coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 49
A MODERN COAL MINE AND ITS EQUIPMENT
By George M. Crawford
The Allegheny River Mining Co. was incorporated
in 1907, in Pennsylvania, with a capital stock
of nearly three and one-quarter million dollars.
lis bonded indebtedness is one and one-quarter
millions, secured by some 23,000 acres of coal land,
500 railroad cars of the steel hopper bottom type,
having a capacity of 100,000 pounds, six consolidation
locomotives, and six cabooses. This equipment
is leased to the P. & S. R. R., which pays
the mining company interest on the investment
and the cost of repairs.
Beside the Furnace Run mines, the company has
the following operations: Hunts Run, near Brockwayville,
Pa., a new mine with a daily capacity of
500 net tons, ancl an ultimate estimated production
of 1,000 tons; Conifer, daily output 2,500 net
tons; Seminole, daily
output 2,500 tons:
Chickasaw, a newer
mine, daily production
at present 1,500
tons—ultimate capacity
2,500 tons. The
present output of the
Furnace Run mines
is 1,500 tons, which
will later reach 3,000
tons; making an aggregate
from all the
operations of this
company of 8,500
tons per day. whic-h
will reach 11,500
tons, when all are developed to capacity.
The Furnace Run mines. Nos. 1 and 2, of the
Allegheny River Mining Co., are situated on the
west bank of the Allegheny river, three miles
north of Kittanning, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania.
These mines are the most recent developments
of the company, which owns approximately
35,000 acres, part extending along the Allegheny
river for about 20 miles, in Armstrong county, and
controlling an adjacent acreage of equal area; and
about 7,000 acres in Jefferson county.
This company, whose headquarters are at Kittanning,
is developing coal lands, which were
opened up with the building of the Pittsburgh &
Shawmut railroad, through this section of Pennsylvania
This line, connecting with the Pittsburgh,
Shawmut & Northern, at Brockwayville, Paprovides
an outlet to the Great Lakes, and through
connection with other railroad systems, such as
the D., L. & W., to eastern and western markets.
While the southern terminus is now at Kittanning,
extension to Freeport and connection there with
the Pennsylvania lines is planned in the near future.
An outlet to the south ancl west is provided
by junction with the Buffalo, Rochester &
Pittsburgh lines, four miles north of Kittanning.
The company's mines are in the Freeport, Kittanning
and Brookville seams. The coal is sold
to and marketed by the Shawmut Coal & Coke Co.,
of Buffalo, N. Y.
Work on the mines at Furnace Run was begun
in July, 1912, ancl a detailed description of the
methods and equipment employed will be of interest,
because of the fact that the most up-to-date
ideas and practice have been employed to make
these mines as safe as possible, as well as econom-
General view- of Furnjn Run Mine ancl Buildings, from the Allegheny River.
ical and rapid producers. Both are drift mines,
the No. 1 being developed with six drifts or entries
on the Lower Kittanning, or "B" seam, while the
No, 2 mine is opened with two drifts on the upper
Freeport or "E" seam, which is about 180 feet
above the Lower Kittanning. The average thickness
of each of these seams is 42 inches, ranging
from 36 to a maximum of 60 inches in some places.
The coals in these seams are of excellent quality
for domestic as well as steam purposes, being of a
sfrong texture and of a blocky nature, which permits
easy preparation for market and excellent
condition.
The method of operation followed in both mines
is essentially the same. The room-and-pillar system
is used, the mine being divided into panels
containing 30 rooms, as shown by the sketch of
the No. 1 mine. The main entries are driven in
parallel, four abreast, the two outside entries being
used as air courses and the inside entries as haul-