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The  "RECiPROCfTY"  Coal  Interest. — Instead 
of  the  new  reciprocity  treaty  with  Canada  bring- 
ing coal  to  compete  with  our  native  coal  to  an  in- 
iurious  extent,  it  will  enable  us  to  export  our 
coal  largely  to  the  Canadas.  With  the  duly 
there  was  shipped  from  Oswego  in  1852  4,232 
tons;  in  1853,  5.847  tons,  and  in  1854, 10,879 
tons— total,  20,968  tons,  as  the  custom-house 
statistics  of  Oswego  show.  The  treasury  returns 
show  that  there  was  a  total  export  to  Canada  in 
1854  of  30,276  tons.  This  export  will  be  greatly 
increased  now,  especially  of  anthracite  coal. 

For  the  Journal  of  Commerce. 
MARYl.AJrD  COAIj  va.  WOOD  IN  liOCOIttO- 

TIVE  ENGINT^-S. 

The  Railroad  Advocate  of  Saturday,  March  3d,  has  the 
following  item: — 

"  The  Engines  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  Road, 
35  iu  number,  ran  during  the  year  ending  November  30, 
1854—518,772  miles.  These  engines  are  mostly  eight 
wheeled,  with  four  drivers,  aud  generally  from  13  lo  17 
'inch  cylinders.  They  burned  16,889  cords  of  wood,  equal 
to  3|  cords  per  100  miles,  or  30  8-10  miles  per  cord 
burned.  The  average  cost  of  wood  was  $4  per  cord,  and 
the  expense  of  handling,  preparing,  and  loading  tenCers, 
65  cents  per  cord,  or  $4,65  per  cord  in  all.  The  total 
cost  of  wood  was  $78,533  85,  equal  to  15  1-10  cents  per 
mile  ran." 

It  is  a  well  known  and  established  fact,  that  one  ton 
of  the  BEST  Mainland  coal  is  equivalent  in  steam  genera- 
ting power  to  two  cords  of  the  best  wood.  This  coal  cost 
in  Baltimore  $4  per  ton  of  2,240  lbs— and  It  is  to 
be  seen  at  a  glance  that  if,  on  the  engines  of 
the  Road  in  question,  coal  could  be  a^,  once 
substituted  for  wood — the  cost  of  running  them 
would  be  reduced  to  less  than  seven  cents  per  mile  ran — 
or  are  aggregate  saving  iu  the  cost  of  fuel  be  effected  of 
over  $40,000  per  iinaum.  It  is  true  that  for  passenger 
engmes  adapted  to  wood,  some  alterations  to  the  fire 
boxes  and  exhaust  an-angements  would  be  required— 
and  the  usual  objection  offered  by  railroad  companies  to 
making  the  change,  is,  that  it  will  cost  too  much  to 
make  these  alteratioua.  The  insuflSciency  of  this  argu- 
ment is  too  glaring,  in  view  of  the  results  above  mention- 
ed. It  would  be  infinitely  better,  for  instance,  for  the 
Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  Railroad  Company  to  expend 
on  their  35  engines  the  whole  $40,000,  and  make  the  al- 
terations required.  •  It  is,  however,  quite  certain  that 
nearly  all  wood  burning  engines  can  be  altered  to  burn 
coal,  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  f  500  per  engine.  But  pass- 
ing over  the  expediency  of  altering  the  present  wood 
burning  engines,  no  railroad  company  should  con- 
template increasing  their  stock  of  engines  with- 
out insisting  that  thcj"  should  be  coal  biirners. 
Machinists  are  already  turning  their  attention  to  these 
engines,  and  among  them  many  who  have  had  experi- 
ence in  overcoming  former  objections  ;  the  problem  is 
solved,  and  it  only  is  requisite  that  the  Directoi-s  of 
Railroad  Companies  should  awaken  to  their  tnie  interest 
and  determine  that  the  present  costly  and  extravagant 
locomotive  fuel  shall  be  abandoned — it  is  growing  more 
burthinsome  every  day,  while  the  increased  production 
of  coal  is  tending  to  diminish  its  cost.  The  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad  use  coil  and  coke  in  at  least  three- 
fourths  of  the  210  engines  employed  on  their  road — 
and  it  is  to  the  cheapness  of  this  fuel  they  are  indebted 
for  the  ability  to  compete  with  other  roads  in  the 
transportation  of  merchandise  and  passengers. 

It  may  be  truly  said  that  coal  has  reduced  the  grade, 
levelled  the  mountains,straightened  the  curves,  and  short- 
ened their  line — for  coal  has  enabled  them  to  transport 
400  miles  at  a  cost  which  other  roads  using  v>-ood  as  a 
fuel  will  exceed  in  200.  Let  our  Northern  roads  awaken 
from  their  lethargy — it  is  the  greedy  wood-burning  loco- 
motive that  is  running  away  with  their  earnings  and 
keeping  back  dividends. 

Since  writing  the  above,  we  learn  that  the  Taunton  and 
New  Bedford  Railroad  Company  have  an  engine  which 
is  burning  the  Maryland  Coal,  at  a  cost  of  8  cents  per 
raile  run  with  passenger  trains — and  that  the  coal  costs 
them  $7,50  per  ton,  dehvered  on  the  road.  We  regard 
this  experitaent  as  the  begining  of  the  end.  The  way  is 
broken- who'll  follow? 


The  legislature  of  Virginia  have  lately  iucorporat- .  1 
ed  the  "  Dora  Coal  and  Iron  Manufacturing  Com-  !•  ^ 
pany,  with  a  capital  of  $1,000,000,  for  the  purpose  of 
working  one  of  the  richest  mineral  regions  which 
exist  in  that  state,  if  not  in  the  country.  The  lands 
of  the  corporation  cover  fifteen  thousand  acras,  lo- 
cated mostly  in  Augusta  county,  135  miles  south- 
west of  Washington,  D.  C.  The  Virginia  Central 
Railroad,  from  Richmond,  passes  in  close  proximity, 
Stanton  station  being  18  mileS  distant.  The  Man- 
assas Gap  Railroad  will  pass  still  nearer— within 
ten  miles.  The  latter  road  is  already  graded  to 
Strasburgh.  We  have  good  authority  for  stating 
that  the  mineral  resources  of  this  region  are  truly 
unparalled.  The  deposits  exist  in  an  extensive  range 
of  hills,  and  crop  out  at  the  surface  and  sides  for 
miles  together. 

At  one  locality  near  the  centre  there  is  a  large' 
basin  of  some  six  miles  diameter,  formed  by  a  break 
id'the  hills.  In  these  clifls  the  veins  are  exposed  to 
view  to  an  astonishing  extent,  while  the  approach  to 
them  is  so  easy  that  carts  can  drive  up  and  have 
loads  of  the  finest  quality  of  coal  dumped  in  from  the 
veins  overhead. 

The  company  intend  to  construct  a  railroad  to  in. 
tersect  the  Virginia  Central  and  the  Manassas  Gapl. 
The  surface  of  the  country  is  quite  level,  even  up  to 
the  very  veins  themselves,  so  that  the  cost  of  the  road 
and  transportation  will  be  comparativ»ly  small.  \  i 
When  this  juncture  is  completed,  they  will  be  in  I  ' 
communication  with  Riclmond,  Alexandria  and 
Washington,  all  very  extensive  coal  markets,  deliver- 
ing their  coal  at  those  places  for  two  dollars  per  ton, 
mining  and  freight  included. 

The  average  of  price  there,  by  the  car  jo,  is  $4  50, 
which  leaves  a  net  profit  of  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty-three  per  cent.  For  $3  25  per  ton,  all  ex- 
penses paid,  they  can  deliver  coal  in  New  York, 
leaving  a  magnificent  margin  for  profits.  It  will 
cost  less,  by  one  dollar  a  ton,  for  delivery  here  than 
to  Cumberland.  Analysis  proves  the  Dora  coal  to  be 
of  far  superior  quality  to  any  in  general  use.  It  is 
nearly  all  pure  carbon,  with  enough  of  bitumen  to 
ignite  with  a  bright,  light  flame;  it  contains  not  the 
slightest  trace  of  sulphuret  of  iron,  and  its  ash  is 
pure  white. 

In  addition  to  these  inexhaustible  ooal  beds,  iron 
ore  is  also  found  in  the  greatest  abundance,  with  easy 
facilities  for  working.  A  careful  analysis  shows  this 
ore  to  contain  fifty  per  cent,  of  pure  metal,  and  as 
the  fuel  for  extracting  it  exists  on  the  spot,  enormous 
quantities  of  iron  can  be  produced,  at  a  very  mode- 
rate outlay  in  appliances.  The  lands  where  these 
remarkable  deposits  occur  are  of  great  luxuriance 
and  are  very  valuable  for  agricultural  purposes. 


■ 


S'Cf^ 


'il-i^ifc'*.;  J  .,..iiN 


THE 


COAL  RE(JIONS 


pp:nn8Ylvania, 


BEING  A 


GENERAL,  GEOLOGICAL,  HISTORICAL  &  STATISTICAL  REVIEW 

(&t  tfie  ^ntUvatitt  Coal  IBiutvitt^. 


ILLUSTRATED    WITH 


COLORED  MAPS  AND  ENGRAVINGS, 


AND 


CONTAIIVING    NUMEROUS     STATlSTICAIi    TABIiES. 


EDITED    BY    ELEBOWEN, 

A$»oeiatt'Editor  of  the  Miners  Journal. 


"  I  trill  tcaefa  yon  tojpittM  the-'oa^rais  cf  the  ear  lb,  «nd  frcm  the  caveraa  of  the  tnountains 
bring  out  treunrM  wbieb  will  bring  atreogth  to  our  bands,  and  nibject  all  uatar*  to  our  ai« 
and  plearore."— Dr.  Jobmsok.  ^ 


POTTSVILLl,   Tk. 
E.    N.    CARVALHO 

1848, 


Reference  Department 


Scranton  Public  Library 
Scranton,  PA 


V 


50686010663289 

Bowen,  Eli.  b.  1824.  ed. 

The  coal  regions  of  Penns 

ylvania. 


I 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  by  E.  Bowen,  in  the  Clerk's    Office  of 
the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania.— 1848.  i 


PRINTED  AT  THE  MINERS'  JOURNAL  OFFICE. 


Y 


'tl'* 


PRELIMINARY  REMARKS. 


'  Words  before  blows." 


In  submitting  the  annexed  pages  to  the  public,  we  would  not  be  misunderstood. 
The  only  object  contemplated  was  the  combination  of  soch  facts  and  statistics  into 
a  book  oi  reference*  as  might  prove  convenient  and  useful  to  the  man  of  business 
and  others.  While  the  necessary  data  to  carry  out  this  object  was  being  collected, 
(and  which — we  may  observe — required  much  time,  trouble  and  patience)  we 
employed  our  leisure  moments  in  preparing  the  brief  sketches  herein  contained* 

We  are  duly  sensible  of  the  fact,  that  however  much  we  may  have  desired  to 
render  the  perusal  of  these  pages  interesting  to  the  reader,  the  object  has  not  been 
half  gained.  And  when  we,  therefore,  (supposing  oneself  arraigned  before  the  bar 
of  public  opinion)  sincerely  hope  that  mercy  may  season  the  justice  of  our  sen- 
tence, (the  only  hope  of  the  guilty!)  we  do  so  with  an  abhorrence  of  the  popular- 
ity which,  under  similar  circumstances,  the  practice  has  obtained. 

But  although  under  an  engagement  during  the  preparation  of  this  little  w6rk, 
which  admitted  neither  cessation  of  duties  nor  diminution  of  time,  we  found  such 
favor  and  assistance  from  friends,  whom  it  wowld  be  ungrateful  not  to  name  in 
this  connection. 

Of  these,  we  most  particularly  mention  our  indefatigable  associate,  (Mr.  Car- 
valho,)  who  promptly  entered  into  this  publication  with  us  at  the  outset,  and  who 
has  not  only  satisfactorily  performed  the  duties  mutually  assigned  him,  but  has 
rendered  important  assistance  in  the  department  confided  to  us. 

We  are  under  obligations  to  Benjamin  Bannan,  Esq.,  (  for  twenty  years  pastthe 
editor  of  the  Miners'  Journal,)  for  the  unmerited  access  which  he  kindly  afforded 
us  to  the  files  of  that  valuable  journal.  We  are  also  indebted  to  Richard  Lee, 
Samuel  B.  Fisher,  Wm.  H.  Mann,  F.  W.  Hughes,  Esqrs.,  Mr-  Lewis,  Mr.  John' 
Clayton,  and  others  for  favors  of  various  kinds  in  the  production  of  this  book. 

Of  the  authors  quoted,  we  are,  first,  particularly  indebted  to  the  works  of  Mr. 
Richardson,  Prof.  Lyell,  and  the  elementary  treatise  of  Dr.  Rushenburg,  which 
we  have  followed  in  order  in  our  geological  essay ;  next  to  Wm.  F.  Roberts,  Esq- ; 
to  the  valuable  Reports  of  Mr-  Packer  to  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  ,  the  an- 
nual Reports  of  various  Canal  and  Railroad  Companies,  and,  last,  the  invaluable 
and  learned  work  of  Mr.  Taylor,  just  published. 

The  reader  will  meet  with  a  great  number  of  typographical  and  other  blunders, 
which  he  will  have  to  excuse— there  being  no  other  alternative,  that  we  can  see. 
The  matter  was  prepared  in  the  greatest  haste,  and  the  proof  sheets  read  amidst 
confusion  and  a  multiplieity  of  other  matters. 


BEDICATION. 


t 


TO  MR.  BBNJAMIN  BANNAN. 

t>£An  Sib, — The  position  your  have,  for  the  last  twenty  years,  occupied  as  the  able 
and  enterprising  Editor  of  the  Miners'  Journal,  and  your  untiring  zeal  invariably  evinced 
thougbont  this  long  period,  in  promoting  the  best  interests  of  the  Coal  Trade  of  Penn- 
sylvania, associates  your  name  -with  every  thing  interesting  connected  with  the  Coal 
Begionsi  Permit  us,  therefore,  to  dedicate  this  work  to  you,  as  a  trifling  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  great  assistance  yon  have  afforded  us  in  .the  material  created  by  your 
labon. 

With  tenlimentt  of  the  highest  esteem, 

We  remain,  &ic. 

TH£  AVTHOBS 


LH 


W  01'    THE  c;OAL  REG 

OF    PE NNS YL  VJi NJA. 


^S 


GENERAL  GEOLOGICAL  REVIEW. 


Chapter  L 


^^"'orrruiiioii  of  ike  Earth;   Crmt  of  the  Earth; 
■O"   Internal    Heat;       A''tions    of    Volcanoes, 
JJ  Earthquakes  and  Floods  ;    An/iqnitif  nf  ike 
\   Earth;   Primeval  Climntt;    Vcgi-tation  of 
^  the  P'imeral  Earth  ;  Coal  formation  ;    Ve- 
>•  getable  Origin  of  Coal:     Theory  of   Dr. 
^  Biickland;    Theory  of  Dr.  Lyell ;    Deposi- 
tion of  Coal ;   Propositions  of  Prof.  Rich- 
ardson ;      Expetiment    of    Dr.    Goppart ; 
Stratification  of  the  Earth ;  Influence  of  the 
Atmosphere,    Rains,    Frosts,    Floods,  Scc  , 
upon  the  surface  of  the  Earth:    General 
l^opo graphical  Review,  <^c.  Recapitulation. 

With  respect  to  the  cause  or  causes  which 
have  brought  about  the  thiugs  we  are  about 
to  consider,  it  is  much  to  bw  regietted  that 
there  is  little  authentic  and  positive  data, 
beyond  that  provided  by  the  science  of  Ge- 
ology, which,  though  comparatively  of  recent 
origin,  has  done  much  to  reveal  the  sublime 
laws  of  Nature,  and  to  develop  the  wisdom  of 
the  Supreme  Being. 

We  are  all  wont  to  judge  merit  by  the  works 
which  it  has  produced;  and  if  praise  can  be 
awarded  to  the  General  whi>  has  succesfully 
achieved  a  victory  under  unfavorable  chances; 
or  to  a  builder  whose  fabrics  are  faultless  in 
their  architecture  and  finish  ;  or  to  a  states- 
man whose  eloquence  aud  wisdom  are  all- 
powerful  in  the  Senate:  what  is  not  due  to 
that  lufinite  Being,  from  whom  the  earth,  and 
all  which  it  contains,  hath  sprung : 

"Who  sees  through  all  space,  and  yet  in  all  the  same ; 
Great  in  the  amall,  as  in  the  etherial  flame  : 


Lives  throueh  all  life,  extends  through  all  extent , 
Spreads  undivided,  operates  unspent; 
— Warms  in  the  sun.  refreshes  in  the  breeze ; 
Glows  in  the  .^tars.  r.nd  blossoms  in  the  trees  ; 
KrentheB  in  our  poul.  informs  our  mortal  part 
As  full,  as  perfect  in  a  hair  as  heart." 

— In  the  limited  numlier  of  pages  alloted  to 
us  ill  the  couf-ideiatioii  of  these  important  and 
interesting  Regions,  it  can  scarcely  be  expect- 
ed of  us  to  present  a  full  and  complete  view 
ofits  resources,  formation,  and  characteristics. 
Such  investigation  must  be  left  for  abler 
iiands,  and  for  more  ample  room  than  is  ccnu- 
prized  within  the  limits  of  these  pages.  We 
shall  therefore  content  ourselves  with  the  pre- 
sentation of  such  propositions  only  as  are 
deemed  essential  to  a  correct  appreciation  of 
the  subject. 

Regarding  the  formation  of  the  earth,  per- 
haps the  most  f)hi!osophic  hypothesis  Inid 
down,  is  that  of  the  late  Sir  VVm.  Herscliell, 
and  which  is  called  the  Mebular  Theory. — 
Little  can  be  deduced  from  the  Bible,  the  old- 
est book  preserved  i)earing  upon  the  prime- 
val earth.  We  are  fold  that  "in  the  beginning 
God  made  the  heavens  ami  the  earth  ;"  that 
"the  earth  was  void  and  without  sh:ipe,  and 
that  darkness  dwelt  over  the  (ace  of  the  wa- 
ters." With  these  wonls  we  can  perceive 
nothing  inconsistent  in  the  theory  of  the  emi- 
nent astronomer,  which  was  based  upon  per- 
sonal observations,  forming  mirrors,  so  to 
speak,  reflective  of  the  great  laws  of  Nature. 
He  was  led  to  observe  that  every  portion  of 
that  which  is  considered  universal  space, 
abounds  in  large  expansions  of  attenuated 
matter,  reflective  of  light,  aud  wliich  he  term- 
ed nebulae.     These  appeared,  from   time  to 


Review  of  the  Coal  Me^^ions. 


time,  in  different  stages  of  condensation,  and 
in  vai'ions  shapes,  until,  finally,  they  graduated 
into  orbs  of  light, — suns  and  systems  like  our 
own.  Our  whole  solar  system  is  believed  to 
have  been  thus  created ; — and  the  sun  itself, 
which  is  supposed  to  be  the  centre  of  the  sys- 
tem, having  also  jiriniarily  existed  in  th§ 
shape  of  nebula^,  must  have  thrown  off,  in  the 
progress  of  coudpusatiou,  the  \arious  planet,s 
of  the  sjihere.  The.  earth,  therefore,  liav in g 
been  thus  Ibrmed  out  of  gaseous  vapor,  soon 
changed  to  a  fluid,  and  thence  --into  a  A>lid 
state.  Being  rouud,  the  outside  was  cooled, 
or  frozen  like  ice  upon  the  water ;  and  as  soon 
as  this  occurred,  the  general  physical  forma- 
tions of  the  earth  must  have  commenced,  and 
the  surrounding  atmosphere,  while  it  contri  • 
buted  to  preserve  the  hardened  state  of  the 
crust,  also  conveyed  new  substances,  which 
in  due  time  resolved  themselves  into  land  and 
water.  Thence  originated  those  germs  of  ani- 
mal and  vegctaliie  life,  wliirli  have  ])rcsented 
those  great  phenonictia  which  it  is  the  ptiii- 
liar  province  of  science  to  explore. 

Thus,  it  will  be  seen,  that  all  which  the 
earth  contains,  and  the  earth  itself,  has  its 
origin  in  mere  vapor  ;  and  no  body,  however 
liard  or  singular;  no  substauce,  however 
changed  by  the  hand  of  Art,  Ijut  can,  through 
chemical  aid,  be  converted  into  the  original 
elements  or  gasscs.and  thu8,be  made  to  vanish 
into  air  like  thin  smoke. 

Ere  yet  tht  grand  truths  of  science  had 
directed  our  judgment,  it  was  supposed  that 
the  human  family  was  c6eval  with  the  forma- 
tion of  the  earth.  An  investigation,  however, 
of  the  crust  of  tlie  earth,  (which,  though  per- 
haps from  ten  to  fifteen  miles  in  thickness, 
bears  only  the  relative  position  to  this  planet, 
which  the  lind  bears  to  an  orange  or  an  ap- 
ple) will  prove  it  to  be  of  great  and  uncalcula- 
ble  antiquity.  This  belief  is  founded  upon  the 
various  strata  of  rock,  clay,  and  mineral  forma- 
tions which  compose  the  crust  of  the  earth, 
and  which  could  have  been  accumulated  only 
through  a  vast  number  of  centuries. 

The  earth  is  believed  to  be  filled  with  eter- 
nal fire,  possibly  generated  and  continued  by 
some  chemical  action  among  its  internal  pro- 
perties, or,  as  some  scientific  writers  allege, 
irom  the  original  incandescence  of  the  planet. 
However  this  may  be,  the  existence  of  inter- 
nal heat  is  universally  conceded,  and  has 
been  satisfactorily  demonstrated  by  descents 
into  the  earth, — the  temperature  becoming 
warmer  as  the  descent  was  continued.  To 
this  source,  then,  must  we  mainly  attribute 
the  volcanic  outbreaks,  which  have  occurred 
■within  the  recollection  of  mankind,  and  the 
effects  of  which  are  traced  in  the  history  of  na- 
tions. But  we  have  in  the  earth  physical  evi- 
dences of  primeval  eruptions,  far  surpassing, 
in  stupendous  grandeur,  those  of  more  recent 
date,  and  before  which  the  famed  Vesuvius, — 
•which  has  continued  through  eighteen  centu- 
ries, to  vomit  out  its  burning  lava, — fades  into 
utter  obscurity. 

To  volcanic  erui)tions  must  be  added  earth- 
quakes, which  may  have  served  to  extmguish 
tlie  fires,  from  time  to  time,  or  caused  them  to 


break  out  anew  at  other  points.  Long  periods 
of  volcanic  action  were  without  doubt  suc- 
ceeded by  floods,  and  thus  the  loose  frag- 
ments of  the  fcn-nier  were  gathered  together 
with  sand,  gravel,  and  pieces  of  rocks,  and  in- 
Icruiixed  with  tlie  sahne  compounds  of  the 
sea,  were  concentrated  into  huge  blocks  or 
boulders,  similar  to  the  icebergs  of  the  present 
day,  and  in  this  shape  dejiosited  irregularly 
over  the  land  Thus,  from  time  to  time,  land 
must  have  been  carried  off  and  inundated  by 
the  sea ;  and  again,  the  sea  receded  from'the^ 
land.*  '      •■* 

Referring  in  part  the  cause  of  the  superficial 
diversification  of  the  earth  to  these  great  agen- 
cies— whose  power  none   vvill  question — we 
shall  proceed  with  the  consideration  of  another 
point,  which  will  introduce  the  reader  to^'the  . 
carboniferous  deposits  of  the  earth.      BeforeV' 
abandoning  the  theory  of  the  earth's  antiqi^ty,*' 
however,  we  may  add  that  it  is  amply  sustain-''' 
ed  bv  astronomical  demonstration.       When  it 
is  reflected  that  hiniiiious  bodies,  situated  mil- 
lions of  miles  i'roin  our  universe,  must  have 
required  countless  thousands  of  years  erethejr- 
light  could  have  penetrated  to  the  earth,  it  vvill 
readily  be  conceded  that  the  latter  is  of  pro- 
portionate immen.^ity  in  jioint  of  tin-\e,  as  the    ' 
solar  bodies  in  point  of  distance.      If,  there- 
fore, we  should  undertake  to  determine  the 
length  of  time  in  years,  or  even  centuries,  ne- 
cessary to  have   brought    about  tlie   changes 
which  we   behold  in   the   earth's   crust,  wt- 
.should  be  overwhelmed  in  the  attempt. 

To  whatever  cause  Science  may  attribute 
the  fact,  all  its  votaries  agree  that  the  ancient 
earth  possessed  a  nni^■ersal  climate ;  and  they 
conccilc  to  it  all  and  even  more  of  the  warmth 
than  belongs  to  the  tropical  regions  of  the 
equator.  Some  writers,  (and  among  them  the 
celebrated  Dr.  Lyell,  of  England,  whom  we 
shall  have  occasion  to  quote  before  abandoning 
this  subject,)  think  that  the  change  of  climate 
has  been  produced  by  the  reversal  of  land  into 
sea,  and  of  sea  into  land ;  and  imagine  that,  if 
a  greater  distribution  of  land  now  existed  in 
the  Southern  hemisphere,  and  of  water  in  the 
Northern,  that  the  ancient  climate  would,  in  a 
great  measure,  be  restored.  But  others,  again, 
of  equal  celebrity  with  the  former,  refer  the_ 
change  to  purely  astronomical  causes.  Of 
these,  the  theory  of  Sir  .lohn  Herschell  appears 
to  our  view  to  offer  the  most  claims  to  general 
acceptation.  This  is.  that  the  amount  of  heat 
derived  by  the  earth  from  the  sun,  decreases 
and  multiplies  with  the  eccentricities  of  the 
earth's  orbit;  and  that  this  eccentricity  is 
known  to  have  gradually  decreased,  and  still 
decreases; — hence  he  infers  that  a  refrigera- 
tion of  climate  has  been  almost  imperceptibly 
produced. 

The  belief  in  the  previous  existence  of  a 
universal  climate  is  well  sustained  by  the 
carboniferous  dcposites  of  the  earth.  These 
are  believed  to  be  of  vegetable  origin,  as  the 
prevalence  of  such  a  climate  could  not  fail  to 

*  Note. — The  sea  has  receded  several  thousand  feet 
from  the  City  of  Pompeii,  since  tlie  eruption  of  Vesu- 
vius. 


General  Qeoloi>:lc(il  Reciein. 


bo  highly  favorable  to  the  propagation  of  veg- 
etable plants.  There  are,  indeed,  some  per- 
sons, entitled  to  lesjiect.  who  do  not  coincide 
in  the  belief"  that  coal  is  a  vegetable  production. 
But  the  opinion,  after  a  thorough  canvass  in 
thfi  scientific  wniid  for  many  years,  has  at 
last  settled  down  into  this  belief,  and  we  are 
induced  to  adopt  it  as  the  basis  of  our  position. 

Concerning  the  nature  and  origin  of  coal, 
we  may  here  briefly  introduce  the  theory  of 
Dr.  Buckland.  He  believed  that  tlie  most 
early  stage  to  which  we  can  carry  back  its 
origin,  was  among  the  swamps  and  forests  of 
the  prim.eval  earth,  where  it  Hourisbed  in  the 
form  of  gigantic  Calamites  and  stately  Lepi- 
dodendra  and  Slgillarice.  From  their  native 
beds  these  j)lanls  were  transported  into  some 
adjacent  lake,  or  estuary,  or  sea.  Here  they 
floated  in  the  waters,  until  they  sank  saturated 
to  the  bottom,  and  being  buried  in  the  detritus 
of  adjacent  lands,  became  transformed  to  a 
new  estate  among  the  members  of  the  mineral 
kingdom.  Along  interment  followed,  during 
which  a  course  of  chemical  changes,  and  new 
combinations  of  their  vegetable  elements, 
converted  them  to  the  mineral  condition  of  coal. 
By  the  elevating  force  of  subterranean  agency, 
the  beds  of  coal  have  been  uplifted  from  be- 
neath the  waters,  to  a  new  position  in  the 
hills  and  mountains,  where  they  are  accessi- 
ble to  the  industry  of  man.  From  this  fourth 
stage,  coal  has  been  removed  by  the  labors  of 
the  miner,  assisted  by  the  arts  apd  sciences, 
that  have  co-operated  to  produce  the  steam- 
engine  and  the  safety-lamp.  Returned  once 
more  to  the  light  of  dav,  aud  a  second  time 
committed  to  the  waters,  it  has,  by  the  aid  of 
navigation,  been  conveyed  to  the  scenes  of  its 
next,  and  most  considerable  change  by  fire  ;  a 
change  during  which  it  becomes  subservient 
to  the  most  important  wants  and  conveniences 
of  man.  In  this  seventh  stage  of  its  long  and 
eventful  history,  it  seems,  to  the  vulgar  eye,  I 
to  undergo  annihilation  ;  its  elements  are,  in-  ' 
deed,  released  from  the  mineral  combinations  1 
which  they  have  maintained  for  ages,  but  ! 
their  apparent  destruction  is  only  the  com-  | 
Tncncement  of  new  successions  of  changes,  I 
and  of  activity.  Set  free  from  their  long  im- 
prisonment, they  return  to  their  native  atmos- 
phere, from  which  they  were  absorbed  bv 
the  primeval  vegetation  of  the  earth.  To-raor- 
row  they  may  contribute  to  the  substance  of 
timber  in  the  trees  of  our  existing  forests,  and, 
having  for  a  vi'hile  resumed  its  place  in  its 
living  vegetable  kingdom,  may,  ere  long,  be 
applied  a  second  time  to  the  use  aud  benefit  of 
man.  And  when  decay  or  fire  shall  once 
more  consign  them  to  the  earth,  or  to  the 
atmosphere,  the  same  elements  will  enter  on 
some  further  department  to  their  perpetual 
ministration  in  the  economy  of  the  material  . 
world. 

