The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-11-08 00:00:00

SOUTH STAFFORD 3HIRE MINES
DRAINAGE.

Mr. Welter Williams, the Chairman, presided at
en ordinal y mecting cf the South Staffordshire
Mines Di ainage Commissioners, held at their offices_
in W,lve,hampton, on Wedne,day. The return ot
the electun of ten members to the Board, was pre-
si nted by the chairman without comment. The
following cures were ordered to be paid :—On
general drainage account, £3,182, and on mines
drainage account £7,823 Os. lid., total £11,005
Os. 9d.

With reference to the work done at the Bromley
Pound by Mr. Raybould, the Chairman stated that
the commit:ft appointed at the last meeting had
met and male some inquiries, The matter was
uuder consideration, and a report would in due Hine
be presented to the Board
Mr. Edward Terry, the underground engineer,
reported that the water had sunk at the St owheath
and NeVil'S Hole pumping engines 2ft. Gin., at
PortWy-110 2ft. sin., at Rough Hay Gin., and at
Cole Hall if t. while at Rough Hay and Stow Heath
the lilts had been lowered 9ft. At the new pump.
ing stations at the Moat and Bradley the plunge
chambers were being constructed. Between thi
Moat and Gospel Oak pumping engines nearly 300
yards of arching had been completed, and the level
towards Cotterill's Farm had been °riven tar
enough to bore up to and top the water in the new
mine coal. The level from the bye pit, Gospel
Oak, to No. 3, Bradley, had been driven up to with-
in ten yards of the distance it had to go, and bore
holes had been put in to tap the water. The level
towards Horsley was in 190 yards of strong rock.
Mr. Marten, the surface engineer, also presented
a report, which showed that advantage had been
taken of the dry season to push on the work of corn.
pleting the important culvert from Nonmore to the
Fighting Cocks, which was nearly finished. The
diverting into a puddled course of the various
streams that met at Portobello was also progressing
well, and would shortly allow of the remaining
swags being pumped as others were, with marked
success, earlier in the year. At the Brades the
work was finished, end the swags permanently
separated from the Oldbury stream, while at Albion
some deep drains were being driven to clear some
swags. 'ihe pitching at Hateley Heath was corn-
pleied, and the whole length of stream over the
had ground near Millfields pumping engine was
made good. An important culvert was three-parts
done as a storm channel through the embankment
of Askew Bridge Pool, and would shortly be finished
The River Stour near the Lye had been made
water-tight for a °onside:able distance below the
Lye Forge, with immediate and marked effect in
diminishing the water in the mines. Some useful
work had also been carried out on the canal.

Mr, Richard Williams, commenting upon the re-
ports, asked whether any submerged colliery had
recommenced operations through the water beint:
lowered. That was an important question, for
upon the increased output of coal mainly depended
the success of the Commission. Had the clearing
away of the water resulted in more coal beim; got?
He supposed the engineer had kept a record of
most of The pits that were submerged.
The Chairman thought that it was too early after
the recent strike Of miners to determine that ques—
tion Still a great many pits were being reopened,
preparations were being made for opening others
whore the water had gone down, and he was told
that some pits were turning out three or four times
as much minera's is they did before.

Mr. Groucutt asked at whlt date operations
would be commenced at the new engine at Bradley,
and at what depth the water would be pumped.
Tne Chnirman replied that it had been hoped to
commence on :he 29th September at the depth of
100 yarls, hut the dry season had enabled the shaft
to be still further lowered, and they anticipated
reach a depth of 140 yards. As to the date, it
might be January or February, but pumping would
to commene,d as early as possible, when the
bottom coal of the Bilston district would be re-
leased.

Mr. rouctitt was pleased to learn that such a
depth wils goi•ig to be sunk, as frum 10,4 knowied"
pumping a 150 yards would practically clear the
whoie of the Easton district.—The meeting.. then
ended,