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V \~ J1 ' - :.- ': • '. / :: '.:.i\-:-:' ' • .. -: ^ •r lt;•.••’•'• ; U. lt;■ *•'|‘ , ’ ; • .’•• -f* -.*'•• • !• - ~^ ‘yV ^ *fWe had the pleasure of participating !iintion to the Clay county coal fields last week. We not only enjoyed a trip but we improved our knowledge of the extent and value of the coahde posit 1 in that region. A very few years ago Clay county, with its unpretentious hills i and endless stretch of wet cold clay flats,: was universally considered to be one of the poorest and most unpromising coun-’ ties in the State; and indeed on the sur-■»; face she does present a dreary prospect.1! But beneath her repulsive exterior, even ;! cropping out lrom tlie sides of her hills and laid bare by her brooks and creeks, is a generous wealth of coal andiron, that 1' at once stamps the despised and neglected Ciay county as the most wealthy district in the State and places Indiana in the ^ry front rank as a mining and mineral i State. Although for several years past j it has been known that that region \t i !abounded in coal, it was thought to be jof an inferior quality, and of no import- j ance; and it is only very recently, within j the past year, that it has been discovered j that the quantity is not only boundless, | but that the quality is equal to the very | best known. It is the united testimony ; of all our scientific and practical men j that the Clay County Block Coal is equal if not superior to any coal yet discovered, on the globe, for smelting and manu-facCuring iron; inasmuch as it does not»eoak or slag but burns clean up with a ’ steady and intense h eat, leaving only a | small quantity of light ashes, it is far ; superior to the best Pitsburg for that j purpose; and for the same reason it is to ^ be prefered for household purposes, inthe stove and grate; and in generatingc J psteam it is claimed that the steady and uniform heat which it gives off, saves fuel and is a great protection to the boiler.At present there are 25 or 30 minesworked in the county with a daily yield,*even at this dull season, of about 3,000 tons. And the era of its development is 1 but dawning. Towns are springing up - all over the inhospitable land, and areI i•rapidly growing into cities. It is the | objective point of numerous railroads ; built and building. Louisville, St. Louis, Chicago, Indiana jxlis and the cities of . the East extend their long railway,arms j to her treasure fields and an amount of labor and capital is being concentrated 'there that cannot fail to exercise a material influence upon the future prosperity j and progress -of our State.
Newspaper Details
Martinsville Morgan County Republican
Martinsville, Indiana, US
Thu, May 25, 1871
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Rick H.
IN, USA 02 Jan 2023
Other Publications Near Martinsville, Indiana
Martinsville Weekly Gazette
Martinsville Evening Democrat
Martinsville Morgan County Republican
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