Prof.  Lyell,  the  eminent  geologist  of  Eng- 
land, who  visited  the  coal  formations  of  the 
United  States  in  1841,  made  some  interesting 
observations  touching  the  origin  and  manner 
of  deposite  of  the  coal  strata.  We  shall  offer 
no  excuse  for  laying  before  the  reader,  in  this 
place,  a  brief  synopsis  of  his  views.      That 


which  we   call  coal,  says   Mr.  L.  is  merely 

the  assemblage  of  strata  which  rests  on  the 
older  sandstone,  and  in  tvhich  is  found  that  in- 
valuable fuel ;  and  although  the  quantity  in 
which  it  is  contained  is  very  small  in  compar- 
ison with  the  bulk  and  volume  of  the  other 
strata,  there  is  still  great  interest  and  impor- 
tance attached  to  it.  We  see  that,  in  going 
from  the  highest  to  the  lowest  beds  yet  dis- 
covered, the  coal  occupies  (juite  an  ancient  po- 
sition— one  iiidicating  a  formation  low  down 
in  the  sea,  as  we  have  above  it  the  most  mod- 
ern formations.  We  have  first  the  past- 
Pliocene,  then  the  Tertiary  formation ;  then 
the  chalk, wliich  is  made  uj)  of  calcerous  matter 
formed,  mostly,  (at  least  in  Europe)  from  de- 
composed shells  and  corals,  and  of  those  green 
marls  which  are  found  in  New-Jersey,  and 
are  of  such  extensive  use  in  Agriculture;  then 
we  have  the  Jura  limestone,  or  Oolite,  in 
which  also  are  masses  of  coral,  like  the  com- 
mon coral  reefs  ;  below  this  are  two  other 
groups,  and  lastly,  we  come  down  to  the  car- 
boniferous or  coal-bearing  stratum,  which 
rests  upon  the  sandstone  beds,  or  the  lime- 
stone containing  corals,  and  which,  like 
every  other  formation,  contains  species  of  ani- 
mals, shells  and  plants  of  different  species, 
from  those  immediately  antecedent,  or  follow- 
ing. Below  this  again  we  see  limestone  and 
shale,  which  enter  most  largely  into  the  struc- 
ture of  the  rocks  of  the  state  of  New-York,  and 
which  abound  in  fossils. 

Now,  a  great  change  must  have  been  ex- 
23erienced  before  ihe  coal-period,  when  the 
fossils  were  deposited.  He  was  indebted  tc 
Mr.  Sajivvitch.  an  eminent  civil  engiueer,  for 
copies  of  some  models  jnepared  by  him  o? 
those  sections,  which  are  faithful  and  accura:e 
representations  of  actual  localities,  as  was  fel- 
ly verified  by  Dr.  Buckland  aud  himself  in 
examinations  which  they  made  in  the  spring 
of  1840.  The  dift'erent  strata  of  sandstoae, 
shale  and  conglomerate,  of  which  the  carbon- 
iferous formation  is  composed,  are  -here  repre- 
sented. The  sections  represent  facts  ascer- 
tained in  cutting  perpendicularly  through  the 
New  Castle  coal  district.  They  are  not  hy- 
pothetical, but  are  founded  upon  exact  mea- 
surements. In  one  of  these  sections,  tte  dip 
of  the  beds  is  at  an  angle  of  20°, while  theslope 
of  the  valley  is  40°.  In  the  other  the  dip  is  .50°, 
and  the  slope  of  the  valley  in  the  same  direc- 
tion is  20.°  In  these  two  cases,  therefore, 
the  relation  of  the  slope  of  the  valley,  and  the 
dip  of  the  beds  is  reversed.  In  both  cases,  also, 
the  .slope  of  the  valley  and  dip  of  the  jeds  are 
to  the  south,  (to  those  who  are  not  acquainted 
with  these  technical  terms,  i'  may  be  proper  to 
say,  that  the  deviation  from  a  horizontal  plane 
of  the  beds  is  called  the  dip,  while  the  strike, 
as  it  is  called,  is  the  extension  of  the  strata,  in 
a  direction  at  right  amgles  to  the  dip.)  In  this 
case,  as  the  dip  is  to  the  South,  the  strike  must 
be  from  East  to  ^Vest.  The  flexures  of  the 
valleys  depend  on  their  inclination  relatively 
to  the  dip  ;  and  these  tvpo  sections  cut  through 
beds  of  coal,  and  shale,  and  sandstone — the 
shale  being  an  indurated  clay — are  illustration.s 
of  cases  in  which  the  two  strata  come  up  to  the 


Hemew  of  Ihe  Coat  Kegions. 


I 


surface  according  to  the  various  relations  of 
the  slope  of  the  valley  and  dip  of  the  bed.  It 
is  a  rule  among  miners,  that  when  the  dip  of 
the  beds  is  less  steep  than  the  slope  of  the  val- 
ley in  the  san'.e  direction,  then  Jhe  Vs,  as 
they  are  termed,  will  iiomt  upwards ;  those 
formed  by  newer  beds  appearing  in  a  superior 
position,  and  (extending  higher  up  the  valley. 
But  where  the  case  is  reveised,  and  the  dip 
of  the  beds  is  steeper  that!  the  slope  (if  the 
valley,  then  the  Vs  point  dovvuwp.rus,  and 
those  formed  of  the  older  beds  appear  upper- 
most. These  rules  rnny  'jften  be  of  great 
practical  service  in  many  cases.  For  example, 
suppose  a  miner  first  to  begin  his  operations 
in  one  valley  with  the  structure  of  which  he  is 
familiar.  If  he  ohoulJ  sink  his  shaft  through 
the  formations  above,  he  would  come  to  the 
coal  which  is  below.  But  suppose  one  unac- 
quanted  with  these  rules  should  go  to  another 
valley — (and  in  England  he  migiit  enaily  go  to 
such  a  valley,  for  the  cases,  ns  before  stated, 
are  not  hypothetical  )  He  might, — couiiuuing 
along  the  same  side  of  the  hill  :is  h  >  had  in 
the  other  valiey,  wher-j  he  observed  the 
same  outcropht g  of  the  coal  seams — suppose, 
(reasoning  iiom  his  foruier  e.cperience)  that  he 
%vas  sale  to  begin  his  Vvorkings  in  the  bed  at 
the  highest  part  of  the  valiey,  with  the  expec- 
tation (jf  coming  dovvu  to  the  oilier  bed.  But 
he  v/ould  be  disappointed,  as  will  readily  be 
ackiiowledged  by  uiide]'.=r.anding  that  the  up- 
permost bed  is  the  lowest  dowvi  in  the  valley, 
and  that  the  lower  bed  is  the  highest  up.  An 
pcquaintanco  with  those  rules,  and  their  ap- 
plication, is  of  the  greatest  importance  to 
those  .'.peculating  iu  sniniug  transactions, 

'In  the  coal  fields  of  Fetinsylvania,  (near 
Pbttsville,)  .Mr.  Lyeii  saw  an  examplification 
oj  the  cases  here,  alluded  to.  In  the  coal  of 
thb  same  valleys,  the  Vs,  in  some  cases, 
pohited  one  way,  and  in  the  others  in  the  op- 
posite— the  dip  and  slope  being  both  towards 
the  South.  There  is  nothing  more  singular,  or 
which  has  struck  iMr.  Lyell  more  forcibly  in 
respect  lo  the  coal  fields  of  this  country,  than 
their  close  lesemblance  to  those  of  i  urope, 
and  of  England  in  particular.  He  had  travel- 
led on  the  North  side  of  the  Alps  towards  the 
South,  ami  was  astonished  to  find  minerals  of 
fossils  of  entirely  distinct  genera  inm^  those 
met  with  in  the  Pyrenees.  Nor  have  tiie 
chains  of  Mountains  anything  lo  do  with  this 
remarkable  change — for  the  beds  were  form- 
ed at  tlie  bottom  of  the  sea  beiore  the  moun- 
tains existed.  Observing  this  great  change, 
theu,  in  the  short  passage  of  a  few  hundred 
miles,  it  seemed  to  him  not  surprising  that,  in 
passing  at  the  distance  of  three  or  four  thou- 
sand miles,  from  England  to  the  .Appahichiau 
chain  in  Virginia,  h«  should  find  the  coal 
measures  the  same  as  those  he  left  behind, — 
represented  in  the  red  sandstone,  and  con- 
taining white  grit  and  slaty  sliales,  and  clays 
not  shity,  and  beds  of  conglomerate  containing 
quartz  pebbles. 

Mr.  Lyell  next  proceeds  to  the  discussion 
of  the  probable  origin  of  coal,  and  unites  in 
the  opinion  now  generally  entertained  by  geo- 
logists, that  it  is  a  vegetable  production. — 


Whatever  dispute  there  may  have  been  onthia 
subject,  he  thinks  it  was  settled  when  a  por 
tioii  of  the  New  Castle  Coal,  suiae  years  ago, 
was  submitted  to  a  microsa'pic  (xacr.ination 
After  cutting  off  a  slice  so  thin  that  ?'.  should 
transmit  light,  it  was  found  thai  uitiiiy  parts 
of  the  pure  and  solid  coal,  in  which  gaologista 
had  nc  suspicion  that  they  ehoiald  bo  able  to 
deduct  any  vegetable  structure,  not  nniy  were 
the  araiular  rings  of  the  growth  of  several 
kinds  of  trees  beautifully  distinct,  but  even  iho 
medullary  rays,  and  what  is  still  mora  re- 
markable, iu  Eoeie  cases,  evar.  the  spiral  ves- 
sels could  he  discovered.  But  besiues  tber-e 
proois  from  observing  a  vegetable  structure  iu 
the  coal  itself,  there  has  been  found  iu  tlu'' 
shales  acconspauying  it,  fern  leaves  and 
branches,  as  well  as  other  plants,  and  when 
we  find  the  trunks  of  trees  and  the  bark  con- 
verti'd  into  this  same  kind  of  coal  as  we  find 
iii  the  great  solid  beds,  no  one  will  dispute 
the  strong  evidence  in  favor  of  tho  vegetable 
origin  of  this  coal.  Ifwefiuda  circumfer- 
ence of  bark  surrouMuiug  a  cylindiical  mass 
of  sand,  we  know  tluit  it  has  been  a  hoUovv 
tree  filled  up  with  sand,  nor  can  there  be  any 
doubt  that  the  coai  is  formed  of  vegetable 
matter.  No  less  than  three  hundred  species  of 
plants  have  been  well  determined  by  botan- 
ists; some  of  whom  have  devoted  a  great  part 
of  their  lives  lo  this  study.  From  this  it  is  to 
be  in-ferred  that  the  carboniferous  formation  of 
Europe  and  America  is  made  up  of  compara- 
tively recent  plants.  He  thusalludes  to  three 
or  four  of  the  most  pecrdiar  facts,  which  lead 
lo  this  conclusion: 

Ju  ihe  first  place  the  boughs  and  leaves  of 
ferns  are  the  most  frequently  and  strikingly 
met  in  .\merica  as  well  as  Europe.  So  per- 
fectly have  they  been  preserved  that  there  can 
be  no  doubt  that  they  aie  really  ferns;  and  in 
some  cases  even  their  inflorescence  has  been 
preserved  at  the  back  of  the  leaves.  Where 
we  have  not  the  flowers  and  prints  remaiidng 
we  have  found  it  possible  to  distinguish  the 
ditl'erent  species  of  fossil  and  ancient  ferns  by 
attending  to  the  v  ining  of  the  leaves.  At 
least  one  hundred  species  are  determined  in 
mis  wav.  The  most  numerous  of  those  vege- 
table veinings  are  those  which  have  been  call- 
e<l  Snc;illaii/i  or  tree  ferns.  Their  stems  are 
found  to  be  fluted  vertically,  and  in  the 
flutings  are  litt'e  stars,  as  it  were,  each  of 
which  indicates  the  place  where  the  leaf  was 
attached;  acid  it  is  evident,  as  .M.  Brongniart 
has  shewn,  that  although  the  hark  of  these 
trees  is  so  well  marked  that  forty-two  species 
have  beeiidf'scribed  ;  yet  therei.s  never  found 
any  leaf  ittaihed  ;  while  we  iiave  iu  the  same 
beds  leaves  in  abundance  which  have  no 
trunks.  The  natural  inference  i-*,  that  they 
must  have  belonged  to  the  aborescent  ferns  ; 
as,  lor  instance,  the  section  Cnul'ipioris  is 
admi.ted  by  all  to  liave  belonged  to  this  spe- 
cies. 'Ihe  fact  is  also  important  because  the 
tree-ferns,  and  especially  the  Caulaptoris, 
are  now  known  to  be  exclusively  the  inha- 
bitants of  a  warm  and  humid  climate — much 
more  hot  and  moist  than  in  those  parts  of  the 
globe  where  coal  now  abounds.     For  we  find 


General  Geological  Jieview. 


coal  not  only  in  England  and  Nova  Scotia, 
but  as  far  North  as  Mellville's  Island  and  Buf- 
fin's  Bay,  in  a  climate  where  the  growth  of 
such  fern  plants  is  dwarfish  and  stinted.  It 
is  evident  that  when  these  vegetables  existed 
there  must  have  been  a  warmer,  and  proba- 
bly a  more  equable  climate  than  is  now  found 
even  in  warmer  latitudes. 

The  climate  in  Northern  latitudes  was  then 
much  warraei-  and  more  moist  than  it  is  now 
in  any  part  of  the  globe.  The  same  thing  is 
made  evident  by  a  comparison  of  their  fossil 
Sagillaria  with  those  which  now  attain  their 
gi'eatest  size  in  the  islands  of  the  Pacific.  He 
had  found  several  plants,  as  the Astf^mphyllii-s, 
in  the  Appalachian  Chain,  and  which  are  also 
found  in  Nova  Scotia  and  Europe,  which  can- 
not certainly  be  referred  to  any  living  fami- 
lies. These  all,  however,  bespeak  a  terres- 
trial vegetation,  though  occasionally  found 
mixed  with  marine  shells  and  corals.- 

Another  class  of  fossils  common  in  coal 
shales  is  the  Lepidodendra,  somewhat  allied 
in  form  to  the  modern  Licopodhans,  or  white 
mosses.  Though  the  mosses  of  the  present 
day  are  never  more  than  mere  shrubs,  even 
in  the  warmest  regions,  yet,  at  the  carbon- 
iferous period  they  attained  an  enormous  de- 
velopment, being  forty,  fifty,  or  even  seventy 
feet  high. 

There  have  been  two  theories  to  explain 
how  these  plants  could  have  been  carried  into 
the  sea,  estuaries,  or  lakes,  and  drawn  be- 
neath the  water  and  accumulated  in  the  strata, 
so  as  to  form  coal.  One  of  them  asserts  that 
the  plants  must  have  been  drifted  and  buried 
in  the  water,  since  we  fiud  them  intercoUated 
between  different  stata  of  shales;  just  as 
plants  lie  between  the  leaves  "f  a  botanist's 
herbarium,  and  are  pressed  together,  so  have 
these  ferns  been  found  flattened  between  the 
seams  of  shale.  They  have  been  carried 
from  the  place  where  they  grew,  drifted  out 
to  a  certain  distance,  water-logged  and  sunk 
in  the  mud,  and  other  strata  deposited  above 
them.soas  to  form  this  intercollation  between 
the  different  leaves  of  clay. 

But  many  believed,  from  seeing  the  roots, 
that  the  plants  grew  on  the  spot  where  we 
now  find  them.  But  when  we  come  to  ob-  • 
serve  that  these  roots  terminate  in  different 
Btrata,  it  will  .leem  evident  that  they  were 
carried  down,  sunk  and  struck  in  the  mud, 
as  snags  are  now  in  the  Mississippi.  In  the 
Quartose  sandstone  at  St.  Etienne,  near  Ly- 
ons, are  found  avast  number  of  those  Lepido- 
dendra  and  S a gillari(E.  No  one  apparently 
can  doubt  that  these  drifted  to  their  present 
position,  and  that  they  were  afterwards  co- 
vered with  sand  brought  down  by  rivers. 
Many  appearances  favor  this  hypothesis. 
Sometimes  we  find  beds  of  marine  shells,  then 
vegetable  matter,  and  then  a  mixture  of  fresh 
water  and  marine  shells. 

But  though  these  facts  may  be  thus  explain- 
ed, the  discoveries  that  are  being  made  lead 
geologists  to  come  round,  more  and  more,  to 
the  opposite  view  of  the  case — to  the  hy- 
pothesis which  refers  the  growth  of  large 
beds  of  coal   to  the  increase  on  the  spot — 


after  the  manner  of  peat,  as  it  is  seen  in 
cold  and  dark  climates.  This  may  appear 
contradictory  to  what  bas  been  said  with  re- 
gard to  a  change  of  climate  since  the  carbon- 
iferous era ;  but  it  is  not  necessarily  so.  The 
opinion  of  Werner,  confirmed  by  -the  specu- 
lations of  Brongniart,  led  him  to  belies'e,  con- 
trary to  his  early  impressions,  that  by  far  the 
greater  part  of  the  coal  had  grown  on  the  spot 
where  it  is  found.  Accumulating  like  peat  in 
the  land,  the  land  must  have  been  submerged 
again  and  again,  to  allow  the  strata  of  sand 
and  mud  to  be  superimposed  as  we  now  find 
them. 

In  excavating  for  coal  at  Belgray,  near 
Glasgow,  in  1835,  many  upright  trees  were 
found  with  their  roots  terminating  in  a  bed  of  / 
coal ;  and  only  seven  years  ago,  in  cutting  a 
section  of  the  Bolton  railroad  in  Lancashire, 
eight  or  teu  trees  were  found  in  avertica!  posi- 
tion ;  they  were  referable  to  the  Lipidoden- 
dra  species,  and  allied  Licopidiums,  or  club 
mosses.  All-  were  within  forty  or  fifty  feet  of 
each  other,  and  some  of  them  were  fi.fteen  feet 
in  circumference  at  the  bottom.  The  roots 
spread  m  all  directionft,  and  reached  beds  of 
clay,  and  also  spread  out  into  the  seams  of  coal. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  these  trees  grew  where 
they  are  found,  aiid  thai  the  roots  are  in  their 
original  position.  The  oeam  of  coal  has  possibly 
been  formed  of  the  leaves  which  fell  from 
the  trees.  This  is  a  singular  fact :  that  just 
below  the  coal  seam,  and  above  the  covering 
of  the  roots,  was  found  more  thau  a  bushel  of 
the  Lepidantrobus — a  fruit  Jiot  unlike  the 
elongated  cone  of  the  ^  tree.  It  has  always 
been  imagined  that  the  Lepidast.robus  was 
the  fruit  of  the  Lepidodendra,  but  hero  they 
are  found  beneath  other  trees. 

lender  every  seam  of  coal  in  Wales  is  found 
the  fire-clay— a  sandy,  blue  mad,  abounding  in 
the  plants  called  Sti^maria.  First  is  the 
seam  of  coal,  then  the  fire-clay,  then  another 
seam  of  coal,  and  then  the  sandstone.  In  one 
open  pirt  of  the  Newcastle  coal  field,  about 
thirty  species  of  SigillaricR  were  discovered ; 
the  trunks  were  two  or  three  feet  in  diameter. 
They  pierce  through  the  sand  io  a  vertical  di- 
rection, and  after  going  for  some  eleven  feet 
pendicularly,  the  upper  part  bends  round  ho- 
rizontally, and  extends  laterally  into  the 
sand — and  then  they  are  so  iiattened  by  the 
.superincumbent  strata,  that  the  opposite  barks 
are  forced  within  half  an  inch  of  each  other. 
The  flutings  are  beautifully  preserved  in  the 
flattened  horizontal  stems.  Here  had  been 
an  ancient  forest  growing  in  a  bed  of  clay- 
buried  in  some  way  with  sand  to  a  certain 
depth,  and  then  the  upper  part  was  bent  and 
broken  off  by  the  water  current,  and  buried 
in  layers  of  shale  and  mud.  There  are  many 
cases  of  this  kind  in  Wales,  whore  the  roots 
of  the  trees  evidently  preserve  their  original 
position.  Mr.  Logan,  an  excellent  Geologist, has 
examined  no  les.s  than  ninety  of  these  seams 
of  coal  in  Wales.  They  are  so  exceedingly 
thin  that  they  are  of  but  little  value  in  an  eco- 
nomical light — yet,  they  are  just  as  important 
for  geological  purposes,  as  if  they  were  thick 
Strata.    Under  every  one  of  the  nioety,  he  has 


Review  of  the  Coal  Regions, 


found  the  fire-clay,  a  sandy  mud,  containing 
the  plants  called  Siigmaria.  It  was  disco- 
vered years  ago  that  this  fire-clay  existed 
with  the  coal  mine ;  but  it  was  not  known 
that  it  was  the  floor  of  every  coal  seam,  and 
not  the  root,  which  contained  this  plant  in  a 
perfect  state.  The  Stigmaria  appears  in  the 
under-clay  (to  use  the  term  employed  by  the 
miners,)  a  cylindrical  stem,  from  every  side  of 
which  extends  leaves— not  only  from  the  op- 
posite sides,  but  from  every  side,  they  appear 
like  tubercles,  fitting  on  as  by  a  joint.  They 
radiate  in  all  directions  in  the  mud,  where 
they  are  not  flattened  like  the  ferns.  Had 
they  been,  we  might  have  had  leaves  in  two 
directions,  but  not  on  every  side.  These  plants 
resemble  the  Euphorbiacem  in  their  structure, 
and  in  some  respects  are  analogous  to  the 
caniferous  or  fir  tribes.  In  their  whole  struc- 
ture they  are  distinct  from  all  living  genera  or 
families  of  plants.  In  one  instance  a  dome- 
shaped  mass  was  found  with  stems  and 
leaves — some  of  the  branches  being  twenty  or 
thirty  feet  in  length,  and  sometimes  longer.  It 
has  been  thought  by  Dr.  Buckland  and  other 
Geologists,  that  those  plants  either  trailed  along 
in  the  mud  uX.  the  bottom  of  the  swamps,  or 
to  have  floated  in  lakes  like  the  modern 
Stratiotes. 

After  Mr.  Logan  had  arrived  at  this  re- 
markable fact,  Mr.  Lyell  became  particularly 
desirous  to  know  if  the  same  fact  was  true  in 
the  United  States.  When  he  arrived  here  in 
August,  1841,  he  had  no  idea  how  far  it  was 
true,  yet  it  was  known  the  Siigmaria  did  oc- 
cur; and  his  first  oppjftunity  to  inquire  into 
the  fact  was  at  Blossburg,  in  the  Bitumnious 
field  in  the  Northern  part  of  this  state.  His 
first  inquiry  of  the  geologist  was,  whe- 
ther he  found  Stigmaria  there.  He  received 
in  answer  an  affirmative  reply  ;  and  on  being 
asked  if  the  plant  occurred  in  the  under  clay, 
he  said  that  they  could  soon  settle  the  point. 
Whereupon,  he  had  one  of  the  mines  lighted 
up,  and  the  only  plant  they  could  find  in  the 
under  clay  was  this  Stigmaria.  It  existed  in 
abundance — its  leaves  radiating  in  all  direc- 
tions, just  as  in  Wales,  more  than  4000  miles 
distant.  The  same  cretal  appearance  was  pre- 
served. In  the  roof  of  the  coal  seam  were 
Been  different  species  of  ferns, — Sigillarics 
and  Catamites,  just  as  in  North  Carolina 
and  in  Wales.  Afterwards  another  opportu- 
nity occurred  in  the  Pottsville  region  of  An- 
thracite coal.  Prof.  Rodgers,  the  state  Geolo- 
gist, who,  though  well  acquainted  with  the 
strata  of  the  district,  was  as  anxious  as  Mr. 
L.  to  know  if  the  rule  would  hold  good,  ex- 
amined first  at  Pottsville,  and  then  at  Mauch 
Chunk,  and  the  same  phenomenon  was  obser- 
ved at  both  points.  In  the  first  coal  mine 
they  came  to,  the  coal  had  all  been  quarried 
away,  (for  the  work  was  carried  on  in  open 
day,)  and  nothing  but  the  cheeks  of  the  mine 
remained.  The  beds,  aa  they  have  been  hori- 
zontal, are  now  not  vertical,  but  have  gone 
through  an  angle  of  little  more  than  90°,  and 
turned  a  little  over;  so  that  wh^t  is  now  the 
ander  side  was  originally  the  upper ;  there- 
fore, the  cheek  on  the  left  side  was  originally 
the  floor  of  the  mine.  They  now  looked  at  the 


lower  cheek ;  and  the  first  thing  they  .saw  was 
the  Stigmaria,  very  distinct ;  on  the  other  side, 
but  a  little  way  oft',  were  ferns,  Sigillaria, 
Calamites,  Asterophyllites,  but  no  Stigmaria. 
So  it  was  at  Mauch  Chunk,  where  they  found 
one  thirty  feet  long,  with  leaves  radiating  in 
all  directions. 

It  has  now  been  ascertained  for  many 
years  that  Prof.  Catonwas  quite  correct  in  af- 
firming the  Anthracite  and  Bituminous  coals 
to  be  of  the  same  age.  This  is  shown  not  only 
by  their  relative  position  with  regard  to  the 
red  sand-stone,  but  from  the  plants  found  in 
both  being  identical. 

All  the  coal  fields,  therefore,  may  be  regard- 
ed as  one  whole, and.  the  question  will  occur, 
how  did  it  happen  that  the  great  floor  was  let 
down  so  as  to  prevent  the  accumulation  of 
coal,  and  yet  plants  of  so  difterent  textures 
should  be  found  in  it.  It  has  been  suggested 
that  these  plants  grew  in  the  swamps;  and  it 
is  possible  to  imagine  that  there  may  have 
been  morasses  fitted  only  for  the  growth  of 
the  species  of  plants  caWed  Stigviaria  ;  and 
that  as  this  marsh  filled  up,  this  and  the  other 
plants  became  dry,  and  the  leaves  accumula- 
ted one  layer  above  another,  so  as  to  form  beds 
of  coal  of  a  different  nature  from  those  that 
preceded.  We  know  it  is  a  common  thing 
for  shallow  ponds  to  fill  up  gradually  with 
mud  and  aquatic  plants,  and  at  last  peat  and 
trees  are  formed  upon  them.  A  corresponding 
change  is  constantly  going  on  in  different  parts 
of  Europe — the  same  transition  from  bogs  and 
marshes  to  a  soil  capable  of  supporting  various 
great  trees  is  taking  place,  and  then  the 
ground  is  submerged ;  for  always,  again  and 
again,  we  must  refer  to  this  subsidence  of  tho 
soil. 

