The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-24
INDUSTRIAL NEWS.

The immense basin of water which
has submerged the Old Sugarloaf slope
for almost a quarter of a century was
successfully tapped into the water
shaft at No. 40 slope Thursday eve
ming at 8 o'clock, says the Hazleton
Standard. A bore hole had been driven
for a distance of 1885 feet, all this
being accomplished under great diff
ficulties. When the wild rush of water
gushed forth the noise made thereby
somewhat resembled a miniature wat
erfall, and fears were entertained by
many old miners and those in charge
of the enterprise that serious damage
might result. But fortunately, all that
occurred was that the machinery was
moved somewhat out of it's regular po-
sition. The water was stopped in the
presence of General Superintendent
Caleb Williams and Mine Foreman
Thomas Williams, of the Lehigh Coal
company, both of whom have been
charge Of similar enterprises in years
gone by. 1t was the most remarkable
feat of engineering skill of modern
times, and by 1t many dangers are
now averted. Several other holes to
assist in draining the water from Old
Sugarloaf will be completed in the
near future, and it may be that many
acres of coal that are now undeveloped
may yet be mined and prepared for
market.
G. NJ. Williams, of Wilkes Barre, the
present mine inspector of that district,
is the only applicant from that section
for the superintendency of the newly
erected bureau of mines. Reese Lloyd,
of Drifton, has some friends who are
working to have him appointed to place
in the bureau. A we'll known Rcpub-
lican who takes an interest in state
politics, told Hazleton Plain-Speaker
man the other day: "Mr. Williams
seems to stand very we'll in this sec
tion but Mr. Mansfield, the member
who introduced the bill, is working for
the appointment of a soft coal man
and Senators Quay and Hanna as well
as a horde of congressman and state
senators are also in favor of the Of
| flee being filled by a soft coal man.
| They seem to think that the depart
| ment will be of great benefit to the
| bituminous region and that it's duties
| as far as the anthracite regions are
| concerned will be merely perfunctory.'
The men engaged in the proving OF
the Mclaughlin coal tract near Halle
ton have adopted a new method tC
prove the depth and quality of the
underlying mineral deposit which i:
thought to exist there. 1t is the drill.
ing Of a hole by hand, which is cal
culated to give the same satisfaction
in the way of revealing the dusky
strata as would a shaft or slope which
would cost ten times as much. Tht
hole can be drilled over so feet in thi!
manner and although the earth hat
been penetrated but a short distance
there are already bright prospects o
realization of expectations as far a!
| the discovery of coal is concerned.
Superintendent p. F. Brennan reports
that about 600 aliens are employed IL
the seven mines of the Reading Goa
and Iron company in the Shamokir
district. A big majority of these alien
are of the Slavonic races, but the new
alien labor law is showing that quit
a number of English, Welsh and Irisl
workmen have failed to take out thei
naturalization papers.
The lessees of a portion of the Tresc
kow coal tract are said to be pre-
pairing plans and specifications for tn
erection of a breaker somewhat large
than the Ducky Diamond, at Beave
| Brook