USA > West Virginia > Logan County > Logan > History of the city of Logan, W. Va. [West Virginia], 1823-1916 > Part 8
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2nd. Have mined over 1,000,000 tons of coal without a fatal accident.
3rd. All American labor employed.
Well may theyboast of the fact that since the beginning of the operations they have never had an employee killed within the mines. This pride is not confined to the man- agement alone, but the county as well is proud of this re- cord. "Safety First" has been the motto of the company from its organization, and it was a cardinal principle with them long before the wave of "Safety First" propaganda spread over the land.
H. S. Gay, Jr., the superintendent, is a young man who has inherited from his father the practical knowledge of coal mining. He is constantly on the job and in touch with everything that transpires. Mr. Gay commands the respect
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of his employees and they never fail to find in him a friend in time of need. He is a man of fine physique, young and handsome-and say girls, he is yet single. You know what year this is. Do not let the balance of the year pass with- out results.
Mr. Gay is ably assisted by Fred Kellerman, who has held for the past ten years the position of mine foreman for this company. A. G. McComas is store manager, and George Miller is chief clerk.
The Gay Coal & Coke Company has been one of the foremost factors in Logan county development, and through its extensive pay-roll, has been the means of casting sun- shine and comfort in the homes of a large number of people.
Logan County Light & Homer Co.
The brain of man is ever on the watch for opportunities to provide better and larger things in all lines of commerce. Such being the case it is no wonder then that right in the heart of the vast amount of industrial activity a site should . be chosen for the erection of an industrial plant of immense proportions and beyond question one of the most complete plants to be found in the entire country.
In 1913 a party of eastern capitalists came into this field and soon discovering that there was unlimited possi- bilities for an electric plant here they secured a tract of land just across the Guyan river from Logan and immed- iately began the construction of the present plant of the Logan County Light & Power Company.
The fact that this plant has, or will, prove of inestim- able value to the coal operators and other industrial inter- ests of this entire section of the state is beyond question The plant cost $1,000,000 to erect and equip and is said to be one of the most modern and efficient of its size ever built. No doubt the mine operators will find it much more eco-
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nomical to buy electric energy from this company than to operate steam plants of their own.
Already more than 8000 of the 10,000 kilowatt capac- ity of the plant has been contracted for by the mine oper- ators, under contracts running for a period of ten years. The company has also an excellent arrangement with the city of Logan to supply it with current for lighting pur- poses.
Of course when the mines first began opening in the county there was no concerted movement among any of the numerous companies that came into the field, therefore, each separate operation constructed its own power plant. These individual plants proved expensive for two reasons, one of which is that the operator is naturally more con- cerned in getting out coal than in watching for fine econo- mies at his plant, and the other that the investment for maximum economy would hardly be warranted by the amount of power used, while in many cases the scarcity of good boiler water makes the reasonable power cost im- possible.
The operation of a central plant eliminates the water problem by the use of large surface condensers, the steam being condensed and used over and over again, which in- cidentally prevents the formation of scale in the boilers. Furthermore, the operating force being in one unit instead of scattered about in large number of units it is easily possible to distribute the power throughout the field at a price representing a substantial saving to the individual consumer.
The Logan plant consists of two 5,000 kiowatt steam turbines taking steam at 200 pounds pressure and 100 de- grees superheat, which latter term means that the steam is raised by an additional heating arrangement to 100 de- grees higher temperature than it would ordinarily be at 200 pounds pressure. The boilers are in two batteries, water tube type, equipped with mechanical stokers, and with
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what is commonly known as the "Dutch oven" type of fur- nace in which a large combustion chamber with arched roof is provided for the special purpose of obtaining complete combustion of the coal of this field, which by analysis is shown to be highly volatile.
A steam and hydraulic elevator handles the coal and ashes, minimizing labor charges. The condensers are placed beneath the turbines and the cooling water is taken from the river through a suitable forebay with screens. Each pump handles a half million gallons per hour, all this water being delivered at a slightly raised temperature back to the river.
