39 bel ‘ bul 6 Bulletin No. 6 M. M. LEI tH TON C4 co COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANTA , —_———— DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS games F. Woodward, Secretary nu, BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY George H. Ashley, State Geologist re es ret sean Rin egN ERE at Sem eee Ser RS OT AS pe RIVER AND CREEK COAL IN BASTERN PENNSYLVANIA nuary 10, L920. Inthe early days of anthracite coal mining little attention mre now was poic at the washerics to the fine Y Sizes of coa.- What known 2S bueckwheset coal and HIGS ) COL wen Could Tound their way to the streamg craining the Sishner directly from he mines or by way.of the culm banks. Went on, the culm banks assumed -iarge anthracite mines, in inter yearg, with improved Mining and. increased demands for the waste from the mine washeries has ae icticalLly 4 and a large percentoge Oh iy he territory 49 time mountainous proportions at all the a methods of Shall sizes of coal, this it. 0? Stopped, and now the Operators are utilizing everything except possibly the dus particles, The coal washing into the streams from the mines and culm banks was carried away by repeated freshets and a a water Mmoeenas and evenvuusally reached the rivers. At some points.on the smaller Streams where there were low-lying lands adjactnt to the stream banks, large quantities of cosl were deposited outside the stream channels, ' EARLY OPERATIONS. For @ iong time no attempts were mace-to reclaim any of the (Ty enti aes goal washed into the streams. The first: operations of w any record were on the Susquehanna River, first in the Harrisburg and 2 little later near Sunbury, and were carried sand pumpers in @onnection with their sand business, These tions started about 18691 or i892. For | number of years the hich vicinity or we hare on by Ope ia u ‘Ta rade » AS ‘ : eG ae. to (OL ah? ; ee Rae Ca As A : ‘ ah ee : M iar * ry AN2 a 4 dy, Ns { i vy { ne ee i * » of . i Siw od 4) Ay ' . { f My Glos \ Ly Wa De, Licey! Fal x at A vir m Mp ae! - \ : SERENE aha * y 4 A . * Ney 4 i i ' ‘ H i 4 t ‘ , : \ i ‘ ‘ ‘ r * u WA 4 Ai’ . 7 2 ‘ \ ’ } \ j i > hea aK . 4 1 j f eat ts - s \ i : rin rj M 4 ian 4 4 \ ’ oar : : Tea ; i - Y ‘ : ri vi , t TB hoe ihe Mu Gee at H s , n *| en ts : Cary, oy = | ae , } De dy bowie NR) y Fi =Y é i ; 1a Wek My , 0; ¥ =r ; A eee \ ' a 44 F nara i} Vis | thd ‘ { iW { (Ve lNiee j ‘ » wll f ‘ : . ‘ ‘ ; 2 item pane ; \ : iy Uy j te Y; : ) ‘ 1 pa (£7) 4 ' ' { b j i ah ; Si ey Tak RANA PURE y) ' he by ‘ if ‘ iter j + 4 A ’ ! © i ‘ 4 i i t \ Vand i up tn st Py ‘ { \ nt 7 » J - ates 4 ‘ : tie ‘ : ¥ ye ery , Mya tie Mis (+ Pinel lal) % nl 4 Pitta Ms { / ¢ a was carried on in a desultory fashion. There was little demand for the product ant a very small price could be obtained because bitu- minous coal was cheap and commercial plants were then not equipped With grates and blowers such as are necessary for burning fine Sizes of coal, The Lirst river coal reclnimed'in the Harrisburg district sold [or about 5O cents 2 ton and the price did not go above 65 cents for ten years, OPERATIONS IN THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER AEs ‘Several tributaries of Susquehanna River, viz: Swatara Creek, yaccn.s co Creek, Mahanoy Creek, Shamokin Creek and the North Branch Peat we anthracite coal ficlds, All of these tributaries with the possible exception of Swatara Creek, join in Teeding coal into the evecuchanny River south of Sunbury. The beds of most of. these Prerks are more heavily overlaid with conl then any part of the Fiver bed, However, for along time Ope Ta tLons were contined to ne river, and none was started in the erceks until about 1915-16, when owing to war and labor conditions, the price of soft coal ad- Vance? and Shortages in production began to be experienced. ‘pince 1916 numerous operations have been inst ane don W2con- asco, Mahanoy, and Shamokin erceks ane tho North Branch of the susguehanna, The supply of coal reclaimed at some niaoes is’ usec Porcocal consumption only, but the larger operators are shipping the ir product NOVeasterm cicies, The’ price’ .or river ‘coal shies advanced to about $2.50 a ton on board cars at point of shipping, Goa une industry would appear to be profitable provided its life can be sufficiently prolonged to justify the initial expense of the installation of plants, A.number of methods have been adopted in different localities along the Susquehanna and its tributaries for, reclaiming the coal from the stream beds, because the different conditions of wicth, Gepth and velocity of the current. seem to require different methocs of working, On the river proper, including the North Branch from Pittston south to York i eare nearly all, of the’ coal is reclaimed by rotary pumps mounted on flat boats which are moved from place to place on the river, However, below the mouth of Mehanoy Orcek south to Herndon, several operators are reclaiming large amounts of coal With bucket dredges of the endless chain type mounted on flat boats, scooping up the coal from the shoals instead of pumping it. The creeks in most places are too narrow, shallow, or swift for the successful use of floating outfits, such as pumps and dredges, and other methods are used for reclaiming the coal. Con- eicerable quantities in shallow water are shovelled by hand into’ flat boats. Rotary pumps are permanently installed on the banks, and the coal pumpe d either through stationary pipes placed at the weir of rude cams constructed of stones and brusn, or in some instances through pipes with a flexible joint carricd over 2 flat- boat and moved back and forth over the limited areca. 5 Aa L] i* * ‘4 ish you Fe ao 4 ‘ x X 4 Vi i j = ; : j 7 ; Pe ‘ ? A r \ ‘ F < \ r ¥ 4 - ’ ; " , i { i i A hy iM ee fy 7 yer - J ¢ ’ Vee ee, 7 ie i Ae 5 A? Ot) . 4 i ‘ $ 4 ' Hay ; iit ") : ao Hh Lae ! if ah , Tie a ° { tat ae | aot y CN Ee U2 7 \ ba, 14 , 4a ite yin " ‘ dey on 1 NAAT iF iia POR Sekt ae ie j SNe Pe PU ee RAS, ake aoe mae ; x i mth } ‘ v ; ri Ds : a { 4 BS ie le BR Ade " i are wh Peis ‘ rate ¥ 7 y j vil bea en On Shamokin Creek large quantities of coal are successfully harvested with clamshell scoops of about one yard crpacity. Coal cannot be profitably removed at 211 points rlong the river Or its tributaries, at least by methocs now in use. South of Sun- bury,river operations heve been successful only in certain reas, Considerable co2zl is being removed above the dam in the vicinity of York Haven and as far up the river as Ciy, along the eastern bank Opposite Highspire and Steelton, and opposite the city of Harrisburg and south of the Rockville bridge. Above the Rockville bridge the next available area is above the Clarks Yerry damn for a cdistance of Several miles. The next aren is nlong the east sice of the river for five or six miles south of Mahanoy Creek in the vicinity of Herndon, A limited quantity of co2l can be reclaimed south of Sunbury below the junction of the North and West Branches and below the mouth of Shamokin Creek, The West Branch of the Susquehanna, above its junction with the North Branch at Sunbury, does not drain any coat fields, Between the several sreas named the river is roeky and shallow and the current is too swift to permit pumping coal by portable ‘Machinery, On the creeks the water conditions are about the same au ail points and the cocl could be reclaimed almost anywhere. Here nowever, the question of transportation arises. When the coal can be recovered by portable machinery and carried on flatboats to any Convenient wharf, transportation difficulties can be largely over- Come, but when the cool must-be deposited at a definite place on the bank Where the machinery for re Ota mine is located, it cannot be profitably hauled any great distance for loading on ears, and is available oniy-for local. consumption. On Wieconiseo Creek the Pennsylvania Railroad is accessibie for Shipping at Millersburg near the mouth’of the creek, and at Woocsice, at Elizabethville,.and-Loyalton, 33, 9, and 12 miles above Millers- burg. Other points along the oreek are inaccessible to the rail- feed jane even at the places named the transportation problem is Somewhat serious 2s the railroad grade is approximately fifty feet above the creek. On