TOWNSHIPS.	1840	1850	1860	1870	1880
Bloomfield Franklin Hamilton Jackson Jefferson Liberty Lick Madison Milton Scioto Washington Clnt'n, Har'sn Rch'ld	721 1,055 415 410 752 474 822 724 912 931 481 1,750	1,402 1,295 665 713 1,036 1,017 1,501 1,515 1,472 1,347 756	1,775 1,434 923 1,044 2,058 1,393 2,334 2,081 2,365 1,484 1,050	1,775 1,665 1,108 1,532 3,002 1,747 3,746 2,174 2,372 1,505 1,133	1,557 1,502 819 1,869 2,443 1,734 5,213 2,113 3,404 1,579 1,403
Total	9,447	12,719	17,941	21.759	23,686

In 1840 Jackson County was divided into fourteen townships which were consolidated into the above in eleven in 1850. The townships were Clinton, 824; Harrison, 378, and Richland 548. These figures of population should be, and are added to 1840 column. To the above list of townships must be added that of " Coal." This township is formed from the territory of Lick and Washington townships, and was not organized until January, 1883, consequently its population was included in the townships from which it was taken in the census of 1880. It is the center of the coal region, and the development of its interests in that Erie is very rapid, as the township is entirely underlaid with coal, and it is in active development by home and foreign capitalists. CHAPTER XXIV. GEOLOGY AND THE MINERAL RESOURCES, COAL AND IRON INTERESTS. GEOLOGY OF JACKSON COUNTY, OHIO. BY ANDREW ROY. Jackson County is located in Southeastern Ohio, and is bounded by Vinton County on the north, by parts of Vinton and Gallia counties on the east, by portions of Gallia, Lawrence and Scioto counties on the south, and by portions of Scioto, Pike and Ross counties on the west. Geologically, the county lies in the "Lower Coal Measures" of the State. On the western margin the valleys cut down into the sub-conglomerate and sub-carboniferous strata. On the western border of the county the coal-bearing strata attain a thickness of fully 600 feet, and inclose eight to ten different beds of coal, ten to twelve various beds of iron ore, and three to five beds of limestone. On the eastern flank of the coal measures, the strata are less than 100 feet in thickness and only one seam of coal is due. The coals in most active demand are drawn from two beds, locally known as the Jackson shaft coal and the Coalton or Wellston coal. A good seam of cannel coal is mined on Coal Run, Milton Township, ranging in thickness from eighteen inches to two feet. Two valuable beds of coal calculated to play an important part in the future developments of the mineral resources of this county are known as the Limestone coal and the Waterloo coal. These seams are only met in the western portions of the county. The Limestone coal, which lies fully 150 feet lower than the Waterloo bed, occupies a much greater area than the Waterloo seam. The 1 other coals of the county are not as persistent as the beds named but they have not been developed to any exeent and their value and chief properties are not as well known in consequence. The Jackson shaft coal ranges in thickness from three to four feet. The seam is homogeneous and the coal is dry-burning in character, which fits it for -furnace use in a raw state. It is remarkably free from sulphur or other impurities, but it contains a rather large per cent. of ash and is not prized as house or steam fuel for this reason. The Wellston or Coalton seam, which lies 150 feet above the shaft coal, is not only the best coal seam in the county but is one of the finest grades of bituminous coal in the United States. It burns with a bright flame, contains an unusually small percentage of ash, is rich in carbon, free from impurities of all kinds. It is dry-burning in character, which fits, it for furnace use as it comes from the miner's pick, but is rather tender and does not bear handling well. This is its only imperfection. Were it as hard and capable of bearing transportation as the great vein coal of the Hock- j ing Valley or the Briar Hill coal of the Mahoning Valley, it would rank as one of the finest bituminous coals in the world. These two beds, which are the lowest workable coals in the series, are found in the 1 western and middle parts of the county. Eastward they plunge out of sight and are re- HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 483 placed by the limestone coal which comes in on the tops of the hills, immediately above, the gray on ferriferous limestone, 420 feet above the Jackson shaft coal. The Jackson shaft coal is opened and mined on Salt Creek, near the town of Jackson, the county seat. The Coalton coal is extensively mined on Horse Creek and Pigeon Run. At Wellston and vicinity a number of mines are also extensively worked. Both beds are reached by shafting, but the shafts are very shallow rarely exceeding 100 feet in depth. LIMESTONE ORE. The limestone ore is the most valuable as it is the thickest of the series of ore beds. It lies from 400 to 420 feet above the base of the coal measures and is not due in the west-en half of the county. This ore rests upon a stratum of gray limestone from two to twelve feet in thickness, and the ore and lime rock are frequently mined together and used in the same furnace. The ore is from eight to twelve inches in thicknesss, on an average. Sometimes it is wanting altogether and occasionally it swells to four and five feet in thickness. The other ore beds of immediate commercial value are the Limestone Kidney, which lies thirty to forty feet below; the Little Red Block, forty feet lower; the Sand Block, still lower, from twenty to forty feet, and the blue limestone ore, 140 to 150 feet below the gray limestone. Each of these seams, which are mined by stripping the vein, are thinner, and not equal in quality to the gray limestone ore. The best known beds of limestone are " The Gray " and " The Blue." The blue limestone is frequently a double bed, a stratum of shale from two to twelve feet separating the seams. The gray limestone is the most valuable bed and is the rock exclusively used in the blast furnaces of the county. The lower lime rock of the series is called the Maxville limestone. It is a patchy deposit, and is oftener wanting than present where it is due. This deposit lies about 200 feet below the gray limestone. According to a rough estimate, from the best data on hand, there are about 25,000,000 tons of Jackson shaft coal in the county; 175,000,000 tons of the Caalton or Wellston coal; 587,520,000 tons of the limestone coal and 50,000,000 tons of the Waterloo coal. This estimate does not include any intermediate seams,of which no approximate estimate can be made, as few of the beds are mined to any extent. It may be safely estimated, however, that these seams in question contain a larger quantity of coal than is contained in the beds named. Of the available amount of limestone ore, 50,000,000 tons would be a moderate estimate. No calculation can be made as to the quantity in the other ore beds of the county. There is much more than will probably ever be mined, owing to the thinness of the beds. The amount of available limestone for furnace flux is practically inexhaustible. The strata intervening between the beds of limestone coal and iron ore consists of sheets of sandstone, shale and fire-clay of varying thickness. Some valuable beds of sandstone for building purposes are found in the coal measures of the county but they belong to no particular horizon. The fire-clay deposits, which are generally met immediately below coal seams, have not yet been utilized, but they are well adapted for making fire-brick, drain tile, etc. The rocks on the western border of the county are of older geological age than the coal