The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-17


what ire miners call an "airway" This
is similar 20 the gutter OF a street only
II is separated from the main passage by
the leyzrer side tiEnbers and is used for
ventilation. and also 10 carry of accurn-
ulate1 water from the subterranean
springs
TIE vein along which this gangway
runs is termed No. :, and Will average
five feet three inches in thickness. There
is being driven a tunnel uxT feet, from
No. 10 vein No. !, in southeriy dirsc-
ton az right angles TO the strike of the
vein At present IL is ITO feet long, and
has been driven through solid sandstone.
About I00 feet are made each month.
When No. ! IS reached the tunnel viii
be extended on 10 what is known as the
Bagley vein
one OF the most interesting features Of
the ganEway from which the tunnel Just
mentioned runs is a duplex pump locat-
ed in a niche about forty feet from the
foot Of the slope. The steam end is
1sxl3 inches, and the water end has a
diameter OF eight and one-half inches.
A three-inch steam pipe runs from this
pump 10 the surface, and IS connected
with the main engine boiler. II is this
piece of machinery that keeps the mine
dry. and il il sufficiently large and pow
orful TO handle six times the amount Of
watr in the mines.
Into a Haven of safety.
on the opposite side OF the gangway
some distance further in is located
''manway' that runs go feet 20 the top OF
the ground. This has sort of ladder its
entire way. and In case OF accidents in
the mine offers an avenue OF escape. Su-
perintendcnt Corev has located this "ha-
ven OF refuge about loo feet from the
slope and there Is such a large body OF
OF the unforeseen ever closing n up by
pressure from the sides.
After the party had fully explored the
east gaugway IL retraced its steps and
went into the west passage OF the same
general name. Imagine the surprise or
the initiated on hearing a most unearthly
noise that sounded like some animal in
terrible distress Underground Foreman
William Ham. who had Joined the party.
laughed heartily. and said he would ex-
hibit the progenitor of the disturbance.
Then he led the way to a small side pass
age that went up into the side OF the gang
way by means OF steps and showed a reg
ular stable filed with fat and apparently
innocent mules. over the stall OF each
long-eared animal appeared names from
which the following were picked: Prince,
Molne. Fannie. Harry. Dolly and Nellie.
Prince had a wicked look in his eye. and
his visitors a parting shot with one of his
hoofs. These animals work on, day in and
day out. in darkness or artificial light, I'M
I'll death takes them or they receive some
injury.
A Vein of Clear Coal.
Just outside the stable the coal vein is
fully ) feet inches. and shows up as
pretty a body of clear coal as could be
asked for. A few feet further along the
passage is an "airway," which is connect
ed with a large fan on the surface. In or
der TO establish this way" a tunnel 600
feet long. 5 feet wide and 5l3 feet high had
TO be made through solid rock. The huge
fan at the surface draws the air up with
a rush and to stand in the draft makes
one think Of mall windstorm. At this
time it was running at only a. fractional
part OF its power.
This gangway is SO feet long and along
it's sides which is also true of all gang
ways. at intervals of fifty feet are coal
Chutes. It is IN these. or more properly in
the breasts into which these lead, that tho
miners work their ten-hour shifts They
arc made by running tunnel UP into the
solid mass of coal for a short distance.
Then a regular wooden box chute is put
in, so that the coal as II drops out will fall
into the coal cars, which are run into the
gangway. From the top of the chute
commences the breast spoken of, and IS
the coal Is blasted out it is showed down
to the chute From one breast to another
are put in cross-cuts that may be used as
a means of escape in time of trouble. and
which are necessary to give ventilation.
Toboggauing In the Breasts.
To get into a breast" from the gang
way the trip although very brief is equal
" dirty. At the side of the chute is
little passage called a ''manway." and TO
20 up or down il one has 70 keep his
eyes open or he will strike hard in runner
Gus ways. II is not as ticklish, however,
crawling along 'manway" as 10 so
over the loose coal IN a breast. II the
coal should slide and the unlucky in
dividual fail to make a lodging he is
liable 10 land in the coal chute with more
or less disagreeable consequences. II was
a most interesting sight TO see the digni-
fed superintendent, Mr.. Corey. make haste
from the top OF a breast 10 the CORE
spending "manway." He wanted 10 get
down quickly. and slid. but not on his
feet II may be fun 10 go down to-
boggan chute. but when one is prepared
for Il and makes no mistakes Il cannot
he compared to sliding down a coal
breast.
Before starting for the surface Super
lntendent Corey led the way into vein
No s. which is situated 100 feet from No.
. horizontal measurement. The vein Is
five feet thick. and already TWO gang
ways are under way. \ tunnel IS being
run from No. north 20 vein no. 1.
Vein No 81 has already been passed,
which is seventy-six feet from No. g.
Vein No / will he reached in about four
weeks
The water level gangway Is 1860 feet
long and comes out OF ground ~ the
road south Of the village Through this
the water from the mine Is discharged.
once more having reached the surface,
an inspection was taken OF the coal bunk
era. combination tracks and endless chain
which was introduced by Mr.. Corey four
years ago.
Cars That Run Themselves.
When a car OF coal comes out Of the
mine il Is turned loose, and owing 10 the
ar~ar-ement Of tracks runs itself 70 the
hInkers. discharges and then returns TO
the endless chain 81 the mouth Of the
slope without human assistance. This
endless chain walks along with a sort or
hook and takes hold II the axle. with tho
result that the car IS hauled up on the
platform ready 70 so down into the mine
again The hosting engines are 2fx2s
inches. double cylinder 6-foot drum. -
feet long and good for a e.ooo- foot hoist.
The rone used IN hosting is l.-inch steel,
and able 70 sustain seven tons. The hoist