Omaha daily bee., 1890-06-18
The Coal Fields at Newcastle.

B. g. M. SPECIAL NEWSPAPER TRAIN, NEW
CASTLE, Wyo., June lG.-[Specal to THE
BEE. Newcastle is the county seat Of Wes-
ton county and is now one of the most i'm
portant cities in Wyoming. 1t is situated
midway ON canon, at the head of which lies
the great coal fields of that section. 1t was
only two years ago that an aggregation of
some fifteen shanties, located about mile
and u half further down the ravine, obtained
the name of Tub Town" on account
of its tough reputation OF the
fifteen houses, dozen or more
were conducted as saloons and gambling
dens where the ranchmen of the neighbor-
hood could "blow i'm their hard earned dol
lars. But when the coal fields were discov-
cred the population moved up the canon to
the present site of Newcastle and founded
that city Strange to say, the shanties have
been converted for the most part into fair-look-
ing frame buildings. brick yard has been
in operation for some time and has furnished
material for four or five brick blocks. AL
though the population has increased enor-
mously, the number of liquor dealers has only
run up TO sixteen, but these manage to fur
nish liquid refreshments for all who desire it,
There are n number of stores III the place,
many of which attempt to attract custom by
sensational signs. The most unique is this
Kirkpatrick Brothers Il Collins,
DEALERS IN EvERYTnING,'
ana IulS uOeS nOJ go ldr iTOlu thc tfuJI, lOE
this firm may be said TO own the whole town.
The briclIyard the coal mines, the saw mill,
all belong to the same firm.
The canon rises at the back Of the city. It's
sides show the stratited sandstone, from
which huge pines tower toward the sky. AT
its head lies Cambria, the small settlement
where the men employed IN the coal
mine live This mine is really the great
wealth and resource of the country and is at
the same time the most interesting TO the Vis-
"A lssg.lg RNH -,
this industry and as yet the mines have only
been begun. The men live together in cot
tages and eat in common hall. 1t Is long
one-story frame building
WHERE THREE HUNDRED MEN ARE FED
at one time. Inside are rows of tables be-
side which are placed innumerable benches
without backs, The walls are decorated
with appropriate mottos such as "Lean to
labor and to wait, Y or "He who does his best
does nobly, angels could do no more"
There are two mines, one on each side OF
the canon, at about the same height from the
bottom of the canon 1t Is supposed that
they consisted of the same vein ages ago be.
fore erosion took place. The fact that one
rises slightly and the other falls, seems to
confirm this theory. The entrance TO the
mine goes through a large layer of ash or
burned coal betora the real coal Is reached.
The main shaft in the Jumbo mine goes !, 100
feet on straight line, From this extends
COAL IL EVERY DIRECTION.
The whole plateau covers a layer of coal
varying in thickness from seven TO nine feet.
Hence every few feet side chambers are
driven at each side opening into tunnels run
ming parallel 10 the main shaft. The railroad
for the coal cars is extended into each of the
chambers. The coal glistens in huge un-
broken masses OF extraordinary hardness.
The machinery TO work the mine Is placed
outside the mouth at the bottom of the canon.
From the huge boilers the power is converted
into steam, and then TO compressed air, by
which the mining drills are operated. The
solid walls are taken out
SIX FEET AT ONE TIME.
An intricate cOntriyance gradually works a
steel cylinder fitted with bits under the mass
of coal. AT the top of the vein round augurs
are driven TO AN equal depth by similar ma
Chinery, The holes thus made are filled with
powder ana the blast driven down the blocks
of coal. IL is then loaded upon carts ana car
ried into the main shaft by the aid OF mules.
The ear is then pushed outside and runs along
high trellis work 10 the dump, Hero the
load is automatically overturned. lEe hne
coal falls down chute 10 the railroad cars