They operated many older boilers at 110 percent capacity and needed a high quality coal to keep up with steam demand. East KY had dozens of seams to pick from, some blended, but all low FSI to accommodate the chains which were sensitive to free swell index (coke button.)
We replaced it with a pretty close 13,600 product off the Big Sandy.
Today, eastern coals are being pushed out of the lakes by Colorado coal, railed to Chicago and distributed from there by steamship.
I never thought I'd see that happen.
Driving around southern wv, hwy 10 for example, you can see the layers of coal where the road was cut out of the hillside. When it brains the water comes out of the layers.
A coal mine rep and attorney bought 100 acres for $50 from my illiterate great other.
When you travel between towns most of the land along the road is owned by coal mine companies.