THE VERNE MINE.
The first coal mine established in Saginaw County was started in 1894 and had a most modest beginning. Capital had not yet come to a realization of the fact that great stores of wealth were lying beneath the earth's surface, awaiting the touch of its helping hand, and as a result energy was wasted, ambition blasted, and disaster frowned upon its far-seeing but ill-favored promoters. The plant is located in Albee Township, and originally bore the name of the Albee mine, but since coming into possession of its present owners has been re-christened the Verne mine, the name of the village near which it is located. It is 15 ½ miles from Saginaw and 2 ½ miles from the main line of the Cincinnati, Saginaw & Mackinaw Railroad, now a leased line of the Chicago & Grand Trunk system. The mine was started by four employees of the street railway company in Saginaw, who leased the land and invested all their earnings in the enterprise. Owing to lack of railroad facilities, they were unable to continue operations, and finally a stock company was organized, composed of Frederick Brueck, Jr., Joseph A. Partridge, Alex. Bradley and John Harrison, the two last mentioned having been among the original owners. When this company took hold of the property it was an heroic task to engage in as the old shaft, and crude affair, had caved in and the mine was filled with water. Nothing daunted, however, the young owners went to work with a will, and soon were mining considerable coal of a superior quality, which found a ready market in this city. Owing to the long haul by team, however, the expense of mining was found to be much more than would have been the case had the proper railroad facilities been available, and, in order to put the enterprise on a more favorable basis, an effort was made to enlist the interest of capital, but, while Hon. W.R. Burt and several others were willing to assist in the formation of a stock company, not enough moneyed men could be interested and the plans of the owners were again frustrated, and operations had to cease. It is unfortunate that the young men who took such and active interest in the development of our coalfields were unsuccessful, but they were lacking in means and the smiles of fortune were not reserved for their favor. If they had been lucky enough to strike coal where a railroad traversed, they would all be wealthy men to-day, as the coal was of a superior quality and they would have had a monopoly of the business for several years.
The mine is now the property of a company of Saginaw capitalists, who have every facility for the development of its resources. The present company is capitalized at $25,000. The officers are as follows: President, William T. Chappell; vice-president, John S. Porter; secretary, Rolla W. Roberts; treasurer, H.T. Wickes. These also comprise the board of directors. Though mining is now being done, a new shaft and complete outfit will be put in, giving a capacity of 500 tons a day. A siding has been put in to the Grand Trunk Railroad. This is the easiest coal to mine in Michigan, the coal being of a blocky nature and easy to get out. The depth of the shaft is only 56 feet, with a strong slate roof.
John1
Posted 12/01/2015 7:04 pm
