USA > Pennsylvania > Northumberland County > History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132
In 1868 Graeber, Kemple & Company leased from the Locust Gap Im- provement Company the two collieries known as the A. S. Wolf and the Lo- cust Gap collieries, and in a few years became large shippers. Robertson, Guiterman & Company, in September, leased the Henry Clay colliery. Richard B. Douty, long connected with this colliery, developed the Lykens Valley veins on the Helfenstein lands in Cameron township this year. During
Eng.by James R.Picc & Sons, Phila.
381
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD.
October, 1868, the Shamokin Coal Company (F. J. Anspach, superintendent) erected a large breaker at Hickory Swamp and christened it the Virginia. This name, however, was never accepted by the public, who insisted on the local name of Hickory Swamp which it has ever since retained, in all its changes of ownership. Enterprise railroad, the new extension of the Reading, was completed to Shamokin this year. The Trevorton railroad and bridge over the river were purchased by the Reading railroad for four hundred thousand dollars; and the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company bought the lands of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, the Coal Ridge Company, and a one half interest of all the Trevorton lands for about one and a half million dollars. Another new colliery was started up by Cruikshank & Brother, who had secured a lease on the Wetherill tract near the furnace. They opened up the red ash veins, and, supposing they were on the Primrose or Boyd vein, they named their colliery the Daniel Webster, No. 2. The works were leased by Jonas Tillet & Company, who, in December, sold their interest to Reyer & Brother. In 1869 Bechtel, Kulp & Company secured the lease and operated it for several years as the Franklin colliery. They also started up another small colliery known as the Clinton on the same tract, which was only operated for a year or so. The Franklin colliery afterwards passed into the hands of McArthur & Roth, and finally to Lovell & Booth, who abandoned the place about 1876. The year 1868 completed thirty years in the history of our coal trade. Shipments for this season amounted to nine hundred eleven thousand seven hundred eighty-four tons and for the three decades just completed the total tonnage reached five million seven hundred twelve thousand six hundred fifty-six tons. Outlets had now been secured to all the markets, many breakers and improvements had been made, and a more practical and experienced class of men was conduct- ing the mining operations.
In 1869 five new collieries were started. Douty & Baumgardner com- pleted a colliery at Doutyville, called the Ben Franklin, mining from the Lykens Valley veins, which at this point were finely developed. The Enter- prise Coal Company, having opened up the same veins in the Mahanoy mountain, erected a breaker on their tract called the Margie Franklin. Boughner, Shipp & Company secured a lease on the Bellas tract and opened up a colliery called the Frank Gowen, in honor of the distinguished president of the Reading railroad. Aucker & Bower commenced a colliery on lands of Hays & Keller, near the present site of the Neilson shaft, and in a short time were succeeded by Weaver & Martin, who operated a short time. John H. Gable, a former superintendent of Big Mountain colliery, sub-leased from the Shamokin Coal Company a tract where the old Lancaster colliery breaker stood, erected a breaker, and worked the twin veins. He was succeeded by Smith & Keiser, who have continued operating at this colliery to the present time. The Shamokin and Trevorton railroad was completed in July and 22
382
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
opened up to the trade. The first shipment of coal made over this road, consisting of a train of thirty-four cars of coal, was by Z. P. Boyer & Com- pany. Locust Dale and Ben Franklin colliery connected by rail this year. A great strike prevailed over the entire region at this time. The miners were organized under the title of the Workingmen's Benevolent Associa- tion, and the operators established a board of trade. The differences be- tween them were finally compromised. Monthly meetings were held, at each of which a certain number of both parties were present. A fixed basis of price at Port Carbon for coal established the prices for miners' and labor- ers' wages and any departure above or below this basis led to an advance or drop in wages. This system continued in practice for several years and in many localities worked very satisfactorily.
About 1870 Burton Brothers & Company, of Erie, leased the Coal Ridge colliery, No. 2, and at a great expenditure made extensive improvements. They continued operating until 1873, when their slope was drowned out. They made great efforts to pump out the water and continued working the mines above water level until 1876, when they failed. The colliery was then abandoned.
