comfort, over wood. But as yet it had gained no reputation as a fuel, and its limited use was confined to but a few enterprising persons, living within the immediate community in which it was produced, who were simply experimenting upon its usefulness. The first successful attempt to introduce Anthracite coal into the Philadelphia market was made by Colonel George Shoemaker in 1812. Af- ter a great deal of difficulty the Colonel succeeded in inducing Messrs. Mellon and Bishop to give it a trial in their rolling mills. The trial, of course, proved a grand success, the heated metal, as the foreman put it, worked like lead. Colonel Shoe- maker thus had the honor of not only introducing its use into the Philadelphia market, but of establishing two facts: First, that "Black Rock" was combustible; and second, that it was the best, or most effective fuel in the world. It was not, how- ever, until 1822 that the first regular shipment of coal was made. At this time there was one thousand four hundred and eighty tons propelled down the canal by means of poles, there being no towpath, as yet, to Philadelphia. It is true that there had been' one small shipment, of three hundred and sixty-five tons, made in 1820, but this was more by way of experiment than to supply a demand in the market.
From its earliest discovery to about the year 1822 we may call the first great period in the coal industry. This was the period of discoveries. First of all, the coal itself was discovered. This was a slow and gradual process. Its presence in certain localities was at least suspected as early as 1770. Twenty years later an out-croping of a vein was accidentally set on fire by Nicho Allen. And from this time on its presence in the earth was gradually being found, until it became known that there was scarcely a hill or valley that was not rich with veins of "Black Rock."
And second, its qualities were also being discovered. That
S
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COAL MINING INDUSTRY
it could be used to great advantage for blacksmithing was first ascertained by Whetstone in 1795. In 1808 Judge Fell found, by experience, that there was nothing equal to "Black Rock" for heating purposes. And that there was no fuel better, or even as good, for smelting purposes, was fully demonstrated by Messrs. Mellon and Bishop in 1812. Thus, by the end of this
" Morea Stripping "
period of discovery, we already find that the depositories of an- thracite coal have become pretty well known and its utility firmly established.
Wood, being the only fuel in use up to the introduction of coal, and the demand upon it being very great for many other purposes, became more scarce and expensive each year. So that
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COAL MINING INDUSTRY
as early as 1825 we find that coal had already outstripped wood, both as a fuel, and in cheapness.
As anthracite coal had now (1825) become a staple, not only of this community, but in the commerce of the world, there was a great influx of operators and speculators into this region at that time. Pits were dug, shafts sunk, slopes put down, and gangways opened up, in almost every hillside and valley. Not every one, however, who made the attempt, was successful. Many a poor fellow sank his hard earned savings into the ground never to be brought out for him again. While, on the other hand, many, who brought into this enterprise, intelligence and judgment, connected with prudent business tact, reaped a rich harvest from their new venture. This success fanned the flame of excitement to such a pitch that lands were bought. roads laid out, mines opened, railroads projected, and towns sprung up everywhere like mushrooms. Tracts of land that could have been bought in 1827 for five hundred dollars, were ready sale in 1829 at the encrmous price of sixteen thousand dollars.
The first methods of mining were very crude and simple. An ordinary pit was sunk on an elevation, and the coal drawn up by hand, with a common windlass and bucket. As there was no means of handling the water at this time, when the pit would fill up it was abandoned, and a new one dug. The first advance made along this line was the introduction of the Gin, worked by horse power. This was regarded, at that time, a great im- provement. It was about this time that the method of opening the veins by drifts from the ravines at the foot of the hills came into practice. This enabled the operators to remove the water from the workings by natural drainage. While this method of operating was in vogue, the coal was, at first, taken out by means of wheelbarrows. A little later tracks were laid in the gangways and cars, drawn by horses or mules, were used. The modern appliances of breakers, machinery and engines were as yet unknown. The only machinery in use was the pick, the hammer, the shovel, the riddle and the wheelbarrow until later when the cans were introduced. Coal at this time was subject to no other preparation than the removal of dirt and slate. When thus prepared, it was hauled from the mines to the land- ings, along the Schuylkill river, by means of ordinary road wagon, During the year 1829, this was changed by the intro-
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COAL MINING INDUSTRY
duction of railroads into almost every mine in the region. In the year 1832 two important associations were effected. The first of these was the "Coal Mining Association of Schuylkill County," with Burd Patterson as its president. The second was the organization of a "Board of Trade." It was then found that the capital invested, up to this time in the coal of Schuyl- kill County, was no less than $7,106,000. If at this time (1832) an operator was able to ship five or six thousand tons annu- ally he was regarded as doing a good business. In 1835 a num- ber of slopes were sunk, and among them we find the one at St. Clair. The pioneers in this class of work were Henry C. Carey and Burd Patterson. On the 30th day of August, 1837, the first attempt to ship coal from Pottsville direct to New York was made by Colonel John M. Crossland. This shipment was made down the Schuylkill, Delaware, and Raritan Canals, but for some reason or other got no further than New Brunswick, where he sold out. But not being satisfied, the Colonel made the sec- ond attempt about the middle of October of the same year. which resulted in his successfully reaching New York. On his return he did not claim to have been around the world, but that he had seen a great deal. In 1838 the first coal company. was incorporated by the state legislature, over the Governor's veto, under the name and title of "Offerman Mining Company." But for some reason, unknown to the writer, the charter never became operative.
