Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-08

Those who sit before DIsA'uS Soo' "'o
on a freezing day scarcely ever stop to
,hink Of the varied aud prodigious
amount of labor required before that fuel
has become comfort. The only thought
ia that when the scuttle is empty that II
he rel Ienished, or when the bin is run
ming low to telephone the dealer that
more is needed 1t would be us' less ,any>
way. to ponder over the work that pro-
duced il, as much so as to unnecessarily
dwell upon the division of labor requisite
in any department OF industry.
The great coal fields of Pennsylvania
are the most extensive OF any yet dis
covered in America. Other Localities
have produced vast quantities, and there
are still localities undeveloped. but
which are known to contain immense
stores. Scattered about through the
whole of North America coal may be
found in greater or less quantities. and
different sections sometimes produce
different kind or quality. But the two
great divisions are known as anthracite
and bitnmiuous. or hard and soft coal.
OF the former the largest portion comes
from Pennsylvanis. In that state, how
ever, both kinds are found. The hard
coal OF Pennsy lvsDia is much dearer than
soft coal. and hence, in the west parlicu-
larly. is only used in the homes of the
more wealthy. as well as for special pur>
poses. In the state Of Illinois soft coal is
found in great abundsnce-the principal
mines being at Strestor. Braceville
Braidwood. Spring Valley. and some
other places. While these spoken of
may be looked upon as the largest, other
localities produce immense quantities
annually. and among these is the north~
west corner Of Mercer county. worked by
the Coal Valley Mining company This
not being an essay on coal. but some
facts concerning the business of the At
ter concern, further remarks will be cons
HneO 10 thdt exclusively.
About twenty SIX miles from Rock Is
land in a southeasterly direction lies the
little town of Gable, called after the fam
lily Of that name. the members OF which
being the principal owners of the coal
fields in that vicinity. The surrounding
country is billy and rugged-looking. and
the village is clean. cheerful and invit-
ing spot. Its principal business is de-
rived from the trade of the miners. 1t
contains schools and churches and pleas
ant homes. and has altogether an sir of
thrift and responsibility.
1t is unnecessary to go into history
of the company, the date of its incorpor-
alton. its earlier production. or other mst-
tiers not directly connected with the mines
themselves. Suffice it TO say that for
many years it has been in existence, and
that coal has been mined in the vicinity
but not exactly where the principal mine
now is. since the year 1865.
To explain in detail the manner
in which the coal is extracted the
machinery in use for that pur-
pose and the daily routine of the men
employed is not the present purpose. ex-
cept in general way.
Recently an ARGUS representative Wis.,
tied the mines. and expressing desire to
be shown through them he was enveloped
IN suit OF heavy blue jeans, all in one
piece, it seemed, from the neck to the
heels. AS he surveyed himself in this
toggery he was undecided whether he
looked more like q submarine diver or
one of the disciples Of Mrs. Jeanette
Miller in her modern costume for wo-
men. Thus arrayed he entered an eleYa-
tor to be lowered into the depths. The
mouth of the shaft is covered and sur
rounded by huge. grimy-looking build,
ing devoted TO purposes in connection
with the workings of the mine. He was
accompanied by the foreman, a practical
miner from England. who hss followed
the business since he was ten years Of
age. At a depth of sixty feet the lower
level at that particular place is reached.
II was the hour OF noon, and the work.
men were sitting about in groups taking
their midday meal, laughing, chatting
and otherwise enjoying themselves.
Each one carries small lighted lamp at
tsched to the front of his cap. otherwise
il would be as dark as Erebus. At one
side, hewed out OF the solid banks Of coal
is a blacksmith shop where few men
are constantly employed in sharpening
the picks or mending the tools OF the
workmen. Close by is an engine which
supplies the motive power for the cars
Straight, for three quarters OF mile to-
wards the north runs tunnel, probably
ten feet wide and high enough to admit
an ordinary sized man to stand erect.
This, too. is cut out of the solid mass of
coal. A track is laid its whole
length on which run the cars. bringing
ths coal from the furthest points in the
mine. These cars are run by a cable.
AT certain intervals along this lengthy
tunnel there are cross tunnels running at
right angles called entries, cut through
the coal beds in similar manner. In
fact, the whole area is like the streets In
q city. Along the sides of these cross
streets, as it were, excavations, or
rooms are cut in which the men are to
be found at work getting out the coal.
With pick assures are cut on each side
of huge block, powder introduced and
blsstings made, which shatter the great
mass, sometimes into small fragments and
into huge masses of coal.
These latter are broken into pieces suff-
'ieniiy small to handle, and the whole |
oaded into cars which are drawn through |
hese entrances by mules that stand to be |
He'd al the mouth nj the avoaya,inn IT,