The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-03-07
From the Phildd,iphia Saturday Eusnins Post.
DOWN AMONGST THE COAL.

None hut those who have visited the coal
lands of our State can form any idea Of the
immcnslty of the mining operations. They
ire stupcndous. They swallow up every
other business 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 ofninetecn millions Of dollars
in coming time, when the number of capital
lists ia increased, aud the facilities for opera
tiops become greater, who can calculate the
wealth that will pour from these Golcondas
Of coal? Schuylkill County is the present
great theatre of action. visited the place
1 short time since to witness the operations.
Pottsvillc, the principal town of the coun-
ty, was at one time the scene ofvery extcn-
siyc works; they arc now worn out, and
the operations are proceeding further into
the interior. The city is said to bo COM
pletely undermined. As the veins are fol-
lowed up, small settlements become formed
along the route; as they give out, the VII
lagos die away, and new settlements are
formed at tho next scene of operations. For
this reason the great coal works are found
1t short distances from the city; in time they
will be moved further into the State, and in
time again, perhaps, (though should the
world exist forever, it can hardly be,) they
will die away altogether. visited one Of
these cttlcments-called st. Clair-for the
purpose of being initiated into the under
ground mysteries of smoke and flame, and
to SEQ tho men that work in it oil the time.
There are nine or ten mines in extensive OPP
Grafton here; the entire population Of the
place consists of the miners and their fami-
lies.
Having obtained the advice of an expcri-
cnced person, as the most safe and interesting
of the works, prepared with friend and
couple of guides, to make the descent.
] was deferred for time by the rcmem-
berancc of the fearful accidents, which oc-
cur almost daily in tho mines-by tho tho't
of the terrible fire damp, which may burst
from the mountain Of coal at any moment /;
but finally curiosity prevailed over every
lther feeling, and my fears being somewhat
lesscned by the assurance Of the guides, |
jumped with more boldness than might be
expected, into the little car. There are sew
IN ways of making the descent-thc method
we chose was by means Of the inclined plane.
With all my desire, and oil my boasted a.
surancc, ! felt decidedly uncomfortable
The yawnins chasm into which we were to
pass looked gloomy enough. Ipaid partic-
ular attention to the iron cable (as thick as
my army attached to the car, and felt per-
lectly sati-fcd in my own mind that II was
not sufficiently strong; and my foreboding
feelings were in nowisc lesscned by seeing
the guides jump into the cur, with number
Of little lamps, one for each Of us. This
hinted ftfully of what was to come.
shall never forget the awful thump that
my heart gave, when our guide shouted to
the engineer, T" Now THEN :" And we be-
gan to roll slowly into the gaping abyss
The speed was increased by degrees, until
ws were being whirled along with tho ut
most velocity. The sensation experienced
IN leaving the surface, and all bright things,
thus to be dashed, Us II were, into the very
bowels of the Earth, is overwhelming, and
cannot be described. felt as if trcmen-
dous weight was placed upon my chest,
causing my respiration to bccomcd laborcd
and heavy; this weight become lighter, but
was never entirely removed during my stay
in the mine.
Down Down! Down! thought the
old car would never stop. "Should The
chain break :" scarce dared 10 whisper tS
myself. At last after what must have beer
little time, butwhich seemed to me o grca,
while, the speed .lackcncd, and the car stop
ped as we rode to the level here the part,
u stepped out on tho ground. I could nov