The first iron ore that was smelted by anthracite coal was in the year 1839. It was about this time that the "Pioneer Furnace" at Pottsville was built, being the first anthracite fur- nace erected in the United States.
On January 31st, 1842, we already find one hundred and seventeen mines in operation, with a capital investment of $17,526,000; thirty steam engines in use, twenty-two of which were made in the county; and seventeen thousand men, women 'and children dependent upon the coal industry.
The completion of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, at this time, was of paramount interest to the coal industry. It revolutionized the entire modus operandi of the coal trade. The greatest depth reached, up to this time, was one hundred and fifty-three feet perpendicularly below the level of the Schuylkill river. It was in the year 1844, that the first breaker was erected by Gideon Bast, at his colliery near Minersville. And it was not
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COAL MINING INDUSTRY
long after, until this make of breaker was adopted and used throughout the entire coal region. The machinery was driven by a steam engine, and consisted of two or more cast iron rollers with projecting teeth, revolving toward each other, through which the coal passed, and from thence conducted into a revolv- ing circular screen, which separated the different sizes, each dropping into a separate set of sheets, and from which, by the raising of gates, it was run into railway cars. Sufficient eleva- tion was always secured so as to be able to run the coal through the breaker, and dump it directly into the cars, by gravity. Such is the general plan of our modern breaker, with perhaps here and there a slight modification by way of an improvement. With these modern appliances the cperator is enabled to handle a thousand or more tons per day.
Having, thus far, taken a birds-eye view of the early history of that industry which is responsible for the existence of hun- dreds of flourishing towns to-day, we shall now turn our atten- tion more directly toward those particular operations which are responsible for the existence of the borough of Frackville to-day.
ST. CLAIR COAL INDUSTRY.
As civilization with its accompanying industries approached, and passed over, this region from the south we naturally lock in that direction to find the first operations in this great enter- prise. And in doing so, we find that as early as 1828 a small drift was opened, by John Offerman and a Mr. Wheitroff, on a crop of the Mammoth vein, in a place known as "High Germany" at St. Clair. But the first regular coal operation begun here was on the Orchard vein, by John Pinkerton and Company, in 1830. This vein was so called because the drift was opened in an apple orchard. And it was from this colliery that the first coal was shipped from St. Clair. It was this same year (1830) that the Primrose vein was opened, also by Pinkerton and Company. This drift was opened near where the depot now stands. Later it passed through various hands, until 1843, when Alfred Lawton took charge, who was again followed by Frank Parvin, and he in turn by the land owners, after which it was abandoned.
John Holmes, 'a native of Dublin, Ireland, arrived in St. Clair in 1841. In 1846 he discovered the vein since bearing his
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ST. CLAIR COAL INDUSTRY
name. George W. McGinnis opened a drift on this vein, in the eastern part of the borough, with Holmes as superintendent. After operating for a time McGinnis sold out. It was then closed until 1872, when it was re-opened by Adam Jackson. In 1878 it came into possession of Joseph Atkinson, who operated it from that time on. This was called the St. Clair Colliery.
The Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company was incorporated during the year 1870, and, at the same time pur- chased seventy thousand acres of coal land. Thus came into existence one of the greatest organizations, for the production of coal, in this region.
