Mahanoy City High School - Maroon and Black Yearbook (Mahanoy City, PA)

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l. I A E X If DEDICATION T IS for his inspirational guidance to us as individuals toward nobler achievements, and with affection, respect, and appreciation, and wich confidence in his ability to accomplish for our High School unprecedented Well-being, We, the class of nineteen hundred thirty-five dedicate this YEAR Booli to JOSEPH E. BGYLE vrau 51Ef,HP-mn l+lll1 Av, H l fliul 1 rll?f'IS' ,Lug 'W .. ' Jiffl' ll 'Nfl lift? it ,i gi-sf-zfiium1W llwfi,a , .mm ME?-f-1.: '-ET-?i?' ' '1 ' 'W ' if i1'5 i 5 K igiiiil -g ag in x!'L , I Page 81

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1, i f 754 - 4 Marco Polo, the famous author and world traveler, of Venice, brought back stories from Cathay QChinaJ of black rocks which the natives burned. But Marco Polo brought back a great many other tales, which seemed unbelievable, so his friends only smiled. Later, when the coal fields of China became known, it was seen that Marco Polo told the truth. But let us return to our Pennsylvania layer cake. However, not much was known about its use and even some years after the eighteen hundreds had passed, we find that only accident pointed out the way to make the best of its qualities. It was then that Colonel George Shoemaker loaded nine wagons with hard coal near Mahanoy City and had them hauled laboriously over the rough roads of that time to Philadelphia. Here he managed to sell two, and gave away the rest, narrowly escaping impris- onment for attempting to cheat the canny Quakers of Penn's leading city. The story of the discovery of how to burn Anthracite has been often told but it will bear repeating because it illustrates one of its great- est virtues and shows how it should be handled even today. One of the loads that the Colonel sold went to the firm of Wliite ESC Hazard, who were making wire at the Falls of the Schuylkill, now a IP. part of the City of Phliadelphia. Workmen at the plant made every effort to get the coal to burn, but could not do it. Tiring of their ef- forts, they set out for their homes, leaving the coal in the furnace and happening to leave the furnace door open. One of the workmen forgot his coat and, after reaching home, returned to get it. The Anthracite, which had been left alone for some time, had started to burn radiantly. Then it was that men first learned the main principle of a good An- thracite fire, which is, give it some air, then leave it pretty much alone. So finally came the knowledge of the greatest Anthracite fields in the world. Today, this Pennsylvania layer cake is the basis of a vast industry that adds half a billion dollars to the nation's wealth each year. 1gc7l

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