Estevan Sask Truax traer Coal Mining page

Origins of the Truax-Traer business
are harder to trace than my own family tree.
Here is what I have found so far.

Truax Coal Company was formed ca 1920
by Arthur Harlan Truax
(Known as Harold Truax)

Between 1920 and 1925 Harold Truax
Harold went into partnership with Glenn Wood Traer
Strip mining took big investment to buy these big stripping machines
Truax probably had the idea of doing strip mining,
and no doubt Traer had the money and Coal Connections.

In 1930 this American Company, Truax-Traer Coal Co.,
bought out the Big Lump Coal Co.
LSD 4.
Section 27- Township 2- Range 8- West of the 2nd Meridian
Their mine was very close to the first Pioneer Cemetery,
South-East of Estevan SK., near the old Brick Plant.

1930 they bought the mine at Wilton ND, and did the same there
as they did in Estevan, started strip mining,
and putting many underground miners out of work.

In 1950 Truax-Traer Coal Company, a corporation engaged in production,
distribution and sale of coal, desiring to acquire Binkley and Pyramid mines in IL,
offered to take over the stock of the two companies

In 1955 this company was #491 on the Fortune 500 list
Company head at one time was Harold Truax,
Home Office was In Illinois, USA.

in 1956 they applied to SEC to offer a stock option plan to employees
of 19,200 shares, at $1 per share, to it's own employees
and it's subsidiary, Little Sister Coal Corp. employees

1961- Truax-Traer Coal files Stock Plan.
Truax-Traer Coal Company, 111 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago.
filed a registration statement (File 2-18647) with the SEC on August 7th
seeking registration of $800,000 of participations
in the Employees Stock purchase Incentive plan
and 20,000 shares of common stock which may be acquired pursuant thereto.

Listed as one of top 10 depression stocks
+30,500% return from 1932-1954
not a bad profit!

Truax-Traer are still big time owners and operators
in the Coal Industry,
holding the 16 leases in North Dakota..
They were in West Virginian, Georgia,
and Minnesota, etc etc. as well.

They owned mines in Kincaid and Velva, ND,
in Jackson Co., IL, in Kanawha Co,
1942, 1953, Fiatt IL
found a Pyramid Mine, Red Fox Mine,
Truax-Traer no1 in Jackson Co IL
#1 Drift and #1 Strip in Elkville Il,
Cabin Creek mine, WV,
Little Sister Mine Company,
all owned by Truax-Traer

From a ND school book-
Harold and Elmer Truax led the way in surface mining,
and by 1930 were operating 4 surface mines at Kincaid, Velva, and Wilton.
so now we know his son Elmer was also involved in the mines

Over decades of Coal Company acquisitions by Truax-Traer Coal Co.
They themselves were taken over by a bigger boy on the block,
the Consolidation Coal Company,
and became a Division of Consolidation Coal Company.
Jan 23, 1962 the announcement was made
to consolidate the 2 companies

Based on all accounts, it was this company
moving into the area, that really lit the fuse
for the Black Tuesday Riot.
Can't stop progress, but in this case,
it couldn't have come at a worst time,
and again was possibly a plan behind it,
to break the formation of a Union in the area.
Can just imagine how many jobs were lost to
this shovel below, compared to loading by hand.

TRUAX-TRAER Photo ca-1925 per caption
First Open Pit Mine in the Souris coal Fields
Supplied Coal to the Estevan Generating Station
I think 1930 is the correct date for this mine,
at least under the Truax-Traer name.

Picture above shows the loading shovel in action,
a small brother of the big Stripping shovel, which is in the picture below.
To further insure only good clean coal being loaded,
a gang of men would sweep the surface clean
with steel brooms immediately in front of the loading shovel.
This shovel above is a 42-B Bucyrus-Erie Electric shovel
with a bucket capacity of 1 1/2 cubic yards.
Three dumps fill one four-ton pit car,
the entire train of ten cars being loaded in less than 10 minutes.

Their advertising claimed this procedure, was an important factor
in insuring prompt service on "Monogram" Coal.
Truax-Traer Coal Company Ltd.- Estevan Sask.

Truax-Traer's Bucyrus Erie 320B Stripper Shovel
Picture taken by Rose Gesell
Sign on side below

Picture taken ca1930
This Shovel was brought into the area
in 1930, and was equipped with a 8 yard bucket
It was the start of Strip Mining in the area,
and the end of underground coal mining up to that date.
It was also the catalyst that activated the strike
and eventual riot in 1931
The Estevan Museum has obtained what I believe
is this shovel for display beside the museum.

Founded in Bucyrus, Ohio,
the Bucyrus Foundry and Manufacturing Company,
Started Production June 3, 1882
In 1893 they moved their operation to South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
In 1927 Bucyrus merged with the Erie Steam Shovel company
becoming Bucyrus-Erie Co. the name on this Shovel
In 1997 Bucyrus International bought Marion Power Shovel company
to become the worlds largest producer, of draglines etc.

Sept 13, 1930
Grand opening ceremony planned at their mine
1 1/2 miles east of Estevan.
New Tipple valued at $123,000
will automatically sort 5 different sizes of coal,
and load it in rail cars.
Takes 700 HP to operate the tipple alone.
Dominion Electric Company will supply the power
which is situated nearby,
from it's new plant , which opened on Aug 1, 1934.
Mr. E. C. Dyer was the Engineer in charge of this plant.
Overburden is 32 feet above the seam of coal.
The coal is a 10-12 ft seam at this point.
Estimate is 25,000,000 tons of coal on the property.

Sept 13, 1930
Truax-Traer had this big shovel in operation
as described in the article above.
Exact model and make unknown at this point.
Possibly a Bucyrus-Erie 120B?
It weighed 600 tons
with a 8 Cubic Yard Bucket.
Swings every 45 seconds.
Mounted on 4 Caterpillar treads
Boom 90 feet long. (article above says 80?)
Size of the cabin, an ordinary 8 room house.
Cable size- 2 1/8 inches in diameter

July 3, 1934
Here we see Henry Eugene Sellers was vice-President
of Truax Traer Trail Coal Company (Canada)
sp looks like they operated in BC as well.

Dec 5, 1934
Article from the Saskatchewan Lignite Inquiry in Estevan
General Manager for Truax-Traer,
Eleazer William Garner
b- April 28, 1887 in Walkerton, Bruce County, ON
d- Oct 27, 1937, probably in Estevan

He was Mayor of Estevan 1921-1923
and a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly in 1929.
He owned a law practice in Estevan.
He was General Manager of the Big Lump Coal Mine in 1928,
and it was the first coal mine to be completely Electrified.
It became this mine when bought out by Truax-Traer.
Came to Saskatchewan in 1908 from ON.
He came to Estevan in 1915 from Regina.
He donated the Garner Shield to ECI, for Public Speaking.
He was heavily involved in the Strike in 1931,
and the riot that resulted from it.
Member of the Order of Oddfellows, Rotary Club.
and the Estevan Board of Trade.
Manager of the Estevan Agricultural Society from 1917-1923.
Also mentioned:
Associate Counsel for the Deep Seam Group- W. W. Lynd
Small Mines Counsel- W. J. Perkins

Trivia- Truax-Traer Company donated a trophy
used at the Woodlawn Golf Club in Estevan.

Note- Link below is NOT my site or video
A great 3min+ silent film on underground and strip mining
in Estevan area from Sask Archives site

Disclaimer- my family research above is a quick study
it is not intended to be 100% correct, only as a guide
Please do your own final research