The switchboard is so designed that although it con- trols both 2200 and 44000 volts, the operators only handle approximately 100 volts, all main switches being opened and closed by electro-magnetic means, operated by buttons on the switchboard.
The plant is equipped with fire pump and complete piping system with hose connections, though the building is of the atest fire proof design and construction. A mechanical filter ensures pure water, which is piped through the building, a shower bath and dressing room be- ing provided for the operatives. An electrically operated crane traverses the engine room to facilitate repairs.
In fact Logan now has something that fills a long-felt want and in this plant they have what will forever prove to them a means of handling any vast undertaking in this field.
The plant is owned and operated by the General Utili- ties and Operating Company, of Baltimore. J. M. Lucas, president, and H. P. Lucas, secretary.
Those in active charge of the company's business in Logan are: M. A. Maxwell, general manager; J. P. Jones, superintendent distribution; A. M. McCormick, office man- ager; J. C. L. Harris, superintendent power plant.
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The undertaking was brought to a successful conclusion largely through the efforts of F. R. Weller, consulting en- gineer of Washington, D. C., who is responsible for its de- sign and construction.
Industries of Logan County
The principal industries of Logan county are farming, mining, lumbering and railroading. Farming is carrie: prnepally in the alluvial deposits along the streams and in Chapmanville district. Market gardening is the most pro- fitable farming. The supply of garden vegetables from the home gardens does not supply the demand. Coal mining is carried on in every district of the county but principally in Logan and Triadephia districts, and natural gas is found in Chapmanville district. Milled lumber is produced in planing mills at Logan, Henlawson, Holden and Omar, and logs from every section of the county, but in greatest quan- tities from Buffalo, Spruce, Island Creek, and Rum Creek, are shipped by the thousands annually to the large mills at Cincinnati, while some of the logs are to this day floated down the Guyandotte in rafts to market. Carbon black is manufactured from natural gas at Chapmanville.
Merchantable Coal
The following merchantable seams of coal are found in Logan county: Beginning with the upper workable seam on Spruce Fork and along the Coalburg syncline, the coal- burg. It is about 338 feet down to the Chilton seam which is being mined at Blair, Ethel, McGregor, Sharples, Paragon and at a number of other places. About 250 feet lower is the Cedar Grove coal which is mined at Holden, Omar, Monitor, Rossmore and many other places; about 50 feet
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feet lower to the Alma seam which is mined at Stone Branch, Hughey, Draper, Wilson and other places, and about 75 feet down to the Campbell Creek coal which is mined at Earling and on Buffalo. It looks a little incredulous that the lower seam is the one worked fartherest up the river, but the upper seams are worked along the Coalburg syn- cline only, which enters Logan county from Boone county just above Clothier, crosses Spruce Fork, passes up Beech Fork, down Dingess Run, across Guyandotte river and Is- land Creek, runs through the head of Whitmans Creek and leaves the county south of the Warfield anticlinal at the head of Pine Creek. Every seam of coal in the county south of the Warfield anticlinal enters the county from Boone county at the head of Barber Fork of Big Creek, crosses Guyandotte river just below Peck's Mill, passes through the head of Rock,, Crawley, and leaves the county at the head of Mud Fork of Island Creek. Along the Coal- burg synclinal the Campbell Creek coal is about 425 feet above sea level, and along the Warfield anticlinal the same coal is about 1000 feet above sea level. From the War- field anticlinal all coal dips.
Summary
Thus we find what was formerly a little village, con- sisting of a few houses, and all the present limits of the corporation lying as farms, has grown to be one of the most prosperous and thriving little cities to be found in the grand commonwealth of West Virginia.
Situated in the 'West Virginia Hills,' lying here on the banks of the beautiful Guyan and surrounded on all sides by the richest fields of the famous "Black Diamond" whose surface has only been touched, enjoying the balmy breezes of pure mountain air, basking in the sunshine lavishly sup- plied through the graciousness of Almighty God, and en-
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joying the greatest prosperity, lies the little city of Logan, our home.
