Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-11-28


N planning and ability in execution
can accomplish. The work speaks
for itself
The economy pracuced in the dis
tribution of the curves and the sol
idity of the road are very noticeable.
There are no weak places or temper
airy bridges. In fact, there is but
one trestle of any kind on the entire
road. and that is where the track
crosses the wagon road. Mr.. Will
Wigelesworth has reason to be proud
of the result of his labors.
Candles and lamps were distribut-
ed, and in We went, through the
main entry. The first thing to at
the mouth of the mine and extending
some distance back. The supports
We're timbers some 20 inches in di-
ameter. 1t was certainly fine work
Then we went down vast tunnels
| and through long passages and back
and forth until all sense of direction
was lost.
| The trip was impressive and inter
esting The lights CLEANED weirdly
on the peoples faces, which looked
dead white against the shining black
walls. Many of those present had
never before visited mine. To
these it was wonder unspeakable.
They did not do any adventuring.
either, but looked and looked and
kept very near the rest of the party
For short distance along the main
entry the walls are trife rusty with
a deposit of iron on the surface. The
| rest of the way you may walk and
| walk and walk with walls of solid
coal on either side. Not a particle
of bone or foreign substance of any
kind is to be seen in the glistening
black walls. The vein is eight feet
thick of absolutely clean coal.
1t is certainly magnificent both as
to quality and quantity. as the sup
ply is practically inexhaustible. OF
these points there is no question. as
any one who takes the trouble to
look can see for himself. Making
a general estimate from the facts
noted. there must be coal in sufficient
quantities. allowing for largely in
creased output to last for the next
rs to 100 years. The present ca
pacity is 1900 tons per day.
The main entries run north and
south, or nearly so, and are something
over two miles in length. The lat
terals average " miles in length.
From side to side the mine extends
31a miles. while it runs 21s miles
through the mountain. The distance
between the rooms Is AZ feet.
/ l., nr hn ~e
which is easy to see is practically in
exhaustible. We were told that be-
tween 13 and IA million tons have al
ready been blocked out.
There's few in our family who
wouldn't mind" our guide said, with
a laugh.
The fresh air system belonging to
The mine is very satisfactory. Large
air courses connected with the out
side admit 10000 cubic feet of fresh
air per minute. This is regulated
by means of heavy curtains. This
method is undoubtedly very success
ful.
There is no gas whatever, so that
no special precaution in safety light
ing is necessary. Ordinary candles
and oakum lamps are used.
The mine ears are very large.
holding three tons. They run on
36-inch track, the standard railroad
guage. Since the coal veins are so
large, the company finds this large
size car most convenient, and can
manipulate them easily.
One other noticeable feature, not
true of all coal mines. was that it was
perfectly dry. 1t made our under
ground travelling very easy and more
pleasant than on some other occas-
ions.
The facts and figures given above
have been, SO far. descriptive of mine
No. 3, upon which most work has
been done.
In mines No. l and 2 the veins are
not so large. nor are they so fully
developed. Mine No. has about
2a miles of workings. while in mine
No. / there are about COO feet
The company is adding many new
Improvements. A stone building. "a
X 80 to be used as an office, is almost
completed. Another building, also
stone, 80 40 feet. will contain dining
room and cook house when complet-
ed. A bunk house, same dimensions
and material has also been started
A steel tipple, with a capacity of
screening 5000 tons of coal per day.
is being put up. The machinery is
already in place. standard guage
Fairbanks track scale is also being
added.
| After visiting the mine Mr. George
w. Franklin introduced Attorney N
C. Miller, who represented the city Of
Durango in short but eloquent ad-
dress. That the audience agreed
with the speaker was evident from
the enthusiastic applause.
Mr.. Miller said he was glad OF the
opportunity to show the city's appre-
ciati,n n of the very efficient aid the
Boston Coal & Fuel Co. were giving
to Durango in developing the town