USA > Pennsylvania > Washington County > Washington > History of the city of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and representative citizens 20th century > Part 46
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124,376
293,125
252
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
SEVENTH BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. .
Operator.
Mines.
Tons. Men.
Location and Railroad.
Pittsburg Coal Co ..
Briar Hill
169,237
211
McDonald, Main Line P., O., C. & St. L.
Creedmore
171,790
266
Cecil Twp., Millers Run Branch Chartiers Ry.
Jumbo
165,252
252 West of McDonald, P., C., C & St. L.
Laurel Hill No. 2.
53,400
131
Cecil Twp., Millers Run Branch Chartiers Ry.
Ridgeway
79,556
202
Bishop, Millers Run Branch Penna.
Shaw
186,769
237
12-mile north Midway, in Rob. Twp., on spur of Penna. R.R.
Carnegie Coal Co ...
Primrose
174,812
246
Primrose, in Mt. Pleasant Twp., P., C., C. & St. L.
Pittsburg & Eastern Coal Co ..
. Nos. 1, 2, 3.
443,678
371
Cherry Valley, Smith Twp., Cherry Valley Branch P., C., East of Burgettstown, P., C., C. & St. L.
Verner Coal & Coke Co ..
Verner
216,054
295
Bulger Block Coal Co ..
Bulger
204,898
292
Pittsburg & Washington Coal Co .... Pryor No. 1.
144,008
143
Cross Creek Twp., Wabash.
J. H. Stanford Co ...
Raccoon No. 1
120,355
166
Pittsburg & Southwestern Co.
Donehoe
80,705
124
Washington County Coal Co ..
Cedar Grove.
68,517
123
Penobscot Co. .
Penobscot
36,290
Avella, Wabash.
Pittsburg & Erie Coal Co ..
. Armedi
33,055
85
Burgettstown, Burgetts Branch P., C., C. & St. L.
Cross Creek & Pittsburg Coal Co .... Cross Creek
22,580
41
Pryor Coal Co.
Avella
4,307
51
Avella, Wabash.
2,596,480 3,489
THIRTEENTH BITUMINOUS DISTRICT.
Operator.
Mines.
Tons.
Men.
Location and Railroad.
Monongahela River C. & C. Co ..
Coal Bluff
179,686
278
Coal Bluff, Mon. Div. Penna.
Cincinnati
259,355
249
Near Courtney Sta., Mon. Div. Penna.
Pittsburg Coal Co.
Banner
160,392
182
Shire Oaks, Mon. Div. Penna.
Courtney
20,155
58
Courtney, Mon. Div. Penna.
Star Coal Co ..
Star
103,965
86
Courtney, Mon. Div. Penna.
SIXTEENTH BITUMINOUS DISTRICT.
Operator.
Mines.
Tons.
Men.
Location and Railroad.
Monongahela River C. & C. Co.
Eclipse
384,915
333
Stony Run Landing, near Elco, Mon. Div. Penna.
Crescent
309,469
223
Crescent Landing, near California, Mon. Div. Penna.
Knob
299,215
254
Near W. Brownsville, Mon. Div. Penna.
Vigilant
247,350
255
California, Mon. Div. Penna.
Beaumont
47,763
36
W. Brownsville, Mon. Div. Penna.
Champion
35,888
40
Elco, Mon. Div. Penna.
Diamond Coal Co.
Diamond
253,823
Huston Run, Mon. Div. Penna.
Clyde Coal Co ...
. Clyde
229,921
Near Fredericktown, Mon. Div. Penna.
Bessemer Coal Co.
. Bernard
20,999
116
Besco, on Ten-Mile Creek, on branch of Mon. Div. Penna.
Vesta Coal Co ...
. Vesta No. 4.
1,556,024
1,147
California, Mon. Div. Penna.
Vesta No. 3
65,094
190
Coal Center, Mon. Div. Penna.
Litzenberg
5,230
32
3,455,691
2,994
SEVENTEENTH BITUMINOUS DISTRICT.
Operator.
Mines.
Tons.
Men.
Location and Railroad.
Pittsburg Coal Co.
Allison
131,153
195
McGovern, Chartiers Railway.
