Shelby County AlArchives History - Books .....The Montevallo Coal And Transportation Company 1893
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Carolyn Golowka alabamagengal@gmail.com July 11, 2008, 1:17 pm

Book Title: "Memorial Record Of Alabama", Volume 2, Published By Brant & 
             Fuller In Madison, WI (1893), Pages 891-892

The Montevallo Coal and Transportation Company is an incorporation with a 
capital stock of $300,000.  William F. Aldrich is the president of the company, 
and James L. McConnaughy, secretary and treasurer.  The extensive property 
belonging to this company is located at Aldrich, and the company’s mines are 
among the oldest in operation in Alabama.  The mines were first opened about 
1855, byt William P. Brown,l but they were operated only to a limited extent 
until 1872, when the property was purchased by T. H. Aldrich & co.  This firm 
largely increased the yearly output and conducted the business successfully 
until 1882, when the present company was organized with its present officers.  
Since then the workings of the mines have been very extensive.  In 1885 a new 
slope was put down about one mile west of the old drifts.  This slope is 2,600 
feet in length, divided into lifts, with gangways running both east and west.  
About 100 rooms are in operation, giving employment to from 150 to 250 men, and 
having a daily output of 250 tons of coal.  These mines are being worked on 
what is known as the long wall system, by which plan ninety percent of the coal 
is made available.  The ventilation is excellent, the air being circulated by 
means of two large fans placed at the top of the slope.  The machinery is of 
the finest description, comprising four boilers of forty-six inches diameter, 
of seventy-five horsepower each, hoisting engines with 14x24 inch cylinders, 
with link motion similar to that on locomotives.  The coal from these mines is 
known throughout the south as second to none, and is the standard by which 
other coal is compared.  It is very hard, free-burning, non-coking coal, and 
when burned leaves a very heavy red ash.  On no other property in the state is 
this coal found.  A test of this coal, made by the United States government, 
showed that its evaporating power is higher than Pittsburgh or any other coal.  
It is used mostly for grate purposes, makes a bright cheerful fire, is easily 
ignited and in this quality is equal to the English cannel coal.  The company 
has extended its broad gauge road to connect with the East Tennessee, Virginia 
& Georgia railroad.  Mr. William F. Aldrich, the president of the company, is 
also general manager, superintendent, engineer and surveyor.  Perhaps the two 
most creditable facts connected with the management of the company’s business, 
are these:  that the stock has always paid a dividend, and it has never had a 
strike.  The company have a large and well stocked store on their property for 
the convenience of their employees, but the men are perfectly free to buy or 
not, no pressure being used to influence trade, as is, unfortunately, the case 
at many mines and other public works.  The company will not employ men that are 
disorderly, nor do they allow whisky or beer sold on their property; and as a 
result the little mining town of Aldrich is a model of order, quiet 
peacefulness, and cleanliness.  There are churches and schools for both races, 
and the utmost good feeling exists between the whites and the blacks.  A new 
slope is now being opened, fitted with the latest improved and finest 
machinery, using steam, compressed air and electricity, which gives additional 
work of a permanent character.  The company spares no expense in making the 
mines a safe and healthful place to work in looking after their employees’ 
interests in every way.

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