Those  who  have  seen  the  morass  called  tho 
Great  Dismal  in  North  Carolina  and  Virginia, 
may  possibly  have  had  an  opportunity  of  cross- 
ing the  northern  extremity  of  it  on  a  railway 
supported  by  piles,  from  Norfolk  to  Welden. 
There  is  no  less  than  forty  miles  fi-om  North  to 
South,  and  twenty  from  East  to  West,  covered 
entirely  with  various  forest  trees,  under  which 
is  a  great  quantity  of  moss  ;  the  vegetation  is 
of  every  variety  of  size,  from  common  creep- 
ing moss  to  tall  cypresses  one  hundred  and 
thirty  feet  high.  The  water  surrounds  the 
roots  of  these  trees  for  many  mouths  in  the 
year.  And  this  is  a  most  singular  fact  to  one 
who  has  travelled  only  in  Europe,  tliat,  as  is 
the  case  in  the  United  States,  trees  should 
grow  in  the  water,  and  yet  not  be  killed.— • 
This  Great  Dismal  was  explored  some  years 
ago  by  Mr,  Edmund  Ruftin,  author  of  the  val- 
uable Agricultural  Journal.  He  first  calls  at» 
tention  to  the  fact  that  a  greater  portion  of  the 
vast  morass  stands  higher  than  the  ground  that 
surrounds  it ;  it  is  a  great  spongy  mass  of  peat, 
standing  some  seven  or  eight  feet  higher  than 
its  banks,  as  was  ascertained  by  careful  mea- 
surements when  the  railroad  was  cut  through. 
It  consists  of  vegetable  matter,  with  a  slight 
admixture  of  earthy  substance,  as  in  coal. 
The  source  of  peat  in  Scotland  is,  that  one 
layer  of  vegetation  is  not  decomposed  before 
another  forms.  So  is  it  in  Chili,  Patagonia 
and  Terra  del  Fuego.    Thus,  also,  is  it  in  difr 


General  Geological  Hevietv. 


ferent  parts  of  Europe,  in  the  Falkland  Islands, 
as  Darwin  has  shown.  Thus,  too,  is  it  in  the 
Great  Dismal,  where  the  plants  and  trees  are 
different  from  tlioso  of  the  peat  in  New-York. 
It  is  found  on  cutting  down  the  trees  and 
draining  the  swamp,  and  letting  in  the  sun, 
that  the  vegetation  will  not  be  supported  as  it 
was  before,  beneath  the  dark  shade  of  the 
trees.  In  the  middle  is  a  fine  lake,  and  the 
whole  is  inhabited  by  wild  animals,  and  it  is 
somewhat  dangerous  to  dwell  near  it  by  rea- 
Boa  of  the  bad  atmosphere  it  creates.  It  is 
covered  by  most  luxuriant  vegetation.  It  is 
found  in  some  places  in  England,  that  there  is 
a  species  of  walking-vwssei,  which  are  some- 
times seized  with  a  fancy  to  walk  from  their 
places;  the  moss  swells  up,  bursts,  and  rolls 
off,  sometimes  burying  cottages  in  its  path. 
In  some  places  this  peat  has  been  dug  into 
and  houses  have  been  found  several  feet  be- 
low the  surface — curious  antiquarian  remains. 
In  the  same  manner  the  Great  Dismal  may 
spread  itself  over  the  suiToundiug  country. 

— Conceding  the  vegetable  origin  of  coal, 
predicated  mainly  upon  the  existence  of  a 
previous  universal  climate, — no  less  than  from 
the  impressions  of  vegetable  matter  in  the 
body  of  the  coal,  which  are  daily  encountered 
by  the  miners:  as  well  as  from  the  reasons 
assigned  by  the  eminent  writers  just  quoted; 
— there  exists  some  difference  of  opinion  re- 
garding the  i^robable  manner  of  its  deposit. 
Before  considering  this  point,  however,  we 
will  submit  a  few  remarks  concerning  the 
flora  composing  the  coal  formation. 

'At  the  period  of  the  coal-bearing  series 
water,  no  doubt,  was  very  generally  inter- 
mixed with  the  land.  Lakes,  rivers,  and 
creeks  did  not,  in  all  probability,  exist  as  they 
aovv  do ;  for  the  obvious  reason  that,  although 
the  earth  had  already  experienced  some  vio- 
lent upheavings,  it  must  have  partaken  more 
of  the  appearance  and  characteristics  of  our 
Western  prairies,  tlian  of  the  mountainous 
ranges  which  now  distinguish  the  surface. 
The  land  must  generally  have  lain  in  flats,  or 
swamps,  and  been  thoroughly  impregnated 
with  water.  These  flats  were  continually 
overgrown  with  rank  vegetation ;  which,  from 
the  best  information  provided  by  fossil-botan- 
ists, comprized  over  three  hundred  varieties 
of  plants  and  trees.  Of  the  former,  by  far  the 
largest  number  belonged  to  the  monocotyle- 
donous  species:  while  the  latter  are  related  to 
tlie  tribes  of  fern,  palm,  bamboo,  etc.  which 
still  flourish  in  the  tropical  regions.  Besides 
Ithese,  were  species  of  mosses  and  creeping 
vines,  which  do  not  appear  to  be  allied  to  any 
kind  now  living.  The  coal-vegetation,  in  fact, 
may  be  said  to  be  analogous,  if  at  all,  to  those 
plants  only  which  are  developed  in  certain 
low  and  humid  islands,  in  the  warmest  lati- 
tudes ;— for  it  is  in  such  climates  that  the  oil 
of  flowers  and  of  trees  is  found  to  be  more 
inflammable  than  in  colder  localities,  because 
they  decompose  no  carbonic  acid,  but  convert 
the  oxygen  of  the  atmosphere  into  carbonic 
acid.  But  however  closely  these  may  be 
allied  to  the  coal-bearing  plants,  they  can 
form  no  comparison  with  them  in  point  of 


dimensions — the  smallest  plant,  in  that  period, 
having  assumed  the  proportions  of  our  loftiest 
forest  trees.  Of  the  bamboo,  which  is  in  the 
East  a  principal  production,  and  in  many  parts 
of  China  is  extensively  cultivated  in  planta- 
tions, it  grows  from  fifteen  to  seventy  feet  in 
height,  and  irom  five  to  fifteen  inches  in  dia- 
meter. The  trunk  is  hollow  and  full  of  joints ; 
and  the  growth  of  the  tree  is  very  rapid — a 
healthy  tree  not  unfrequently  attaining  the 
height  of  from  fifteen  to  twenty -five  feet  in  as 
many  days.  The  leaves  are  enormously  large, 
and  the  soft  shoots  of  the  tree  are  used  for 
food,  while  the  succulent  matter  of  the  joints 
affords  a  wholesome  and  nourishing  liquor. 
This,  with  the  other  primitive  species,  would 
grow  in  immense  groves,  which  were  fre^ 
quently  overgrown  by  stupendous  vines,  form- 
ing a  picturesque,  wild  amphitheatre. 

The  heat  of  the  climate,  operating  upon  the 
water  beneath  would,  of  course,  generate  an 
effluvium  highly  calculated  to  expedite  the 
growth  of  the  vegetable  mattei-,  and  which, 
in  the  shape  of  gas,  entered  thus  largely  into 
its  properties.  The  influence  of  the  climate 
upon  vegetation,  and  which  must  have  been 
all-powerful  at  this  period,  is  strikingly  illus- 
trated by  those  phenomena,  occurring  at  the 
present  time  in  certain  parts  of  the  globe,  (and 
in  a  peculiar  manner  in  the  Dismal  Swamp 
region  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Lyell)  where  the 
trees  are  poisonous,  and  the  atmosphere,  being 
filled  with  their  unwholesome  emissions,  is 
dangerous,  if  not  at  once  fatal  to  animal  life. 
The  most  remarkable  instance  of  this  pheno- 
menon is  found  in  the  Island  of  .Java,  where, 
either  from  the  trees  or  from  the  rocks,  a 
certain  kind  of  gas  is  emitted  which  repels 
the  approach  of  man.  A  similar  phenom- 
enon during  the  coal-epoch  might,  possibly, 
account  for  the  paucity  of  animal  fossils ;  or, 
at  least,  might  be  supposed  to  have  exercised 
a  peculiar  and  important  agency  in  its  vege- 
tation, and  subsequent  conversion  into  its  pre- 
sent state.  The  water,  too,  must  have  been  of 
a  peculiar  character — totally  unlilce  ours,  since 
it  could  not  have  been  affected,  in  any  degree, 
by  the  minerals  which  in  our  day  enter  more 
or  less  largely  into  its  properties.  We  shall 
venture  no  conjecture  as  to  its  condition  and 
qualities  at  that  period — but  content  ourself 
with  conceding,  in  general  terms,  that  howev- 
er affected  by  immediate  or  extraneous  cir- 
cumstances, it  was  better  calculated  to  pre- 
serve and  to  mineralize  the  vegetable  matter, 
than  the  water  of  our  own  time  would  have 
been. 

The  vegetable  meter  iel,  therefore — having 
been  preserved  in  the  manner  suggested — 
must  now  have  undergone  various  chemical 
changes,  whereby  the  whole  may  have  been 
resolved  into  a  compact  body.  For  this  a  pro- 
cess similar  to  that  by  which  the  concretions 
found  in  the  great  caverns  of  Kentucky  and 
Virginia  are  produced,  might  be  suggested — 
though  these  are  formed  from  the  accumulated 
drippings  of  the  water,  like  ice  on  the  sides  of 
hills.  Nevertheless,  from  the  humidity  of  the 
climate,  the  water  might  have  had  a  similar 
influence,  and  covering  and  intermixing  with 


Review  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


the  rank  vegetable  matter,  may,  indeed, 
through  some  chemical  action,  have  produced 
a  fermentation,  which  prepared  it  for  subse- 
quent, and  not  less  important  changes  and  po- 
sitions. Finally  the  stratum  would  be  gradu- 
ally covered  over,  by  the  detritus  of  periodical 
ovei-flows,  or,  (as  is  explained  hereafter,)  by 
the  whole  bed  sinking  down  into  the  sea, 
and  thus  accumulating  the  saline  matter  which 
is  interspersed  between  the  layers  of  coal. 
This  covering,  however  produced,  effected 
the  most  important  change  in  the  vegetable 
matter.  The  overlaying  accumulations  of 
detritus,  shutting  in  the  original  gases  of  the 
vegetation,  by  pressure  produced  \h.e  fermen- 
tation of  the  whole  mass,  by  means  of  which 
■coal  teas  soon  produced,  and  the  beds  thus 
again  prepared  for  further  vegetation. 

This  proposition  is  well  sustained  by  facts 
■which  are  within  the  knowledge  of  almost  ev- 
■ery  one;  and  which  are,  indeed,  self-evident: 
If  a  stack  of  hay,  for  example,  were  exposed  in 
■a  moist  condition,  or  were  top  closely  packed, 
fermentation  and  ignition  would  be  produced, 
and  the  hay  would  undoubtedly  be  consumed. 
But  if  the  process  be  interrupted  and  com- 
bustion prevented,  the  hay  will  be  found  to 
iiave  acquired  a  brown  color,  an  oily  surface, 
and  a  bituminous  odor.  The  same  phenome- 
na are  observable  in  flax :  and  all  other  vege- 
table substances,  if  similarly  exposed,  will 
pi-oduce  similar  results.  Thus,  were  any  ve- 
getable matter  in  a  moistened  condition,  pla- 
ced under  heavy  pressure,  so  as  to  prevent  its 
gaseous  substances  from  escaping,  bitumen  or 
ooal  would  be  produced  according  to  the  va- 
rious stages  of  its  progress.  Vegetable  matter, 
(says  Mr.  Richardson,)  has  been  traced  through 
every  stage  of  the  saccharine,  vinous,  acetous, 
naphtha,  petroleum,  bitumen,  lignite,  jet,  coal, 
■amber,  and  even  the  diamond. 

The  experiments  of  Prof.  Goppert,  which 
have  been  followed  in  England,  further  de- 
monstrates the  vegetable  origin  of  coal,  and 
places  it,  in  fact,  beyond  the  possibility  of  a 
aoubt.  Having  observed  that  the  leaf,  in  iron- 
stone nodules,  might  occasionally  be  separated 
ia  the  form  of  carbonaceous  film,  the  learned 
savant  placed  fern-leaves  in  clay,  and  then  in 
the  shade,  exposed  them  to  a  red  heat,  and 
thus  obtained  striking  resemblances  to  fossil 
■plants.  According  to  the  degree  of  heat,  the 
plant  was  found  to  become  either  brown, 
shining,  black,  or  to  be  entirely  lost,  the  im- 
pression only  remaining  ;  but  in  this  latter 
case,  the  surrounding  clay  was  stained  black, 
thus  indicating  that  the  color  of  the  coal-shales 
is  derived  from  the  carbonof  the  plants  which 
they  include. 

The  manner  of  deposit  of  the  coal  formation 
has  generally  been  conceded  to  the  agency  of 
floods  and  drift,  as  alluded  to  in  the  synopsis 
herein  presented  of  the  theories  ol  Dr.  Buck- 
land  and  Mr  Lyell.  But  this  belief  has  of  late 
encountered  some  serious  opposition  (as  stated 
by  Mr.  L.)  in  the  promulgation  of  a  new  the- 
ory in  England,  and  which  has  now  many  and 
eminent  followers.  The  objections  applying 
to  the  idea  that  coal  was  deposited  or  formed 
by  drift,  are  laid  down  by  Prof  Richardson, 


(who  does  not  himself  hesitate  to  acknow- 
ledge his  belief  in  the  theox-y)  of  which  the 
following  synopsis  may  serve  to  present  the 
outlines :  The  purity  of  the  coal,  and  its  free- 
dom from  extraneous  substances,  it  is  con- 
tended, are  averse  to  drift ;  for  had  it  been 
drifted  in  the  manner  conceived,  it  must  in- 
fallibly have  acquired  some  portion  of  foreign 
substances  in  its  transit,  such  as  pebbles,  gra- 
vel, &c.  But,  since  we  find  extensive  seams 
of  coal,  utterly  unmixed  with  any  other  mat- 
ters, its  freedom  from  these  is  considered  to 
be  incompatible  with  the  idea  of  its  having 
been  carried  to  a  distance  by  water.  The 
generally  uniform  thickness  of  each  seam  pre- 
sents another  difficulty.  Some  coal  seams  are 
known  to  cover  an  area  of  several  hundred 
square  miles,  sometimes  thick  and  sometimes 
extremely  thin,  but  each  seam  of  generally 
uniform  thickness  and  quality.  Had  the  coal 
been  wafted  away,  the  probability  is,  that  no 
such  uniformity  of  thickncfss  nnd  dispensation 
would  have  occurred  ;  but  that,  on  the  con- 
trary, the  mass,  from  the  ditferent  specific 
gravity  of  its  portions,  as  well  as  from  other 
causes,  would  have  been  deposited  in  an  ex- 
tremely unequal  manner,  in  heaps  and  hil- 
locks; whereas,  no  such  effects  are  observa- 
ble. The  size  of  many  of  the  coal-seams,  con- 
sidered with  reference  to  the  immense  weight 
which  they  have  undergone  by  the  overlay- 
ing strata,  is  considered  another  objection  of 
insurmountable  magnitude.  The  enormous 
extent  to  which  the  bulk  of  substances  may  be 
reduced  by  pressure,  is  strikingly  exhibited 
by  an  incident  which  occurred  in  an  English 
mine,  and  which  is  related  by  Mr.  Burr :  A 
mass  of  rubbish,  which  was  left  in  a  worn-out 
vein  of  iron-stone,  during  a  period  of  only  two 
years,  was  in  that  short  interval  reduced  from 
seven  to  no  more  than  two  feet  in  thickness, 
owing  to  the  pressure  of  the  overlaying  weight 
— and  when  found,  it  had  formed  into  so  hard 
a  substance,  as  to  present  one  mass  of  rock, 
which  could  only  be  penetrated  by  the  opera- 
tion of  blasting.  Now,  when  we  consider  the 
far  greater  compressibility  of  vegetable  mat- 
ter than  mineral  detritus,  and  reflect  that  the 
beds  of  coal  have  been  subjected  to-  the 
pressure  of  masses,  not  of  a  few  yards,  but  in 
many  instances,  of  many  thousand  feet  in 
thickness,  and  this  during  a  period  not  of  a 
couple  of  years,  but  of  countless  ages  of  the 
past, — it  will  appear  8elf-e\'ident  that  for  the 
formation  of  such  deposites,  supplies  on  the 
most  enormous  scale  would  be  required,  and 
that  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  to  transport 
them  by  the  action  of  water,  so  as  to  produce 
the  results  we  witness.  Again,  the  high  state 
of  preservation  in  which  many  of  those  ob- 
jects occur,  the  perfect  condition  of  the  leaves 
and  parts  of  fructification  of  many  of  the  ferns, 
the  sharp  angles  of  numerous  stems  of  plants 
which  are  presumed  to  have  been  of  soft  and 
succulent  nature,  and  with  the  surfaces  of 
others  marked  with  lines,  streaks,  and  flutings 
so  delicate,  that  the  mere  drifting  of  a  day 
would  inevitably  have  destroyed  them— 
these,  with  facts  of  a  like  nature,  and  leading 
to  similar  conclusions,  lead  to  the  belief  that 


General  Geologkul  lieview. 


9 


these  objects  have  never  been  accomplished 
by  drift,  but  that  they  are  buried  on  the  spots 
whr.re  they  lived  and  fiourished. 

Again,  it  is  contended,  that  if  vegetable 
matter  were  swept  away  by  a  Hood,  such  an 
agency,  by  allowing  the  gaseous  particles  to 
escape,  would  never  be  adequate  to  produce 
the  desired  results,  and  that  coal  never  could 
be  formed  by  such  a  process.  Coal  itself  (or 
some  kinds  of  coal  at  least)  if  buried  in  the 
water  for  any  considerable  length  of  time, 
would  loose  largely  its  igneous  properties, 
and  finally  crumble  away  as  its  gases  escaped. 
But,  finally,  the  multiplied  instances  of 
trees  found  erect  on  the  s[iot  wht?re  they  un- 
questionably grew,  is  considered  sufficient  to 
overthrow  the  idea  of  transport  altogether,  and 
fo  establish  the  fact  of  the  Coal  liavmg  chiefly 
grown  on  the  spot  where  it  is  now  found. 

The  alternation  of  beds  of  coal  with  marine 
deposits  is  explained  by  Mr.  Richardson  by 
the  supposition  that  extensive  subsidences  of 
the  estuaries,  which  were  the  site  of  the  la- 
custrine and  terrestrial  vegetation  just  describ- 
ed, may  have  reduced  these  estuaries  beneath 
the  level  of  the  sea,  where  the  submerged  soil, 
with  its  vegetation,  was  covered  with  accu- 
mulations of  eacrinital  limestone  and  other 
marine  sediments  ;  and  that,  in  course  of  time, 
eitherby  drifts  of  sand  or  clay  from  the  land. 
or  by  the  elevation  of  the  bed  of  the  sea,  the 
estuaries  were  again  filled  and  become  the 
area  of  the  vegetable  growth  above  named, 
while  the  repetition  of  such  changes  would  ac- 
count for  the  alternations  of  marine  and  vegeta- 
ble deposits  which  occur  in  our  beds  of  coal. 

Having  thus  dwelt  somewhat  minutely  upon 
the  coal  Tormation,  and  the  geological  phen- 
omena to  which  it  is  allied,  we  will,  in  con- 
clusion, take  a  retrospect  view  of  the  strata 
of  the  earth,  and  the  means  which  have,  from 
time  to  time,  modified  and  changed  its  con- 
figuration. We  perceive,  by  excavations  made 
for  railroads  and  canals  by  the  side  of  moun- 
tains, that  there   are  various  layers  of  rock, 

day,  sand,  coal,  &c.,  reposing  one  above  the 

J  other. 

As  stated  in  the  commencement  of  this 
chapter,  the  origin  of  our  earth  must  have 
been  a  mass  kept  in  a  strata  of  fusion  by  heat, 
and  that  its  surface  become  hard  by  having 
gradually  cooled.     The  most  ancient  part  of 

iithe  earth  is  composed  of  granite,  which  ap- 
'  pears  in  an  unstratified  mass,  and  bears  every 
indication  of  an  igneous  origin.  There  are 
some  kinds  of  granite,  however,  of  compara- 
tively recent  origin,  which  so  clearly  resemble 
the  ancient  rock  as  to  be  sometimes  difficult 
to  distinguish  one  from  the  other.  Gneiss  is  a 
rock  very  analogous  to  granitg.  It  is  stratified, 
however,  and  seems  to  have  been  formed  un- 
der water.  It  alternates  with  micha-schist, 
which  ordinarily  accompanies  granite  and 
gneiss.  Next  we  have  argillaceous  schist, 
which  was  also  formed  under  water,  and  wliich 

I  18  of  a  soft,  slaty  nature,  and  easily  split. 

I  These  rocks,  whose  origin  is  coeval  with  the 
creation  of  the  earth,  are  frequently  found  at 
the  top  of  mountains,  as  well  as  at  the  lowest 
depths  of  the  earth, — which   goes   to   prove 


that  the  earth  has,  at  various  periods,  been  sub  - 
jected  to  the  severest  upheavals  and  internal 
convulsions.  Among  these  rocks,  no  fossils 
have  ever  been  found,  and  it  is  thus  certain 
that  animal  and  vegetable  life  did  not  exist  at 
this  early  period  of  the  earth's  history. 

It  is  in  the  next,  or  second  geological  epoch, 
called  the  Transition  formation,  that  the  first 
traces  of  the  existence  of  vegetable  and  ma- 
rine life,  on  the  surlace  of  the  globe,  are  found. 
Previous  to  this  period,  and  perhaps  as  a  pre- 
lude to  the  introduction  of  life,  the  former 
rocks  had  been  disturbed,  as   above  mention- 

I  ed, — for  we  do  not  find  the  strata  of  the  Tran- 
sition formation  in  parallel  layersover  the  pri- 

j   mitive  beds  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  they  are  de- 

j   posited  in  the  greatest  apparent  confusion. 

j  Geologists  have  divided  this  formation  into 
three  divisions,  which  are  called  respectively 

I   the  Cambrian,  the  Silurian,  and  the  Devonian 

I  systems  of  rocks.  The  former  are  the  oldest 
sedimentary  rocks  known,  and  are  composed 
of    schistose    grauwackes,     mica-schists    and 

'   gneiss.    The  Cambrian  rocks  contain  organic 

j  remains  of  various   brachiopods,  polyparia, 

]   coral  animals.  &c. 

I  The  Silurian  System,  which  is  next  above 
the  Cambrian,  comprises  an  upper  and  lower 
strata,  and  is  very  nearly  similar  to  the  Cam- 
brian rocks.  The  strata  are  exclusively  of 
marine  origin,  and  whole  beds  are  composed 
of  shells,  corals,  (tc,  and  those  peculiar  crusta- 
ceons  termed  Trliobites,  and  which,  being 
rarely  found  in  other  situations,  are  character- 
istic only  of  the  Silurian  and  Devonian  strata. 
After  the  revolutions  which  seem  to  have 
terminated  the  primitive  epoch,  the  eaitb 
must  have  remained  for  a  long  time  in  a  state 
of  repose,  as  we  find  in  the  third  geological 
period,  denominated  the  Secondary  forma- 
tion, the  stratum  called  the  old  red  sandstone, 
— consisting  of  a  mass  of  rocks  and  pebbles> 
cemented  together,  having  been  transported 
and  accumulated  through  the  action  of  water, 
and  upon  which  rest  the  carboniferous  depo- 
sits. This  formation  is  composed  principally 
of  marine  fossils,  the  varieties  of  which  are 
very  numerous.  The  mountain  limestone, 
and  metalliferous  limestone,  in  which  are 
found  ores  of  lead,  copper,  zinc,  &c.,  beaidea 
numerous  descriptions  of  organic  remains,  be- 
long to  this  formation.  Next  comes  the  coal 
formation,  and  as  previously  stated,  this  is  ex- 
clusively composed  of  vegetable  matter,  form- 
ed as  aforesaid,  and  in  which  marine  or 
other  fossils  are  rarely  found. 

A  violent  convulsion  seems  to  have  termi- 
nated the  coal  period,  which  was  succeeded 
by  what  is  called  the  Saliferous  formation — 
being  the  fourth  geological  epoch.  In  this  are 
found  the  red  conglomerate,  new  red  sand- 
stone, &c.  very  often  deposited  in  layers  fromi 
one  to  five  hundred  feet  deep.  Few  organic 
remains  are  found  in  these  beds ;  but  it  was  at 
this  time  that  the  animals  belonging  to  the 
class  of  reptiles  were  created. 

In  this  epoch  are  embraced  several  forma- 
tions, (mostly  of  local  names)  which,  not  being 
essential  to  onr  present  purpose,  it  is  unneces- 
sary to  enumerate. 


10 


Review  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


The  fifth  geological  epoch,  embrarpd  in  the 
Secondary  formal  ion,  comprizes  what  are  call- 
ed the  Liassic,  the  Jurnssic.  and  the  Oolitic 
systems.  Previous;  to  this  rpoch,  tlie  earth 
was  inhabited  only  by  certani  plants,  and  a 
few  inferior  animals  and  reptiles  ;  hut  at  the 
commencement  of  this  formation,  anew  fauna 
was  created — composed  of  animals  and  rep- 
tiles of  strange  form  and  gigantic  size.  Rocks 
of  the  Jurassic  system,  as  also  those  of  the  Li- 
assic, are  not  met  with  in  this  country,  and  we 
therefore  avoid  a  description  of  them,  as  well 
as  the  fossils  which  they  contain. 

In  the  sixth  geological  epoch,  also  in  the 
Secondary  formation,  we  have  the  lowcj-  or 
■  inferior  cretaceous  system,  abounding,  as  the 
latter  mentioned  series,  in  marine  and  animal 
fossils.  This  formation  contains  limestone, 
with  here  and  there  deposits  of  gypsum,  clays, 
sands,  iron  ores,  &c.  In  England,  under  the 
name  of  IVeolden  fprmutio?i,  ave  deposited,  in 
alternate  layers,  limestone,  sand,  and  clay,  all 
of  which  are  frequently  of  great  thickness. 
Above  the  Wealden  formation  is  a  group  of 
depositee  of  green  sand,  in  which  are  distribu- 
ted particles  of  silicate  of  iron,  which  are  also 
found  in  New  Jersey.  Higher  up  aie  again 
found  limestone,  sandstones  and  chalk  marls, 
the  stratification  of  which  is  only  indicated  by 
layers  of  flint  in  the  latter.  Beds  of  the  cre- 
taceous group  are  found  in  New-Jersey  and 
other  parts  of  the  United  States,  but  they  rest 
on  the  oldest  secondary  rocks,  without  the  in- 
tervention of  the  Oolite. 

The  next  formation,  (and  the  seventh  geolo- 
gical epoch)  is  called  the  Tertiary  formation. 
Between  the  commencement  of  this  epoch, 
and  the  termination  of  the  chalk  strata,  all 
traces  of  ancient  or  primitive  remains  are  lost; 
the  fossils  which  are  found  in  the  .-subsequent 
formations  being  but  types  of  existing  organic 
creatures. 

The  Tertiary  formation  is  divided  by  geolo- 
gists into  the  Eocene,  Miocene,  and  Pliocene ; 
or  the  older,  middle  and  newer  Tertiary 
groups.  The  first  named  strata  is  developed 
in  the  states  of  Virginia,  North  and  South  Ca- 
rolina, Georgia,  Alabama,  &c.  It  consists 
principally  of  greenish  sands,  nearly  identical 
with  the  cretaceous  series,  and  of  the  same 
mineral  qualities.  In  Paris  it  embraces  layers 
of  limestones,  marl."-,  and  siliceous  matter; — 
while  in  London  it  forms  stifi'and  again  plas- 
tic clays,  v.'hich  are  useful  for  manufacturing 
purposes.  Above  these  layers  occur  various 
kinds  of  clays,  limestones,  marls,  gypsums, 
&c..  the  latter  of  which  being  extensively 
used  in  France  for  the  manufacture  of  Plaster 
of  Paris,  &c.  Above  the  gypsum  we  find  a 
more  modern  group,  composed  of  marls,  sands 
and  flints — tlie  first  a  marine,  and  the  other  a 
fresh  water  deposit. 

The  Miocene  beds  prevail  on  the  Continent 
of  Europe,  and  in  America  along  the  shores  of 
the  Chesapeake  Bay,  and  in  some  parts  of  Vir- 
ginia. They  abound  in  fossils,  and  consist 
mainly  of  shells,  sands,  sandstones,  and  con- 
glomerate of  gravel,  &c.,  which  are  hard 
enongh  for  building  stones.  In  some  portions 
of  the  globo,  the  Miocenw  series  present  com- 


bustible materials — and  remains  of  dicotyle- 
donous plants  abound  in  them  in  Switzerland, 
Gprmnny,  Italy,  &c. 

The  Pliocene  bqds  of  the  United  Statesare 
of  comparatively  recent  origin.  They  are 
found  in  New-York,  Kentucky,  and  along  the 
banks  of  the  Potomac  in  Maryland.  la 
Europe,  brown  coal,  or  lignites,  is  found  in 
layers,  which  can  be  advantageously  worked. 
The  beds  extend  all  over  the  old  world,  and 
their  mineral  properties  vary  in  different 
points ;  and  at  some  places  they  exhibit 
evidences  of  far  greater  age  than  at  other 
points.  They  consist  mainly  of  marls,  sands, 
and  remains  of  marine,  fresh  water,  and  land 
animals. 