Eclipse
20,839
241
Peters Twp., B. & O.
Midland No. 1.
382,076
433
Midland, Westland Branch of Chartiers Railway.
Midland No. 3 ..
282,492
371
Westland, Westland Branch of Chartiers Railway.
Nottingham
229,064
307
South of Hackett, B. & O.
Y. & O. Coal Co ..
Manifold 1 and 2.
484,715
351
Meadow Lands Coal Co.
Meadow Lands No. 1
84,775
104
United Coal Co.
Rich Hill.
290,039
331
Greek & Co ..
. Dandy
71,350
95
Sally
12,366
28
Jos. Wise
Germania
21,945
38
Pittsburg-Buffalo Co.
Hazel
628,596
603
East of Hackett, B. & O. Venitia, B. & O.
2.962,002
3,568
Manifold, in S. Strabane Twp., Branch of Chartiers Ry. Meadowland, Chartiers Railway.
Meadow Lands No. 2.
322,592
291
Mile north of County Home in Chartiers Twp., Branch of S. W. Meadowlands, Chartiers Railway.
[Chartiers Ry. Chartiers Twp., Westland Branch of Chartiers Railway.
The summary of the above tables shows that Wash- ington County produced in the year 1907, 14,545,599 tons of coal and that 16,219 men were employed at the mines, inside and outside. Washington ranks fifth among the counties of the State in the production of bituminous coal. Fayette leads, with Westmoreland a close second and Allegheny and Cambria ahead of Washington. No other
county in the State produces as much as 10,000,000 tons of coal. In the table below it will be seen that Washing ton County has forged ahead in the coal industry since 1890. Even in 1900, eight years ago, the county pro- duced but 4,884,828 tons, not much over a third of the production in 1907.
[C. & St. L.
Pittsburg-Buffalo Co ...
Francis
231,407
249
Bulger, P., C., C. & St. L. Bulger, P., C., C. & St. L.
Raccoon Sta., P., C., C. & St. L. Independence Twp., Wabash. Cross Creek Twp., Wabash.
54
Cross Creek, Pg. & Cross Creek Branch Wabash.
723,553
8,531
203
195
253
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Summary Tons of Coal Mined.
First District
4,807,873
Seventh District
2,596,480
Thirteenth District
723,553
Sixteenth District
3,455,691
Seventeenth District
2,962,002
Grand total
14,545,599
Number Men Employed.
First District 5,315
Seventh District
3,489
Thirteenth District
853
Sixteenth District
2,994
Seventeenth District
3,568
Grand total
16,219
Rank by Counties-1907.
County.
No. Tons. No. Men.
Fayette
. 28,989,053
32,426
Westmoreland
. 28,635,824
31,229
Allegheny
. 18,340,915
21,109
Cambria
16,087,747
22,359
Washington
.14,545,599
16,209
Washington County 's Increase.
Year.
Prod. (Tons).
Men.
1890.
2,471,241
4,341
1895.
3,450,694
6,835
1900.
4,884,828
6,535
1901.
5,602,593
6,971
1902.
8,205,873
8,586
1903.
9,271,996
11,170
1904
9,116,722
13,198
1905
.11,097,834
13,521
1906.
13,018,528
13,840
1907
14,545,599
16,049
Summary of Coal Companies.
Coal Co.
Prod. (Tons). Men.
M. R. C. C. & C. Co.
2,351,559
2,256
Pittsburg Coal Co ..
2,341,139
3,392
Pittsburg & Westmoreland Coal Co ..
1,472,636
1,372
Ellsworth Coal Co.
1,433,750
1,910
Pittsburg-Buffalo Co.
866,673
908
Vesta Coal Co.
1,626,348
1,269
.
The following results of tests of coal near Cross Creek as made several years ago by the gas companies in the cities named, is furnished by W. Craig Lee, Esq., who writes that the first test made by the gas company in Columbus, Ohio, was so good that they had to send for a second shipment thinking something was wrong with the first. The New Orleans Gas Company reported that it was the best coal they ever tested, except the second pool in the Monongahela River, and almost as good as that. The following shows that it is an excellent gas coal:
Candle
Gas Co.
