1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

90 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
through the working places and out to the upcast. The ventilation and
general condition of the mines are favorable.
Two engines in use ; a 50-horse power hoisting engine ;
a 30-horse power
breaker engine, and a 10-horse power fan=90-horse power, with 7 boilers
that are reported to be in good condition. 100 hands are employed in and
about the colliery ; 6 mules and 30 wagons are in use ; 4 visits of inspection
had been made.
No. 19.
Mammoth Yein Slope.— William Williams, Operator.
The colliery is situated at Silver Creek, on the estate of Messrs. Swayne
& Able. It consists of a double track slope sunk 100 yards deep on a 30°
south dip of the D seam, with 2 gangways opened. The west gangway is
100 yards long, and ends in a fault ; the east gangway is 1,600 yards long,
and all idle. A tunnel is driven 800 yards east of the slope from the gangway
south 86 yards to the E seam, which here is found split in 14 feet of
coal ; an east gangway is opened 400 yards in the new seam, with 7 breasts
working; its lower split is 12 feet thick. Mining in the lower seam is
chiefly confined to robbing out pillars. The destruction of the breaker by
fire suspended operation in the colliery for many months.
Ventilation is produced by a fan which supplies sufficient air for the
working of the colliery.
One hundred and twelve hands are employed at the colliery ; 5 steam
engines are in use, with 15 boilers reported to be in good condition persons
are prohibited to ride in the slope ;
;
12 mules and 60 wagons are working
; I consider the colliery in good condition ;
4 official visits have been
made.
No. 20. East Pine Knot.— Philadelphia and Reading Goal and Iron
Company, Operators.
The colliery is situated north-east of the Mine Hill Gap, on the estate of
the said corporation. It consists of a double track slope sunk on a 65°
south dip on the E seam, 228 yards deep. The west gangway has been
driven to the tract line and finished ;
the east gangway is 1,400 yards long,
with 5 breasts working in 25 feet of coal.
The Lellar and Crosby veins are opened by a tunnel ; 300 yards of gangway
are open on the Crosby seam, and are abandoned ; 800 yards of gangway
is opened on the Lellar seam and stands idle. 100 j^ards deep of a new
lift has been sunk on the West Pine Knot colliery as a second lift. Both
these collieries are idle at present.
A 25-horse power fan ventilates the mines, but find it a difficult matter
to accomplish that object, owing to a crush on the E seam gangway.
Though the air is systematically conducted to the working places and returns
to the outcast, a considerable amount of fire-damp is generated in the
mine, so that it becomes necessary to use safety lamps. The management
of the colliery and the system adopted to extract coal in a safe manner receives
my approbation.
Colliery Log.—189 hands are employed in the colliery ;
10 head of stock
and 60 wagons are used ;
outside temperature, 72° ;
inside temperature,
74° ;
difference, 2°
; favorable. Outside barometer, 28 T^
;
inside barometer,
29 inches ;
difference, Tf «y
; favorable ;
indicating the air to be free