Mahanoy Creek coal can be Shipped by either the Reading or Pernsylvaniea yailroads at Herndon at the mouth of the creek; on the Reading 2t Dornsife Station and at Hunter Station, seven and ten miles up the stream eae eres These are sat only pointe on Ths Mahonoy Creek where large operations can be sue cessfully conducted, On Shamokin Greek conditions are somewhat different. The Stream flows through open country between Shamokin and Sunbury and is fianked for the entire distance ty both the Pennsylvania and Reading railrogds, Short sige-tracks from one or the other at ecsy Prades are aveaileble and shipping facilities are all that could be desired, Up the North Branch of the Susquehanna River the Delawrre, Lackswanna an& Western railroad on the west and the Pennsylvania Railroad on the east, might furnish good shipping facilities at many ae aoe points between Sunbury anc Pittston. In this district however, there is little evidence that any conl has been shipped by rail, mos t of it haying. been carried to local markets on flatboats South of Rockville bon on the Susquehanne River a dozen large operations and a number of smaller ones during the year 1919 reclaimed approximately 400,000 tens of coal. Much of this conl was taken out by local industries for their ow use, and practically none was Shipped, Among the operntors in the district are Ray Stewart; Ha arrisburg Light, Hest and Power Company, MeCreath and shutter, Cohen and:Leiby, D. W. Cox Company, M. Ry’ Stewart, Indcus- SCaad Coal Company, Central Iron and Siay Company, Frank Downey, Martin Construction and Supply Company, Sherman Hull, Willicm Huff, In the Clarks Ferry district the operations during 1919 were not extensive. The output for the year of the three operators - Heck Brothers, Harry Lukens and Harry Lukens, Jr,, - was 30,000 tons, the ere ater port of which was delivered to the Harris sburg ais trict and the remainder shipped to more distart points, On Wiconisco Creek the largest operation has been conducted by the Juniata Puslic Service Company for their own use, and half €ozen cther ors rators, including Charles Keefer, Mattes Milling Comcany, James Curren, sand Zeigler and Swope have taken out coal which was vsed by local in@ustries between Hlizabethville and Millers- Pore. the Coral production ‘for this creek ‘for, 1919 would), not exceed 50,000 tons. On Mahonoy Creek and in Susquehsanns River immediately below the mouth of the creek, some Inrge operations have been conducted and several other plants were being installed for operation in 1920, Two operators have removed about 50,000 tons from the river in 1919, and Six comparatively large plants on the creek and four or tive smaller ones have taken out 100 , 000 - tons, Among the operators in THis district are Beck and Hillbush, Herndon Coal Company; Eastern Coal Estate, Hower Cool Company, High Cirbon Fuel Company, C. D. Perer. pornsite Coal Company) Hy L. Beck and)B, 'W. Pindhom. The greater part of the 150,000 tons Pec LA iMe Vim tae a Soret) imho Lo was Shipped to castern Cities, On Shamokin Creek, probably owing to bettor transportation facilities, the incus try seems to have been overworked during the last two years, Operations along the creek are almost as numerous as fishermen e2long 2 popular trout stream on the first day of the Season. Some of the plants on this creek have lerger capacity than any others in the district, Pour operators are loading about ten Cars of coal a cay; six about five cars a day, and twelve about one ear a cay. About six plants on the stream were not working curing the latter part of 1919. The large operations in-this district are conducted by the Blaek Diamond Reclaiming Company, Arters-Coal Company, Anthracite Recls -iming Company, Eyre Coal Company, Faxinos Coal Company, A. Persing and Company, anc Weston Doccs Company. Operators on Shamokin Creek during 1919 reclaimed 750,000 tons of coal; all of which was shipped to Reading, Philedelphia anc New York, end to intermeciate points, except a small quantity used in Sunbury, ee Ue Ad » Pa al i& 2a¥ Lie on ed | ny t \ ‘ ‘ vip i : Kiet iP Bett bal fe) * tee : wige