1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

INSPECTORS OF MINES. 85
Fifty-two hands employed in and about the colliery ;
8 mules and 20 wagons
are worked in the mine ;
3 steam engines are in operation=8G horse-power
;
5 steam boilers ;
condition not reported ; 2,800 yards of track are in use
;
7 visits have been made during the year ; 3 different firms operated the
colliery during the year ; no legal break has as yet been put on the drum
;
drum
; the condition of the gangway is dangerous ; 1 visits of inspection
made during the year.
No. 9. Eagle.— George W. John, Operator.
The colliery is situated in St. Clair, on the estate of the Pennsylvania
and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and has been in successful operation
some 29 years, in the proprietorship of the Messrs. John & Sons. It consists
of 2 slopes, one on the E seam and one on the D seam and drifts. There
are 2 drifts on the Skidmore or D seam. The lower drift gangway is 400
yards long, and has 10 breasts working in 10 feet of coal. The upper drift
is 300 yards long, with 6 breasts working.
The D seam slope is 65 yards deep under the drift water level, and 100
yards inside of its mouth. On a 20°' south dip 80 yards of gangway has
been opened east and 10 yards west, and mining confined to extending the
gangways. Two safe outlets are open on this division of the colliery. A^
locomotive is used here for haulage. The E seam slope gangways are idle,
and mining confined to removing pillar coal.
Ventilation in the No. 2 drift and old slope is effected by the action of a
20 horse-power fan, while in the E seam working it is effected by natural
currents, while No. 1 drift uses a furnace for that purposes, yet the connections
are so systematically arranged that the mine is well ventilated ;
no
gases of any sort are met with in these workings.
Colliery Log.—November 10, outside temperature, 42°
;
inside temperature,
54° ;
difference of 12° ;
outside barometer, 28 T §3ths ;
inside barometer,
28 T §7 ths inches ;
difference, T Joths favorable.
One hundred and sixty-nine hands are employed in and about the colliery
; 22 mules and 125 wagons are worked in the colliery; 6 steam engines
are in service=260 horse-power; 12 steam boilers are in use, condition
reported good
;
pumps are used for drainage ;
1 steam 20 horse-power
in operation
;
yards of track have been laid ; no deaths ;
1 injured during
the year.
No. 10
Pine Forest Shaft.— Mr. George W. Snyder, Operator.
The colliery is situated east of St. Clair, on the estate of the Pennsylvania
and Reading Coal and Iron Company. It consists of a double cage
7
way, sunk 100 3 ards deep on the 7 feet seam, on which the main gangwayis
opened in eastward, crosscuts from this gangway into the E seam in sections
of 200 yards, and 800 yards east of the shaft a tunnel opens the D
seam. 600 yards of a west panel is opened on D seam, with 8 breasts
working in 6 feet of coal. 650 yards of a panel is opened on the east side,
with 6 breasts working in 5 feet of coal. These breasts are supported by
7 yard pillars.
The E seam panel is 400 yards in from the tunnel, with 4 breasts working
in 20 feet of coal. All these panels are worked systematically. The mine
produces a large amount of fire-damp, yet the arrangements are so perfect
and the regulations so well managed that very little danger need be apprehended,
except from gross, carelessness.
6 Mine Rep.