Bordering on the very edge of the corporation we find the operations of the Aracoma Coal Company, operating four mines in different sections of the county and employ- ing approximately 400 men, the Gay Coal Company, em- ploying approximately 100 men, the Monitor Coal Company, with about 300 men, the Shamrock Coal Company, operat- ing three different mines in various parts of the county and employing approximately 300 men, while we have in the corporate limits of the town the Draper Coal Company, em- ploying 75 men, the H. T. Wilson Coal Company, employing 100 men; the headquarters of the Logan Minng Company, with two mines on Main Island Creek, two mines on Din- gess Run and one mine on the main line of the C. & O. Rail- way, employing approximately 500 men. Then we find up Island Creek the Cora Coal and Coke Company, employing 100 men and operating one mine in the county, and then at the head of of the creek we find the great United States Coal & Oil Company with twelve mines in the county and employing 2000 men from the operation of which has sprung the young but prosperous little city of Holden.
We return to near Logan and then go up Main Island Creek and after passing the operations of the Monitor Coal Company and the Logan Mining Company of which mention has been made in this article, we come to the operations of the Main Island Creek Colliery Company with two mines employing 200 men.
We then come to the magical little city of Omar, that like a flower has sprung up and burst into bloom in the past four years, being the main operations of the Main Is- land Creek Coal Company, with eight or ten mines and em- ploying approximately 2000 men, while clustered around these operations we find numerous other operations which space forbids us mentioning in detail. We return to Logan, the center of all this industry and turn up Dingess Run and
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find the Fort Branch Coal Corporation, employing 75 men, the Rex Coal and Coke Company employing 100 men, the Ethel Coal Company operating 4 mines and employing 400 men, besides two mines of the Logan Mining Company, which has a large annual output. We go up a small branch line her and observe the operation of the Frieze Fork Coal Co. and the George's Creek Coal Company each employing about 75 men.
Returning to the mouth of Dingess Run we take the main line of the C. & O. until we reach the mouth of Rum Creek where we find the Cub Fork Coal Company, Paragon Coal Company, and the Argyle Coal Company, each employ- ing approximately 100 men and at the head of the creek we reach the McGregor Coal Company operating three mines and employing 300 men.
After again reaching the main line we come to the beautiful little town of Earling which came into being through the agency of the Logan Mining Company, which operates a large mine here with a substantial yearly out put. Going to the mouth of Buffalo we find as we pass up this creek, operations of which if we should attempt to make mention would cover many pages of this book. Suf- fice to say that these operations furnish employment to ap- proximately 1000 men. Mention should be made of the Lorain Coal & Dock Company whose operations are at the head of this creek who are operating four mines and em- ploying 500 men. Coming to this field just two years ago, this company found its present site to be a large lumber camp and in the short time they have been here they have turned this wilderness into a model mining town and is con- sidered one of the largest operations of the county. We have not mentioned the number of mines you will reach and pass on your way to this "Miracle Land" from Hunting- ton nor the number you will find in the bounds of Logan county that lies beyond the mountain from Logan on the waters of Coal river.
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These operations and model mining towns have all come into being since this vast rich territory has been pierced by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway and they are by no means all for there are new plants springing into being every day, yet the wealth of Logan county has hardly been touched. So great is the output now that the C. & O. finds themselves handicapped in handling the huge output and a cry is going up for better and more transportation facili- ties. The Virginian has been requested to enter Logan and upon a recent meeting of the officials of this road promised to extend their line into Logan if the operators of the field would promise them an annual haulage of three million tons. This demand was promptly met by the coal operators who stated that not only three million tons could be supplied them but twice this amount. We hear on all sides rumors of the Virginian, the N. & W. and other lines coming into the field, while the C. & O. is straining every effort to get the system between this point and Huntington double tracked at the earliest possible moment. Safe it is to say that where there s such an insistent demand that there will be a supply and in the next few years will witness several other roads in the county.
