The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1871-11-24


We are now in the coal, mines, says
one who has been thefe, and the passage
We walk along so freely was the bed Of
seam of coal, long since removed by
the miners who have pushed ON into the
bowels OF the hill, and are nc& III work
miles away teariNS oat the shining
walls that dispute their further progress.
To the right and 10 the left narrow
chambers, such AS We are in, branch OF,
some ON upward grades, some down
ward.
At intervals we are eonfronted 10y
massive wooden doors used b control
currents III air and secure ventilation.
Aftet walking a good mile, and seeing
nothing bat mules hauling the coal ears
along the track 10 some place in the
mysterious distance, we come at last 10
the chambers where the miners are AT
work. We find these chambers 30 be
passages like those through which we
entered: some broad and high, some low
and cramped, oil supplied with iron
tracks leading 10 the end. AT the ex-
tremities OF these chambers or work
ings the miner stands, pick or bar in
hand, delving and wrenching 10 remove
huge masses Of coal from the seam whose
lead he is following Here is the coal
we seek. and here is the miner. laboring
patiently by the dim light of his single
lamp, isolated by walls Of rock and earth
from his companions, water dripping
from the roof and standing in pools at
his feet. in constant danger, and allotted
10 ineessant toll. The huge chnnks OF
coal, wrought ont by manual force or
blasting powder. fall into heaps on the
floor and are loaded by the miner OF. his
help into a car that stands ready, then
drawn by mules along the gangway 10
the shaft, and hoisted by machinery TO
the surface above. This shaft is the
commencement of operations in opening
mine, and is connected by gangways
with every chamber worked. and some
times extends hundred fathoms into
the earth.
A mine many hundred feet deep il in
splendid working order men, boys, and
horses, filed with animation and indus
try, throng the chambers the sound of
the busy hammer, pick and car enliyens
the sense, and everything in cheerful
contrast with the gloom that envelopes
all. Suddenly, by some unseen cause,
the circulAtiontof air is interrupted fire
damp Immediately accumulates 10 an
explosive degree in some portion of tho
mine, and an unthinking miner enters
the region and sets the whole in blaze,
which suffocates and consumes every
thing in reach. Such Is the force Of
this conclusion and those succeeding.
that those out of the range Of flame are
stunned or prostrnted by the shock.
Their lights are blown out and the warn
ing that the explosion may he rolling
along the chambers 10 meet them,
causes many TO hurry 10 the nearest
shaft. Unusual heaps Of rubbish inn
pede their progress, and they wander in
the wild confusion 10 uncertain alleys,
and sink down, overcome by noxions
vapors, or are swallowed up in the seeth-
ing atmosphere of fame that may pene-
trate every part Of the mine.
The miners Of this region earn very
high wages the year roNnd when they
work. Those who are sober and frugal
own their own houses and save money.
The hfe is rather an adventurous one,
and the temptation is 10 spend their
earnings freely. The grocery bills of
some small families average fifty and six
ty dollars per month, the women declar-
ing that their good men work hard for
their money. and their only comfort is
in what they eat and drink. But this
underground work is not necessarily
more severe than certain kinds OF labor
done upon the surface. II in seldom that
a miner will leave the works and come 10
the sod To earn his living. The mining
is done at so much per ear, and they can
have their own way, and in dry we'll
ventilated mine they suffer no severe
extremes Of weather, and are generally
healthy. But in mines where the beds
are thin, and the way in and ont is
through narrow, cramped alleys, filed
with foul air, water streaming from the
roof and knee-deep on the floor, and the
air so heavy that n candle sheds no
light ten or fifteen feet away and must
be. constantly swung 10 keep up the
flame, then the miners life is one of un-
ending hardship, and must he endured
to be appreciated.