History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 39

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532


USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections > Part 39


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This, briefly, is Mr. Markle as he was intimately linked with the anthracite coal industry and its development. Great as it was it was but a part of the man. In his social and financial life he was equally a central figure. This article will con- clude with a brief enumeration of some of the leading facts in his case.


In 1868 he founded the banking house of Pardee, Markle & Grier. It soon was widely known as one of the soundest money institutions of the country. He was a large stockholder and director in the Lehigh Valley Railroad company; director and stockholder in the Highland Coal company; the same in the Rock Hill Iron & Coal company, the East Broad Top Railroad company; was chairman of coal land purchasing committee of Lehigh Valley railroad; director of the Union Improvement company; was the general coal land purchasing agent of the Lehigh railroad; and was extensively interested in the iron industry, holding large and valuable shares therein.


Jeddo Tunnel is one of the most important improvements so far introduced into the coal industry in the anthracite regions, its daring projector being John Markle, who is president and chief engineer of the company. Like most of the world's advances, it is the creature of a commanding necessity, and had its origin in the fol- lowing: On June 20, 1885, about twenty eight acres of ground over the Harleigh mine caved in. This extended close to the Ebervale workings. About a year afterward, for fear that the immense body of water would crush the barrier between the two mines, the Ebervale Coal company drilled six holes through the barrier to release the water into the Ebervale mine, from whence it was pumped to the surface. The workings were profitably mined from that time on to January, 1886, when one of the heaviest rain storms flooded nearly every mine in this section. The immense amount of water passing through the new canal on the south side of


311


HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.


the coal measures was filled to overflowing, and the backwater began running into the old channel and from there into the Harleigh mine. The water rapidly rose to the level of the old gangway connecting with the Ebervale workings and began pouring into the latter, submerging the pump beneath forty feet of water.


The operator of the Harleigh mine at this time was M. S. Kunmerer, and the operators of the Ebervale mine were Van Wickle, Stout & Co. This incalcu- lable wealth was thus locked securely against man's efforts to reach it and these important mining industries were practically abandoned. Skillful engineers were called for, and yet but little light came as to the way out. Broad Mountain, as its name suggests, is not a narrow mountain range that can readily be drained from either side. The scheme of driving a tunnel, commencing in Butler Valley and penetrating the hill and draining all that rich district was that of Mr. John Markle, who had given the subject much consideration, John Markle then acquiring the property for the G. W. Markle Coal company. If he could figure out this as a feasible undertaking, it was the evident solution of a most important problem. Calling to his aid the resident engineer of the Tunnel company, Thomas S. McNair, after a full preliminary examination, the enterprise was determined upon. There- upon the Jeddo Tunnel company, limited, was organized in December, 1890, and the following officers chosen: President and chief engineer, John Markle; resident engineer, Thomas S. McNair; secretary and treasurer, William H. Smith, Jr. ; board of managers, E. P. Wilbur, William Lilly, John Markle, William H. Smith, Jr., and Alvin Markle. The entire work when completed will be 360 feet short of five miles, striking the foot of the mountain a short distance east of the Mountain View house, and the main tunnel passing under the mountain a distance of three miles, being thirty feet under the bottom of the Ebervale mines. The greatest depth under the surface is 700 feet, passing under the Latimer mine at a depth of 260 feet below the bed of the Lattimer mine. Before reaching the Ebervale mine, the tunnel changes its direction almost at a right angle, running north a distance of about two miles to Jeddo slope No. 4 (Mammoth vein). The two tun- nels are A and B.


Tunnel "A"is to be constructed from Butler valley in Butler township to near the bottom of Ebervale Mammoth vein slope No. 2, a distance of about three miles. This tunnel is to be 8x8 feet in the clear.


Tunnel "B" is to be built in a vein beneath the Mammoth vein from the bottom of Ebervale slope No. 2 to a point opposite Jeddo No. 4 slope and about right angles from this point to near the bottom of Jeddo Mammoth vein slope No. 4. This Tunnel B will be one and seven-tenths miles long and will be 5x6 feet in the clear.


The slope and airway will be sunk on a vein underlying the Mammoth at Eber- vale. The size of the slope will be 9x7 feet and about 1,000 feet long. The airway is to be 5x5 feet and 1,000 feet long.