With all this wealth, with all this activity, with all these vast possibilities, Logan needs you and she stands with out- stretched arms to welcome you with the glad hand and a hearty hand-clasp. It matters not what your business, if you are a manufacturer, if you are engaged in any other line of business that is honest and above board, while we are building fast there is always room for more and the latch string is hanging on the outside. If you are a laborer we need you and you will never find a field that will surpass this one for any line of trade. The writer does not speak from hearsay, for he came into this field nearly four years ago and secured a job at a certain operation mentioned above and has worked for many others of them, in fact he laid down his pick and shovel to take up the preparation of this
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little work and upon its completion may return to the mines, but I speak from experience when I say that I have never found in any part of the country a finer lot of men and offic- ials connected with any operations than you will find in this field. While they are always at work you will not find any of the officias from the highest manager to the lowest boss that will not take the time and pleasure in giving you any assistance within their power.
Coming from a state where the old aristocracy played a prominent part in the lives of the wealthy, I was immed- iately impressed with the geniality, the cleverness and cor- diality of all the people with whom I came in contact. There is one class of men whom we do not need nor do not want and that is the man without principle or honesty, but I do know that he need not be a man of wealth to receive the best treatment in Logan. Wealth is needed and we extend an invitation to all capital to come in and look the county over and we feel sure that with the industries that you find we need that you will locate with us, yet we extend to the laboring man the same invitation and I know that he will receive treatment here equal to that of a brother. The writer has personal knowledge of many men who have come into this field without funds sufficient to bring their fam- ilies yet after working a short time at any of these opera- tions and proving to the officials that they were men of honor these companies have never failed to advance them the means of brining their families. I have also witnessed numbers of cases where through some misfortune a man would be forced into a hard place the employers would al- ways be found a friend in need and if a man's principle is right and he proves to their satisfaction that he is not a worthless character he need never fear that he can find one upon whose shoulders he may lay part of his burden.
"Seeing is believing" and we do not ask you to take our word for any of these facts but come and see and we rest assurred you will become one of us.
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Logan Notur and What It Will Be When Its Destiny Js Fulfilled
Situated here among the "West Virginia Hills" on the banks of the beautiful Guyan, lies the little city of Logan -our home. Time was when a few years ago Logan was a little village trying to pull herself out of the mud and how well she has succeeded is left to you, gentle reader, to judge. We now have nicely paved streets, solid and substantial sidewalks, large and commodious business buildings, and beautiful homes. Lots that were formerly occupied with frame buildings have been razed and have given way for substantial brick and stone buildings and more are going up as fast as they can be built, with more to come in the future. Our peolpe are liberal, energetic, and hospitable and a glad hand and hearty welcome is extended to all new comers while the passing stranger is always welcome within our gates. Logan is situated in the very heart of the Guyan Valley coal fields and is surrounded with the natural advan- tages to become sometime in the near future a second Pitts- burg. With branch roads leading in every direction, reach- ing a large number of mines from which pour forth every day an enormous quantity of the famous "Black Diamond" which afford employment to a large army of laborers and positions for many more, with different kinds of business houses in the city requiring the services of skilled laborers we find our little city progressive in the fullest sense of the word and what Logan is at the present time will be nothing in comparison of the city in the near future. At the pres- ent time we boast of three wholesale houses, a great many department stores to supply your evry want, many hand- some churches to look after your spiritual needs,, a large number of lawyers to look after your legal affairs, quite a few experienced physicians and surgeons to attend your physical ailments, and a large and commodious high school
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building and a larger public school building to look after the education of your children, and while we admit that "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" we have for your amusement two elegant moving picture theatres at which you view the best pictures obtainable. We extend to you an invitation to visit our park where you will be entertained with athletic sports. We take time during the strenuous bustle and activity to eat occasionally and we invite you to patronize our large and first class hotels, restaurants and boarding houses where you will be furnished the best food the market affords. If you have any surplus change that is too heavy to carry around in your pocket we have two large and perfectly safe banks who will gladly receive your deposit or extend any other accommodation consistent with good sound banking.
