Pittsburgh Coal Company

The Pittsburgh Coal Company was a bituminous coal mining company based in Pittsburgh and controlled by the Mellon family. In 1945 it merged with Consolidation Coal Company, controlled by the Rockefeller family.

Pittsburgh Coal ran numerous coal mines in Allegheny County during the early 20th century. In 1915, it merged with the Monongahela River Consolidated Coal and Coke Company. It operated the Darr Mine in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

The company operated the Coal Hill Coal Railroad, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km), 3 ft 4 in (1,016 mm) narrow gauge railroad until 1871, when it was sold to the Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon Railroad, which lengthened the line. The company assumed control of the Montour Railroad in 1901.

Pittsburgh Coal paid compensation in the 1929 death of their union employee John Barkoski due to a beating by three officers of the Coal and Iron Police.

The company was involved in labor disputes with John L. Lewis and the United Mine Workers.

According to A. E. Hotchner's memoir, King of the Hill, the Pittsburgh Coal Company shot and killed photographer McShane. He apparently attempted to take pictures of the miners in Duquesne, Pennsylvania for a magazine. The company first shot McShane, and then shot some miners who ran to his aid, using machine guns.

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