i STEAM COAL - Clpdigital.org

When the first two tons of anthracite coal were
brought into Philadelphia in 1803, the good people
of that city, so the records state, "tried to burn
the stuff, but at length, disgusted, they broke it
up and made a walk of it." Fourteen years later
Colonel George Shoemaker sold eight or ten wagon
loads of it in the same city, but warrants were
soon issued for his arrest for taking money under
false pretenses.
—o—
The warning to union miners to stay away from
Cabin Creek, W. Va., published in certain alleged
labor organs two weeks after a settlement was
effected through the extraordinary toleration and
generosity of the operators, lends credence to the
reports that the natives of some sections of this
enlightened country are still voting for Andrew
Jackson.
—o—
Governor Pennypacker proposes to lay on each
ton of coal mined "a tax so small that it would
not be felt by consumers." If his excellency reads
the daily papers he is already aware of the impossibility
of the proposition as framed by him.
—o—
The steady increases in wages which the miners
on the Pratt seam in Alabama have been getting
must be galling to those who refused to stand by
their employers when trade conditions made the
present high rates impossible.
The Anthracite Record.
The anthracite coal shipments for 1904
amounted to 57,492,522 tons, as against 59,362.831
tons for the previous year. This showing is considered
very good, especially when it is taken
into account that for three months there was
little done in the anthracite coal trade. The production
last month was 5,063,144 tons, as against
4,252,748 tons for the same month in 1903. It is
generally conceded if it had not been for the
slump in general business during July, August
and September the shipments of anthracite coal
last year would have been the largest in the history
of anthracite mining. For months at a time
over 5,000,000 tons were mined, and it is likely
if the supply of cars could have been regulated
even a higher tonnage would have resulted.
Negotiations are in progress whereby the Struthers
Furnace Co., of Struthers, O.. is trying to buy
500 acres of coal land near Masontown, Pa. It is
understood that the property is held at $1,000 an
acre.
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 43
Mr. O. A. Blackburn, one of the best known coal
men in the Pittsburgh district, has been apponted
sales agent of the rail coal sales department of
the Monongahela River Consolidated Coal & Coke
Co. Mr. Blackburn was the general manager of
the mines department of the Monongahela company
from October, 1899, until March 1, last.
Prior to his connection with the Monongahela company
he was for many years general manager of
the Lysle Coal Co., whose interests were sold to
the Monongahela conipany.
Announcement is made of the resignation of
Mr. D. F. Maroney as vice-president of the Shawmut
Coal & Coke Co. No statement regarding
Mr. Maroney's plans for the future has been
made but his wide experience in the field of railroad
transportation and the eminent degree of
success that has attended his administration precludes
the possibility of his retirement from the
sphere of usefulness in which he has participated
so actively and so advantageously to the interests
he has served.
The Davis Coal & Coke Co. announces the resignation
of Mr. Joseph E. Davis as general manager
of sales, and the appointment of Mr. A. J.
Porter to the position thus made vacant. The
changes become effective January 1. Mr. Porter's
headquarters are at No. 1 Broadway, New York
City.
R. Z. Virgin, formerly mine superintendent for
the Frick Coke Co., at Mount Pleasant, and now
in a like capacity with the Brier Hill Coke Co.,
near Uniontown, has resigned to accept the superintendency
of the new operations of the Jenner-
Quemahoning Coal Co. near Somerset, Pa.
The Shawmut Mining Co. announces the appointment
of Mr. George S. Ramsay as general
superintendent of mines, with authority to direct
all mining and coke operations.
One-Way Settlers' Fares to South and Southeast.
One-way excursion tickets to points in Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
North Carolina. South Carolina, Tennessee and
Virginia, account Settlers' Excursions, will be sold
from all ticket stations on the Pennsylvania Lines,
during December, January, February, March and
April. For full particulars consult J. K. Dillon,
District Passenger Agent, 515 Park Building, Pittsburgh,
Pa.