bearing strata. They consist of the conglomerate rock, which forms the floor of the coal measures, and the Waverly sandstone, which lies immediately below the conglomerate. The Waverly sandstone is a very superior 484 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY building stone, which in the adjoining county of Pike forms the basis of a very important industry. THE MINES AND FURNACES. There are very few counties in the State which exceed Jackson County in its inexhaustible supply of coal, iron ore, limestone and fire clay. Iron and coal mining has been extensive for many years, but in the last few years g greater incentive to the manufacturings in these articles has been given, and coal mining especially has received a new impulse. In the manufacture of fire-clay into fire brick, tiling, etc., not so extensive work has been done, although there are several fire-brick manufacturing companies, notably those at Oak Hill, who are doing a fair business. However, taking the mineral resources of Jackson County altogether—the coal mining, the iron and fire-clay manufacturing—and it is all as yet in its infancy. Some of those who are operating in coal and of the mines and furnaces will be found hereto annexed. Jones & Morgan, Jackson Bill Coal.—This company was originally the Morgan C oal Company, Mr. Jones being a silent partner. It was first opened July 5, 1878. It is a three-foot vein, and is about half a mile east of Coalton. The vein was entirely free from sulphur, bone and slate, and its purity and burning qualities were proved so great as at once to give it a marked success. An analysis in 1882 of the coal showed the following result : Water in coal, 7.050; coke in coal, 58.303; volatile hydro carbon, 33.417; Ash, 1.200; 100.000. Sulphur in coal, .674. This analysis proves this to be a most excellent coal and one of best for many uses, especially as a stove and grate coal and for steam purposes generally. It is remarkably free from sulphur, and as it makes a hard, compact coke, an excellent coal for the smelting of iron. It proved also, by actual test, as a superior coal for steamboat use. The capacity of the mines is 150 tons daily. No. 4, Drift ,line, is located one-fourth mile east of Coalton, and is known as the "Drift Mine," belonging to the same firm which assumed the style of Jones & Morgan, Jan. 1, 1879. It is a three-foot vein, and the coal is of the same vein and quality as that above, with a capacity of 100 tons daily. This mine was first opened by McKitterick Bros.,in June, 1878; was purchased by D. C. Jones in September following, and then united with Moses Morgan with the name and date of the firm as above given. Mine No. 3 is located one mile east of Coal-ton; was opened by the firm in April, 1880, but the property had been leased by D. C. Jones in 1879, opened by Z. Williams in 1878, and filially purchased by Jones & Morgan in 1880 as above. The vein is a thirty-four inch one, but is not as good coal as the three other veins mentioned, containing more bone and sulphur. The mines No. 1 and 2 are located on the T., C. & St. L. narrow gauge railroad and on the Ohio Southern Railroad ; No. 3 is on the narrow gauge only, and No. 4 on the O. S. Railroad only. The mines are fairly ventilated, and Drift No. 1 is equal to any mine in the State. Springfield Coal Co.—This company's mine is located on section 5, township 7, of range 18, Jackson County, and the proprietors are H. L. Chapman and E. S. Kelley. The property consists of 200 acres of coal lands, and the vein is three feet and of the best quality of Jackson Hill coal; is free from bone, sulphur, or slate, with an analysis similar to that given to the Jones & Morgan coal. The mine was opened in January, 1881, and was ready for business the 15th of May following, at a total cost of some $20,000. The tracks are of T rail, a splendid furnace, giving excellent ventilation, drainage good, and the capacity of the mine about 300 tons daily. There are HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 485 three main openings and eight main entrances giving ample ingress and egress. It has proven an excellent steam coal for furnaces in the blasting of iron, and for domestic purposes. They have secured as bank boss Jno. Hayes, of Zaleski, who, combines with a thorough knowledge of the business that strong energy which practical knowledge alone can give. The mines have the Mitchell patent tippel, Morrow dumping and weigh_ing machine, Fairbank standard track scales, and lying on the Ohio Southern Railroad, with four tracks, it combines the best facilities for shipping of any other mine in the county, being able to load nut, lump and slack coal all at the same time. Upon this land are also found two veins of iron ore, one known as the block and the other the kidney ore, lying respectively thirty and forty feet above the coal. In conclusion, we give the remarks of Mr. H. L. Chapman in reply to a question of the author, " Jackson Hill coal cannot be too highly estimated for domestic and steamboat purposes, and the Jackson shaft coal cannot receive too much praise for iron purposes." The Star Mines are located at Jackson, Ohio, and contain an area of 180 acres, seventy acres of which have been worked and are now abandoned. The shaft was sunk in 1S63 by John Jones, T. M. Jones and Alan-son Robbins, who, in 1865, sold the mine to the Star Furnace Co. In 1868 this company employed Henry Price as engineer and bank boss, who has since served as such. The facilities for handling the water is acknowledged to surpass any mine in the State of Ohio. It is conducted with four pumps and as many engines, which draw from the mines or have a capacity of 520 gallons per minute, moving night and day, and Sundays. The irregularity of the floor makes it more difficult to successfully handle the water. The water is strongly charged with salt, which is alone an evidence of the superior quality of coal the mine contains. The coal is No. 1, Jackson coal, as called in geological survey, supposed to be the lowest strata of coal. It is a vein of four feet underlaid with fire-clay varying from three inches to five feet; underneath this is found the conglomerate rock or Upper Waverly sandstone of irregular thickness. 'The coal is overlaid with shale forming a splendid roof. The ventilation of the mine is not surpassed anywhere as it has one down and one up cast, giving constantly about five miles of a good current of air in the mine. The mine contains three-quarters of a mile of T rail, and has also in use two and a quarter miles of strapped rail. There are forty men employed and the mine has a daily capacity of 120 tons. In 1870 there was $8,000 expended on improvements. The irregularities spoken of are general in all places of coal No. 1. The vein dips forty-five feet in a distance of 200 yards, and it again dips twenty-two feet within forty yards, and in a general southeasterly direction. The coal mining at this shaft is all used by the Star Furnace, located within the city limits of Jackson. The J. S. Carr Mine. —This mine, located on the Ohio Southern Railroad, on section 8, township 7, of range 18, is owned by J. S. Carr. It covers an area of thirty-five acres, and was opened in the summer of 1881. It required an expenditure of some $1,500, and the first coal shipped was in the summer of 1882. The vein has a thickness of 30 inches, is a sample vein of the Jackson Hill coal, being free from impurities and unsurpassed for steam purposes and domestic use. It has a floor of fire-clay and stone, and a roof of slate, and above this is found the kidney and block iron ore, a fair vein of each. It has the usual siphon drainage, has two cross entries, 486 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. one 100 yards and the other 60 yards, and the mine is in a good condition. Superintendent, J. C. Carr, and manager, John Danhan. Mine of Murfin & Co.