Big Sandy is know far and wide for her rich and prolific coal beds, or seams, and numerous operations are now in progress mining this product to be shipped to citizens in a less fortunate portion of the country; where coal fields are unknown. Of the many mines that are being work in the valley, none take precedence over the North-East Coal Company. The main offices of this company are located in Paintsville, occupying the entire second floor of The Paintsville National Bank Building. These offices are the most modern and convenient in the valley.
At Thealka the operations consist of three large openings where a large number of men are employed at good wages and where local conditions are ideal. The men are well paid, well housed and given the best of treatment in every way. Thealka, Ky., is a model mining town, made up entirely of local people, no colored or foreign labor being employed. A large store supplies the needs of the people with everything to eat and ware at most reasonable prices.In fact the prices are lower than the miners can get the same goods for with cash at other stores. The miners are happy and prosperous.
Schools and churches are two things that go hand in hand with the operations of the North-East Company Coal. The management figures that good schools and churches, with well paid and contented miners are valuable assets to their towns and business.
Mr. A. DW. Smith is President of this company and spends a considerable portion of his time in this section. Mr. Smith is well liked by all his employees and is ever ready to assist and help those working under him.
R. C. Thomas is Superintendent of the operations at Thealka. He has had experience in the considerable expert coal business and is a favorite with not only but with all his employe’s, but who know him.
In addition to being a good coal operator he is an ideal citizen and finds time from his many duties looking after the operations of his company help out in all worthy causes. He resides at Paintsville and is a progressive, popular citizen.
At Thealka the company operates a machine shop where all its work is done by the latest improved methods. Experienced men are in charge and in addition to their own work a considerable amount of work for others is done. It is said to be the best machine shop in the Sandy Valley and is a valuable asset, not only to the company but the public as well.
Mr. A. DW. Smith has long been connected with extensive coal interests in the Sandy Valley. Indeed he holds a conspicuous place amoung the pioneer coal operators, of Eastern Kentucky. The North-East Coal Company of which he is President, was among the first of the important operations developed in the valley; and under his efficient management the company has grown until it is the second largest producer on the line of the C. & O. Railway in Eastern Kentucky. His training and experience gives him a place among the really great – coal men of the State, having been engaged as a mining engineer in private enterprises and in the service of the United States Geological Survey..
His interests are not confined to this valley, as he is also at the head of a company which has acquired valuable coal property in Letcher County on the L. & N. Railway and the development of that property re-fleets the same proficient management as characterizes the North-East properties on the Big Sandy River.
The property in Letcher County is on the Kentucky River with operations and mining towns at Seco, Millstone and LaViers. The North-East Coal Company have operations at Thealka in Johnson County and Auxier, in Floyd County.
Mr.A.DW. Smith standing in center
Mr. Henry LaViers is the Manager of the North-East Coal Company’s operations at Thealka, Ky., in Johnson County, and Auxier, Ky., in Floyd County; also. Manager of the South-East Coal Company’s operations at Seco, Ky., and LaViers, Ky.; the latter place having been named after him.
Mr. LaViers came to the Big Sandy Valley in 1906, thoroughly qualified by experience to develop the coal properties put in his charge. Prior to his coming to Paintsville he had worked as a miner and in all departments of mining service and had served an important Ohio mining company as their mining engineer continuously through a period of thirteen years. His broad and matured knowledge of mining is in evidence in the properties that have developed under his management. Not only. do the plants of these companies present the most substantial and most practical facilities for the production and preparation of coal, but the mining towns built by them show conclusively that the welfare and best interests of the employees have had a large place in the consideration and plans of Mr. LaViers and his companies.
As a coal man his advice and counsel is sought on all mining problems of this valley and as a citizen of our town he is held in the highest esteem. He is a leader in community welfare movements and gave active enthusiastic support to our recent Red Cross membership campaign. He is President of the North Eastern Kentucky Coal Association. He has also served as President of Kentucky Mining Institute.
Mr. LaViers is a resident of Paintsville and finds time to help out in every movement for the good of the town and county and the valley.
At Thealka the daily output is 2,000 tons from three mines. This is also is an excellent quality of coal.
