Page:Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania, Containing a Concise History of the Two Counties and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families.djvu/56

COLUMBIA AND MONTOUR COUNTIES The Bast, Monroe and Bear City collieries have been abandoned. With the exception of the colliery at Locustdale, all the mines are now under the control of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company. Three mines have been opened since the above table was published, the Repellier and the Midvalley Nos. 1 and 3.

From the mines in Conyngham and Beaver townships during 1913 there were produced 1,078,481 tons of anthracite coal. Based on the average wholesale selling price of $2.38 per ton, the value of this coal was $2,560,784.78, or almost one and three tenths per cent of the total production of hard coal in the State. The average cost of mining was $2.07 per ton.

Although the early ironmasters of Danville often prospected for coal in various parts of Montour county their efforts were never re¬ warded by success. It remained for the drouth of 1914 to reveal the hidden veins of anthracite to two farmers of the vicinity of Exchange, who were seeking deeper veins of water for their stock.

For many years Judge J. L. Brannen of Exchange had noticed in the bed of the Chillisquaque rounded fragments of coal, hut he did not seek to ascertain their source. In October of 1914 P. C. Dcnnen and William Houghton, farmers of the neighborhood of Exchange, about the same date dug new wells, both going to a depth of over seventy feet. At that depth they simultaneously struck a stratum of anthracite coal, measuring from three to four feet in thickness, which on testing proved to be of similar character to the best product of the hard coal regions. The coal lies in the usual basin-shaped form so characteristic of this grade of fuel, and will be worked by "stripping” and shafts. The quantity and extent of the deposit have not yet been demonstrated.

Along the Susquehanna river are a number of dredges, which operate in low stages of water, bringing up from the river bed the coal which has drifted down in flood lime. This coal, unlike the soft variety, will not disintegrate. During 1913 these dredges washed out 133,986 tons of salable coal.

The coal is washed into the river from the culm banks, where the slate sinks into the crevices, while the coal floats down slowly and steadily, year by year, until it is lifted to the surface by the dredges. Most of the coal taken out has been in the water at least thirty years, as its rounded shape would indicate. The dredges arc simple and their cost is low, about $200 covering engine and boat.

OTHER MINERALS

No estimate can be had regarding the production of lime and limestone, or cement There are a number of large and small plants in both counties, most of which cater to the local trade.

At one time the slate mines near Buckhorn were a source of profit to their owners, but they have been abandoned for many years.

The production of galena or lead ore is so small as to be of little interest to the reader, the greatest quantity being insufficient to war¬ rant exploitation. It is obtained in connection with the limestone at mines near Lime Ridge and Espy.

In this connection reference may be made to the copper deposits of Sugarloaf township, which are of no real value, but were considered valuable by the promoters of the company who built the smelter near Central and sank a large sum of money in the vain endeavor to reduce the ore commercially.

STATE REPORTS

According to the reports received by the State Geological Survey the mineral production of Columbia and Montour counties showed a decline in 1913 of over $125,000. as compared with 1912. This is in marked contrast with most of the counties of the State and to the State as a whole, which showed a very distinct increase in value. The products reported were brick and tile, anthracite coal, sand and gravel, pottery, limestone and lime. It is impossible to give the details of production, without itemizing the individual output.