Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-21
MONDAY, MAY 81, 1852.
A VISIT TO THE
COAL MINES OF PENNSYLVANIA.

,y next mor,ino we crossed the river and ascend
ed the Nescopeck mountain OH our way 10 Maueh
Chunk. The distance is about thirty miles
The whole road lies over high mountains covered
with scattered oak and yellow pine trees, OF
.,un,ed growth. Ii has been much exposed to
IN. action of fire in autumn, and Is mostly Tree
from underbush. A few sterile farms with tole-
rable buildings are seated along the road. The
inhabitants are Germans. The soil is mostly
decomposed red sand stone, aud the numerous
streams that pass among the mountains have a
reddish color. Immense masses Of RED anu gray
sand stone cover the ground, and the SIDES u ma
nv mountains seem to be laid up with them. we
at last descended a long mountain into the deep
glen through which the Lehigh tears Its way. Ii
IS a rapid torrent Of a stream continually pitch
ing over huge rocks and Preclpces which lie IN
ITS way, through the widest hollow IN the world.
After crossing over a piece Of bushy, uneven
ground, set about with stakes, and advertised for
sale as a new village, we entered the deep, nar-
row gorge of the new mountains, denomnaed
the village of Mauch Chunk.
To describe this place am utterly unable. No
one can have an idea Of the place till they SIZE 1t.
II is at the head Of the Lehighcana, and the depO
sit Of the immense mines Of the Lehigh Cpal Com
pany, Who have invested in this village, and IN
the mines. together with the means OF carrying
on their coal operations, capital OF two millions.
The mountains here shut in al&ost perpendlcu-
lar sides, and leave barely room for the Lehigh to
mass between them The road has been built out
into the river, and the base of tue mountain exca-
waited to set up many of the buildings. There
are number Of houses, some stores, large ware
house, flourishing mill, some iron works, bank,
and an excellent hotel. TIE third story OF the
hotel opens on to an excavated terrace on the
side of the mountain, and IT IS said that the sun
is not seen here for three months IN The YEAR
The property nearly all belongs to the IehIgh
Company. At little distance up a ra'ine, through
which runs a noisy brook, are great number Oh
cottages, occupied by the workmen who are EN-
ployed in the transportation OF coal from the mines
10 the boats or to the yards.
Ascending on foot four or five hundred feet on
70 the mountain, we came to the termination OF
the rail way which leads along the side OF the
mountain nine miles to the mines. From the ter
mination, steep inclined plane runs down the
mountain to the river, over which the loaded cars
mass to discharge their coal on the bank OF the ca
nal. A rail way IS laid on this inclined
plane, and the cars are let down BY stout rope,
which is let out and drawn up over huge drum
several feet in diameter by the AID of machinery.
The empty cars, after dischargng, are drawn up
on the Opposite track by the descent Of the load
sd cars. A great number of loaded cars were
standing at the Termination OF the rail way, wait
ing for an opportunity to discharge. lhey car
rv,wo tons each. The descent of the rail way
from the mines to its termination IS about eigh-
teen feet in a mile. When it Is desired to start
off a train of cars from the mines, about fifteen
Of them are hitched together. lever is attach
ed to the left side Of each car, so as to throw
strong friction on the fore wheels 1t they move
too fast, OF to stop them III case OF an accident.
These levers are all connected by rope. Al
the last end OF each train car Is attached IN
which are stationed four mules with trough OK
provender before them which they appear to be
very philosophically munchins. A steersman as.
cends the fourth ar fifth car from the front, anu
takes the lever in his hand. AjoS Isl gwen TO the
tram. and away 90 the cars with their coal and
mules to the lower end of the rail way; the only
narticular care necessary. is to prevent the cars
running too fast, which is prevented BY the tric-
tom of the levers. When the cars are discharged.
the mules are attached in front, and draw them
back ON the rail way to the mines. Upwards OF
two hundred mules are employed on these cars.
The main rail way has but single track.
There are numerous turn outs, however, where
the empty cars always stop to let the loaded ones
pass, and as they start at each end at particular
hours they are almost certain to a minute ot the
time Of passing, and in no instance are the emp
" cars suffered to omit their stopplngs. unless
notified that the loaded are not on the road,
or that some accident has befalen them The
appearance of these loaded cars as they come
rafting aloag the rail way in separate trains,
running at times on the very verge of high pre-
cipice, when the least deviation would be instant
destruction, with the noise issuing from them re-
verberatins like thunder among the mountains,
has a grand, imposing. and almost sublime effect.
II at least furnishes most impressive instance
of the moral power Of man over the grand depo-
ritories, and otherwise impossible obstacles OF
nature. e., :,
Passenger cars are kept at the foot OF the rail
way, which 60 twice day to the mines These
cars are drawn BY single horse, and the passage
h usually performed 10 one hour Inns rlde Is
certainly romantic, and to one not accustomed