1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

INSPECTORS OF MINES. 277
Tunnel No. 9. This tunnel is driven into the mountain on the south
side of Panther Creek valley, cutting seven veins of coal. The last, and
the one worked at present, is the Big or Mammoth vein. The lied Ash
has been worked in this, but at present is abandoned for some purpose best
known to the company. Average thickness of vein, 60 feet ; lied Ash
about 9 feet. Total length of tunnel is 215 feet. A new slope has been
sunk in the Big vein to work a lift below the present workings. The slope
r
is about 85 } ards in length, at a pitch of about 45 degrees near where the
tunnel cuts the Big vein. The present workings are on east side upon a
plane, and cannot last very long. This work is very hot as it works the
lower lift of the Big vein, the top lift having been worked for some yeare
past and gaps closed and heated. Air good. The west side workings are
nearly all comprised in taking pillars out. This side is connected with No.
10 tunnel by both gangways meeting at a level. Fire-damp is to be found,
but there is a good ventilation of a keen strong current of air passing from
one tunnel to the other. Amount of air passing is about 30,000 cubic feet
per minute. Number of employees and shipments of coal not reported.
Mine boss, Charles Powell ; outside foreman, Thomas D. Jones.
Mt. tunnel. This tunnel is driven into the mountain above No. 6 tunnel
to work the crop of the same vein. The coal was not worked to bottom
slate in the old workings of No. 6. Two seams or benches were left, locally
called 4-feet and yard veins. A slate parts them from the other part
of the vein. This work is operated by contract. The contractors are Josiah
Williams and John Davies. The coal is delivered to No. 6 breaker
by a balance-plane from a level with the tunnel, and is prepared with the
coal of No. 6 tunnel. General superintendent, W. D. Zehner; mine agent,
John P. Jones.
Room Run Mines, Nesquehoning, Carbon county.— Landowners and Operators,
L. C. and N. C. Co.
No. 1 shaft. Depth, 300 feet. This shaft has until late worked the Big
vein. A tunnel has been driven to the Red Ash vein. At present the
workings of Big vein are all on west side of shaft. The Red Ash on east
side. The tunnel proved to go under the basin of Red Ash vein, so a plan"
was driven up to bottom of basin, through which the Red Ash coal is let
down to the tunnel on east side of Big vein gangway, and through which
it is taken to bottom of shaft. This work yields a great quantity of carbonated
hydrogen gas, (fire-damp,) especially the Big vein. The west side
or Big vein is worked with safety-lamps, owing to several of the breast
pillars breaking and filling up the man-way that goes up into the breasts.
There are no miners working breasts nor gangways at present ; only loading
the coal out of breasts. When this is done the gas will be drained
into the return air-way. This accomplished it will be safe to work with
naked lights. This side is ventilated by a 15-feet fan. About 8,000 cubic
feet of air at face of gangway. The east or Red Ash side is ventilated by
a furnace, as there is no explosive gas in it. Air tolerable, about 4,0(10
cubic feet per minute. A practical fire boss is at all times kept to watch
the gas, especially in the west side.
Machinery consists of 1 hoisting engine of 100-horse power, 1 pumping
engine of 387-horse power, 1 fan engine of 10-horse power and 8 boilers.
Mine boss, Wm. Watkins.
thick-
Room Run slope No. 3.—This slope is sunk in the Red Ash vein ;
ness 10 feet. A tunnel is driven from the Red Ash to Big vein. Red Ash
18 Mine Rep.