Tunnel "A" is to be built with three headings, two from the bottom of the pro- . posed slope and the other from the Butler Valley side, so that the water will run from the tunnel as the work proceeds.


The estimated cost of the work is over $500,000 and it is to be completed in 1895. The official figures as gleaned from the government official reports in reference to the collieries in Luzerne county, their location and their operators are given below.


The anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania are situated in the eastern part of the State, and extend about equal distances north and south of a line drawn through the middle of the State from east to west, in the counties of Carbon, Columbia, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Sullivan, and Susque- hanna, and known under three general divisions, viz .: Wyoming, Lehigh, and Schuylkill regions. Geologically they are divided into five well-defined fields or basins, which are again subdivided, for convenience of identification, into districts, as follows:


312


HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.


Geological Fields or Basins.


Local Districts.


Trade Regions.


Carbondale


Scranton


Pittston


Northern


Wilkes-Barre


Wyoming.


Plymouth.


Kingston


Western Northern.


Bernice


Green Mountain


Black Creek


Eastern Middle


Hazleton .


Beaver Meadow


Panther Creek.


East Schuylkill


Southern


Lorberry


Lykens Valley


.Schuylkill.


East Mahanoy


Western Middle


West Mahanoy.


Shamokin.


PRODUCTION OF ANTHRACITE COAL OF ALL GRADES, BY COUNTIES, IN 1889.


DISPOSITION OF. TOTAL PRODUCT.


COUNTIES.


Total product of


coal of all grades Loaded at mines Used by employes for year 1889. for shipment on and sold to local trade at mines. railroad cars.


Used for heat and steam at mines.


Susquehanna .. }


351,842


Long tons. 319,126


5,820


26,896


Sullivan . ..


8,939,621


7,823,694


588,535


527,392


Luzerne.


16,607,177


14,892,324


446,036


1,268,817


Carbon


1,210,973


1,080,544


19,592


110,837


Schuylkill


9,052,619


7,837,369


181,893


1,033,357


Columbia


628,695


539,273


15,663


73,759


Northumberland


3,176,740


2,770,914 553,632


57,857


347,969


Dauphin


697,485


14,184


129,669


Total.


40,665,152


35,816,876


1,329,580


3,518,696


Long tons.


Long tons.


Long tons.


Lackawanna


The total production of anthracite coal in Pennsylvania during the calendar year 1889 was 40,665,152 tons of 2,240 pounds (equal to 45,544,970 tons of 2,000 pounds), valued at the mines at $65,718,165, or an average of $1.61; per long ton, including all sizes sent to market. In the above 35,816,876 tons are included unsalable sizes temporarily stocked at convenient points near the mines and tonnage loaded into cars but not passed over railroad scales, as well as waste in rehandling in the various processes of cleaning the smaller sizes. The quantity reported by the transportation companies as actually carried to market, which is the usual basis for statistics of shipments, was 35,407, 710 tons during the year 1889; 1,329,580 tons were used by employes and sold to local trade in the vicinity of the mines, and 3,518,696 tons were reported as consumed for steam and heating purposes in and about the mines. The item of colliery consumption, however, is somewhat indef- inite, the coal being taken either from the current mining or from screenings and used where needed, often without preparation, and rarely included in the accounts of the operator, being reported to the census office in most instances as "approxi- mated." For these reasons it has been excluded from the basis of valuation of the product at the mines.


The average number of days worked during the year 1889 by all collieries was 194. The suspension of mining, during periods aggregating about one-third of the year, was caused mainly by the inability of the market to absorb a larger product.


.Lehigh.


West Schuylkill.


1


HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.


The number of persons employed during the year, including superintendents, engineers and clerical force, was 125,229. The total amount paid in wages to all classes during the year was $39,152,124. The total number of regular establish- ments or breakers equipped for the preparation and shipment of coal was 342, nine- teen of which were idle during the year. Besides these there were forty nine small diggings and washeries, supplying local trade. There were also eighteen new establishments in course of construction.