In  this  formation  are  also  embraced  super- 
ficial deposits  of  drift,  consisting  of  gravel, 
boulders,  sand,  clay,  &c.  There  are  two  kinds 
of  drift,  one  called  the  ancient  or  diluvium. 
and  the  other  the  modern  m  alluvium.  In  the 
former,  which  covers  over  the  Tertiary  forma- 
tion, are' found  fossils  which  date  not  very  far 
back  from  the  present  period, — as  the  dilu\n- 
al  period,  in  a  manner,  unites  the  TeHiary 
with  the  recent  past.  In  these  deposits  are 
found  bones  of  extinct  and  recent  genera  of 
animals,  and  among  them  those  of  the  Ma^a- 
therium,  the  skeletons  of  which  measure 
eighteen  fpet  in  length,  and  about  nine  feet 
high.  This  animal  is  much  larger  than  any 
subsequent  animal,  and  the  thigh-bone  is  be- 
lieved to  be  three  times  as  great  as  any  known 
elephant.  In  this  period  are  also  found  re- 
mainspf  elephants,  horses,  rhinoceroses,  frr. 
[  It  is  to  this  period  also  that  geologists  refer  tLi<=; 
'  immense  masses  of  debris  which  contain  gold, 
platina,  and  the  diamond,  in  Brazil,  Africa, 
India,  &c.,  as  well  as  the  veins  of  tin  in  Eng- 
land and  Mexico.  The  formation  known  as 
the  Boulder  or  erratic  block  formation,  also 
belongs  to  the  Diluvial  period.  All  over  the 
world  these  boulders  have  been  deposited. 
In  some  places  they  are  of  huge  proportions 
and  weight,  while  ordinarily  they  consist  of 
gravel  stones,  of  more  or  less  greatness.  They 
are  composed  of  various  mineral  material,  and 
notunfrequently  are  pure  and  hard  granite. 

In  the  United  States  many  of  the  valleys  are  j 
filled  up  to  a  great  depth  with  the  modern  or 
alluvial  deposites.  They  consist  mostly  of  a  I 
heterogeneous  mass  of  earthy  matter,  brought  ' 
down  from  the  higher  lauds  by  rains  and 
freshets.  Bones  of  the  buflfalo.  the  elephant,  \\ 
and  other  animals,  are  found  in  these  beds ;  1 
and  skeletons  of  the  celebrated  Mastadon  have  i 
been  exhumed  at  different  localities.  j 

It  is  in  the  modern  formation,  comprising  , 
the  eighth  geological  epoch,  that  the  first  traces  \ 
of  the  human  faulty  Jiave  been  discovered  ;  ! 
and  although  it  is  possible  that  its  origin  may  '  i 
date  farther  back  than  can  be  supposed  from 
the  evidences  furnished  by  the  exposed  land, 
yet  geologists  generally  unite  in  the  belief  that 
no  earher  records  appear  in  that  portion  of  the 
earth  covered  iiy  the  sea. 

Immediately  previous  tothe  modern  epoch, 
the  earth  seems  to  have  enjoyed  a  repose  of 
long  duration.  With  the  exception  of  a  few 
upheavals  occurring  during  the  latter  portion 


Genenil  (reologleal  Htinew. 


n 


.  of  the  diuvial  pwiod,  there  lius  been  no  catas- 
trophe of  any  moment ;  and  all  the  changes 
which  have  taken  place  '•  since  the  great 
flood"  have  been  brought  about  by  various 
causes — by  those  gradual  and  almost  imper- 
ceptible agencies  vvhicli,  continuing  from  cen- 
tuary  to  centuary.  and  from  thousandth  year  to 
thousandth  year,  will,  sooner  or  later,  have 
brought  the  world  to  another  grand  epoch. 

Having  tlnis  desultorily  traced  the  order  of 
strata,  we  may  add  that  it  is  always  r^'^ular. 
We  can  never  find  coal,  for  example,  below 
ihe  more  anrient  formations;  nor  an  ancient 
stratum  overlaying  a  modern  one.  Thus  we 
ptrceive  the  value,  in  an  economical  view,  of 
scientiiic  knowledge.  Thousands  of  dollars 
have  been,  and  are  still  e.xpended  by  the  un- 
informed, in  exploralioDs  after  niiueral  trea- 
sure, which,  did  they  but  enjoy  a  iiniiled 
knowledge  of  tliose  paramount  laws  whicli 
pervade  throughout  all  the  Creator'.^  works, 
could  be  saved ;  besides  the  labor,  an.Kiety 
and  bitter  disappointments  which  invariably' 
attend  ill-directed  euterprizes. 

— In  casting  our  eye  over  tlie  surface  cf  the 
earth,  we  everywhere  perceive  evidences  of  a 
universal  and  continual  change.  The  frosts  of 
autumn  ;  the  snows  of  winter ;  the  rains  of 
spring; '  the  electricity  of  the  summer — each 
conlnbute  to  this  purpose.  The  substance 
of  mountains  is  daily  diminishing  ;  and  rocks. 


Tkrtiary 


— those  silent  historians  of  the  past, — gradu- 
ally cnindjle  into  atoms,  and  unperceived 
are  borne  off  to  a  new  resting  place  in  the  sea. 
To  recapitulate:  we  find  the  order  of  strata 
of  the  earth's  crust,  to  be  as  follows : 

Modern — formation. 

f  Pliocene, 
<  Miocene, 
(  Eoceiie. 

f  Chalk  with  flints,      ^ 
I  Chalk withoutfliuts.  \Crf.taceo-:is 
Chalk  Marl,  |    Syttem. 

Green  Sands,  J 

Wealden  -  System. 

I  Oolitic         -  -  System 

Seco.sdarv^  Liassic  -  System 

I  Upper  new  red  Sand- 
I      stone,  or  Triassic  System 

I  Lower  new  red  Sand- 
)      stone,  or  Peruvian        System 
I  Carboniferous         -  System 

[  Old  red  Sandstone. 
(  Devonian  -  System 

Transition <  Sihiriaa       -  -        System. 

I  Cambrian  -  System 

C  Argillaceous  Schist, 
Metamorphic^  Mica  Schist, 

(  Gneiss. 
Plutonic  Rocks— GRANITE. 


ANTHRACITE  FORMATION  OF  PENNSVLVANIA. 


Locality. — The  Anthracite  Formation  of 
Pennsylvania  lies  in  the  Counties  of  Schuyl- 
kill, Dauphin,  Lebanon,  Carbon,  Northumber- 
laud>  Columbia,  and  Luzerne,  in  the  middle 
part  of  the  Eastern  portion  of  the  State.  It 
18  watered  by  the  Susquehanna,  Schuylkill, 
and  Lehigh  rivers,  and  their  numerous  tribu- 
tary branches. 

Extent. — The  Anthracite  Formation  of 
Pennsylvania  may  be  divided  into  three  grand 
divisions,  or  large  Coal  Regions ;  the  first,  or 
most  Southern  division,  being  known  as  the 
South  Anthracite  Region ;  the  second  division 
called  the  Middle  Anthracite  Region,  and  the 
third  grand  division  is  known  as  the  North 
Anthracite  Region,  or  Wyoming  Coal-field. 

The  three  great  Anthracite  Regions  may 
be  again  divided  into  Coal  districts,  as  follows, 
viz. :  The  Coal  districts  contained  in  the 
South  Anthracite  Region,  commencing  at  its 
eastern  end,  and  continuing  thence  westward, 
are  the  Lehigh,  Tamaqua,  Tuscarora,  Schuyl- 
kill Valley,  Pottsville,  Minersville,  Swatara, 
and  the  Lykens'  Valley  and  Dauphin,~thc 


Lykens'  Valley  being  the  North  fork,  and  the 
Dauphin  the  South  fork  of  the  western  exten- 
sion of  the  South  Anthracite  Region.* 

The  Middle  Anthracite  Region,  commenc- 
ing at  the  western  end,  and  continuing  thenco 
eastward,  has  the  Shamokin,  Mahanoy,  Gi- 
rardsville,  and  Quaquake  Coad  districts ;  to- 
gether witli  the  small  detached  Coal  ba-sins 
contiguous  to  the  Lehigh  river,  a.s  the  Beaver 
Meadow,  Hazleton,  Black  Creek,  Sandy 
Creek,  and  others  of  still  smaller  area. 

The  North  Anthracite  Region,  commencing 
west  and  continuing  thence  north-eastward, 
has  the  Shickshinny,  Wilkesbarre,  Newport, 
Pittston,  Lackawanna,  and  Carbondale  Coal 
districts. 

The  South  Anthracite  Region  extends  in 
length  from  its  eastern  point-like  end,  near 
the  Lehigh,  to  its  western  terminus  near  the 
Susquehanna — a  distance  of  about  seventy- 
five  miles.     The  greatest  breadth,  including 

*  See  Map  accompaojing  this  work. 


12 


Ueinew  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


the  Coal  formation  on  Broad  mouutain,  is 
about  six  miles.  This  measurement  is  across 
the  widest  and  central  portion  of  the  Region, 
and  will  only  hold  good  for  a  short  distance. 
The  average  width  of  Coal  ground  of  the 
South  Anthracite  Region  is  not  more  than 
two  miles. 

The  Middle  Anthracite  Region,  with  the 
detached  Coal  basins  at  its  eastern  part,  on 
the  Lehigh,  extends  in  length  to  its  point-like 
terminus  at  its  western  end,  which  point  is 
about  seven  miles  East  from  the  river  Sus- 
quehanna— a  distance  of  about  fifty  miles. 
The  greatest  breadth  is  nearly  four  miles, 
Thus,  the  Middle  will  average  more  Coal 
ground  than  the  South  Anthracite  Region. 

The  North  Anthracite  Region  extends  from  its 
north-eastern  end,  on  the  head  waters  of  Lack- 
awana  Creek,  to  its  western  point  at  Shick- 
shinny,  on  the  North  branch  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, a  distance  of  upwards  of  sixty  miles. 
This  will  not  average  so  great  a  width  of  coal 
ground  as  either  of  the  other  two  great 
Regions. 

Within  the  limits  of  the  three  great  Anthra- 
cite Regions,  are  ridges  and  spaces  composed 
of  conglomerate,  red  shale,  and  sand  stone 
strata,  which  lie  between,  aud  separate  from 
each  other  the  several  coal  basins  of  each  of 
the  three  great  divisions.  In  this  stratification 
no  Coal  exists.  The  value  of  the  land  which 
contains  the  coal  is  calculated  by  taking  into 
consideration  the  number,  thickness,  charac- 
ter, and  quality  of  the  veins  of  mineral  in  each 
particular  place,  and  from  their  adaptation 
for  mining  to  advantage,  and  thoir  accessi- 
bility to  market. 

Geological  Character  of  the  Anthka- 
ciTE  FoBMATioN. — We  are  indebted  to  Wm. 
F.  Roberts,  Esq.  the  well-known  practical 
Geologist  aud  Mining-Engineer,  for  the  fol- 
lowing concise  description  of  the  geological 
structure  of  the  Anthracite  Formations  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  statement  was  prepared 
expressly  for  this  work,  and  may  be  relied 
upon  as  strictly  authentic : 

— The  Anthracite  Formation  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, as  regards  its  Geological  character,  espe- 
cially in  the  South  Region,  is  very  much  dis- 
torted, and  the  Coal  veins  are  much  disturbed, 
and  irregular  in  their  courses.  In  working 
the  mines  faults,  both  of  a  hard  and  soft  na- 
ture, or,  in  other  words,  rock  and  slate,  (or 
■what  is  not  inappropriately  named  dirt  faults, 
Bome  of  which  are  of  great  magnitude)  are 
frequently  met  with,  which  not  only  prove  a 
great  loss  to  the  owners  of  the  properties  in 
which  they  occur,  by  diminishing  the  quan- 
tity of  Coal :  but  they  are  a  serious  inconven- 
ience to  the  prosecution  of  the  mine,  and  a 
great  drawback  upon  the  profits  of  the  Ope- 
rators and  lessees  of  the  Colliery— sometimes 
occasioning  the  abandonment  of  the  work 
altogether. 

In  the  Middle  Anthracite  Region, — taking 
as  an  index  the  mines  in  operation,  the  explo- 
rations already  made,  and  the  general  kind 
appearance  of  the  rocks,  and  great  regularity 
of  the  surface, — it  is  presumed  that  "  faults" 
will  not  be  found  to  exist  as  in  the  South 


Region.  Indeed,  the  whole  Geological  char- 
acter of  the  Middle  Anthracite  Region, —  the 
general  order  and  range  of  the  stratification 
being  so  uniform  and  undisturbed, — goes  far 
to  prove  that  no  fault  of  any  magnitude  will 
be  found  within  its  limits.  The  mountains 
are  very  high,  the  Coal  veins,  especially  those 
of  the  bottom  part  of  the  series,  are  generally 
very  thick,  and.  crop  out  high  up  the  moun- 
tain sides;  therefore  an  inexhaustible  amount 
of  Coal,  of  the  very  best  quality,  may  be  truly 
and  safely  calculated  upon  as  existing  in  this 
Coal  Region. 

In  the  North  Region  the  general  character, 
of  the  strata  is  undulating,  and  comparatively 
flat  to  what  it  is  found  in  the  South  or  Middle 
Regions.  The  Coal  veins,  whicii  are  tliose  of 
the  bottom  part  of  the  formation,  are  general- 
ly of  great  thickness,  and  of  good  quality, — 
but  in  quantity  there  is  not  that  average  a- 
raount  per  acre  of  coal  as  is  found  in  the  other 
great  Regions.  This  may  be  accounted  for 
iVom  the  slightly  undulating  arrangement  of 
the  strata,  and  from  the  waters  of  the  North 
Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  which  flow 
through  the  central  part  of  the  Coal  Valley, 
having  changed  its  course  from  time  to  time, 
and  swept  or  washed  away  much  of  the  Coal, 
— leaving  in  places  sand  and  gravel  banks  that 
cover  considerable  area  of  surface.  The  great 
Wyoming  flats  indicate  the  change  which  has 
taken  place  in  the  course  of  the  River. 

The  basis  of  the  Anthracite  formation  of 
Pennsylvania  is  a  conglomerate  rock,  consist- 
ing of  white  quartz  pebbles  of  various  sizes, 
imbedded  in  a  strong  siliceous  cement;  nn- 
derneath  the  conglomerate  is  a  thick  mass  of 
red  shale  and  sandstone  strata,  which  com- 
pletely encircles,  in  a  continuous  mountain 
chain,  the  three  great  Anthracite  Regions  of 
the  state. 

The  conglomerate,  where  the  measures  are 
perpendicular,  forms  high  massive  walls  of 
rock  on  the  summit  of  the  mountains  which 
bound  the  Coal  Regions,  and  divide  the  Coal 
basins ;  and  it  is  of  such  a  durable,  undecom- 
posing  nature,  that  in  some  places  where  the 
strata  is  on  edge,  it  rises  a  natural  wall  twenty 
to  thirty  feet  in  height  above  the  level  of  the 
crest  of  the  mountain,  and  not  more  than  from 
two  to  three  feet  in  thickness  from  the  base 
up.  In  other  places  it  lies  en  masse  in  im- 
mense blocks,  covered  with  a  variety  of  mo8& 
— giving  it  an  imposing,  extraordinary  rough, 
and  romantic  appearance. 

As  the  Coal  measures — from  their  highly  in- 
clined angle  of  dip,  which  are  in  some  placea 
in  the  mountain  that  forms  the  South  boundary 
of  the  South  Anthracite  Coal  Region,  over- 
tilted — pass  to  a  lesser  angle  of  inclination, 
which  gradually  decreases  in  proceeding 
northward  over  the  three  great  Anthracite 
Regions — the  conglomerate  becomes  more 
thin  and  less  abrupt  in  its  character ;  and,  in- 
deed, its  situation  is  at  times  only  marked  by 
the  loose  detached  white  pebble  stones  scat- 
tered over  the  surface  of  the  ground,  the  ce- 
ment which  binds  the  parts  together  being  in 
some  situations  of  a  more  decomposing  quality 
than  it  is  at  other  places. 


General  Geological  Revieio. 


13 


-  The  red  shale,  by  exposure  to  the  air,  and 
■^by  tlie  action  of  water,  decomposes  very  free- 
ily,  and  is  the  great  reason  why  the  general 
•character  of  the  mountains  which  form  the 
boundaries  of  the  Coal  Regions  are  so  steep  as 
they  are  found  to  be  where  stioams  of  any 
size  run  along  their  base; — while  the  con- 
glomerate on  their  summits  remains  undisturb- 
ed, a  rock  of  ages  until  the  red  shale,  on  whicli 
it  reposes,  crumbles  away,  and  thus  these  im- 
mense rocks  are  hurled  from  their  elevated 
natural  position  into  the  vallies  below, — and 
thus  are  immense  boulders  of  the  conglomer- 
ate carried  away  from  their  native  beds  to 
great  distances. 

The  South  Anthracite  Region  contains  sev- 
eral elongated  synclinal  and  auticlinal  axis 
of  stratification.  The  general  order  of  the 
Coal  veins  range  parallel  with  the  mountain 
chains  that  bound  the  sides  of  the  troughs  or 
basins,  which  is  in  an  East  and  West  direction 
— the  general  dij>  of  the  veins  being  North  and 
South. 

The  first  or  South  axis  or  trough  of  Coal 
strata,  of  the  South  Anthracite  Region,  is 
bounded  by  Sharp  mountain  on  the  South,  and 
by  a  range  of  hiis,  parallel  with  Sharp  moun- 
tain, on  the  North.  This  axis  is  in  shape  like 
a  canoe,  its  greatest  width  being  about  the 
town  of  Poltsville,  which,  in  that  place,  is 
something  over  half  a  mile.  The  eastern  ter- 
minus of  this  axis  is  a  short  distance  south-east 
of  Middleport.  The  western  terminus  is  near 
the  Susquehanna.  Its  continuation  westward 
forms  the  southeru  fork  of  Coal  strata  in  Dau- 
phin district.  The  extreme  length  of  this 
axis  is  about  fifty  miles.  At  each  terminus  of 
this  axis  or  trough  of  Coal  strata,  the  bottom 
veins  end  in  a  point,  and  are  considerably  el- 
evated above  the  place  of  the  same  veins  in 
the  central  part. 

In  the  commencement  of  mining  operations 
in  Schuylkill  County,  and  indeed  down  to  the 
present  time,  it  has  been  considered  by  many 
persons  who  profess  a  knowledge  of  these 
matters,  that  the  range  of  Coal  veins  in  Sharp 
mountain,  which  are  what  is  termed  overtilted 
from  the  perpendicular,  are  not  identical  with 
those  veins  worked  on  the  opposite  side  of 
this  narrow  trough  or  synclinal  axis — i.  e.  they 
are'not  the  uprising  to  the  South  of  the  Coal 
veins  worked  in  the  range  of  hills  on  the  North 
iide  of  the  trough,  and  which  dip  to  the  South, 
and  the  sections  hitherto  made  and  published 
tends  to  show  that  the  veins  on  the  North  side 
the  axis  are  not  connected  with  those  of  Sharp 
mountain.  It  is  true  that  the  Coal  veins  of 
botli  sides  of  this  synclinal  axis  dip  in  the  same 
direction  to  the  South — those  of  Sharp  moun- 
tain on  the  South  side  the  axis  at  an  angle  of 
about  80°  to  85°,  and  those  on  the  hills  on  the 
North  side  the  axis,  at  an  angle  of  45"  to  SO", 
and  60°, — yet  there  is  ample  evidence  to  prove 
the  fact  that  the  South  and  North  ranges  con- 
nect icitk  each  other  and  will  be  found  to  basin 
beneath  the  surface  in  the  valley. 

In  an  excavation  at  Poltsville,  made  in  the 
centre  of  the  two  ranges  of  Coal  strata  of  the 
first  or  South  synclinal  axis,  is  developed  the 
curvature  of  the  axis, — the    stratification  of 


rock  overlaying  the  upper  vein  of  Coal  is  reg- 
ularly continued  and  unbroken  from  one  side 
of  the  range  to  the  other,  and  at  the  extreme 
ends  of  this  elongated  trough,  from  the  bot- 
tom veins  of  Coal  being  highly  elevated,  and 
their  dip  theieby  considerably  decreased,  they 
show  the  axis  to  be  perfect  throughout,  and 
the  South  and  North  ranges  identical  and 
connected  with  each  other.  Thus  we  have  at 
,  the  extreme  ends  of  the  first  synclinal  axis, 
I  the  bottom,  and  in  the  centre  of  it,  the  top  of 
the  stratification  of  which  it  is  composed,  in  a 
perfect  and  regular  basin-like  and  synclinal 
order — clearly  connecting  the  Coal  veins  which 
are  found  in  Sharp  mountain,  the  South  side 
of  the  axis,  with  those  in  the  small  range  of 
hills,  the  North  side  of  the  axis. 

In  his  description  of  the  Sharp  mountain 
range  of  Coal  strata,  our  State  Geologist  and 
myself*  do  not  agree,  and  it  may  not  be  out 
of  place  here  to  give  his  remarks  thereon  iu 
full,  with  the  reason  why  my  opinion  and  his 
are  at  variance  with  each  other,  as  to  this  par- 
ticular part  of  the  Coal  formation. 

Professor  H.  D.  Rogers,  in  his  second  an- 
nual Report  on  the  Geological  exploration  of 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  p. 80,  says:  "By 
far  the  most  conspicuous  North  and  South  dis- 
ruption of  the  Coal  measures  and  their  south- 
ern conglomerate  barrier,  is  displayed  in  an 
enormous  dislocation  of  the  entire  chain  of  the 
Sharp  mountain,  about  nine  miles  east  of  Polts- 
ville, by  which  the  whole  mass  of  the  moun- 
tain on  the  eastern  side  of  the  break,  has  been 
moved  northward,  through  at  least  one-fourth- 
of  a  mile,  throwing,  of  course,  all  the  Coat 
seams  far  out  of  their  regular  position."  From 
a  careful  examination  of  the  place  referred  to 
by  Professor  Rogers,  as  above,  I  find  that  no 
evidence  is  shown  that  the  Coal  measures  of 
Sharp  mountain  have  been  moved  northward, 
or  in  any  way  displaced ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
a  uniform  regularity  is  maintained  in  this  part 
of  the  Coal  Region.  The  Sharp  mountain,  it 
is  true,  is  not  continued  eastward  further  thatt 
the  place  referred  to,  for  the  reason  that  the- 
Coal  measures  of  the  first  synclinal  axis  of  lh& 
South  Anthracite  Region  having  terminated 
there.  The  Coal  veins  of  this  axis,  as  I  before 
observed,  are  gradually  elevated  as  they  ap- 
proach this  point,  one  vein  basins  out  after  an- 
other, until  the  last  or  bottom  vein  of  the  axis- 
runs  out  on  the  table  laud  at  the  end  of  the 
mountain,  bounded  by  the  conglomerate. — 
The  red  shale  at  the  termination  of  the  axis, 
from  its  soft  decomposing  nature,  form  an  ab- 
rupt declivity  occ£isioned  by  the  streams  which 
flow  down  its  sides  into  the  valley  below — and 
this  is  the  "conspicuous  North  and  South  dis- 
ruption" of  Mr.  Rogers.  Further  North  than 
the  termination  of  the  first  axis,  another  moun- 
tain (not  Sharp  mountain,)  bounds  the  South 
side  of  the  second  axis  of  Coal  strata  of  the 
South  Anthracite  Region. 

The  second  synclinal  axis  lies  between  the 
range  of  hills  before  named,  and  a  i-ange  fur- 
ther North,  which,  in  the  vicinity  of  Poltsville^ 

♦  Wm.  F.  Roberts,  Esq.  QeologisJ  and  Mining  En- 
gineer,  Danville,  Pa. 


u 


Review  of  the  Coat  Hes;ions, 


is  called  Peach  mountain.  The  Coal  veins  of 
the  Peach  raonntain  range  are  very  much 
contorted  in  their  disposition,  liaving  several 
undulations  or  axis  of  a  minor  synclinal  and 
anticlinal  character.  In  the  more  elevated 
land  along  the  range  of  Peach  mountain,  the 
curvatures  of  the  Coal  veins  are  more  dupli- 
cated thau  they  are  in  the  low  parts  of  this 
mountain  range.  A  better  development  of 
this  peculiar  Coal  formation  may  be  seen  in 
the  lands  north-east  of  Middleport,  where  the 
curvatures  of  the  strata  are  more  numerous, 
and  exposed  by  actual  workings,  than  may 
be  found  in  any  other  position  along  the  entire 
range. 

The  uprising  of  tlie  Coal  veins  at  this  place 
forms  several  synclinal  and  anticlinal  axis — 
the  lower  veins  curve  over  before  they  reach 
the  surface,  and  the  upper  ones  lie  over  them 
in  an  uniform  way.  In  some  places,  where 
denudation  has  taken  place,  the  continuity  of 
the  saddle,  or  anticlinal  cui-ve  of  the  ap{ier 
veins,  is  washed  otf,  and  the  same  veins  form 
several  north  and  south  dips,  which,  previous 
to  the  nature  of  the  formation  having  been 
clearly  understood,  were  taken  for  so  many 
different  and  distinct  veins  of  Coal.  This 
misconstruction  of  the  true  Geological  char- 
acter of  the  veins,  and  the  reason  why  so 
many  outcrops  are  exposed,  being  not  consid- 
ered :  led  to  a  great  many  errors  in  the  esti- 
mation of  the  real  value  of  the  Coal  land  in 
the  Peach  mountain  range,  as  regarded  the 
quantity  of  mineral  contained  therein.  In 
many  other  places,  too,  in  the  Anthracite 
formation,  the  same  causes  have,  and  do  eveu 
at  the  present  time  lead  to  similar  results,  and 
is  the  reason  why  erroneous  calculations  are 
not  uufrequently  made. 

The  extreme  length  of  the  axis  of  Peach 
mountain  Coal  strata  is  about  thirty-five  miles. 
The  eastern  terminus  of  the  synclinal  axis  is 
at  the  Old  Summit  Coal  Mines  on  the  Lehigh 
estate.  This,  the  second  axis,  extends  further 
east  than  tiie  first  axis  a  distance  of  about 
eleven  miles.  The  western  extreme  point  of 
the  second  synclinal  axis  is  about  twenty-five 
miles  East  from  the  western  end  of  the  South 
fork  of  Coal  strata  in  Dauphin  district,  and 
about  fourteen  miles  East  from  the  western 
end  of  the  North  fork  of  Coal  strata  in  Lykens' 
Valley  district.  The  point  of  termination  of 
the  second  axis  is  where  the  two  before  named 
forks  begin  to  diverge  in  their  westward  pro- 
longation from  their  course  eastward.  The 
terminus  is  seven  miles  north-west  from  Pine- 
grove.  In  the  continuation  of  the  axis  of 
Peach  mountain  Coal  strata,  the  undulations 
thai  are  found  in  its  central  part,  do  not  con- 
tinue through  its  entire  length,  at  its  eastern 
and  western  parts — as  the  bottom  Coal  veins 
of  the  axis  become  more  elevated,  the  curva- 
tures of  the  strata  are  diminished. 

The  third  cynclinal  axis  is  between  Peach 
mountain  and  Mine  Hill,  and  extends  from  the 
point-like  terminus  of  the  South  Anthracite 
Region,  near  the  Lehigh  i-iver,  to  a  similar 
termiiuis,  the  end  of  the  North  fork  in  the 
Lykens'  Valley  district, — a  distance  of  about 
fifteen  milos.    Is  this  axis  undulations  and 


curvatures  of  the  Coal  strata  are  found,  but 
not  of  that  frequent  occurrence  as  in  the  Peach 
mountain  range.  These  imdulatious  may  be 
seen  at  Rhume  Run,  in  the  Lehigh  district; 
on  Silver  Creek,  in  Schuylkill  Valley  district, 
"(North  of  Pinegrove,)  and  in  the  Lykens' 
Valley  district. 

The  fourth  synclinal  axis  of  Coal  strata  is 
known  as  the  Broad  Mountain  Coal  basin, 
which  lies  between  Mine  Hill  and  Broad 
Mountain;  its  eastern  end  is  between  the  head 
waters  of  Wolf  Creek  and  Silver  Creek  ;  its 
western  end  is  West  of  "Woolaston's"  or  Rau- 
lin's  Tavern.  The  length  of  this  axis  is  about 
eleven  miles. 

The  fifth  synclinal  axis  of  Coal  strata  is  on 
the  summit  of  Broad  Mountain;  its  eastern 
end  is  East  of  New  Boston  Colliery  ;  its  west- 
ern end.  West  of  Rauliu's  Run.  The  length  of 
this  axis  is  about  fourteen  miles.  The  axis  is 
narrow,  and  the  Coal  is  in  places  washed  ofl — 
therefore  it  is  not  so  valuable  in  point  of  quan- 
tity of  Coal  as  it  would  be  were  the  veins 
continuous  through  it. 

— The  foregoing  axis  of  Coal  strata  consti- 
tute the  South  Anthracite  Region — the  first 
grand  division  of  the  Anthracite  formation  of 
Pennsylvania. 

The  Middle  Anthracite  Region  contains  as 
well  as  the  elongated  synclinal  and  anticlinal 
axis  of  Coal  strata,  several  small  and  detached 
Coal  basins. 