—This company was organized in 1882 and made the purchase of the coal of 125 acres, then the surface and coal acreage of six acres. The shaft was sunk in the summer of 1882, commencing the same in June. It is 106 feet deep, as follows : three feet of soil; fifteen feet sand rock; thirty-five feet slate; eight inches of coal; twelve inches fire clay; nine feet of rock; eight inches of coal, and then rock to the coal vein, which they are working. This vein is three feet nine inches in thickness, and is well adapted to steam, smelting and domestic purposes, and is very free from impurities. It has a main entry of 180 feet, and as it holds its thickness it is likely to become one of the most valuable mines in the county. It will be developed to its full capacity. The mine is on the Ohio Southern Railroad. The dump and hopper scales are attached and a powerful steam engine is the source of its motive power. The outfit was put in operation at the cost of $20,000 and has both a good bottom and roof. The Superintendent is Mr. H. C. Murfin and the bank boss Daniel J. Horry. Price Brothers' Mine. —This mine is located on the Ohio Southern Railroad. The brothers, W. T., J. H., J. E. and B. F. Price, owned 500 acres for several years, but did not open their present drift mine until 1878, commencing to take out coal in the fall of that year. They have a thirty-inch vein of the celebrated Jackson Hill coal, with a capacity of 100 tons of screened coal daily. They have two main openings to their mine, laid with T rail. The floor has a thickness of fire-clay, varying from three to nine inches, and a roof of blue slate, strong and safe. Iron ore, as in other places, is found above the coal seam. The mine has all the necessary machinery for profitable working, with B. F. Price as Superintendent and J. E. Price as bank boss. Diamond Coal Mine is situated on the Ohio Southern Railroad, about two and one-half miles from Jackson, and is at present owned by Chapman & Williams, successors to Roderick, Williams & Van Fanson they opened the mine (drift) in the spring of 1880, at a cost of some $1,800, and, including its fixtures, it has cost them some $3,000. It has two main and two cross entrances, and the tracks mostly of T rail. It is of the Jackson Hill variety, free from sulphur, bone or slate, and lies upon a bed of fire-clay from one to three feet in thickness, with a good slate roof. It can be advantageously worked, and has an output of seventy-five tons of screened coal daily. The Kitchen Mine.—This mine is owned by Dr. B. F. Kitchen, and is in Madison Township, on section 32, about two miles southeast of Oak Hill, and is near the Centerville station of the T., C. & St. L. Railroad. It is a gas coal, is excellent for domestic purposes, but not so free from impurities as the Jackson Hill or shaft coals. The seam is a fine one, fully four feet in thickness. It is overlaid with ferriferous limestone from six to eight feet in width, with a floor of sand-rock. This mine is known as No. 4. No. 5 is another of the Doctor's mines, located on the same section, and lies with an average of from sixteen to twenty-four feet above No. 4; is three and one-half feet in thickness, with a slate roof of ten feet, and a bed of fire-clay for a flooring, of some eighteen inches in thickness. This is a drift mine, and was opened in 1882. The coal is of a different quality from the vein below it, No. 4, and makes a fair quality for rolling-mill use, as well as being purer, and is also a good house coal. No. 6 mine lies sixty feet above No. 5, is on section 29, adjoining section 32 on the north, and was opened the present year, 1I383. The vein varies in thickness from thirty to thirty-six inches, and is a prime article of HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 487 smelting coal, for which it is well known, while equally available for other uses. It is a clean, clear burning coal, free from impurities, and easy of access. This mine, like the other two, is on the T., C. & St. L. Railroad. Forest Coal Mine.—This was the original Alice Coal Company's mine, who opened in May, 1881, at a cost of some $8,000. The present owners are Messrs. Mohler, Kessinger & Sumners. It is located on the northwest quarter of section 8, township 7, of range 18, -Coal Township. The vein is thirty inches in thickness, of the best of the famous Jackson Hill coal, is free from impurities, and fit for almost any use. The mine has two main and two cross entrances, T rail, requires no drainage, is well ventilated, and has the dump and hopper scale. The coal has a good slate roof, while the floor or underlay is of fire-clay and sandstone. The company has 160 acres of land. J. C. Hurd & Co.'s Mine.—This company, composed of J. C. Hurd, Jacob Dungan, Thomas Dungan and Elta Dungan, was organized in May, 1881. They leased the mines they are now operating, located on section 7, township 8, of range 18, in Coal Township. The shaft was sunk only fifty feet when they struck a vein of as good coal as there is found in Jackson County, free from all impurities, bright and clear in its burnings, no clinkers or slugs, ashes light, and in every way superior coal for domestic or steam purposes. The mine was opened at a cost of $8,000, has a good roof, dry, is supplied with a thirty horse-power engine, and all the necessary fixtures of a well-equipped mine for profitable working. The mine has an output of 150 tons daily, and the lease covers eighty-five acres of splendid coal land. It is well ventilated, lies convenient to the Ohio Southern Railroad, and has telephone connection. Standard Coal Company.—The mine of this company is located two miles east of Coalton, and has a splendid vein of coal three and one half feet thick, and of a pure nature. It is superintended by Moses Morgan, and is owned, one-half by Jones & Morgan, Geo. M. Jones one-fourth, and David Armstrong one-fourth. It is on the line of the Ohio Southern and Narrow Gauge Railroads. Kyle's Slope .Mine, one of the leading mines in the vicinity of Jackson, is operated by Kyle, Shotts & Co., and was opened by them in 1875. The vein is a splendid one, three and a half to four feet thick, and impregnated with considerable salt water, containing no sulphur, brine or slate, hence is a first-class coal. The mine is a dry and healthy one, they work good men, and it has a daily capacity of from 150 to 175 tons. It is situated near the village of Jackson; is forty-five yards in length from the mouth to the bottom of the coal, the dip being ten inches to the yard. The main entry goes south from the bottom of the slope. One entry is opened on the east and one on the west of the south entry. As the mines which extend north and south from these butt entries are advanced sixty or seventy yards, they are cut off by laying the track along the heads of rooms in the last break throughs. This is a system of opening a mine which lessens the cost of getting the coal for a year or two as the expense of driving entries is saved. There is a strong draft of air in this mine when the furnace is well kept up, and it was reasonably well distributed. The coal is of excellent quality for furnace use. The mine seems to be free from heavy hills or hollows, and the roof is generally good. In regard to the claim that this coal is the equal, if not superior, to any other for use in blast furnaces, the following analysis is given :

