Bridgeton pioneer., 1894-08-02
AN OCCASIONAL.
What q BrtdgetOnian Saw in
Pennsy Ivania.
HANLEY, PA july 30. 1894.

nANLEf, IA July 81, 1914.
10 Editor Of Pioneer:--To one accus
toned to the fl 1t and level surface of
South Jersey this country would seem
strange and perhaps uninviting. This
village of 1000 inhabitants is situated
on branch of the Delaware river, the
stream dividing the village with the
canal on the right. The sides of the
mountains dotted here and there with
dwelling houses, presented to us q
beautiful and enhancing panorama.
A large silk mill, employing about
900 hands, mostly young girls and
women, is situated at the falls Of Pau
pack. THE turbine wheel which drives
the machinery of this mill Is 65 feet
below the level of the basement floor,
and was cut or blasted the whole dis
tance through solid rock. The water
from the falls falling upon the wheel
at the Bottom of the shaft passes
through a chute out below the falls.
The value and Importance OF these
falls are not appreciated by the peo
pie of Hanley as the vast amount of
water power Is not utilized only by
this silk will, large grist mill and the
cut glass factory of J. 8. Conner.
The town is unlighted, and how
they travel over the rough streets 10
the dark without falling. is a mystery.
There are three separate conduits of
pipes from primitive basins of soft
spring water In the sides of the mou n
tains, conveying water to the town by
the force of gravitation alone.
The cut glass factory employs a
large number of men In cutting the
clear plain glassware, blown at White
Mills, into many beautiful and expen-
sive wares. One piece of glass, a plain
punch bowl, was shown before any
cutting whatever was done, the ma.
terial alone of which cost $25.
Most of the cutting wheels are of
steel, revolving at a high rate of speed.
Most of the polishing wheels are of
wood. The third Fl Dor of this mill is
unoccupied but as a wareroom, but
our guide informed us with a smile
that they were going to use this also
as work room when Cleveland re-
tired.
The gravity road from Honesdale to
Carbondale, 16 miles one way and "a
miles the return, is pleasant one to
ride upon.
We crossed the street at the Homes
dale depot and boarded the car for
Carbondale, and found ourselves going
up an inclined plane OF about As de-
grees, drawn up this slope by an end
less wire rope, lying between this in
clined track.
When at the top the cars were re-
leased and down grade and around
curves we went until we arrived at
the bottom of the next slope and there
we found another stationary engine,
encle ssd in house beside the track
waiting to pull us up another slope.
Thus it was in succession until we
arrived at Carbondale. No heat, no
dust whatever.
The return track was on the other
side OF the hill. They make three
trips daily, Sunday excepted.
The views when at the top and
rounding the curves were magnificent.
As we came out into the valley and
wound around the side of the noun
tain, then forming loop, the different
coal mines and breakers came into
view.
We ran into Carbondale, then took
the electric car and returned part way
back to the Erie mine and breaker.
We succeeded in entering the mine,
going down the shaft on an open ele-
vator 165 feet to the bottom below
The mine Is lighted by electricity, cop
per wires with lights strung along the
sides Tney have an electric motor
drawing the loaded and empty cars to
and from the shaft. This mine mines
950 tons OF coal per day.
When the loaded car reaches the
bottom of the shaft, it is run on the
elevator and drawn up 165 feet above
level ground to the top of the building,
run on track to the breaker and
while in motion running over large
scales Is weighed by the weigher and
the weight of coal credited to the
miner whose tag was on the car when
weighed.
The ground around Hsnley, Homes
dale, Carbondale, Lake Ariel and
others seemed to be of good natural
quality where it was possible to culti-
vate, but looked as II it had been
farmed for ages without returning
anything to the soil.