In the early part of 1870 a law was passed for the health and safety of persons employed in coal mines and the appointment of inspectors. The act extended to the counties of Schuylkill, Northumberland, Columbia, and Dauphin, and the territory was divided into three inspection districts. The Shamokin coal field was included in the Third district with David Ed- monds as inspector, who in the course of two or three years was succeeded by William Hemingray, of our town, who ably and honestly filled this re- sponsible position.
During 1870 some eight new collieries were added to the list. The Bear Valley Coal Company, through their contractors, A. A. Heim & Company, completed on the first of the year a new breaker on their lands, called the George Fales, which operated on the red ash vein, No. 11. J. Langdon & Company put up a new breaker on lands leased from the Northern Central Railway Company, and called it the Hickory Ridge colliery. The firm of Heim, Beck & Reyer secured a lease from the Locust Gap Improvement Company and started the Monitor colliery, which shortly afterwards was purchased by George W. Johns & Brother. The Locust Dale Improvement Company erected the Merriam colliery on lands of Locust Gap Improvement Company. This colliery was not regarded as a success until it came into the possession of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. The Caledonia colliery was started up by Schwenk & Company on lands of Henry Saylor near Mt. Carmel. Its name was afterwards changed to that of Black Diamond. The Morton colliery was started up by Morton, Davis & Company on lands of the Northern Central Railway Company near Mt. Carmel, and was operated for a few years. The Emory colliery, A. R. Fiske, lessee, was
383
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD.
opened on the Helfenstein lands but did not prove a success. Isaac Reese & Brother opened up a small colliery on the Marshall tract adjoining the town of Shamokin and operated it for a few years. This year the tonnage of Northumberland county exceeded one million tons.
The year 1871 was noted for the great changes in the policy of the rail- road companies that depended upon the coal tonnage of the Middle coal field. In order to successfully compete with the large corporations of the Lackawanna regions that were engaged in mining as well as the transporta- tion of coal, and to be able to hold control of the coal tonnage, the three great roads of our region organized companies known as the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, the Mineral Railroad and Mining Com- pany, and the Greenland Company. The Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, one of the greatest corporations in the State, was organ- ized this year, the Reading Railroad Company owning all the stock. A loan of twenty-five million dollars was obtained from the Fidelity Trust and Safe Deposit Company of Philadelphia, secured by a mortgage on the Philadel- phia and Reading Railroad Company. During this year they purchased over seventy thousand acres of the choicest coal lands in Northumberland and Schuylkill counties, paying for the same over eleven millions of dollars, and for some years following continued their purchases until all the coal lands within their reach were absorbed in this company. Among the tracts pur- chased by this company were those of the Locust Gap Improvement Com- pany, Big Mountain Improvement Company, Fulton Coal Company, Mt. Carmel and Locust Mountain Coal Company, the McIntyre lands, and the one half of the Trevorton Company lands. Some of the colliery leases on these lands were also bought, while on other tracts the leases were allowed to expire, and some few new leases were made to certain parties.
The Mineral Railroad and Mining Company secured this year the Cam- eron, Luke Fidler, and Hickory Swamp colleries, and in the course of a year or so two other collieries.
This change in the mining operations of our region, placing nearly all' the collieries in the possession of two powerful corporations, was looked upon by some as injurious to our region. But such has not been the result, if judged without prejudice. The expense of mining has become so great of late years that the enormous outlay of capital in keeping the mines in proper condition could not possibly be carried on by individual operators.
On the last day of March, 1871, the Locust Gap breaker, operated by Graeber & Kemple, was destroyed by fire, communicated from the Locust Summit breaker, which stood a short distance west and had been fired by in- cendiaries. The coal mined at this colliery after the burning was put through the A. S. Wolf breaker, which stood near the present site of the Reading depot at Locust Gap, until 1872, when a new Locust Gap breaker was erected on or near its present location.
384
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
In July of this year Isaac May & Company leased the Burnside colliery and operated it very successfuly for a number of years. The Margie Frank- lin breaker was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt in the short space of thir- ty-three days-a most remarkable feat in breaker building.