yy +a) t “ en SNe: aX , oe ee 7 ( i i go by 04 ye A p ry : as ‘s bite New di tia ae eave AC Mi ah, hay Re at » a iy 4 f > 4 } ! a At te va We \ DN Wh. * ‘ ‘ * ' t ‘ eta { f » ‘ \ ' ct 3 ah." 4, nu reef * ‘ a Boas ; and i ‘ ‘ey el bs am , ~ , ¥ ‘ 4 4 ’ x. at . ca aye ) *) 5 eA nA LY f sta! di me ) ri4 Ve prea oy -e/ ' i ap fr aR “er ey ~ r ‘ * re * / 4 nh et ‘- ‘ . | } z °; . | i : Kiche j , s » " : ' ' wy Py 4 ae \ . es i ; ’ ‘7B ’ ' ee uw ‘ : v ’ > , » 1 ; a¥ } . mg 4 > ‘ { H j ; 1 Aas ‘ : } 9 oh ‘ ; 4 ¥. ‘ - + ’ ‘ ‘ : >» Pe i f. ; i : ‘ Se i pan 7 i t ' ; he tes i 4 ‘ ji e ' A ’ P i ‘ 7 a) 4 am yt } ‘ | j Thess j , ( © rT , iy? s we ON il { if ‘ < he ; , i ! pe } ‘ ovis AN ‘ a fe ¥ * 7. ‘ is i ese Baa? i Rid bN Be pe te ; TAL PR OS sk ; MARR Me - wv) py eee ol » ee : q ‘i ‘ f . SP eh a RR Wey i : vy 7 4 ay > oo a ‘ ie on ry is F ee 6 ‘ : F ’ . i . 1 ‘ i ‘ Ty i : i i ’ . , fen" ¥ ‘A : : ! ‘ AeA 4 (erre , Ms ae 3 at afd 5 , ' j iy i 7 . ql : cet i “a ‘ t ‘ ' 4 . ; i wr fr ; nite Rh, Ky wend. 1) ’ ¥ | i A q A : ‘ $ ; Dds | , * : fer tee ath y Le iT Bi 0d went / é hae : ' / it ‘ | . . a eo as > Py ik ‘ , pia ‘ eee LD a qe ue oR f j \ . ‘ cu ‘ swe J * i ; i OP ' , i a re ¥ ory bhp nh b> aL i Tt ben : ; ey ie ’ ‘ ‘ arene | k a, de, Ny i 4 lew url re ke? ae: aA Hrd : 1 j ‘ . , ay ms aa / i ii , i Hl i “i ” i ‘ J é ‘ ‘ J €. my 4 ' y ’ f : , j i ~ oy ‘ 4 a t Lp z } if nf yaa ‘ ea eet Ame / : ‘ “it * : ’ ¥ “dl i} ¥ i" ’ 4 tpi} soy Vii } i ely} 7 > r az: ‘ V%, 4 4 i 4 > pope % ) , HAN f : \ if f ae Py » o 4 ‘ . ' reg Fer Ss DY rs ia “+ j "4 F 45 Pi a4 Jag TU w4 real “ ‘ ‘ ‘ v : t (a ‘ 7 ¥ ' : A , iA ™ f 4 A Tie On the North Branch of Susquehanna River operations hove been concuctec near Sunbury, lsrgely by the Sunbu ry Converting Jorks Lor their own use. About 20, 000 tons were removed during 1919 by ‘this company. ‘The Bloomsburg. Hea peas Company, tay ceseans Brothers, Hoffman Brothers, Iuther Hess, Cee Robbins , and C. E, Custer re~ Claimed about 30,000 tons Paeteen sunbury end Shickshinny, North of Shickshinny and as far up the river os West Pittston a number of operators have been removing coal in a small way. Local public service companies have been dredging or pumping coal for their own use; and at least a dozen operators of flats working rether Bepesmocdically, 2s the price or demand for coal happens to increase have taken out a considerable tonmnoge, Altogether there was tiken out north of Shickshinny approximtely 150 000 tons, the principal Operators being the Scranton Electric Company, Utilitics Supply Company, Thomas Coal Company, Burns 2nd Fl2 nnig on, Davis and Daulbert, and John S. Solsoki. toe woul output of coal from the Susquchanns River’nand: its Prabutarics curing the year 1919 was opproximtely 1,580,000 tons, In-sttéying the industry 2long § SUS CUE hanna River and its trib- Uvaries, one apperently available district was found which, up to the present time , has not been workea, nemely, Swotara Creek north- Gee. OL Jonestown, Swatara Creek rises in the vicinity of Good mprane anc Donaldson, eest and north of Tremont, and drains a number of mining areas between Good Spring and Pine Grove, fifteen Mates tO the south... The stream from its source to Jonestown, 2 Peeeotice 01 twenty miles or more, has a rapid fall and at meny places OMpues ConkS and bed, shows concitions similar to those in Wiconiseo, Mahanoy and Shamokin ereeks, The streom has been Ingen with coal Wash of the same character as the other streams for about eighteen teams, ord Up to the present time comparatively none has been re- Giaimec. At severnl places on the banks in the vicinity of Sucesburg ané Inwo 0. , little piles of coal were found which evicently had been dug by hand, Below Jonestovm Swatara Creek becomes winding and comperatively Siugegish, and before it reaches the river at Middletovn has apparent- ty lost its coal ceposits. As far up the stream es Hummelstown Ghere is little indication of co@l along the banks or on the shonls; the water is only slightly CGiscolorec, md it is saic thet fish hove been living in this pert of “the strear continuously. it would seem Pheu Geruainiy