Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-25


the palm being won by the Doctor, ST., one
of our party. After an hours rest at the
office we again put out for the mines, going
first to the main entry of No. 9, visiting on
our way another shaft which is being sunk
this side Of
- sr4 --g THE MAIN ENTRY ~ .---. .
Mr.. Benjamin Robinson, Superintendent Of
the mining department. soon had several
planks sawed from which seats were made
in one of the coal bumpers. We jumped
in aud SOon formed the acquaintance Of
TON, THE DRIVER,
who is young chap of sprightly talk and
knows something about mules, understand
ing their modus ambulandi in the dark
| much better than Josh Billings or any
ether writer of curious ethics. Tom how
ever does not care about his face, which
not alone was coated with coal dust, but
also with smiles. Being fixed we started
I'D IN THE MINES,
the railroad track extending all the way.
We first were supplied with lighted lamps
shaped like miniature coffee pot about
three inches lOng--the wick coming out
through the spout. In second or so day
light had faded from our view and we were
| PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS.
The entry was only about five feet wide and
from six to seven feet high, so that frequent
ly the latter persons had to bend low or
have their heads scraped. Along we rat
tied at a quick speed, the descent being
enough to make us put on brakes. SO soon
as we left the light
OUR FEELINGS
were not altogether the most pleasant.
Wrapped in impenetrable darkness, the
rumbling car wheels and heavy footsteps of
the mules sounded fearfully strange to your
correspondent. Sharp curves were taken,
and turn after turn made, but as yet we
stonped not. Where we would land l
knew not, and how far we had come from
the entrance l was unable to find out;
couldn't see it. could you? At last
ALIGHT GLIMMERED
| in the distance, and as the speed of our sub
terranean vehicle slackened heard kind
of thump, somewhat sounding like an old
darkey making up a feather bed. Upon
nearing the place from which proceeded
the sound and where was the light, we saw
several
MINERS AT WORK
digging the black diamonds from their rest
| ing places. We now alighted and had a
good opportunity of seeing what mining is.
! Begrimmed with coal dust and perspiring
from continued work were the miners, the
| small tin lamps shedding dim and cheer
| less light. The scene was picturesque and
| wondered if the author of the Black
Crook had visited the coal mines before
writing his wonderful play and arranging
the uncouth and wildly depicted scene.
concluded he must have been there. l was
! told that we were in
| A ROOM,
and so we were, for the apartment now
saw was large and opened by door like
way to the track where Tom was now
changing his mule so as to hitch him to the
| other end Of the car. The main entry runs
generally long distance and every thirty
| feet is a room, the cavity made by digging
| out the coal, which seems to have an end
! less extent. Soon we were asked to walk
| to
THE END OF THE TRACK
which was about two hundred feet from
| the place we landed at. Upon arriving
here we found the main entry also ended
and miners were pecking away. The coal
| here seemed in a solid strata and our atten-
ton was directed to two
MINERS DRILLING.
Click, ciick, went the drills as their points
| pierced the upper portion of the strata, the
| hole being made in a horizontal direction,
! and extending three feet or more. This
| was long drilling, though quicker accom-
| plshed than can be a hole Of few inches
| in rock which is harder than that with
which the miners were dealing.
THE BLAST
was now ready, and so we went back to
! the room and awaited the noise. We were
| out of danger and had no fear of being
struck. 1t was not long we had to remain
| and soon the expressed wish of 81 would
| like to hear it," as well as the eager ques-
| ton "HoW does it feel?' met a satisfactory
realization and explanatory answer, for
now there was quick flash followed by a
crash like that of some
GREAT EXPLOSION.
The whole earth around, below and
above us seemed to culver under the power
Of this blast, whose sound, though heavily
tremendous, vibrated long until the echoes
died away among the daTkened passages
like far off thunder peels beyond the hills
of the valley. Some of us also trembled,
according to our feelings with those of ma
ture; for if man can be made to feel
| his utter insignifcanCe let him dwell in the
| of rapture through the sublime magni6cence
of natures untouched chiselling. The
| cleaning stones, lofty walls emblazOned
with jewelled beauty, the varied forms pre-
scented to his eye, give enchanted admira-
ton, which, while they arouse an admira-
| ton for his Maker, also interest and please
| and calm to silent thought, to profound
| meditation his feelings. But in the mines,
y1ayso ha &c orr 10 avr1o
row, the darkness unbroken, no golden
| shaft, nor futed column or statistical Orna-
| ment, the same, same black walls of useful
wealth, the damp air, the changeless scenes;
It's here man best realizes his powerless
self, and while in this dreary abode, his
spirit can never find the courage which in
the light of heaven gives Wanted strength
and pride that laughs at disappointment and
mocks the saddest realities, the mournful
defeats of life's hopes and aims. The
! changeful magnifcenCe of the ocean sleep
! ing mid the smile of the moon, gracefully
| waving the soft evening breeze or foaming
! in tumultuOus grandeur under the lightning
! bathed storm calls forth feelings pregnant
with pleasurable meditation; but the dark
mines under the earth fill us less with won
! der than with awe, which bends to the con-
! seriousness and submits to the recognition
of the Creator. By the blast huge blocks of
coal are thrown out, one lump we saw would
weigh ton almost. The miners are paid
three cents per bushel. A good miner Is
able to make from three to four and half
dollars per day where there is not dead
! work to do in the vein. Each miner will
mine from one hundred to one hundred and
fifty bushels per day. The last thing being
! the blast the miners usually have a supply
| left after the hauling out is finished in the
afternoon. This is used for the first morn
! ing load, which will average three thousand
pounds. Each miner mines on an average
! one hundred and five bushels per day,
! checking on alternate days three and four
! Car loads. Of course there may some days
be only about two loads, where there is
much dead work and when the miner has
to bury under, that is when to get out the
coal the miner is compelled to lie on his
side and dig over head or otherwise. In
many mines boys being able to squeeze in
much smaller space than man are EN-
! plOyed to get out the nut coal from these
little pits or excavations. InasmuCh as we
have spoken of mines it is not inappropriate
to speak of them geologically because of
the interest now felt in this section of cOun-
try in regard to which two things are true;