The statistics of anthracite coal in Pennsylvania compiled for the tenth census were based upon the year ending June 30, 1880, and thus covered the last six months of 1879, and the first six months of 1880. The present census covers the calendar year 1889. The following items from the previous census are herewith given to show the developments which a decade has made in this industry :


Total production for 1889, including all coal shipped to market and sold to employes and local trade about the mines, exclusive of culm (long tons)


25,575,875


Equal to (short tons)


28,640,819 $42,172,942


Average price of all grades per long ton at mines.


$1.68


Total shipment for census year (long tons)


24,566,822


Total shipments for calendar year 1879.


26,142,689


Total shipments for calendar year 1880.


23,437,242


Total number of collieries.


275


Total amount of wages paid in the year


$22,664,055


Total number of employes, all grades.


70,669


The largest actual shipment during any year in the history of the trade was made in 1888, being 38,145,178 tons of 2,240 pounds. The largest actual shipment for any one month was 4,187,527 tons, in October, 1888. The largest actual ship- ments ever made in each of the months of and year to December, 1889, inclusive, are given in the table below, and show that, if the mines should be oper- ated as actively in each month of the year as they ever have been in that month, the product for the year would be a little less than 40,000,000 long tons. The ship- ment of 1889 was, therefore, ninety per cent. of the maximum shipments practicable under existing conditions.


LARGEST SHIPMENT FOR EACH MONTH OF ANY YEAR.


Years.


Months.


Tonnage.


Years.


Months.'


Tonnage.


1889


January


2,622,529


1888


August.


4,097,563


1887


February


2,551,003


1888


. September.


3,916,326


1887


. March.


2,911,272


1888


October.


4,187,527


1888


April


2,856,593


1888


November.


3,718,652


1889


May


3,016,531


1887


December


3,068,079


1889


June.


3,038,216


1889


July


3,627,522


Maximum shipment practicable. . 39,611,813


Average monthly tonnage based upon largest shipments ever made. 3,300,984 Average annual shipments during ten years ending with 1889 31,551,301


Average annual shipments during five years ending with 1889 34,390,868


DISTRIBUTION OF ANTHRACITE COAL FOR 1889.


Sections.


Long tons.


Per cent.


Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.


22,314,331


63.02


New England States


4,922,076


13.90


Western States


1,613,120


4.56


Southern States


20,900


0.06


Pacific Coast


1,094,736


3.09


Canada.


35,190


0.10


Foreign


Total


35,407,710


100.00


313


5,407,357


15.27


Value of product at mines


314


HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.


SHIPMENTS OF ANTHRACITE COAL SINCE 1820.


SCH'KL REGION.


LEHIGH REGION.


WYOMING REGION.


Total.


Long tons.


Per ct.


Long tons.


Per ct.


Long tons.


Per ct.


From 1820 to 1859, inclusive ..


44,049,622


52.54


17,755,009


21.18


22,031,210


26.28


83,835,841


From 1860 to 1869, inclusive ..


44,769,022


41.80


20,035,073


18.71


42,288,823


39.49


107,092,918


From 1870 to 1879, inclusive ..


68,237,040


34.87


35,683,152


18.23


91,794,184


46.90


195,714,376


From 1880 to 1889, inclusive ..


96,428,369


30.56


55,016,850


17.44


164,077,794


52.00


315,523,013


Total


253,484,053


36.10 128,490,084


18.30


320,192,011


45.60 702,166,148


The initial lines of transportation from the anthracite coal fields are operated by the following companies:


Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad company.


New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad company.


New York, Ontario & Western Railroad company (in construction).


Delaware & Hudson Canal company.


Erie & Wyoming Valley Railroad company.


Central Railroad Company of New Jersey.


Lehigh Valley Railroad company.


Pennsylvania Railroad company.


Philadelphia & Reading Railroad company.


New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad company.


A directory of the mines and operators of mines in Luzerne county is as follows:


NAMES OF MINES.


Local district.


Township, etc.


Nearest station.


Name.


Ewen Breaker


Pittston.


Jenkins Tp.


Pittston.


Pennsylvania Coal Co.


Shaft No. 4 ..


Pittston.


Jenkins Tp


Pittston.


Pennsylvania Coal Co.


Breaker, No. 6.


Pittston.


Jenkins Tp.


Port Blanchard ..


