Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-05-29
Mlisfellonp.
Down Amongst the Coal.

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None but those who have visited the coal
lands of our State can form any idea of the im-
mensity of the mining operations. They are
stupendous. They swallow up every other bus
iness thought. Coal is the great staple it is
hardly paradoxical to 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 of dollars; 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 Schuylkill County is the
present great tn atre of action. | visited the
place short time since to witness the opera
tions.
PottSvie, the principal town Of the county,
vas OF one time the scene OF very extensive
works; they are now worn out, and the opera
tions are proceeding further into the interior.
The city ia said to be completely undermined.
As the veins are followed up, small settlements
become formed all along the route; rs they
give out the villages die away, and new settle
ments are formed at the next scene of opera
tions For this reason the great coal works are
found at short distances from the city; in time
they will move farther into the State and in
time again, perhaps, Though should the world
exist forever, it Gun hardly be,) thoy will die
away altogether. visited one of these sOttle-
menls, called St. Clair-for the purpose Of being
initiated into the underground mysteries Of
smoke and fame, and see the men that work in
it all the time. There arc nine or ten mines in
extensive operation here; the entire population
of the place consists Of the miners and their
families.
Having obtained the advice of an experienced
person as to the most safe and interesting of the
works. prepared, with friend and IL couple
Of guides, 10 make the descent.
was deferred for time by the remembrance
of fearful accidents which occur almost daily
in the mines-by the thought of the terrible
fire-damp, which may burst out from the noun
tain of coal at any moment; but finally, curl
osity prevailed over every other feeling, and my
fears being somewhat lessened by the assurances
of the guides, jumped with more holiness
than might have been expected into the little
car. There are several ways Of making the des-
cent-the method we chose was by means Of
the inclined plane. With all my desires, and
all my boasted assurance, felt decidedly un-
comfortable. The yawning chasm into which
we were to pass looked gloomy enough. l paid
particular attention to the iron cable (as thick
as my army attached to the car and felt perfect
ly satisfied in my own mind that it was not
sufficiently strong; and my foreboding feeling
was in no wise lessened by seeing the guides
jump into the car, with number of little
lamps, one for each of US. This limited fearful
ly of what was to come.
shall never forget the awful thump that my
heart gave, when our guide shouted to the en-
gineer, i" Now then 3" And VIC began to move
slowly into the gaping abyss. The speed was
increased by degrees, until we were being whirl-
ed along with the utmost velocity. The sensa-
ton experienced on leaving the surface, and all
bright things, thus to be dashed, as it were, in
to the very bowels of the earth, is overwhelming
and cannot be described. | felt as if tre-
mendous weight was set on my chest, causing
my respiration to become labored and heavy !;
this weight became lighter, but never was en-
trely removed during my stay in the mine.
Down down down thought the old Car
would never stop. "Should the chain break ~
scarce dared whisper to myself AT last, af-
ter what must have been little time, but which
appeared to me great while, the speed slackon-
ed, and the car stopped us we rode on to level;
here the party stepped out on the ground.
could now soc clearly the path we had travelled.
The slope was about four hundred yards long
and sunk at an angle of about forty-6ve degrees
looking up from the bottom. the entrance
seemed a little patch of light, so far of, SO small
that felt as If we were in tho middle of the
earth.
Where the car stopped was an open space
some twenty feet square. In the centre of it
opposite the opening, stood o blazing, four
sided CRATE, holding five or six bushels Of coal
l was told that this fire was kept burning to
produce the greater draft into the mine.-
Branching of from this central position, were
various galleries or passages pointing in every
direction These follow the various veins
Railways are laid through the entire length o.
each, which all connect with this mine proper
The coal is forwarded thither, from the distan
working grounds and from thence to the sur
face. The whole Of the arrangements are yery
beautiful. The loaded cars arrive with the ut
most regularity from the various gangways, ar
shipped to the surface almost with the rapdit,
of thought, and again and again return, eve
insatiate. We were taken into one of thes'
passages, called the "great chestnut" vein
and explored it to it's utmost limits this veil
proceeded over quarter Of q mile-other vein
were also Of considerable extent The entir
passage-ways in tho mine, extended between
four and five miles. Think of it, in the hear
of the earth, where every pieco must be knock
ed away by IL blow Of the pick
There seemed to be regular system of street
that is to say. an irregular system, for the
cross and recross each other at every ilnasi sinabl
curve and angle, and through them troops {
mules with loaded and empty cars, are seen COZ
tinually passing. When once mule goes int
the mines, he stays there for life. He had be-
take long look behind him, when he is p,
into that fatal car for it's the last time he
see the sun. Stables are prepared for the
(which they don't occupy much, however,) ar
they eat and work--sleep and work-work ar
die,--down there amongst the COAL Many
man, however, does the same thing above Il