Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1918-03-29
the MINES.

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When we speak Of "The Mines
most of the people of Woodstock ant
vicinity know that we mean tn
manganese mines which are located
Ieight and one.half miles east Of Wood
stock. across the Fort mountain
1 These mines are owned and controlled
by the National Carbon Company o
cleveland, Ohio, but are operated
under the name of the Stockwood
Realty Corporation.
| These mines consist OF two shafts
which are about one hundred yards
apart. Number one shaft is 1919 feel
deep and consists of three levels. The
top level is known as the incline level
and is made up of tunnel SO yards
long and many robbing rooms. The
next level as we 90 down is known as
the ia foot level and is similar to the
incline level except that it is drier
and considered safer place to work
The next and last level is the car
level. On this level the dirt and ore
that have been sent down q chute
from the other levels are loaded bv
gravity to cars and sent up the ele-
vator to the top. 1t is very disagree
able to work on this level because OF
the water streaming down all the time
and therefore the men are required to
wear rubber suits. The water how
ever keeps steam pump busy all the
time.
Number two shaft is 200 feet deep
and has levels like number one.
Formerly the incline levels of num-
Der one and number two shafts met;
because of recent robbing work the
timbers were blown out and the dirt
allowed to fill up the tunnel. The
dirt and rock are held up by heavy
timbers and the way is lighted by
means of carbide lamps fastened on
the mems caps. About twenty five
men work in each shaft. The dirt is
hoisted out of the miues by means Of
hoist engines. There is no guess
work to driving tunnels or sinking
shafts but the way is carefully sur
veyed first by skilled engineers.
Men are paid according to their
work and according to the danger of
the place in which they work. There
ars TWO divisions of the laborers-
heading drivers and muckers. Head
ing drivers must have some knowl-
edge of mining before undertaking
this work, and they are paid the
highest wages because of the danger
to which they are constantly exposed.
Muckers are those who shovel dirt
and run wheelbarrows. which are
known among them as Georgia
buggies."
In connection with the mines is an
ore shed where the large Jumps of
ore are cleaned and prepared for |
shipment.
In addition to the mines is an ore
mill where small pieces of ore are
separated from the dirt and rock. In
this mill is every phase of machinery |
that human hands could put together. |
The black dirt and rocks 60 In at one
end and come clean ore separated /
into many grades, at the other while
the rocks and dirt remaining are
carried to still another opening.
w alter and the fact that ore is much |
heavier than rocks bring about this
The machinery in this mill is pro-
PEELED by huge oil engine and like |
the mines, is kept in operation night
and day by two shifts of men.
G. 3. |
Manganese of this grade was form
,rly imported from Russia but at the
beginning of the war mining opera
ions In Russia were interrupted and
The Dardanelles closed and it became |
necessary for the United States to
ook to domestic supply. 1t was at
his time that the mines of the Stock.
wood Realty Corporation were opened
Up and it is now the largest producer
)f chemical manganese In this country.
The manganese produced from these
pines is used in the manufacture of
Try cells and batteries for the United
States Signal Corps, for telephones,
oell ringing, field buzzers, and signal
devices as we'll as numerous other
devices being used in warfare Dry
,ells are used for ignition on Govern.
nent trucks, for the lighting Of motor
,ycles and for the firing of mines.
These cells are also required by the
Navy Department for signal use, Oh
board vessels of the United States |
Navy for ignition purposes, on motor
boats accompanying the feet, etc.
Dry cells are also required for gun
and gun firing 10 the Navy
and for the firing of mines, flash
lights, for trench warfare, and there
is no substitute to take the place of
the flash lights for night use in the
trenches.