The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-10-16
Letter From the Coal Regions.
SEPTEMBER, 80, 1868

SEPTEMBER, 80, 1868
Mr.. EwING:-Dear Sir:-Having enjoyed
trip to Minersville, Schuylkill county,
Pa, very much, thought some account of
things in that section would not be unac-
ceptable to the readers of Tile Wig.
Minersville is about ninety-six miles
north of Philadelphia, on a branch of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. This
road passes along the Schuylkill Valley,
which, with it's beautiful streams and nu-
merous fine towns, affords scenery Of much
interest to the traveller. AS we proceed
along the road, which is good one, the
evidences of approach to the coal region are
seen in the numerous long trains of coal
cars which pass.
After leaving Schuylkill Haven, the place
where the coal from this locality is weigh
ed, little can be seen but coal, high hills,
and pine trees,-these usually short. 1t
may be comforting fact to some of our
friends i'll Cecil county, that the soil here is
actually poorer than the 'Barrens." OF
course farming is not followed here, nearly
all the provisions for this part being brought
from Philadelphia. In about forty minutes
after leaving Schuylkill Haven you reach
Minersville, town of about six thousand
inhabitants, eleven churches, two fine
schools, schools are an important thing in
this country,) and forty hotels and grog-
shops. Whisky is of some importance
here, too. The Methodist Episcopal Church
(and congregation is the largest and finest
Rev. VIM. Dalrymple, whose name will be
familiar to many who may read this, is pas
tor. This place is about two miles north
of the southern boundry of the coal regions
Of Pennsylvania. From this point, north
ward for about seventy miles, throughout
this vast tract of country, extending east
and west, the coal abounds. Such is the
richness of some of the veins now being
worked, (being seventy feet in some places
of pure anthracite,) that the people here
laugh at the idea of it ever being exhausted
Coal here is first and last. Great fortunes
are made in mining it. We saw the tomb
of gentleman, who, during his lifetime,
had accumulated million and half of
money. Fortunes are lost here too. Coal
mining is hazardous business. Men may
invest their money, work hard for a time,
and be compelled to abandon it at last
through the flooding of the mine with wa
ter, or some other accident. Sometimes,
though rarely, the coal takes fire from a
gas explosion, or other cause and burns for
years in spite of all efforts to put it out
One near Minersville has been burning for
thirty seven years. Among the successful
mines it is not all profit, but very expen-
sive. Some of the mines are worked to
the depth of twelve hundred feet, in these
the water requires constant pumping. We
saw Cornish pumping engine, the steam
cylinder of which was six feet one inch in
diameter with stroke of eleven feet, hav-
ing power of about eight thousand horses;
the whole affair, when ready for pumping,
costing about fifty Thousand dollars. The
coal, as found in the Mines it not fit for
market, but must be put through breakers,
and the dirt and slate riddled out. Great
piles of this refuse dirt, slate and fine coal,
(along side of which the pyramids of
Egypt are small affairs) lay about the
mouths of the mines, and it has become a
serious question in some places how it shall
be removed-the man who solves it will
certainly make fortune. Mining is not
only expensive, but it is dangerous i'll the
extreme a mining ''Boss'' said we are in
danger from the time we enter the mines
until we come to the surface. The mines
are worked differently, some are entered by
horizontal drifts, others perpendicularly,
some by slopes upon which tracks are laid
and cars drawn up and down by chains,
worked by steam engines at the top. These
chains break sometimes, engine, a loaded
car, loaded with men, too, at times, rushing