The first coal mine to export coal from Logan County WV, was the Gay Coal & Coke mine, at Mt. Gay The railhead was at Logan, and the coal had to be transported by wagon teams, to the gondolas at Logan.This was about 1905. The mine was owned by Harry Gay. It was in business about 50 years. But coal was mined by the farmers who dug "coal banks" (small mines) much earlier. It was a laborious task: The coal had to be drilled with manual drills, after the cut was first undermined by a sharp pick. Then black powder was inserted in the drill holes, and ignited by timed fuses. A few bushels of coal could be all that could be expected by this crude means. But, coal had twice the warming content of wood, so it was worth all the effort. Later, the railroad was extended up Island Creek, and the big coal boom was on Mines were opened at Monitor Jct,Micco, and other places. The railroad itself was run by coal steam, so they were the biggest cutomers, at the time. Shelby ************************************** Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)

Shelby, Thank you! Thus the name Mt Gay. I would not have known where the name came from. You are a wealth of information. Keep on sharing. I need to write my sister and ask her what mines dad worked. I think # 7and #8 Holden sounds likely, but I am not sure. I will write to her. Judi Subject: [WVLOGAN] Mining Stories ots The first coal mine to export coal from Logan County WV, was the Gay Coal & Coke mine, at Mt. Gay The railhead was at Logan, and the coal had to be transported by wagon teams, to the gondolas at Logan.This was about 1905. The mine was owned by Harry Gay. It was in business about 50 years. But coal was mined by the farmers who dug "coal banks" (small mines) much earlier. It was a laborious task: The coal had to be drilled with manual drills, after the cut was first undermined by a sharp pick. Then black powder was inserted in the drill holes, and ignited by timed fuses. A few bushels of coal could be all that could be expected by this crude means. But, coal had twice the warming content of wood, so it was worth all the effort. Later, the railroad was extended up Island Creek, and the big coal boom was on Mines were opened at Monitor Jct,Micco, and other places. The railroad itself was run by coal steam, so they were the biggest cutomers, at the time. Shelby ************************************** Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message