1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

INSPECTORS OF MINES. 131
open on the west gangwa} T ,
with working runs of 90 yards to each. Some
of these breasts are pierced into the upper levels for air-holes and outlets.
Seventy-five breasts are full of coal, with 1,000 tons of mined coal in each.
Seventy-live yards of a tunnel will open the D seam, of which 55 yards are
already made. A new slope is in progress of sinking 75 yards west of the
old slope, which will be sunk a lift under the old slope level. The western
panels are ventilated by natural currents.
One hundred and fifty-five hands are employed ;
15 mules are worked
;
the haulage is done by 2 small locomotives ; 5,100 yards of track are used
;
7 engines are in use=420-horse power, working a 12-inch column of water ;
100 cars of prepared coal are shipped daily; 12 boilers are used, with all
the machinery and slope tackle. I am pleased to say the colliery is well
managed throughout.
No. 57. Lehigh, No. 3. Philadelphia Goal Company, Operators; Col.
Daniel P. Brown, General Manager.
It consists of a double track slope sunk 110 yards deep, on the south dip
of the E seam, on an angle of 42°, with east and west panels opened. The
east panel is G50 yards long, working 3 breasts, each 12 yards wide, flanked
by 6 yard pillars, and a mining run of 75 yards to each breast. Here No.
13 breast is opened as a second outlet for traveling. 775 yards of a west
panel are opened, with 9 breasts working, and opened Chanel schutes,each
9x12 feet section area, and separated 150 yards apart. This system of
mining in this thick and high dripping seam has be adopted by Col. Brown,
he being one of the most practical, if not the most practical and conversant
miner and mine manager in the anthracite regons, thoroughly educated
in the school of the mine in every phase and department. These
panels are driven horizontal and open into each other.
I found the ventilation fully adequate to supply a sufficiency of air for
any purpose required. 60 hands are employed inside and 80 outside : 9
mules are worked inside, and 38 wagons ; 5 steam engines are in use=164-
horse power ;
10 good steam boilers in use ;
1 16-inch pole pump for drainage
; 2 cages are used for hoisting coal wagons in slope. Mathew Shaw in
charge of the mining department, and William Tickins in charge of the
outside department, under whose management 1 find the colliery in an excellent
condition.
No. 58.
Beaver Run.— Peter Bowman, Operator.
The colliery is situated north-east of Mahanoy City, on the estate of the
Lehigh Valley Railroad Company. It consists of a rock tunnel, 295 yards
driven south and opening 4 coal seams. Here the 7 feet seam is worked.
with 200 yards of a gangway opened, and working 5 breasts each, 10 yards
wide, supported by 4 yard pillars. 1 8 hands are employed inside and 1