History of Northumberland Co., PA - Chapter 11



CHAPTER 11 - Pages 347-357
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD
DISCOVERY OF ANTHRACITE IN THIS REGION - FIRST APPLICATION TO GENERAL
USES - FIRST SHAMOKIN COAL TAKEN TO MARKET - OPENING OF THE FIRST MINES AT
SHAMOKIN, COAL RUN, AND TREVORTON - FIRST COAL SHIPMENTS DOWN THE
SUSQUEHANNA - SPECULATION IN COAL LANDS - THE DANVILLE AND POTTSVILLE
RAILROAD - PIONEER COAL OPERATION - THE DISASTROUS YEAR OF 1842 - REVIVAL
OF 185O - JUDGE HELFENSTEIN'S DEVELOPMENTS - ORIGINAL COAL BREAKERS -
MARSHALL'S LETTER - NEW COLLIERIES AND OUTLETS - COAL SHIPMENTS TO ELMIRA
IN 1855 - OTHER COLLIERIES STARTED AND BREAKERS ERECTED - TONNAGE OF THIS
REGION FOR THE YEARS 1857 AND 1889 - TOTAL PRODUCTION FOR THE PAST FIFTY-
ONE YEARS

By Dr. J. J. JOHN

   THE present article will be devoted to the rise and progress of the
anthracite coal trade in Northumberland county. It will begin with its
humble origin, near a century ago, when stone coal was rejected as a
worthless article and its use to the wants and necessities of life was
laughed at, and follow its history down to the present time, when its
great value is fully understood and the work of mining and shipping it has
created two of the leading industries of the country.
   Anthracite coal was known to exist in the Shamokin region at a very
early date, but none of its uses were then known. Its first discovery was
made at Wyoming in 1766 and fourteen years later, or 1780, anthracite coal
was observed by Mr. Cherry, the first settler of these parts. He picked up
some pieces from the Shamokin creek, his attention having been attracted
by their shining black appearance. To him they were only objects of
curiosity and were put aside to exhibit when parties should chance to call
on him.
   In 1790 Nicho Allen is said to have discovered coal near Pottsville and
tested its burning qualities at the time he found it, and in 1791 Philip
Ginter, the hunter, made his "famous find" at Mauch Chunk, the One
hundredth anniversary of which is now proposed to be celebrated at Summit
Hill in September, 1891, with a view of erecting a monument to his memory.
At about the same time coal was discovered at Shamokin and applied to use.
Isaac Tomlinson was the discoverer. He was a former resident of Maiden
Creek, Berks county, and had but lately moved On his tract of land, lying
between Shamokin and Mt. Carmel, and long afterwards known as the "half
way house." One day in 1790 as he was crossing over his farm his atten-
tion was called to some black stones lying in the bed of Quaker run, a
stream that ran through his place and was so called because he was a
member of the Society of Friends. He picked up some of them, and, feeling
confident that they were coal, he took them down to a blacksmith at his
former home and had them tried in his fire. To his great delight he found
that they made a splendid fire.
   Thus we see that the three discoverers of anthracite coal in the
Southern and Middle coal fields were Allen, Ginter, and Tomlinson, and,
what is remarkable, all these discoveries were made about the same time.
Little did these three men think then, just one hundred years ago, how
valuable this stone coal would become at a later period. And what would
Mr. Tomlinson have said, if he had been told on that occasion as he was
carrying these black stones from Quaker run across his wild domain, that a
century later this new farm of his would be held by a great corporation
and valued more highly per acre, several times over, than the most fertile
and best improved properties of Berks or Lancaster county? He would,
doubtless, have regarded the informant as insane.
   The coal of the Shamokin region was more readily introduced to various
uses than that of other regions. It was softer, more easily ignited, and
more closely allied to the bituminous varieties, about which the people
had some little knowledge.
   The first practical use of Shamokin coal in our county was made in 1810
by the same Mr. Tomlinson, the discoverer. His farm was on the famous old
Reading road, the highway between Reading and Sunbury. Mr. Tomlinson was a
practical smith and could work in the shop as well as on the farm. For the
accommodation of himself and his few neighbors he put up a shop on his
farm. On one occasion this year, being out of the coal commonly need at
that time, he resorted to his Quaker run mine again, obtained a small
supply, tried it over again, and was so successful that thereafter he
continued its use.
   About this period Jesse Fell, of Wilkesbarre, made the important
discovery that stone coal could be used in houses as a fuel, by burning it
in rudely constructed grates. These grates were improved from time to
time, and soon afterward stoves were invented that would burn anthracite
coal. These improvements greatly increased the demand for the new fuel.
   During the war of 1812 iron manufacturers who had theretofore used soft
coal from Virginia were unable to procure their supplies from this source,
and were at a loss what to use as a substitute. After great persuasion and
repeated experiments, they found that the much abused anthracite would
answer their purpose if properly treated. The common instruction to those
who proposed to use it was, "put on the coal, shut the door, and let it
alone." At this time the use of coal was fairly commenced in some parts of
our county where it could be readily procured.
   In 1814 the first Shamokin coal was taken to market. Mr. John Thompson,
during his later years an old and respected citizen of our town and now
deceased, was the first coal operator. When a boy of fifteen years of age
he lived on his father's place a few miles east of Shamokin. At that time
he mined a two-horse load of coal from the bed of Quaker run, hauled it to
Sunbury, and sold it to a shoemaker for five dollars.
   About 1825 Shamokin coal seems to have come into some demand by the
neighboring blacksmiths and farmers, and mines at Furnace run, Coal run,
and Shamokin creek were opened from time to time for their accommodation.
The first coal mined in the Shamokin region was from the bed of streams
where the veins had been exposed by the action of the water. In Schuylkill
county, where mining had commenced some years earlier, a very primitive
method was adopted. A small shaft would be sunk on a crop of the vein, on
or near the top of a hill, and by the means of a windlass and bucket the
coal would he hoisted out. When the shaft would reach the depth of twenty-
five or thirty feet it would be abandoned and a new one would be started.
The coal thus mined would be sold on the bank at twenty-five cents per
bushel. Coal mining was then a new thing and very simple in its operation.
The miners were principally Scotch and Welsh. In the course of a few years
horse-power was attached to the gin, which was then regarded as a
wonderful improvement. But this method was far from satisfactory, as water
would gather in the small shaft and drown the miners out. But the
ingenuity of man finally overcame this drawback by a new device. A drift
was driven on the vein at the bottom of the hill and the coal above was
mined, and as it was loosened, it slid down into the wheelbarrow, which
when full was wheeled out to the bank at the drift mouth. These drifts
drained themselves. In the course of time some of these drifts were
enlarged and more substantially constructed; they were then called
gangways. The next improvement made about this time was the construction
of railroads in gangways upon which were put small cars, holding about
three bushels of coal, which were pushed out by hand. As these gangways
were further enlarged the cars were built of greater dimensions, and
finally mules were introduced to draw them in and out. At a later date
slopes and shafts were sunk to reach the deeper veins, and powerful
steam engines and pumps had to be provided to carry on these large mining
operations. But the early methods of the Shamokin coal field differed
somewhat from these. The first plan of mining was to take the coal out of
the beds of the streams where it was exposed. When this supply was
exhausted, the next move was to uncover the coal on the banks and
hillsides and quarry it the same as stone.
   The first mining of any account in our county was probably done on vein
No. 11 in Shamokin creek, opposite Yost's planing mill. This was on the
Primrose, a famous red ash coal, long known as John Boyd's stone coal
quarry. The first regular shipment of coal from the Shamokin region was
made from this place in 1826. The late Joseph Bird, one of the first
settlers of Shamokin and afterward a large coal operator, reported to the
writer the following account of this transaction:-

