The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-15
NINE, MILL AND RAILROAD.

A small party of determined mine off,
cials entered the water level tunnel of
the burning Luke Fidler colliery at
Shamokin Monday and made three
desperate attempts to find some trace
of the bodies of the four workmen who
lost their lives there just a month ago,
but their efforts were fruitless. There
was plenty of evidence, however, of
the fearful fire that had ragged in the
interior of the mine and the searchers
have reason to believe that the fire is
still burning above the water level and
dams are now being constructed in or
der to force the water to a vertical height
of 100 feet above this tunnel. An idea of
the immense quantity of water required
to extinguished this fire can be obtained,
says the Dispatch. by considering that
from 10000, 900 to $4,000, 900 gallons have
been run into the mine each day for a
period of thirty-four days and the water
is still 200 feet below the water level.
The vertical height already filled with
water aggregates about $50 feet and 300
feet remain to be filled up before the
mining experts will feel satisfied that
the flames have been entirely extin-
guished.
Anthracite collieries are now being
worked to about two-thirds' or three
fourths of their capacity, though un-
limited production is now being allowed.
But many of the companies are short of
coal cars, and are endeavoring to in
crease the supply by bringing into use
box or freight cars of every description,
and in one case at least the Lacka-
wanna) fiat cars, with common plank
sides, have been pressed into service.
The Reading last week shipped 1l,745
tons of anthracite less than it did in the
same week last year, or total of 1885,
534 tons, against 30S, ,2S0 tons last year.
But for the company's light supply of
cars the shipments would have been
very much larger. So far this year 1t
has shipped 1f,551,1 tons of coal,
decrease as companred with the cores
ponding period last year of SG9, l4S tons.
Superintendent Baker of the Cornwall
ore furnaces tells a Lebanon Report
man that he does not anticipate many
material changes at those furnaces as
result of the starting up of the South
works of the Lackawanna Iron and
Steel company in this city. The i'm
provements previously outlined for No.
2 are being rapidly accomplished, and
many others will follow. Condensers
are to be placed in position, the water
of the tuyeres being used, increasing
the engine capacity from twenty-five to
thirty pounds. The stoves are to be al
most entirely rebuilt, so worn have they
become. The old gas system of roast
ing will be relegated to the desert of
the junk dealer, to be replaced with the
most modern new one-in which gas
also will be used-the Davis patent.
Upon the completion of No. 2 No l will
be blown out, to undergo similar treat
ment, when both furnaces may be put
down as moderniZed to date with the
latest and most approved methods.
All four stoves will be arranged so that
they may be used on either furnaces.
The premises will, when everything is
done, be treated to q thorough painting.
The railroads of Nebraska have re-
ceived decided setback from the deci-
sion declaring the maximum freight
law constitutional, although the court
finds that the reduction in rates as
fixed Is excessive, and the operation of
the low rates is suspended. In effect,
the decision supports the position taken
by the Nebraska railroad commission,
and the latter, says the Commercial Ad-
vertiser, are not likely to concede to the
railroads any points that they can pos
sibly avoid SO far as rates are con-
cerned. The decision, while it recog-
nizes the injustice of the rates as es-
tablished by the commission and con-
tested by the railroads, affords the latter
no remedy. The suspension of the en-
forcement of the low rates will at best
be only temporary, and the fact that
the obnoxious law has been declared
constitutional Is blow at railroad in
vestments in Nebraska and other west
ern states where the railroad commits
sions are openly favorable to the gran
ger element and equally open in their
hostility to the railroads. The decision
comes at time when the railroads of
the country are making an earnest
effort to regain some of the income lost
during the past year and a half, through
an adjustment of rates to basis which
shall be mutually just to the shipper
and carrier.
The old story that the Canadian Pa
cific is preparing plans to build an in
dependent line to Buffalo has beeen re-
vived, and just now appears to have
for its basis the transfer of real estate
at Niagara Falls and near Buffalo.
The story has 1t that new bridge will
be built over the Niagara river for the
Canadian line. 1t is hardly necessary
to say that there is nothing to confirm
the report.
MINOR INDUSTRIAL NOTES:
Murray, Dougal & Co., and the Car
isle Manufacturing company, will build