Ft. per 100.
Power. Candle Ft.
Columbus, O.
4.80
15.50
75.02
Columbus, O.
4.60
16.80
77.28
Cincinnati, O.
4.97
14.43
71.71
New Orleans, La.
5.25
14.68
77.07
Ohio Penitentiary
4.82
17.25
83.14
Cleveland, O.
5.22
18.30
99.00
The total assessed value of all coal sold in the county up to January, 1908, was $35,154,846. The assessed value of all improvements made was $2,070,060. The total number of acres sold to January, 1908, was 309,900, and since there are something less than about 594,720 acres of coal in the county, it is seen that over one-half of the coal of the county is in the hands of operators or speculators. One-third of the wealth of the county is in coal lands and mines.
It is estimated that the erea of Washington County is 858 square miles of which about 773 square miles, or about 90%, are underlaid by Pittsburg coal.
With an average thickness of five feet, five inches, this vein will yield 5,406 tons to the acre, which, at one dollar per ton, is worth over $2,674,000,000.
It is estimated that 1,000 tons of coal can be mined from an acre of coal one foot in thickness. Other facts regarding coal may be found in the histories of town- ships.
"This great coal bed, " says Mr. John W. Boileau, "is well known for its persistency and uniform quality. It is the most important bed of coal in the world, and Wash- ington County has been abundantly blessed by nature in giving it so valuable a deposit.
"About fifty-four feet above the Pittsburg coal is the Redstone coal, which in many places reaches four feet in thickness. About 120 feet above the Pittsburg coal is what is known as the Sewickley coal, only about three feet in thickness, and further above is the Uniontown coal and Little Waynesburg coal, and twenty feet above the Little Waynesburg coal is the Waynesburg bed, which in some places reaches a thickness of six to seven feet, and is used for local uses where it can be secured from the out-crops on the hillsides. This bed of Waynesburg coal is from 320 to 340 feet above that of the Pittsburg bed and about 125 feet above the Waynesburg coal is the Little Washington coal, and then there is a small bed of Little Washington coal. All of these named being above the Pittsburg coal, and are located in the hills that are high enough to include them.
"Below the Pittsburg bed of coal there are several beds of coal, among them being the Elk Lick coal, Bakerstown, Upper Freeport, Middle Freeport, Lower Freeport, Clar- ion coals, Kittanning coals, and Brookville coals. Few of these, if any, under Washington County, are workable beds. * * *
"In the mountain districts of West Virginia, Ken- tucky and Tennessee there are many beds of coal that are workable, but they are frequently high in the hills and erosion has cut out great portions of them, leaving com- paratively but little of the coal. Then, again, the lower measures are irregular in quality and in quantity.
"The many outcroppings of the Pittsburg coal bed on the hillsides in Washington County has caused numerous
254
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
mines to be opened. The easy accessibility of the coal is one reason, and the nearness to the markets is another, and in looking over the different fields you can observe what great inroads are being made upon the Washington County coal supply.
"The Pittsburg coal outcrops along the P. C. C. & St. L. Railroad from McDonald to Midway, and then again from Bulger to the West Virginia state line on the west. In this district there are the mines of the Pittsburg Coal Company, the McDonald-Midway field, the Carnegie Coal Company, the Verner Coal Company, The Bulger Block Coal Company, Carbon Coal Company, Pittsburg & East- ern Coal Company, Pittsburg & Erie Coal Company, and the Pittsburg-Buffalo Company, the majority of whom are shippers of coal.
" Along the Chartiers Branch of the Pennsylvania from the Allegheny County line through to Washington are the large holdings and mines of the Pittsburg Coal Com- pany, the United States Steel Corporation, National Min- ing Company property, the plant of the Pittsburg-Buf- falo Company which is shipping 600,000 tons or more per year, the Meadow Land Coal Company, the United Coal Company, and the Manifold Mines of the Youghiogheny & Ohio Coal Company.