at ‘Some places slong this creek; which coula.be determined only by investigation, there must be Srtner inthe creek bed or olonge the. banxzs large Ceposits OF availleble coal, ‘There are however, no good transportation facilities between Jonestown ana Humme istown, One hundred thousand tons of conl could be reclaimed bwetween Jonestown and Tremont, OPERATIONS IN THE SCHUYLKILL RIVER AREA. in the Schuylkill River area all of the operations are slong the river between Schuylkill Haven and Reading, Between these two Boe 5 ie ble pana | ! wit " iF eh ae ‘. ie ij , U 4, At + . \" i. . uh > b aa \ «se 4 A ‘es 3 Ab r ‘ i J r ’ 4 hte C . t ay) ty 4 4 , v : ; { he Be PT Doe TANTRA Ph OUNRG RN Tne Ti Alla 0h MM aR ‘ : ACTA | MBN arty ayn rts i i vey ie ; 4 4 * F Lat 1 i walt a) i | . , vi % i : ‘ es a : y\ . I J r ' . ‘ » r ' “~ ‘ ‘ ' ! ' ' ' ) 7 ( i \ f, Lis ded i f] ay j y ’ ‘ 4 Flestena’ | > \ f ’ ' 4 ’ a 4 a paty ne ‘ i rr J ‘ hore b i y 4 » Ry e points the river is flanked by the Pennsylvani2 and Reading rail- roads ard transportation facilities are good. Practically all of the coal taken from Schuylkill River is reelaimed by rotary pur ps mounted on flatboats‘as in the Harrisburg district. Near Schuylkill Haven five operators, the Schuylkill Haven Drifted Coal Company, Spannuth and Bittle River Coal Company, Baker Coal and Ice Company, Bowen Brothers, and John B. Sirocco Compnny, removed 55,000 tons in 1919, the ereater part of which was shipped to Reading and Phila- delphie. Near Landingville four operators, ‘Bechtel and Nichter, Landing- Ville Drifted Coai Com pany; Allenbach Coal Company and C. Arthur Fisher removed 30,000 tons, which was shipped to eastern:points. Between Landingville and Auburn’thké.Beecher Coal Company, Schappel end Bousher, Auburn Brick Works, Mengel Coal Compeny ana the Delaware peamless Tube Compeny have removed 40 ,000 tons, most of which was used = Ononaeely Between Auburn and Port Clinton the Black Diamond Coal Company, Sallace and Hicks, Charles Berkey ond several other operators: removed 465,000 tons, most of which was shipped to eastern markets. from Port Clinton southward, partly owing to river’ conditions, the next operation is near Berne "Station, south of Hamburg, where Bifrecd 0. Workley reclaimed 10,000 tons in 1915, . At Shoemakersville Grant B. Alleran and séveral other operators reclaimed 20,000 tons, At Lenhartsville the operator removed 10,000 tons, and at Reading two pumping outfits operated by John M. Ebers ole reclnimed 25,000 hOns, ell of whieh was used locally. Coad iis Not aque in Schuylkill River south of Reading, exce invermittently in a small way. The total output from Schuylki Pavernim 1919 was 235,000 tons. im connection with the cheracter of the Schuylkill River Supply, it is inte: resting to note that at a point one mile south of penuylkill Haven, the Schuylkill Haven Drifted Conl Company has been eae aimost continuously Por four years:on an area said not to exceed 4000 sguare feet, moving their pump up and dow the stream for a distance of 200 feet between an 2bandoned canal dan and 2 meaiirosd bridge,. They have removed many thousands OF tons) of coal from this area and state thet at no time were they compelled to Spend operations for lack of coal. The operations on the Schuylkill River are rather small con- pared with some on the Susquehanme and its branches. Only:‘a few are five years old,,. They have a capacity running from about 8,000 to 15,000 tons per year. The water conditions are not favorable for pumping at all points, but at the places above named there are gooc pumping fields anc transportation facilities are favorable. There must be quantities of coal remaining in the river. bed north of Reading. and there are large ceposits in the bottom lands adjacent to the viver banks r * pr i P| , ti ray) ‘a 1 / Gh i ae ) . " OPERATIONS IN THE TZHIGH RIVER AREA. The Lehigh River drains only 2 sill part of the anthracite coal fields and has comparatively few river coal developments. ‘Phe principal ones are joprrated by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com- pany at two points in connection with