The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-12
c0AI VALLEY.

side OF the railroad. Foreman Nceuy III
compliance with anote from Mr.. R.R. Cable,
very kindly discontinued business 70 guide
US through the labyrinth of cross passages
which characterize those subterranean pre-
cincts. Entering the mouth of the bank, at
the base of an abrupt bluff, We began our
forward, OF rather inward movement, along
a veritable underground railroad, by means
Of which the coal is transported to the re-
gions of daylight rnen excayated. This
road extended "A q straight line into the hill
Cor n d;st.ace Of one hundred and twenty
Eve ,ards, and is about sixty feet below the
.urface. BY the use of little oil lamps,
which are suspended to the rim of the cap,
We made our way along very comfortably,
until we reached the end of the passage,
where couple of miners were engaged in
picking away the coal, and extending the
entry still farther. AS fast as this is done,
more railroad track is laid, to enable the
ears to be brought closely up to the locality
of the digging. This vein of coal is four feet
in thickness. The roof and floor of the en-
try is of slate. and very smoothly cut, con-
sidering the little care bestowed in this par
tealar The coal lies in lodges, and is re-
moved with comparative ease, though, for
the sake of expedition, blasting is regularly
resorted to. AS this sometimes INJURIES
the propping, great care is requisite. The
| miners always work in pairs, two of them
being generally able to dig out and load, in
| the bank-cars,about six tons per day They
are paid for their labor in accordance with
the amount of coal they dig out. On being
| loaded into car, capable OF holding about
| ton, the coal is hauled by mules to the
/ "outside world and by means of a high
| bridge, is taken across the ravine, over the
] Coal Valley railroad, and into the second
/ story of building known as dump"
which is constructed on something of the
I elevator principle. 1t is there weighed as
it stands in the car, aud then dumped"
downa slide into platform cars which a.
| wait below. About half way down the side
is q screen of iron bars, by means of which
the dust, fine coal, and refuse is separated
! from that int nded for market, and carted
away. Thus, within moment, and by a
| couple of trihing motions, ton of coal is
| weighed, screened, and loaded for market
| When the cars are loaded, signals are made.
and mule-drivers, all boys, enter and bring
| them out. Where the main entry is very
long one, several kinds Of mules are used
i For the first third Of the distance, the ordin-
AIRY mule is made use of; for the next third,
one of a more diminutive size, while for
| the last third the smallest to be procured
are used. In TINS Dank ,suou. COG .-.-----
were engaged, who, like the majority OF
those at Coal Valley, commenced work in
/ some of the largest mines in the old country.
Their working hours are from six in the
4 morning until the same hour at evening,
consequently they see but little of daylight
Returning toward the entrance, we made
numerous excursions into the cross entries
4 which lead off in every direction from the
main one. These are similar to the one
described, in appearance. At regular inter
walls are what are termed '''rooms," which
are excavations eighteen feet square, and
four feet high. The roofs of these are render
ed more secure by rows of props. Some
times the pressure on these is so strong tha
they are compelled to give way, when the
roof falls, and the cavity is filled. Severa
instances have transpired at Coal Valley
where fatal accidents of this character have
occurred. In fact, this is the chief danger
of mining. By making outside observations
along the bluff where this bank is located
the close observer can easily detect wher'
these ''rooms" have been in old mines, b,
the ruptures along the sides of the bluff. oe
casioned by the giving way of the earth be
! meath. When these rooms are "worke
OUT the props are removed, shortly afte
which the roof generally caves in. Betweel
these rooms, a mass of coal or earth twelv
or fifteen feet square, is always allowed I
remain, which is termed ''pillar." Whel
the air in the rooms and passages become
foul, which not unfrequently happens, small
passages are made to connect the rooms AN
;, fails, which does not ordinarily happen il
short entries, shafts four feet square ar
, sunk down from the surface above, thus a
fordfng competent avenue to carry off tn
q deleterious atmosphere. z In the summer tn
f passages are cool and pieasant--in the wiz
ter, perfectly warm and comfortable. Th
, day Of our visit was very cool one, wit
r keen biting winds outside, and yet on
DECENTRALIZATION through the passages wa
: sufficient to- induce a perspiration not III
mindful of July weather, The longest entr
at Coal Valley is in one of the Cable mines
and extends in direct course for q distanc
of three quarters of mile. An excursio
into that midnight passage, bounded as
y is on either side with side entries and rooms
. would be sufficient to satisfy any erdinar
v persons taste for the novel and diabolical.-
3 Some trouble was once experienced in SUI
: plying this entry with pure air. A sha
.. reaching to the surface above, sixty thre
nj i'et in height, and another one twenty-fT
e feeshoth four feet square, were constructed
at apeut one third of the way apart, an
operate@wit perfect success. In diggin
in these shafs. care is taken to ascertain th
he very lowest Oppression of the earth abov
;" the mines, to ssve labor and expense. TIL