The Diamond Coal Company has been a leading contributor to prosperity and progress in Webster County for the past 34 years.The company was organized in December, 1906, by R. L. Jackson and the late Roy M. Baker of Dixon, J. E., S.D., and M. C. Palmer of Providence, sons of the late J. D. Palmer, surveyor of the boundaries of Webster county at the time the county was organized.
Development was started March 1, 1907, on coal lands leased from the late F.M. Baker of Dixon; and the first car of coal was loaded on road wagons, hauled to the Montezuma siding and shipped to Dixon for use in the school there. This was in the early summer of 1907.
In 1917 Messrs. Jackson and Baker disposed of their interest in the Company to their partners, J. E., S.D., and M. C. Palmer, who are now sole owners and operators. Their motto is: Clean Coal, Quick and Efficient Service, and the Employment of as Many Men as Possible. It is their idea that community interest can be protected in no better way than by keeping everyone employed.
Starting with four employees at the beginning of developments in 1907, the company now employs more than 350 men (figures as of July 1, '40.) Company officials say the citizenship of their men is second to none in the country . That the company and employees share a mutual high regard is evidenced by the fact that, contrary to the practice now prevailing throughout the country of installing labor-saving machinery and thereby creating more unemployment, the employees of the Diamond Coal Company have perfected a mutual agreement with the company whereby they work on a cooperative profit-sharing plan so that none of the men lose their job to laborsaving machinery.
The Diamond company has an unusual safety record as evidenced by the fact that they have for a number of years received the Joseph A. Holmes certificate of honor from the Federal Bureau of Mines for having mined 4,642,131 tons of coal, working 5,835,963 man hours, over a period of 15 years without a fatal accident.
$1,000 PER DAY FOR LABOR For the past fifteen years the Diamond Coal Company has paid to labor an average of more than $1000.00 for every working day in the year. This contribution has meant much to the economic structure of Providence and to the livelihood of hundreds of people.
DEVELOP COMMUNITY Since the mine was opened in 1907, Diamond has become a community center. The Missionary Baptist church was built jointly by the employees and the company, and has a large membership. A large consolidated school has been built for the white population of Diamond and surrounding country, and a school for the negro population is also maintained by the county.
Production of coal has increased from one car in 1907 to 50 cars per day at the present time. The well known No.9 seam of Western Kentucky coal is mined and marketed under the copyrighted trade name of Kentucky Diamond Coal by the Southern Coal Company of Memphis, Tenn., one of the largest coal marketing agencies in the United States. R. J. Billings and C. R. Heaney are active sales managers.
Mines are located on both the Illinois Central and L. & N. Railroads. The company's main office is located at 111 East Main Street, Providence.
The Providence Coal Mining Company was organized in 1888 as the Providence Coal Company and in 1908 was reorganized and incorporated as the Providence Mining Co. In 1917, the company was incorporated as the Providence Coal Mining Company.First of the three mines operated since 1888 was the Slope or No. 1 mine, located near the Phoenix Milling Co. Officers at this time were: W.A. Nisbet, president; W.J. Nisbet, general manager; W.L. Barnes, secretary; G.D. Ramsey, treasurer; and Percy D. Berry, traveling agent. This mine was operated until 1912.
In 1889, the No. 2 Shaft mine, located between the present L. & N. and I.C. depots, was opened and in 1910, the No. 3 Shaft mine, located near the edge of Providence on Ky. 85, was opened. The No. 2 mine was abandoned in 1936.
In 1897, the present two-story business building, with basement, was constructed and is still being operated. During their early days, the building was lighted from their own electric system and they also supplied current for the City of Providence. Three departments now serve the general public -Dry Goods, Groceries and Hardware, and Meat department.
The Providence Coal Mining Company now employs around 210 men at the Number 3 mine and present officers are: W. J. Nisbet, president; J. K. Ramsey, vice-president; Arthur L. Donan, general manager; Chas. J. Miedreich, secretary; and W.D. Barrows, chief engineer.
Records show that the first order entered on the ledger was for 421 bushels of coal sold to Sellers & Majors of Sebree, Ky., for a price of 4 ½ cents per bushel. This was on September 10, 1888.
Shortly afterwards, a car load shipment of coal from the No. 1 mine was shipped via L. & N. R. R., in September, 1888, to W.M. Hale, Nashville, Tenn., who operated a retail yard. The descendants of Mr. Hale still operate a yard in Nashville and during the past winter season, shipments were made to the same concern now operated as J. H. Hale & Son.
Only three sizes of coal were being marketed at that time - lump, nut and slack. All coal was sold by the bushel instead of the ton as at present. Since those first orders, 7,536,458 tons of coal have been produced in the three mines.
An unusual safety record has also been established since September 8, 1920, with 3,823,121 tons of coal having been produced at mines numbers 2 and 3 without a single fatality.
By adhering strictly to a policy of fair-dealing with our fellowman, we have been able to weather the storms of reverses and panics during the past 52 years of our existence. To only such practices do we attribute whatever success may have been ours.
Used here with the permission of The Providence-Journal Enterprise, Providence, Kentucky