The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-27
COAL INTERESTS.
The Product OF Pennsylvania An
thracitc Basin the Finest in the
World =. Cheap Fuel for Steam
Power,

Power.
The danger, labor and expense in
CURED in the mining and preparation
of anthracite coal for market is real
lied by few people who use coal for
domestic purposes or for the generation
OF steam. Even In the home of the
coal industry not many persons COM
prehehd the magnitude of the under
taking, and were it not for the i'm
proved machinery that has been util-
izsd of late IL would be impossible to
mine coal at a profit at the present
prices. Many are perhaps also ignor-
ant of the fact that the entire supply
Of anthracite coal for the world comes
from Eastern Pennsylvania, the coal
belt extending to Lackawanna, Lu-
zcrne, Schuylkill and Carbon counties.
Small beds are also found in Sullivan
county and on the borders Of Wayne
and Susquehanna. But while immense
quantities OF anthracite are shipped
from the lower coal beds of the belt It
is probable that the Scranton product
leads all others In quality. In the
markets of the world the coal from the
Lackawanna has a reputation for pur-
ity and freedom from other minerals
pecially for domestic purposes. Strange
as II may seem, the best beds of coal
for domestic purposes have thus far
been found on the west side Of the
l4aCkawdnna river and so thoroughly
have these beds been worked over, it
Is stated that were few feet Of bar
riers removed between the different
mines, one could walk from Priceburg
N N1Or ha pf Of
distance Of seven or eight mil5s,through
the various workings without coming
to the surface. From n point on
Petersburg lin, near Laurel Hill Park
twenty-five coal breakers appear in
view up and down the valley within n
distance of five miles. These black,
uncouth shafts that mar an otherwise
beautiful landscape, though not pleas
ing to the vision Of the aesthetic. are
dear to the hearts Of the people, as
they stand out against the clear skies,
monuments OF the industry that af-
fords employment for thousands. and
the fountains from which the enter
rrises OF Scranton draw life.
Anthracite coal is mined by two
methods. In the early days of coal
digging in the Lackawanna valley.
when the product cropped out from al
most every ledge of rocks ereabouts,
the slope mining. which is least expan-
sive. was the mode employed. a vein
of coal which hlossomed out on the
mountain or hillside, was followed by q
tunnel, and the coal was taken out in
little cars, which were drawn by dom
keys or were allowed to be propelled
by their own weight down q slight in
cline in the drift. A number OF opera
tors In this vicitiny who work on a
small scale and mine coal foT domestic
purposes, still work In slopes. The
richer veins, however, are reached by
the shafts, which are sunk hundreds
OF feet below the surface.
The coal basin of the Lackawanna
region contains seven veins, varying in
thickness and depth. The first is
Gales the diamond vein. This is sit
ua'ed at a depth of about 100 feet. and
frequently crops out on the surface.
The diamond vein Is usually about
seven feet thick. Sinking the shaft an
other hundred feet the rock vein which