Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-02-01
consolidation Mine, No. =


1t was our pleasure to pay visit to this
Mine few days since Through the kind
ness of Mr. JOSEPH B. THOMAS, mtping boss,
we were permitted to 20 through the mine,
MI HENRY JONES leading the way. We
penetrated the entire extent " one Of the
headings to a room where the miners dig
the coal We witnessed the process Of
sledging down fall Of coal 1t had been
undermined, after which the wedges were
pla ed at the proper places and driven into
the wall, the mass coming down with
crash After this We are not much sur
prised at the disastrous results when these
masses come down on human frames. 1t is
said, however, these accidents are generally
due to the neglect Of proper precautions on
the part OF the miners themselves in failing
to put in the supports During the many
years SINCE this mine was opened but one
man has been killed, fact very creditlble
TO the management.
The principal object Of interest now to
he noticed is the Inclined Plane lately intro
duccd into this mine. The fact that it is
entirely undergo ound made its projection
matter of some question ms to its Success
But the result so far has fully justified the
venture. The "whecl-housG" is built in the
extremity of one of the headings of massive
timbers, well secured above and below
Within this frame one large and three small
cr iron wheels carry the wire cable, one
inch in diameter, and Cos feet i'll length.
The plane is about 800 feet in length, with
a grade of 10i feet to the hundred, and so
arranged as to carry the coal from two
headings, the landing of one track being
500, the Other about 100 feet from the open
inr Some idea may be formed Of the ease,
facility, and expedition, with WHICH coal is
run out from the fact that by steady running
it was noted Oh Saturday last that me hun-
dred tons per Ao"r passed over this plane
\ single trip may he made in two anl-a-llaif
minutes, carrying six cars-twclvc tons
down, and six empty cars up.
Mr. DAVID MoK3AN is conductor Giil
Mr. EHWARD WEIGH engineer. They ca:a-
fully supervise their work to insure sa;,'. rs
well as dispatch. The former has c!a &c
of the adjustment Of the cars on the tlac
coupling etc. the latter OF the whecl-hO,tsc.
which he controls By means of heavy
brake, toe speed Icing promoted or di,.ill
ished or, ii necessary lie train may be
brought to rest A bell at his side, connect
ed by wire with signal station at tie wv
or end OF tic line, gives notice that all is
ready, away tie loa,lcl cars 90 down INTO
this "blackncss Of darkness After 4 brief
interval tie empty train c.ncrges from tie
sombre cavern and comes CaTcerir.g W
grade for atner tons Of black diamonds
The origin of this underground plane is
due 70 the enterprise an, energy OF Mr..
JAMES i. Tho. AS, Superintendent of the
Constellation Company's Mines although
the idea is not new. Some years since the
experiment. was made il ting Aston M,nc,
but after short time its use vas dlscai ttcl
and hand propulsion again escorted To-
Bat this failure was probably nns regarded
as a sufficient test, and tie trial is made
anew. Tie pIars for this plane were evil
IDENTITY wei maturtd anj' .'e work suhsan-
TALLY performed. Its great superiority over
the old mode of getting coal out of the mine
IL 100 plainly manifest to contemplate it
otherwise than as an established means Of
underground carriage wherever the grade
will admit