In 1870, David Vipen opened a drift a short distance south of the St. Clair colliery, on the southern dip of this same vein. Thomas Bedford and Thomas Burke leased the coal, from the Philadelphia and Reading Ccal and Iron Company, in 1876. They at once built a breaker, with a capacity of forty tons per day, at a. cost of $1,000.00. In 1878 Burke bought out Bedford's interest, and at once drove a new tunnel, seventy yards, three gangways, and six breasts, doing all the work with his own hands.
In 1830 the Mammoth vein was discovered by Isaac Beck. While he took out considerable coal, yet he made no regular opening. This coal was leased by John Pinkerton in 1835, who opened up two drifts and a slope. And by dr ving a tunnel sixty yards, he found the Skidmore vein. As much as one hundred thousand tons per year were shipped from this colliery.
Alfred Lawton leased the coal of the St. Clair tract in 1843, and 'at once began the erection of the St. Clair shaft. But before completing the work, he failed. In 1853 Enoch W. McGinnis leased the coal, and completed the shaft, which reached the Primrose at one hundred and twenty-two feet, and the mammoth at four hundred and twenty-eight feet. After operating it until 1864 it came into possession of the St. Clair Coal Company. This company only operated it for about two years, when it was taken charge of by John C. Northall in the year 1866. Between this time, and 1871 as much as one thousand tons per day were shipped. In this latter year the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company bought the land and began operating. There were three breakers at this shaft, two of which were afterwards burned.
1st-JOHN'S EAGLE COLLIERY.
George Wagner having discovered a detached basin of coal,
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NEW CASTLE COAL INDUSTRY
took a three year prospective lease, bearing date of 1845. He opened a drift on the "Seven-feet" and sunk a shaft on the Mammoth vein. When this lease expired, William H. and Thomas Johns secured a twenty years' lease. From 1853 Wil- liam H. Johns became sole proprietor, and continued operations to the end of the lease, when George W. Johns and brother took a fifteen year lease. In 1876 it produced ten thousand tons per month, and employed three hundred men and boys. There were three breakers at this colliery, one of which was the largest in the region at that time. As much as one hundred and thirty- eight thousand tons of coal were mined at this colliery in one year. It was burned down in May, 1878, but was since re-built. This was one of the most prosperous and profitable mines in the entire coal region. While it is true that these operations were very remotely responsible for the existence of Frackville, yet they gave a business impetus to this community that aided very materially in making the town a possibility.
NEW CASTLE COAL INDUSTRY.
As we consider this industry in the order in which its in- fluence increases toward this end, we next come to contemplate the operations in and around New Castle. And in doing so we have:
1st-EAST PINE KNOT COLLIERY.
This colliery was opened as a drift in 1830 by John E. Offerman. It was at first known as the Greenberry mines. But was afterwards given its present name by Robert Adams, who began operating here in 1848. The annual output of this col- liery was over one hundred thousand tons. Some years after it took fire, and therefore was drowned out.
2nd-REPPLIER COLLIERY.
Repplier colliery was opened, west of the railroad station, as a drift, by Nealy Brothers. About the year 1840 Joseph Law- ton began operating, and n'amed it the Mammoth Colliery, after the vein worked. In 1847 he started a slope and built a breaker, with a capacity of seven hundred and fifty tons per day. Lawton failed in 1850. It was then bought by George Repplier, whose name it has since borne. In 1862 Repplier united with him D. H. and John L. Geiger, and F. R, Morgan, as partners, who were former employees,
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NEW CASTLE COAL INDUSTRY
3rd-ELLSWORTH COLLIERY.
This colliery was opened on the Mammoth vein in 1873 by John R. D'avis. Some time after this the breaker was burned, but immediately rebuilt, with a capacity of one hundred tons per day. Since the building of the second breaker, this colliery has produced over several hundred thousand tons of coal.
MAHANOY VALLEY COAL INDUSTRY.
We are now ready to scale the Broad Mountain, and pass, in our considerations of this great basin, on the north. And as we make this transition, we are approaching that industrial power, which has been the direct means of creating and estab- lishing the borough of Frackville. The first operation, within that portion of Mahanoy Valley with which we are now con- cerned, that we shall consider is
1st-GILBERTON COLLIERY.
