1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

126 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
in the mine. 65 miners and 30laborors are employed inside ;
8 mules and
41 wagons are in use; 8 cngines=400-horse power, with 12 boilers, are in
use; a single track slope is used for a pump-way and fan air-slope and
safe traveling ; 30 cars of coal are shipped as an average day's work.
No. 33.
Shenandoah West.— Messrs. Miller & Maize, Operators.
The colliery is situated west of Shenandoah City, on the estate of Gilbert
& Sheafer. It consists of a double track slope sunk 95 yards deep
on a 20° south dip of the Gr, or Primrose seam, in 9 feet of coal.
The mine is opened into two divisions, east and west. The east panel is
TOO yards long, with 3 slant gangways opened, with 12 breasts working.
Ventilation is effected by means of a furnace and 2 outcasts.
The west panel is 400 yards long, and all the coal in this panel is already
mined out. The roof slate is not safe for large excavations, consequently
it is necessary to work with great care.
Fifty miners, 4 laborers and 18 other hands, are employed ; 3 engines of
95-horse power, with 4 boilers, are in use. There are no pumps
;
the drainage
is effected by sort of tanks fixed upon carriages, and are found adequate
in this case. Mr. Whitg is a competent man, and manages the collieiy well.
No. 34.
Keystone.— Philadelphia and Reading Goal and Iron Company,
Operators.
This colliery is situated 2 miles west of Ashland, on the estate of the
said corporation. It consists of 2 slopes, one for use of coal, the other for
air and a pump slope. The coal slope has a double track, and is sunk 122
3'ards under the water level, in the E seam in 30 feet of coal ; and on its
north dip of 55° 40 j^ards of solid ground divides these slopes. The pump
slope is used for miners and material, also for drainage ; and the plan gives
great satisfaction, as the work in the other slope need not be retarded from
irregularities occasioned by the passage of men and materials. The mine
is worked in 2 panels, east panel is 750 yards long, with 18 breasts opened,
each 12 j^ards wide, supported by 10 yard pillars. A monkey air-course
is used in connection with the gangway for properly distributing the circulating
air into the working places ;
this is necessary from the large amount
of fire-damp generated in the mine. Also the use of naked lights are prohibited
in the main working places, and strict precautionary measures
adopted to prevent accidents of any kind.
The western panel is 775 yards long, with an air-course made over the
gangway. Six breasts are working in this gangway, of the same dimensions
and supports as the others are, and ventilated in a like manner. The
pillars are pierced in the centre for manways, for travel, etc. On the 20th
of November an explosion of fire-damp took place, which was ignited by
an explosion of powder, which set the place on fire for a time, causing a
delay of some weeks before work had been resumed. Ventilation is pro-,
duced by the action of a fan, and found by measurement to be fully effective.
,dp
Seventy-five hands are employed inside aftd. 75 outside; 12 mules and
50 wagons are necessary to do the haulage ; 8 steam engines of 857-horse