The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-28

The Coal Trade Journal says In an
article on improvements being made
by the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western company
",rhs company, through the super
intendent, II. r. 1.oomis, is making
two quiet radical departures from
time worn methods. Instead of lining
their shafts with timber as has been
the custom, they are using concrete
with expanded metal. BY the use of
this expanded metal it becomes prac-
tical to refine an old shaft at COM
parativelysmall expense. The are now
reclining an old shaft with concrete
twelve inches thick in conjunction with
expanded metal, and experiments have
demonstrated that they obtain a shaft
lining with much greater tensile
strength than they would by using
pine timbers. They are able to do the
work much quicker, thereby avoiding
the necessity for shutting down the
mine for a long period, and the work Is
done at u cost that compares favor
ably with that of pine timber lining,
and when the work is completed they
have a permanent job. This plan of
construction has never been used in
this connection before. and 1T is be-
lleved that it's introduction will fill a
long felt want.
"Another departure from the time
worn custom is the erection of an
electrically equipped breaker: each
machine being driven by an individual
motor. In speaking of this Mr.. Loomis
stated that from the figures they had
made the cost of epuipping breaker
Il ho act
of equpping a breaker with the neces-
sary engines. shafting and betting, as
by dispensing with the shafting and
betting they would be able to effect
quite a saving in the use of timber in
their construction, as they do not have
to build as heavy; the motors being
direct BY equipping plant
in this way they will effect Il big saw
ing in the use of steam and eventually
in localities where they have a number
of breakers their intention is to operate
them with one centrally located cleo
trio plant.
"Tn addition to the radical departures
mentioned above, they are erecting
new boiler plants with a capacity of
over 10000 horse power. The principal
plant Is to be located at the Hampton
mine, with capacity of 5000 horse
power. 1t is proposed, with the steam
generated at this plant, to furnish
steam to six different collieries the
openings Of which are conveniently
near.
1.-The Delaware, LackaWanna and
Western have also under way, and
the engineers are at work upon it, a
plan to change the drainage, whereby
it is proposed to centralize all their
water in what is known as the Keyscr
Valley. to one common point. or
"sump." and then hoist the water with
enormous buckets. instead of pumping
it to the surface from the dozen differ
cnt points as at present BY this ar
rangement they will abandon the use
of between thirty and forty pumps,
some Of which are of good size.
"The Delaware. Lackawana and
Western is introducing electricity
generally in its mines: using it for
haulage purposes, pumping, plane
hoists. etc. and have recently installed
in their mine at Avondalc the largest
electric pump ever erected in the
world. This pump has a capacity of
1,O00,000 gallons per day to vertical
heighth of 500 feet. 1t was manufac-
tured by the Jeansville Iron Works
Co."