1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

INSPECTORS OF MINES. 117
is placed in the slope-way, and used for drainage. East and west gangways
are open. The east gangways are 800 yards long, but of late little or no
mining had been done in this panel. Eight hundred yards of a west gangway
has been opened, and 8 breasts are working, with 65 .yards of mining
runs. The breasts are open 9 yards wide, and are supported by pillars (*.
yards thick, and are ventilated through headings in these pillars 20 to 15
yards apart.
Ventilation was not adequate at the time of mj' visit ; I pointed out the
course to be pursued to remedy this defect.
Engines in use.—There are 2 engines of 100-horse power, with 4 boilers,
the condition of which had not been reported.
Twenty-five inside hands with 40 outside hands=65. I found the colliery
not in a satisfactory condition, yet it does not warrant expenditures to
make much of a change.
No. 11.
Indian Ridge.— Philadelphia and Beading Coal and Iron Company,
Operators.
This colliery is situated east of Shenandoah City, on the said company's
estate. It consists of a double panel shaft opening, sunk 110 yards deep
of a section area of 200 square feet, (20X10.) The shaft is finely timbered
throughout and amply secure. The east gangway is 900 yards long, and
has a back air-course gangway in connection with it to its face. Forty
breasts are working on this panel, having but one sehute to each ;
all are
8 yards wide, supported by 7 yard pillars. The coal is 25 feet thick, with
mining runs of 78 yards. The system of mining this thick seam I have
approved of, owing to its safety in mining. Thus, the upper bench or ledge
of the seam is left standing until the breasts are driven the proper distance
;
this ledge of coal is easily removed, and the miner finds it a safer operation
than to work the whole seam at once, and affording him much better means
of ventilation. A counter gangway is open along the top of these breasts,
and as occasion lequires, an air-hole is opened into it, and passing up
through the pannel working to the outcast. The west gangway is worked
in a similar manner, and communicates with the workings of the Messrs.
Lee & Grant colliery, on the north dip of that seam, and forms a ventilating
medium in this panel of the works. There are 26 breasts open in the
west-side workings. The eastern panel is ventilated from the shaft inlet,
passing down the cage partitions and inward to the working- fan, returning
by the pillar headings to a back brattice to shaft, and passing out in its
partitioned air-shaft. I found a« adequate amount of air circulating in
the works, which are very extensive. 115 miners, 30 laborers and 25 boys
are employed inside, and 30 men and 60 boys outside—in all, 260 hands.
Engines and Power.—There are eight engines, equal to 508-horse power,
and 14 good boilers in use. I found the shaft machinery with all its tackle
and fixtures in good safe condition. I approve of the connection of both
these mines for many useful purposes.
No. 12
Furnace Colliery.— Atkins & Bro., Operators.
This colliery is situated east of Gilberton, on the estate of John Gilbert,
et al. It consists of a tunnel opening to the D seam, with gangway driven
east and west. The e*st gangway is 1,100 yards long, and the coai ex-
8 Mine Rep.