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

134 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
to and from their work. The air has been measured and reported accordingto
law. Air circulating through the mines: Slope, No. 1, intake, 8,910
cubic feet; face of gangway, "7,700 cubic feet, and 20,355 cubic feet at
outlet per minute ; men employed, 50. Slope, No. 2, inlet, 28,890 cubic
feet; cubic feet in face of gangway, 16,050; cubic feet at outlet, 33,819
per minute ; men employed, 106, per report for December.
llachinery consists of 4 hoisting engines, 188-liorsc power ; 1 breaker
engine, 60-horse power ; 4 pumping engines, 163-horse power ; and 4 steam
pumps and 40 steam boilers reported safe and in good condition, examined
and cleaned December 5, 18*15. Total horse power, 426; number of engines,
10. They have a metal speaking tube, and an adequate brake and
flanges of sufficient strength and dimensions for safety attached to their
hoisting drum. The ropes, chains, &c., are in good condition. They have
a safety valve on every nest of boilers, and a steam gauge to indicate the
pressure of steam, and 1 fan engine of 15-horse power.
Remarks.—They have furnished maps of their workings, madfe to a
scale of 100 feet to an inch. They have a wash house for men to Avash
themselves. There are no boj^s under 12 years working inside. They do
not allow persons to ride upon loaded cars in the mines. The engineers
seem to be experienced, competent and sober men. The mining boss is a
practical and competent man.
Slopes Nos. 3 and 4 are located about | of a mile west of their other
works and on the estate of lion. Tench Coxe. Slope No. 3 is sunk on the
north dip of the Buck Mountain or B vein, at an angle of about 9J°, a distance
of 534 feet, perpendicular depth 86 feet. The top of this slope is
1,818.61 feet above mean tide, and the bottom 1,732.67 feet. The east gangway
has been driven 740 feet, and the west gangway 534 feet, at which
point the}' struck the synclinal raising westward to the surface. There
are 12 breasts opened in both gangways; there are 6,719 feet of T iron
track in and about the mines, and 38 mine cars. Hands employed : 19
miners. 25 laborers, 1 company man, 2 drivers, — door boys ; total inside,
47. Hands employed outside : 1 boss, 2 mechanics, 12 head and plate men
and breaker hands, 1 driver, 36 slate pickers ; total, 52. Coal shipped during
the year ending December 31, 1875, 18,288.11 tons powder used, 264
;
iegs ; days worked, 49.
Slope No. 4.—This is a new slope just sinking. The coal from both
slopes is prepared at the same breaker. The coal from No. 3 is hauled by
a locomotive engine to where the breaker is built, (about \ mile west,) at
slope No. 4. They have built a magnificent new breaker, with all the modern
improvements. These works are not in full operation yet, and are not
likely to be till spring.
3Iachinery.—They use
engine, 50-horse power ;
2 hoisting engines, 104-horse power ; 1 breaker
2 pumping engines, 52-horse power ; total number
of engines, 5 ; aggregate horse power, 208 ; 1 locomotive engine, 25horse
power. The hoisting is all done by friction cones. The engine is
kept continually going, after the car is dumped. The engineer loosens his
brake, the car descends the slope with the rapidity of lightning, and before
the car reaches the bottom the engineer checks the speed by the brake attached
to the hoisting drum, and whenever they are ready to hoist, the engineer
pulls in the cone lever and in less than a minute the car is on the
top of the breaker; and everything works smooth as clock-work. They
liave a splendid machine shop and a steam saw mill at their east workings.
The management of the colliery speaks for itself, and is worthy of commendation.
Daniel Bartsch, general superintendent ; AVilliam Powell, mine
boss; Thomas M. Righter, outside foreman.