Specific Gravity Combined Water Ash Volatile Matter Fixed Carbon  Cubic Feet Permanent Gas per lb. Sulphur

12.82 2.51 .53

7.75 2.03 31.27 58.95

488 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. Emma Mine, Coalton, Ohio, opened April 24, 1882. This mine is owned and operated by the Emma Coal Co., of Jackson, Ohio, the Superintendent being Moses Jones, and mining boss, Thomas Douglas. The mine is in fair order. They employ twenty-three miners and six daymen. Darling Hine, Coalton, Ohio. This mine is owned and operated by Pimlot & Hall, John F. Hall being Superintendent, and Daniel Griffiths, mining boss. The mine is worked on the single entry plan. They employ fifty-two miners and nine daymen. Garfield Nine, Coalton, Ohio, was opened April 24, 1882. This mine is owned and operated by Rittenhouse Coal Co., Mr. Rittenhouse being Superintendent, and W. H. Gillman, mining boss. The mine is in good order. They employ twenty miners and four day-men. The mine is worked on single entry. Thorn Hill Nine, Wellston, Jackson County, started a working force April 25, 1882. This mine is owned and operated by the Thorn Hill Coal Co.; the mining boss being Thomas Duffy. The mine is worked on double entry, and is in good condition. They employ twenty miners and three day-men. This is a new mine and is hardly fairly opened out. Comet Mine, Wellston, Ohio, was opened up April 25, 1882. This mine is operated by the Comet Coal Company, the Superintendent being Adam Scott; mining boss, James Palmer. They employ twenty-five miners and three daymen, and the inside workings are in good order. Eureka Coal Mine.—Work was commenced on this mine in February, 1881, by J. A. Long and A. L. Atkinson, who were the owners of eighty-four acres of an excellent coal vein, four feet in thickness, and, in addition, twenty acres of surface and. It is a fine steam coal, free from sulphur and good for house use. Their first year's output was 600 car-loads. They are now keeping thirty hands employed. Mr. J. A. Long is manager. The E. S. Kelley Coal Co.—This company is at Coalton and their mine was opened in 1878, by T. M. , E. T. & Miles Jones at a comparatively nominal cost. It is a drift mine, three and a half foot vein, and they are turning out some fifteen car-loads daily. The mine is thoroughly ventilated. Milton.—This mine, owned and operated by the Milton Furnace Coal Company, is a shaft opening, seventy-four feet deep. It is situate in Milton Township, and is the oldest opening in the Wellston, or Coalton, or Hill coal, which is the same vein under different names. This shaft was sunk in 1873. There are three separate openings, all shafts, the first being the hoisting shaft, the second the escape shaft, in which a good and substantial stairway is placed—the first stairway in a coal mine in the State, though there were numerous ladders; the third shaft is the air shaft, at the bottom of which the ventilating furnace is placed. The average thickness of the vein is three feet ten incises. They mine only about what is needed at the blast-furnace, which is an average of fifty tons per day. Wellston Shaft, No. 1.—This mine, which is situate in Milton Township, was opened in 1874. It is a shaft fifty-five feet deep. The main entries of the mine run east and west from the bottom of the shaft. These entries were started double, and were the only entries opened in the mine until about a year ago. The present mining boss of this mine is a graduate of the School of Mines in Clausthal, Hanover, one of the numerous schools for the education of the practical miners. Previous to this, shaft No. 1 had been badly worked and Worse mapped out. Wellston Shaft, No. 2.—This mine, which is also a shaft, is seventy-fouf feet in depth, and is situate 3,000 feet south of shaft No. 1, both of which are owned and operated by the Wellston HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 489 Coal and Iron Company. Shaft No. 2 was sunk in 1881, and has done very little shipping to date. The workings of both shafts are through on each other, and both are ventilated by one furnace, located in the old mine. The ventilation of both mines was good. At shaft No. 1 two blast-furnaces are erected, only one of which is in blast, which is supplied with coal from the mine. Southern Ohio Coal and Mining Company. —No. 1 of the Southern Ohio Coal and Iron - Company is situate at Coalton, in Washington Township. This mine, as also No. 2, was opened by Patterson Brothers in 1879, since which time the Southern Ohio Coal and Iron Company was organized, who own these mines and several others. The mines of this company at Coalton are drift openings. No. 3, Corse. —This mine, which belongs to the Southern Ohio Coal and Iron Company, is opened on the Wellston coal, and is situate in Milton Township. Eliza.—This mine lies in Milton Township, and is owned by the Eliza Furnace Company. The opening is a shaft seventy-six feet in depth, which was sunk in 1876. A blast-furnace stands along side of the shaft, which is fed by the coal as it comes out of the mine. This mine, when first opened, was well laid out under ground, and during the year 1879 was operated with much system. It has been now for some months in charge of a practical miner as foreman, and the workings dare assuming symmetry and business-like appearance. The mine has not been worked steady since it was opened, and only three or four acres have been excavated. The coal is of excellent quality, end is used exclusively in the blast-furnace. Fluhart's Mine. —This mine, which is situate in Milton Township, is owned by Theo. Fluhart & Co., and is a shaft, eighty-seven feet in depth, and was recently sunk, ground having been broken in J une, 1881, and coal reached on the 1st of August follow- ing. The hoisting engine is one of Crane Brothers' Patent Hoists, and has but one fluid-boiler. The engine and boiler are located at the end of the pit. Up to July, 1882, 2,300 tons of coal had been excavated, mainly from entries. The work is well laid out underground. Mohler's Mine, operated by Thornhill, Mohler & Co., is a drift opening, and is situate in Washington Township. The mine was opened in 1878. A small furnace, only three feet wide and scarcely two feet above the bars, is employed to ventilate the workings, as also the workings of Thornhill's drift —these two mines being in communication with each other—at present all the coal from both openings being delivered through the Mohler mine. Huron Shaft.—This mine is in Jackson Township, and was opened in 1874. The shaft is seventy feet deep. The coal is used exclusively in the furnace of the Huron Iron Company, who own the mine. This mine lay idle for three years during the panic. There are two entries working at present—the George Davis and Sunfish entries. The air of the mine was well distributed, but the current was rather feeble. A new air-shaft will soon be sunk. OTHER MINES. During the past two years a large number of new openings have been made, mainly between Coalton and Jackson, on the line of the Ohio Southern Railroad. They are reached by short branch roads. On the Ada switch branch, one mile south of Coalton, six mines have been opened--four slopes, one shaft and one drift, and during this year have shipped quite extensively. The drift mine has been shipping for two years. On the north side of the Ohio Southern three branch roads are laid to mines, several of which have been shipping for three years. They are mostly small mines. The seam of coal in which the Wellston and 490 - HISTORY OF LOWER SOIOTO VALLEY Coalton mines are opened gradually loses height to the westward. It is upward of four feet at Corse, and as it is followed to the west it seems to gradually thin down, until, in the hills surrounding Jackson, it is only eighteen inches. The following sketch is taken from an article written by Colonel Andrew Roy, of Glen Roy: " EARLY COAL MINING IN OHIO. "The great Appalachian coalfield, the largest known coal field of the world, extends throughout portions of nine different States, namely: Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, and occupies an area of at least 50,000 square miles, being 750 miles in length and from 30 to 150 miles in width. "Fully 10,000 square miles of this area are situate in the State of Ohio, about one-fourth of the State being covered with coal-bearing strata. The western margin of the Ohio portion of the great coal field runs through the counties of Trumbull, Geauga, Portage, Summitt, Medina, Wayne, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Perry, Hocking, Vinton, Jackson, Pike and Scioto, and the coal measures are spread over all the territory lying east of this line of out-crop to the State line on the Ohio River. " The coal measures of the State are divided into three series, namely: The Lower Measures,' The Barren Measures,' and The Upper Measures.' The Lower Measures are about 500 feet in thickness; the Barren Meassures, 400 to 500 feet thick, and the Upper Measures about 600 feet thick. All the coals of any immediate commercial value are met in the Lower and Upper measures. " The coals in present course of development are mainly drawn from four or five different seams, No. 1, No. 2, No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8 of the geological nomenclature. In mining districts, however, the coals are known by other names than numerals, as for example, the Briar Hill Coal,' the Massillon Coal,' the.' Nelsonville Coal,' the 6 Ohio River Coal,' and so on, and so they will ever be, these names indicating the districts from which the coals are mined, and giving them a commercial value which dealers easily comprehend. The coal beds in their progress through coal are very changeable in their character and thickness. " THE DEVELOPMENT OF COAL IN OHIO. " The existence of coal in Ohio was noted by the frontiersmen and by travelers from the earliest settlements. In 1755 a seam of coal was discovered on fire near Bolivar, in Tuscarawas County. A map of the western country, now in possession of Judge P. H. Ewing, of Lancaster, published in the year 1788, notes several sections of coal and iron ore bed; and Harris, in his tour in 1803, states that on the banks of the Hock-hocking quarries of excellent freestone beds of pit coal, iron ore, lead, strata of white and blue clay of excellent quality, red bole, and many other useful fossils are found.’ " The first coal mined at Mineral Ridge occurred in the year 1835, the mines being opened on Coal Run, on the lands of Michael Ohl. In 1833 Rodger Hill, a Pennsylvanian, who had formerly mined coal in Beaver County, of that State, moved to Mineral Ridge. He pointed out a coal bed to Mr. Ohl, which on being opened proved to be four feet thick. " The first iron manufactured from raw coal in the United States occurred in the Shenango Valley, of Pennsylvania, and the Mahoning Valley, of Ohio, from the native coals of these districts, the fist metal made in this manner being manufactured at the Clay Furnace, in Mercer County, Pa., in the year 1845, by Messrs. Himrod and Vincent. The following year Messrs. Wilkinson, Wilkes & Co. built a stone coal furnace at Lowell, Ohio, and used raw coal. HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 491 " The beds of coal of the Hocking Valley, which lie above the level of the streams, laid bare by the action of the waters of the Hock-hocking, were noted by the first white settlers who penetrated that region, and coal was mined for domestic and blacksmithing purposes from the settlement of the valley. " The late Thomas Ewing was one of a firm who opened the first mine at Nelsonville at the Doors Run Canal Basin, in 1840. The mine was reached from the canal by an in- cline plane. Only the lower four feet were mined, the upper two feet being left for a roof. Twenty years after this mine was opened the top coal abandoned by the first workers was recovered and shipped to market. C. Fay, John Carruthers, C. and L. Steenrod and J. F. Somers were among the pioneer miners of the Hocking Valley. The best market for coal at that time was Newark, Ohio. Until the year 1842 more coal was consumed in Newark than Columbus. The earliest buyers of coal of any consequence in Columbus were John L. Gill and the old Neil House. "The first systematic coal mining in Ohio on the Ohio River below Wheeling was commenced at Pomeroy, in 1833. Samuel Wyllis Pomeroy, of Boston, Mass., purchased the coal lands on which the Pomeroy Mines are now opened, in the year 1803. In 1818 he wrote to a merchant in Cincinnati to ascertain the consumption of coal between his property at Pomeroy and the Falls of the Ohio, with the object of opening the mines. The reply was as follows: "'I am able to communicate to you the following information:

	Bushels
Cincinnati steam mill consumes annually. Iron foundry Steam saw-mill Manufacturing Company Sugar Manufacturing Company Amount In Maysville (or Limestone), used or sold In Louisville Madison Mill (140 miles below Cincinnati) Total	12,000 20,000 5,000 5.000 2,000 44,000 30,000 30,000 12,000 116,000

" Coal did not enter into domestic use in the towns on the Ohio River until the year 1833. The cost and scarcity of boats for transporting coal down the river induced the proprietors of the Pomeroy Mines to build a steam tow-boat to transport the loaded coal boats from the mines to Cincinnati and bring them back unloaded. A gang of ship carpenters, caulkers, etc., were brought from Baltimore to Pomeroy in 1835 to build a steam tug, which was named the Condor. She was the first tow-boat on the Ohio River." The gray limestone is very extensive in the county, exceeding in quantity both coal and iron ore. Sandstone is also to be found in immense quarries. JACKSON COUNTY COAL NOTES. The first stone coal worked in Jackson Coun ty, was on section 36, on the farm now owned by George Reigle. The vein of coal was twelve inches thick and mined by removing the surface. This was in 1823. Also about the same time a vein of a better quality was found and used on section 26, but the vein was only six inches thick. This was on land now owned by Columbus Weed. The coal was considered the best of smithing coal, was hauled to Scioto and Pike counties for smithing purposes, and was used for several years before coal was known to exist near Jackson, the county seat. The first coal bank opened in Jackson County, Ohio, is said to have been known as Congress Bank, located two miles southwest of Coalton. The coal was dug and hauled to Chillicothe, Ohio, where it was used for blacksmithing. The ,bank was operated and opened by Charles McKinnis. The Allen bank, near Chapman's works, was opened soon after, the coal being hauled to Jackson, where Judge David Mitchel used it for blacksmithing. The date of opening these mines cannot positively be determined. Coal found under sour, flat, wet land contains more or less slate, sulphur, bone, etc. The coal   492 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. which underlies rich sandy soil is sure to be of a good quality. Generally in mining districts when boring you strike fresh water in the coal, but this is not so in the Jackson shaft coal; there you strike the salt water which is really the secret of its superior quality, as sulphur will not mix with the salt water. The first geological survey for coal or examination professionally of the mineral interests of Jackson County, was by Prof. Matthews in 1838, who pronounced it rich in coal and iron ore. About 1860 the first coal shaft was sunk in Jackson County by James Linn and Harrison Crooks. The coal was discovered in sinking a well; afterward a shaft was sunk and considerable coal was taken out. On account of the creek bed being directly over the mine, it was finally abandoned. The shaft is directly back of the Eagle Mills, on Water street. The discovery of coal here led to the building of the Orange furnace. DISCOVERY OF SMELTING COAL. The discovery of the Jackson coal for smelting purposes will no doubt be fresh in the minds of many citizens of Jackson when reading the circumstance as it occurred. In 1863, when the darkest days clouded our nation,. there was a Mr. A. S. Kyle made his appearance. The purpose of his coming no one knew, and but little was thought about it until some days had elapsed, during which time he had been noticed going out in the morning, staying until evening around the hills and ravines surrounding the town of Jackson, and in various places boring into the earth. This created considerable suspicion, and he was suspected to be a Southern spy, which so excited the people as to call a meeting and appoint the proprietor of the hotel where he was stopping to call at his room and demand him to make his business known. This he respectfully declined to do until a certain time, saying that if he did now it would ruin his business; also stating, that if they would treat him as a gentleman they would find him to be such. Several days had passed and he was fully satisfied in his investigation, when within the short period of twenty-four hours he leased about 2,000 acres of land. The superior quality of the shaft coal led many to engage in mining for this coal. During his research he discovered the iron ore. In 1864 Mr. Kyle, in partnership with two other gentlemen, opened the first slope mine in Jackson County, known now and owned by the Globe Furnace Company. A. S. Kyle is the discoverer of smelting coal at Ashland, Ky.; also at Brazil, Ind. He has through life been engaged in prospecting for and opening mines. He is a native of Mahoning County, Ohio, where he was reared and still resides, but his son, J. C., is a resident of Jackson, and partner of the firm of Kyle, Shotts & Co. In connection with the above, and which seems would throw some doubt upon Mr. Kyle being the first to discover this important quality in the Jackson coal, the following item was published in the Jackson Standard, in March, 1854. Mr. Kyle had undoubtedly heard of this quality in the coal, and came here to test the report for himself, not to discover it. The item reads: " IMPORTANT EXPERIMENTS. " We understand that on or about the 20th inst. there will be experiments made to bring into use the Jackson coal for iron-making. The Washington Furnace Company has made preparations to test the matter to full and decided satisfaction. Much depends upon the success of this imporant matter. If it is possible that our coal can be used in the manufacture of iron, Jackson County can build all the railroads in the State. Her wealth could not be surpassed by California. We look with an anxious eye to the success of this great and important experiment." And in July, 1855, the following item was also published in the Standard: HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 493 “Coke "A Mr. Joseph Crouther has succeeded in coking or rather charring Jackson coal, which is in every sense of the word calculated for furnace use, and our furnace men say will answer the same purposes as charcoal, for making iron. He is, we believe, engaged by the Salt Lick Furnace." ANALYSIS AND COMPARISONS. COMPARATIVE RESULTS OF TRIALS OF YOUGHIOGHENY AND WELLS- TON, JACKSON COUNTY, COAL, SEPT. 9, 1874.