Pennsylvania Coal Co.


Breaker, No. 10.


Pittston.


Marcy Tp.


Pittston.


Pennsylvania Coal Co.


Breaker, No. 14.


Pittston.


Jenkins Tp


Port Blanchard ..


Pennsylvania Coal Co.


Barnum.


Pittston


Marcy Tp.


Pittston Junction


Pennsylvania Coal Co. Annora Coal Co.


Avoca


Pittston.


Pittston Tp


Avoca


Avoca Coal Co., ltd.


Langcliffe


Pittston.


Pittston


Avoca


Langcliffe Coal Co.


Twin.


Pittston.


Pittston


Pittston.


Newton Coal Min'g Co.


Ravine


Pittston.


Pittston.


Pittston ..


Newton Coal Min'g Co.


Seneca


Pittston.


Pittston.


Pittston


Newton Coal Min'g Co.


Mosier


Pittston


Marcy Tp


Pittston.


Newton Coal Min'g Co.


Hunt.


Pittston.


Kingston Tp


Wyoming


D., L. & W. R. R. Co.


Hallstead


Pittston.


Marcy Tp.


Duryea.


D., L. & W. R. R. Co.


Butler


Pittston.


Pittston Tp


Pittston.


Butler Mine Co., ltd.


Everhart


Pittston.


Jenkins Tp


Yatesville.


Butler Mine Co., ltd.


Schooley


Pittston.


Exeter Tp.


West Pittston


Butler Mine Co., ltd.


Columbia


Pittston.


Marcy Tp


Duryea.


Old Forge Coal Co.


Babylon (b)


Pittston.


Marcy Tp.


Coxton


Babylon Coal Co.


Consolidated.


Pittston.


Pittston, Tp.


Moosic.


H. C. & I. Co.


Clearspring


Pittston


West Pittston


West Pittston


Clearspring Coal Co.


Elmwood.


Pittston.


Pittston Tp


Avoca


Florence Coal Co., ltd.


Fairmount.


Pittston.


Pittstou Tp


Pittston.


W. & J. O'Neill.


Keystone


Pittston


Plaines Tp


Mill Creek


Keystone Coal Co.


Stevens.


Pittston.


Exeter Tp


Exeter


Stevens Coal Co.


Mount Lookout (b).


Pittston.


Exeter Tp


Exeter


M. L. C. Co., ltd.


Exeter.


Pittston.


Exeter Tp.


West Pittston


Lehigh Valley Coal Co.


Heidelberg, No. 1.


Pittston.


Pittston Tp


West Pittston.


Lehigh Valley Coal Co.


Heidelberg, No. 2. ..


Pittston.


Pittston Tp


West Pittston


Lehigh Valley Coal Co.


Spring Brook (a) ..


Pittston.


Old Forge Tp.


Moosic


Whitney & Kemmerer.


Diamond, No. 1.


Wilkes-Barre


Wilkes-Barre. .


Wilkes-Barre


L. & W. Coal Co.


Hollenback, No. 2 ...


Wilkes-Barre


Wilkes-Barre ... .


Wilkes-Barre.


L. & W. Coal Co.


Empire, No. 4 .. . .. Wilkes-Barre


Wilkes-Barre .. .


Wilkes-Barre.


L. & W. Coal Co.


S.Wilkes-Barre, No. 5


Wilkes-Barre


Wilkes-barre ... .


Wilkes-Barre.


L. & W. Coal Co.


Stanton, No. 7.


Wilkes-Barre .


Wilkes-Barre ..


Ashley


L. & W. Coal Co.


Annora, No. 1.


Pittston.


Jenkins Tp


Laflin


YEARS.


Noah Fattetone


317


HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.


DIRECTORY OF MINES, ETC. - Continued.


NAMES OF MINES.


Local district.


Township, etc.


Nearest station.


Name.


Jersey, No. 8 ..


Wilkes-Barre


Hanover Tp.


Ashley


L. & W. Coal Co.


Sugar Notch, No. 9. .


Wilkes-Barre .


Hanover .Tp.


Sugar Notch.


L. & W. Coal Co.


Wanamie, No. 18.


Wilkes-Barre


Newport Tp.


Wamamie.


