1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

172 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
No. 33. Brookside.— Messrs. Repplier, Gordon & Co., Operators.
This colliery is situated at Tower City, in the western limits of Schuylkill
county, on the new coal estate of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Company, late the estate of Monson & Williams, continguous to
the dividing line of Schuylkill and Dauphin counties. 1,400 yards of a
main west gangway are open and continued forward, on a course running
due north. 7 breasts of 15 yards wide are working. The pillars are 6
yards thick. The measures on this level crosses on an angle of 48°.
The colliery consists of a double track slope, sunk 150 yards deep, on
the Lykens Valley seam ;
its angle of dip 33° north. The condition of
the slope and fixtures is safe and satisfactory. 325 }^ards west of the
slope a self-acting plane 78 yards long is used to conve}?- the coal to the
mine gangway. 5 horizontal gangways have been opened on this level
counter, with 24 breasts working. 600 yards west @f the slope a counter
gangway is now opened. The working runs here are 80 yards long. 600
yards of gangway are opened on this level, with 12 breasts working in 10
feet of coal. A large field of undeveloped coal is still remaining on the
tract. It is intended to open this field by sinking a new slope west of the
present one ; that will also open a basin that overlies the present workings
in an upper strata.
Ventilation is produced by a 20-horse power fan, making an inlet through
the lower gangway level, ventilating these workings and returning and
ventilating the first counter levels ; thence it passes into the slant workings,
through which it passes out to the fan. Under such circumstances
ventilation is only tolerable, but prompt measures have been taken to increase
the supply. So far the condition and character of the work done is
good and safe.
Engines and Power.—A pair of hoisting engines a*e used at the slope,
each equal to 40-horse power ; a 40-horse power breaker engine, and a 25-
horse power fan engine=145-horse power, with 10 good boilers and two 6
inch steam pumps used for drainage, which are fully adequate for that purpose.
There are employed inside 90 miners and 40 laborers, and outside
15 men and 20 boys, making an aggregate of 165 hands, together with
26 mules and 70 wagons in use ;
there are 6,200 yards of track laid in and
about the colliery ;
monthly shipments will average 9,000 tons. There are
no complaints on our records against this colliery.
No. 34. Tower City.— Messrs. Pupplier, Gordon & Co., Operators.
This colliery is situated at Tower Cit}', in the western limits of Schuylkill
county, on the estate of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company, (late the Monson & Williams estate.) It has been 4 years in
operation under Col. Savidge. It consists of one double track slope, in
Big Lick mountain, sunk 83 yards deep on a 67° north dip, with two gangways.
The east gangway is open 1,084 yards, the west gangway 1,268
yards. There are 50 breasts open eastward and 44 breasts open westward.
Operations were suspended in April until the 9th of October, when preparations
were made for resuming work again.
Four engines of 145-horse power, with 10 good boilei's, are in use, the
condition of which is apparently good. There are one 12 and one 6-inch
steam pump used fur drainage. 23 men are employed; 10 mules and 32
wagons are on the premises. 3,000 yards of track are used. All the improvements
and their equipments are in a remarkably good condition.