Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-04-10
Tunnel Drfftings.

| Fred, where did see you Saturday night
Now, we don't want our best miners branch
/ ing off in the restaurant business.
| There was quite curiosity on exhibition
at Richter's saloon on Tuesday, April list, IL
the shape of white frog. Ask DR.. -
| about it.
| There has been large force of men, with
ing day and night for some time on the
switch running up by the dumps. Instead
OF one track there are three now.
Don't send the Road Tax Collector around
this week, for they are all girls! To Mr.. and
Mrs. Jno. Gallagher, Sunday evening, March
Sd, girl.
To Mr.. and Mrs. Jasper Erwin, March
31st, girl.
Nugent Kidd, the St. Louis Ore and Steel
Co.'s road master, is making great improve
ment in and about the Tunnels and on the
inclined planes. He has more track, switch
es, frogs, ETC., to keep up than any four boss
es on the Gould system.
The two tunnels on the east side OF Pilot
Knob are progressing finely. They are driven
in about one hundred feet. Charley Schleu-
ter has ng of men taking UP dirt and
sinking prospect hole in the bottom, to
find how far down the ore reaches.
\ couple of our fairest caught Mr.. Ed.
Whalen the m orning OF the 1st of April, re-
clining on divan, soundly wrapped in slum
Der, and-oh, those girls. They took up
their hatchet-no, not that, but shears-yes,
shears-and cut off one-half of that which
every young gent prizes higher than anything
on earth except his best girl; that fine large
moustache! But 1t was the 1st of Apirl, you
know.
Simpson Shaft, which is situated on the
west side of Pilot Knob, has all of its ma
chinery complete and in running order. 1t IS
provided with one of the late improved
Ledgerwood hosting engines. There are
two drums t feet in diameter with reversible
link motion and improved friction brakes.
This is one of the finest pieces of machin-
cry in the west. The steam is furnished by
two boilers feet and 3 inches in diameter,
and Is feet long, and each boiler has GO flues
IA inches in diameter. They also furnish
steam to run the diamond drill which is
prospecting about 500 yards down in hollow
southwest of the shaft. This piece of mach
inery was put in position and running order
under the instructions Of Harry Procunio,
Master Machnist for the ST. L. O. and S. Co.
1t is run by two competent engineers, day
and night: Mr.. George Wilburn, and Rich
ard Boletha.
Last Thursday night, about half past sew
en- O'Clock, there was quite an excitement at
the furnace. Through some cause the long
10-inch air-pipe broke and became discon-
nected from the air-receiver just out side Of
the new brick engine room, which contains
two large air compressers. The consequence
was that the large, heavy air-receiver which
stands upright and is some twenty feet high,
made of heavy boiler iron, was, from the
heavy blast of air, violently thrown over
against the new brick structure, knocking
large lot of brick and mortar through to the
inside and against Jesse Hall. He thrown
nearly against the large ny-wheel, which
would probably have proved fatal to him if
Harry Procunio had not taken the precau
ton to have good substantial railing put
around it. Mr.. Procunio did not let the boys
loose much time. That is right, Harry, Il
good many's bread and butter depends on
your ready mind and skilled hands.
Valentine Birtley, the father of our mine
captain, has control of all the timber that is
put up. He has a gang of men under him
who do nothing but execute the work laid
out by him. Some of the most substantial
timbering is done in the Pilot Knob mine,
and a large number of "chucks" have been
built. 4 ''chuck" is a kind of crib, put up
and notched in the corner, just as if you
were going to build a strong, substantial
log house. The logs used were from II to Is
inches in diameter, and the chucks differ in
sizes; 1Sx20, 12x14, l0x12, and so on, ac-
cording to the condition of the roof of the
tunnel. They are filed with rock or poor
ore as they are built up. When they have
reached the roof, they are firmly wedged I'M
der and against it, SO you see they are al
most solid pillars. Dir. Birtley is native of
England. His life, up to the present, has
been spent in the mining business. He came
to this country in 1912, and settled in the
coal region of Pennsy lyania, where he owns
a comfortable property. The old gentleman
is now sixty eight years old. Since he came
here, something over n year ago, he has
proved his capability and energy. You will |
never miss finding him at his post-rain or
shine, hot or cold.
Railroad Racket