In 1872 there were thirty-three collieries in the county with eighteen slopes and fifty-two drifts. Heim & Goodwill at the beginning of the year leased the Bear Valley and George Fales collieries, which had just come in the possession of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. Heim & Goodwill continued to work these collieries until 1877, when they sold out to the Reading Company. Isaac May & Company, at the Burnside colliery, performed a remarkable feat in coal mining at this time. They sunk a second lift on their slope; they were engaged in driving the Bitten- bender tunnel, and at the same time they ran their breaker as usual without lessening their shipments. In January this year the Mineral Railroad and Mining Company built a double breaker at the Cameron colliery with a capacity of one thousand two hundred tons per day. It was a model breaker for those times. During this year J. Langdon & Company took charge of the Henry Clay colliery, and at Buck Ridge colliery the firm was changed to May, Audenreid & Company.
In 1873 Patterson, Llewellyn & Company leased the Big Mountain coll- iery, which had been regarded as an exhausted operation. But. through the skill and indomitable energy of David Llewellyn, who gave these mines his untiring attention, the shipments of this colliery soon headed the list and it was regarded as one of the most valuable collieries in the Middle coal field. Black Diamond breaker was destroyed by fire in March and was rebuilt again in August. The Mineral Railroad and Mining Company acquired the Hickory Ridge colliery this year, making four operations now under their control. This year Gilliard Dock, the superintendent of the Mineral Rail- road and Mining Company was superseded by Holden Chester, a most suc- cessful manager of collieries.
In 1874 the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company com- pleted the Alaska shaft, located between Mt. Carmel and Locust Gap, and erected a large breaker with all the latest improvements in coal mining. This operation has become one of the most productive in the Western Middle coal field. This year two breakers, the Ben Franklin and Brady, were de- stroyed by fire. The Ben Franklin was rebuilt in the short space of thirty- five days.
In 1875 the tonnage from Northumberland county amounted to one million seven hundred fifteen thousand three hundred fourteen tons. On October 5th the Locust Gap breaker was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt immediately and commenced shipping coal in the early part of the next year.
During 1876 several new collieries were started. Fulton & Kendrick opened a new colliery on lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal
385
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD.
and Iron Company north of the Burnside slope and called it the Sterling colliery. A large breaker was erected on the premises, the engines and machinery of which, as of most collieries built from this date, were from the shops of John Mullen & Company. John Cruikshank started a colliery on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, north of the Henry Clay shaft, working the red ash veins. A breaker was erected and soon after M. Emes became associated with the firm. The opera- tion was known as the Peerless colliery and the breaker stood near the site of the Frank Gowen colliery that had been burned down a few years previously. J. Langdon & Company commenced sinking a shaft on lands leased from the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company and the Bellas heirs.
In 1877 J. Langdon & Company completed a large breaker at the Henry Clay shaft. The lease of the Burnside colliery was acquired by the Phila- delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.
In 1878 the Hickory Ridge breaker was destroyed by fire. Philip Good- will opened up the Carson colliery and built a breaker. A new breaker was built at the Buck Ridge colliery.
In 1879 the Mineral Railroad and Mining Company opened up a large colliery on the Green Ridge tract near Mt. Carmel and called it the Penn- sylvania colliery. They built a large breaker, containing all the modern im- provements, under the supervision of their practical and experienced superin- tendent.
On the 15th of July, 1880, the Enterprise breaker was destroyed by fire. On July 26th a new breaker was commenced and completed in twenty-seven days, beating all records thus far in breaker building. This was accomplished through the energy and tact of the superintendent, William Gable, and his inside foreman, John H. Gable. The Mt. Carmel breaker was also burned down and rebuilt this year. A small breaker was also built at the Hickory Ridge colliery in place of the one destroyed in 1878.
In December, 1881, M. C. Robinson, of New York, leased the Carson colliery.
In 1882 W. H. Douty and John H. Gable leased from Renshaw & Johns- ton a portion of their tract north of the old Buck Ridge breaker with the privilege of mining on all veins above the Mammoth. They commenced sinking a slope. April 1, 1882, the Mt. Carmel colliery, formerly known as the Stuartville colliery, changed the firm of its operators, being leased by Montelius, Righter & Company. This colliery had been operated for many years. About 1860 Colonel Z. P. Boyer opened up this colliery on lands of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company and shipped a small quantity of coal. In 1861 William Montelius, who had previously operated at the Green Ridge, became the lessee and operated it very successfully for a num- ber of years. About 1880 the firm was changed to Montelius, Robertson & Company, and on the 1st of April, 1882, to Montelius, Righter & Company,
386
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
consisting of William Montelius, A. M. Montelius, Thomas M. Righter, and E. B. Leisenring.