   In 1826, John C. Boyd and my father, Ziba Bird, built a dam in Shamokin
creek north of Webster street and opened a coal mine. The coal was mined
out of the bottom of the creek. The vein had been discovered some years
before, being exposed by the action of the water. My father was the miner
and John Runkle wheeled the coal to the bank on a plank, assisted by
myself, who was then a small boy. Casper Reed and Samuel Startzel were
hired to haul this coal from Shamokin to Boyd's place, two miles above
Danville. They were several months at the job. The coal was then put in
arks and floated down the river to Columbia. This was the first Shamokin
coal that was mined and sent to market.

   A small drift was next opened here of which more will be said further
on. About 1828, Daniel Derk, from Mahanoy, moved in the old log house
known as Inch's and opened a small mine on Coal run where it was crossed
by the public road. While working here he had his leg broken by a fall of
rock. He was the first miner hurt in Northumberland county.
   At near the same time, Mr. Weiss, a son of Colonel Jacob Weiss, who
opened the Mauch Chunk mines, came to our county in the interests of some
land holders and opened a mine at Zerbe gap, now Trevorton. He followed
the plan of his father in uncovering the coal and quarrying it like stone.
A writer who visited these openings in 1829 and communicated his
observations to the States Advocate
says:-

   But the most extensive vein of coal yet discovered is on Zerbe run, a
branch of the Little Mahanoy. The land is here considerably elevated and
the ravine formed by the stream passing through it is convenient, the
banks rising abruptly, exposing to view a coal formation which in
abundance or quality is not surpassed, if equaled in the State. There are
six or eight miners here at work. The coal is something like fifty feet
deep. Visitors are received at the shanty with a hearty welcome by the
enterprising manager, Mr. Weiss, to whom much credit is due. He is the son
of Mr. Weiss, who made the discovery of coal at Mauch Chunk. The
speculator in coal land has already arrived, and I doubt not but in a few
years this hitherto neglected section of our country will show us a
Pottsville or Mauch Chunk.

   A correspondent of the Susquehanna Emporium under date of August, 1829,
writes as follows concerning Shamokin and Mahanoy coal:-

   I lately visited the coal mines on these streams, and was really
astonished that in the present coal excitement and rage for speculation in
coal lands, these valuable beds should be so little attended to. The
quality of the coal is very superior; and it is my opinion, very easy of
excavation. The coal lies near the surface, and, instead of mining by
propping, etc., as is done at Pottsville, the earth here could be thrown
off and the coal exposed at a trifling cost. The greatest body of this
coal, I am told, is confined to what is called Bear valley, extending from
the head waters of Shamokin to the forks of Mahanoy creek, a distance of
about nine miles and in width from three to five miles. It is also found
in considerable quantities higher up these streams to the base of the
Broad mountain in a direction towards Pottsville and Mauch Chunk. Several
of these mines have been partially opened, and the coal hauled in wagons
to Sunbury to supply the neighboring blacksmiths. It is preferred by them
who have used it, either to the Wilkesbarre or Schuylkill coal, though to
me it appears to partake more of the quality of the Schuylkill than the
Wilkesbarre coal. It is light and inflammable and what is very singular,
there appears to run through it streaks or lines resembling the growth of
wood.
   This coal might be brought to market either by the Shamokin or Mahanoy
creek to the Susquehanna. The distance by Shamokin creek would be about
sixteen miles, and by the Mahanoy about ten miles. These streams could be
canalled, or railways might be constructed from the mines by the route of
these creeks to the river. Baltimore and the Susquehanna country below the
confluence of the two branches would afford an abundant market for this
mineral.

