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

INSPECTORS OF MINES. 145
now drowned, owing to the fire in No. 1 slope, whieli took place from the
boiler flue April 7, 18T5.
Slope No. 3.—Sunk on the estate of Hon. '^j^ench Coxe a distance of
1.096 feet on the Mammoth or E vein, at an angle of about 17'^. The top of
the slope is 1,578 feet above tide, and at the bottom of the same 1,262 feet,
perpendicular depth 316 feet. This slope is now kept for pumping, the
coal being worked out.
Slope No. 4.— Sunk on the north dip of the same vein, a distance of 461
feet, at an angle of about 33^'^, perpendicular depth of slope 261 feet, height
above tide at top of slope 1,515 feet, at bottom 1,284 feet. Tlie east gangway
has been driven 1,250 feet, vv^ith 15 breasts worked. The bottom lilt
has been worked out, and a counter gangway has been driven to work the
crop coal. The coal from this slope is prepared at No. 5 slope breaker.
Ventilation 6,872 cubic feet ; men employed, 29.
' Slops No. 5.—Sunk to the basin on the north dip of JMaramoth or E vein,
a distance of 642 feet, at an angle of about 34|°, perpendicular depth of
slope 359 feet, elevation above tide at top of slope 1,549 feet, at bottom
1,190 feet. The east gangway has been diiven 1,800 feet, with 6 breasts
workiijg. The west gangway has been driven a considerable distance, with
numerous breasts. There are 2 balance planes in this slope for letting the
coal from the counter gangways to the level of No. 5 slope west gangway.
By these counter gangways they are able to work the coal left by the proper
gang'vay, owing to the range becoming too long for the miner to carr3'
his lumber up the pitch so great a distance, and sometimes due to other
causes, such as the top rock falling before the breast is half-way up, &c.
Ventilation.—This is produced by a 16 feet diameter fan, assisted by the
exhaust steam from the pumping engine, ventilation 9,760 cubic feet at face
of gangway, at outlet 18,920 cubic feet ; men employed, 84.
Slope No. 7.—Sunk on the south dip of the Mammoth or E vein, a distance
of 560 feet, at an angle of about 33J°, height above mean-tide at top
of slope 1,551 feet, and at the bottom 1,249 feet, perpendicular depth of
slope 302 feet. The west gangway has been driven 1,400 feet, with IS
breasts opened. The east gangway has been driven 1,200 feet, with 12
opened. These breasts are opened at right angles with the gangway. A
shute 21 feet in length is driven up the pitch 9 feet wide to where a battery
is erected to prevent the coal from rushing too rapidly into the shute, &c.,
from which place the breast is widened to 27 feet. These breasts are worked
by one man-way, which affords very poor ventilation for the miner, as the
cross-cuts which are driven through the pillar become blocked with coal,
preventing the circulation of the air, and as a general thing in the system
of opening breasts by one man-way perhaps half dozen men are made to
suffer on account of one man not having his breast far enough up to drive
his cross-cut. I have tried to persuade diflerent parties to carry 2 manways
for their benefit and safety, (especially where the vein pitches very
rapidly.) But this being not (|uite as remunerative to the miner and costing
a litte more to the operator, and an inovation upon their custom, I find
it is up hill work.
Slope, No. 8, is a new slope sinking on the north dip of the Mammoth or
E vein. A new breaker will be built to prepare the coal from this slope.
There are 65,918 feet of T iron track in and about all the mines, with 88
mine cars, and a breaker capacity of 1,900 tons of coal per day. Amount
of coal shipped from all the breakers during the 3'ear ending December 31,
1875, 110,000 tons; quantity of powder used, 2,250 kegs. There are 3
bosses, 160 miners, 90 laborers, 65 company men, 20 drivers, I door boy,
in ail 339 men and boys employed inside ; and 6 bosses, 37 mechanics, 20