Excerpt – pp. 188 – 189.
Beaver
Meadow is a pleasant village of framed white houses, on the Mauch Chunk and
Berwick turnpike, 12 miles from the former place. It contains the office and
stores of the Beaver Meadow Co., one or more churches, two or three taverns,
&c. Near the village are several small hamlets occupied by the miners, most
of whom are Welsh. The Beaver Meadow coal mines are about a mile and a half
went of the village. The Stafford Co. have a mine a little nearer the village.
The
Beaver Meadow railroad commences at the mines, passes near the village, and
thence down the valleys of Beaver Meadow and Quakake creeks to the Lehigh and
down that river to the landing on the Mauch Chunk basin, opposite the Lehigh
Coal and Navigation Co.'s landing. The railroad was intended to be continued to
Easton and was actually constructed as far as Parryville, crossing the river on
a fine bridge below Mauch Chunk. But the memorable flood of Jan. 1841, swept
away the bridge, the culvert at Mahoning, and tore up the road in many places.
The company has not since repaired the road below Mauch Chunk. Steam
locomotives are used on the road. A railroad was commenced and completed up the Quakake valley, intended
to connect with the Susquehanna at Catawissa; but for
want of funds it has never been finished, and the design for the present
appears to be abandoned. Prof. Silliman has the following remarks in relation
to this mine :
This mine was opened in 1813, and as the
title was contested, Mr. Beach of Salem, on the Susquehanna , who claimed it,
could not give a clear title till last winter, when be gained the suit and sold
550 acres to Judge Barnes of Philadelphia. A company is about to be formed to
carry an the business of the mine. A railroad is in contemplation either to the
Schuylkill or to the Lehigh. If to the latter, it is said that it will be
constructed down Beaver Cr. to the Lehigh, and down the stream to Mauch Chunk;
the whole length to be 18 miles - 11 to the Lehigh and 7 down that stream. Active
exertions are now making in Philadelphia to accomplish the object of working
this mine and conveying its coal to market. It is well worthy of the
effort. The coal is universally
regarded as being of the best
quality. All persons whom we heard speak of it agreed in that opinion. The
appearance of the coal corresponds with that impression, and its burning too,
as far as we could judge by limited opportunities of observation. The mine is
in the side of a hill; there is no roof, or only a very thin one. It is worked open to the day, like
a quarry. It is already fairly disclosed, and there is no apparent impediment
to obtaining any quantity of the coal that maybe desired. The situation of the
mine is not, however, much elevated above the general surface of the country in
its vicinity; but there is descent
enough, as we were assured to carry off the water. Smiths, it is said, come a great distance to obtain the coal
of this mine, became it is so free
from sulphur, and in every respect so good.
The
mines at Beaver Meadow are now, we
believe, worked by means of drifts.
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Rev. July
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