L. & W. Coal Co.


Alden ..


Wilkes-Barre .


Newport Tp


Alden


Alden Coal Co.


Newport, No. 1.


Wilkes-Barre


Newport Tp


Lee


Newport Coal Co. Red Ash Coal Co.


Red Ash, No. 2


Wilkes-Barre .


Wilkes-Barre Tp Ashley


Red Ash Coal Co.


Colliery, No. 1


Wilkes-Barre .


Hanover Tp.


Nanticoke


Susquehanna Coal Co.


Colliery, No. 2


Wilkes-Barre .


Hanover Tp


Nanticoke


Susquehanna Coal Co.


Colliery, No. 5.


Wilkes-Barre .


Hanover Tp


Nanticoke


Susquehanna Coal Co.


Colliery, No. 6


Wilkes-Barre


Newport Tp


Glen Lyon


Susquehanna Coal Co.


Bennett


Wilkes-Barre


Plaines Tp


Mill Creek


Thomas Waddell.


Warrior Run.


Wilkes-Barre .


Hauover Tp ..


Warrior Run


A. J. Davis.


West End, No. 1


Wilkes-Barre


Conyngham Tp ..


Mocanaqua


West End Coal Co.


Maffett


Wilkes-Barre . Hanover Tp ....


Plaines Tp


Miners Mills.


Abbott Coal Co.


Hillman Vein


Wilkes-Barre .


Wilkes-Barre Tp


Wilkes-Barre


Hillman Vein Coal Co.


Franklin


Wilkes-Barre .


Plaines Tp


Port Bowkley


Lehigh Valley Coal Co. .


Henry


Wilkes-Barre .


Plaines Tp


Port Bowkley


Lehigh Valley Coal Co.


Midvale (a)


Wilkes-Barre .


Plaines Tp


Port Bowkley


Lehigh Valley Coal Co.


Mineral Spring


Wilkes-Barre .


Plaines Tp


Wilkes-Barre


Lehigh Valley Coal Co.


Prospect


Wilkes-Barre .


Plaines Tp


Wilkes-Barre


Lehigh Valley Coal Co. Lehigh Valley Coal Co.


Wyoming


Wilkes-Barre .


Plaines Tp


Port Bowkley ..


Lehigh Valley Coal Co.


Mill Creek


Wilkes-Barre .


Plaines Tp


Mill Creek


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Pine Ridge


Wilkes-Barre .


Plaines Tp


Miners Mills


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Laurel Run.


Wilkes-Barre ..


Plaines Tp.


Parsons


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Bal. Red Ash, No. 2 (a) Wilkes-Barre .


Wilkes-Barre .


Wilkes-Barre Tp


Wilkes-Barre


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Conyngham


Wilkes-Barre .


Wilkes-Barre .


Wilkes-Barre


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Delaware


Wilkes-Barre .


Plaines Tp


Mill Creek


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Lance, No. 11.


Plymouth


Plymouth


Plymouth


L. & W. Coal Co.


Nottingham, No. 15. Plymouth


Plymouth


Plymouth


Plymouth


L. & W. Coal Co.


Avondale


Plymouth


Plymouth Tp.


Avondale


D., L. & W. R. R. Co.


Woodward


Plymouth


Plymouth Tp


Kingston


D., L. & W. R. R. Co.


Dodson ..


Plymouth


Plymouth Tp.


Plymouth


John C. Haddock.


East Boston


Plymouth


Kingston


Kingston


W. G. Payne & Co.


Parrish


Plymouth


Plymouth


Plymouth


Parrish Coal Co.


Salem


Plymouth


Shickshinny


Shickshinny


E. S. Stackhouse.


Boston


Plymouth


Plymouth Tp.


Plymouth


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Plymouth, No. 2


Plymouth


Plymouth Tp ..


Plymouth


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Plymouth, No. 3


Plymouth


Plymouth Tp.


Plymouth


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Plymouth, No. 4.


Plymouth


Plymouth Tp.


Plymouth


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Plymouth, No. 5


Plymouth


Plymouth Tp.


Plymouth


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Pettebone


Kingston


Kingston


Bennett


D., L. & W. R. R. Co.


Kingston, No. 1.


