Mining in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River

According to Captain Thomas Hutchins, 1760 is the earliest record of bituminous coal mining in Pennsylvania. At that time, a mine was opened on the Monongahela River opposite Fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh (Sisler, 1926).
In the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin, historical records indicate that in November 1785, Samuel Boyd initiated the idea of furnishing coal to the eastern markets. He purchased a tract of land along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River about three miles upstream of Chincleclenoose, now the Borough of Clearfield (Sisler, 1926).
Samuel’s son, William, built an ark in 1803, and in the following spring, loaded this ark with coal and transported it 260 miles down the West Branch Susquehanna River and the Susquehanna River proper to Columbia, Pennsylvania (Sisler, 1926).
In 1813, P. A. Karthaus began mining coal at the mouth of “Little Moshannon Creek” (possibly the current Black Moshannon Creek), and in 1828, he commenced sending coal to Philadelphia by way of Port Deposit, Maryland, through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canals (Sisler, 1926). Mr. Karthaus also sent coal to Baltimore using the Union Canal. This coal sold for 33 cents per bushel.
In the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin, historical records indicate that in November 1785, Samuel Boyd initiated the idea of furnishing coal to the eastern markets. He purchased a tract of land along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River about three miles upstream of Chincleclenoose, now the Borough of Clearfield (Sisler, 1926).
Samuel’s son, William, built an ark in 1803, and in the following spring, loaded this ark with coal and transported it 260 miles down the West Branch Susquehanna River and the Susquehanna River proper to Columbia, Pennsylvania (Sisler, 1926).
In 1813, P. A. Karthaus began mining coal at the mouth of “Little Moshannon Creek” (possibly the current Black Moshannon Creek), and in 1828, he commenced sending coal to Philadelphia by way of Port Deposit, Maryland, through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canals (Sisler, 1926). Mr. Karthaus also sent coal to Baltimore using the Union Canal. This coal sold for 33 cents per bushel.

Coal demand in the Pennsylvania coal fields exploded due to the necessities of World War I and the reconstruction of Europe (Figure 6). For instance, the town of Windber in Somerset County was formed by the Berwind-White Coal Company in 1897. At its height in the mid-1900s, the population of Windber swelled to more than 12,000 people composed mainly of an immigrant workforce (Clark, 2006). Eventually, however, European countries began to meet their own production needs and coal prices fell as world demand declined for Appalachian coal. This event coincided with the onset of the Great Depression.
With America’s entry into World War II, coal demand exploded again, and more extensively than the first boom surrounding World War I. Coal became a strategic mineral in winning the war since it was used to offset fuel needs due to gas shortages, particularly for home heating and transportation. Coal also fueled the steel mills that supplied the armaments industry.
Following World War II, Appalachian mining again declined, although not as abruptly as the earlier decline following World War I. However, the effects were just as severe. Low coal prices caused company owners to use savings from the previous boom. Those companies not able to update mining equipment could not compete with the combination of increasing costs and mechanization. With the closing of many of the mines by 1970, people from areas like Windber migrated to other parts of the country where employment was stable. By the 2000 census, the population of Windber had dropped to 4,200 residents, one-third of its peak only several decades before (Clark, 2006).
With America’s entry into World War II, coal demand exploded again, and more extensively than the first boom surrounding World War I. Coal became a strategic mineral in winning the war since it was used to offset fuel needs due to gas shortages, particularly for home heating and transportation. Coal also fueled the steel mills that supplied the armaments industry.
Following World War II, Appalachian mining again declined, although not as abruptly as the earlier decline following World War I. However, the effects were just as severe. Low coal prices caused company owners to use savings from the previous boom. Those companies not able to update mining equipment could not compete with the combination of increasing costs and mechanization. With the closing of many of the mines by 1970, people from areas like Windber migrated to other parts of the country where employment was stable. By the 2000 census, the population of Windber had dropped to 4,200 residents, one-third of its peak only several decades before (Clark, 2006).

Over time, advances in the coal extraction process through the use of technology allowed companies to increase or maintain production while decreasing their payrolls. An increase in surface mining activity also contributed to this trend. In addition, regulatory requirements under Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law and the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) in 1977 created additional costs that needed to be absorbed by coal companies. Consequently, jobs were lost.
At present, both surface and deep mine operations are active throughout the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin. Production has increased slightly in the last decade as energy demands have increased. In addition, electrical cogeneration plants can now utilize lower quality coal for energy production. This lower quality coal was commonly discarded as waste in refuse piles, commonly referred to as culm banks in eastern Pennsylvania or gob piles in western Pennsylvania.
The removal of waste coal and the remining of unreclaimed areas have improved water quality in many areas of the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin, to provide both economic and environmental benefits.
*Extracted from the West Branch Susquehanna Subabsin Remediation Strategy
At present, both surface and deep mine operations are active throughout the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin. Production has increased slightly in the last decade as energy demands have increased. In addition, electrical cogeneration plants can now utilize lower quality coal for energy production. This lower quality coal was commonly discarded as waste in refuse piles, commonly referred to as culm banks in eastern Pennsylvania or gob piles in western Pennsylvania.
The removal of waste coal and the remining of unreclaimed areas have improved water quality in many areas of the West Branch Susquehanna Subbasin, to provide both economic and environmental benefits.
*Extracted from the West Branch Susquehanna Subabsin Remediation Strategy