"Along the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad from Wash- ington to Finleyville the line traverses, with few excep- tions, the territory of the Pittsburg Coal Company. In the vicinity of Venetia, Anderson, Finleyville, Gaston- ville, the Pittsburg Coal Company is mining great quan- tities of coal. Along the Monongahela River, in the vi- cinity of Shire Oaks, Monongahela, Charleroi, Allenport, California, and West Brownsville, there are many large mines taking out enormous quantities of the coal from the outcroppings, as the coal is to be seen on the hillsides the entire distance-a direct line of seventeen miles, and by the river almost double the distance. The only place the coal goes under the water line is between West Brownsville and the outcropping at Frederick town and Millsboro, here erosion or drainage from Ten Mile Creek has caused the coal to outerop.
"The Monongahela River, nature's great water way, has been the main medium of transportation, and which resulted in the rapid depletion of the high grade coal in eastern Washington County. Years before the River Com- panies were merged the barges were loaded and steam- boats towed them to various markets, to Pittsburg, to Cincinnati, and farther down to New Orleans. With the improvements on the Ohio it means much value added to the coal lands of eastern Washington County.
"If one enters the mines along the Monongahela River that have been worked steadily for the past four or five years, he will observe what great amounts of coal have been taken out. Great black holes exist along almost the entire line. They are hauling three or four miles or more
back from the river underground in dumping their coal on the railroad or the river. These conditions make im- perative the building of such lines as from Monongahela through the Pittsburg-Westmoreland Coal Company prop- erty, the Lackawanna Colliery Company, which company has three large coking plants, and the line lately has been extended through to Marianna where the Pittsburg-Buf- falo Company is constructing one of the most modern coal plants in the world. Everything in connection with it has been made with the idea of it not being necessary to be replaced for years. Miles of entry have been driven and modern machinery installed that will produce 2,500,- 000 tons of coal per annum. This mine alone will take out more than 225 acres of coal per year. Everything has been installed to enlarge the production and lessen its cost. For years to come it will be pointed out as an ideal mine. The Pittsburg-Buffalo Company have plans- and are building 1,400 coke ovens at Marianna.
"To the west of this property is the Pittsburg-West- moreland Coal Company who own 10,000 acres of high grade gas and coking coal. Then, along the narrow gauge from the Green County line to Washington in the entire distance are the large holdings of J. V. Thompson and I. W. Semans.
"The southwestern part of Washington County, along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, has not been developed, although the coal bed in nearly every district has been purchased from the original owners and is in the hands of people holding same for investment.
"The Wabash Railroad from the Allegheny County line extending west traverses much area of the Pittsburg Coal Company, Wabash Coal Company, Pittsburg Terminal Railroad & Coal Company, Pittsburg & Southwestern Coal Company, the Pittsburg & Washington Coal Company, the Washington County Coal Company, the Greensburg Coal Company, and the Cross Creek Coal Company. These mines have all been opened up in the last few years, or since the Wabash line has been built.
As to the quality of the coal in Washington County, it varies greatly. In the extreme eastern part along the Monongahela River, from Millsboro to Monongahela, it has been mainly used for high grade fuel and shipped by the river interests. Not until late years has it been regarded as a high grade coking coal when properly pre- pared and handled. Jones & Laughlin were the first to. use it in making coke. In West Bethlehem, Deemston, West Pike Run, Somerset, Fallowfield and Carroll Town- ships we find a basin that has been largely purchased for the purpose of making coke in the future. This coal has increased in price more than any other in the county, mainly because of its high quality. As we go west, be- tween this basin and the Washington anticline, which passes northeast and southwest between this basin and Washington, and which extends northeast and southwest
255
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
and almost parallel with the Chartiers Valley Branch, we find a high grade fuel coal. The eastern portion may be regarded as a fair grade of gas coal. To the northwest of Washington and the western portion the coal is re- garded as a high grade fuel coal.
With the many mines located within the county's bor- ders making great inroads upon the coal of the county, it is a question as to just how long it will last. The 450,000 acres, or more, of the Pittsburg coal bed in Washington County would be entirely depleted at the end of twenty years, if the entire tonnage requirements were taken from this county, at the present rate of production and at the rate of increase for the past ten years. In other words, if we have an initial consumption of but 5,000 acres of gas, steam and coking coal per year and an annual in- crease of 15%, the area depleted at the end of twenty years would be about 600,000 acres. If the coal produc- tion and requirements did not increase, but continued as they have during 1909, the 450,000 acres of Pittsburg coal in Washington County would fill the requirements of the United States for ten years. The United States pro- duced in anthracite and bituminous coal 450,000,000 tons during 1909, and Washington County's 450,000 acres of coal lands, at an average of 10,000 tons to the acre, means 4,500,000,000 tons, or ten years' supply of coal to the United States, at the present rate of consumption.