During 1883 several changes took place in operators. On February 1st the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company acquired the Locust Gap colliery, on July 6th, the Peerless colliery, and on August 29th, the Buck Ridge colliery. On July 2d the Shamokin, Sunbury and Lewisburg railroad was opened for business. This extension of the Reading system af- fords a most valuable outlet, as it connects direct with the Vanderbilt roads and brings Shamokin in communication with Buffalo and the towns along the New York Central railroad. The first shipment of Shamokin coal over this road was made by the Merriam colliery, consigning thirty-one tons of egg coal to Syracuse, New York.
On the 1st of April, 1884, the Union Coal Company took possession of the Hickory Swamp and Pennsylvania collieries, previously worked by the Mineral Railroad and Mining Company. During this summer Douty & Gable completed a breaker on their leased tract and named their colliery the Garfield. On August 4th Mr. Gable withdrew from the firm.
In the spring of 1885 the Merriam coal breaker was destroyed by fire. A new breaker was erected and started in November. On July 1st the Henry Clay shaft was transferred to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. This year, W. H. Douty formed a firm and called it the Garfield Coal Company, Limited. In December the lease of Schwenk, Robertson & Company at the Caledonia colliery expired and the colliery remained idle for a year or so. On the 1st of January, 1886, the firm name of the Mt. Carmel colliery was changed to Thomas M. Righter & Company, on account of the death of two of the partners, William and A. M. Montelius. Extensive improvements and new openings were made, which enabled this old colliery to keep up its tonnage. On June 5th, 1886, the large breaker at Alaska shaft was destroyed by fire. A new breaker was erected to take its place, which was completed at the beginning of next year. A new breaker was built at Luke Fidler this year. The Mammoth breaker at the Henry Clay shaft was completed during the latter part of this season. On May 6th the Union Coal Company acquired the Hickory Ridge colliery, making three collieries operated by them.
On the 9th of June, 1887, the Neilson breaker was completed and started by J. Langdon & Company (incorporated), with A. H. Storrs as superintend- ent. Ground was broken for the shaft in 1884 and it was sunk to the depth of one thousand two hundred twenty feet. The height of the breaker was one hundred seventy-three feet. Over one million feet of lumber were used in its construction. A new breaker was commenced at the Cameron colliery the latter part of this year. The legislature passed an act for semi-monthly payments of wages at collieries.
During January, 1888, the Cameron breaker was completed, equipped
387
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD.
with all the modern improvements, and arranged to do an extensive business, but in October it was destroyed by fire. Llewellyn, Nagle & Company leased the Black Diamond colliery, erected a new breaker, and made other improve- ments. The Excelsior Coal Mining Company opened up another colliery on their lands, developing the Buck Mountain vein, which had been partially opened by Mr. Dewees some years ago. The next year a breaker was built and the operation was named Corbin colliery, in honor of the late president of the Reading railroad. These improvements were made under the manage- ment of Andrew Robertson, one of the most experienced and successful coal operators in the anthracite region.
In the early part of 1889 the Cameron breaker was rebuilt, being one of the largest and most complete structures in the State. Extensive improve- ments were made at the Mt. Carmel colliery, which is said to have over seventeen miles of gangway. The Patterson Coal Company secured a tract of coal land, seven miles long and one mile wide, extending eastward from the Hickory Ridge colliery. By shaftings made they found the two Lykens Valley veins, the Buck Mountain, and another vein over ten feet in thickness.
