The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-04

Coke-Metallic compact, cubic feet Of
gas per pound-Lower bench 3.90-Up
per bench 3.s5. As interesting to coal
men we also furnish the following
"Height Of coal taken for Mr.. Lowe
above low water marks In Ohio river
August 18th 1873 900 low water marx
1896 surface OF water 1912 brink Of bank
In mill lot 1914 lower point between
railroad and mill lot, 1898 bare Of rail
@. 4 P. r. Z. $3.50 level OF brick yard
1851 top Of well curb, s7.66 top Of crib in
shaft levels taken BY Barclay and McCon'
nell, Civil engineers. After viewing
the surroundings We were invited by Mr.,
Lowe 10 descend the shalt into the mine,
ipquiring rs to the depth Of the shaft We
were told that It was Just two hundred
and seventy feet deep, without hesitating
we stepped in the crib and were instructed
to occupy the center thereof and to
hold on to the rope stretched acrosa
II to steady ourself BY, and to look up
while descending and see what nice
smooth straight shaft, and at the bottom
there would be man to take charge Of
us; and suggestion by US to the engineer
to run slow, IS we did not wan. to drop
90 fast that We would lose our breath.
A hissing Of steam, 3 rattle Of pullsys
and we were going down, down, down, At
very comfortable rate otspeed. While
on the downward tendency we had ample
time to think that go feet Of road, street,
river, rope or any straight line was not
very much, but when it comes to a hole
in the ground that deep, it seems as II it
was two or three times that amount.
Striking bottom we knew not which way
to look, rs all was as dark as dark could
be-black paint was NO where along side
oft. Waiting but second and We saw
= glimmer Of light and heard the voice
OF our young friend VIM. Lowe, son Of
John Lowe, one OF the proprietors, with
"hallo; how are you? Glad to zee you"
Mr. Lowe at once proceeded TO show US
through the mine. As before stated, the
vein OF coal is feet 3 inches, which al.
lowed Us to almost walk erect. The rail.
way through the mine Is substantially
made, with iron rails and good ties, and
ballasted with slate stone that comes of
the roof OF the mine. The roof OF the
mine is OF graylsh looking slate, quite
smooth and uniform in appearance.
There 10 q steam pump in the bottom Of
the shaft, which forces the water TO the
top, where It Ia carried of by drains for
that purpose. Aside from that portion
OF the shaft in which the two cribs are
operated for the hosting OF the coal, is
an air passage extending from top to bot
tom; in fact It ia a portion OF the shalt
proper, separated from where the cribs
are by q close wooden partition. All the
appointments OF the mine are frst.class,
The roof and floor are good, - We came
out of the mine after exploring it thor
oughly, as clean and as free from mud
and water as when we entered. At pres.
ent the Company are working but few
hands merely to keep the mine in coed
order.
Reaching the point at which we were
to ascend, we again got into the crib, and
with proper Instructions from our friend
Lowe in regard to our safety, with a
hearty good bye, and the alarm sounded
"ior 4 man." we in an instant were
going upward at a reasonable rate Of
speed, aud soon were on the top ofground.
This Company own nine hundred acres Of
coal privilege, and would have been chad
ii not been for the panic witch has exist
ed ever since they commenced to sink
their shaft in full operation, employ.
ing several hundred hands.
There ia to be n meeting at Lagrange
to-day to arrange for connecting turn
pike from Lagrange to Smithdeld. Per.
severe citizens Of Jefferson county; good
roads make country good.
There are many other items Of inter
eat that came under our observation, bat
space and time will not permit their
mention. We hare already extended this
letter more than we intended, but "a our
neighbors have been somewhat neglected
Of late, we may be exctfsed II we have
wearied the patience Of the reader.
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