   The period from 1824 to 1829 in Schuylkill county was noted for the
great speculation in coal lands. Coal tracts changed hands quite rapidly,
and prices advanced enormously. Pottsville became the great Mecca for
speculators and every one expected to grow rich in a very short time. The
excitement gradually extended to the Middle coal field, but never reached
so high a pitch as at Pottsville. Large tracts of land, heavily timbered
and abounding with the best grades of coal, heretofore regarded as of
little or no value, passed into the hands of certain parties who knew
their worth and foresaw the great future of the coal trade.
   Stephen Girard made large purchases in the Mahanoy region and Burd
Patterson, of Pottsville, one of the greatest men of his day, bought up
large tracts in the Shamokin coal field extending from Mt. Carmel to
Trevorton. On these tracts he employed a number of men to prove and open
coal veins. Other parties from Sunbury and Danville became interested in
the enterprise and bought up some of the most valuable tracts.
   What further stimulated this movement was the prospect of a great
railroad being opened through the Middle coal field to connect the
Delaware and Susquehanna at Sunbury and thus divert the trade from
Baltimore to Philadelphia. This movement was headed by such able men as
Stephen Girard, of Philadelphia, Burd Patterson, of Pottsville, Daniel
Montgomery, of Danville, and Samuel J. Packer, of Sunbury. The road was
chartered in 1826 under the title of the Danville and Pottsville railroad,
and afterwards amended with many supplements. This was the greatest and
most formidable enterprise that had to that time been undertaken in our
county, and with all the energy and ability that supported it, it required
some seven years before the road was commenced. Some of the parties in the
Shamokin region, thinking this enterprise was too great to be carried out,
secured a charter for the Shamokin Canal Company with powers to construct
a canal, build a railroad, or deepen the channel of the Shamokin creek.
This work was never commenced.
   During the year 1832, through the strenuous efforts of Stephen Girard,
who had ordered all the iron from England, the eastern end of the railroad
was commenced and twelve miles of it, extending to Girardville, with
numerous inclined planes, were completed in 1833 at a cost of one hundred
ninety thousand dollars. Coal shipments were made over this portion of the
road for two or three years, but it was abandoned on account of the planes
failing to do their work. In 1834 twenty miles of the Danville and
Pottsville railroad between Sunbury and John Boyd's coal mine (Shamokin)
were placed under contract for grading, which was all completed the next
year. The track between Sunbury and Paxinos was all laid and completed in
1835, and the opening ceremonies in honor of this great event were held at
Paxinos on November 26th of this year. The principal feature of this
meeting was the able address of Hugh Bellas, who gave a full history of
this great undertaking, and predicted the wonderful future that awaited
our coal trade.
   Mr. Moncure Robinson, the famous engineer, in his report to the board
of directors at this time, suggested "that it seems almost unnecessary to
lay down the superstructure between the crossing of the Centre turnpike
(Paxinos) and the coal mines (Shamokin) until accommodations shall be
obtained for the coal trade at Sunbury." As there was no communication
with the Pennsylvania canal at Sunbury by means of basins or guard locks,
no shipments of coal could be made. The board acted on this suggestion and
postponed laying the track between Paxinos and Shamokin for the present.
   The town of Shamokin was laid out this year (1835) by John C. Boyd and
three houses were erected. Coal drifts continued to be opened at several
places and the veins were proved. About this time John and Thomas English
opened a drift near the turnpike at Mt. Carmel for the use of farmers. In
1836 coal was mined at several drifts at Shamokin in small quantities,
hauled in wagons to Paxinos, dumped in coal cars, and taken to Sunbury by
horse-power for local use. This trade was continued in this manner until
the road was completed to Shamokin and locomotives placed on the track.
During 1838, the track having been laid some months before to Shamokin,
two small locomotives, built by Eastwick & Harrison, were placed on the
road with some small cars brought from Girardville that held from two and
a half to three tons each. No regular shipments took place this year, but
great preparations were made for the coming season. Sidings and laterals
were put down and the mines were put in order to do a large business for
that time.
   The year 1839 begins the Shamokin coal trade. The tonnage for this
season was eleven thousand nine hundred thirty tons, which was mined from
some four different operations, which, being pioneer mines, we will
briefly describe. About 1835 George Heckert, an attorney from Lancaster,
in company with another lawyer of that place, visited the coal regions
with a view of making an investment. They commenced their investigations
at Trevorton and examined the mines there, then under the charge of James
Renney, who had succeeded Mr. Weiss.
   From Trevorton they came to Shamokin and spent several days in this
vicinity looking at the coal lands, when they proceeded on to Mt. Carmel
and finally to Pottsville. At the latter place they met Burd Patterson,
the Nestor of the coal business, who urged them to invest in Schuylkill
county. But their observations at Shamokin led them to prefer our region
and they purchased the celebrated Buck Ridge tract, containing eight
hundred forty-eight acres - one of the best coal tracts in the entire coal
field. A company was soon afterwards formed, consisting of Heckert, Lane,
and Park, called the "Lancaster Company." They proceeded in 1836 to
improve their lands. In 1837 they employed Jacob Mowry of our town to open
a drift, near where the Big Mountain breaker afterwards stood. They
erected several tenement houses, and at considerable expense built a
lateral railroad of over a quarter of a mile, connecting their mines with
the Danville and Pottsville railroad. They leased their works to Cowan,
Brannigan & Company, who were one of the first shippers of coal. A few
years afterwards these mines were worked by Samuel John & Company.
   Messrs. Dewart & Donnel were the owners of valuable coal lands on the
east side of the water gap. They opened up several drifts in the gap on
the line of the railroad and leased them to Yoxtheimer & Snyder of
Sunbury, who carried on these mines for a year or so until they failed.
These mines were destined in after years to become one of the most famous
collieries in the State, known as the Cameron colliery. They have been
worked continuously for over fifty years and promise to be a productive
colliery for fifty years to come.
   On the west side of the gap, the lands were held by J. K. Purdy &
Company, who opened up their coal works at about the same time and carried
on mining in their own name. They were among the heaviest shippers in
these early times and produced a very fine coal for the market. Their
mines eventually were united to those of the east side to form part of the
Cameron colliery. Purdy & Company were the first party to advertise their
coal. Their advertisement appears in the Sunbury American under date of
September, 1840, and reads as follows:-
  
SHAMOKIN COAL

   Shamokin coal of a very superior quality can be had at any time, by
application through the subscribers, in lots to suit purchaser. They have
large egg and broken and fine coal fit for burning lime.
                J. H. Purdy & Company.

   The fourth operation was that of John C. Boyd, who had a drift driven
on the Primrose vein at his stone coal quarry, and built a lateral road to
connect with the main line. These mines were known as the "Sauer Kraut
Works," and were first operated by William Fagely and afterward by William
Thomas and others. Their shipments were light, as the vein was supposed to
run into a fault. These were the four pioneer operations that mined and
shipped coal in 1839.
   In 1840 the fifth mine was added to the list in the Shamokin Coal
Company.

