The New York herald., 1877-01-06
THE GREAT. MINE CONFEDERATION.
A sUBTERRANEAN OCEAN OF FIRE IN LYKENs
vALIEY-IMMENsE DESTRUCTION OF PROP
ERTY-uNAvAILING EFFORTS TO CHECK THE
PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.

BY TELE6RAPu TO THE HERALD.
LYKEys, Pa, Jan s. 1871
The Short Mountain and Lykens Valley Mines,
which produce from l5o, 900 to 200 coo Of coal
year, have been fire since Monday afternoon, and
the Lykens Valley Coal Company. which operates tho
cocrics, has already suffered loss of several hun
drcd thousand dollars which promises TO be largely
augmented Several men who have been driven from
the mines by the fire arc engaged day and night in
efforts to stop tho work OF destruction, but the d-
Guilty OF reaching II has rendered their labor only par
italy successful The first tour days they made no
impression tho fire. but appearances to-day indicate
that their work is having beneficial effect.
FEARS OF STILL GREATER LOSSES
Tho temporary check has not relieved tho people
hero Of the fear that all coeries In this county may
be visited by the Grc They connected by subter-
rrncan passages, and should uniavorabc draft Gu
they would all be in danger OF destruction. Tho
principal efforts OF the miners directed toward
placing distractions the sweep the fro where tho
Big Lick and Willianstown collicrics arc located
Three and 1--WE miles above this town about thirty
miners constantly stationed in tho Lykcns Valley
wafer Is beng conducted. Tho smoke il dense In
the locality tnat they are occasionally
FRUSTRATED ny ITS EFFECTS,
and drawn to the surface to be relieved by
others. The courses OF two small streams have been
diverted from their original channels, aud water
Quoted into the burning Several mes OF wooden
rougbs carry tho water TO points where II IS supposed
to be most needed. Al the mouth OF each mino Is a
large slope house into which loaded with coal
ordinarily boisted. These structures have been dis
connected with the slopes TO save them from dcstruc-
ton. A similar precaution would have prevented tho
burning OF large engine house and the inction Of
great damage TO the machinery, which cost about
$4,000
Between eighty ana ninety mules in the burning
mines supposed to have been sunocacd all way OF
ecrcss having been cut of by the lrc. That no human
lives have been lost Is in great measure attributed To
the iact that the fire occurred holiday when tho
almost entirely deserted. There Is dner-
cnce oil opinion to how tho IRE originated. Ono
theory Is that spark from miners lamp
started 1t, while another that the heat
from one o tho pumping engines In tho
mine responsible. The fire spread with
remarkable rapidy ascending 10 the top OF the Short
Mountain slope, nearly 800 yards from the supposed
point OF origin. In six or seven hours. In addition 10
the large quantity OF coal and timber consumed much
damage must necessarily havo been done to the
chincry in the mines. both by hrc ana water.
WORK SUSPENDED FOR TnE WINTER
Should the fire be brought under control, which Is
by no means certain, would be impossible TO repair
the damage and resume mining operations during tho
winter About 900 men were employed IN tho mines
There re IN Dau phin county
employ between 2 500 ana 5000 men. The Williams
town cocry i've miles above this place. IL the largest
In the world and produced about $40 900 tons last
year and the year before sol 000 The total shipments
IRON the four mines last year 800 0OD tons, de-
OF 1872 900 compared with the previous year.
when the mines were Kept ,n stoady operation. Tho
business of the coal regions amounts to ST. 500 600
81, 900 900 annually. In this town from $35 O00 10
$40 0O0 are paid 10 miners monthly.