Local History: Chapter XI DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHAMOKIN COAL FIELD. Bell's History 
of Northumberland Co PA

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Transcribed from Bell's History of Northumberland County Pennsylvania


                             CHAPTER XI.
                           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-
	
	END OF PAGE 358
	
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. 
	
	END OF PAGE 359 
	

	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 
	
	END OF PAGE 360
	Page 361 contains a portrait of William H. Marshall
	Page 362 is blank.
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 363 
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 364 
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 365 
	
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. 
	
	END OF PAGE 366 
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 367 
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 368 
	
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, 
	
	END OF PAGE 369 
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 370 
	
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 afterwards 
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 man-
	
	END OF PAGE 371 
	
agement 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 
	
	END OF PAGE 372 
	
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.
	
	END OF PAGE 373 
	
	    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 
	
	END OF PAGE 374 
	
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.
	
	END OF PAGE 375 
	
	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-
	
	END OF PAGE 376 
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 377 
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 378 
	Page 379 contains a portrait of Andrew Robertson
	Page 380 is blank.
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 381 
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 382 
	
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.
	
	END OF PAGE 383 
	
	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 
	
	END OF PAGE 384 
	
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, 
	
	END OF PAGE 385 
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 386 
	
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 
	
	END OF PAGE 387
	
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 gang-
	
	END OF PAGE 388 
	Page 389 contains a portrait of Alexander Fulton.
	Page 390 is blank.
	
way was found to be in excellent coal and there Ii 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
	
	END OF PAGE 389 
	
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 period
of 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
	
	END OF PAGE 390 
	
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


         END OF CHAPTER XI