1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

INSPECTORS OF MINES. 165
No. 21. Hickory Swamp.—Mineral Railroad and Mining Company,
Operators.
This colliery is situated 3 miles east of Shamokiu, on the estate of the
Mineral Railroad and Mining Company, and consists of 2 water level drift
openings on the north and south dip of the E Twin seams ; also a double
track slope is sunk 200 yards deep on the south dip of the South seam, on
an angle of 15° dip. Its west gangway is 750 yards, with 9 breasts working.
The west gangway on No. 9 is also 150 yards long and idle. There
are 12 breasts working in 6 feet of coal 12° dip. No. 9 seam, east gangway,
is open 600 yards, with 11 breasts working; 300 yards west of this
slope a self-acting plane, 90 yards in length, is used, and a gangway 200
yards long, with two breasts, are open. Its west counter gangway is also
200 yards long, with 5 breasts working in coal 6 feet thick. The angle is
40° dip, cross-cuts are now opening, each 600 yards from the slope. No.
12 drift, or straight vein on the north dip of No. 9, is 1,300 yards long,
but ouly are robbing back the pillars. The south dip is also open in this
drift. A tunnel 330 yards long through the basin, opens the Nos. 8 and 9
Twin seams, in 6 feet of coal. The dip of the angle is 80°. The gangways
on these seams are open in 1,300 yards each, only 2 breasts are at
present working and opening an air-hole. On the east side only three
breasts are working in No. 9 seam. An open cut drift is open on the south
dip of No. 9 seam, in 5-| feet of coal, on a dip of 9° south. The only work
doing was extending gangways.
Ventilation is produced by a 20-horse fan, which supplies a sufficiency of
air for the number of hands employed.
Engines.—A 60-horse power engine is used to hoist coal, and runs a 12-
inch column pump ; a 40-horse power runs the breaker and two small feed
pumps, making an aggregate of 128-horse power, with 7 good boilers, each
30 feet long by 30 inches in diameter, all of which appears to be in proper
condition. 211 hands are employed; 32 mules and 108 wagons are used.
There are some 4 miles of track used. The monthly shipments will average
7,500 tons.
No. 22. Shamokin.— Messrs. Martin & Weaver, Operators.
This colliery is
& Keller. It consists of a water level drift open the Diamond seam ; 1,800
yards of gangway have been opened, extending to the boundary line of the
track. The coal is 5 feet in thickness, the seam dip 50° south. There are
6 breasts working and the robbing of pillars. Operation had been suspended
since the 10th of November, when in operation 40 hands are employed
in and about the colliery.
Engines.—A 20-horse power engine is used to run the breaker, with two
good steam boilers, which are apparently in good condition. 2,000 yards of
track are in use. The monthly shipments average 2,800 tons. The character
of the work done and the condition of the mine generally are satisfactory.
situated a mile west of Shamokin, on the estate of Hays
11 Mine Rep.