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

INSPECTORS OF MINES. 139
Ventilation is produced by natural draft, assisted by the heat from the
steam boilers and steam exhaust from hoisting engines placed inside of No,
2 to hoist from tlie inside slope ; the amount of air is insufficient. This
"vein requires a great deal of blasting, causing much powder smoke to linger
in the face of the breasts, which makes it very unpleasant and unhealthy
to the miners. I have requested the parties in charge to stop one part of
the mine, owing to an inadequate amount of air. Slope No. 4 is not much
better— it is ventilated by the steam exhaust from the pump—but will be
made better, as the present firm intends making great improvements on the
property both in and around the mines.
Alachinery.—They use 7 hoisting engines of SiS-horse power, 2 breaker
engines of 90-horse power, 1 pumping engine of 45-horse power, total number
of engines 10, aggregate horse power 480. They have 35 steam boilers
v/hich have been cleaned, examined and reported in good condition, and 10
steam pumps.
Remarks.—This colliery is now operated by John Leisenring & Co.,
formerly by Sharp, Weiss & Co.
John S. Wentz, superintendent ; Thomas Edwards, general inside foreman
; John Rickert, master mechanic
0.-\KDALE Collieries
Situated at Jeddo, about 7 miles north-east of Hazleton, on the estate of
the Union Improvement Company, and operated by G. B. Markle & Co.,
and consists of 2 slopes and 2 breakers.
Slope, No. 1.—Sunk on the south dip of the Mammoth or E vein a distance
of 627 feet, at an angle of about — °. The west gangway is driven
750 feet, to where a balance plane is made to let the coal down from the
counter gangway to a level of the gangway proper. The east gangway
has been driven around the basin into the north dig, going west. There
are also two basin gangways on the east side. The synclinal dips westward.'
There are two locomotive engines in this slope, hauling the coal a
distance of nearly 2 miles from the turnout (where they are met by teams)
to the foot of the slope. An air hole has lately been driven near the face
of the north dip, west gangway, to the surface, which has improved the
ventilation considerably. This vein is about 30 feet thick and the coal of
good quality. The breasts are opened 30 feet wide, reserving a pillar of 18
feet for the support of the roof, which is good. The upper range of this
slope has been worked from the old Jeddo slope. The mode of working is
considered safe, and the condition of the mines is favorable. They employ
1 boss, 75 miners, 9 laborers, 3 company men, 14 drivers, 2 door boys, in
the mines ; 1 boss, 3 mechanics, 19 breaker men, 2 drivers, 37 slate pickers,
in all 1G6 men and boys and 24 mules. They shipped 62,114.02 tons of coal
during the year ending December 31, 1875, and used 991 kegs of powder,
and worked 126| days. Breaker capacity, 500 tons of coal per day.
Ventilation is produced by the exhaust steam from the pump, which has
been considerably improved since my first visit by the new air hole, as previously
stated ; 12,700 cubic feet at face of gangway per minute, per air re-
port for month of November; men, 98,.
Machinery.—They use 2 hoisting engines of 90-horse power, 1 breaker
•engine of 30-horse power, in all 3 engines of 120-horse power ; 1 steam
pump and 12 steam boilers, which have been cleaned and examined and reported
safe and in good condition.
Slope, No. 2, (Oakdale or Jeddo, No. 5.)—Sunk on the same dip of the
same vein, and is 846| feet long ; elevation above tide at top of slope, 1,577
feet. The west gangway has been worked out and connects with slope