   This corporation composed of Philadelphia capitalists with John C.
Boyd, was chartered in 1826, and in 1840 commenced mining coal. They owned
a large number of tracts of valuable coal land and opened up several
drifts opposite the furnace. During the years of 1840 and 1841 they
shipped over three thousand tons from these mines, which ended their
shipments. Most of the coal mined here afterward was consumed by their
furnace. The shipments of coal during 1840 were only fifteen thousand five
hundred five tons. The tonnage would have been much larger, had the canal
continued in good order and been properly supplied with boats. But
continued breaks of the canal banks during the shipping season disarranged
the plans of the operators and curtailed their business to a few months
work. An order for ten thousand tons to Danville, to be delivered by boats
from Sunbury, had to be cancelled on account of a break in the North
Branch canal.
   In 1841, Fagely, Cleaver & Company commenced coal business at the gap,
taking charge of the mines on the east side. They opened the Tape vein or
Skidmore, and worked it to great advantage. They soon became the principal
shippers from this section. This firm was composed of William and Reuben
Fagely, Kimber Cleaver, and William H. Kase, of Rush township. Mr. Kase
did not remain in the firm long and in 1844 Kimber Cleaver withdrew to
resume the duties of his profession. William and Reuben Fagely remained in
the firm and for a number of years were the only coal operators in the
entire Shamokin coal field.
   The year 1842 was a disastrous one for Shamokin, and its evil effects
were felt for a long time afterward, and checked the growing progress of
all the mining enterprises of the region The anthracite furnace, the
fourth or fifth one erected in the State, and in operation for a little
over a year, burnt down, and the Shamokin Coal and Iron Company, the
largest mining concern in the place, suspended. The Danville and
Pottsville Railroad Company failed and appointed Samuel R. Wood, the
manager, as sequestrator, a position he held for several years. The two
locomotives were removed, and horse-power was substituted to move the
cars. The track was in a wretched condition, and required constant repairs
to keep it passable. The Fagelys then took charge of the road, kept gangs
of men on the repairs, and were about the only shippers of coal from 1842
to 1852, except Samuel John & Company, who shipped some coal from Buck
Ridge, and John Rosser, who opened coal works at Luke Fidler in 1850 and
shipped some coal.
   During this interim of ten years a number of the people of Shamokin
moved to other parts and many of the houses were tenantless. Property
depreciated in value and could he purchased for little or nothing. But
those who remained had the heroism of Spartans and possessed an abiding
faith in the future of the place. They, with the land owners, were looking
forward for a better outlet for our dusky diamonds. The Danville and
Pottsville railroad was a practical failure, affording no outlet to
Philadelphia and the Atlantic seaboard, and westward a very uncertain way
to the Susquehanna and its incomplete water communications. Danville with
its many anthracite furnaces was a great consumer of coal, and
Philadelphia and the towns along the sea coast would, it was supposed,
open up a great market for Shamokin coal. A new and better outlet was
needed and demanded. Meetings were held for this purpose, in which the
citizens of our town, prominently among whom may be named William Fagely,
Samuel John, and S. S. Bird, and parties from Sunbury, Danville, and
Pottsville, took a prominent part. Kimber Cleaver, the great engineer of
the coal regions, was the leading spirit in all these movements, and
sacrificed much time and labor to put them into execution. He surveyed a
route for a railroad from Shamokin to Pottsville, without inclined planes,
and made full estimates of its costs. His report was so satisfactory that
efforts were made to place the construction under contract, but the
stringency of the times prevented the measure being carried out. His route
was afterward largely adopted by the Reading railroad, which had purchased
his notes. Mr. Cleaver also surveyed a route for a railroad to Danville
which met with general approval, but failed in being carried out from the
same cause.
   About 1850 there was a general revival in the Shamokin coal regions,
and coal lands and improvements that had long lain dormant were brought
into notice again. Judge William L. Helfenstein, one of the most
remarkable and energetic men of the times, who had been in the West some
years, in 1849 returned to his native State. In looking around for
investments in the anthracite coal fields, he came in contact with John C.
Boyd and Burd Patterson, who still continued interested in coal lands of
our section. They at once recognized the great abilities and organizing
power of Mr. Helfenstein and induced him to come here and assist them in
developing the great mineral wealth of our coal region. His earnest and
untiring effort showed the wisdom of their choice. He went into the work
with a will, and in a few years performed the results of a life time. With
a comprehensive mind and wonderful executive ability -suave and winning in
his conversation and manners - he soon interested capitalists of New York,
Philadelphia, Lancaster, and other places to invest their money in this
coal field. He formed numerous coal syndicates, bought up a large portion
of the coal lands between Trevorton and Mt. Carmel, organized improvement
companies, laid out towns, and had various railroads chartered and put
into process of construction. He soon came into possession of the Danville
and Pottsville railroad, changed the name to the Philadelphia and Sunbury
railroad, rebuilt it with an iron track, and extended the line to Mt.
Carmel, so as to touch on most of the great coal tracts. He had several
able officials to assist him in the work. Burd Patterson sent him William
H. Marshall, then of Schuylkill county, to prove coal veins and open up
mines, and the valuable services of Kimber Cleaver were secured on
commencing the work who, through all the years of development and
improvement, was Mr. Helfenstein's chief engineer and trusted adviser. In
this work he was associated with Bertram H. Howell, of Virginia, a
gentleman of considerable means, who continued with him for several years.
   The work of development formulated in 1849 soon began to show itself.
An office and headquarters were established at Shamokin, and on the
opening of 1850, charter after charter came from the legislature,
organizing companies for the opening of the Shamokin coal field. On
February 25th an act was approved to incorporate the Zerbe Run and
Shamokin Improvement Company with powers to open coal veins, drive drifts,
put up coal breakers, and build railroads on their lands, and lease such
improvements to parties to operate. On the same day another act was
approved, to incorporate the Mahanoy and Shamokin Improvement Company with
similar powers. Among the names cited as trustees, holding certain lands
under certain deeds of trust and articles of association, were Kimber
Cleaver, Daniel M. Boyd, David Thompson, William L. Helfenstein, and
William H. Marshall. In both of these acts, the franchise extended to
certain lands in Northumberland and Schuylkill counties. These two
companies were to open up the coal lands at Trevorton. But an outlet to
the market had to be provided, and an act was approved soon after
incorporating the Trevorton, Mahanoy and Susquehanna Railroad Company,
with power to construct a railroad between Zerbe run and the mouth of
Mahanoy creek. Among the corporators were Felix Lerch, William Deppen,
Jacob Raker, D. M. Boyd, Alexander Jordan, Joseph W. Cake, Robert M.
Ludlow, John P. Hobart, Henry Donnel, B. H. Howell, Charles W. Hegins,
Simon Cameron, William L. Helfenstein, and Kimber Cleaver. About the same
time another act was passed to incorporate the Mahanoy and Wiconisco
Railroad Company, which was to connect the Trevorton, Mahanoy and
Susquehanna railroad at Herndon with the Wiconisco canal feeder and thence
with the Pennsylvania canal.
   In May, 1850, a town was laid out at Zerbe gap, and named Trevorton in
honor of Mr. Trevor, a banker of Philadelphia, who had invested largely in
these improvements. The proceeds arising from the sale of town lots were
to be used in the construction of the railroad to the river. On May 28th a
great meeting was held on the site of the future town, presided over by
Hugh Bellas, who delivered the address; Judge Jordan made a few remarks,
when he threw off his coat and broke the first ground by digging up a
small sapling. In the hole made, he placed a bottle of Susquehanna water,
a lump of coal from the mines, and a lump of iron ore from the adjacent
mountain. Judge Helfenstein then published the bans of marriage as
follows: "I publish the bans between Zerbe gap and the Susquehanna river;
if any know just cause or impediment why the two should not be joined
together by railroad on the 1st of November next, let him declare it now
or ever hereafter bold his peace." John B. Packer, one of the vice-
presidents, then read letters from President Taylor, Vice-President
Fillmore, Henry Clay, W. H. Meredith, Governor Johnston, and others. The
sale of lots was then held, and a number were sold on favorable terms. No
other town in our county started out with such eclat, but its history has
never since justified the fond hopes of its founders.
   The road was placed under contract and grading commenced, a machine
shop and foundry were started, houses were erected, and coal mines were
opened. The work of development was not confined to the Zerbe run gap, but
extended all along the coal basin to Shamokin and Mt. Carmel. Charters
were procured for the Green Ridge, Coal Run, Carbon Run, Bear Valley, Big
Mountain, and other improvement companies.
   Professor Rogers, who was concluding the first geological survey, was
secured to examine and report on different coal lands, and P. W. Sheafer
was frequently employed to prepare statements of coal found on various
tracts. No opportunity was lost to bring the coal lands of this county
before the attention of capitalists of the country. Articles appeared in
the city papers commenting on the favorable prospects of the Trevorton and
Shamokin regions. But the public were to be further enlightened. No
Shamokin or Trevorton coal had yet appeared in the Philadelphia or New
York markets, until October this year. Several boat loads of Trevorton
coal were hauled in wagons to Sunbury, put into boats, and shipped to New
York.
   At the close of the year l850 business commenced to revive and many of
the former citizens of Shamokin returned again. The Sunbury American in
speaking of this says, "The Fagelys are very busy in coal just now,
hauling it over the old track. The town, which a year ago contained many
houses tenantless, is now filling up with population."
   A railroad was built between Shamokin and the Luke Fidler tract, called
the Coal Run railroad, connecting Rosser's mines with the main line.
   In 1851, the Danville and Pottsville railroad, which had been sold at
sheriff's sale, passed into new hands and soon came into possession of
Judge Helfenstein and his associates, and was called the Philadelphia and
Sunbury railroad. The entire road between Sunbury and Shamokin was
reconstructed and laid with an iron track, which was completed in 1853.
   Up to this time not a single coal breaker had been erected in our coal
region, nor was there a single steam engine employed to furnish power to
move machinery. At all the coal operations up to this date the coal that
was prepared was broken by hand. The coal used in Shamokin in 1853 was
hauled to the houses in the same condition as brought out of the mines,
and the good housewife was expected to break it in sizes to suit her
stove. But as the market abroad became more choice in the sizes of coal,
some pains were taken to prepare it to suit the wants of the purchaser. A
platform would be put up at the bank, and on metal plates or bars the coal
would be broken by hammers in the hands of strong men. This coal would be
passed over bars and partially screened. Cylinder screens with several
meshes, turned by hand, were next introduced, and later on the screens
were moved by horse-power. But in 1853 the improvement companies of our
regions built commodious coal breakers, putting in them Battin rolls, that
were first used in 1844 in Schuylkill county and had there come into
general use. Large breakers were built at Lancaster, Big Mountain, Luke
Fidler, and Carbon Run collieries in 1853, at an average cost of thirty
thousand dollars each, provided with all the improved methods and
machinery then known for the preparation of coal. These breakers were also
provided with some new inventions, as Marta's patent hoister, and
Cleaver's spiral schutes, and were constructed of the best timber and
filled with the most approved machinery. Steam engines of a superior
build, manufactured at Providence, Rhode Island, furnished the power.
   The shipments for 1853 only amounted to fifteen thousand five hundred
tons, principally from the Gap mines and Rosser's operation. This was a
year of preparation, with great promise for the coming one. During the
early part of the summer of 1854 the four new breakers were completed and
had commenced shipping coal. The Lancaster colliery was leased to Cochran,
Peale & Company, who commenced active operations in 1854. This breaker,
then the highest and one of the largest in the State, was put up by J. L.
& W. H. Gilger, breaker builders. The breaker was one hundred thirty feet
high and contained many large bins. It had two sets of rolls and three
large screens driven by a forty horse-power engine. It was regarded as an
object of general interest, and all visitors to Shamokin made it a point
to visit this mammoth concern. Governor Pollock and a number of
distinguished persons inspected these improvements on their trip to
Shamokin in the autumn of this year. The colliery firm lost no opportunity
to introduce their coal. It was successfully used at the Shamokin furnace
for smelting, and at the county agricultural fair held at Shamokin this
year, one of the exhibits was a large mass of Lancaster colliery coal.
   The Carbon Run breaker was built by Captain H. Van Gasken, who
fterwards became the general manager of that company.
   The Luke Fidler breaker was built with the same improvements, and was
leased to Boyd, Rosser & Company.
   The Big Mountain breaker, put up by Arnold & McClow under the
management of Mr. Marshall, was regarded as a model breaker, and when
completed was leased to Sheaff & Black of Lancaster, who operated for a
year or so, when the colliery was leased to Bird, Douty & John. This
became one of the most productive collieries in the region, especially so
while operated by Patterson & Llewellyn. The following letter from Manager
Marshall to his company at this time will more fully illustrate the
subject:-
  