'Between  Mahanoy  Mountain,  the  South 
boundary  of  the  Middle  Anthracite  Region 
and  the  mountain  ranging  parallel  thereto,  and 
next  North,  known  as  Locust  Mountain,  are 
three  synclinal  and  two  anticlinal  axis  of  Coal 
strata.  The  valley  containing  these  axis  is 
about  twenty -six  miles  in  length.  The  eastern 
termination  of  the  axis  is  about  eleven  miles 
each  from  Girardsville,  near  the  head  waters  of 
the  Mahanoy  and  source  of  the  tributaries  of 
the  Little  Schuylkill.  The  western  termina- 
tion is  South  of  Shamokin.  Both  termination.s 
of  this  axis  break  oft"  in  a  similar  manner  to 
the  eastern  termination  of  the  first  axis,  in 
the  South  Anthracite  Region.  Locust,  moun- 
tain is  the  North  boundary  of  the  Mahanoy, 
and  the  South  boundary  of  Shamokin  Coal 
valley.  The  North  boundary  of  Shamokin 
Coal  valley  is  Big  mountain.  In  the  Shamok- 
in Coal  valley,  taldng  its  central  part  as  a  sec- 
lion,  there  are  four  synclinal  and  three  anti- 
clinal axis  of  Coal  strata,  besides  a  roll  of  the 
outcrops  of  the  lower  veins  of  Coal  shown  on 
the  North  slope  of  Locust  Mountain.  The 
first  synclinal  axis  of  the  Shamokin  Coal  Val- 
ley is  between  Locust  Mountain  and  Mount 
Carmel  Ridge ;  the  second  between  Mount 
Carrael  Ridge  and  Mine  Ridge  ;  the  third  be- 
tween Mine  Ridge  and  Coal  Run  Ridge;  the 
fourth  between  Coal  Run  Ridge  and  Big 
Mountain. 

The  anticlinal  axis  are  Mount  Carmel,  Mine 
Ridge  and  Coal  Run  Ridge. 

The  most  complete  and  beautiful  develop- 
meut  of  the  Coal  strata  of  the  Anthracite 
formation  of  Pounsylvaoia,  is  the  anticlinal 
axis  of  Mount  Carmel  Ridge,  developed  by 
the  North  Branch  of  Shamokin  Creek.     Tl;* 


i 


General  Geological  Review. 


15 


I 


eek  passes  through  the  axis  at  a  right  an- 
to  (he  rim  of  the   coal   strata,  about  five 
lUndrcd  yards  west  from  the  centre  turnpike 
it  Mount    Carmel,* — tlie  arch    of  sandstone 
ek    is  cut  down  perpendicular,  forming  a 
eautiful  curve,  and  giving  an  admirable  ill- 
Btration  oflhe  regularity  and  perfection  ofthis 
art  of  the  Coal  iicld.     The  anticlinal  axis  of 
inc    Ridge    is   likewise    cut   by    the    same 
,ream,  and   affords  another   example  of  the 
erfection  of  the  Coal  strata  of  the  Shamokin 
Coal  Valley.     Mine  Ridge,    from    the  Centre 
Turnpike,  gradually  rises  into  a  hill   of  great 
elevation  eastward,  where  coal  veins  of  great 
thickness  and  extraordinary  pure  qnahty  are 
opened — a  strong  evidence  that  the   ridge  or 
axis  of  Coal  strata,  when  thoroughly  develop- 
ed, will  prove  to  contain  mineral  in  quantity 
and  quality   inferior  to  no  other  place  in  the 
Anthracite  formation  of  Pennsylvania. 

Big  Mountains  contains  the  bottom  series  of 
Coal  veins  which  crop  out  along  its  summit. 
These  veins  are  the  same  as  those  developed 
in  Locust  Mountain,  the  thickest  veins  of  the 
Anthracite  formation, 

The  Shamokin  Coal  Valley  extends  in  length 
from  its  eastern  terminus,  on  the  head  waters 
of  Little  Schuylkill  and  Quaquake  Creeks,  to 
its  western  terminus  within  about  seven  tailes 
from  the  Susquehanna — a  distance  of  about 
forty  miles. 

The  eastern  terminus  of  the  Shamokin 
Coal  Valley  has  two  forks  of  Coal  strata,  simi- 
lar to  the  forks  of  the  western  terminus  of  the 
South  Anthracite  Region,  but  much  smaller  in 
point  of  length  and  width. 

North  of  these  forks  are  the  detached  Coal 
basins  of  Beaver  Meadow,  Dreck  Creek,  Hazle- 
ton,  Black  Creek,  Little  Black  Creek,  Sandy 
Creek,  and  Hell  Kitchan,  extending  one  after 
the  other  northward  to  the  Nescopeck  moun- 
tain. The  Nescopeck  summit  is  conglomer- 
ate, the  base  of  the  Coal  formation  ;  and  from 
it  to  the  Wyoming  Coal  field,  traces  of  the 
Coal  formation  are  found — asufficieut  evidence 
that  the  three  great  divisions  of  the  Anthra- 
cite formation  of  Pennsylvania  were,  in  form- 
er times,  a  connected  and  continuous  forma- 
tion of  Coal  strata. 

Whatever  changes  have  taken  places  since 
the  deposition  of  the  Coal  strata,  I  am  of  opin- 
ion have  been  gradual.  I  have  examined  in 
different  places  where  disruptions  and  dislo- 
cations have  been  represented  to  have  taken 
place,  and  as  far  as  I  can  see,  nothing  in  these 
places  of  an  extraordinary  nature  exists — at 
least  so  far  as  i-egards  a  momentary  or  violent 
force  having  been  exerted,  to  have  materially, 
at  any  one  time,  altered  the  general  order  and 
arrangement  of  the  strata. 

The  South  Anthracite  Region  coptaftns 
white,  red,  and  grey  ash  Coal  veins.  The 
■white  ash  are  found  in  the  Lehigh  part  of  the 
Region,  in  the  basins  of  Broad  mountain,  and 
in  the  Mine  Hill.  The  principal  grey  ash  are 
in  the  Peach  mountain  range,  and  the  principal 
red  ash  Coal  are  the  South  dipping  veins  of  the 
first  synclinal  axis.  The  South  fork  in  Dau- 
phin District  has,  in  its  eastern  end,  a  semi-bi- 

AnpTs"  town  just  erected,  not  laid  down  w  the  map. 


tuminous  Coal,  which  gradually  changes,  going 
westward,  into  a  pure  bituminous.  A  similar 
graduated  change  from  an  Anthracite  to  a 
Bituminous  Coal  is  found  in  the  Coal  formation 
of  Wales,  in  Great  Britain,  and  according  to 
Professor  Aluchison,  in  several  Coal  fields  in 
Russia  the  Coal  veins  which  are  Bituminous  at 
one  part  of  the  basin,  become  Anthracite  at 
the  other.  Lykens'  Valley  district  yields  Coal 
of  a  semi-Bituminous  or  free  burning  quality. 
Argillaceous  Iron  Ore,  both  nodular  and  in 
seams,  is  found  varying  with  the  Coal  veins  in 
places  through  the  Coal  Region,  and  Black 
Band  or  Carboniferous  Iron-stone  is  found  in 
the  Lykens'  Valley  district. 

In  the  Middle  Anthracite  Region  is  found 
white,  gray  and  red  ash  Coal  veins.  In  Big 
mountain  a  superior  vein  of  red  ash  Coal,  seven 
feet  in  thickness,  which  burns  very  freely  and 
leaves  no  clinker,  is  opened  with  white  ash 
coal  veins  above  and  below  it.  Red  ash  Coal 
veins  are  found  in  other  localities  in  this  Coal 
Region.  Argillaceous  Iron  ore  in  the  nodular 
form,  and  in  regular  strata,  appears  to  be  in 
abundance  through  this  Coal  Region  ;  and  Bog 
Ore  exists  in  large  beds  in  various  places. 
Carboniferous  Iron-stone  is  likewise  found  in 
this  Region,  and  may  ultimately  become  an 
article  of  great  value  for  smelting  purposes. 


THE   BITUMINOUS   FORMATION 

OF    PENNSTLVANIA.* 

Nature,  in  the  disposition  of  her  bounties, 
seems  to  have  bestowed  upon  Pennsylvania 
more  than  a  due  proportion  of  the  treasures 
of  the  mineral  kingdom.  Great  and  valuable 
as  are  her  Anthracite  deposites,  and  rich  and 
abundant  as  are  her  mines  of  iron  ore  and 
other  minerals,  the  Bituminous  Coal  Region 
is  still  more  extensive  and  inexhaustible. 

The  great  secondary  deposit,  extending,  as 
it  is  generally  believed,  from  the  Hudson  to 
the  Mississippi,  and  to  the  Rocky  Mountains ; 
is  in  Pennsylvania  limited  by  the  Alleghany 
mountain,  which  appears  to  form  the  barrier 
or  dividing  line  between  the  Anthracite  and 
Bituminous  Coal  beds.  The  union  or  junctioii 
of  these  formations  is  plainly  and  distinctly 
marked  in  the  ends  of  the  mountain  where 
the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  breaks 
through  it,  above  Bald  Eagle,  the  latter  resting 
against  the  former,  and  forming  the  basin 
in  which  the  Bituminous  Coal,inirregularand 
successive  strata,  is  deposited.  This  Coal 
field  is,  therefore,  confined  to  the  West  side 
of  the  Allegany,  and  is  supposed  to  extend 
to  the  centre  of  the  mountain.  In  the  South- 
east corner  of  Somerset  county,  and  in  the 
western  part  of  Bradford  and  Huntingdon 
counties,  it  is  found  to  extend  to  the  South- 
east of  what  is  locally  called  the  Allegany, 
and  occurs  in  great  abundance  on  Will's  creek, 
.Tenning's  creek,  Gladwin's  creek,  &g.  empty- 
ing into  the  Potomac.     The  chain  of  moun- 

*Abridged  from  Packer's  Report  to  the  Legislature 
'>(  Pennsylvania— 1834. 


16 


Meview  of  the  Coal  Beg'ions. 


ains  called  the  Allegany,  above  Bedford,  is 
very  wide,  and  large  mountains  diverge  from 
it;  and  although  the  mountain  running  through 
Somerset,  and  dividing  the  waters  of  Vough- 
iogeny  and  Conemaugli  from  those  c)f  the  Po- 
tomac, may  be  the  largest :  it  seems  most  pro- 
bable that  Well's,  or  Evett's,  or  possibly  Side- 
ling mountain,  there  forms  the  boundary  of 
that  deposit,  and,  upon  examination,  will  be 
found  to  exhibit  a  continuation  of  the  same 
characteristic  feature  between  the  secondary 
and  transition  formations. 

The  Bituminous  Coal  fields  vary  from  one 
foot  to  twelve  feet  in  thickness,  but  rarely  ex- 
ceed six  feet.  They  lie  in  nearly  horizontal 
strata,  with  about  sufficient  dip  to  free  the 
mines  fiom  water.  Some  hills  contain  three 
and  four  beds,  with  alternate  layers  of  earth 
and  slate,  and  rest  between  a  smooth  slate 
roof  and  floor.  Faults  are  seldom  met  with  ; 
and  in  this  respect  they  materially  differ  from 
the  Anthracite.  iWr.  Packer  thinks  this  fact 
goes  far  to  sustain  the  opinion  that  all  this  vast 
extent  of  secondary  rocks  was  once  the  bot- 
tom of  a  great  lake  or  sea,  and  that  it  suffered 
little,  if  any  interruption  from  the  gradual 
discharge  of  its  waters  through  its  distant  and 
widely  extended  boundary.  It  has  evidently 
been  drained  by  the  Mississippi,  the  St.  Law- 
rence, the  Susquehanna,  and  the  Hudson  ;  and 
it  is  a  curious  and  interesting  fact,  that  near 
the  northern  termination  of  this  Coal  field  in 
Potter  county,  the  head  waters  of  the  Alle- 
gany, the  Susquehanna  and  the  Genesee  rivers, 
flowing  into  the  gulf  of  Mexico,  the  Chesa- 
peake and  the  St.  Lawrence  take  their  rise  in 
an  area  or  space  of  about  five  miles. 

With  the  exception  of  the  Susquehanna 
and  its  tributaries,  and  Will's  creek  emptying 
into  the  Potomac,  all  the  streams  rising  in  the 
Coal  field,  West  of  the  mountain,  flow  into 
the  lakes,  or  into  the  Ohio  river ;  and  conse- 
quently the  ground  falls  off,  or  recedes  in  the 
same  direction,  anA  becomes  too  low,  as  it  is 
generally  supposed,  to  contain  the  Coal  mea- 
sures. Its  northern  termination  or  boundary 
may  be  traced  from  the  head  waters  of  To- 
wanda  creek,  in  Bradford  county  ;  thence 
across  the  high-lands  or  dividing  waters  of 
Tioga,  Potter,  M'Kean,  Warren,  Venango,  &c. 
to  the  Ohio  State  line.  The  Tioga  river  and 
its  tributaries  penetrate  the  Coal  field  in  the 
vicinity  of  Blossburg  and   Wellsborough,  ia 


Tioga  county.  An  interesting  minerological 
report  upon  this  Region  has  been  made  by  R. 
C.  Taylor,  Esq.  (author  of  the  valuable  Sta- 
tistics of  Coal — just  published;)  for  the  Bloss- 
burg road  company,  in  which  is  satisfactorily 
shown  that  the  Coal  runs  out  as  the  streams 
decline  in  the  North.  There  would  need, 
— says  Mr.  T. — a  total  height  of  mountain  of 
five  thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
feet  at  the  State  line,  between  New- York  and 
Pennsylvania,  to  contain  the  Coal  measures  ; 
whereas,  the  hills  there  are  probably  between 
six  and  seven  hundred  feet  altitude.  This 
calculation  was  entered  into  with  a  view  of 
showing  the  futility  of  the  expectation,  not 
uncommonly  expressed  some  time  ago,  of 
tracing  these  Coal  beds  to  a  northerly  direc- 
tion beyond  the  limits  at  which  they  are  at 
present  discoverable. 

This  field,  being  bounded  on  the  South  by 
the  Allegany  mountain,  extending  into  the 
State  of  Virginia,  and  westward,  Coal  may  be 
said  to  be  present,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent 
in  all  the  western  Counties,  with  the  exception 
of  the  County  of  Erie,  in  which  it  has  not  yet 
been  discovered.  The  Counties  of  Bradford, 
Lycoming,  Tioga,  Potter,  M'Kean,  Warren, 
Crawford,  Bedford,  Huntingdon,  and  Centre, 
lie  partly  in  and  partly  out  ol  the  Coal  field. 
The  Counties  of  Allegany,  Armstrong,  Beaver, 
Butler,  Cambria,  Clearfield,  Fayette,  Greene, 
Indiana,  Jefferson,  Mercer,  Somerset,  Venan- 
go, Washington,  and  Westmoreland  are  wholly 
within  its  range,  and  embrace  together  an 
area  of  about  twenty-one  thousand  square 
miles,  or   3,440,000  acres. 

The  West  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  tak- 
ing its  rise  in  Cambria  and  Jefferson  Counties, 
passes  through  the  heart  of  the  rich  Coal  de- 
posites  of  Clearfield  County,  and  breaks 
through  the  Allegany  mountain  above  the 
mouth  of  Bald  Eagle,  thus  aftbrding  an  outlet 
to  the  eastern  markets  for  the  Coal  of  that  Re- 
gion. It  is  navigable  for  arks  from  the  Cherry 
Tree,  or  mouth  of  Chest  creek,  in  Clearfield 
County,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
miles  above  the  present  termination  of  the 
Pennsylvania  canal,  at  Dunnstown,  Pine  creek, 
and  Lycoming  creek,  have  also  their  source  in 
the  Coal  field,  and  afford  outlets  for  the  Coal 
to  the  Susquehanna,  and  to  these  three  points 
we  must  look,  mainly,  for  our  eastern  supplies 
of  Bituminous  Coal. 


1 


> 


HISTORY 


INTRODUCTION   OF   MINERAL    COAL 


IN  PENNSYLVANIA,  *e.  &.c. 


In  entering  upon  a  brief  history,  ,  -"ve  now 
propose  to  do,  of  the  introductio'  ,  leral 
Coal  to  the  practical  purposes  o'  3  feel 

almost   overwhelmed  at  the  ir  ,e   and 

grandeur  which  the  trade  has  ?  .  Refer- 

ring back  but  a  few  years,  itf  je  seems 

to  have  been  altogether  unkui..-.,-;!  ■,  j.  fewyears 
later,  the  discovery  of  its  hiu'.  'ti;  recesses  in 
the  mountains,  where  it  Kc  •  -'3d  undistur- 
bed for  countless  ages,  f  public  mind 
with  a  fevered  excitem  :  .  .  gave  rise  to 
a  spirit  of  speculation  a:uLOunting,  in  fact,  to 


a  species  of  infatuat' 
pause  terminated  th' 
a  few  years  of  sob 
active,   and  we  fi' 
"  as  if  born  to  c 
with  all  the  g' 
and  its  existen'  r  .  ■ 
necessary  as  t'^^    • 

In  proceec^ 
fore,  the  fir' 
as  to  the  n 


though  itf 
it  is  a  F 
perhapf 
capab^ 
separai/^ 


A  calm — a  solemn 

• '  ;  and  now,  after 

iterprise  has  been 

oung  Coal  Trade, 

,  "  intimately  allied 

rests  of  our  country, 

fosperity  as  absolutely 

.  whereof  we  eat. 

ar  present  mission,  there- 

/  which  suggests  itself  is, 

d  properties  of  Coal.     Al- 

Ae  origin  is  well  understood, 

a  of  exceedingly  fixed,  and, 

jst  refractory  in  nature.     It  is 

composing  sulphuric  acid,  and 

sulphur ;  added  to  nitrous  acid, 

c ;  or  to  metallic  earths,  it  reduces 

talt.     But  in  these  processes,  the 

>f  red  heat  is  required.     In  every 

t  those  mentioned,  Coal  seems  to 

tly  unalterable  compound,  viz.  of 

;he  open  air,  and  separating  oxygen 

bodies ; — for  it  may  be  exposed  in 

}ls  to  the  most  intense  and  long 

fire,   without    suffering   the  least 

ion  of  its  parts.     No  disposition  to 

iny  diminution  of  weight,  can  be 

It  resists  the  action  of  the  most 

neustrua  or  liquor— liver  of  sulphur 

ipted. 


Relating  to  the  first  introduction  of  Coal  in 
the  old  world,  we  have  but  limited  accounts 
based,  too,  on  doubtful  authorities.  Some 
writers  date  its  use  in  England  as  far  back  as 
the  tenth  century.  As  early  as  1278,  hovT-' 
ever,  Coal  was  dug  and  used  to  some  extent ; 
but  it  does  not  appear  to  have  gained  much 
importance  until  one  or  two  centuries  after- 
wards. In  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  it  was  first  applied  to  the  smelting  of 
iron — previously  to  which  charcoal  was  exclu- 
sively used.  The  first  patent  issued  for  found- 
ling iron  with  Coal,  was  granted  to  Simon 
Startwort,  in  the  year  1622,  whereby  he  ob- 
tained for  thirty  years  the  sole  right  for  the 
whole  Kingdom.  He,  however,  did  not  suc- 
ceed in  business,  and  in  a  short  time  after- 
wards his  patent  was  abandoned.  In  1750 
there  were  only  three  hundred  furnaces  in 
England,  yielding  about  75,000  tons  of  metal 
annually.  After  the  successful  application  of 
Coal,  this  quantity  was  nearly  quadrupled 
the  first  year ;  and  about  the  period  that  Watt 
&  Bolton's  double-pressure  steam-engine  was 
brought  into  use,  by  which  the  most  important 
advantages  .were  secured,  the  product  was 
again  greatly  increased.  From  about  the 
year  1796,  therefore,  the  iron-trade  of  Eng- 
land may  be  said  to  have  effectually  com- 
menced ;  for  from  this  period  up  to  the  pre- 
sent time,  the  product  has  annually  increased 
— increased,  we  might  observe,  in  exact  pro- 
portion as  new  facilities  for  using  Coal  were, 
from  time  to  time,  introduced. 

Throughout  Europe  a  prejudice  had,  for  a 
long  time,  prevailed  against  the  use  of  Coal 
for  domestic  purposes.  In  Paris  its  use  as  a 
household  fuel  commenced  at  about  the  mid- 
dle of  the  sixteenth  century  ;  and  in  Scotland 
and  Wales,  as  also  in  Belgium  and  some  other 
countries,  it  was  introduced  about  the  same 
time,  if  not  somewhat  anteriorly. 


18 


Review  of  the  Coal  Regions, 


— Deposits  of  Coal  have  b^en  found  in  va- 
rious parts  of  the  United  States,  and  they  may 
be  said  to  form  the   chief  sources  of  our  Na- 
''onal  wealth,   since  every  branch  of  Maau- 
'■ires,   Commerce,  and   Business  are  inter- 
•  in  their  product      Allusion  was  made 
."  f  these  deposites  as  early  as  in  1670, 

TV  _  i;  the  explorers  and  early  settlers  of 
t'!"  napers   which  they  have  left 

beh.. 

The  valley  of  Wyoming  was 

known,  ai.  iiouc^  experirr'snts  made  to  use 
it,  long  beto.  v  r/  the  ^iacent.  or  other 
regions  in  the  «.        "  'ab  d  been  explo- 

red.    In  the   yeart      7r  several  ark 

loads  of  Coal   were  take  he  Susque- 

hanna i-iver,  and  hauled  tc  ^d  States 

Armory   at  Carlisle,  for  thi.  irture  of 

fire-arms.     This   Coal,  as  we  iir;:n  the 

Eeport  of  Mr.  Packer,  was  obtai.  om  'i\nd 

belonging  to  the  late  Judge  Hoh  "      •  'e 

mile  above  Wilkesbarre,  aud  near  i 
of  the  mill-stream.     The  same  bed  w 
ed  about    twenty    years  ago,  at  the 
pointed  out  by  the  Judge  in  his  life-time, 
upon    removing    the    overlaying    earth,    i 
marks  of  tools   were   plainly   perceptible  iL 
the  Coal  seam.     lu  1768,  it  is  said,  this  Coal 
was  first  used  by  an  ingenius  blacksmith,  nam- 
ed Obadiah  Gore,  n  settler  from  Connecticut; 
and  having  fully  succeeded   in    applying   it 
to   his    business,  it    soon   became   the   only 
fuel  employed    by    the    blacksmiths    in   the 
valley.     It  was  first  used  in  a  grate  by  Judge 
Fell,  of  Wilkesbarre,  in  the  year  1808,  who, 
to  use  his  words,  conceived  the  idea  that,  if  a 
body  of  this  Coal  were  ignited,  and  confined 
together,  it  would  burn  as  a  fuel ;   and  to  try 
the  experiment,  he  had  a  grate  erected   for 
the  purpose,  about  eight  inches  in  depth,  and 
twenty-two   inches  long,  and  the  Coal,  after 
being  ignited  in  it,  burned  beyond  the  most 
sanguine  expectation. 

Bituminous  Coal  has  been  used  in  Pennsyl- 
vania for  many  years  past.  From  the  settle- 
ment of  Clearfield  county  to  the  present  peri- 
od, Coal  has  been  brought  down  the  Susque- 
hanna in  arks,  and  sold  in  small  parcels  at  the 
different  towns  along  the  river,  in  Lycoming, 
Northumberland,  Union,  Dauphin,  Cumber- 
land, York,  and  Lancaster  counties,  for  the 
supply  of  the  blacksmiths,  who  always  pre- 
fered  it,  for  m.ost  purposes,  to  charcoal.  The 
late  Samuel  Boyd,  of  Lancaster  county,  was 
among  the  first  who  conceived  the  idea  of 
furnishing  Coal  to  the  eastern  market,  and  as 
early  as  1785,  took  up  and  patented  in  the 
then  new  purchase  from  the  Indians,  a  tract 
of  land  lying  on  the  margin  of  the  river,  about 
three  miles  above  the  present  town  of  Clear- 
field. There  is  a  hill  or  steep  precipice  on 
this  land,  jutting  into  the  river,  containing 
several  successive  strata  of  Coal,  which  can 
be  shovelled  out  of  the  mines  into  the  ark. 
This  could  be  done,  also,  in  many  other  places 
along  the  banks  of  the  river.  His  son,  Wil- 
liam Boyd,  in  the  year  1803,  visited  the  spot, 
and  procured  an  ark-load  of  the  Coal,  which 
he  sent  down  the  Susquehan!)a  by  tht^  Spring 
Ireshets  of  the  following  year,  to  the  town  of 


Columbia,  in  the  county  of  Lancaster — a  dis- 
tance of  two  hundred  and  sixty  miles.  This, 
therefore,  was  the  first  ark-load  nf  Coal  that 
passed  through  the  Conewago  falls  to  Colum- 
bia. About  the  same  time,  John  Jordan,  of 
Clearfield,  sent  down  an  ark-load  of  Coal, 
taken  from  a  bed  forming  the  bottom  of  the 
river,  about  a  mile  above  Clearfield.  From 
that  time  until  within  a  very  recent  period, 
(if,  iu  fact,  the  trade  has  suffered  any  diminu- 
tion at  all,)  the  business  of  shipping  coal  down 
the  Susquehanna,  in  connection  with  lumber, 
hcis  been  followed  by  many  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Clearfield  county,  as  a  regular  means 
of  subsistence. 

In  the  winter  season,  they  do  little  else 
than  cut  down  timber,  which  is  no  sooner 
prepared  into  lumber,  than  it  is  converted  into 
rafts  and  arks ; — the  latter  of  which  being  gen- 
erally loaded  with  Coal — and  then,  awaiting  a 
fovorable  stage  of  water  iu  the  Spring,  they 
will  launch  forth  on  the  voyage  tu  market. 

In  1813,  Philip  Karthaus  erected  a  colliery 
■t  the  mouth  of  Little  Mushannon  creek,  and 
'<i  'barked  in  the  mining  business  somewhat 
t  v^F'isjvely.  A  few  years  after,  he  succeeded 
iv)  p  ing  a  quantity  of  Coal  to  Philadelphia, 
haviijv'  conveyed  it  in  arks  to  Port  de  Posit, 
the  ter'^ji'nus  of  the  Susquehanna,  and  from 
ther'  .  ■"  'oop  through  the  Chesapeake  aud 
Delci  ■  <inal.     This  was  the  first  ark-load 

of  Bit  -incus  Coal  taken  to  that  city  from 
the  Susquehanna,  and  it  was  readily  sold  at 
thirty-three  cents  per  bushel.  Mr.  Karthaus 
also  took  a  quantity  of  Coal  to  Baltimore, 
where,  after  haviUg  undergone  due  tests,  it 
was  pronounced  to  combine  all  the  properties 
of  the  best  Bitumir.ous  Coal — producing  the 
finest  coke,  as  well  as  hydrogen  gas. 

— The  discovery  of  Coal  in  the  Lehigh  dis- 
trict is  said  to  have  been  purely  accidental. 
There  had  been  legends  tf  long  standing,  sup- 
posed to  have  emanated  fnm  the  Indians,  that 
Coal  abounded  iu  this  secion  of  Pennsylva- 
nia; and  among  some  of  t'ae  credulous  ger- 
man  farmers  iu  Lehigh,  Berks,  Lancaster,  &c. 
one  is  occasionally  reminded  of  them,  and 
grave  intimations  thrown  out  'hat  Coal  is  re- 
posing in  '"certain  places"  beneath  the  luxu- 
riant soil  of  those  counties.  Such  traditionary 
reports  prevailed  for  a  long  time  among  the 
early  setders  of  the  territory  now  comprising 
the  several  counties  of  the  Anthracite  Regions, 
and  if  similar  reports  in  the  counties  above 
named  should  ever  be  realized  in  the  same 
happy  manner,  all  will  unite  in  admiration  of 
the  german-stoicisra  with  which  they  are 
still  maintained  by  the  "older  inhabitants." 
The  story  of  its  discovery  near  Mauch  Cnunk, 
in  the  present  county  of  Carbon,  is  doubtless 
already  familiar  to  many.  Nevertheless,  it  is 
so  curious  and  romantic  in  itself,  and  is  fraught 
with  such  miraculous  results  upon  the  physi- 
cal and  mental  condition  of  mankind,  that  we 
could  scarcely  excuse  ourself  were  we  to 
omit  it  here.  The  account  was  given  by  the 
late  venerable  Dr.  James,  of  Philadelphia, 
who,  in  the  year  1804,  in  company  with  Jin- 
thnny  Morrif,  Esq.  of  the  same  city,  visited 
some  lands  held  jointly  by  them,  near  Sharp 
jraountain 


Inlroduction  of  Coal. 


IS 


In  the  course  of  our  pilgrimage — saith  tiie 
account, — we  reached  the  summit  of  Mauch 
Chunk  mountain,  the  present  site  of  the 
mines  or  rather  quarry  of  Anthracite  Coal. 
At  the  time  there  were  only  to  be  seen  three 
or  four  small  pits,  which  had  made  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  commencement  of  rude  wells, 
^into  one  of  which  our  guide, — I'liilip  Ginter, 
descended  with  great  ease,  and  threw  up — 
some  pieces  of  coal  for  our  examination.  Af- 
ter which,  whilst  we  lingered  ou  the  spot, 
contemplating  the  wildness  of  the  scene,  ho- 
nest I'hilip  amused  us  with  the  following  nar- 
rative of  the  original  discovery  of  this  most 
valuable  of  minerals,  now  promising,  from  its 
general  diffusion,  so  much  of  wealth  and  com- 
fort to  a  great  portion  of  Pennsylvania. 