In January, 1890, Major E. J. Phillips purchased the controlling inter- est in the Black Diamond colliery and changed the name of the firm to that of the Black Diamond Coal Company, and the name of the operation to that of the Ferndale colliery. In February Governor Beaver appointed a State commission on anthracite coal wastage, consisting of J. A. Price, of Scranton, P. W. Sheafer, of Pottsville, and Eckley B. Coxe, of Drifton. In February a fire broke out in the gangway of No. 1 slope at the Cameron colliery. This slope extended four hundred twenty feet below the surface. Superintendent Morris Williams, the mine foreman, Edward Brennan, and the men made heroic efforts to subdue the fire, often at the peril of their lives, but after weeks of work were compelled to flood the mine by turning in the waters of Shamokin creek. This flooding excited the attention of everybody, and guesses of the time it would take to fill the mines were published in the Daily Dispatch. An immense cavity was to be filled. Over twenty-six miles of underground railroad were in these mines, and immense caverns existed where the coal for years had been taken out. By a careful account kept by the officials, it took six days, eight hours, and thirty minutes for the flow of the creek to fill the mines, one billion gallons of water having flowed in. On May 6th they commenced pumping out the water, having made very complete arrange- ments for this purpose. In No. 10 slope two sets of duplex pumps were put to work pumping water. In No. 1 slope water was hoisted out with two boilers, each twenty feet long and four feet in diameter. A steam pump was placed in No. 8 traveling way, two steam pumps in No. 7 fanway, and one in traveling way of the slope, making six pumps in all, besides the boilers. In September the mines were sufficiently emptied so as to work the No. 1 lift, and on November 2d all the water was drawn out. Owing to the good condition
388
HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY.
that the gangways were in at the time the fire occurred, the mines were found in excellent order at all points except at the place where the fire had existed. It has been conceded by all parties acquainted with the work, that the man- agement under such trying circumstances, where such great interests were involved, could not have been better performed. On May 19th the Neilson breaker was destroyed by fire, another misfortune for Shamokin, throwing some eight hundred people out of employment. The company commenced at once removing the debris, and started to build a new breaker under the super- vision of their manager, H. S. Gay. This breaker will be completed in December and promises to be one of the finest in the region. On July 16th the Patterson Coal Company located on Big Mountain north of Mt. Carmel, commenced digging foundations for a large coal breaker on their tract, and proceeded to build a number of dwelling houses. This colliery was named the Natalie, and is expected to commence shipping coal on the first of the coming year. On August 4th the Alaska shaft hoisted eight hundred twenty eight cargos of coal in ten hours, or about eighty-three cars per hour. This beats all records on coal hoisting as far as known. During the latter part of August the mines of the Buck Ridge colliery were found to be on fire. Efforts were made for some weeks to subdue it but without success. On Sep- tember 28th the water of Shamokin creek was turned in, being conducted some twelve hundred feet in wooden troughs, flowing at the rate of four hundred seventy feet per minute. In forty-four hours the mines were filled with water above the point of the fire. The water flowed in at the rate of thirty million gallons in twenty-four hours. The water is now being pumped out and min- ing will soon be resumed at this colliery.
During November, 1890, the drowned slope of Coal Ridge colliery, which had remained flooded since 1873 when operated by Burton Brothers & Com- pany, was drained. This colliery adjoins the Mt. Carmel colliery on the north. The following extract from the Mt. Carmel News of November 15, 1890, describes this interesting event :-
Several months ago Thomas M. Righter & Company secured the lease of the Coal Ridge colliery and at once began to pump the water from the old workings. A tunnel from the Skidmore of the Mt. Carmel colliery was started at the same time, and this week the workman broke through into the old mine. As soon as the water had rushed through the opening Superintendent Righter and others entered the gangway to see what changes had been made in seventeen years.
On the turnout stood a trip of loaded wagons left there by the editor of the News, who, at the time of the drowning out, was a driver boy. The rails on which the cars stood were about an inch in thickness. A keg of railroad spikes looked like a keg of six-pennies. The miners' drills looked like pieces of thick wire, and nothing of shovel and picks remained save the handles. The old bench on the gangway looked just as natural as it did when County Commissioner-elect Roney, John N. Evans, Hopkin Davis, Thomas Evert, Andrew Clamaskie, and others sat on it and discussed the merits of the old W. B. A. The timber in the gangway seemed as good as when Jonathan Rupp, Abe Fry, and the two Ralphs lifted the huge collars into position. The gang-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.