          Shamokin, February 12, 1854.
   DEAR Sir: Your favors of the 8th and 10th are received, and I am
pleased to hear that the directors and stockholder, of Big Mountain are
satisfied with the management of its affairs in this region; by this time
next year I think they will be much better pleased. I do not think the
estimate to finish our works too high. They are large and expensive,
certainly; but you may rely upon it, that my big figures of cost now will
multiply well in profits hereafter; and I shall have everything done as
economically as possible, still keeping an eye to a permanent operation. I
do not think it economy to put up temporary fixtures for a work that must
go for a period beyond the close of the present century. Big Mountain coal
will be wanted far beyond that length of time, and there is enough for
generations to come. My opinion is, that we have about one thousand tons
of coal out of the drift, and we are now taking out about thirty tons per
day, besides what is coming out of the two upper gangways The driving of
the gangways, under the old workings, is dead work to the company, except
the coal that is taken out. The understanding was, that the company were
to drive them in as far as the old ones, then the lessee to drive further
in; as soon as I get that far, I shall give them up to the tenants. The
cost of taking out coal at present is about as follows: two miners at
seven dollars fifty cents per week is fifteen dollars; four laborers at
six dollars per week, twenty-four dollars; five kegs of powder, two
dollars fifty cents each, twelve dollars fifty cents; three gallons oil,
one dollar per gallon, three dollars; in all, fifty-four dollars fifty
cents per week. They take out about thirty tons per day - one hundred
eighty tons per week - average, thirty and one third cents per ton, and
we are only opening breasts and pushing the coal out by hand. As soon as
we get three or four breasts open, and have a horse to take out coal, I am
satisfied it can be put on the bank at twenty-five cents per ton, and when
the breaker and fixtures are all completed it can he prepared and put into
the cars ready for market at a cost from twelve to fifteen cents per ton;
or, say mined and put into the cars, ready for market, at forty cents per
ton. I am now speaking of the flat vein on the hill; I think the others
will cost more. I have got all the breaker builders running races, to see
which will be done first; Arnold feels quite confident he will be ready
almost as soon as any .........
   I think well of leasing the eastern end of the fiat vein; it may cost
considerable to get the improvement to bring the coal down to the road;
but it will produce a large quantity of coal and must some day be brought
out. This place can be made to yield from forty to fifty thousand tons per
year; and I have made a rough estimate of the amount of coal in that end
of the basin. I make it out about one million three hundred fifty-two
thousand tons, the rent of which, at thirty-five cents, would amount to
four hundred seventy-three thousand two hundred dollars.
    This I think worth looking after.
      Respectfully,
            WM. H. MARSHALL
To Beetle Paul,
    President Big Mountain Coal Comrany.

