The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-10-01

whose lands the vein was opened, to
test the truth of the claim by per-
sonal observation and examination.
After doing ample justice to an
ampler dinner at the hospitable ho-
tel of ]. Kimball's. twelve miles from
Smethport, at present the headquar-
ters of the company, we were driven
about two miles on the Sinnemaho-
ming road, from whence it was neces-
sary to leave the carriage and trust
to the endurance of our legs and a
stout walking-stick. The openings
of which we were in search we found
to be on the north side of the ridge
living between the East Branch aud
Havens Brook, about mile and a
half from the road, and less than
half mile from the bed of the East
Branch; thus affording, by the con-
struction of a branch road up the
valley of the creek, an admirable
chance to dump any quantity of coal
from all the openings directly into
the cars by means Of one shute.
The first opening we visited was
what is called the Big Opening. 1t
is about 100 rods west from the
"shanty," and 80 feet from the top
of the ridge. Much care and pains
have been taken in making this open
ing. and the work seems to have
been done in skillful and workman
like manner. This. as in the case Of
the other openings, is substantially
timbered on the sides and overhead.
The gallery is 7 feet high, g feet
wide. and 50 feet in extent. \ care
ful examination and accurate meas
urement of the wall at the extreme
end of the gallery furnished conclu-
sive evidence to our minds that the
fve-toot vein statement was no eX-
aggeration. In fact the vein by ac-
tual measurement will equal if not
exceed five and half feet. 1t is ap-
parently the finest quality Of bitumi-
nous coal. That mined during the
early stages of the opening is as
good coal as we have seen i'll the
county, and seems to improve in
quality and depth. Though we do
not profess to be well up in the
knowledge of coal deposits and for
nations, We stand fully convinced
that the Big Opening presents as
good a show for coal of the best kind
in as large and paying quantities as
the most eager operator need desire,
and with very little cost and trouble
of mining.
We next proceeded to what is call
ed the Fenner Opening, so called in
honor of its discovercr. This S
about l20 rods west Of the Big Open
inc and 20 feet below, making il 40
feet below the top of the ridge. The
gallery is 50 feet in length and of the
same width and height as the former.
BY measurement we found this open
ing to reveal two strata OF coal-4
feet Of bituminOus coal covered by
one foot of camel coal. thus making
in reality a second five foot vein.
This opening bids fair to equal ifnot
exceed the Big Opening i'll the guam
tity and quality Of its coal produc-
tion.
The Camel Opening, still farther
west about half a mile, has only been
opened up about 80 feet into the
ridge. II has been a source Of more
expense to the company than either
of the others, but patience and perse-
verance oyercame all obstacles, and
2I inch vein of camel coal, covered
| by 3 foot vein of bituminous coal.
is the reward.
Several other partial openings
were visited, all of which gave indu-
bitable evidence of a generous yield
Of coal. Our visit had the effect to
convert US from our skepticism as to
presence Of coal on the Lyman Com
pany's lands, aad we cheerfully give
the foregoing brief statement of the
result of actual and impartial exami-
nation for the benefit of any who
may be i'll like manner skeptical as
we Eere.-Wc kedn Miner.