1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

INSPECTORS OF MINES.
•
135
No. 52. Centralia.— , Operators.
The colliery is situated east of Centralia, in Columbia county, on the
estate of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company. It consists of a
double track slope, sunk 2 lifis, and yards in the south dip of the E
seam, with east and west gangways opened. The east gangway • is 800
yards in width.
No. 53.
Coal Mountain, New.— Barton & Bro., Operators.
The colliery is situated 3 miles east of Mount Carmel. It consists of a
double track slope, sunk 174 yards deep on the south dip of the E seam,
on a 65° dip. Both east and west gangways are opened to the first turnouts,
in 11 feet of coal. An outlet is driven in the slope pillar; and also
it is used for a pump slope. One hoisting engine of 120-horse power, with
6 boilers. The steam pump engine is located at the bottom of the slope
outlet of 200-horse power, with 18-inch columns. The coal is prepared at
the Coal Ridge breaker, and shipped with the coal of that colliery, over
the Lehigh Valely railroad to market.
Ventilation at present is by natural means.
No. 54.
Plank Ridge.—Philadelphia and Reading Goal and Iron Company,
Operators.
The colliery is situated in Shenandoah City, on its eastern limits, on the
estate of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. It consists
of a double track cageway shaft, sunk 100 feet deep on the E seam,
and gangwa}^ opened south-west and west some 350 yards ; a new slope 70
yards from the shaft on a 23° north dip. The slope is 280 yards deep in
3 lifts ;
2 of these lifts are worked at the same time, one above the other,
in mining runs of 80 yards each. The east gangway is in 350 yards, and
is opened in two panels, 150 yards apart, upon which breasts have been
opened, with mining runs of 51 yards each. The west panel is opened 150
yards, with 6 breasts working. All these breastings are 10 yards wide,
flanked by 10 yard thick pillars. 300 yards of gangway are open on the
bottom pannel, and communicates with the Indian Ridge west gangway, on
its south dip, with mining runs of 60 yards, supported by 15 yards of chain
pillars.
Ventilation is effected by natural currents, charged from the shaft in spits
passing through the working panels on its downward course to the connection
made for it with the Indian Ridge workings, which I find to be practical
and effective.
Three hundred hands are employed in and about the colliery ; 1,400
yards of track are used ; 28 head of mules are used in the colliery ; 9 engines
are in use=455-horse power, with 14 boilers. A steam pump is used
for drainage, of two 14-inch columns. The shaft and slope machinery and
tackle are in apparent good order.
The east slope is 120 yards deep in 2 lifts ; its east gangway is 800 3-ards
long, the breastings of which are driven into Shenandoah City colliery
workings. Its lower lift gangway is 950 yards long, with breast workin«
and some pillar robbing. I consider the whole of these working panels in