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The Smokeless Coal Fields of West Virginia A Brief History Preface This brief and somewhat fragmentary history of coal mining in Southern West Virginia has been compiled a't the request of Dr. Robert F. Munn, Director of Libraries, West Virginia University . Dr. Munn has given a great deal of help on the work by sUggestions, editing, and the furnishing of some information not in my possession, Among the many weaknesses of the work is the lack of information as to the Kanawha and Williamson coal fields due to my having had no direct contact with those areas. Also, I wish to remind any who read this effort that it is based on personal recollections reaching back more than half a century and may well contain errors, especially as to personalities, for which I apologize herewith. The men who pioneered the coal fields had virtues as imperishable as the rock that overlies the coal seams, and faults that have disappeared like the impurities that arC cleaned out of the coal. I hope the same can be said of this work. W. P. Tams, Jr. 11 ...

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