the dredging of their canal bec. This company reclaimed in 1919 about 100,000 tons of coal. Only two other operations could be found on the river, both of them small and located in the vicinity of Mauch Chunk, These two removed £0,000 tons in 1°19, TOTAL OUTPUT OF RIVER AND CREEK OOAL. ‘The total output of coal from Lehigh River in 1919 was 120,000 tons, from Sehuylkill River 235,000 tons, and from Susquehanna River and its tributeries 1,580,000 tons. The total output of river coal in ¢astern Pemsylvanie in 1919 therefore can be estimated at 1,955,000 tons. Approximately the same amount of coal was reclaimed in 1916, but prior to that year the output was much less. RELATION OF WATER SHED TO COAL MEASURES. Susquehanna River and its tributaries drain about 73 per cent of the area of the mnthracite coal fields; Schuylkill River about 18 per cent ond Lehigh River about 9 per cent. It does not necess- arily follow that the same proportion of coal is washed into the Seiorca rivers, It is likely that a larger proportion of /the coal in the Schuylkill and Lehigh rivers is lost, than there is of that reaching the Susquehann2. The Susquehenna River has a diviced current from where it receives the co2l wash even so far as the work Haven dam, The waters from the’ Juniate River anc the tributar- ies entering from the west follow the west bank: while the waters coming from the coal regions follow the east bank, From Sunbury to Harrisburg slong the east bank only 2 few small tributeries enter the river which are not coal bearing. The diviided current provices Shoaling piaces in mi@ stream where the coal is deposited, and from Woach a ‘large proportion of the river coal is reclaimed, On Schuylkill anc Lehigh rivers, large tributaries which are not coal bearing enter the streams from both erst ang west below the coal fields, greatly incroasing the flow without crerting a divided current as in the Susquehanna and without providing shoaling places for the coal. FUTURE OF TEE RIVER COAL INDUSTRY, Just what the lifé of this industry may be and how long the supply may last is: herd to determine. However, by roughly estimat- ing the cepth, length, snd width of the coal deposits in the streams, there is sufficient evidence to warrant assuming that the output in certain districts may he increased an? that in others the present developments may be continued for 2 ferioc of at least five years, even though practically no more coal shoulc be deposited. mp ae Pathe sa hy a Dh ae i ¥ : LAD ahs by ; at ee wo Ria shy ee He \ bi th) ALANS “BI 5 Le ¢ > t , } a a ‘ ’ * WE xu i bs ag , he | leh iw { " een RW an Aaah wey a \ , + phymye % ph eee s oN AS py j \ 4 ' ' wy b ¢ fie - Iver, 4 hae y ¢ * H is ; 4 ts nb t 7 } F i p ot “ This would not include any increase in production south of the Rock- ville bridge on the Susquehanna River. One hundred thousand tons more a year could be reclaimed in the Clarks Ferry district, on Wiconisco Creek, and the North Branch of Susquehanna Rive south of Nanticoke. It is likely however that the Shamokin Creek deposit worxed to its present capacity would be exhausted in much less than five years. There is not now relatively the same amount of coal in the bed of Shamokin Creek that may be found in other creek or river beds. There is, however, a district along Shamokin Creek between onydertown and Paxinos, where approximately eight hundred acres of bottom lends adjacent to the stream are covered with a thick deposit Of Goal, ~- No ettempt has yet been made to reclaim this coal except in one or two places where by means of drags, small quantities have been brought within reach of clamshell buckets, If a practical way be found to reclaim this coal, the life of the industry in the Sha- mokin district would probably be prolonged ssverel years and it Might be brought to the five year limit of the other areas, On Schuylkill River north of Reading the output could un- questionably be coubled. There sre areas adjacent to the river Whach are overlaid with coal, Some of these areas are covered with bushes and small trees but others are practically clean anc the coal might be reclaimed