KINDS OF COAL	DURATION OF TRIAL	REVOLU TIONS MADE	GALLONS OF WATER DELIVERED	POUNDS COAL CONSUM'D	POUNDS ASHES REM'NG
Wellston Coal. Youghiogheny	20 Hours 20 Hours	15,665 14,040	4,502,121 4,035,096	18,420 15,600	726 876
		1,625	467,025	2,820	150

Lbs. Wellston coal burnt per hour Lbs. Youghiogheny coal burnt per hour Revolutions per minute on Wellston coal Revolutions per minute on Youghiogheny coal Percentage ashes remaining Wellston coal Percentage ashes remaining Youghiogheny coal Gallons of water raised per lb. Wellston coal Gallons water raised per lb. Youghiogheny coal Head against pump tria Wellston coal, 172 ft Head against pump trial Youghiogheny coal, 144 feet Percentage in favor Wellston, Jackson County coal

921 780 13.05 11.7 3.94 5.63 244.41 258.66 11 in 9 in 12.88

I certify that this statement is a true copy from the records on file in Pumping Works Office. - THOS. J. BELL, Clerk. IRON SMELTING COALS . Below is the analysis of the best iron-making coals in the State, taken from the records of the State Chemist, Prof. Wormley :

	Nelsonville Mines	Straitsville Mines	Sunday Creek Mines	Lost Run Hocking Co. Mines
Specific gravity Water Volatile matter Fixed Carbon Ash

Analysis of Prof. Wormley, of Jackson County Hill Coal, geological survey of Ohio, Vol. 1870, Page 140 :

Specific gravity Combined Water Ash Volatile matter Fixed carbon.	1,239 5.25 1.50 29.75 63.50 100.00
JACKSON SHAFT COAL
Specific gravity Water Volatile matter Fixed carbon Ash Sulphur Color of ashes Character of coke	1.282 7.75 31.27 58.95 2.03 100 00 0.58 Reddish Pulverulent
JACKSON HILL COAL.
Specific gravity Water Fixed carbon Ash Sulphur Color of ashes Character of coke	7.60 30.96 57.65 3.79 100.00 0.49 White Pulverulent

“RANDOM THOUGHT." Among a series of very interesting articles published in the Jackson Standard by the editor, D. Mackley, Esq., under the above head, is found the following article on the mineral supply of Jackson County. It followed an on the stone deposit of the county. He said : " I cannot leave the subject of the sandstone without alluding to the beautiful and romantic appearance it gives to several portion& of our country. The beautiful scenery near Diamond Furnace, known as the Tea Rocks,' is familiar to every person in the vicinity of Jackson. These rocks rise to a great distance, almost perpendicular, and are covered with wintergreen and laurel: The scenery all the way down Salt Creek is beautiful. I remember going down this creek on the 10th day of November, 1862, and I remarked then 494 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. that the scenery along these cliffs of sandstone could not be surpassed. A perpendicular wall of sandstone would arise to a distance of three or four hundred feet. On the top of this was scrubby oak, the leaves of which were of every shade of color from orange to crimson and scarlet. Mixed with these were laurels, pines and cedars, clothed in dark green, and poplars of a bright saffron color. Under these great stone ledges the water had scooped out caverns, where were pools of water, filled with fishes. “The scenery along Buck Lick, in Hamilton Township, is fully as fine as along Salt Creek, only the sandstone does not rise so high; but the water in the creek is purer. " The Black Fork of Symmes Creek is an ugly stream, but the sandstone along this creek makes some curious if not fine scenery. This has been the most crooked stream I ever saw. It winds its way among the hills of sandstone, running toward every point of the compass. Some places it will run due south for half a mile, then turn around a sharp point of sandstone and run due north about the same distance, making a narrow ridge of that length, and if the point could be cut through it would not be more than 200 yards across. The creek has been impinging upon the sandstone for ages, and is every year straightening its course. Formerly the beavers would run a dam across from one 'point to another and thus raise the water so that it would cover a great extent of the low bottom. Then the water would break over the point with a tremendous current, and cut down the sandstone until a new channel would be formed, leaving a portion of the point away out in the bottom, looking like a great mound of sandstone, and covered with such trees and shrubs as grow upon the upland. Where the water pitched over the rock and struck the bottom below, it cut out a great excavation, which, after the new channel had been completed, would become an extensive pond. All this may be seen at the end of the point south of Jefferson Furnace, and also nearly opposite the furnace and half a mile above. The first-named locality is the place where I have hertofore spoken of the mineral springs, where so much soft mud had been thrown up that cattle became swamped, and this gave the name of " cow pond " to this place. " Between Jefferson and Monroe furnaces, near the top of a high hill, called Reese's Ridge, is a cave in the sandstone, known as the Saltpetre cave. Going up the point from the place where Jesse Reese, the tailor, settled many years ago, you pass on a mile or two and then turn to the left, and a short distance from the top of the hill, in the head of a steep hollow, is the Saltpetre cave. Like all other places where the rain is shut out, the dirt at the bottom of this cave is strongly impregnated with saltpetre, and it was manufactured here to some extent at a very early day. I remember being in this cave on a Christmas day, with a friend, years ago. We had our rifles with us, and amused ourselves by shooting at a mark in the cave. The sound of a rifle was almost deafening. Where the ball struck the solid wall of sandstone it only made a small spot, chipping out a small space in the stone. The ball was spattered about in drops, as if it were melted. Whether the great heat caused by the friction between the lead and the stone melted the lead, or whether the concussion shattered the lead to fragments, I am unable to state. " Our county abounds with limestone, sandstone, burrstone, marble, salt and lumber. As regards agriculture, Jackson County can boast of as good crops of wheat, corn, rye, oats, potatoes, buckwheat, etc., as any county in the State." HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 495 JACKSON COUNTY MINING INSTITUTE The Jackson County Mining Institute is an association of mining bosses, mining engineers and owners of mines, having for its object the development of the mineral resources of Jackson County, the improvement of the social status of miners, improving the systems of working and ventilating mines, etc., by means of meetings of members. The Institute meets four times a year and reads and discusses papers relating to the above subjects. Officers: Andrew Ray, President; Henry Price, Vice-President; D. H. Horry, Secretary; Thomas Cole, Treasurer. BLAST FURNACES. The manufacture of iron 'from the native ore, native coal and limestone of Jackson County, has long been an absorbing and important business. This county, in 1882, ranked third in the State in the production of pig iron, producing an aggregate of 63,960 tons of both hot and cold blast. The county was surpassed by Mahoning County, which produced 121,864 tons, and Lawrence County, which produced 92,177 tons. In 1871, which year may be taken as a fair one by which to compare modern iron interests, the product of pig iron in the world was, approximately, 13,315,000 tons. Great Britain led with a product of 6,500,000 tons, and the United States ranked second with a product of 1,912,000 tons. Ohio ranked second in the States, being exceeded only by Pennsylvania. The entire product in Ohio was 426,626 tons. Jackson County ranked fourth in the State with a product of 34,416, being preceded by Mahoning, Trumbull and Lawrence counties. Jackson County ranked first in the production of iron ore. The number of tons of pig iron manufactured in Jackson County for the year 1876, the number of bushels of stone coal, and number of tons of iron ore mined is here given:

