Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of ...

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 205
Explanations.
* Marked thus is the pressure as indicated by the gauge on the water
cylinder while the pump was running. The other pressure in the same
column is the hydrostatic pressure. The pumping capacity to the surface
previous to putting in pumps, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, was 1,119 gallons per min-
ute. Since the caving in of the adjoining colliery it has increased to 2,206
gallons per minute, exclusive of the pumps that were in, or about double.
The increased quantity of water issuing through the barrier pillar is found
to be about 1,846.8 gallons per minute, or about *715 gallons per minute
more than the capacity of the old pumps that were in slope Nos. 1 and 2.
Length of slope. No. 1, to first lift, 333 feet ; to second lift, 679 feet ; to
third lift, 820 feet. Length of slope. No. 2, to second lift, 679 feet; to
third lift, 853^ feet. Distance from bottom of slope to Clark pump, 50
feet. Distance from No. 1 boilers to mouth of slope, 75 feet. Distance
from No. 2 boilers to mouth of slope, 75 feet. Distance from Allison
pump to Salkeld's, 50 feet. Diameter of steam pipe is 6" for a distance
of 450 feet fi'om the boilers, and 5" for 150 feet; the remaining distance
of 295 feet is 4" diameter to the pumps. Pumps Nos. 6 and 7 ai'e only
used in case of heavy water. At the bottom of slope No. 2, a 2^" steam
pipe connects with a 4", to convey steam to the Cameron's, a lift of 74
feet below the duplex pump. Pump Nos. 1 and 2 pumps the water up to
pump No. 3, (208 feet, vertical,) indicate an excess capacity of 55 per
cent., and pump No. 3 shows a surplus capacity of 33 per cent., independent
of the old pumps, and pumps to the surface. Pump No. 5 pumps
from third lift, in slope No. 2, to pump No. 4, and pump No. 4 pumps to
the surface, 350 feet vertical. Pump No. 6 is located between pump Nos.
1 and 2, and is only used in case of necessity. Pump No. 7 assists pump
No. 3 when needed. The steam pipes are covered by placing laths on the
pipes, I of an inch square and 3" apart, full length of the pipe, and are
then tied on with wire wound around the laths and pipe, after which a
straw rope, 1^'' diameter, is wound around the laths, leaving an air space
of f" between the pipe and the covering; then a mixture of coarse sand,
some lime, and cut straw is pttt on, for a coating, making a covering of 3-§-
inches, exclusive of the laths. This is considered by many of the superintendents
here to be nearly equal to the material put on by the patentees, and
costing a great deal less. 1 am unable to give the proportion of the ad-
mixture, as they did not keep an account of the amount of the ingredients
composing the coating or covering. The percentage of useful effect, as is
given in this table, is, indeed, very high, as the work done b}' the power
spent seldom exceeds 50 per cent. The pumps all exhaust into the suc-
tion, or tail pipe, and operate very satisfactorily. The intention of tliis
table, in the first place, was to show the increase quantity'of water caused
by the caving in of the adjoining colliery, or in not reserving sufficient
barrier pillar to resist 320 feet head of water; and, as the raining law does
not specify how near the different parties can work to the same, I did not