The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-17
RECLAIMING LOST COAL.
Profits Now Made Out OF Waste Heaps In tho
Pennsylvania Anthracite Region.

" EhhuOo ht Us NNehNo aNNI IN ~
Pennsyivnnin Anthracite Region.
READING, Oct. 16.-The Reading Railroad
Company has begun tho work OF rcclaimine
the great masses of anthracite coal now buried
in the mountains of coal dirt scattered all over
tho Schuylkill coal basin. During the season
Just closing 90, 600 tons of good coal were re-
claimed from the coal dirt near kalmia colliery
alone. Kalmia colliery is now abandoned as n
coal mine. having been worked out. 1t was ono
OF tho very best OF the Reading Coal and Iron
Company's properties in the west end, and its
product was vast in the many years of its
active operation. Now the company has turned
its attention to retaining tho coal in the dirt
mountain at the collicry. Suitable washcry
machines were put in. and quantities of first
class coal are being taken out of what was consid-
cred n great black mass OF worthless dirt.
There is no way of estimating the weight OF
all these mountains of coal dirt in the three
Pennsylvania anthracite coal basins, but they
are all valuable, especially where there is n
plentiful supply OF water. In recent years the
discovery has been made that pea coal is n first
class fuel. They now take out and classify not
only pea coal, but buckwheat and rice as well.
The company is able to mako at least 81 clear
profit a ton on this washed coal, which would
make 10000 clear profit on the Kalmia
washery alone. individuals have gone into the
business, and the Bertollette Brothers of Girards-
vile are doing very well. shipping as high as
sixteen cars u day. In n short time. it is prob
able, many more will be engaged in washing out
good coal from these dirt heaps, some of which
arc 200 feet in height and cover ten acres.
At one big dirt bank n very rich find has
Tor lump coal for United States vessels of war
was so great that several Of the Reading Rail
road collieries could not stop to bother with
small coal. The rush for lump and
necessitatcd tho pushing of small coal out OF
| the way in order to hurry up the shipments of
the big coal. This small coal went out on the
bank and was soon covered up by the dirt from
the breakers. and buried out OF sight, to remain
there for thirty-five years. II has now been dis
covered and it is thought. may prove worth hun
little work to run coal through the newly patent
ed washeries. Hence machinery is now used in
washing and separating coal. not only ut coal
dirt banks, but also at the mines. Coal just
mined is brought up into the breakers and
thoroughly washed, and is put on tho cars
bright, clean. and sparkling.
the Mountains of coal dirt alone. 1t is estimated
that beds OF the abandoned canal and Schuyl.
kill River, between Schuykill Haven and Port
ing in size from buckwheat to nut. At different
places along the Schuyikill and old canal south
OF the old navigation landing at ,Schuylkill
taken out. and there 10 not q week day that
men, women. and children are not seen digging
and sieving the culm.
At Landingville John Hickman and William
MaudberGer, have a small washery. 1t is n
sort of combination OF SCOOP, screen. and wash
cry. Whom there 10 sufficient water the scoop
water are deposited in the screen together. In
this way they manage to. get out from five to
six tons a day. little further north there is
another ,washery of n similar kind. excepting
that 1t has q capacity Of about ten tons q day.
This is owned by David ReinboltZ & Brothers.
The amount OF fuol obtained from this source is
tween rice and pea. although there is some nut
taken out