	Tons iron	Tons ore	Bu. coal.
Bloomfield Franklin Corporation Jackson Jefferson Lick Madison Milton	4,700 ........ 3,000 3,160 .......... .......... 15,420	3,000 1,475 ........ 10,137 2,081 2 780 7,500	12,000 7,315 400,000 111,561 208,900 30,500 864,124
Total	26,280	26,977	1,634,400

The number of men engaged in mining ore in the county is returned as 240, and in mining coal, 195. Milton Township returns sixty barrels of lime manufactured. The twenty-two furnaces erected in the county have cost from $75,000 to $100,000 each, so that, approximately, there has been expended $2,000,000 in the erection of furnaces. The manufacture of pig iron has been a business of immense profit, and has brought a fortune to many a man, but the amount of capital required is so great that unless a large amount can be kept in reserve the future success of a furnace is apt to be governed by the fluctuations in the money and iron markets, so that quite a number have failed taking with them many a man to financial ruin. Iron furnaces were erected and operated in Adams, Scioto and Lawrence counties at an early day, and furnace men were aware that .there were rich deposits of iron ore in Jackson County as early as the year 1830, but the county was so far from the Ohio River that it was thought the cost of hauling the iron to market would take off all the profits. About the year 1836 Rogers, Hurd & Co., who had been engaged in the manufacture of iron in Lawrence and Scioto counties, purchased land and erected the Jackson Furnace, in Hamilton Township, in this county. This was the commencement of the iron business in the 496 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. county, and the engine used to blow the bellows was the first steam engine that was ever operated in the county. Mr. J. M. G. Smith, afterward connected with other furnaces in the county, was the manager of Jackson Furnace, Jacob Hurd was clerk, and J. H. Ricker was storekeeper. The furnace continued to operate with a few stops for repairs until 1874. It met with reverses and changed bands a number of times, but it was in the midst of a rich field of ore, most of which was taken from a nearly six-foot bed near the-top of the hills in the immediate vicinity. Had this vein held out in quantity and quality, as it at first promised, it would have furnished food for Jackson Furnace 300 years. It yielded 10,000 tons to the acre. The next furnace erected in this county was Keystone. This was about the year 1848. It is situated on Little Raccoon, in Bloomfield Township. It was the intention of the proprietors to send the iron down the creek in boats when the water was high, and thus reach the Ohio River. After the land had been purchased there was quite a panic among the proprietors, as they feared that there was so much flint in the ore that it could not be worked. Mr. John McConnell, of Wheelersburg, and perhaps others, sold out. This fear proved groundless, and Keystone has been one of the best paying furnaces:in the county. John Campbell, the great iron king of Southern Ohio, was one of the original proprietors of Keystone. Further notice of this venerable furnace will be found in the township history of Bloomfield. There have been erected in all twenty-two furnaces within the limits of Jackson. County. Of these Lick Township leads with nine, Milton has six, Jefferson three, Madison two, Bloomfield one, and Hamilton one. Of those now running, or about to go into operation, Milton Township leads with six, viz.: Buckeye, Cornelia, Latrobe, Milton, Wellston and Eliza; Lick follows with three— Star, Fulton and Tropic; Jefferson has two—Monroe and Jefferson; Bloomfield has one— and Madison one—Madison Furnace. Jackson Furnace, as already stated, was the first within the limits of Jackson County, having been built in 1836. The others will be noticed briefly in chronological order. Keystone Furnace was the second, built in 1848. Buckeye Furnace was built in 1851, and is still in operation. Cornelia Furnace was built in 1854; was run for a while under the name of the Iron Valley Furnace, then under the name of the Lincoln Furnace, and finally under the name of the Cornelia Furnace it still bears. Its operation has been successful and nearly constant. Latrobe Furnace was built in 1854. Jefferson Furnace was built in 1854 by the Jefferson Furnace Company. It has been very successful, and has turned out the best iron ever produced in the county. [See history in article on Jefferson and Madison Townships, as prepared by Hon. T. L. Hughes, one of the original owners.] Monroe Furnace, located in the southern part of Jefferson Township, was built in 1854, and at once put in operation. It has run constantly up to the present time, with the exception of short stops for repairs. John and Isaac Peters and John Campbell were among the first owners, but the Peterses sold for $129,000 their entire interest, in December, 1866, to John Campbell, Thos. McGoverey, Wm. M. Bolles, James Y. Gordon and P. S. Iams, most all of whom reside in Portsmouth. The above are the principal owners at the present time. Cambria Furnace, situated in Jefferson Township, but now torn down, was built in 1854 by David Lewis & Co. It was a charcoal furnace, as all others in the southern part of the county, it being too far south for HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 497 the Jackson shaft coal, and the coal in the hills is generally of a poor quality. It was run successfully until about 1878, when it was abandoned, and has been since torn down. Limestone Furnace, situated in Madison Towqship, was finished in 1855 and went into blast in 1856. It was built by a large company of Welshmen, under the name of Evans, Walterhouse & Co. It was purchased in 1856 by a Mr. Corn, and in 1858 passed into the hands of a receiver. It closed up in about 1860, the owners being unable to run it for want of capital. Madison Furnace, also situated in Madison Township, was built in 1855, and is still running successfully. The builders were a private company, composed of John P. Terry, of Portsmouth, John Peters and others. Shortly before the war Terry sold tc) E. D. Ricker, and the firm name became E. D. Ricker & Co. In 1869 the furnace passed into the hands of Peters, Clare & Co., and in 1871 it again partially changed hands, the owning firm becoming Clare, Duduit & Co., who own it at the present time. It has been running constantly since started, with the exception of one year (1877). Young America Furnace was built by the Young America Furnace Company in 1856. Of this company James H. Miller was the President, and J. W. Laird, Secretary. The financial crash of 1857 falling upon it so soon crippled it fatally, but it continued to operate until 1860, when it closed, and has since gone to ruin. Part of the machinery was afterward used in the Orange Furnace. It was situated in the northern part of Lick Township, in what is now Coal Township. Diamond Furnace was finished and put into operation in January, 1856, by the Salt Lick Furnace Company, as the furnace was at that time called Salt Lick Furnace. R. C. Hoffman was the President of the company; J. J. Hoffman, Secretary, and A. Grat- - 32 - ton, Manager. The other owners were Moses Sternberger, Patrick Murdock, Ezra Stewart and R. H. Stewart. The name was changed to the Diamond Furnace in about 1860, and did but little work after this date. It passed into the hands of Smith, Tod & Co. in 1861, and in 1867 it was torn down and the machinery removed. It was the first furnace in the county to adopt the use of stone coal in the place of charcoal, and was built especially with that view. This being an experiment the construction was not properly adapted to the use of stone coal, and it was mainly for this reason that it went down. It was situated in Lick Township, one-half mile west of Jackson. Orange Furnace, built within the limits of the town of Jackson, was projected and started by Peter Pickrel and Captain Lewis Davis in 1853. Afterward D. D. Dungan and Alan-son Robbins were taken into the company called the Orange Furnace Company. It went into blast as soon as completed, 1861, and continued to run until about 1874. It was the first furnace built within the limits of the town, and was the first successful stone-coal furnace in the county. It was continued in operation with success until the panic of 1873, through which it