He  said,  that  when  he  first  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  that  district  of  country,  he  ijuilt  him- 
self a  rough  cabin  in  the  forest,  and  support- 
ed his  family  by  the  proceeds  of  his  rifle;  be- 
ing literally  a  hunter  of  the  Backwoods.  The 
game  he  shot,  including  bear  and  deer,  he 
earned  to  the  nearest  store,  and  exchanged  for 
other  necessaries  of  life.  But  at  this  particu- 
lar time  to  which  he  then  alluded,  he  was 
without  a  supply  of  food  for  his  family  ;  and 
after  being  out  all  day  with  his  gun  in  quest  of 
it,  he  was  returning,  towards  evening,  over 
the  Mauch  Chunk  Mountain,  entirely  uusuc- 
cessful  and  disappointed  ;  a  drizzling  rain  be- 
ginning to  fall,  and  night  rapidly  approaching, 
he  bent  his  course  homeward,  considering 
himself  one  of  the  most  forsaken  of  human 
beings.  As  he  trod  slowly  over  the  ground, 
his  foot  stumbled  against  something  which, 
by  the  stroke,  was  driven  before  him ;  ob- 
serving it  to  be  black,  to  distinguish  which 
there  was  just  light  enough  remaining,  he 
took  it  up,  and  as  he  had  often  listened  to  the 
traditions  of  the  country  of  the  existence  of 
Coal  in  the  vicinity,  it  occurred  to  him  that 
this  might  be  a  portion  of  that  Stone-Coal,  of 
which  he  had  heard.  He  accordingly  care- 
fully took  it  with  him  to  the  cabin,  and  the 
next  day  carried  it  to  Colonel  Jacob  Weiss, 
residing  at  what  was  then  known  by  the  name 
of  Fort  Allen — (erected  under  the  auspices  of 
Dr.  Franklin.)  The  Colonel,  who  was  alive  to 
the  subject,  brought  the  specimen  with  him 
to  Philadelphia,  and  submitted  it  to  the  in- 
•  spection  of  John  Nicholson  and  Michael  Hille- 
gas,  Esqs.,  and  also  to  Chai-les  Cist,  a  printer, 
who  ascertained  its  nature  and  qualities,  and 
authorized  the  Colonel  to  pay  Ginter  for  his 
discovery,  upon  his  pointing  out  the  precise 
spot  where  he  found  the  Coal.  This  was 
readily  done  by  acceding  to  Ginter's  propo- 
sal of  getting  through  the  regular  forms  of  the 
patent-office,  the  title  for  a  small  tract  of 
land,  which  he  supposed  had  never  been  tak- 
en up,  comprising  the  mill-seat,  ou  which  he 
afterwards  built  the  mill  which  afforded  us 
the  lodging  of  the  preceding  night,  and  which 
he  afterwards  was  unhappily  deprived  of  by 
the  claim  of  a  prior  survey. 

Cist,  Weiss,  Hillegas,  and  others,  immedi- 
ately alter  (about  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1792,)  formed  the  Lehigh  Coal  Company,  but 
•without  a  charter  of  incorporation,  and  took 


up  between  eight  and  ten  thousand  acres  of 
uidocated  land,  including  the  Mauch  Chunk 
Mountain. 

The  mine  now  wrought  was  opened  by  this 
Company,  but  the  difficulties  of  transporting 
the  Coal  to  market  were  then  insurmountable, 
and  their  enterprize  was  shortly  abandoned. 
This  mine  remained  in  a  neglected  state,  used 
only  by  the  smiths  and  others  of  the  immedi- 
ate vioiniiy,  until  the  year  1807,  when  Wil- 
liam Turnbuil  caused  an  ark  to  be  constructed 
at  Lousane,  which  carried  to  Philadelphia  two 
or  three  hundred  bushels.  A  portion  was  sold 
to  the  manager  of  the  water  works,  for  the 
use  of  the  steam-engint^.  Lipon  trial,  bow- 
ever,  it  was  deeme(J^  rather  an  extinguisher 
tha)i  an  alinieuf  of  tire;  was  r<"jiM-,ted  as  per- 
fectly worthless,  ai;d  was  soon  broken  up  and 
spread  on  the  walks  of  the  surrounding  gar- 
den, in  the  place  of  gravel. 

The  legislature,  early  aware  of  the  import- 
ance of  the  navigation  of  the  Lehigh,  passed 
an  act  for  its  improvementiii  1771,  and  others 
in  1791.  '94,  '98,  1810,  '14  and  '16.  Under 
one  of  these  a  company  associated,  and  after 
expending  more  than  20,000  doUais  in  clear- 
ing out  channels,  relinquished  their  design  of 
perfecting  the  navigation  of  the  river. 

In  the  meanwhde  the  Coal  mine  company, 
desirous  to  render  their  property  available, 
granted  leases  to  several  individuals  success- 
ively ;  the  last,  for  a  term  of  ten  years,  with 
the  "privilege  cf  cutting  timber  from  their 
lands,  (or  floating  the  Coal  to  market,  was 
made  to  Messrs.  Cist,  Miner  &  Robinson, upon 
the  condition  that  they  should  send  to  Phila- 
delphia 10,000  bushels  of  Coal  per  annum,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  lessees.  These  gentlemen 
loaded  several  arks  with  Coal,  only  three  of 
which  reached  the  city,  and  they  abandoned 
the  business  at  the  close   of  the  war  in  1815.* 

During  the  war,  Virginia  Coal  became  very 
scarce,  and  Messrs.  White  &  Erskine  Hazard, 
then  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  iron  wire, 
at  the  Falls  of  the  Schuylkill,  having  learned 
that  Mr.  J.  Malin  had  succeeded  in  the  use  of 
the  Lehigh  Coal  at  his  rolling  mill,  procured 
a  cart  load  of  it,  which  cost  them  a  dollar  per 
bushel.  This  quantity  was  entirely  wasted, 
without  getting  up  the  requisite  heat.  An- 
other cart  load  was,  however,  obtained,  and  a 
whold  night  was  spent  in  endeavoring  to  make 
a  fire  in  the  furnace,  when  the  hands  shut  the 
furnace  door,  and  departed  from  the  mill  in 
despair.  Fortunately,  one  of  them,  who  bad 
left  his  jacket  in  the  mill,  returning  for  it  in 
about  half  an  hour,  observed  the  door  of  the 
furnace  to  be  red  hot,  and  upon  opening  it, 
was  surprised  to  find  the  interior  at  a  glowing 
white  heat.  The  other  hands  were  summon- 
ed, and  four  separate  parcels  of  iron  were 
heated  by  the  same  fire,  and  rolled  before  re- 
newal. The  furnace  was  then  replenished, 
and  as  letiing  the  fire  alone  had  succeeded  80 
well,  that  method  was  tried  again  with  a  like 
result. 

Thenceforth  Messrs.  White  &  Hazard  con- 


*  Abridged  from  the  Gazetteer  of  Pennsylvania— 
1834. 


20 


Remev^  of  the  Coal  Res^ions. 


tinued  the  use  of  Anthracite  Coal,  which  they 
procured  from  Schuylkill  county,  in  wagons, 
and  occasionally  in  flats  by  freshets,  and  also 
from  Lehigh,  in  one  of  Messrs.  Miner  &  Co.'s 
arks.  Thus  instructed  in  the  invaluable  pro- 
perties of  Anthracite,  Messrs.  White  &  Haz- 
ard having  disposed  of  their  works  on  the 
Schuylkill  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  turned 
their  attention  to  the  mines  of  the  Lehigh, 
■with  a  resolution  of  creating  adequate  means 
for  transporting  their  wealth  to  market. 

In  January,  1818,  they  jointly,  with  Mr. 
Hants,  obtained  the  control  of  the  lands  of  the 
Lehigh  Coal  mine  company.  In  the  succeed- 
ing March,  iha  legislature  granted  to  these 
gentlemen  ample  powe^  for  improving  the 
n^igation  of  the  river  Lehigh,  and  vested  in 
them,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  the  absolute  and 
exclusive  use  of  the  waters  of  the  river,  not 
incompatible  with  the  navigation,  and  the 
right  to  levy  tolls  upon  boats,  rafts,  &c.,  de- 
tcending  the  river,  and  also  upon  ascending  it, 
in  case  a  slack  water  navigation  should  be 
made,  upon  condition  :  1st.  That  ihey  made 
adescending  navigation  within  six  years,  ironi 
the  mouth  of  the  Nesquehoning  creek  to  llie 
Delaware,  and  from  the  Great  Fall.s  to  the 
Nesquehoning,  within  twenty  years.  2.  That 
in  case  the  legislature  deemed  such  navigation 
Bufficient,  the  grantees  should  convert  the 
eame  into  a  complete  slack  water  navigation, 
erecting  one  lock  or  other  devices,  overcom- 
ing at  least  six  feet  fall,  yearly,  until  the  whole 
should  be  completed.  3.  That  in  case  of 
abuse  of  the  privileges  granted,  or  neglect  to 
complete  the  slack  water  navigation,  within 
twenty  years  after  requisition  made,  that  the 
State  might  resume  the  grant.  4.  That  the 
State  might,  after  the  expiration  of  thirty-six 
years  from  the  date  of  the  gi-ant,  purchase  the 
rights  of  the  grantees  to  the  navigation.  And 
5th.  That  upon  such  purchase,  or  resumption, 
in  case  of  forfeiture,  that  the  State  should  ful- 
fill all  the  obligations  enjoined  by  the  this  act, 
upon  the  grantees. 

For  the  purpose  of  obtaining  funds  to  carry 
this  act  into  effect,  and  conduct  the  mining 
operations  advantageously,  Messrs.  White, 
Hants  &  Hazard,  formed,  with  others,  two 
associations,  in  July,  1818;  the  one,  denomin- 
ated "The  Lehigh  Navigation  Company,"  for 
•whose  use,  they  granted  to  trustees,  by  deed 
dated  10th  August,  1S18,  all  the  right  vested 
in  them  by  the  above  mentioned  act,  to  the 
benefits  of  the  river  Lehigh,  reserving  to 
themselyes  certain  residuary  profits  and  exclu- 
sive privileges  in  the  management  of  the  com- 
pany;  the  other,  denominated  "The  Lehigh 
Coal  Company,"'  for  whose  use  they  also  con- 
veyed to  trustees,  certain  estates  in  sundry 
tracts  of  Coal  lauds,  reserving  also  to  them- 
eelves  certain  residuary  profits,  and  exclu- 
sive privileges  in  the  management  of  such 
company. 

The  navigation  company  commenced  the 
improvement  of  the  Lehigh  in  August,  1813. 
In  1 820,  Coal  was  sent  to  Philadelphia,  by  an 
artificial  navigation,  and  sold  at  $8  50  per  ton 
deliver»d  at  the  door  of  the  purchasers. 
In  the  same  year,  the    two    companies 


were  amalgamated  under  the  title  o{  The  Le- 
high Coal  and  Navigation  Company ;  and 
Messrs.  White  &  Hazard,  having  in  the  inte- 
rim acquired  the  interest  of  Mr.  Hants,  ob- 
tained for  themselves  in  the  union,  the  privi- 
leges which  had  been  reserved  in  the  original 
organization  of  the  separate  companies. 

By  an  act  of  assembly  passed  13th  February, 
1832,  the  Lehigh  Coal  and  Navigation  Compa- 
ny was  incorporated,  and  the  property  of  the 
prior  associations,  and  the  privileges  created 
by  the  act  of  1818,  were  invested  in  them. 
Their  capital  stock  was  hmited  to  $1 ,000,000, 
divided  into  shares  of  $50  each  ;  and  of  this 
capital,  their  former  property  formed  part. — 
They  were  empowered  to  commence  a  slack 
water  navigation  upon  the  Lehigh,  within  a 
year  from  the  date  of  the  act.  To  this  compa- 
ny Messrs.  W.  &  H.  became  parties,  as  simple 
stockholders  merely. 

To  faciliate   the  ascent  of  the    river,  the 
company  resolved  on   a  lock   navigation,  on 
which  steam  boats   might  l)e  employed.     Ac- 
cordingly a  lock  was  built  at   Mauch  Chunk, 
measuring  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet  in 
length,  and  thirty  in  width;  and  the  canal,  of 
more  than  a  mile  in  length,  annexed  to  it,  was 
excavated  five  feet  deep,  and  its   banks  lined 
with  stone.     But   as   the    mode  was  very  ex- 
pensive, and  the  state  had  commenced  the  De- 
laware canal  from  Easton  to  Bristol,  a  change 
in  the  plan  became  expedient;    and  in  1827, 
the  company  having  increased  their  funds  by 
the  sale  often  thousand  shares,  the  balance  of 
their  capital,  determined  on    making  a  canal 
navigation,  which  should  correspond  with  the 
Delaware  canal.     This  great  work,  extending 
from  Easton   to    Mauch  Chunk,  a  distance  of 
forty-six  miles  and  three  quarters,  consisting 
of  ten  miles  of  pools,  and  thirty-six  miles  and 
three  quarters  of  canals,  was  commenced   in 
the  summer  of  1827,  and  was  in  condition  to 
authorize  the  company  to  exact  toll  thereon  in 
July,  1829.     The  canal  is  five  feet  deep,  forty- 
five  feet  wide  at  the  bottom  and  sixty  feet  at 
top;     the   banks  are   firm,  and  lined  chiefly 
with  stone ;    the  locks   are   twenty-two   feet 
wide  and   one  hundred    feet  long,  and   are 
adapted  to  pass  boats,  suited  to  the  Delaware 
canal,  in  pairs.     The  ascent  of  three  hundred 
and  sixty-four  feet,  is  overcome  by  fifty  locks 
and  nine  dams.     The  whole  of  the  river  im- 
provement, from  its  commencement,  as  a  de- 
scending navigation  to  its  final  completion,  as 
above,  cost  about  $1,558,000.     The  toll  houses 
erected  along  the  canal,  arc  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial  and    comfortable   kind;    and  in  the 
completion   of  this  noble    work,  in  the   lan- 
guage of  a  former  manager,  "there  has  been  no 
money  expended  for  ornament,  though   none 
has  been  spared  to  render  it   sound  and  per- 
manent." 

— In  the  districts  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Pottsville,  Coal  was  known  to  exist  more  than 
seventy  years  ago.  Repeated  searches  had, 
at  various  periods,  been  made ;  but  the  coal 
found  was  so  different  from  any  previously 
known,  that  it  was  deemed  utterly  valueless 
— more  especially  as  no  means  could  be  de- 
Tised  to  ignite  it  (a  character  whicfa  its  nam* 


^jfficiently  indicates).  Searches  for  it  were 
abandoned,  at  least  for  a  time ; — when  a 
blacksmith,  by  the  name  ofWhetstone.luckily 
chanced  upon  some,  and  immediately  under- 
took to  use  it  in  his  shop.  After  experiment- 
ing with  it  for  a  short  time,  his  efforts  proved 
successful,  and  his  triumph  having  been  duly 
communicated,  in  the  shape  of  local  gossip,  to 
the  citizens  of  the  surrounding^eighborhood, 
attention  was  very  soon  after  directed  to  the 
expediency  of  instituting  further  inquiries  as 
to  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  deposit,  and 
its  applicability  for  other  purposes.  Among 
those  who,  at  a  very  early  'period,  did  not  he- 
sitate to  declare  their  belief  in  the  existence 
of  Coal  in  this  district,  was  the  late  Judge 
Cooper;  and  it  was  through  the  influence  of 
Buch  persons  that  seaches  were  continued 
through  circumstances  and  prejudices  at  once 
discouraging,  and  seemingly  fool-hardy.  A- 
mong  the  first,  if  they  were  not  the  first,  who 
undertook  explorations  for  Coal,  were  the 
Messrs.  Fotts.  They  made  examinations  at 
various  points  along  the  old  Suubury  road, — 
but  in  no  instance  did  success  attend  them. 
The  late  William  Morris,  soon  after  the  opera- 
tions of  Messrs.  Potts  were  terminated,  became 
Eroprietor  of  most  of  the  lauds  lying  at  the 
ead  of  the  Schuylkill ;  and  about  the  year 
1800  he  was  fortunate  enough  to  find  Coal, 
and  in  the  same  year  took  a  considerable 
quantity  to  Philadelphia.  It  was  in  vain  that 
he  held  forth  its  peculiar  virtues,  and  vast 
future  importance; — all  his  efforts  to  convince 
the  people  of  its  adaptation  to  use,  proved 
abortive,  and  when,  occasionally,  an  individual 
was  found  who  could  be  induced,  through  the 
force  of  argument  and  eloquence,  to  coincide 
in  the  merits  of  "  stone-coal,"  the  well-known 
lines, — 

A  man  convinced  against  his  will, 
Is  of  the  same  opinion  still, — 

would  be  involuntarily  forced  upon  his  mind  ; 
— and  finally  he  had  no  other  alternative  but 
to  dispose  of  his  lauds,  and  abandon  his  pro- 
jects as  altogether  fruitless. 

We  do  not  know  that  any  farther  notice  had 
now  been  taken  of  tliis  coal,  for  six  or  seven 
years  afterwards.  Peter  Bastons  made  some 
discoveries  of  its  deposit,  while  erecting  the 
Forge  in  Schuylkill  Valley;  and  a  blacksmith, 
named  David  Berlin,  continued  to, improve 
upon  the  suggestions  of  Whetstone — (who,  by 
this  time,  had  discontinued  business,  and  per- 
haps left  the  vicinity)  and  imparled  his  suc- 
cesses freely  to  others  of  his  craft.  But  few, 
however,  could  be  prevailed  upon  to  use 
them.  Prejudice — prejudice  was  ever  keen, 
and  it  seemed  to  keep  men  of  ordinary  spirit 
at  a  respectful  distance.  Men  of  iron  nerve 
could  only  oppose  themselves  to  the  current. 

In.the  latter  part  of  the  year  1810,  a  practi- 
cal chemist,  combining  science  with  practice, 
made  such  an  analysis  of  the  Coal  of  this  Ke- 
gion,  as  convinced  him  that  there  was  in- 
herent in  the  mass  all  the  properties  suitable 
for  combustion.  He,  therefore,  erected  a 
furnace  in  a  small  vacant  house  on  Front- 
etreet,  between  Philadelphia  and  Kensington, 
to  which  he  applied  three  strong  bellowses. 


Introduction  of  Coal. 


21 


By  this  means  he  obtained  such  an  immense 
white  heat  from  the  Coal,  that  platina  itself 
could  have  been  melted  !  From  this  experi- 
ment was  derived  such  proofs  of  its  qualities 
as,  ultimately,  favored  its  general  introduction 
into  that  city. 

But  although  it  might  easily  be  inferred 
that  such  experiments  could  not  fail  to  have 
secured  for  it  immediate  favor,  yet  such  was 
by  no  means  the  fact.  Intelligent  men,  it  is 
true,  calmly  deliberated  over  the  subject — 
but  that  was  all ;  the  time  had  not  yet  arrived 
for  them  to  act.  Two  years  after  this,  the 
late  Colonel  George  Shoemaker  and  Nicholas 
Allen  discovered  Coal  on  a  piece  of  land 
which  they  had  but  recently  purchased, — in 
times  past,  called  Centreville — situate  about 
one  mile  from  this  Borough  (Pottsville.)  They 
raised  several  wagon-loads  of  Coal,  but  no 
purchaser  could  be  iound.  Mr.  Allen  sooa 
became  disheartened,  and  disposed  of  his  in- 
terest in  the  lands  to  his  partner;  who,  having^ 
received  some  faint  encouragement  from  some 
citizens  of  Philadelphia,  persevered  in  his 
operations.  He  got  out  a  considerable  quan- 
tity, and  forwarded  ten  waggon-loads  to  Phil- 
adelphia, in  quest  of  purchasers.  Its  arrival 
there  was,  as  usual,  greeted  with  the  warmest 
prejudice,  and  there  were  few  who  appeared 
to  evince  any  curiosity  or  interest  on  the  sub- 
ject. Nearly  every  one  considered  it  a  sort  of 
stone,  and  saving  that  it  was  a  "peculiar  stone" 
—  a  stone-coal — they  would  as  soon  have 
thought  of  making  fire  with  any  other  kind  of 
stone'.  Among  all  those  who  examined  the 
Coals,  but  two  persons  could  be  prevailed  up- 
on to  use  them.  Tliey  each  bought  a  small 
quantity,  "to  try  it;"  and  alas!  the  trials  were 
unsuccessful  !  The  purchasers  denounced 
Colonel  Shoemaker  as  a  vile  imposler  and  an 
arrant  cheat !  Their  denunciations  went  forth 
throughout  the  city,  and  the  Colonel,  disap- 
pointed and  sick  at  heart,  was  about  leaving 
the  place  and  abandoning  the  Coal  forever, 
when  he  was  called  on  by  Messrs.  Mellen  & 
Bishop,  who  took  some  of  the  Coal  for  the 
purpose  of  experimenting  with  it  in  their  roll- 
ing mill  in  Delaware  county.  These  experi- 
ments were  eminently  successful,  and  the  re- 
sults having  been  published  in  the  public  jour- 
nals of  Philadelphia,  the  current  of  prejudice 
vvas  suddenly  thrown  back.  Experiments 
were  ne#t  made  at  the  iron  works  at  the  Fallg 
of  the  Schuylkill,  and  also  at  those  at  PhcEnix- 
ville, — both  of  which,  we  believe,  proved 
successful,  and  the  result  was  again  communi- 
cated to  the  press. 

From  this  time  forth,  the  deeply-seated  pre- 
judice of  the  people,  against  Anthracite  Coal, 
began  to  yield ;  and,  among  the  more  intelli- 
gent persons,  its  future  use  as  a  fuel  was  pla- 
ced beyond  all  doubt. 

The  credit  of  the  first  successful  application 
of  Coal  has  been  claimed  by  many,  and  it  is 
hard  to  decide,  among  the  numerous  competi- 
tors, as  to  whose  claims  to  the  honor  are  su- 
perior. Having  endeavored  to  present  the 
facts,  in  an  authentic  manner,  we  leave  it 
for  the  reader  to  e.xercise  due  justice  and 
judgment  in  the  premises. 


2'i 


Review  of  the  Coed  Begions. 


The  first  Buccessftil  experiment  to  generate 
steam  with  Anthracite  Coal,  was  made  in  1825 
at  the  iron  works  at  Phoenixville.  Previous- 
ly to  this,  Joha  Price  Wetherell,  of  Philadel- 
phia, made  several  efforts  to  accomplish  this, 
at  his  Lead  works  ; — but  we  have  understood 
that  be  only  partially  succeeded. 

— We  will  now  pass  by  three  or  four  years, 
— during  which  little  worthy  of  note  occurr- 
ed,— and  behold  the  Coal  trade,  like  the  first 
amiles  of  infancy,  starting  into  active  existence. 
As  early  as  1812,  the  forests  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Philadelphia,  as,  in  fact,  in  many  of 
the  principal  towns  of  the  adjoining  counties, 
began  rapidly  to  disappear.  Cord  wood,  and 
erery  description  of  building  timber,  were 
held  at  high  prices, — the  former,  during  the 
winter  months,  frequently  ranging  between 
thirteen  and  sixteen  dollars  per  cord.  There 
were  no  improvements  except  turn-pike  roads, 
fby  which  the  magnificent  timber  of  some  of 
the  more  distant  counties  could  be  reached  ; 
and  under  these  circumstances,  and  as  popu- 
lation and  business  iucreased,  attention  was 
directed  to  the  feasibility  of  rendering  navi- 
gable the  Schuylkill  River.  It  was  originally 
designed  for  the  products  of  the  forest,  the 
mine  and  the  field — all  of  which  abounded  in 
the  counties  drained  by  this  stream,  and  its 
numerous  tributaries.  The  forests,  especially, 
were  remarkable  for  the  quality  of  the  tim- 
ber, and  the  height  and  symmetrical  beauty 
of  the  trees  ;  aud  among  intelligent  capitalists 
little  doubt  was  now  entertained  as  to  the 
destiny  which  awaited  the  product  of  the 
mine — satisfied  that  it  needed  but  a  fair  start 
10  ensure  its  onward  progress. 

The  Schuylkill  Navigation  was  incorporated 
in  1314,  without  mining  and  trading  privi- 
leges, and  hence  it  has  ever  been  the  interest 
of  the  Company  to  invite  tonnage  from  all 
sources  and  in  every  quarter.  It  is  one  hun- 
dred and  eight  miles  in  length,  and  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  nearly  three  millions  of 
dollars.  It  was  sufficiently  complete,  in  1818, 
to  allow  the  descent  of  several  boats,  and 
tolls  to  the  amount  of  two  hundred  aud  thirty 
dollars  comprised  the  receipts  for  the  season. 
From  this  year  to  1825,  no  account  was  kept 
of  the  difierent  articles  for  which  tolls  were 
received,  and  we  are  unable,  therefore  to  de- 
termine the  amount  of  tonnage  on  Coal  de- 
scending the  valley,  during  this  period.  The 
Navigation,  however,  owing  to  the  unperfec- 
tion  of  the  structure,  was  not  in  a  favorable 
condition  for  the  prosecution  of  business  dur- 
ing any  portion  of  this  period.  This  arose 
from  the  obvious  inexperience  of  the  people 


of  that  day  in  canal-building :  and  obstructions 
of  every  description  were  of  course  to  be  ex- 
pected. Of  these,  the  most  frequent  were 
breaks  in  the  banks  of  the  canal,  which  would 
not  only  retard  the  progress  of  boats,  and 
render  the  business  extremely  hazardous  and 
uncertain,  but  subjected  the  Company  to  heavy 
expenses  for  repairs.  The  revenue  to  the  stock- 
holders was  of  course  very  hmited  ;  and  at  no 
season,  we  believe,  previous  to  1830,  was  it  suf- 
ficient to  yield  a  dividend  of  over  one-half  per 
cent. — while  quite  as  often,  a  loss  would  be  ex- 
perienced at  the  close  of  the  business  season. 
— From  the  year  1825,  we  may  safely  date 
the  career  of  the  Anthracite  Coal  Trade.  At 
tli;s  time  the  prejudices  of  the  people  against 
Coal,  as  a  fuel,  had,  in  a  great  measure,  aba- 
ted. Much  suffering  was  experienced  during 
the  winter  season  on  account  of  the  scarcity 
and  high  price  of  wood  in  Philadelphia  ;  and 
the  increased  supply  annually  necessary  for 
building  purposes,  tended  materially  to  advo- 
cate the  substitution  of  Coal  for  wood,  for  do- 
mestic purposes.  But  here  a  grand  revolution 
had  to  be  effected  !  New  and  costly  stoves,  had 
to  be  procured,  and  it  was  some  time  ere  the 
founders  could  venture  to  introduce  castings 
for  burning  Anthracite.  This,  however,  was 
finally  done  in  1328,  when  grates  for  stoves 
were  introduced  of  such  improved  construc- 
tion, that  no  further  difficulty  could  reasona- 
bly be  suggested.  But  there  was  one  difii- 
culty  vvhich  time,  the  great  corrector  of  all 
things,  "  promptly  attended  to:" — From  the 
lack  of  bitumen  in  the  Coal,  servants  were 
remarkably  slow  in  getting  initiated  into  the 
modus  operandi  oi  making  a  Coal-fire;  and 
among  tlie  catalogue  of  the  essential  qualifica- 
•  tions  for  a  servant,  was  placed  at  the  head,  that 
of  being  able  to  "  kinJIe  and  manage  a  Coal- 
fire."  A  lack  of  skill  in  this  particular,  would 
have  destr  lyed  the  reputation  of  the  best  ser- 
vants— and  thanks  to  their  skill — honest  re- 
putation was  saved. 

In  1825,  six  thousand  five  hundred  tons  of 
Coal  were  shipped  from  the  vicinity  of  this 
borough,  and  from  that  time  forth,  the  quan- 
tity annually  increased."  In  182G,  over  six- 
teen thousand  tons  were  shipped,  and  in  1827, 
over  thirty-one  thousand  tons.  The  prices  of 
Coal  at  the  mines  commenced  at  $3  08  ;  then 
$2  80;  and  in  1882,  the  price  fell  to  $1  51. 
The  ann'ual  increase  was  about  120  per  cent. ; 
and  the  toll  on  Coal  was  $1  00  per  ton,  while 
freights  rose  and  fell  alternately  from  $1  25 
to  $2  per  ton  to  Philadelphia.  The  average 
price  per  ton  in  Philadelphia  was  between  $5 
and  $6  per  ton. 


» 


MINING   OF   COAL 
IN  THE  ANTHRACITE  REGIONS; 


HISTORICAL  AND  DESCRIPTIVE. 


