The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-11-24
GAINESVILLE Shaft News.

Work at the mine is progressing
nicely, but it will be several months
before they will be prepared to take
out coal to the full capacity intend
ed. The coal vein dips SO sharply
to the west that it is necessary to
sink the shaft much deeper than was
thought necessary at first.
We are told that the vein dips
7h feet in IS feet which apparently
shows that the shaft will have to
go down about 80 feet below the
coal vein in order to give the proper
drainage and allow the loaded cars
in the tunnel to run by gravity to
the shaft. This immense amount
of stone and earth together with the
large openings necessary to be ex-
if not quite equal to the amount
handled by the Dowell Bros. in sink
ing the shaft.
The tunnel going west was extend
ed about 80 feet toward the air
shaft. The tunnel going east from
the main shaft went about 80 feet
and then turned south to the air
shaft. The boys in the air shaft
are driving two tunnels to meet the
two from the main shaft. This
is being done first so that the men
in the tunnels would have two
chances for escape instead Of one in
case OF a cave in. The entry ways
in the main shaft will, when COM
pleted, be about 16 feet wide and
IL feet high so you can imagine
the great amount of dirt and rock
to be handled.
What coal is being taken out now
is coming from the tunnels in the
air shaft and is being gobbled up as
fast as it comes up. The company,
however, will try to take care of the
local trade at least until the entries
are completed and they are prepared
to take out coal at something near
capacity, but as remarked above
that will be some time yet.
The method of handling the out
put of the mine locally by which
sales were made through local deal
ers gave rise to so much dissatisfac-
ton that petition signed by a
large number of the citizens of
town and immediate country was
presented to the company asking
that the coal be sold direct. In
other words that one wanting coal
could drive direct to the mine and
get it without buying it through
some one else.
After giving the matter due con-
sideration the company has con-
cluded to grant the prayer of the
petitioners, and hereafter the COM
pany will do retail business, locally.
The price we understand is $3.50 at
the mine and will be cash.
Work in Roberts & Schaefer de-
partment is also going right along.
These gentlemen have the contract
for the erection Of the tipple, fan
house, ETC., installing of the neces-
sary engines, fan and other equip
ment. They are now-putting in the
concrete foundations for the tipple,
engine and house and will have the
foundations completed in a week or
two weather conditions permitting.
We are informed that they expect
to have the tipple on the ground
about the first of the year. 1t will
be something like 1870 feet high and
wide enough to cover two tracks.
Representatives of half dozen or
more electric supply houses were
here last week comforting with the
representatives of the company re-
garding equipment for the electric
light plant which will be installed
here. In this as in all other mat
tiers pertaining to the mine the COM
pany will buy the very best equip
ment to be found and will install
plant capable of two or three times
the business now in sight. Mr.. Ram
DO went to Des MOines last week to
gather data on electric light equip
ment and methods of handling the
business and on his return will know
just what is needed here. We are
assured that the plant will be strict
ly up-to-date in every respect
GAINESVILLE News.