"Our largest tonnages have been taken out in the past few years, and if we continue on in our industrial progress at the present rate, our Pittsburg district will soon be depleted of its best coal.
"Washington County coal, whether it be in the east- ern or western part, can always be regarded as a safe investment. Washington, Allegheny, Greene, Westmore- land and Fayette Counties furnished the best quality of coal, and are nearer the centers of consumption than the mountain coals of West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. If we are better located because of the twenty-five cents per ton freight rate, that means alone in the operation of Washington County coal $2,000 to $3,000 per acre. This fact, other than high quality, will always make Washington County coal valuable.
"It is quite true that the consumption of coal will increase greatly. The disappearance of timber and natural gas, and with the rapid stride in industrial prog- ress, it is folly to think that we have reached our zenith in the production of coal. Is it not safe to predict that our great populated centers will need larger tonnage to meet their demands? With the development of the country from coast to coast every district will need fuel. The lighting, the heating and the power required will further increase the demand. New enterprises are under- taken and modern structures are being built. Several of our office buildings in our large cities require from twenty to forty tons of coal per day. Several of our Pittsburg buildings use 15 to 20 tons of coal per day.
This is consumed under the boilers, furnishing the light, heat, and power for elevators, etc., and every modern convenience requires additional coal, not only in the making of it, but in its future operation. Then there is every prospect that our railroads in handling the in- creased traffic will use greater amounts of coal as fur- ther progress tends to increase production and make broader demands for fuel. The foundation of all these industries and the force and power which moves the wheels of commerce is found in the lump of coal, which goes into the furnace and releases the stored up energy placed in the coal bed many thousands of years ago. Coal is, therefore, the fundamental basis of power, and it is the staple article which of necessity finds use and ready sale in every state in the Union."
Below is a table showing the quality and uses of coal in each township, prepared by John W. Bealeau.
Carroll Township, high grade coking, gas and steam coal.
Fallowfield Township, high grade coking, gas and steam coal.
East Pike Run Township, high grade coking, gas and steam coal.
West Pike Run Township, high grade coking, gas and steam coal.
Centerville Borough, high grade coking, gas and steam coal.
Demston Borough, high grade coking, gas and steam coal.
West Bethlehem, high grade coking, gas and steam coal.
Somerset, high grade coking, gas and steam coal.
Amwell Township, coking, gas and steam.
South Strabane, gas and steam.
North Strabane, gas and steam.
Peters, gas and steam.
Morris, coking, gas and steam.
South Franklin, coking, gas and steam.
North Franklin, coking, gas and steam.
Canton Township, high grade steam coal.
Chartiers, high grade steam coal.
Cecil, high grade steam coal.
East Finley Township, high grade steam coal.
West Finley, high grade steam coal.
Buffalo, high grade steam coal.
Blaine, high grade steam coal.
Hopewell, high grade steam coal.
Independence, high grade steam coal.
Mt. Pleasant, high grade steam coal.
Cross Creek, high grade steam coal.
Jefferson, high grade steam coal.
Smith, high grade steam coal.
Robeson, high grade steam coal.
Hanover, high grade steam coal.
CHAPTER XXIII.
