1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

104 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
In connection with this colliery a drift is open on the surface in the D
or Skidmore seam. At present this district is idle. I found the slope
with its ropes, machinery and tackle in good ordinary condition. Four
visits were made.
No. 5. Boston Run.— Philadelphia and Beading Goal and Iron Company,
Operators.
This colliery is situated south of Gilberton, in the Mahanoy Valley, on
the above company's estate. It consists of a double track slope, sunk 114
yards deep on the dip of 55° north; its section area is 210 square feet;
the slope workings are newly opened ; the west gangway is 1,706 yards
loug, and 5 breasts are working ; there are three schutes to each two
breasts ; a slant gangway is in course of opening to enable them to extract
the upper coal ; an air-course is carried along this slant to ventilate this
district ; 29 yards of a tunnel opened the 7 feet seam on the south, and
gangways are open 700 yards and are working 6 breasts ; the inlet is open
on the centre of this short tunnel ; the tunnel has been continued to the
10 feet seam, some 15 yards further, and gangways open 400 yards, with 7
breasts working ; these breasts have a mining run of 90 yards ; an outlet
is located at the centre of this tunnel and a fan erected there io aid in
ventilating the colliery; the supply of air was found to be 11,600 cubic
feet per minute in a district where 79 men are employed.
Engines in use.—There are 7 engines in use, equal to 230-horse power,
with 16 boilers, the condition of which is not reported.
Ventilation is satisfactory ; daily shipment, 60 cars ; Samuel Tregay is
in charge of the colliery ;
4 visits made.
No. 6. Tunnel.— Philadelphia and Reading Goal and Iron Company,
Operators.
This colliery is
Mountain, on the estate of the said company, late the estate of John P.
Brock & Brother. It consists of two slopes for coal purposes and a puniing
slope. The old slope is abandoned so far as it relates to mining ;
the
new slope is sunk 231 yards deep on the 6 feet seam, dip 65° north; the
other slopes are sunk on the same vein for better security and for permanency
;
T
the pump slope is sunk 240 } ards deep and a single track is laid in
its centre for the use of material and men ; for convenience and safety
also there are two 24-inch pipe columns laid in it for the purpose of drainage
;
sufficient gangways have been opened on the 6 feet vein for the purpose
of connecting these slopes as approaches for accommodation in working
the mines ; two tunnels are driven from the 6 feet vein to the E seam,
situated at Ashland, on the north slope of the Mahanoy
or Mammoth seam, the coal of which is taken out to the hoisting slope
14 breasts are working on the east gangway. The colliery has been remodeled
by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company at a
great cost and no doubt will, when in proper condition, renumerate the
expenditure, as the field of coal is known to be very extensive.
Ventilation is produced by the operation of 2 iron-clad steam fans ; one,
the common Beadle patent, to be superseded by Groen's patent ; the other
the patent Belgian fan, supplying 30,000 cubic feet of air per minute