   At the same time mines were opened by McArthur & Company on lands of
Hegins & Sill, and a small amount of coal prepared by the old process was
shipped for a year or so, when the drifts were abandoned.
   During the latter part of 1854 the Philadelphia and Sunbury railroad
was completed from Shamokin to Mt. Carmel, which extension led to the
opening and development of a number of collieries in the Mt. Carmel
region. The Green Ridge Improvement Company opened up four gangways upon
their lands, erected a breaker similar to those at Shamokin, and leased
the colliery known as the Green Ridge to Ayers, Lewis & Company. A few
cars of coal were shipped at the close of this year, making this party the
first shipper from the Mt. Carmel region. They continued to operate until
1859, when Montelius & Adams took the colliery and worked it until 1861 it
then remained idle until 1864, when it was leased by Samuel John & Sons
and operated as the Green Mountain colliery for about six years. Upon
their retirement the colliery was not again worked until it came into the
possession of the Mineral Railroad and Mining Company.
   The Susquehanna and Coal Mountain Improvement Company, under the
management of Colonel Hough, opened up the Coal Mountain colliery and
completed a breaker in 1855; it was leased to Mears & Davis and worked by
them until their failure in 1857, when the colliery was operated by
Fahrion & Company in 1858-59. In 1860 the Coal Mountain colliery was
leased by Hough & Hersh, who operated for several years and were succeeded
by Captain Rhodes, the last operator at these mines.
   During the same year (1854) the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company
commenced making extensive openings and improvements upon their valuable
coal lands in the vicinity of Mt. Carmel, building breakers for two
collieries - the Coal Ridge and Locust Mountain collieries, which were
operated by Muir, Fulton & Company and others with varied success.
Shipments from these collieries were commenced in 1855. At about the same
time Schall & Donohoe secured a lease from the same land company, opened a
colliery called the Rough and Ready, and commenced shipping furnace coal.
In 1861 they commenced shipping from the Coal Ridge colliery, and
continued operations there for some years. At this period (1854) a small
breaker, known as the College colliery, was built on the Brobst tract and
leased to Cleaver, Fagely & Company. But little mining was done here.
Judge Helfenstein deeded this tract with some others in trust for use of
the Shamokin College, an institution then being built, and now known as
the Academy school building at Shamokin. The tonnage for 1854 reached
sixty-three thousand five hundred tons, the largest amount yet mined in
our region. Lancaster colliery shipped nineteen thousand six hundred forty
tons, being the heaviest shipper.
   We now come to 1855, which was an eventful period, new outlets being
furnished and many additional improvements made.
   On the first of this year, the Mahanoy and Shamokin Improvement Company
completed their railroad to the river and built a bridge across it, three
thousand six hundred feet in length, connecting the mines with the
Pennsylvania canal. An immense breaker was completed to prepare the coal
mined at Zerbe gap, said to be the largest one ever erected. Its capacity
was one thousand tons per day. Over one million dollars had been expended
in these Improvements and the town of Trevorton was now in the height of
its prosperity. The delay in the completion of these works was caused by
the failure of the party that started them and they were not resumed until
some New York capitalists took hold of the management with James L. Morris
as president.

     The operators of Shamokin and Mt. Carmel at this period complained
that the canal board discriminated against them and in favor of
Wilkesbarre in shipping over the public works, and asked that the toll be
equally levied. At this time the tolls from Shamokin to Sunbury were fifty
cents and from Mt. Carmel to Sunbury sixty-two cents. Among the
improvements to be noted for this year was a breaker at Lambert colliery
leased to Ammerman, Zuern & Wetzel, and two at Locust Gap, the Locust Gap
and Locust Summit collieries, the first leased to Haas & Bowen and the
latter to Anthony, Lloyd & Rosser. Kase, Reed & Company, the lessees of
the Gap colliery, sold out their interest in July to Zimmerman & Pursell.
   One of the most important events that occurred at this time for the
welfare of Shamokin interests was the opening up of a continuous line of
railroad from Shamokin to Elmira, by which large shipments of Shamokin and
Mt. Carmel coal were afterwards made to western New York, the Lakes, and
Canada. A new and large market was thus opened, which for years was the
chief dependence of our coal shippers. At the State agricultural fair of
New York held at Elmira in September, 1855, a large lamp of white ash coal
from Lancaster colliery was placed on exhibition, and a train of cars,
loaded with coal from those works, just reached Elmira. Governor Bigler
represented our county and State, and, standing on this lump of
anthracite, spoke for Pennsylvania. He said:-

   The particular occasion for these ceremonies was the arrival of a train
of cars freighted with superior anthracite coal direct from the Lancaster
colliery, mined by Cochran, Peale & Company, and coming direct from
Shamokin to Elmira without transshipment. Pennsylvania will send you up
her anthracite coal to keep you warm in winter, to roast your beef and
boil your potatoes, to drive your steam mills and grist mills and
manufacturing machinery, to help to drive the iron horse on the railroads,
and to propel the steamboats on your lakes and rivers. We expect to see
this element of heat and power distributed to every county, township,
village, and family circle of your great State, performing its good
offices.

   The Governor's words were prophetic, and in a few years were fulfilled.
This display of coal on this occasion and the Governor's happy remarks had
much to do in hastening the introduction of Shamokin coal in the new and
growing market which to the present time is one of our best consumers.
   Tonnage for 1855 was one hundred sixteen thousand one hundred seventeen
tons, more than double that of the previous year.
   For 1856 there is but little to notice. Locust Mountain colliery was
operated by Bell, Lewis & Muir. The legislature passed an act
consolidating the Mahanoy and Shamokin Improvement Company with the
Trevorton and Susquehanna Railroad Company. This was the first movement in
our county allowing railroad companies to own coal land and mine coal. The
Shamokin and Mt. Carmel operators thought that this movement was against
their interests and severely commented upon it. Coal shipments this year
reached one hundred twenty-nine thousand five hundred forty-eight tons,
for the Shamokin district, and from Trevorton, seventy-three thousand one
hundred twelve tons (all from one breaker), making the tonnage from
Northumberland county two hundred two thousand six hundred sixty tens, a
large gain on 1855.
   The year 1857 was ushered in with financial depression all over the
country. Banks suspended specie payment, and failures of business firms
became a common event. The Philadelphia and Sunbury railroad with all its
franchises, equipments, and many valuable tracts of coal land, was sold at
sheriff's sale, and was purchased by F. S. Wheelen, in the interest of the
second mortgage bond holders. Notwithstanding the stringency of the times,
W. L. Dewart put up a splendid breaker at the Gap colliery. The structure
was put up by Cherington & Weaver, experienced breaker builders, and was
regarded as a model breaker for those times. All the machinery except
steam engines were from the shops of S. Bittenbender, who had become
largely engaged in this branch of business. This year the Northern Central
railway was completed to Herndon, affording Trevorton coal another new
outlet to Baltimore.
   The coal tonnage for 1857 was increased considerably, the shipments
from the Shamokin region being one hundred fifty-five thousand eight
hundred five tons and from Trevorton one hundred ten thousand seven
hundred eleven tons, making a total from Northumberland county of two
hundred sixty-six thousand five hundred sixteen tons - an increase of over
twenty-five per cent, as compared with 1856. This tonnage was produced by
thirteen collieries provided with thirteen steam engines with aggregate
power of four hundred thirty-four horses, and one slope engine of sixty
horse-power. All this coal was taken from above water-level, except from
one colliery which had sunk a slope. The heaviest shipment made this year
from the Shamokin district was by Cochran, Peale & Company from Lancaster
colliery, who shipped over thirty-five thousand tons, and next was Bird,
Douty & John of the Big Mountain colliery, who put out twenty-eight
thousand five hundred ninety-eight tons. These two collieries, by their
contracts with J. Langdon of Elmira, were able to work through the winter
season and thereby make in their shipments one third of the Shamokin
product. It is but proper to remark that from no one source has the
Shamokin coal trade been so much benefited as that established by J.
Langdon at this time and for many years maintained through his able
manager at this point, Mr. Alexander Fulton, long and prominently
connected with the coal business of our region. At this period all the
coal operators leased the collieries from the improvement companies, and
paid a royalty of about thirty cents for prepared sizes and from ten to
fifteen cents for nut coal. All improvements, as breakers, etc., and rails
for gangways, were furnished by the improvement companies to the lessees.
The mining capacity of the Shamokin and Mt. Carmel districts was estimated
at five hundred thousand tons per annum.