Kingston


Kingston Tp.


Kingston


Kingston Coal Co.


Kingston, No. 2


Kingston


Plymouth Tp


Kingston


Kingston Coal Co.


Kingston, No. 3


Kingston


Plymouth Tp


Kingston


Kingston Coal Co.


Kingston, No. 4.


Kingston


Kingston Tp.


Kingston


Kingston Coal Co.


Gaylord


Kingston


Plymouth Tp


Plymouth Bennett


Kingston Coal Co.


Harry E.


Kingston


Kingston Tp


Harry E., No. 2


Kingston


Kingston Tp.


Maltby


Wyoming Val. Coal Co.


Black Diamond


Kingston


Kingston Tp


Kingston


John C. Haddock.


Mill Hollow


Kingston


Kingston Tp.


Bennett


Thomas Waddell.


Maltby


Kingston


Kingston Tp


Maltby


Lehigh Valley Coal Co.


Pond Creek


Green Mount'n Foster Tp ..


Sandy Run.


M. S. Kemmerer & Co.


Upper Lehigh No. 2. Green Mount'n Butler Tp.


Upper Lehigh


Upper Lehigh Coal Co.


Upper Lehigh No. 4. Green Mount'n Butler Tp.


Upper Lehigh .. .


Milnesville 17


Black Creek. . Hazle Tp ..


Hazleton.


Upper Lehigh Coal Co. Milnesville Coal Co.


Dorrance


Wilkes-Barre .


Wilkes-Barre Tp


Wilkes-Barre


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Baltimore Slope


Wilkes-Barre . Wilkes-Barre Tp Parsons


Wilkes-Barre Tp Parsons


Del. & Hud. Canal Co.


Baltimore Tunnel. ..


Wilkes-Barre .


Wilkes-Barre Tp


Ashley .


Lehigh Valley Coal Co.


Enterprise


Sugar Notch


Hanover Coal Co.


Abbott


Wilkes-Barre .


Wilkes-Barre Tp


Ashley


Red Ash, No. 1.


Wilkes-Barre .


West Nanticoke.


West Nanticoke. Susquehanna Coal Co.


Colliery, No. 3.


Plymouth


Plymouth


Plymouth


L. & W. Coal Co.


Reynolds, No. 16


Wyoming Val. Coal Co.


318


HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.


DIRECTORY OF MINES, ETC. - Concluded.


NAMES OF MINES.


Local district.


Township, etc.


Nearest station.


Name.


Latimer No. 1


Black Creek .. Hazle Tp


Hazleton


Pardee Bros. & Co.


Latimer No. 3


Black Creek ..


Hazle Tp.


Hazleton


Calvin Pardee & Co.


Sandy Run.


Black Creek ..


Foster Tp


Sandy Run


M. S. Kemmerer & Co.


Highland No. 1.


Black Creek. .


Foster Tp.


Highland


G. B. Markle & Co.


Highland No. 2


Black Creek. .


Foster Tp


Highland.


G. B. Markle & Co.


Oakdale No. 1.


Black Creek. .


Hazle Tp.


Jeddo


G. B. Markle & Co.


Oakdale No. 2.


Black Creek. .


Hazle Tp.


Jeddo ..


G. B. Markle & Co.


Deringer.


Black Creek ..


Black Creek Tp.


Deringer.


Coxe Bros. & Co.


Drifton No. 1.


Black Creek. .


Foster Tp


Drifton


Coxe Bros. & Co.


Drifton No. 2.


Black Creek ..


Foster Tp.


Drifton


Coxe Bros. & Co.


Drifton No. 3 ..


Black Creek ..


Hazle Tp.


Drifton .


Coxe Bros. & Co.


Eckley No. 5.


Black Creek ..


Foster Tp.


Eckley


Coxe Bros. & Co.


Eckley No. 10.


Black Creek. .


Foster Tp.


Eckley


Coxe Bros. & Co.


Gowen


Black Creek ..


Black Creek Tp.


Gowen.


Coxe Bros. & Co.


Tomhicken


Black Creek. .


Sugar Loaf Tp ..


Tomhicken


Coxe Bros. & Co.


Oneida (a).


Black Creek ..


Sugar Loaf Tp.


