The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1869-10-05
DO. .s..rl,r ~ rn.v..s.-aI.l..la

Tls faNo4.rg Interesting liter irom
ofr@pou5ra. 81 ths \ y, Evening
Poet written some time @nes, gives
mneh talual "a information on a subject
ahIch IS nop ai,rro ing a degree ofpaiu.
iaI At.caton IN consequences q the re-
esat catastrophe ai the AyondAle
mine
WmKsnaERE, penn.
The scenery Of Wyoming Is wonder.
fully changed, not only since Campbell
sung of its beauty. but within young
mans memory, aud not Tor the better.
Twenty years ago strangers here were
taken to Prospect Rock, 10 overlook
the lovely valley. with its rich level
lands along the silvery winding river
and its rolling balls slowly rising on
either side TO the Wild wooded mount.
ain. Now they are invited to the mines
and taken down into the earth as far
below tie surface as they were then
lifted above IT,
How nNK IS OPENED.
Coal mines are worked either by a
"ssaft@ or by a slope" A shaft is
simply an opening sunk perpendicular
ly liRe we'll, or rather like two wells,
side by side; and in these two plat
forms hang suspended from cables,
which pass over drums moved by pow
orful engines; SO that one platform
rises car full Of coal, while the other
sinks with an empty car. A slope is a
similar opening, but III the form OF q
tunnel inclined at an angle to the per-
pendicular, with rails laid III il, 30 that
cars are drawn up aud down upon
them, instead Of being lifted Most Of
the mines here are worked by shafts
and this form is becoming more gener-
al as deeper seams are worked.
The coal lies il beds which are rare.
ly or never horizontal, but "pitch" at
varying angles, and often roll, SO as tc
form ridges, saddles" or "anticlinaI
axes, and again basins" troughs OF
"synclisal axes in other places. Now
it is precisely on one Of these latter
lines from which the coal rises in both
directions, that II is most advantageous
to strike the bed with shaft or slope
For miner can only blast the coal sue
cessfully when it will fall away by its
own weight and make room for furth-
er operations, and when the water will
run away Of itself from his chamber
and the car, loaded with coal, may be
easily drawn to the shaft. For all
these reasons coal is always mined up
the pitch OF the vein, and neyerd own it.
Tens Of thousands Of dollars have some
times been spent in drifts, borings, tun-
nels, and other methods OF exploration,
merely to ascertain where synciinal
line lies, before sinking shaft to 1t.
THE MINERS WORK.
The point being selected, the shaft
made, and the machinery ready, the
miner goes to work His task unites
educated skill with very severe muscu-
lar exertion. He is generally paid on
contract by the ton, and thus has a
strong motive to accomplish all he can,
He must Judge, by careful examina.
tion, where his blast must be placed, in
order TO throw down the most coal, and
to leave the men advantageous opening
for blasting. He must carefully avoid
trespassing ON the necessary support ol
the roof, and must make both the flooI
and the roof safe as he goes forward. =
For all this, he needs some OF the prac
tical skill Of surveyor and of an engi
neer. The work OF drilling the holes
for The bias, is irksome and severe; j
is performed in q close damp, Otter
half-poisonous atmosphere, and annie
many dangers which require constan
precantions, watehiulness and presenc,
of mind.
THE FIRE-DAMP.
All coal beds give out carburetteC
hydrogen gas, or "Gre-damp;" the an
thracite far less than the bituminou
Goals Of England or OF Pittsburgh; bu
even in these mines the amount is offer
large enough in few hours to make
whole chamber" violently explosive
Ia tho mines this gas, being lighte
than air, rises to the top; and as tn
chambers ia which the miners worl
rise from the shaft it tends to accnmu
late in them. Before beginning worl
every morning. Therefore, il is necessa
~ 10 20 with a safety lamp into al tn
chambers aud examine the air, which
when mixed w.th hre-damp, gives Pc
culiar appearance to the fame INSIDE Q
the game, through which, however, th
FIRE cannot pass When the air is foun'
to be impure, the chamber Is careful.
ventilated. sometimes by steam fan
throwing in pure air, sometimes b.
merely scattering tie gas with cloths
Sometimes by setting ii on Gre enoe 70
all before entering the chamber 10 work
Not unffequently strong jets Of fEc
damp arc iouad coming oat troin ia