1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

174 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
No. 37. Colket.— Messrs. Owen, Eckel, Golket & Co., Operators.
This colliery is situated at Donaldson, in Schuylkill county, near the
town of Tremont, on the estate of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
Iron Company, and has been in operation some 6 years. It consists of a
double track slope, sunk 275 yards deep on the Black Heath seam, in two
lifts, on a 52° south dip, and in 9 feet of coal. Four hundred yards of
west gangway have been open, with 33 breasts open, 4 of which are now
working, emplojdng 19 men; 400 yards of east gangway have been open,
exhausted and abandoned ; its counter-gangway is 500 yards long and
idle; its west counter has been open 1,100 yards, and still going forward,
and working 3 breasts, employing 17 men; 130 yards west of the slope
102 yards of a tunnel have been driven northward, opening the E seam in
20 feet of coal ; 750 yards of gangway havcbeen open east, and are now
robbing out the piliar coal, employing 14 men ;
900 yards of west gangway
have been open, and still extending the gangway, working 5 breasts, employing
36 hands.
Ventilation is produced by the action of a 20-horse power fan, on the E
seam workings, and a 15-horse power fan on the Black Heath seam. By
this system, thougfi expensive, ventilation is made so perfect that each department
in the mine has been amply supplied. Great credit is due to Mr.
Athy for his excellent management of the works. I found no cause of
complaint of the establishment.
Colliery Log.—September 26, temperature outside, 72° ;
inside, 75°
;
difference, 3°
; favorable ; barometer outside, 29 TV inside, 29^ inches ; ;
difference, -
x% inches ; favorable.
Engines and Power.—There are 7 steam engines in use, their aggregate
power is equal to 418 horse, with 21 boilers reported to be in good condition.
Force of Hands.— 100 men inside; 78 men and 69 boys outside, equal to
247 hands, with 22 mules and 65 wagons in use. 5,000 yards of track are
used, with an average monthly shipment of 7,500 tons.
No. 38. Eureka.— Owe??, Eekle & Colket, Op>erators.
The colliery is situated near Donaldson, in Schuylkill county, on the estate
of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. It consists
of a tunnel driven 72 yards north, opening the Lykens Valley seam, in its
south dip, in 3 feet of coal. East and west gangways are open 700 yards.
Work was confined to extending gangways only, employing 9 hands. The
coal mined at this colliery is prepared at the Colket colliery breaker, which
dispenses with an establishment of that sort on the premises..
No. 39. West End.— Owen, Colket & Co., Operators.
This colliery is situated west of Donaldson, on the estate of the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal and Iron Company, in Schuylkill county. It
consists of a drift opening, the coal of which has been extracted and idle
at present. But the lessees or landowners are about to erect the necessary
machinery for sinking a new slope on its first lift. From the water level
there is a fine field of coal on the tract, and but comparatively very little
has been mined from the surface.