The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1892-06-06
Geological Expedition.

i solos - "a peuiuoh.
One of the most ENJOYABLE trips OF
the season vas taken bv the geology
class, of the N. FEW weeks
age.
On the 18th OF May the party left
MorgantoWn on the early train aud
proceeded To Monongal. When
we arrived here after depositing our
baggage ~ The office, We proceeded
up the railroad to examine the coal
that crops out OF the large hIuffs on
the southeast ~ the town. Having
dome this we returned 10 The Office
and prax eetled to goI into tile mines.
Ihe mines are laid BIT very much
like the streets Of i town, consisting
l0tpae main shaft about two thouss
aud ffeet iang Will I've ~ 81 snail
r. g1s3 4 joining We main unf g.
81 =. g. |Er.{ SAt1l [S66l 1xaIIF
Occur N t.1e rocks b this nline There
Il usually an Immense quantity Of
gas Confined IL these places and when
the drill strikes them Of course there
u q powerful explosion and the gas
escapes. " examined carefully the
electric drilling and also the pumps
Brother Hughes was the first Of our
party to have an accident. While
examining the electrical pump, he
walked out on trestle over the water.
The electric wires were very near his
l. u II ~ 4 = X -
mead All OF sudden he plunged
into the water. He succeeded in
catching himself and with the assis-
lance OF several OF the party got out
all right Although Brother Hughes
IS very tai, ne was unable to touch
botgom. Mine no. Is one OF the
best equipped nthe State Most all
81 the work ls performed with cleo
trlcIty Its capacity is eight hun
dred tons per day.
The coal after blasting is loaded
On cars and drawn near the mouth
OF the mine with mules. It is then
drawn up to the elevator, 8 distance
OF two hundred yards, by cable.
Inc cars are dumped the fine coal
being separated from the lump. The
lump coal is placed in cars and ship
ped away for fuel purposes. The fine
coal is ground into powder, washed
thoroughly with water to remove the
sulphur and shale. Is then transpor-
ted to the ovens and burnt into coke.
After leaving the mine we visited the
Air Pump. This pumps the air out
OF the mine, other air rushes in the
mouth Of the mine to take its place.
50 that there is constant stream of
pure air through the mine all the
time. After examining the high cliffs
near the town, we returned to Fair
mont for dinner We then went to
Clarksburg, changed cars to the W..
Va. d Pittsburg road and arrived
that night at Buckhannon. Mr.. Farms
worth, one OF our Regents, invited us
over to his handsome residence AZ
ter spending several enjoyable honrs
with him and bis entertaining family,
we retired for the night to our hotel.
The next morning we started at 6
o'clock and walked to the mouth Of
the Buekhannon river distance of
fourteen miles Seeing boat on the
opposite side OF the river and not be,
ing able to get any one to bring it to
us Brother Holbert attempted to
swim the river and get it. But the
current was very swift, and the water
50 cold, that when he was three
fourths OF the way across, his hands
and feet became numb; becoming
strangled. be followed for help. All
OF us q course were very much excl
ted Brother Minshal jumped into
the water with his clothes on, and
rushed to his rescue. Mr.. Holbert
however had taken board along
with him and with the aid of this
succeeded in getting oateof the curs
rent and reaching the shore D
The next morning we arrived at
Elkins about Up o'clock, having come
up the Tygart Valley river, which
has the Widest scenery we ever
saw, There areItremendons bould
ers OF dislntegration, some fifty feet
cube, standing in the centre of the
river. Elkins is.beautifully situated
in the centre Of Tygart Valley. 1t is
surrounded blythe great rich noun
tains, where one Of the great battles
OF the war was fought. On the East
OF the town stands Secretary Elkins'
house, also that of Henry 6. Davis,
which is under construction. Secre-
tary Elkins' house is one ofthe largest
and most MAGNIFICENT. in the State