   During 1858 there was a general falling off in shipments. No new
collieries were started up, but a number of changes took place in
operators. In July of this year the Northern Central railway was completed
to Sunbury opening a continuos line of rail to Baltimore. Toll and freight
on coal from all collieries of our region to Baltimore was fixed at two
dollars fifty cents per ton. Trevorton tonnage one hundred six thousand
six hundred eighty-six tons, all from one breaker, and Shamokin and Mt.
Carmel shipments, one hundred thirty-five thousand eight hundred ninety-
three tons from twelve collieries. Bird & Douty, of the Big Mountain
colliery, were the heaviest shippers, closely followed by Haas & Bowen, of
the Locust Gap colliery.
   For 1859 there is but little to record. At Trevorton, Mr. Mowton, the
manager, erected a gas plant at the colliery with sixty jets to illuminate
the works so they could run night and day. John B. Douty, having withdrawn
from the Big Mountain colliery, associated with Thomas Baumgardner,
started the Henry Clay colliery, erected a first-class breaker, and
commenced shipping a grade of coal that was highly valued in all the
markets. Trevorton tonnage reached one hundred twenty-four thousand two
hundred ninety tons, the high water mark of its shipments. Shamokin and
Mt. Carmel sent away one hundred eighty thousand seven hundred fifty-three
tons. This year, Haas & Bowen exchanged places with Big Mountain in
shipments and led in tonnage.
   The year 1859 began the third decade of the coal trade in
Northumberland county, and, while the progress made was not as great as
that predicted by the original movers, it was sufficiently so to be a
source of pride and satisfaction. In the place of the most primitive
methods of mining and preparing coal and with only one poor outlet to
market, the business was now represented by some fifteen mining
operations, with first-class breakers and several outlets to market.
Shamokin and Trevorton coal had found its way to the Lakes and Canada; New
York and Philadelphia had become acquainted with its rare qualities for
house use, while in Baltimore and in the South it had enlarged its sales.
With prospects of soon being able to ship over the Reading and Lehigh
roads, the future prospects were certainly somewhat more encouraging.
   The year 1860 is a noted one for the coal trade. A new outlet east was
opened in October by the Mine Hill railroad connecting with the Shamokin
road and now called the Shamokin Valley and Pottsville railroad at Locust
Gap. Some two thousand four hundred twenty-one tons of Shamokin coal were
shipped over the new route in November and December. During March of this
year the Big Mountain breaker was burned down, the first breaker lost by
fire in this county. Work was immediately commenced on a new breaker,
which was completed in a few months greatly improved. Shamokin coal
tonnage reached two hundred twelve thousand five hundred twenty-nine tons
and Trevorton sent off ninety thousand one hundred forty-eight tons. This
year the Henry Clay led in Shamokin shipments, closely followed by Haas &
Bowen. On resuming work in April, 1861, a strike occurred among the miners
which was soon settled. This was the first strike among miners in our
county. The trade gradually improved, but shipments were limited by
scarcity of cars.
   With the year 1862 a great improvement took place in the coal trade. A
great freshet in the Lehigh region stopped all shipments from those
districts to the eastern markets and caused a great demand for Shamokin
coal. Prices at Sunbury advanced to three dollars and a half per ton,
which a year or so before would have been regarded as fair at two dollars
per ton. Many of the operators made some money, and wages were advanced to
the men. In April of this year Haas & Bowen, who had been operating at
Locust Gap for several years, leased the Lower Gap colliery also and
changed the name to Cameron colliery. They sunk a slope, one of the first
in the region, and made preparations to do a large business.
   The year 1863 is not noted for much progress and improvement in the
coal business, and the trade in our county was suspended for some weeks
during the summer, owing to the Rebel invasion of the State. A number of
the miners enlisted for the emergency, and the mines remained idle until
all danger had disappeared and the railroads had commenced operating
again. At the beginning of this year, the Luke Fidler breaker was
destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt again in a few months. At this time the
Shamokin Valley railroad was leased to the Northern Central Railway
Company. Samuel John & Sons leased the Green Ridge colliery and continued
to operate it for a number of years. They changed the name to Green
Mountain colliery.
   During 1864 the price of coal advanced, and in the month of August it
was sold at the mines at five dollars fifty cents per ton, but later in
the season the prices fell. A reduction in miners' wages followed the fall
in prices, which led to some dissatisfaction among the men. The price of
coal at Philadelphia in August this year reached ten dollars seventy-five
cents per ton - the highest price it ever attained. A number of
improvements were made in 1864. S. Bittenbender & Company secured a lease
on the Big Mountain lands on Gearhart run and put up a first-class breaker
known as the Burnside colliery. At about the same time, the Shamokin and
Bear Valley Coal Company put up a large breaker at their new tunnel on
Carbon run, having been granted the power to mine, prepare, and ship coal
from their own lands. For nearly four years previously they had been
engaged in driving a tunnel in the Mahanoy mountain of over one thousand
feet, cutting three large veins. The progress and results of this work
were watched with great interest by coal men.
   Pennington, Douty & Company sunk a slope on the red ash vein south of
Bittenbender's iron works, erected a breaker, and called the operation the
Daniel Webster colliery. This slope was afterwards known by the miners as
the "fiery slope." It was worked for some years by Henry & Company, but
was finally abandoned. The same year, May, Patterson & Brother secured a
lease on the Renshaw & Johnston tract at Buck Ridge, opened up several
drifts, and put up a breaker at the close of this year. This operation was
named the Buck Ridge colliery, and for many years was famous for its large
shipments of mammoth white ash coal of a very superior quality.
   During 1865 several new breakers were erected. A colliery was opened on
the lands of the Fulton Company by the Excelsior Coal Mining Company, and
a large breaker erected which was called the Excelsior colliery. The Brady
colliery was started in 1863 and in 1865 a breaker was put up and
shipments of coal commenced. John B. Douty was the lessee. Thomas
Baumgardner, of Lancaster, leased a tract adjoining the Excelsior Company
and put up a large breaker and opened several veins of very fine coal.
This was called the Enterprise colliery. A short time afterwards this firm
started another colliery on their lease and called it the Margie Franklin.
During August this year a large coal breaker at Trevorton was destroyed by
fire, throwing a large number of men out of employment. In November, a
small breaker put up in the short space of forty-two days to supply its
place; was completed. During this year, the breaker of the Bear Valley
colliery was thoroughly remodeled by A. A. Heim & Company, who, from
September 1864, to 1872, had the contract of mining, preparing, and
putting in cars for shipment, all the coal from this colliery.
   At the close of 1866 an outlet to New York was opened by the Mahanoy
branch of the Lehigh Valley railroad connecting with the Northern Central
railway at Mt. Carmel.
   In 1867 the Reliance colliery, near Mt. Carmel, situated on lands of
the Mt. Carmel Locust Mountain Coal Company, was started up by Thomas
Baumgardner, and Robertson, Guiterman & Company secured a lease on the
Brady tract and commenced the Greenback colliery. In November, J. Langdon
& Company, of Elmira, New York, purchased from the Bird Coal and Iron
Company their lease of the Big Mountain colliery and made many
improvements. The Coal Mountain breaker (F. Rhodes, lessee) was destroyed
by fire. About this time (1867) the Coal Ridge Improvement Company sunk a
slope and put up another breaker on their lands, known as Coal Ridge, No.
2. The land owners operated the colliery a short time and then leased the
works to Douty, Reed & Gable who continued until December, 1869, when S.
P. Longstreet and later Burton Brothers & Company became the operators.
   In 1868 Graeber, Kemple & Company leased from the Locust Gap
Improvement Company the two collieries known as the A. S. Wolf and the
Locust 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 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 conducting the mining operations.
   In 1869 five new collieries were started. Douty & Baumgardner completed
a colliery at Doutyville, called the Ben Franklin, mining from the Lykens
Valley veins, which at this point were finely developed. The Enterprise
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, subleased 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 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 & Company. 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
Association, and the operators established a board of trade. The
differences between them were finally compromised. Monthly meetings were
held, at each of which a certain number of both parties were present. A
filed basis of price at Port Carbon for coal established the prices for
miners' and laborers' 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
Edmonds 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 responsible 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 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
railroad 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
transportation 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 Company, and the Greenland Company. The Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company, one of the greatest corporations in the
State, was organized 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 Philadelphia 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 purchased by this company were those of the
Locust Gap Improvement Company, 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 Cameron,
Luke Fidler, and Hickory Swamp collieries, 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
incendiaries. 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.
  