In fact call on us for any favor aud we will do our ut- most to supply your every need and should you unfortun -- ately get in the way of any of our numerous 'jitney busses' we will tenderly convey you to our new, fine hospital, just completed at a cost of $40,000 where your injuries will be treated while you wait.
Logan Ten Years Hence-Or a Peep Into the Future
My-but can this be Logan? We stand in the cupulo . of the magnificent stone court house and gaze up Island Creek and as far as the eye can reach we see numerous buildings of all descriptions and we are told that they too extend up Main Island Creek, we turn and gaze up Dingess Run and we find the same, while we are informed that all the way up the Guyan the buildings are too numerous to count. We look toward Huntington and find that the town has extended down the river. While all the vacant lots that formerly specked the town are all now covered with handsome and elegant homes. On every hand we find new coal operations and the hum of machinery dulls the sound of the hustle and bustle of the street traffic below. Wires leading from the large and powerful electric station situated
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on the bank of the river cover the county like giant cob- webs, carrying to various points the giant current for light- ing and operating purposes, coal trains loaded to capacity are moving west while empty cars are coming east on the double track road of the C. & O. Electric cars are pasing and branching off up into the hollows transporting their load of passengers and freight to all the operations while those that desire are accommodated by motor vehicles over the fine macadamized roads leading in all directions but in the end pointing the way back to Logan, the hub of all this activity. We look down to where the C. & O. formerly had a coop called a station and we find a large, magnificent passenger station in keeping with the balance of the town, hear that the former little ramshackle affair called the water system has given way to the march of progress, and we learn that a short distance back in the mountain Logan has an enormous storage dam from which her people are supplied with water from the pure mountain streams, and the water pressure is sufficient for all purposes. We look below and we find the streets patrolled by uniformed po- lice, we see the Logan band pass by playing patriotic airs, the 'newsies' are crying aloud the latest news that has been flashed over the wires and published in an extra edition of ยท the daily paper, the mail is being delivered to the doors of all the citizens by uniformed carriers at the expense of Uncle Sam, many of the large number of visitors to the city are taking the cars of the incline railway for a trip to the beautiful fraternal home that crowns the crest of the reser- voir mountain, while listen-down in the street at full speed comes the organized fire department in charge of the very latest fire fighting apparatus. Surely this is 'Miracle Land.'
'Tis said that Holden and Omar are only suburbs, while Craneco is clammoring for anexation.
What? Yes-why-sure climbing to the cupulo of the court house and enjoying the balmy breezes of pure mountain air, shaded from the rays of the noon-day sun
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I fell asleep and being espied by the janitor, who being afraid my presence would molest the workings of the town clock has climbed up here and shaking me from my pleasant day-dream has invited me to plant my cute little 'tootsies' on terra firma. Some dream, believe me.
Correction on the Coming of the C. & O. Railroad.
The firt train to reach Logan came in on the 9th day of September, 1904, being a local freight, consisting of en- gine No. 174 and four cars, containing two cars of feed, one care of household goods and one car of coal.
Neal Bishop was the man at the throttle while C. J. Southworth was the conductor in charge.
Miscellaneous
Popuation of Logan
The census figures of Logan were not obtainable for the last federal census taken in 1910 but a conservative estimate places the population at that time at 3,000. A conservative estimate of the population at the present time places the figures at 5,000. Of course, when any of 'us' Loganites are away from home, at Huntington, or Charles- ton, we are prone to boast of our population of ten or twelve thousand, but when at home we must come down to bed-rock facts and we feel safe in saying that we have a population of over five thousand.
We expect these figures to rise rapidly from the fact nat at the last session of the legislature Senator England, of Logan, had a bill introduced providing for the removal of the state capitol from Charleston to Logan.
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