easily, Lehigh River is yielding 2s much coal as can be successfully removed and no material increase is possible, The estimate: that the industry may continue for a period of five years with some increase in the present rate of production is based Upon the assumption that no more coal would reach the streams. It teonot Likely, however, that the supply will suddenly cease, Fer some time no coal has been wasted from the mines and the supply hes been coming from the culm banks, ‘These culm banks are being removed and utilized and eventually will be exhausted, With the orescnt im- proved system of mining, and the now recognized value of the smaller Sizes of coal, when the culm banks are gone the supply into the Streams will practicaily cease, However, while-the culm banks-are being used, owing to the loosening up anc handling of the coal, more Goal is washec into the streams than when the banks are undisturbed, Withinithe inextcfew yeaus large quantities of coal may be weshed Bobo the creeks and rivers and become available for future reciaim~ ie, in several places. where washeries established at typicns culm benks have been in operation for about four years, the banks have been about half removed, There are many culm banks of about the | Bamé Size Ss.yet untouched, anc if the same process be adopted for Miilizime-these, it would appear that at least for eight or ten years durther supplies of small sizes of coal will rench the streams, WORKING CONDITIONS. Few localities were found during this investigation in which it appeared necessary to suspend operestions at any time on account of Mievevercitvy oOo: coal, This condition might occur occasionally in susquehanna River south of the Rockville bridge. However, conditions aren ics nT 3 ‘ et ‘ , \ ‘ | wos iy F | ; hy at / i he | z ‘ F fa = ¥ A iy ‘ y ~ y/ i? i ‘ va" i "i oie ror 47 ot ’ np iF : ‘ ‘ ‘A ; vi ae Ae " 7 4 met 7 , j awh “A ft < yd * ne ey! ‘ 1 ‘ f e~ y ‘ ‘ i =- / ‘ ‘ vd ua 2 ~ 7 \ \ t i 3 i > \ { ‘ x On 4 1 / an’ how ft o | ’ ‘ vty Soe i ue . Me way RS ‘ : > - Ld | . ; fe ‘ AN ’ 4 a ey am & ‘ be owe , 7 j , hou & ’ is oy ' q ee ] Poy ‘ \ we Ay ‘ ae. a ’ { . mat } , A . ' j j i A ? i j ' - y ~ +) pe i 4 a r | aif Ain, 8F. a i y 17 i " ’ “iF ah i Midy. ths 4 ‘ : ‘ ¥ } 4 j ql tui) at r Hi 1 4 Fa eaten inn a de ’ ‘ ve Cae iy alm, ¥! frequently interfere with the operation of river and creck coal plants. It appeared that those plants which worked when conditions permitted were able, to operate about 200 days during the yesr. Many of the smaller operators co not attempt to work continuously and have their equipment in service only when conditions cre most favore- able or when they have orders to fill. At least one-half of the Operations with a capacity of 5000 to 10,000 tons per year were ide at the time the investigation was mace. Others which had suspenced earlier in the year were just resuming operations. It is likely that if the owners ond operators of these smaller-plants could, be encouragec with a steady market for their product, they would work continuously, and would easily t-ke core of the suggested increase in output. QUALITY OF PRODUCT. River anc creek coal is mure or less mixed with small pebbles, bits of wood, sanc ane other foreign substances which cannot successs, fully be screencd out, and much of it looks as if it would be rather poor fuel, The purity and sizo cf the cosl depends somewhat on the koGation from which it is reclaimed, The cleanest coal and the largest pieces are found nearest to the mines. On Yiconisco Creek eahove Elizabethvillc where the mines are only 2 few miles distant, ® £51ir percentage of the product is screened to sizes that can be burned in small heating plants witnout forced draft, Probably the Pegescoa. tor all purposes is found’ in the upper part of Wiconisco Creek, but the quantity is limited and the transportation faciiities Bre mou very good, AS coal is carried farther down stream it becomes emalier and more mixed with foreign matter. In‘the lnrger streams, @especiaily where it is curried from tribduteries, the conl is found Mae Wien cena. ANC’ ngain, aiter it is