Lehigh  District. — This  having  beea  the 
theatre  of  the  first  raining  operations  in  the 
Schuylkill  Region,  it  may  appropriately  be 
the  first  to  receive  our  attention.  The  mining 
here,  until  recently,  was  conducted  by  the 
Lehigh  Coal  and  Navigation  Company;  but 
lately  they  have  leased  out  their  mines  Jto 
individual  operators,  who  receive  stipulated 
sums  for  every  ton  of  coal  raised.  The  plan  of 
mining  the  Coal  in  these  mines  is,  in  many 
respects,  entirely  different  from  that  pursued 
at  other  places.  This  is  owing  to  the  peculiar 
geological  structure  of  the  coal  deposits. 

We  have  before  stated,  that  as  the  Schuyl- 
kill basin  extends  to  its  South-eastern  termin- 
us, the  Coal  strata  become  almost  perpendic- 
ular in  the  dip — just  as  the  joints  of  a  board 
canoe  vary  in  their  angle  of  inclination  from 
the  middle  of  the  boat  to  either  end.  At  the 
Mauch  Chunk  summit  some  violent  disrup- 
tion must  have  occurred,  as  we  find  a  seam  of 
Coal  of  great  thickness,  and  covering  an  area 
of  some  sixty  acres,  occupying  a  horizontal 
position.  It  forms  an  anticlinal  axis  in  the 
middle,  and  recedes  downwards  at  both  ends. 
How  it  became  displaced,  is  a  phenomenon 
for  which  we  are  unprepared  to  account. 

Mauch  Chunk  mountain  rises  precipitately 
from  the  Lehigh  river,  where  it  is  also  the 
head  of  the  Nesquehoning  mountain,  which  at 
a  short  distance  from  the  river,  diverges  from 
the  Mauch  Chunk  proper,  toward  the  North 
West.  The  Mauch  Chunk  extends  South  West 
about  thirteen  miles,  to  the  Little  Schuylkill 
river,  whichdivides  it  from  the  Tuscarora  moun- 
tains. Panther  creek  separates  it  on  the  North 
from  the  radiating  hill  of  Nesquehoning,  and 
the  Mauch  Chunk  creek  divides  it  from  the 
Mahoning  on  the  South.  The  vaUies  through 
■which  these  creeks  run,  are  deep  and  narrow. 
Explorations  have  been  made  in  various  parts 


of  this  mountain,  and  Coal  has  been  discover- 
ed through  its  whole  extent. 

The  celebrated  Summit  mines,  which  fur- 
nish a  large  proportion,  of  all  the  Coal  mined 
by  the  Lehigh  Coal  and  Navigation  Company, 
are  situated  on  the  summit  of  this  mountain, 
nine  miles  West  of  the  town  of  Mauch  Chunk. 

The  Coal  directly  on  the  summit  is  worked 
in  open  quarry,  and  is  laid  open  by  the  process 
of  "uncovering,"  the  most  simple  method  of 
'mining.  This  is  effected,  as  the  name  indi- 
cates, by  removing  or  uncovering  the  upper 
surface  of  rock,  slate,  and  earth,  which  covers 
the  Coal,  for  a  considerable  distance  in  extent, 
varying  in  thickness  from  three  to  fifteen  feet. 
The  excavation  is  an  angular  area,  and  entered 
at  different  points  by  roads  cut  around  and 
through  the  Coal,  in  some  places  quite  down 
to  the  lowest  level.  The  greatest  ascertained 
thickness  of  Coal  at  this  point  is  fifty-three 
feet,butit  is  commonly  from  fifteen  to  forty  feet. 
Several  banks  of  these  dimensions  are  expo- 
sed, interrupted  only  by  the  seams  of  slate 
and  bony  coal  running  parallel  with  the  strata. 
In  some  spots,  the  Coal  lies  in  a  huge  horizon- 
tal bed  or  basin  for  a  considerable  distance, 
when  it  rises  at  an  angle  of  from  5°  to  15". 
(See  map).  In  some  places  the  veins  are  sad- 
dle shaped;  in  some  positions,  they  and  the 
attendant  strata  are  wonderfully  contorted 
and  broken,  and  present  every  variety  of  form ; 
in  one  spot,  immediately  on  the  crest  of  Sum- 
mit Hill,  the  great  coal  basin,  from  some  ter- 
restial  revulsion,  is  completely  divided,  the 
space  being  filled  up  by  a  perpendicular  mass 
of  Coal  twenty-five  feet  in  thickness.  How- 
ever much  the  coal  strata  may  be  disturbed 
in  certain  localities,  they  usually,  at  a  short 
distance  from  the  interruption,  return  to  the 
general  arrangament,  as  before  described  ia 
another  part  of  this  work.     It  is  impossible  to 


24 


Review  of  ihe  Coal  Regions. 


avoid  the  impiessiom  that  some  great  force  has 
disturbed  the  original  formation,  by  elevating 
or  depressing  the  strata. 

It  may  not  be  inappropriate  here  to  des- 
cribe briefly  the  manner  of  mining  the  Coal 
at  the  "Great  Mine,"  or  open  quarry,  on  Sum- 
mit Hill.  After  the  work  of  '"uncovering" 
is  effected,  the  Coal  is  exposed  to  view  in  an 
unbroken  mass,  when  a  number  of  hands  are 
•employed  in  detaching  it  from  the  huge  parent 
bed,  in  large  lumps  ;  which  is  done  by  intro- 
ducing a  wedge  between  the  seems  running 
parallel  with  the  strata,  when  a  few  taps  of 
the  sledge  are  sufficient  to  loosen  and  detach 
it.  Natural  joints,  running  also  parallel  with 
the  strata,  frequently  atFord  an  easy  mode  of 
separating  the  Coal  in  broken  masses;  the 
pick  alone  is  here  used,  which,  entering  the 
joint,  fractures  the  rhomboidal  structure  of 
the  Coal,  and  thus  much  time  and  labor  is 
saved.  When  the  veins  are  interrupted  by  a 
stratification  of  rock  or  slate,  as  is  frequently 
the  case,  boring  becomes  necessrry,  the  blast 
detaching  masses  of  considerable  magnitude, 
which  are  broken  into  smaller  lumps,  with 
sledge  hammers,  and  afterwards  prepared  for 
market  by  the  Coal  breaking  apparatus,  of 
which  a  notice  is  given  in  another  part  of  this 
work. 

There  are  Railroads  leading  through  the 
mines,  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  the  Coal 
to  the  main  road,  and  others  on  which  the  ref- 
use Coal,  rock,  and  rubbish  are  made  to  de- 
scend in  cars,  by  gravity,  to  different  points, 
at  which  such  materials  are  discharged  down 
the  side  of  the  mountain.  These  Railways 
are  continued  over  the  vallies,  and  the  rubbish 
thrown  from  them  has  formed  a  number  of  ar- 
tificial hills,  shaped  like  a  steep  roof,  and  ter- 
minating almost  abruptly  in  a  descent  of  hun- 
dreds of  feel.  The  cars  are  guided  each  by 
one  man,  who,  at  a  proper  place,  knocks  open 
one  end  and  discharges  the  load.  In  some  in- 
stances cars  have  run  off  from  the  end  of  the 
Railway,  and  the  guides  have  been  thrown 
down  the  mountain,  but  falling  among  loose 
rubbish  such  accidents  have  not  proved  fatal. 
'besides  the  incombustible  refuse,  there  is 
small  and  inferior  Coal  enough  here  to  supply 
'the  fuel  for  a  large  city  for  years.  It  is  not 
'now  sufficiently  valuable  for  transportation. 
'Small  Coal, (Pea)  is  used  successfully  at  Mauch 
'Chunk  and  elsewhere,  in  burning  lime,  and  at 
aome  future  day  may  be  employed  in  other 
manufactures. 

Several  mines  have  been  recently  opened 
within  a  mile  of  the  Summit  mines,  now  be- 
ing worked  by  contract  for  the  Lehigh  Coal 
and  Navigation  Company.  (  See  Statistical  Ta- 
ble.) They  are  portions  of  the  same  great 
mass,  and  present  an  ine.xhaustible  supply  of 
fuel,  while  they  furnish  the  means  of  untold 
wealth  to  the  individuals  and  companies  who 
own  the  land  and  operate  upon  them.  Be- 
sides there  are  three  operations  at  Room  Run, 
five  miles  West  of  Mauch  Chunk;  anew  oper- 
ation North-west  half  a  mile  from  said  place ; 
four  at  Panther  Creek  Valley,  and  one  at 
Springdale — all  the  property  of  the  Lehigh 
Coal  and  Navigation  Company.    The  Coal  is 


■  thousand  tonst 

abundance  ofj 
of    procuring! 

To      iiavipatinn.' 


raised  at  so  much  per  ton,  by  contract,  forf 
the  Company,  and  yields  in  all,  for  shipment,* 
about  seven  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  tons 
annually. 

Notwithstanding  the  great 
Coal  on  the  Summit,  hopes 
it  from  a  mountain  nearer  to  navigation, 
induced  the  company  to  excavate  a  tun- 
nel two  hundred  feet  below  the  precipitous 
ridge,  and  within  two  and  a  half  miles  of 
Mauch  Chunk.  This  great  enterprise  was 
commenced  on  the  Ist  of  March,  1824,  be- 
fore the  construction  of  the  rail-way  to  the 
'■great  mine"  on  Summit  Hill,  under  the  im- 
pression that  the  Coal  strata  here  dipped  to 
the  South.  This  supposition  proved  errone- 
ous, and  the  company,  for  that  and  other  rea- 
sons, suspended  their  labors.  The  tunnel  is 
sixteen  feet  wide,  eight  feet  high,  and  pene- 
trates the  mountain,  through  hard  conglomor- 
ate  rock  and  pudding  stone,  seven  hundred 
and  ninety  feet.  Three  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  forty- five  cubic  yards  of  stone  were 
removed,  at  an  expense  of  twenty-six  thous- 
and eight  hundred  and  twelve  dollars,  or  seven 
dollars  and  sixteen  cents  per  cubic  yard. — 
When  the  Company  became  satisfied  of  the 
present  inexpediency  of  making  further  pro- 
gress with  the  tunnel,  they  resolved  to  lay  a 
rail-way  from  Mauch  Chunk  to  the  "Great 
mine,"  which  they  commenced  under  the  dir- 
ection of  Mr.  White,  then  manager,  on  the  8th 
January,  1327.  Everything  about  the  road — 
the  mine — the  descent — the  scenery — the 
shute  at  the  landing,  is  well  worthy  the  at- 
tention of  the  most  indifferent  observer.  The 
road  descends  from  the  mine  to  the  top  of  the 
shute  at  the  rate  of  one  hundred  feet  per 
mile,  and  the  descent  is  acccmplished,  by 
means  of  gravity,  usually  in  about  half  an 
hour.  At  the  top  of  the  hill  is  a  building, 
containing  the  machinery,  a  one  hundred 
horse  engine,  &c.,  by  which  the  descent  of 
the  loaded  cars  is  governed ;  the  most  impor- 
tant part  of  which  is  a  large  cylinder,  revolv- 
ing horizontally,  and  serving  to  wind  the  rope 
or  iron  band  attached  to  the  cars.  The  latter 
are  rolled  by  hand,  and  by  the  aid  of  mules, 
on  a  circular  platform,  which,  revolving  hori- 
zontally upon  a  perpendicular  axis,  brings 
the  cars  upon  a  line  with  the  inclined  plane, 
upon  which  they  are  launched.  The  rapidity 
of  their  progress  is  in  a  measure  checked  by 
the  weight  of  the  empty  ascending  cars, 
which  being  fastened  at  the  other  end  of  the 
rope  or  band,  and  moving  on  a  parallel  rail- 
way on  the  same  plane,  necessarily  mount  as 
rapidly  as  the  loaded  cars  descend.  But  the 
partial  counterpoise  is  insufficient  to  moderate 
properly  the  speed  of  the  descending  cars. — 
This  object  is  effectually  gained  by  an  iron  ' 
band  which  clasps  the  drum,  and  which,  com- 
pressed by  a  lever,  control»its  motion.  Acci-  j 
dents  have  bean  rare  in  this  descent,  but  the  \ 
cars  have  sometimes  deviated  or  broken  loose. 
They  are  now  guarded  against  by  a  very  sim- 1 
pie,  yet  ingenious  contrivance.  The  rad-way  * 
is  double  until  the  most  rapid  part  of  the  de 
scent  is  passed,  when   both   ways  curve   and 


unite  into  one.    Should  a  car  break  loose,  iu 


Mines  and  Mining. 


2fk 


motnentum  will  be  so  great  as  to  prevent  its 
following  ihe  curve,  and  as  soon  as  it  reaches 
the  spot,  it  is  thrown  out,  over-turned,  and 
lodged  ou  a  clay  bank  formed  for  this  purpose* 
below.  Farther  down,  a  bulwark  is  construc- 
ted, overarching  the  rail-way,  to  intercept  the 
loose  coal  as  it  flies  from  the  cars.  When  the 
car  arrives  at  the  foot  of  the  inclined  plane,  it 
pitches  into  a  downward  curve  in  the  rail- 
way, and  a  projecting  bar,  which  secures  the 
lower  end  of  the  car,  and  which,  for  this  pur- 
pose, is  hung  on  a  horizontal  axis,  knocks  it 
open,  and  the  Coal  slides  down  a  steep  funnel 
or  chute,  into  the  canal  boat,  which,  receding 
from  the  shore  by  the  impulse  thus  given  it, 
occasions  the  Coal  to  spread  evenly  over  its 
bottom. 

The  Coal  is  brought  from  the  mines  to  the 
top  of  the  hill  in  the  same  manner  as  described 
above.  The  loaded  cars  ascend,  while  the 
empty  ones  descend,  to  be  again  filled. 

The  Room  Run  mines,  belonging  to  the 
same  company,  occupy  a  situation  in  a  defile 
of  the  mountain,  through  which  passes  a 
sparkling  and  bounding  rivulet,  called  Room 
Run,  from  which  the  mines  take  their  name  ; 
the  distance  is  four  miles  and  a  half  from 
Mauch  Chunk.  Some  twenty  veins  have 
been  explored,  many  of  which  are  now  being 
■worked,  varying  in  thickness  from  five  to  fifty 
feet.  This  basin  is  supposed  to  be  a  continu- 
ation of  that  of  Mauch  Chunk ;  some  of  the 
veins  have  been  ti'aced  three  miles  and  a  half 
along  the  mountain.  All  of  them  are  acces- 
sible above  water  level,  and  are  worked  by 
drifting,  and  horizontal  tunnels  cut  frequently 
through  solid  rock  for  a  distance  of  several 
bundred  yards ;  some  of  them  have  great  fa- 
cilities for  drainage,  and  are  provided  with 
most  desirable  roofs  and  tloors  of  slate,  wbicB 
render  them  susceptible  of  cheap  excavation. 
This  is  especially  the  case  of  a  twouty-eight 
feet  vein  into  which  three  openings  at  different 
elevations  have  been  made,  whence  coal  of  the 
first  quality  and  highest  lustre  has  been  taken. 
Other  veins  approach  so  near  the  surface  of 
the  mountain,  particularly  the  vein  of  fifty 
feet,  that  it  is  wrought  by  "  uncovering"  after 
the  manner  of  the  great  mine  on  Summit 
Hill.  It  has  been  observed  that  the  most  so- 
lid, homogeneous  and  perfect  masses  of  Coal 
have  been  found  under  the  thick  strata  of  slate, 
with  a  sharp  dip ;  and  that  a  soft  and  pliable 
Coal  is  to  be  expected  beneath  an  earthy  and 
porous  covering.  The  cause  of  the  difference 
would  seem  to  be,  that  in  the  first  case  the 
atmospheric  water  is  excluded  from  the  Coal, 
and  is  carried  away  by  the  upper  surface  of 
the  slate  strata,  whilst  in  the  second  it  per- 
colates and  softens  the  Coal,  dividing  it  into 
small  particles,  which  adhere  feebly  to  each 
other.* 

Professor  Silliman  describes  a  peculiar  form- 
ation of  the  great  bed  of  fifty  feet,  and  its 
contiguous  strata.  They  rise  in  form  of  a 
half  ellipse,  placed  on  end  with  the  curve 


*  Abridged  from  the  Gazetteer  of  Pennsylvania— 
!     1834. 


uppermost;  the  form*  of  the  mountain  of 
wliich  thoy  are  part.  There  is  here,  he  ob- 
serves, the  most  striking  appearanae  that 
these  strata  have  bfeen  raised  by  force  from 
beneath  ;  and  it  is  difficult  to  avoid  the  con- 
viction that  they  were  also  broken  at  the 
top ;  for  at  the  upper  end  of  the  stratum  of 
Coal,  there  is  a  huge  rock,  twenty  feet  in 
two  of  its  dimensions,  and  five  or  six  in  the 
other,  which  has  been  broken  off"  from  the 
roof  rock,  graywacke,  of  which  it  is  part, 
and  fallen  in ;  and  the  Coal  seems  then  to 
have  closed  all  around  and  shut  it  in  on  all 
sides,  except  that  in  one  place  on  the  right 
hand  a  little  below  the  top,  the  rupture  is 
continued  to  the  surface,  and  that  place  was 
then  filled  and  concealed  by  the  loose  rub- 
bish and  soil,  as  was  also  the  rock  above.  . 
These  circumstances  confirm  strongly  the  truth 
of  the  supposition,  that  an  upheaving  force, 
excited  with  great  energy,  has  bent,  disloca- 
ted and  broken  the  strata. 

This  vein  is  broken  by  the  ravine,  and 
worn  down  by  the  stream  which  passes 
through  it,  but  reappears  on  the  opposite  side, 
where  it  assumes  a  form  more  curious  and 
extraordinary.  The  strata,  as  in  the  cor- 
responing  part,  radiate  from  the  surface,  and 
the  interior  upper  angle,  so  for  as  it  has  been 
uncovered,  is  filled  with  sand  stone,  arranged 
in  reverse  concentric  arches,  laid  so  regularly  • 
as  to  have  the  appearance  of  having  been 
placed  by  jw^-  The  stones  of  the  respective 
arches  inpt'sase  their  dimension  with  the  size 
of  the  a-'^h-  The  form  of  these  arches  would 
seepi  to  militate  against  the  hypothesis  of  an 
ecceptric  force,  unless  we  presume,  whalt  is 
probably  true,  that  the  gravitation  of  the 
strata  in  opposite  angles  of  about  forty-five 
degrees  produce  this  result. 

To  avail  themselves,  in  the  best  manner,  of 
these  new  treasures,  the  company  have  made 
a  rail-way  of  five  miles.  This  road  follows 
the  curve  of  the  raouritain  along  the  Lehigh 
for  about  two  miles ;  and  then  still  winding 
with  the  mountain,  turns  easterly,  and  runs 
parallel  to  the  Nesquehoning  Creek,  to  the 
ravine  of  the  mountain,  made  by  Room  Run, 
which  it  ascends.  The  whole  of  the  road 
from  the  Coal  mines  to  the  landing  is  de- 
scending.  On  the  self-acting  plane  the  de- 
scending car  will  bring  up  an  empty  one.  The 
intermediate  road  is  graduated  from  ten  to 
twelve  inches  descent  in  one  hundred  feet ; 
this  being  considered  the  lowest  grade  on 
which  a  loaded  car  will  descend  by  gravity, 
and  therefore  the  most  favorable  one  that 
can  be  devised,  when  the  freight,  as  in  this 
case,  is  all  one  way. 

There  are  many  curious  and  distmguishing 
marks,  connected  with  the  Coal  deposits  in 
this  region,  which,  to  be  properly  understood, 
should  be  described  in  detail,  and  which  the 
limited  extent  of  our  work  at  present  pre- 
cludes. 

The  Coal  mined  in  the  Boaver  Meadow, 
Spring  Mountain,  Hazleton,  Buck  Mountain, 
Whitehaven  districts.  &,c.,  is  generally  sent 
down  the  Lehigh  NaviiratioH. 


26 


Review  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


fisHDTLKiLL  DISTRICT. — Like  everv  other 
branch  of  busineBs,  the  mining  (jf  Coal  has 
undergone  many  different  changes  and  im- 
provements, since  its  commencemeut.  We 
have  frequent  cause  for  astonishment,  while 
regarding  the  progress  of  improvement  in 
every  department  of  busy  life ;  and  although 
it  would  seem,  standing  upon  the  platform  of 
the  present,  and  taking  in  the  whole  perspec- 
tiye  of  the  past,  with  its  numerous  shades, 
that  we  ha\e  really  achieved  the  ne  phcs  ultra 
of  inventive  genius ; — still,  as  the  world  goes 
on,  new  enterprizes  are  opened — new  feelings 
are  instilled,  and  new  desires  are  to  be  filled : 
— so  that  the  Jield  for  thought  and  scientific 
knowledge  is  continually  enlarged,  and  the 
progress  of  invention  most  always  be  propor- 
lionably  rapid. 

When  openihgs  were  first  made  for  Coal  in 
the  vicinity  of  Tottsville,  the  shafts  were  sunk 
to  the  depth  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet, 
and  the  Coal  hoisted  in  large  vessels,  by  means 
of  a  common  windlass.  As  soon  as  the  water 
become  troublesome,  which  was  usually  the 
case  after  penetrating  beyond  thirty  feet,  the 
shaft  was  abandoned,  and  another  sunk — and 
the  same  simple  process  repealed* 

This  mode,  however,  wa8  soon  superceded 
by  drifts — (  or  op«>ning3  above  water-level, — 
^  running  in  with  a  surface  sufficiently  inclined 
to  drain  off  the  water.)  These  would  be 
opened  at  the  heads  of  vem*  upon  the  hill- 
sides, and  the  Coal  brought  out  u  wheel-bar- 
rows; but  it  was  not  untd  1827  thai  rail-ways 
were  introduced  into  mines,  and  from  that 
period  until  1834,  drifts  were  the  only  mode 
pursued  for  mining  Coal. 

In  the  meantime,  various  experiments  had 
been  made  for  the  use  of  shafts,  the  princi- 
pal one  of  which  was  the  substitution  of 
horse-power  and  the  gin,  for  the  windlass,  by 
which  they  were  enabled  to  clear  the  water 
-  from  the  shaft  with  greater  facility,  and  to  pe- 
netrate somewhat  farther  down  on  the  veins. 
But  with  this  great  improvement,  as  it  was 
then  regarded,  they  were  enabled  to  run 
down  on  the  vein  for  but  a  comparatively  short 
distance,  and  the  coal  was,  of  couse,  inferior ; 
for  experience  has  since  demonstrated  that 
the  crop  of  the  Coal  is  never  equal  to  that 
taken  out  at  lower  depths, — when  the  roof 
and  floor  have  attained  the  regularity  and 
hardness  so  necessary  for  effective  labor,  and 
good  Coal. 

At  the  period  to  which  we  have  alluded, 
there  was  a  total  and 'perfect  absence  of  every 
convenience  which  is  now  deemed  necessary 
for  mining  operations.  The  country  itself  was, 
— we  were  about  to  say,  uninviting; — but 
such  we  never  could  have  osteemcd  it.  There 
never  was  a  more  grand,  picturesque  region, 
— beautiful  at  all  seasons, — grand  in  all  eyes, 
— precious  to  the  man  of  science,  the  capital- 
ist, and  to  the  whole  world  of  business.  But 
if  it  be  wild  and  Iteautiful  iioiv,  whon  jealous 
art  has  dos]>»iled  it,  somewhat,  of  its  wild 
aspect — stripped  the  mountains  of  Ihoir  gaudy 
foliage,  and  levelled  the  venerable  and  sturdy 
forest  trees  to  the  earth — with  here  and  there 
one  remaining,  stripped  of  baik  ynd  branches 


— as  if  intended  for  monuments  to  their  per- 
ished fellows ; — what  munt  it  not  have  been 
when  the  howls  of  the  wild-beasts  went  forth 
in  the  solitary  depths  of  the  woods, — in  the 
deep  ravines  and,  mountain-passes  until  then 
unexplored  by  man?  The  cuuntry,  then, 
clothed  in  its  rich  spring  garb,  fragrant  with 
its  wild-flowers — musical  with  its  numerous 
streams — majestic  with  its  frowning  crags 
and  precipices; — in  its  general  range,  resem- 
bled the  green  ocean  "into  tempest  tossed," 
and  its  silence  vs^as  the  sleep  of  Nature,  when, 
like  a  raiser,  she  had  finished  burying  her 
treasures ! 

But  what  we  wished  to  convey  is,  that  the 
country,  at  this  period,  was  destitute  of  those 
conveniences  for  sustaining  life,  and  for  car- 
rying on  a  regular  business,  which  are  right- 
fully looked  for  by  the  laborer.  The  only 
mode  of  transporting  Coal  from  the  mine,  was 
by  common  wagons,  over  roads  at  all  seasons 
bad,  and  through  a  country  in  which,  from  its 
mountainous  character  and  wild  state,  the 
horse  was  enabled  to  accomplish  but  little,  ia 
comparison  with  what  could  be  done  in  a 
level  and  more  improved  country. 

But  notwithstanding  these  difficulties,  the 
work  was  still  pursued,  and  that  most  ajisidu- 
ously.  The  prices  commanded  by  Coal  af- 
forded but  a  scanty  pittance  to  the  laborers 
employed,  without  insuring  the  least  profit  to 
the  owner  of  the  lands.  Previously,  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  country  subsisted  entirely  by 
their  skill  in  hunting.  Every  species  of  game 
were  plenty,  and  the  skins  of  bears,  wolves, 
wild  cats,  foxes,  &c.,  as  well  as  the  quarter* 
of  deers,  and  birds,  were  eagerly  sought  in 
the  country  and  towns  adjacent.  The  hunt- 
ers, few  in  number,  lived  in  rude  cabins  far 
from  f)ach  other,  am\  there  was  scarcely  a  path 
in  the  early  history  of  the  country,  by  which 
the  steps  of  the  stranger  could  be  directed. — 
All  the  Coal  mined  anteriorly  to  1813,  was 
mostly  sold  to  blacksmiths  in  the  surroundiug 
country ; — for  to  haul  it  away  for  fuel,  while 
wood  was  still  plenty,  could  not  be  afforded, 
nor  justified  by  the  economist. 

Atihough  the  Schuylkill  Navigation,  as  pre- 
viously stated,  had  been  completed  in  1818, 
its  facilities  for  transporting  Coal  were  not  of 
such  character  as  to  warrant  the  mining  of  any 
considerable  quantity.  Having  been  thrown 
out  of  repair,  time  after  time,  by  freshets,  its 
use  could  by  no  means  be  relied  upon,  and 
thus,  from  lol8  to  1825,  the  trade,  if  it  may  be 
said  to  have  had  existence  at  all,  was  so  ex- 
tremely limited  and  uncertain  in  its  general  fea- 
tures and  prospects,  tiiat  liltlo  attention  was 
bestowed  upon  it.  The  whole  extent  of  the 
trade  of  the  y\nlliracitc  regions,  from  this  peri- 
od to  1S24,  did  not  exceed  forty  thousand  tons 
lu  1825,  (the  year  following,)  this  amounl 
was  nearly  doubled, — of  which  the  quantity 
sent  down  thv  Schuylkill  was  C,500  Ions ;  that 
of  the  Lehigh  28,100  tons,  aud  of  the  Susque- 
hanna no  accoiuit  liau  boon  kej)t. 

From  this  year,  theroforo,  the  existence  of 
the  Schuylkill  trade  may  be  dated—  that  o; 
the  Lehigh  having  commenced  five  years  pre 
viously 


Mining. — Speculating  Times. 


87 


The  introduction  of  railways  into  this  re- 
ion,  wiiich  occuired  in  1827,  is,  perhaps,  one 
of  tlie  most  important  epochs  in  its  liistory. — 
The  natural  arrangement  of  tlie  country  is  ad- 
mirably adajitnd  for  grading  and  laying  down 
railways,  and  it  was  on  this  account  that  thoir 
introduction  was  more  welcome.  The  Coal 
seams  crop  out  by  the  sides  of  the  mountains, 
and  the  vallics  between  them,  usually  afford- 
ing small  streams,  allow  sufficient  grade  to 
convey  the  loaded  cai-s  to  the  head  of  naviga- 
tion, by  gravity.  The  distinguished  credit  of 
tiaving  been  the  first  person  who  erected  a 
railway  in  our  region,  is,  we  believe,  assigned 
to  the  late  Abraham  Pott;  who  constructed 
one,  over  half  a  mile  in  length,  leading  from 
his  mines,  east  of  Port  Carbon,  to  the  naviga- 
tion at  that  place. 

Thoir  subsequent  introduction  into  drifts,  by 
which  the  cars  were  drawn  in  the  mines  by 
mules,  gave  a  new  impulse  to  the  business, 
and  greatly  added  to  the  capacity  of  each  op- 
erator. In  1826,  the  amount  shipped  was 
nearly  seventeen  thousand  tons,  and  in  1S27, 
it  was  over  thirty-one  thousand  tons.  In  1828, 
it  reached  forty-seven  thousand;  in  1829,  sev- 
enty-nino  thousand ;  18.30,  eiglity-nine  thous- 
and ;  and  in  1331,  eighty -one  tliousand  tons. 