This colliery was opened by Kendrick and Tyson in the year 1862. The following year (1863) this company built a small breaker, and shipped the first coal from this section. In the Spring of 1864 the Gilberton Coal Company was organized, with James Sturgis as its first president. After operating for about ten years with the small breaker built by Kendrick and Tyson, a much larger and better equipped one was erected in 1872. The Gilberton Coal Company, after having operated for some time, failed, and this interest went into the hands of trustees. In March, 1879, it became the property of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. About this time (1880), the coal in the vein operated, having been exhausted, it was idle, until tunnels were driven into new veins, when the work was resumed again. This colliery at that time employed about two hundred men and boys.
2nd-DRAPER COLLIERY.
We next come to the Draper Colliery, which was first opened as a drift by a Mr. Smith in 1863. Some time later it was sold to the Mammoth Vein Consolidated Coal Company. In 1869 the first slope was sunk, to a depth of four hundred feet. Not long after, this company reorganized as the Hickory Coal Company, with C. W. Draper as president, after whom it has been named. On the failure of this company in 1876, the col- liery passed into the hands of trustees. It since became the property of Oliver Ditson and H. L. Williams, who operated
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MAHANOY VALLEY COAL INDUSTRY
for a time, and then sold out to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. The veins worked are the Mammoth and Primrose, at a vertical depth of over seven hundred feet. Two hundred and nine men and boys were employed at that time.
3rd-GILBERTON WATER SHAFT.
This shaft constitutes one of the objects of interest in con- nection with the mining industry. It was sunk some years ago, and has a depth of one thousand and seventy feet. The first superstructure was made of iron, which was destroyed, by being drawn over by the engine, on the morning of the 26th of March, 1902. It was, however, immediately replaced by a wooden struct- ure, which was completed on April 20th, of the same year. This structure contains four large tanks, each with a capacity of two thousand four hundred gallons, hoisted by two five hundred horse power engines. Three mines are drained by this shaft, two at Gilberton, and the Draper. The greatest number of tanks hoisted in any one hour was one hundred and twenty-two, making a total of two hundred and ninety-two thousand eight hundred gallons drawn from these three collieries through the shaft in one hour. Nine men are employed in and around the shaft.
4th-BEAR RIDGE COLLIERY.
To this colliery there were two distinct and separate opera- tions, originally known as Nos. 1 and 2. It was owned by Myers, McCreary and Company. No. 1 was opened in 1865 by Morris Robinson and Company. It was under the control of this com- pany until 1870, when it was sold to the Bear Ridge Company, who had charge of it until 1879. No. 2 was opened by the Bear Ridge Coal Company in 1874. But quite some years before this, Stephen Girard had driven a tunnel one hundred and twenty-two yards, without any material results. From this time on there was nothing done here until 1873, when the Bear Ridge Coal Company drove the tunnel eighty yards farther and struck the Mammoth vein. The average output of this colliery was about one thousand tons per day.
5th-LAWRENCE COLLIERY.
This colliery was first opened during the year 1866. But very little was done until it was leased by Jacob S. Lawrence, F. C. Lawrence, Michael Merkel and Philip Mongold on January 1st, 1868. It was during this year that the first breaker and other buildings were erected. These breakers had a capacity
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MAHANOY VALLEY COAL INDUSTRY
of about seven hundred and fifty tons per day. The workings extended from one and a half to two miles from the foot of the slope, which is some three hundred and thirty yards deep, and constitutes the north slope of the Broad Mountain. These workings embrace within their operations the Holmes, Mam- moth, Skidmore, and Buck Mountain veins. The first coal shipped from this colliery was in November, 1868, and was con- signed to Joseph C. Asher, of Philadelphia. The largest output in any one year was in 1888, when no less than one hundred and thirty-two thousand two hundred and thirty-nine tons were shipped to the markets. The number of men and boys employed both inside and outside, were four hundred and twenty. After Lawrence, Merkel and Company had operated for some years, they transferred their lease to Lawrence and Brown, who con- tinued until their failure in 1892, when the colliery again became the property of the land owners, and has since been operated by the executors of the estate of P. W. Sheafer, deceased. This mine was finally drowned out by the freshet of April, 1902, since which time it has remained idle.
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