Frostburg mining journal., 1880-08-07
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
ECKHART SLOPE.

your columns according to promise TO
give the readers of the JOURNAL a
description of the Eckhart Slope as /
found it in late visit to that mine.
Your readers are aware that this
mine was filled up with water four
teen years ago by the late Edward
H. Tracy, Superintendent of the
Cumberland Coal and Iron company,
then owners of the property. The
reason for flooding the mine were best
known to that gentleman and never
understood by the public. But
through the energy and engineering
skill of James B. Thomas, Superin-
tendent of the Consolidation coal
company, the present owners of the
property, the water in this mine has
been tapped at various points and at
different times from the New Hope
mine, until he has drained it down
about l,70o feet. Early this spring
orders were given to put 1t into con-
dition for shipping coal.
The outside improvements coneist
of stationary engine of seventy-fve
horse power, fitted up under the di-
rection of James Jacobs, the old war;
horse of Hoffman subteranean steam
power. There are three boilers for the
purpose of supplying steam. These
have been to a hot water pressure of
one hundred and seventy-five pounds.
The masonry for the foundation of
the engine is of the most substantial
character, as is also the dump-house,
and the different tracks for the use of
the hoppers and mine cars; together
with two new scales of the Fairbanks
pattern, where it spresumed justice
will flow like stream. The mouth
of the slope is all re-timbered with
new timber in place Of the old that
had become decayed, and along the
LOO feet down new timber has been
placed wherever required. The
workmanship is frst-class, and I
should say that the Eckhart Slope is
in safe condition, there being also a
good track laid with heavy iron for
the use of the mine cars The whole
Of these improvements has been COM
pleted under the daily observation OF
the careful eye of the Superintendent
and under the Immediate charge of
Daniel Krapf, well known citizen of
Frostburg.
This is what is known as double
slope; one side used for hosting coal,
the other for travelling purposes for
man and beast, with a seventy-fve
feet pillar dividing, Then I found
another opening running parallel
with the slope which used to be a
horse road, but which is now fixed up
and will be used as the intake for
ventilating purposes. All the old
openings are being bratticed up, look
ing toward the proper ventilation of
the mine.
One hundred and fifty feet from
the mouth of the slope on the
south side going down, is what is
termed the old air-shaft, but which
in reality resembles draw well of
small dimensions. At the bottom of
this shaft was one CT those potato
roasting furnaces, with as much fire
in it as would heat tinker's solder
ing iron, Tor the purpose of ventilat-
ing one of the most extensive mines
in the county. At this spot found
men at work making necessary ar
rangements for the purpose of build
ing the largest ventilating furnace in
this region, upon the most improved |
principles known to the science of
ventilation, and not upon the modern
idea of one of our boss miners who, I |
understand, has placed doors upon !
the mouth Of one of the best ventil-
ating furnaces in the county for the
purpose of increasing the draft of air.
But it will be Gods blessing upon fu-
ture generations of miners that his
idea will die with him.
At a distance of 1900 feet is what
is known as the north heading. What
it gets its name from I am at loss
to know unless it is that it is broken off
the north side of the slope, and not
because it is driven due north, for in
penetrating to the place of the head--
I.-l. r q 0nn r.L r \