Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-12-31
A VISIT TO THE BANKS
Fred Mensch Investigates Color
ado's Fuel Source.


utterly dependant on the coal supply
ior their fuel, so when the late fool
ish and utterly inexcusable strike was
declared in the coal mines of that
state, the many who had not vet lai6
in a supply of coal found themselve.
with prospect of possible hardship
which was uncomfortable in the ex
treme, for Colorado winter is moi
usually the most gentle thing in ex
isteuce. The strike is now virtually
lost, while the cause of unionism ha.
suffered severe blow by the an,
tagonism of public sentiment
In some districts the only POSSIBILITY
tof obtaining fuel was from the Goa
banks, little mines operated ON q
small and primitive scale, by theil
smallness escaping the fetters OF
unlonism by which the larger
mines were rendered imperative.
Never having seen coal "diggings"
| accepted with pleasure an invitation
to visit the "banks" situated some
IA miles away. The way led across
the irrigated and fertile valley of the
South Platte and then miles south
over a series of of sandy ridges with
gentle slopes as barren and desolate
now as they were hundred yearsago.
Almost every one within radius
OF 10 miles or more was patronizing
the banks. The wagons had been
coming in much more rapidly than
they could be loaded, and at this time
there were probably 100 wagons,
loaded and empty, tgrouped about the
mine.
That the fuel might be more quickly
distributed, an infexibls rule was
made that no more than ton of coal
should be loaded on each wagon. As
the capacity of the mine was only
some 10 or l9 tons per day, some OF
the wagons would stand at the mine
a week or more before they could be
loaded.
Farmers who were fortunate enough
to have two wagons, therefore, took
the Oldest and most decrepit one to the
banks" and left il there to be load.
ed. The array of wagons, then, at
the banks'' wes doubtless one of the
most interesting aggregations ever
sen. 1t was wagon museum. All
the antiquated makes and patterns
imaginable were in evidence, for any.
thing on wheels that would stand
up under a ton of coal, was forced in
to use.
On the arrival of a wagon, it was
Immediately marked by the manager
of the mine with its proper lumber,
in chalk on the side of the box. The
wagons ere loaded consecutively ac.
cording to number and no favoritism
was shown. The coal is not of the
best quality, but the advent of ton
of it into an empty cellar brough I
JOY this winter to many a Colorado
home
The mine is located on a broad,
sandy ridge, exactly like thousands OF
others about it, and my inexperienced
eyes detect no reason why anyone
should ever have imagined that there
might be coal below the surface.
My companion and myself descended
into the mine. The power for hoist.
ing is furnished by black horse,
totally blind and desperately wicked
in temper. We were lowered nearly
100 feet down the main shaft and
then stepped out into the main entry,
a passage way some ten feet wide and
about five feet in height.
Here we were taken in charge by
the "pusher" the man who runs the
empty cars to the miners and takes
away the loaded ones We walked
back into the entry and the ceiling
lowered TO about three feet. Here we
were ordered two of us, into the little
car, about two feet wide and three
feet long. We squeezed ourselves
into, or rather on 1t, and made our.
selves exceedingly small. Then we
had a ride that will not soon be for.
gotten. The 'pusher" wore on his
hat a little lamp, shaped like minia,
ture teapot This went out promptly
and we were showed into the solid
darkness at wonderful rate Of speed.
In places the ceiling was not more
than two and half feet above the
floor When felt the ceiling scrap
ing my back 1 scrouched" until
wondered if | would ever regain my
normal dimensions Tho "pusher'
ran behind and showed the car. How
he could run passes my comprehen
sion. bat he did it.
The coal vein is about three feet
thick, smooth slate above and below.
The miners work on their knees,
which are protected by heavy leather
pads. They are paid according to the
amount Of coal they take out and mos
Of them make quite large wages
When we returned to the main en-
try, Of course we could not ride AZ tn,
outgoing cars were loaded with coal
We were, therefore, obliged TO scram
p bic some 600 feet on our hands ant
knees. The experienced "pusher'
galloped through the passages with
ease, showing the cars ahead Of him
We made desperate efforts TO keel
in sight Of the "pusher" and hi
lamp, but we might as we'll hav,
tried to keep up with the fast mail
Hands and knees was the only possible
mode Of progression. tried to var
IL by going on my hands and feet. bu
the ceiling was too low. The fec
would slidssaway behind and leav'
the traveller prone on his stomach
I