National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-05-12

| have been inside coal mine, as
Lowell says

Down among the tangled roots of things
That coil about the central ire"
carefully examined the places which
bluff old operators and railroad men had
assured me were perfectly safe, airy,
and wholesome, not bit of danger, sir.
That's all nonsense. Why you couldn't
get the men 10 work anywhere else, &c., +,
Ac." All I've got to say is, let those who
like to work in a mine, stick to it. | re-
sign all my share of this underground
elysium, and would thankfully drive an
ash cart, or grind a hand-organ in pre-
ference to earning even the magnificent
wages which we are assured these miners
receive. Let me try and give your read
ers simple description of what coal
mine is like: The one we entered was
at Tripp's Slope. II is entered by slope
on the side of the hill, and, like all those
in this region, penetrates for miles under
/ ground, so that the City Of Scranton is
completely honeycombed and some day
may suddenly tumble in and be swallow
ed up in these New World catacombs.
Taking small lamp, whose flaring flame
scorched my fingers every few minutes,
entered the mine, in company with
guide and friend. The slope descended
gradually, and was about five feet and
half square, hewn out Of the solid rock
At first We could not walk without stoop.
ing, owing to the beams placed overhead
to brace the roof; but soon we could
stand erect. After hundred yards the
slope turned to the left, and we lost all
daylight and had nothing but our lamps
to guide us. A car-track ran along the
passage, filing it all up except narrow
space at each side, where man could
pass. The cars are driven by mules, who
never leave the mines, yet keep fat and
lively i'll spite of their subterranean
homes. When the mines are fully worked
our guide said the din from the rolling
cars, driven by shouting boys, was fear
full, while there was great danger of being
iammtd among them, or against the
walls. We soon came to a chamber at
one side where was donkey engil he at
work pumping out water. This has to
be done increasingly, and is an expensive
job. From this point branch roads led
away i'll all directions. Some of them for
three miles, deep into the mountain.
Taking one of them We proceeded some
distance. until we were about an eighth
of mile underground The floor was
pretty even, but covered with fragments
of coal and stone and pools of water, into
which we foundered. while t roof and
walls We're clammy with mois IRE, which
rubbed off on our hats and clothes. Un-
mindful of these annoyances, we pushed
on passing every little while light wooden
doors, which we learned were to help
secure supply of fresh air. We had
no difficulty in breathing, but our guide
said he could take us to places where the
air was foul enough. In some mines it
is common for men to fall down insen-
sible, but this one was well ventilated,
and besides, We kept near the entrance
in the best parts. The passage-ways We
went through were lined with stout logs
of hemlock placed upright about four
feet apart, and supporting cross pieces
as a protection to the roof. Between
each Of these guards, however, was a
bare space. g Is there no danger of the
roof at these points giving way 2"
asked onr guide. "Oh, yes. The other
day piece weighing several tons fell
down, and smashed coal-car all to
atoms. Here is n piece that is just as
like as not to come down in the same
way"
This was not very comforting to visit
ors, but we still kept on until, at last.
we entered chamber about fifteen feet
square, whose roof was supported in
the centre by single pillar of coal A
,ar-track ran across the floor to the
'arther end, and stopped in front of
agged wall of glistening mineral at the
DOT of which lay piles of coal and tools
eft by the miner on going home.
This is where the coal is taken ont.
That is the breast at which two men
work. They Use drills from five to seven
eet long, and drive blasts sideways into
he face. When the coal is taken out it
5 loaded into cars and they are run along
his track to the lower end of the slope
" mules, where the engine on the hill,
Ioists them up" +,
How many blasts can man make in
day ?" :
Give OF six.
How far does he go away when they
re fired %
"Oh, couple of hundred feet or so.
makes big noise. can tell YOU"
How do you get the smoke out ?" = =
That's hard matter. I've known =,
len to work here for hours after blast
hen neither couldn't see his mate or
he car he was loading, but each had to
'ork by feeling. You could scarcely
oe even light at short distance, and
hen you go home your eyes will be so !,
linded that you cant stand the day y
ght for long time" !
But what is to prevent the roof fall II
~ in during or after a blast p :,
Nothing. There is a shell next to
he coal, which usually comes down at
he time of the blast, but other pieces
ften follow at other times. Do you see Z
nat lump there ? That has fallen since
le man who was at work here went home A.,
might, just as likely, have fallen while /, =
G was here and, if SO, where would he :. u
e now? The temperature in the mines i
about the same winter and summer :.
ut it often gets very hot from the powder r r
nd steam" =
These statements were confirmed by y
ther miners afterwards. and some OF a
lem gave "A very vivid picture of their q :,
ally life. Said one II go to work at = =
aud stay mostly till 3 or 4, but often Il I.
II and I, when there is extra work to Z,
D, such as laying the track, or putting - -
p braces, for which We don't get no pay, =
'e wear nothing but pants, boots, and .,
flannel shirt ; and mostly they are wet III
trough with sweat, and the boots full of
iter. Often we have to work mp to our
lees, or even our waists, in WI ter but ~,
hat is worse is to have it ',rip down b1
ON the roof right on youf back and T
axe YOU feel like drowned rat. Often 6t
e have to work for weeFs without dry On