BANKS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
Philadelphia Bank-Bank of Washington-Early Washington County Financiers-Franklin Bank of Washington and First National Bank of Washington-Early Banking Legislation-Uncertain Values of Early Paper Currency-William Smith's Private Bank-Bank of J. Alexander & Son-Hazlett Bank-Canonsburg Savings Fund Society-Farmers Bank of Deposit of Canonsburg-Peoples Bank of Monongahela City and Mononga- hela City Trust Co .- The Hopkins, Wright & Co. Bank-Washington Savings Bank-Burgettstown National Bank-Canonsburg Savings Bank-Citizens National Bank of Washington-Farmers and Mechanics National Bank of Washington-First National Bank of Claysville-First National Bank of McDonald-First National Bank of California-Peoples National Bank of McDonald-Act of March 14, 1900-Bank of Coal Center- Peoples Bank of California-First National Bank of Claysville-Trust Companies-Dime Savings Institution and Title Guarantee & Trust Co. of Washington-Washington Trust Co .- Citizens Trust Co. of Canonsburg -Charleroi Savings & Trust Co .- List of National and State Banks and Trust Companies in Washington County with their Statements for the Year 1908-Rank of Leading Banks in the County-Statistical Table of Bank Stock, Dividends, etc. of the County's Leading Financial Institutions-The County's Financial Growth as Exhibited in her Financial Institutions-Review of Financial History of the County-Directory of Banks.
Philadelphia Bank, Office of Discount and Deposits, Washington, Pa .- This was the first bank opened in the county. It commenced business in July, 1809, and closed in 1825. It was only a branch of the parent in- stitution at Philadelphia. John Neal, who afterwards was interested with Chas. DeHass in the town of Colum- bia, or West Columbia (now Donora) was cashier of this branch. An effort was made to change this branch bank to "an original bank," to give more general accommo- dation to the citizens of this county and of the adja- cent counties and to avoid individual ruin and distress as well as general embarrassment in this part of the state. An act for this purpose was passed in 1818, with the intention that the proposed bank be called the "Franklin Bank of Washington, Pa." Capital pro- posed was not less than $150,000 or more than $226,000.
The Bank of Washington, a competitor, had been established in 1814, under the provisions of an act passed March 21st, of that year. The legislation in 1818 was apparently for the purpose of consolidating the branch bank and this later original bank, both being in financial trouble at that date. The Bank of Wash- ington had failed to transmit to the state department on the first of November, 1817, the 6% of its dividends, which were or should have been declared on that day as required by the law. Upon proof that the failure to pay to the state the amount required was an acci- dent, the legislature authorized the Bank of Washing- ton to continue business. The efforts to consolidate the
two banks seemed to have failed, although John Neal, the cashier of the branch bank, was acting in unity with the parties interested in the Bank of Washington, which is shown by the fact that the stockholders of the Bank of Washington, as early as 1823, held a meeting at the office of the Philadelphia Bank and elected five managers to direct the affairs of the Washington Bank. These annual meetings continued until 1834.
John Neal, who remained with the branch bank of Philadelphia until its close in 1825, then removed to Philadelphia, leaving its affairs to be finally closed by Daniel Moore and Rev. Thomas Hoge. The complica- tions had caused the financial ruin of John Neal, and his large holdings of lots in the town of West Columbia were at that time sold by the sheriff, and bought by David Shields, who with Parker Campbell, Thomas Ache- son, Robert Hazlett, Hugh Wilson, Alexander Reed, Daniel Moore, David Cook, Alexander Murdoch, Joseph Pentecost, John Hoge, James Allison, Thomas Patterson, William Hoge, James Stevenson, James Orr and Robert Rowland, had elected him cashier in 1809.
The names of those working on banking problems in the early days will interest their many descendants. Among those originating the Bank of Washington in 1814, were Richard Donaldson, of Washington, John Lyle, John Purviance, Thomas Baird, Robert Hamilton, David Morris, Hugh Haggerty, Isaac Mayes, George Morgan, Eleazar Jenkins, William Vance, Dr. Samuel Murdoch, Hugh Workman, George Baird, John Watson,
256
257
HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY
Daniel Leet, David Craig, Robert Boland, Jr., John Clemens and James Gordon. In addition to many of the above named, Craig Ritchie, of Canonsburg, Thomas McCall, William Sample and John Marshall were stock- holders in 1819. Among the properties of the Bank of Washington sold by trustees was 1,450 acres of land in Washington, Beaver and Greene Counties, the lot and brick house now known as the Acheson Round Corner, and the frame house and lot at the opposite corner of Main and Maiden streets. Joseph Henderson was for nine years the agent of the managers of this bank in winding up its affairs.
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