Tomhicken


Coxe Bros. & Co.


Hazlebrook


Hazleton.


Foster Tp


Hazlebrook


J. S. Wentz & Co.


Humboldt


Hazleton.


Hazle Tp.


Hazleton


Linderman, Skeer & Co.


East Sugar Loaf No. 1 Hazleton.


Hazle Tp.


Stockton.


Linderman, Skeer & Co.


East Sugar Loaf No. 2 Hazleton


Hazle Tp.


Stockton


Linderman, Skeer & Co.


East Sugar Loaf No. 5 Hazleton.


Hazle Tp.


Stockton


Linderman, Skeer & Co.


ยท Mt. Pleasant


Hazleton.


Hazle Tp


Hazleton.


Pardee Sons & Co.


Stockton


Hazleton.


Hazle Tp


Stockton.


Coxe Bros. & Co.


Cranberry


Hazleton.


Hazle Tp.


Hazleton.


A. Pardee.& Co.


Hazelton


Hazleton.


Hazleton


Hazleton.


A. Pardee & Co.


No. 3


Hazleton ..


Hazleton


Hazleton.


A. Pardee & Co.


No. 6.


Hazleton.


Hazleton


Hazleton.


A. Pardee & Co.


Laurel Hill


Hazleton.


Hazleton


Hazleton.


A. Pardee & Co.


South Sugar Loaf.


Hazleton.


Hazle Tp


Hazleton.


A. Pardee & Co.


Beaver Brook. .


Beaver Me'd'w Hazle Tp ..


Audenried


C. M. Dodson & Co.


Spring Mount'n No. 4 Beaver Me'd'w Jeansville.


Jeansville.


J. C. Hayden & Co.


a. Idle in 1889.


b New establishment, no product in 1889.


Of the coal trade of 1891 and its prospects the Wilkes-Barre Record of Octo- ber 30 says:


" In the meantime the anthracite coal trade is at its best this year in production, price and demand. All the roads are shipping as much coal as they can conven- iently handle, and there are evidences that at least two of them are working to their full capacity. These companies are the Delaware & Hudson, and the Pennsylvania Coal company. The Lackawanna has a very heavy tonnage, and the Jersey Central is doing all it can. The latter company, which has no western outlet, is disposed to find fanlt with the Reading. In fact all racers for tonnage find it fashionable to put the onus of the big tonnage on Mr. McLeod. It can not be denied that Read- ing is doing a very heavy business, but all the companies are doing the same thing. The Reading company has several outlets for coal which it didn't have last year, and it is sending more coal west and south than it did at that time. The line trade is also larger, but the competitive tide shipments are very little, if any greater, than in 1890. The trade is, apparently, taking all the coal which is going to market, and while this is the case there can be no serious results. It is estimated that the ship- ments of coal this month will foot up over 4,000,000 tons as against an allotment of 3,850,000 tons."


The using of the heretofore vast quantities of culm that are piled like mount- ains about the mines is now successfully carried on in this county in three places: Salem, by E. S. Stackhouse; at Swetland, by J. W. Davis, and Glen City, by the Scotch Valley Coal company, limited.


Latimer No. 2


Hollywood


319


HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.


Avondale Disaster .- Monday morning, September 6, 1869, the civilized world was startled by the news of the disaster at the Avondale mine, situated one mile below Plymouth in this county, where 108 people perished. Fire broke out in the shaft at 10 A. M. and soon passed up to the headhouse, and this and the coal breaker and all the other buildings near the shaft were quickly wrapped in flames, that first seemed to come up the shaft roaring like a storm. This explosion was the first notice the engineer, Alexander Weir, had of the fire, and so rapidly did it spread in the buildings, that he barely had time to arrange the machinery to prevent explo- sion of the boilers and escape without his hat. The buildings extended 300 feet to the track of the Bloomsburg railroad. At one time the rows of miners' houses were threatened, but the wind fortunately carried the flames toward the mountain. The families of the meu down in the mine instantly realized the horror that came so suddenly. and the people for miles of the surrounding country hurried to the spot. The telegraph called the fire companies from every surrounding town to Scranton and these, too, hurried by special trains to stay, if possible, the holocaust.




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