The Cecil Whig., 1859-11-12
Correspondence Of The Cecil Whig
Letter from the Coal Region.


FRIEND RICKETTS, Having few hours on
hand, waiting for the Elmira tram, stroled
among the coal mines Of this region. The
village OF Tamaqua is surrounded by noun
tans. in some Of which there are rlch seams
Of anthracite coal: it is worth at the works
&2.Ub per ton. The seams are horznn,al
standing between perpendicular walls oirock =,
cropping cut on the sides Of the mountains.
At some of the min, i the coal is drawn from
the bottom up inclined planes; at Others. up
perpendicular shaft: on reaching the SUI face
1t is Tilted into &iaiCS that lead to the coal
breakers which are two square shafts Of
non revolving in opposite directions, set 50
all The coal must pass between them on its
way through the screens TO the railroad cars
below. The screens are revolving wire cyl
enlcrs with mcshes of difirrtut SIZE lbe first
section fine and the last very coarse. The
different sizes Of coal fall IN their appropriate
places and by ,aising a trap door IA cal can
be filled in a very few minutes. The fine
coal is Of no value, and to some of the
operators is attended with hsavy expense in
getting it carried out of the way. The cnor-
nous banks that accumulate IN many places
places give evidence Of great internal heat and
sometimes take fire spontaneously as do the
W
on fire, and may never be cxtinguished.
The hosting Of coal, pumping Of water
and breaking the coal is pei ioImed by power.
iul high pressure engines Of from 40 To 100
horse power. a separate engine being used
compared with the magnitude of the opc,-
alions, is used. ! saw but two mules at the
largest working; they were removing the
Et,uf ,,,g,
had tive mules in the workings below ground
10 haul the coal on ron tram roads to the
inclined plane. where it is placed upon a
frame work and hoistcd TO the top each car
from the bottom OF the plane brought up
ton and half Of coal The amount raised
III day is two hundred and fifty tons.
About forty boys were at work picking ont
the Slate as the broken masses came from the
screens. 1t was a bea utiiul sight to see the
order and regularity with which everything
worked, like in threshmg grain it was
necessary every one should do his part The
labor did not seem to be hard TO; any one
saw engaged, The mincrs below ale paid by
The amount Of work they do 50 mnch yurd
the price varying wiln the difficulty Of The
work. The 5oys picking Slate, &C.. receive
from 81 to 81 so per week and the two men
engaged at the mouth Of the shaft dumping
cars II per day other men ilaborcrs on the
>urlace) 50 per week. All the men and boy 5
board themselves, and are required to he
regular in their attendance and attentive to
their business. The hands are Welsh, Irish
and Dutch. The German language is .he
universal language about the works. There
are great many lles,,ans employed in the
mines and they are good hands. The water
IN the workings is strongly imprcgnated with
alum and is very destructive TO leather, a pair
OF coarse shoes last miner but two weeks,
ard harness ston Iots. climbed to the top
OF mountain, the fog prevented me seeing
any distance; half way up | encountered II
wall OF large rocks ten or twelve feet square,
having the appearance as though laid by
mason it iuticd out from the side of the
mountain and formed the barrier TO the Goa
basin.
On reaching our hotel, picked up file of
the Philadelphia Gn-mte and UarerSul
Dmly .idrrrIiSer,' of 1913. James Moore,
Jr., adyertiscs valuable stand for business
known by the name Of Neid $ Landing Silua-
ted on the head Of ,he navigation of D,heuia
River, in Cecil county. Nd. on the property
are two large store houses, a good wharf and
small dwelling; was very important wheat
market before the navigation Of the river
Delaware was interrupted by the refugee
Boats during the American War. the por,cIaee
to the Delaware hut seven miles and the roads
excellent.
Before closing this would wish to return
my thanks to John Shoemaker, Esq. aud the
host Of L. 5. Hotel for their kindness in
showing me the coal works and giving me
such information as wonld interest NE. w.