Eastern times., 1856-03-20
Mistellanp.
From the Philadelphia Post,
"Down among the Coal"

mensity of the mining operations. They are
stupendous. They swallow up every business
thought Coal is the great staple it is hard
" paradoxcal 10 style it the bread of life.
During the last year the profits accruing to the
State from the mines were upwards of nine
teen millions ofdollars; in coming time, when
the number of capitalists is increased, and the
facilities for operations become greater, who
can calculate the wealth that will pour from
these Golcondas of coal Schuylkil County
visited the place short time since to witness
the operations.
Pottsville, the principal town of the county,
was at one time the scene of very extensive
works. they are new worn out, and the ope-
rations are proceeding further into the inter-
or. The city is said to be completely under
mined.
Having obtained the advice of an expert
enced person, as TO the most safe and interest
ing of the works, prepared with friend and
couple of guides 10 make the descent
was deferred for time by the remem-
5rance Of fearful accidents, which occur al
most daily in the mines-by the thought of the
terrible fire damp, which may burst from the
mountain of coal at any moment; but finally
curiosity prevailed over every other feeling,
and my fears being somewhat lessened by the
assurances of the guides, jumped with more
bodness than might be expected into the little
car. There are several ways of making the
descent-the method we chose was by means
of the inclined plane. With all my desires,
and all my boosted assurance, felt decidedly
uncomfortable. The yawnng chasm into
which we were 10 pass looked gloomy enough.
4 paid particular attention 10 the iron cable,
(as thick as my arm,) attached TO the car. and
felt perfectly satisfied in my own mind that it
was not sufficiently strong and my forebod-
eng feelings were in no wise lessened by see
ing the guides jump iato the ear with num-
Der Of little lamps, ose Ger each OF US. This
hinted fttuliy Of what was to come.
snail never forget the awful thump that
my heart gave, when our guide shouted 10 the
engineer, Nov, then!' A nd we began TO roll
slowly into ahe gaping abyss. The speed was
increased by degrees, until We were being
whirled along With the utmost velocity. The
sensation experienced on leaving The surface,
and all bright things, thus to be dashed. as it
were, iato the very bowels Of the earth, is
overwhelming and cannet be described. felt
as if tremendous weight was placed upon
my chest, causing my respiration to become
labored and heavy this weight became light
er, and was never entirely removed during my
stay in the mine.
Down. Down! Down! l thought the
old car would never stop. Should the chain
break = scarce dared whisper to myself
At last, after what must have been a little
time, but which seemed 10 me greal while,
the speed slackened, and the car stopped as
we rode on to level; here the party stepped
out on the ground. | could now see clearly
the path we had travelled. The slope was
about four hundred yards long, and sunk at an
angle of about forty-fve degrees-looking up
from the bottom the entrance seemed little
patch or light, so far off and so small, that |
felt as if were in the middle of the earth.
Where the car had stopped was an open
space, some twenty feet square. In the Gen.
ter of it, opposite the opening, stood blazing
four sided CRATE, holding five or six bushels of
coal. was informed that this fire was kept
burning 10 produce greater draft in the mine.
Branching off from this central position were
various galleries passages pointing in every
direction. These follow the courses of vari-
Gus veins. Railways are laid through the en-
tire length of each, which all connect at this
mine proper. The coal is forwarded thither
from the distant working grounds. and thence
to the surface. The whole of the arrange
ments are very beautiful. The loaded cars
arrive with the utmost regularity from the va
rious gangways, are shipped to the surface
with the rapidity almost of thought, and again
and again return, ever insatiate. We were
taken into one of these passages called the
sgreat chesnut' vein, and explored it to its ut
most limits. This vein proceeded over quar-
BILE length The eatire passage ways in the
mines extended between four and five miles,
Think of this, in the heart of the earth, where
every piece must be knocked away by the blow
OF pick.
There seems TO be regular system OF
streets, that is 10 say, an irregular system, fol
they cross and recross each other at every i'm
aginable curve and angle, and through them
troops of mules with loaded and empty cars,
are seen passing continually. When once a
mule goes into the mines he stays there fol
life. He had best take long look behind
him when he is put into the fatal car, for it is
the last time he'll see the sun. Stables are
prepared for them, (Which they don't occupy
much, however,) and they eat and work
sleep and woodwork and die, down there
among the coal.
The guide who accompanied me seemed
quite an intelligent person, and learned q
number of interesting facts from his converse.
ton. He spoke of the operations of the ar
rangement ofsignals; of the manner and reg
uafions of the niners and of manu- o,ho,