1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

268 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
The present workings are new, as this long slope had been sunk a lift lower
last spring. The workings are in excellent condition, and a splendid vein
of coal to work. An airway has been driven down with the slope, so that
the ventilation is good. The lift above connects with the workings of No.
] , and No. 1 connects by an inside with No. 5, which is on the opposite side
of the coal basin. No. 2 is on the north side. Nos. 1 and 5 are on the
south side. The air works down No. 2 and through the workings, then up
the airway, thence to No. 1, old workings, to No. 5 slope. John James,
mine boss.
Machinery consists of 1 hoisting engine, 80-horse power ; 1 breaker engine,
20-horse power; 1 pumping engine, 60-horse power; total, 3 engines,
160-horse power ;
15 boilers. Men and boys employed inside, 64 ;
outside,
32; total, 96; mules inside, 4; outside 2; total, 6; coal shipped in 1813,
21,599 tons powder used, 375 kegs.
;
No. 3 slope, north dip. Tench Coxe, landowner ; Linderman, Skeer &
Co., operators. Coal worked is the Big vein ;
average thickness 27 feet.
This place was abandoned in October, to go to work No. 5. Men and boys
working at that time were 37 inside ;
28 outside ; total, 65 ; 6 mules inside
and 2 outside ; total, 8.
Machinery consists of 1 hoisting engine, 60-horse power; 1 breaker engine,
20-horse power ;
1 pumping engine, 60-horse power ; total, 3 engines.
140-horse power; 9 boilers. Coal shipped in 1873, up to October, 29,001
tons. Powder used, 562 kegs. Samuel Simmons, mine boss.
No. 4 slope, north dip. This was for a time kept for a pumping slope,
also to hoist the men from No. 5 slope. At present a new work about half
way down the slope has been opened to work coal that the company formerly
had no lease to work, on the property of Tench Coxe. This work
is new and well ventilated. The coal is delivered to No. 5 breaker.
Machinery consists of 1 hoisting engine, 60-horse power ; 1 pumping engine,
60-horse power, and a large steam pump of 100-horse power; total.
3 engines, of 220-horse power; 15 boilers. Men and boys employed, 29;
mules, 4. Mine boss, Edward Mordue.
No. 5 slope, north dip, length, 621 feet. Coal worked is the Big vein.
Average thickness, 27 feet. Direction of gangways, east and west. This
slope is driven to the basin. The workings in this slope are well ventilated,
and on the east side works two ranges. The coal of the upper range
is let down to the lower gangway by a balance-plane. There is also an inside
slope to the workings of No. 1 slope. Coal is taken up to the bottom
of this slope by an inside engine and a large steam pump to pump the water
up to No. 5.
Machinery consists of 2 hoisting engines of 120-horse power; 1 breaker
engine of 30-horse power ; 3 engines of 150-horse power ; 2 large steam
pumps; 17 boilers. Men and boys employed inside, 141; outside, 74;
total, 215. Mules inside, 24 ;
outside, 5 ;
total, 29. Coal shipped, 126,170
tons. Powder used, 2,159 kegs. Mine boss, John Airy ; outside foreman,
John Treven.
No. 7 slope is a new one, now sinking to take the place of No. 3 on the
property of Tench Coxe. General superintendent, Win. Carr ; mine agent,
John Beecroft. ' •