   In July of this year Isaac May & Company leased the Burnside colliery
and operated it very successfully for a number of years. The Margie
Franklin breaker was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt in the short space
of thirty-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 Bittenbender
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
colliery, 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 successful manager of collieries.
   In 1874 the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company completed
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 destroyed
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 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 operation 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
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.
   In 1878 the Hickory Ridge breaker was destroyed by fire. PIlilip
Goodwill 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
Pennsylvania colliery. They built a large breaker, containing all the
modern improvements, under the supervision of their practical and
experienced superintendent.
   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 & Johnston 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 number of
years. About 1880 the firm was changed to Montelius, Robertson & Company,
and on the 1st of April, 1882, to Montelius, Righter & Company, 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 affords 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
superintendent. 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 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
improvements. 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
management 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
improvements 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
interest 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 arrangements 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 that the gangways
were in at the time the fire occurred, the mines were found in excellent
order at all point except at the place where the fire had existed. It has
been conceded by all parties acquainted with the work, that the management
under such trying circumstances where Such great interests were involved,
could not have been better performed. On May 9th 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 supervision 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
September 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 mining 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 &
Company, 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
bolted 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 Even, 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 gangway was found to be in excellent coal and there
[missing word] nothing to prevent resumption of work at the place it was
so suddenly stopped in 1873.
   The collieries of our county give employment to twelve thousand eighty-
five men and boys, who in 1889 mined and prepared over two and a half
million tons of coal.
   Having brought this article down to the present time (November, 1890),
it will be concluded by introducing a few tables showing the shipments of
1857 and 1889, and the annual tonnage from 1839 to 1890.

COAL SHIPMENTS FOR 1857
Trevorton 110,711
Lancaster: Cochran, Peale & Company 35,105
Big Mountain: Bird, Douty & John 28,599
Locust Gap: Seasholtz, Fagely & Company 15,700
Luke Fidler: Thomas & John Rosser 15,031
Lower Gap (Cameron): Zimmerman & Pursell 14,887
Coal Ridge: Lewis, Muir & Company 11,255
Green Ridge: A. Ayres & Company 10,841
Carbon Run: Ammerman & Wetzel 9,610
Coal Mountain: Mears & Davis 4,259
Rough & Ready: Beaver & Company 4,119
Locust Summit: Anthony & Lloyd 8,512
Lambert: Kremer & Deitman 8,388
Total 266,517

COAL SHIPMENTS FOR 1889
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company:-
Merriam 65,677
Monitor 46,007
Locust Gap 193,566
Locust Spring 147,381
Alaska Shaft 205,461
Reliance 68,977
Buck Ridge 57,779
Henry Clay 460,046
Burnside 100,059
Bear Valley 74,341
Trevorton 62,406
1,481,700 tons

Union Coal Company:-
Pennsylvania 240,585
Hickory Swamp 107,729
Hickory Ridge 55,768
404,032 tons

Mineral Railroad and Mining Company:-
Cameron 101,778
Luke Fidler 128,925
225,708 tons

Excelsior Coal Company:-
Excelsior 159,929
Corbin 46,975
206,904 tons
  
Individual Operations:-
Enterprise 115,247
Neilson 108,290
Mt. Carmel 80,338
Black Diamond 48,749
Lancaster 9,888
Garfield 18,145
Eureka (Star) 7,104
882,212 tons

Total for 1889 2,700,551 tons


TOTAL SHIPMENTS
   The following table exhibits the total shipments from the Shamokin coal
field from the beginning of the trade in 1839 down to 1890, covering a
periodof fifty-one years, with amounts of each decade carried out:-

Year    Tons    Year     Tons
1839   11,980   1869    974,015
1840   15,505   1870   1,025,515
1841   21,463   1871   1,213,096
1842   10,000   1872   1,221,327
1842   10,000   1873   1,234,070
1844   13,087   1874   1,221,551
1845   10,000   1875   1,715,314
1846   12,572   1876   1,507,078
1847   14,904   1877   1,912,236
1848   19,356   1878   1,537,754
 For 1st decade 138,917 For 4th decade 13,561,956
1849   19,650   1879   1,893,990
1850   19,921   1880   1,927,877
1851   24,899   1881   2,899,193
1852   25,846   1882   2,407,240
1853   15,500   4888   2,255,762
1854   63,500   1884   2,194,121
1855  116,117   1885   2,366,477
1856  210,518   1886   2,121,964
1857  266,517   1887   2,613,457
1858  242,579   1888   2,618,818
For 2d decade 1,005,047 For 5th decade 22,793,899
1859   305,043  1889   2,694,551
1860   300,250
1861   290,928
1862   304,865
1863   337,136
1864   389,799
1865   484,257
1866   610,809
1867   533,815
1868   911,784
For 3rd decade 4,488,692
  
  
RECAPITULANON

1st decade               188,917 tons
2d decade              1,005,047 tons
3d decade              4,468,692 tons
4th decade            18,561,956 tons
5th decade            22,798,899 tons
Total for fifty years 41,988,511 tons
Add for 1889           2,700,551 tons
Total shipments       44,669,062 tons
Add for consumption at breaker and local sales 2,000,000 tons
Total output for fifty-one years 46,669,062 tons