1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

88 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
No. 14.
Alaska.— General H. L. Cake, Operator.
The colliery is situated north of the town of Tamaqua, on the estate of
the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company It consists of two
drift openings on the C and A seams. The C gangway is 1,100 yards, working
4 breasts, etc. ; 24 hands engaged ; the coal is 9 feet thick. The A drift
is 1,200 yards, with two breasts, etc. ; working in 8 to 20 feet of coal. These
drifts are separated by 150 yards of rock strata. These gangways are expensive
to keep in proper order.
Ventilation is produced by natural currents passing in and upwards to
outcast air holes, the result of which is not favorable. We have already
pointed out the defects and advised the remedies that would remove this
condition of things.
One hundred hands are employed at the colliery ; 2 steam engines in use,
50 horse power; 4 boilers, considered to be in good order ;
19 mules and
50 wagons in active use ; 3,000 yards of railroad track laid on the premises.
One death and 2 injuries during the year. Four visits of inspection made.
No. 15. Tamaqua Shaft.— Philadelphia and Beading Coal and Iron
Company, Operators.
The colliery is situated south of the town of Tamaqua, on the estate of
said company. It consists of a shaft and drift opening. The shaft is 100
yards deep on the E seam, the seam dips north from 70° to 80°, the mining
is all confined to the westward ;
82 yards west of the shaft, in its level,
a tunnel opens the I) seam. The F seam is also opened by a tunnel 62
yards north, its gangway is 300 yards, and idle ; 1,600 yards west of shaft
140 yards of a tunnel is driven to open the E and D seams on their south
dips, on a 16° angle—700 }T
ards of a gangway has been opened east from
this tunnel, in 35 feet of coal, on the E seam. Drift south on the E seam
is 180 yards. Mining had been discontinued in the colliery for some
months while under general repair and prospecting for increased developments—which
efforts have been successful.
Ventilation is produced by a fan. The system adopted is effective, and
produces satisfactory results.
Colliery Log.—November 19.—Outside temperature, 42° ;
inside temperature,
54°; difference, 12°, fair; outside barometer, 29 inches; inside
barometer, 29 T§„ inches difference, ;
T§^ fair ;
slight mixture of gas in the
gangway ;
8 hands are employed ; 7 steam engines are in use=700 horsepower
; 13 steam boilers are in use, and in good condition ; 1 steam pump,
40 horse-power ; 1 pole pump, 16 inch ; 4 mules and 60 wagons engaged
;
8,000 yards of track are laid in the colliery ;
7 visits of inspection had been
made. Robert Mackey in charge of the mines ;
no deaths and 1 injured.
•
Xo. 16. Taylorville Slope.— Thomas Schollenberger, Operator.
The colliery is situated at Taylorville, on the estate of the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal and Iron Compan}'. It consists of two double track
slopes, sunk two lifts 380 yards deep on the south dip of the Daniel seam,
on a 60° angle.
Four gangways are opened on the hoisting slope. Lower West gangway is
475 yards, w6rking 7 breasts, &c. ; the Lower East gangway is 315 yards,