1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

184 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF MINES. Off. Doc.up two breasts to the third level. On the fourth level there is acharging station at the bottom of the slope, and at one end of theinside turnout of oaeh side. On the third level, east, the line iscontinued 2,200 feet to the inside turnout where there is a chargingstation. There is also a charging station at the slope bottom and oneon the inside turnout, west. The pipe was made by the AmericanTube and Iron Company, and tested to 1,500 pounds pressure. Thejoints are made with extra heavy sleeves, counterbored to allow forcaulking. There is a number of flanged joints on the line, placedat intervals where the bends \N'ould not permit the pipe to be screwedthe sleeves.These flanges are extra heavy and made male and female, a leadiL'togasket being used.Total length of pipe line is 9,600 feet, which hasa capacity' of about" 800 cubic feet.The locomotives were made by H. K. Porter & Co.The gauge oftrack is 42 inches; cylinders, 7 inch diameter by 14-inch stroke;wheel base, 5 feet 3 inches; height, 5 feet 2 inches; Length over bumpers,19 feet; weight, about 8 tons. The tanks are 17 and 15 feetlong, and their capacity is 130 cubic feet. The pressure usuallycarried is from 500 to 550 pounds.The rail used weighs 30 pounds, except in the third level, eastgangway, where the road has been relaid with 50 pound rails. Thissize makes an excellent track and greatly reduces the wear and tearo?i the locomotives. The other roads are ordinary gangway roads,and inplaces wet and muddy, showing that while good roads aredesirable it is not absolutely necessary to go to the expense of relayingevery road in order to adopt mechanical haulage.The locomotive on the third level has 5.100 feet to run, each way,on the east side, and makes this round trip in 30 to 40 minutes; aftermaking the trip it crosses over the slope to make a trip of 2,500 feet,each way, on the west. It makes this round trip in 12 to 15 minutes.This locomotive hauls the cars to turnouts to the east and west fromthe slope, from which points, mules haul to the faces of the gang-M'ays and back to the turnouts. On the east side two charges arenecessary; on tlie west side one for the round trip. The grade isfrom .5 to 4.5 per cent., averaging .75 per cent, in favor of theload. This locomotive delivers 150 cars per day of ten hours to theslope, equivalent to the work of 15 mules.The locomotive on the fourth level has 3.000 feet to run each way,on the east and on the west side. It does the entire work, no muleswhatever being used. On the east side the locomotive hauls thethe face of the gangway light;enipty cars to a turnout, runs intobumping up the ears loaded by the miner; ])ulls them out to the turnout,and then pushes the empties into the breasts; comes back tothe turnout and takes the loaded cars to the bottom; and makes