1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

154 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
No. 3.
Stuartsville Colliery.-,— William Montilius, Operator.
This colliery is situated at Mount Carmel, in Northumberland county,
on the coal estate of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company. It
consists of a double track slope, sunk 55 yards deep on the south dip of
the E vein, on an angle of 25°, and is sunk at this depth to the basin of
the seam. A tunnel has been driven south 200 yards through the upper
benches of the seam and rock ; the main portion of the seam laying underneath
where the E seam is cut on its north dip. Its east gangway is driven
in 500 yards. All the coal has been extracted and the gangway abandoned.
The West Mammoth gangway has been driven 1,000 yards, reaching its
boundary line, where further excavations cease, and a resort is had to robbing
out the breast and chain pillars, employing 4 men in this operation.
The West Counter gangway on the E seam has been driven in 1,000
yards to its boundary line, and robbing out pillars is resorted to, giving
employment to 8 men.
A self acting plane of 15 yards in length is open, over which the coal is
conveyed to the main gangway ;
the haulage on this plane is done by 1-inch
wire ropes ;
the working of the plane is safe.
A tunnel has been opened 50 yards further south, which opens the D
seam, (Skidmore,) on its north dip, the coal of which is 7 feet thick, on an
angle of 40°. An east gangway has been driven 800 yards, and 40 breasts
have been opened. The present mining carried on is driving a gangway and
2 breasts, employing 6 men.
Four hundred yards east of the Skidmore tunnel a branch gangway has
been turned off, the main gangway running in 400 yards and diverging
north, upon which 12 breasts were opened, 8 of which are now working ;
the vein taking a westerly course at present, but on the south dip of the
seam. 20 men are employed here.
Another branch gangway has been turned south from the main east gangway,
running 100 } ards in ; there are 4 breasts and the gangway still work-
r
ing, employing 10 men.
The West D gangway has been driven in 400 yards to a rock pinch, where
the coal seam is lost, and the place is now abandoned. Three other gangways
are open on the D seam, where the robbing process is in operation,
emplo}dng 12 men.
A slope has been sunk in 2 lifts 110 yards deep, on the south western
course of the E seam, on an angle of 10° dip, in anticipation of recovering
a large deposit of coal lying west of the upper working in the bottom of
this coal basin. The gangways are being turned off from the bettom of
this slope. No further particulars at present.
Ventilation is produced by the operation of a double furnace in the Skidmore
or D seam, using the slope and tunnel as intakes ;
the air traverses
these workings and returns back to the furnace outcast ; by this system
good ventilation is produced, and the character of the workings and its
condition is remarkabl3 r good.
Engines and Power.—A5 0-horse power is used for hoisting and drainage,
and is also used to run the breaker, the machinery of which is connected
by a train of cone gear. The inside slope is worked by a 20-horse
engine, and the drainage of the same is effected by a steam pump. 4 steam
boilers, each 30 feet long by 30 inches, supply sufficient steam-power for
all purposes. There are 77 men and 52 boys employed at this colliery ;
13
head of mules, 60 wagons and 4 miles of inside and outside track are in
use. The monthly shipments will average 6,500 tons.