1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

1
132 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
No. 46 — West Lehigh. — M'Neal & Co., Operators.
The colliery is situated north of Mahanoy City, on the estate of the
Jersey Central Railroad Companj'. It consists of 2 double track slopes,
1 on the E and the other on the D seam. The E seam slope ir? sunk 160
yards deep in two lifts on a 30° south dip, and east and west gangwa}-s
open. The east panel is 300 yards long, having 9 breasts open, and stands
idle. The west panel is 250 yards, and has 2 breasts working, with jugular
air-ways in the breasts for ventilation. An outcast driven across the slope
in the east panel from the west side, which communicates with the upcast
air-hole. Gangways have been opened on the counter lift, but are now idle.
Ventilation is produced by a 20-horse power fan. There are 3 safety
roads out of the mines. 3 engines are in use=120-horse power, with 4
boilers, well conditioned. The D slope is sunk 150 yards deep on its south
dip, with east and west gangways opened, and have opened 400 yards, and
8 breasts. The coal is not quite profitable here. These panels are ventilated
by a 20-horse power fan. There are 3 engines=85-horse power, with
7 good boilers in use. The coal, though soft, is 12 feet thick; 80 hands
inside, 75 outside=155 hands.
No. 47. Koh-i-noor Shaft.— Richard Heckscher & Co., Operators.
The colliery is situated west of Shenandoah Cit}-, on the Gilbert estate.
It consists of a double cageway shaft, sunk 140 3'ards deep on the south
dip of the B seam, and the mines are divided into east and west panels.
The east is opened 1,111 yards, and an inlet air-course has been opened in
its length to ventilate the workings. 70 breasts are opened in this panel,
with mining runs of 100 yards each. Here an incline plane is opened to a
counter-level, with 2 panels open, in which breasts 100 yards long will be
worked under the works of the Thomas Coal Company's mines. A second
outlet is opened east of the shaft, for egress and ingress, and the outlet
air-course is opened on the Thomas Coal Company's tract. 140 hands are
employed in the mine, and 18 mules are used ; 11 engines are in use, with
an aggregate of 470-horse power, with 11 good boilers. Their machinery
and appurtenances are kept in good order. I find the shaft machinery,
ropes and tackle arc receiving proper attention. Drainage is effected by
water tank. A slope is sunk 200 3*ards in the back gangway.
The G seam workings are idle. In a general inspection of the collier}' I
find it superior in point of practical management and regularity to any
other in the district. All of which is under the immediate direction of
Messrs. Richard Heckscher and Jacob Glover.
No. 48. Tunnel Ridge.— George IV. Cole, Operator.
The colliery is situated in the western suburbs of Mahanoy City, on the
estate of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. It consists
of a double track slope, sunk yards deep on the north dip of the
— seam, and opened in panels. The east gangway is 1,250 yards long, and
the west gangway is 1,560 yards long. 15 breasts are working in this
panel in coal 16 feet thick, having 3 safety roads for traveling into and out
of the mine. The ventilating outcast is west of the slope, on which is
erected a 20-horse power fan. In connection with this a furnace will be
erected in the west workings. Mining in the E seam is chiefly confined to
robbing back pillar coal.