Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-12-10
COAL MINING IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Two Recognized Methods of Working
out C"al-Daugrrous subsistence.

Two Recognized Methods OF working
out C"al-Daugrrous subsistence.
The alarming s.bsidehce W. ch took
place some time ago in Scotland, on the
NoltA British railway, near Prestonpans
and which was fortunately unattended
by any accident has doubtless added
fresh source Of fear TO the nervous rail-
way passenger. That the permanent
way of a railway for distance of about
fifty yards should suddenly sink to the
extent oil two feet is almost incompre-
hensible at first; and had this subsistence
occurred while the train was passing in
stead of Immediately afterward, the
consequences might have been dis
astrous. 1t is the case, however, though
it may not be generally known, that
ubsidences-fortunatel only gradual
and comparatively inappreciable-are
taking place over many of our railway
lines, and that minerals" are actually
being extracted from underneath nearly
every line of railway under which there
is any mineral TO get.
There are two recognized methods Of
working out coal. The old method is
what is known as the "stoOp-and-room"
or "pillar-and- broom" system; and the
method introduced into Scotland about
the beginning Of the present century is
known as the "longwall" or shropshire"
system of working. The first system
explains itself by its name. After the
bed of coal is struck, rooms" are worked
out, leaving pillars" or Stops to sup
port the superintendent strata. The OBJ
ject to be attained in this system, as
practiced in the olden times, was to
have large room worked out and as
small stoop or pillar of the coal itself
left, as was consistent with the safety of
the mine and the support of the surface,
while the mine was open.
But this system entailed the entire
loss of the pillars SO left. To obviate
this loss, the method now generally
adopted is to drive narrow rooms OF
passages seldom exceeding fourteen
feet, through the seam, leaving large
pillars-about rs per cent. of the min
eral-until the extremity of the availa-
bic coal is reached. When, however
no regard is to be had for the surface,
and the coal has thus worked out as fai
as can be done, the miner commences tC
work backward, taking out the stoopS Oh
, pillars as he goes. The whole roof OF
the mine then comes down; and this is
the most dangerous kind of subsistence
1t does not take effect Immediately above
the place where STOPPING" has been go
ing on, but it also draws rounC
about it,
, The "longwall, or Shropshire method
) of working, is what is known as tn
system OF complete excavation; that is
= the miner takes out the whole coal as h
proceeds, leaving perhaps only foot o
the roof, should the everything strata b
soft, and props up passage with woodei
r supports as he proceeds, to enable hin
5 to keep an open way to the face of tn
! coal The portions worked out ar
e packed on eacA side of the road" wit
: the waste material taken out with tn
e coal. This method of working, thong
. it necessarily implies subsistence, Is 0
e the whole the safest for the surface, an
IA is generally the one adopted. In fac
e as mineral landlords are paid, in lieu {
S rent, a royalty or lordship on every to
r of coal or other mineral brought to tn
l. surface, and as the tenant can NOR
e quickly extract the mineral by I'll
y wooden prop method, he is general
e bound IN his lease 20 work in this mai
It ner, when practicable. -Chamber Jou
l. nal.