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

100 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
East Mahanoy Colliery.— Operated by Focht & Whittaker as a shaft colliery,
and mine the Buck Mountain vein in IG feet of coal.
The air-courses are of an area of 30 square feet. The breasts are worked
with two shutes in each, with 85 yards of run. The pillars are 7 yards
thick. Ventilation is often difficult, as the top runs to the Y-foot vein. Preparations
are now going on that will remedy this defect. Counter-lifts are
worked by means of inclined planes, and ventilation here is tolerably good.
The gangway communicates with Bowman's mine. The force consists of
188 hands ; 4 engines, of 125-horse power, with 6 boilers, all in good condition
; 17 mules, 68 wagons and 2,450 yards of track are in use ; shipments
at 350 tons per day. I found everything connected with the colliery in very
good order, and still improving any deficiencies that is necessary to require
attention and security and insure success.
Olendon Colliery (near Mahanoy City.)— Operated by J. B. Boylen, on the
Delano lands.
The coal may be sent by the Lehigh Valley or the Philadelphia and Reading
railroads. The 7-foot vein is worked by a slope. The breasts have
each but one sliute and 5-yard pillars. Ventilation is produced by the operation
of a steam fan. The air-ways and traveling-ways are good. A tunnel
north opens the Buck Mountain vein in 12 feet of coal. The whole is
well ventilated by a 25-horse power fan, supplying a sufficient quantum of
air; 4 engines, of 95-horse power, with 11 good boilers; 1,545 yards of
track are used, with 10 mules and 62 wagons ; 126 men and 38 boys are
employed ; the shipments will average 300 tons per day.
Hartford Colliers: (near Mahanoy City.)— Operated by Bichard Phillips &
Co., upon the lands of the P. & B. G. & I. Go.
It consists of a tunnel opening the Skidmore or D vein. Seventeen breasts
are working on a north dip in excellent coal. Ventilation is produced by
natural means, I find the colliery in good order. Its future prospects are
promising. One engine, of 20-horse power, and 2 boilers in use ; 60 men
and 27 boys are employed ; 5 mules, 25 wagons and 1,000 yards of tracks
are used. At present the colliery is operated by joint-stock company, and
for a collierv its location is admirable.
Delano Colliery (or Oak Hollow.)— Atkinson & Go., Operators.
It consists of a slope opening the G vein 110 yards under water level, in
14 feet of coal, and into the basin, which rises eastward, requiring the vein
to be worked by counter-lifts. Fourteen breasts are open. Owing to a bad
top rock it requires great labor to support it safely. A 20-horse power fan
ventilates the mine ; there are 3 engines=100-horse power, with 9 boilers,
in use ; a 40-horse power steam pump and 1 pole pump are used for drainage
; 67 men and 44 boys are employed ; 7 head of stock and 20 wagons
are in use. I found the general condition of the colliery to be in good order.
W.M. Penn (shaft) Colliery.— Operated by the Wm. Pe-nn Goal Gompany,
on the Girard lands.
This shaft opens the E vein on its north dip, in 45 feet of coal, and worked
in two lifts, working 56 breasts, each ten yards wide, backed by 8-yard pil-