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

32 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,
which is located in the same basin, and the Plank Ridge colliery will be
converted into a Buck Mountain and Skidinore colliery.
West Shenandoah Colliery.
A new lift has been sunk on Buck Mountain seam.
Operated by tlie Pliiladelpliia Coal Company.
Packer Colliery.
This is a new colliery, the first coal passed over the new bi'eaker March
1, 1877. Its shipments in November were nineteen thousand three hun-
dred and thirty-four tons. Up to this time one track only in slope had been
used, and then hoisting only one car at a time.
In futui'e, this colliery will be one of the largest producers in this district.
There are four collieries operated by this company, three of which
may be classed as A 1, and capable of producing four hundred and fifty
thousand tons of coal in 1878, if run to their full capacity.
The condition of the mines both inside and outside are good, and I am
pleased to say are the best ventilated mines in my district, and is doubtful
to me if there are better in the county. The telephone has been placed in
the slope of this colliery, and which I believe is the first permanently^ used
in the coal mines of this country, and gives very satisfactory results.
Length of wire one thousand feet.