1900 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

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No. 11. FIFTfl ANTHRACITE DISTRICT. 163
from tin- surface to run the breaker wash water in* the dirl had filled
the opening, which was from 15 to 90 feet wide to a height of
about 90 feel perpendicular, and while this was being done, the water
on the opposite side (east side Of I pillar), w;is allowed to rise.
When the black dirt had filled to the elevation of the highest crosscut
and proved to be perfectly solid, pumping was commenced. The
water so far had assisted the pillar to withstand the pressure from
the old workings, but after ii had been pumped down to an elevation
of 40 feet above the gangway level, black dirt appeared
at the valve through which the water was drawn, indicating that
either the dam or the pillar had given away. Aftor the water had
all been pumped out it w r as found that the water had burst through
between top of dam and pillar, and opened a hole about twelve
inches square. The black dirt filled an opening about 3D feet in
length and 90 feet in height perpendicularly with the dirt, having
formed solidly on top, which can only be explained by the black
dirl not having formed solidly in the bottom but continued in a
slushy condition, therefore not offering any resistance to the water,
alter the counter pressure of the water on the other side of the pillar
became gradually reduced as the water was lowered. The break in
the dam was repaired and they again commenced to run breaker wash
water in. Black dirt filled the opening w r est of the dam pillar compactly,
and the water percolating from the old workings ran out
through a cross heading about 90 feet above gangway level. The
black dirt was allowed to run through this heading and formed
a bank on the east side of the pillar, when it assumed its natural slope
and filled the workings east of the pillar 300 feet to a check battery
put in on the gangway. Black dirt w'as allowed to run until it filled
the opening east of the pillar solid to the cross-cut level for about
90 feet perpendicular; after this had been done the opening in
the cross-cut was closed tightly with only an opening left to drain
off the water to allow' the dirt to settle perfectly, and when black
dirt commenced to run through this little opening, this was also
closed; but dirt continued to run in until it blocked the bore hole,
indicating that the openings underground were filled. The influx
of the water into the Cross Creek portion of the mine at that time
had practically ceased, and the water was rising fast in the East
Sugar Loaf workings: this continued for about five days, when a
heavier influx of water, and the dirty condition of it. showed that
something had given way again, and it was found that the water
had forced its way along the east rib of the pillar againsl the solid
Qiass of black dirt lying against the pillar, which proved that we
could not successfully dam the water back with black dirt under the
local conditions without blocking the old Mammoth vein workings
entirely.