, 1877-07-28


the mine during three months Of idle
ness.
The main gang wny runs from the en-
trance pf the mine nearly due south
2l00 feet. For 1000 feet i, is nearly
level, then there is fault IN the coal of'
sixty feet, where the strata is lifted mp
that heighth above its previous level.
this is overcome hy an incline Of los
feet, down which the loaded cals go.
their weight pulling up the empty ones.
AS the coal pitches down fi,ceen de
grees towards the cast, the coal is also
reached with II level track by the rock
tunnel, which branches oil from the main
gang way before reaching the fault, run.
ming in Il south cUstcrly direction until
it strikes the coal, thence south, parallel
10 the main gNngwuy. An air passage
connects the rock tunnel nd main gang
way above the fault, following the Goa
strata.
We followed to the face or end of this
tunnel, and found fossil clans, rrscmbl-
ing those now found on the Sound, also
trunks of trees, one about two and one
half it, in diameter only partially dccom.
posed, not prctIited or turned into coal,
some 1900 feet from the entrance of the
mine, and over $50 feet below the sur
face uf the hill.
700 feet beyond the first fault on the
main gang way there is another fault
where the strata is broken, and drops
eleven feet, BY turning the gang way
to the west ward 90 feet coal is again
secured on level track. This gHngway
runs then $50 feet before it terminates,
after the second fault.
As soon us the coal is removed from
the gangway so as to form passage for
the cars, rooms are cut out above the
track, so the dip Of the coal will carry the
cars from these working rooms or breasts
to the track hy force OF gravity. These
breasts usually connect with each other
as well as with the main gangway, al
though solid squares of coal are left be
tween them unworked until all the rest
of the coal is removed, when they com.
mence at the farther end, and gradually
retreuting towards the mouth Of the
mine, work out these pillars of support
leaving the mine to fall after them.
Doors are made to fit tightly, prevent
ing currents Of air to flow between the
breasts and the gangway, so that the ar
entering the main gaugway is forced its
whole length to the last breast where there
is no door. Then from there it circu-
lutes from breast to breast, by the air
passages between them, until it reaches
the furnace room, where Mr.. S. sunk his
shaft in locating the mine. Here large
fire is built twice daily This forms II
powerful draft. The larger the fire the
stronger the draft. BY this simple
means, a strong current of pure air is
constantly kept circulating to the
tartherest part of the NINE, and through
all the working rooms.
When in the mind, the only way u
cold day can he distinguished from q
hot one, is in warm weather the air is
closer than in cold weather; consequent
ly in . hot day to cool the mine the fire
in the furnace must be increased.
About half way between the entrance
of the mine, and the beginning of the
rock tunnel, there is a counter gangway,
branching off to th@south west from the
main gangway. This extends some 1900
feet with rise Of 142 feet. The coal
cars come done the incline here with great
violence on to the main gangway; Tor
this reason we lett this unvisited. Al
together we were some three hours in
the mine.
At present the company gets only
about 7j tons of coal per day, when
running at its full capacity its daily
yield is about $50 tons per day,
1t has enough coal opened up, to keep
it running at that rate for two years at
very little expense.
WE have enquired among the farmers
and find that but little damage was