1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. FIFTH ANTHKACITE DISTRICT. 141ability was left from the mine lire iii the Stockton mines of Linderman& Skeer just before their abandonment in 181)6.Hazleton No. 3 Colliery. This breaker has remained idle duringthe year and no work was done until June, when the gangways werestar-ted up and the coal stocked outside until September when theinside resumed work in all the breasts and the coal was prepared forK arket in the new Hazleton shaft breaker.Two new tunnels Avere driven on Second lift from the Wharton tothe Mammoth vein to rework to the south edge of the stripping, the(u'lstern end of the pro])erty. A third tunnel is also bein,g driven fora similar purpose.Hazleton No. 5 Colliery. The accompanying sketch shows a planand section of the newly constructed overcast or air bridge designedand erected by District Superintendent Caleb Williams, at HazletonNo. 5 colliery.I dare say that this is the most modern structure of an overcastin the anthracite coal helds and was only accomplished after many3 ears of practical experience with the old methods of constructingair bridges, for ventilation in mines. Mr. Williams is an untiringstudent.He has been employed by the Lehigh Valley Coal Companyfor many years and i» at present in charge of the Eastern mining districtof their Hazleton property under Division Superintendent F.E. Zerby. Through their kindness I have been enabled to give theUiining public the plan and section together with a written descriptionof the overcast.It is built of wood, iron and brick and at a comparativelysmall cost. The main structure is supported by a brickwall at the north end and two wrought iron column pipes for postsat the south end, on which rest two 40 pound T rails on each sidetied together with one inch iron rods. The stiffening pieces rundiagonally from the main supports to the roof, to which the GxG-inchoak posts are nailed, one-inch ship lapped boards running longitudinallyand transversely. The cracks and joints are sealed carefullywith a cement wash. This structure is situated at the southof the tunnel spanning the gangway at the curve to the Buck Mountainvein, which gives perfect service and general satisfaction inevery particular.The old ''Laurel Hill Breaker"and old cylinder boiler house andsmaller buildings of no value were torn down. Valuable materialand machinery transferred to other collieries and inflammable materialburned up.This was done to place the plant in condition forthe transportation of coal from the No. 5 slope to the new breaker,for which purpose a new gun-boat dump chute was built at the mouthof the No. 5 slope and tracks constructed connecting this with theshaft breaker.No. 4 and No. 5 slope mouths were remodeled and made safe.