could not survive. It had changed hands a number of times, going into the hands of Fallis & Rogers, of Cincinnati, and finally into the hands of James and A. A. Watson, of Cincinnati, who lost largely in outside speculations, thus hastening the ruin of the furnace. Star Furnace, situated in the edge of the town of Jackson, was completed in 1866 by the Star Furnace Company, composed at that time of D. D. Dungan, James Chesnut, B. Kahn, Alauson Robbins, Isaac Brown and John M. Jones. Of this company Isaac Brown was elected President; A. Robbins, Secretary, and John M. Jones, Manager. The furnace is still running under the same name, and owned by the original partners except 498 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. those who have died, their interest falling to their heirs. At present Isaac Brown is President of the company and B. Kahn, Secretary. Fulton Furnace, also within the town limits of Jackson, was finished and put in blast in 1868. The land had been purchased and work begun on the shaft in 1865 by Captain Lewis Davis, immediately after he had severed his connection with the Orange Furnace. Partners were taken in and more land purchased, and the shaft and furnace completed, but the coal proving very impure the shaft is not worked, the coal at present being gotten from the slope at the Globe Furnace, which is owned by the same company. At the lime of the organization of the company, Samuel McCormick was elected President, and J. E. Ferree, Secretary. Since its organization the stock of this company has changed hands several times. The principal owner is Thos. T. Jones, who is President of the the company. Globe Furnace, situated at the western limit of the town of Jackson, was built in 1872 by Watts, Hoop & Co., and run without success until it burned down in 1876. In December, 1873, the Fulton Furnace Company consolidated with the Globe Furnace Company, and the name of Globe Iron Company adopted. The original owners of this furnace were: J. M. Watts, Peter Hoop, Jr., C. S. Dickason and T. P. Sutherland. The slope made at the time this furnace was built, for the production of coal, is still worked, the coal being especially adapted to iron smelting. Huron Furnace is situated in the southwestern limit of the town of Jackson. It was built in 1873 by the Huron Iron Company, Lot Davis, President, and Moses Jones, Secretary and General Manager. After about one year Wm. Vaughn was elected Manager and John L. Davis, Secretary. The original capital was $113,500. Ten acres of land were purchased, and 200 acres of coal in the vicinity. The furnace went into blast in April, 1875, and ran one year.          After lying idle about three years it started again in November, 1879, and ran steadily until February, 1883, when the entire property went into the hands of a receiver, was closed up and sold for $30,000 to the First National Banks of Jackson and Portsmouth, Ohio. When sold Lot Davis was again President and Manager; J. D. Clare was Vice-President and David Davis, Secretary. Milton and Wellston Furnaces, situated in Milton Township, were both erected in 1873. Tropic Furnace, situated in the northern part of the town of Jackson, was built in 1874 by the Tropic Furnace Co. The President of the company was Ezekiel T. Jones; Secretary, D. D. Morgan. It was successfully operated from 1873 till 1875, and then after lying idle from 1875 till 1879 was again put in operation and run fill the spring of 1883 when it stopped for repairs. L. H. Chapman is the President of the company at present and J. C. Jones, Secretary. Ophir Furnace was built in 1874. It was built for a cold blast furnace but changed to a hot blast in 1875. It was built by the Ophir Furnace Co., consisting of W. T. Washam, John Mitchell, Charles James, Mark Sternberger, H. S. Bundy, Robert Hoop, George Hoop and William S. Baker. Robert Hoop was elected President and William S. Baker, Secretary. The furnace was situated four miles north of Jackson in what is now Coal Township. It was in blast about two years but was not successful. The machinery was sold and used in the construction of the Eliza Furnace. Eliza Furnace, situated in Milton Township was built in 1878, and is now in active operation. JACKSON COUNTY RAILROADS. When the railroad fever broke out over the State, Jackson County was no exception to the general rule. The people wanted the HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 499 iron horse and were anxious to contribute to the desired end. The railroad companies were an accommodating class of people, and were at any time ready to receive subscriptions that were worth from 90 cents in bonds to 100 cents if paid in cash, and were equally ready to issue common stock, at par, in payment of the same, worth somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 cents a bushel, or cents a pound at a paper-mill. Among the first railroad projects started in Jackson County, was that known as the Iron Railroad. A charter was secured by Act of Legislation, March 17, 1849. The capital was $500,000, and the line was located from a point on the Ohio River, in Upper Township, Lawrence County, to the southern line of Jackson County, with power to extend it north to a junction with what was then known as the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad. The starting point was fixed April 9, 1849, a town site selected as its terminous or beginning, and the embryo city was named " Ironton." Thirty-one years later that city had a population of 8,857, and at this writing, 1883, 10,000 wide-awake and energetic citizens. Some effort was made to build the road, but it came to naught. Jackson County subscribed to the road but it lay dormant for a number of years. The next move was the Hocking & Scioto Valley Railroad. This road was willing to accept $100,000 from Jackson County, and issue stock as aforesaid, but was also willing to give the county commissioners time to be released from their subscription to the Iron Railroad which the year before had been voted by the people. The history of the Scioto & Hocking Valley Railroad will be found in general history, with the amount of money subscribed by Scioto County, etc., so that a full history is not necessary here, simply giving the local actions of the people and authorities in regard to it. The vote of $100,000 was in the affirma tive, and the only point at issue was to arrange tc turn it over to the Scioto & Hocking Valley Company and get a release from the Iron Railroad Company. The former company made the following agreement: OFFICE OF THE SCIOTO & HOCKING. VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY. PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, Sept. 9, 1850. " WHEREAS, The authorized officers of this company, in accordance with the provisions of an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, passed March 7, 1850, have required the commissioners of Jackson County to cause a vote to be taken by the qualified electors of said county at the ensuing annual election on the question of their subscribing $100,000 to the capital stock of this company; and whereas the qualified voters of said county have heretofore voted for a subscription on certain conditions for the same amount to the Ironton Railroad Company; and whereas it is not presumed that the people of Jackson County then contemplated or would now be willing to be held for a subscription to both roads, and it being believed that the road contemplated by this company will obviate the necessity of any other road through that part of Jackson County, it is therefore hereby agreed on the part of the company that the payment of the subscription to this board, if assented to by the vote which as above stated has been required, shall not be exacted by this company contrary to the wishes of the people of Jackson County until the commissioners of Jackson County shall be relieved by compromise or other means of any liability to the Ironton Railroad Company in consequence of their said late vote." The Scioto & Hocking Valley Railroad was completed to Jackson in 1853, and something over a year later to Hamden Junction, making connection with the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad. Jan. 16, 1861, a proposition was made to the commissioners of Jackson County to release all the interest in the road to private parties, they agreeing to construct