The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1899-09-02

The luxury OF electric lights does not
invade these old world precints.
The lie blood OF Cambria flows In
10 and out through the great net work
Of machinery called the "tipple' which
10 the fret wonder Of the seven or more
to be seen In Cambria, and is with all
its bulkiness. delicstely and Ingenious
ly contrived affair. The entrances Ia
the Antelope mine on the west and to
the Jumbo on the east side OF the cen.
yon are apparently connected by q high
trestle work which holds up two sets Of
tracke, one above the other. The load.
ed cars come out Of the mines Oh the
upper track and clip down the eight
grade to the tipple proper; here the coal
is dumped and passed through sort OF
-four mill process Of crushing and sitting
until finally it is emptied into the cars
below. The funny little cart holds
over two tons, however--goes, apparent
ly OF its own accord and volition, to the
lower track and there waits till all the
cars are in line again and the "trip
goes ill.,. "Trip" 10 the first word you
hear in Cambria, and you watch the
string OF cars come out on the trestle
with some interest. But you do not
know much about the "trip" until you
have stood In the power house and seen
the wire rope winding and unwinding on
the big spools-ss swiftly az you wind
the bobbin on your machine--and later
have Rugged the wall in an entry Of the
mine and have heard the "trip" 80 past
-whizz! You cannot count the cars
Then you have considerable respect for
the "trip" You can ride In on the
trip" II you think you want to and can
get permission Of the superintendent
The main track Of the Antelope mine
goes through one hill which is all work.
ed out. then across bridge and into
another hill. The man at the cables
knows bis ropes 20 thoroughly that be
can tell where to slow up the little en-
gineless train far of In the darkness,
and does not need to wait for the cleo
trio bell to warn him to stop the wheels
Z There are two ways to explore the
mines. One is to 60 In at night with q
party Of young people AND appropriately
rugged up with miners lamp on your
head. The other is to 60 in during the
day when more men are at work. Miss
Martha Hasee and myself enjoyed the
privilege Of trying both methods. The
principle result to be gained BY the first
is face 90 blackened by the miners
lamp grouse applied through the in.
strumentality Of tormenting boys that
getting it of 10 just about question Of
getting the skin OF. Away down 10 q
narrow entry, though. you may hear the
"chug. cbug.chug" of the puncher." It
is most fascinating machine. small
cannon shaped affair, with sort Of
beak which runs In and out, punching
the coal down. The black faced miner
who sits fat on the low wooden puncher
table and holds the vicious thing be.
tween his knees IL q skilled laborer and
gets paid by the car, making very good
wages. The machine 10 run by the
compressed air sent down from the big
engines far away. 1t eats out the coal
low down next to the floor and then
blasting does the rest. Drilling for q
blast was one Of the sights we esw-aud
heard, for there 10 nothing more deafeu.
ing-in our day time trip when We were
kindly shown some Of the wonders Of
this underground city OF Jumbo by
fhraa nanflaman who knAW ayaIY street.