History of anthracite coal mining in Pennsylvania bituminous fuel reaching the US, and there was also a shortage in Virginia’s supply resulting in a fuel crisis (Adams, “Warming the Poor,” 76). Before the war citizens did not like to use anthracite coal because it was difficult to ignite and maintain, but the wartime shortage forced them to start using anthracite. Jacob Cist of Wilkes-Barre promoted the use of anthracite during and after the War of 1812. Jacob Cist’s father was a major investor in the Lehigh Coal Mine Company, so Cist began to transport the company’s coal to Philadelphia by the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers (Dublin, Licht,
Anthracite iron of 1839. In the meantime, Pioneer Furnace, in Pottsville, was blown in using anthracite fuel in 1839. It was built by William Lyman obtained the aid of a Welsh emigrant, Benjamin Perry, who was familiar with Neilson's process and the Yniscedwyn works, for the blowing-in. The furnace ran for three months on anthracite alone and fulfilled the conditions to win the $5,000 prize. In the design of Pioneer Furnace, Lyman had also been assisted by David Thomas, who had arrived in the United States in May 1839. Thomas was engaged by the LC&N to set up the Lehigh Crane Iron