carried for some distence in the larger streams, the 2ction of the water sppenrs to have screened out the sanc to a considerable extent... Beds are founc in the Susquehanna and Schuylkill rivers containing send and co2l in all proportions. in some pluices the sanc so predominates that it is more profitable to recover it end waste the coal. Shoals which do mot contain more than 25 or 30 per cent of sand can be successfully Washed, though no apparatus in use will entirely remove sand or Other foreign matter. It is said that an electrical device, lately invented will separete sand and coal completciy, regardless of the proportion of sand or other foreign mettcr mixed with the conrl. Although as washed by present methods, most of the river coal looks: Girty, those who have been using the procuct with proper applicnces, have been getting surprisingly good resuits. Analyses of coal recleimed by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Compsny anc furnished to the New Jersey Zine Comp.rny are reported as Showing 10 per cent’ ash. Analyses of coal taken from various points along the Susquehanns and its tributaries are saic to run Dg ry Chars re wa , er ee 14 “Ay we 4 I+ r ; y : } ‘ . x j , i * . ; ; | ‘ un’ ia + 2 si + ire ‘ aye 4 - ‘ & i ’ - ry. i ‘ 2 aes ieee yar) ee et ~ fe re a* Lab \ . ¥ “iieoy ae) ty ny » és ne ee he sete 5 ye elhigty’ he ea ty a " NA ah, Y vat, iol Net gels i ae f Baan 3) Witte . eee "i: ; ‘4 ws k 4 rhe ; A wal ie eae i coe fe ae ia ah wie However, at present the commercial plants are burning the small sizes of Coal from the mines as well as from the rivers, and in most plants cither product can be used. For hand stoking, stationary sectional grates, with funnel shrped apertures, very smill-at the top surface ace the grate anc. wid Lae tO vhs under surface, are largely used. On this type of grnte the ashes and cinders mus ‘tbe pulled. ea or chsin grates are used with outomatic stokers, Blowers for meking forced draft are of the electric fan or steam turbinc types. CONCLUSION, The life of the river cosl industry 2s predicted in this re- port is based upon the presumption that there will te 2 continuous output in the next five to tcn years at about the same rate as in 1919, long beforc the supply of river coal is exhausted, however, the prices and supply of mine coal mey decresse‘the rate of produc- “tion of river coal to vhet it was prior to 1919, to await the stimu- ius of future abnormal prices or shortages of coal. In such case, tre industry might be continued 2s 2 sporadic business, much longer ,than for the predicted ten yvear pericd, fat The development of natural resources is frequently attended by economic waste. In Pennsylvanis we wasted our timber resources- our mountnin sides covered with rotting logs testify to our prodi- Bality. Unfortunstely, we fully realized our timber hoas only after ane supply was depleted. In the conrl ficlaés the waste was just’ as pronounced, but in this case we were more fortunate, The streams picked up and’ preserved the discarded coal and even carried it part Way to market. Much of this waste of former years is being and “will be reclrimed. In addition to its direct economic value, river cool may have servec another useful purpose, tke benefits of which may continue dong after the industry itself has disappeared. The naévent of river Goal at attractive prices has stimulated the invention and installa- tion of equipments adapted fon’ #ts, use, anc also for use of, the Smaller sizes of coal from the mines, Before the adyent of river Coal there was no market for the smoll sizes of mine co2l because commercial piants could not use them. When the supply of river coal ‘is exhausted there will be hundreds o€ plants equippec for burning the small sizes of conl from the mines and consequently a market for the product, Therefore, the ultimate death of the river coil industry will not mean a loss,in our resources, but rather a gain. The small Sizes of mine coal will have a ma arke t, and having commercial value, Will reduce the price of lerger sizes, © pecond edition, May 29, 1922. aoe, AN lien vn ey a : f Aina it