N&W in 1910--Coal crappers

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They steal coal. I remember seeing one on the Crane Creek branch. They ride a car loaded with large lump coal and keep rolling lumps over the side. Then they walk back and pick up the lumps they have unloaded from the train. Got to have been dangerous work (and lots of walking), but probably worthwhile when coal prices were high.    Jim Nichols




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Sent: Fri, June 4, 2010 7:47:05 PM
Subject: Re: N&W in 1910--Coal crappers

Ok, I've got to ask, exactly what are "coal crappers" guilty of doing and how do they do it?

Chuck Stewart
Bahama, NC


 
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Subject: N&W in 1910--Coal crappers


Bluefield Daily Telegraph
December 16, 1910

THE GRAHAM DAILY NEWS
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AFTER COAL CRAPPERS
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Moonshine Merchants Assessed $6* Each for Handling Goods Without a License
    Mayor Sexton is hot after Graham coal crappers and he had one or two of the moonshine coal dealers before him last night charged with rolling the black diamonds from a passing freight train.  The evidence was quite elusive and the merchants were assessed $6* each for handling goods without a license.  It is said that the coal crapping has existed along the railroad here more or less ever since the first freight train passed through the town hauling it, but since the Mallet engine has been in service the work of the coal robbers was made comparatively easy on account of the slow speed the big engines are able to make when hauling a full tonnage train.  Coal is only selling for $3.75* the ton in Graham and is in reach of every consumer who happens to have the price, and it does seem that this moonshine business might be broken up.  So far as is known, the railroad company has not made any complaints as to the alleged coal stealing, but the
 complaint, it appears, is from Graham coal dealers whose business is probably affected by the consumption in certain Graham homes of the hand picked moonshine fuel.
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*Some numerals were indistinct on the microfilm.  The best interpretation is shown.]

Gordon Hamilton
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