During  this  period,  Coal  was  being  gene- 
rally used  in  .stoves,  in  the  more  populous 
towns;  and  after  the  grate  was  introdu- 
ced into  them,  whicii  was  accomplished 
more  or  less  successfully  between  the  years 
1827  and  1831,  the  trade  began  to  assume  an 
imjiosing  and  gigantic  attitude.  For  no  soon- 
er had  the  people  become  familiar  with  its 
peculiar  properties,  than  its  vast  future  impor- 
tance in  the  Arts  and  Manufactures  was  readily 
acknowledged. 

In  182C  and  '27,  large  accessions  had  been 
made  to  the  population  and  business  of  the  re- 
gion. The  Schuylkill  Navigation  had  been 
placed  in  excellent  repair,  and  interruptions 
in  its  navigation  were  no  longer  experienced. 
This  happy  state  of  affairs  continued  until  1829, 
when  a  momentary  pause  was  made  in  the 
trade, — but  it  was  a  pause  propltetic  only  of 
still  greater  triumphs — of  busilr  scenes — and 
of  more  active  life.  It  was  at  this  period  that 
scenes  of  excitement,  speculation,  and  daring 
entcrprizo  were  enacted,  which  surprised  and 
startled  our  good  old  Commonwealth  from  her 
Quaker  propriety  !  Capitalists  awoke,  as  if 
from  a  dream,  and  wondered  that  they  had 
never  before  realized  the  importance  of  the 
Anthracite  trade !  What  appeared  yesterday 
but  as  a  fly,  now  assumed  the  gigantic  pro- 
portions of  an  elephant !  The  capitalist  who, 
but  a  few  years  previously,  laughed  at  the 
infatuation  of  the  daring  pioneers  of  the  coal 
trade,  now  coolly  ransacked  his  papers,  and 
cyphered  out  his  available  means,  and  when- 
ever met  on  the  street,  his  hand  and  pockets 
would  be  filled  with  plans  of  towns — of  sur- 
veys of  Coal  lands,  and  calculations  and  speci- 
fications of  railways,  canals,  and  divers  other 
improvements,  until  now  unheard  of!  The 
land  which  yesterday  would  not  have  com- 
manded the  taxes  levied  upon  it,  was  now 
looked  upon  as  "dearer  than  Plutarch's  mine 


— richer  than  gold."  Sales  were  made  to  a 
large  amount,  and  in  an  incredible  short  space 
of  time,  it  is  estimated  that  upwards  oi  five 
miJlions  of  dollars  had  been  invested  in  lands 
in  the  Schuylkill  Coal  field  alone  !  Laborers 
and  mechanics  of  all  kinds,  and  from  all  quar- 
ters and  nations,  flocked  to  the  Coal  region, 
and  found  ready  and  constant  employment,  at 
the  most  exorbitant  wages.  Capitalists,  arm- 
in-arm  with  confidential  advisers,  civil  engi- 
neers, and  grave  scientific  gentlemen,  explored 
every  recess,  and  solemnly  contemplated  the 
present  and  future  value  and  importance 
of  each  particular  spot.  Houses  could  not  ba 
built  fast  enough,  for  where  nought  but  bushes 
and  rubbish  were  seen  one  day,  a  smiling  vil- 
lage would  be  discovered  on  the  morrow. — 
Enterprising  carpenters  in  Philadelphia,  and 
elsewhere  along  the  line  of  canal,  prepared 
the  timber,  ana  framed  the  bouse  complete, 
and  then  placing  the  material  on  board  a  Canal 
boat,  would  hasten  on  to  the  enchanted  spot 
to  dedicate  it  to  its  future  purposes.  Thus 
whole,  towns  were  arriving  in  the  return- 
ing Canal  boats, — and  as  "they  were  forced 
to  play  tho  owl,"  a  moon-light  night  was  a 
god-send  to  tho  impatient  proprietors — for  with 
the  dawning  of  tho  morning,  would  be  reflec- 
ted the  future  glory  of  the  new  town,  and  the 
restless  visages  of  scores  of  anxious  lessees. 
Routs  were  enormously  high  ; — a  frame  tene- 
ment that  had  cost  perhaps  three  hundred  dol- 
lars, if  eligibly  located,  would  command  at 
least  two  hundrod  dollars  per  annum. 

In  laying  out  a  town, and  while  the  proprietor 
was  descanting  fluently  on  its  prospects  and 
tho  great  dcstmy  which  awaited  it,  he  was 
asked  upon  what  torms  ho  would  dispose  of  a 
corner-lot,  upon  what  was  intended  to  be  the 
main  thoroughfare.  "  Five  thousand  dollars !" 
said  the  proprietor.  "  Why,  sir,"  meekly  re- 
plied the  person  in  quest  of  it,  "for  five  thous- 
and dollars  I  could  buy  a  lot,  equally  as  large, 
in  Philadelphia."  "  0,  my  dear  sir,"  said  the 
proprietor,  oxultingly,  "  you  must  not  pretend 
to  compare  Philadelphia,  in  a  business  point  of 
view,  with  this  place!  A  few  years,  sir,  will 
render  this  the  great  metropolis  of  trade, — and 
Philadelphia  will  be  nothing  |o  compare  with 
it!" 

— In  coune.xion  with  these  scenes,  we  may 
here  introduce  a  "Charcoal  Sketch"  from  the 
pen  of  the  late  Joseph  C.  Neal.  Ho  resided 
in  Pottsville  during  the  time  he  so  humorous- 
ly, yet  truthfully  describes,  and  no  doubt  was 
one  of  those  "graduates"  vvho  was  randered 
wiser  for  the 'experience  obtained  : 

We  perceive,  by  the  Miners'  Journal,  that 
Pottsville— the  El  Dorado  of  1829— has  not 
shared  the  fate  which  is  usually  allotted  to 
precocious  youngsters,  and  that  it  holds  a  very- 
respectable  rank  in  point  of  size  and  popula- 
tion. Well,  we  are  glad  of  it,  for  it  is  a  beau- 
tiful village,  and  situated  in  the  bosom  of  the 
most  romantic  country  of  which  Pennsylvania 
can  boast.  But  there  are  many  who  do  not 
recall  its  image  with  complacency,  nor  re- 
member its  crags  and  peaks  with  anything 
resembling  a  glow  of  satisfaction.  The  army 
of  youths  who  rushed  thero  in  1829  terminated 


28 


Review  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


thoir  expedition  io  a  retreat,  like  that  of  Na- 
poleon in  Moscow,  bringing  away  with  them 
nothing  but  glory,  and  as  much  experience  as 
that  amounts  to.  They  will,  however,  be 
wiser  men,  if  not  richer,  for  the  rest  of  their 
lives. 

In  the  memorable  year  to  which  we  allude, 
rumors  of  fortunes  made  at  a  blow,  and  com- 
petency secured  by  a  turn  of  the  fingers, 
come  whispering  down  the  Schuylkill  and 
penetrating  the  city.  The  ball  gathered 
strength  by  rolling — young  and  old  were 
smitten  with  the  desire  to  march  upon  the 
new  I'eru,  rout  the  aborigines,  andjSate  them- 
selves with  wealth.  They  had  merely  to  go, 
and  play  the  game  boldly,  to  secure  their  ut- 
most desire.  Rumor  declared  that  Pipkins 
was  worth  millions,  made  in  a  few  months, 
although  he  had  not  sixpence  to  begin  with, 
or  to  keep  grim  want  from  dancing  in  his 
pocket.  Fortune  kept  her  court  in  the  moun- 
tains of  Schuylkill  county,  and  all  who  jiaid 
their  respects  to  her  in  person,  found  her  as 
kind  as  their  wildest  hopes  could  imagine. 

The  Ridge-road  was  well  travelled.  Read- 
ing stared  te  see  the  lengthened  columns  of 
emigi'alion,  and  her  astonished  inhabitants 
looked  with  wonder  upon  the  groaning  stage- 
coaches, the  hundreds  of  horsemen,  and  the 
thousands  of  footmen,  who  streamed  through 
that  ancient  and  respectable  Borough,  and  as 
for  Ultima  Thule,  Orwigsburg,  it  has  not  re- 
covered from  its  fright  to  this  day ! 

Eight  miles  further  brought  the  army  to 
the  land  of  milk  and  honey,  and  then  the  sport 
began — the  town  was  far  from  large  enough 
to  accommodate  the  new  accessions ;  but 
they  did  not  come  for  comfort, — they  did  not 
come  to  stay.  They  were  to  be  among  the 
mountains,  like  Sinbad  in  the  valley  of  dia- 
monds, just  long  enough  to  transform  them- 
selves from  the  likeness  of  Peter  the  Money- 
less into  that  of  a  Millionaire  ;  and  then  they 
intended  to  wing  their  flight  to  the  perfumed 
saloons  of  metropolitan  wealth  and  fashion. — 
What  though  they  slept  in  layers  on  the  sand- 
ed floors  of  Troutman's  and  Shoemaker's  bar 
rooms,  and  learn^  to  regard  it  as  a  favor  that 
they  were  allowed  the  accomodation  of  a 
roof  by  paying  roundly  for  it,  a  few  months 
would  pass,  and  then  Aladdin,  with  the  Gen- 
ius of  the  Lamp,  could  not  raise  a  palace  or  a 
banquet  with  more  speed  than  they ! 

One  branch  of  the  adventurers  betook  them- 
eelves  to  land  speculations,  and  another  to  the 
slower  process  of  mining.  With  the  first, 
mountains,  rocks,  and  valleys  changed  hands 
with  astonishing  rapidity.  That  which  was 
worth  only  hundreds  in  the  morning,  sold  for 
thousands  in  the  evening,  and  would  command 
tens  of  thousands  by  sunrise — in  paper  money 
of  that  description  known  among  the  facetious 
as  slow  notes.  Days  and  nights  were  consu- 
med in  surveys  and  chaffering.  There  was 
not  a  man  who  did  not  speak  like  a  Crcusus — 
even  your  ragged  rascal  could  talk  of  his  hun- 
dreds of  thousands. 

The  tracts  of  land,  ui  passing  through  so 
many  hands,  became  subdivided,  and  that 
brought  on  another  act  in  the  drama  of  specu- 


lation :  the  manufacture  of  towns,  and  the 
selling  of  town  lots.  Every  speculator  had 
hia  town  laid  out,  and  many  of  them  had 
scores  of  towns.  They  were,  to  be  sure,  lo- 
cated in  the  pathless  forests ;  but  the  future 
Broadways  and  Pall  Malls  were  marked  upon 
the  trees ;  and  it  was  anticipated  that  the  time 
was  not  far  distant  when  the  deers,  bears  and 
wild-cats  would  be  obliged  to  give  place,  and 
take  the  gutter  side  of  the  belles  and  beaux 
of  the  new  cities.  How  beautifully  the  towns 
yet  unborn  looked  upon  paper ! — the  embryo 
squares,  flaunting  in  pink  and  yellow,  like  a 
tulip  show  at  Amsterdam ;  and  the  broad 
streets  intersecting  each  other  at  right  angles, 
in  imitation  of  the  common  parent,  Philadel- 
phia. The  skill  of  the  artist  was  exerted  to 
render  them  attractive ;  and  the  more  german 
text,  and  the  more  pink  and  yellow,  the  more 
valuable  became  the  town  !  The  value  of  a 
lot,  bedaubed  with  vermillion,  was  incalcala- 
ble,  and  even  a  sky  parlor  location,  one  edge 
of  which  rested  upon  the  side  of  a  perpen- 
dicular mountain,  the  lot  lunning  back  into 
the  air  a  hundred  feet  or  so  from  the  level  of 
the  earth,  by  the  aid  of  the  paint  box,  was  no 
despicable  bargain :  and  the  corners  of  Ches- 
nut  and  Chatham  streets,  in  the  town  of  Cale- 
donia, situated  in  the  centre  of  an  almost  im- 
pervious laurel  swamp,  brought  a  high  price 
in  market,  for  it  was  illustrated  by  a  patch  of 
yellow  ochre! 

The  bar-rooms  were  hung  round  with  these 
brilliant  fancy  sketches  ;  every  man  had  a  roll 
of  incheate  towns  in  the  side-pocket  of  his 
fustian  jacket.  The  most  populous  country 
in  the  world  is  not  so  thickly  studded  with 
settlements  as  the  Coal  Region  was  to  be  ;  but 
they  remain,  unluckily,  in  ttatu  quo  auti  hel- 
ium. 

At  some  points  a  few  buildings  were  erect- 
ed to  give  an  appearance  of  realizing  promises. 
There  was  one  town  with  a  fine  name,  which 
had  a  great  barn  of  a  frame  hotel.  The  build- 
ing was  let  for  nothing ;  but  after  a  trial  of  a 
few  weeks,  customers  were  so  scarce  at  the 
Red  Cow,  that«the  tenant  swore  roundly  he 
must  have  it  on  better  terms,  or  ho  would  give 
up  the  lease. 

Tho  other  branch  of  our  adventurers  bent 
thoir  attention  to  mining ;  and  they  could  show 
you,  by  the  aid  of  a  pencil  and  piece  of  paper, 
the  manner  in  which  they  must  make  for- 
tunes, one  and  all,  in  a  given  space  of  time — 
expenses,  so  much  ;  transportation,  so  much ; 
will  sell  for  so  much :  leaving  a  clear  profit 

of !     There   v/as  no  mistake   about  the 

matter.  To  it  they  went ;  boring  the  moun- 
tains, swamping  their  money  and  themselves. 
The  hills  swarmed  with  them ;  they  clustered 
like  bees  about  a  hive ;  but  not  a  hope  was 
realized.  Calculations,  like  towns,  are  one 
thing  on  paper,  and  quite  another  when 
brought  to  the  test. 

At  last  tho  members  of  the  expedition  began 
to  look  haggard  and  careworn.  The  justices 
done  a  fine  business;  and  Natty  M — s.  Blue 
Breeches,  Pewter- Legs,  and  other  worthies  of 
the  catchpole  profession,  toiled  at  their  voca- 
tion with  ceaseless  activity.     When  the  gam© 


Mining.— ^^  Char  coal  Skefches'  by  Nml. 


29 


could  not  be  run  down  at  view,  it  was  taken 
by  ambuscado.  Several  bold  navif^ators  ciis- 
covered  tliat  the  cnuuty  had  accotiiiHodations 
at  Orwigsbuig*  for  gentlemen  in  trouble. 
Capiases,  securities,  and  bail.|)icces  became 
as  familiar  as  your  garter.  The  jilay  was 
over,  and  the  farce  of  "  The  Dicil  to  Pu'j" 
was  the  aiter-piece.  There  was  but  one  step 
from  the  sublime  to  the  ridiculous,  and  Potts- 
ville  saw  it  taken  ! 

Gay  gallants,  who  had  but  a  few  months 
before  rolled  up  the  turnpike,  swelling  with 
hope,  and  flushed  with  expectation,  now  be- 
took themselves,  in  the  grey  of  the  morn,  and 
then  the  haze  of  the  evening,  with  bundle  on 
back — the  wardroli©  of  the  Honorable  Dick 
Dowles  lied  up  in  a  little  blue  and  white  pocket 
handkeix^hief — to  the  tow-path,  making,  in 
court  phrase,  "  mortal  escapes"  ;  and,  in  the 
end,  a  general  rush  was  effected — the  army 
was  disbanded — suavi  qui  pent, '?" 

— The  Minor's  Journal,  in  copying  the 
above  into  its  columns,  prefaced  it  with  some 
remarks,  which  had  the  effect  of  calling  out 
the  following  from  the  same  writer: 

There  are  veterans,  yet  surviving,  who  par- 
ticipated in  the  chase  of  speculation,  and  found 
themselves  "done  up"  before  the  game  was 
run  down.  They  remember  their  day-dreams 
— more  vain  and  fantastic  than  any  ever  enter- 
tained by  Murad,  the  Unlucky — and  recall 
them,  at  their  leisure  moments,  to  "use  for 
their  mirth,  yea,  for  their  laughter."  It  is 
true  they  have  not  broad  acres  of  Coal  land, 
drifted  and  tunnelled ;  they  have  no  towns  or 
cities — unless  they  choose  to  scribble  them 
on  foolscap ;  nor  did  they  return  from  the  hills 
laden  with  the  golden  fleece :  but  tljey  are 
tolerably  rich  in  experience,  and  nave  learned 
to  treat  disappointment  as  it  should  be  treated 
— laugh  at  it,  and  deeply  con  the  lesson  which 
it  ofiers.  The  Pottsville  lesson,  too,  is  the 
best  afforded  by  modern  times :  and  those 
who  took  their  degrees  in  that  College,  may 
justly  boast  of  being  well  instructed  in  all  the 
branches  which  it  professed  to  teach.  Men 
may  forget'  their  classic  lore — their  mathe- 
matics may  ooze  away  ;  but  pecuniary  expe- 
rience— well  whipped  in — leaves  impressions 
not  easily  obliterated  ;  and  the  pupils  of  the 
Coal  Region  University  can  assert,  without 
fear  of  contradiction,  that  their  alma  mater 
did  not  "  gpare  the  rod  and  spoil  the  child !" 
They  "  got  it"  roundly,  and  perhaps  deserved 
what  they  got. 

The  days  of  that  schooling  were  pleasant 
days,  after  all,  to  some  constitutions.  Many 
hands  make  light  work  both  of  pleasure  and 
pain,  and  fellowship  robs  misfortune  of  its 
Bting — perhaps  more  effectually  than  it  in- 
creases our  gratifications.  At  first,  the  excite- 
ment of  pursuing  wealth,  was  suflScient  to 
render  the  Coal  Region  a  merry  place — when 
men  had  time  to  be  merry.  They  were  hap- 
py, if  they  had  not  leisure  to  show  it ;  and  the 
contracted  brow  and  firm-set  mouth  of  the 


*  At  this  period  (1629-'30)  the  statute  recently  re- 
pealed, relating  to  impriaonnients  for  debt,  was  ia  full 
forfce— [Editor 


speculator,  as  he  bestrode  through  the  mud, 
betokened  as  much  inward  delioht  as  ever 
was  typified  by  the  brnnd  fjiin  of  the  nnthink- 
iuf,'  African.  And  aftt-rwurds,  when  fair  fis- 
triies  and  lordly  wealth  melted  from  the  hand 
like  a,  grasped  .'^iiow-ball — why,  there  were 
plenty  more  with  fingers  as  wet,  |ialms  as 
chilled,  and  faces  us  rueful.  It  was  the  fash- 
ion, and  all  men  laughed — each  at  Ills  neigh- 
bor. The  great  niajorily  were  youn^'  men,, 
just  ste[>ping  upon  the  stage  of  active  lil'o — 
full  of  energy  and  spirit,  ;iiid  proof  against 
care-bounding  hearts,  that  ditl  not  ask  inspi- 
ration from  the  pocket,  and  sunk  not,  even: 
when  dunned  by  importunate  creditm-*. 

Many  were  iIk;  pranks  played  off,  to  the- 
annoyance  of  the  more  sober-minded.  Mtoek- 
iluels  were  got  up  in  several  instances,  to  ridi 
the  town  of  individuals  who  were  disliked^ 
In  two  cases,  men  fled  the  place,  firmly  im- 
pressed with  the  belief  that  tbey  had  slain 
their  opponents,  and  though  undeceived,  never 
returned  :  an  imjustifiable  species  of  trickery, 
however,  which  once  liad  a  melancholy  ter- 
mination, as  every  resident  of  the  Coal  Regioa. 
at  the  time,  and  many  in  Philadelphia,  will' 
remember.  The  town  authorities,  in«endea- 
voring  to  preserve  proper  decorum,  fell  in  for 
their  share  of  annoyance,  and  one  of  them 
as.serled,  positively,  that  an  attempt  had  been, 
made  by  the  youth  of  the  place  (while  firing 
out  the  old  year,  before  his  door,  with  a, 
swivel,)  to  assassinate  him  and  his  family. 
Ho  even  went  so  far  as  to  produce  a  large 
stone  to  a  magistrate,  which  be  solemnly 
declared  had  been  fired  from  the  aforesaidi 
piece  of  ordnance  into  his  bed-chamber;  but, 
unluckily,  on  trial,  it  was  discovered  that  the 
missile  was  several  inches  larger  than  the  cal- 
ibre of  the  piece ;  and  it  was  therefore  gravely 
decided  by  his  honor,  the  justice,  that,  if  the 
stone  never  went  in,  it  was  useless  to  argue 
that  it  had  ever  been  fired  out !  The  ca^e 
was,  therefore,  dismissed;  but  we  have  no 
doubt  that  the  worthy  dignitary  yet  believes 
that  his  version  of  the  "gun-powder  plot"  is 
the  true  one. 

But  in  these  days  of  scribbling,  there  will, 
of  course,  be  published  a  volume,  or  more,  of 
Sketches — descriptive,  personal,  and  statisti- 
cal— of  tha  Coal  Regioa  as  it  is,  and  as  it  was ; 
and  it  is  therefore  invidious  to  touch  further 
on  the  ground.  The  field  is  left  open  to  the 
adventurous  wight  who  will  undertake  th» 
task  ;  and  if  possessed  of  the  proper  reqiusites, 
ho  will  doubtless  find  it  more  profitable  than 
boring  holes  in  rocky  mountains  proved  to  be 
some  years  ago." 

— "Alas!  PoorYorrick!  He  was  a  fellow 
of  infinite  jest-^-excellent  good  humor."  "Af- 
ter life's  fitful  fever,  he  sleeps  well !  Peace 
to  his  ashes?" 

"  The  days  of  speculation,  however,  were 
not  terminated  in  '29 ;  and  a  few  words  more 
remain  to  be  said  concerning  them.  Many 
persons  who  had  purchased  lands,  moved  here 
with  their  families,  designing  to  take  up  their 
permanent  abode  in  the  Region,  and  pursue 
the  mining  business  regularly,  as  they  would 
farming,  or  any  other  calling.    But  in  a  ma- 


^0 


lieview  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


jority  of  cases,  the  lands  were  purchased  in 
large  tracts,  by  companies  formed  for  the  pur- 

fjose,  and  these,  as  well  as  many  tracts  held 
ly  single  individuals,  were  leased  out  to  tea- 
ants.  These  joint-stock  companies,  or  those 
composed  of  citizens  of  other  States,  obtained 
charters  for  the  mining  of  Coal  from  the 
Legislatures  of  their'  respective  States,  and 
thus  evaded  the  statutes  of  mortmain  in  force 
here, — and  the  lands  owned  •  by  them  were 
held  by  deeds  of  trust,  ani^l  were  thus  used 
and  occupied.  But  no  sooner  were  com- 
panies chartered  by  the  Legislature  of  this 
State,  than  a  general  law  was  passed  escheat- 
ing the  lands  of  companies  formed  under 
charters  not  granted  by  this  State,  and  held 
without  its  license  and  consent.  This  was 
done  in  1833,  when  the  trade  had  partially  re- 
covered from  the  speculations  of  the  previous 
years. 

It  was  under  such  circumstances  as  these  that 
a  vast  amount  of  capital  had  been  expended  in 
the  Region,  not  only  in  tho  improvement  of 
the  lands,  and  the  facilities  for  mining  coal ; 
— but  in  the  construction  of  railways,  and  sim- 
ilar improvements,  of  the  most  stupendous 
character. 

The  town  of  Potts  villo,  which  wa.9  then  as 
now,  tho  great  focus  of  business  and  enter- 
prize,  sprung  from  a  small  village  into  a  town 
of  largo  pretensions,  in  a  very  short  time. — 
Its  population  trebled  annually,  while  tho 
number  of  strangers  continually  arriving  and 
departing,  nearly  equalled  the  number  of  its 
regular  citizens.  Tho  hotels  wore  not  only 
crowded,  but  in  fact,  wore  literally  filled 
in  every  part.  An  individual  who  was  for- 
tunate enough  to  possess  a  bed,  enjoyed  a 
kingly  luxury.  "Tired  nature's  sweet  restor- 
er" was,  frequently,  only  to  be  sought  on  the 
sanded  iloor  of  the  bar-room  ;  and  hero  the 
lively  imagination  of  Neal,  and  Xha  bi'oad 
humor  of  Wallace,  were  lulled  into  dreams 
— perhaps,  not  all  dreams  ! — For  lying  thus 
one  summer's  night,  sweating  in  the  close 
air,  and  endeavoring  to  keep  at  bay  llie 
common  enemy, — musquitoes  and  fleas, — Mr. 
N.  stzetched  his  limbs,  and  groaned:  "Jim! 
— I  say,  Jim:  let's  get  up  ajkZ  rest  awhile '.^^ 
In  contemplating  these  times,  though  wo 
cannot  but  laugh  at  tho  ludicrous  scenes  they 
present,  all  will  admit  that  they  were  the  in- 
direct and  direct  means  of  accomplishing  in- 
calculable benefit  to  the  whole  country.  Nor 
was  it  possible,  under  the  circumstances,  to 
restrain  the  fever  of  speculation.  The  real  val- 
ue and  resources  of  the  lands  were  compara- 
tively unknown,  and  in  the  handsof  those  who 
had  no  intention  of  "piercing  the  bowels  of 
the  earth,  and  bringing  forth  irom  the  caverns 
of  mountains  treasures  which  shall  give 
strength  to  our  hands,  and  subject  all  Nature 
to  our  use  and  pleasure," — a  fectitious  value 
could  not  but  be  placed  upon  them.  Calcula- 
tions wore  cunningly  made  of  the  number  of 
square  yards  of  Coal  in  an  acre,  and  tho 
quantity  each  acre  was  capable  of  yielding — 
without  considering  the  labor  and  expen.so 
necessary  to  mine  it,  or  without  knowing  in 
fact,  that  it  contained  Coal  at  all,-r:a»d  exhib- 


iting such  calculations,  in  glaring  and  bonajide 
figures,  to  the  bewildered  capitalists,  land 
would  sell  for  one  hundred  dollars  au  acre  to- 
day ;  to-morrow  for  three  hundred,  and  theji 
for  five  hundred  dollars.  And  when,  at  last, 
the  tracts  were  cut  up  into  small  parcels,  to 
suit  the  means  of  the  purchaser,  they  would 
presently  be  esteemed  as  beautiful  locations 
for  towns,  alid  straightway  plans  were  laid 
out  on  paper,  elegantly  printed  and  colored, — 
and,  finally,  tho  whole  would  wind  up  with  a 
sale  of  "valuable  town-lots" — lying,  perhaps, 
in  the  heart  of  a  swamp,  a  forest,  or  upon  the 
brow  of  a  mountain.  This  last  operation, 
would  frequently  prove  the  "noblest  Roman  of 
them  all;"  for  although  tho  purchaser  might 
have  paid  five  hundred  dollars  per  acre  for  the 
whole  plot,  he  would  realize  the  whole  of  that 
sum  on  a  single  "corner-lot,"  and  if  he  would 
make  five  or  six  hundred  lots,  there  would  be 
no  such  thing  as  estimating  his  profits  ! 

People  were  so  excited  that  nothing  could 
astonish  them.  New  "discoveries"  of  valua- 
ble minerals  were  made  daily.  Copper,  lead, 
iron-ore,  gold,  and  silver  were  by  some  of  tho 
"victims,"  believed  to«bound  in  the  Region. 
A  well-known  gentleman  of  J'hiladelphia,  and 
whose  judgement  is  deemed  an  fait  in  all 
matters  of  Chemistry,  visited  here  in  '.30,  and 
before  setting  out  ho  placed  in  his  coat-pocket 
a  large  piece  of  native  silver.  Upon  his  arri 
val  he,  he  handed  over  the  "massive  wedge" 
to  a  friend,  who,  under  the  pretence  of  view- 
ing his  landed  possessions,  and  making  still 
further  explorations,  left  the  hotel  in  the  morn- 
ing. In  the  evening,  apparently  fatigued  willi 
his  "labors,"  he  returned  to  the  hotel,  and 
while  othej^  were  discussing  the  "discover- 
ies" of  the  flay,  ho  cooly  observed  that  he 
would  not  exchange  his  successes  for  all  the 
coal-lands  in  Christendom  !  "7,  gentlemen," 
said  ho,  assuming  a  very  deliberate  manner, 
and  a  somewhat  "mysterious"  countenance; 
"I  have  discovered  one  of  the  most  valuable 
bodies  of  Silver  in  tho  world .'  And  here,  to 
convince  you  of  its  quality,  I  have  brought 
along  a  small  specimen,  which  I  picked  up  in- 
discriminately among  a  wagon-load  of  them," 
and  the  speaker  proceeded  to  exhibit  the  "spec- 
imen," coarsely  wrapped  up  in  his  handker- 
chief. 

"My  God!  sir,"— said  the  landlord,  in  great 
asUniishment, — "is  it  possible — why,  just  feel- 
how  heavy  it  is!"  The  lucky  "discoverer" 
was  now  surrounded  by  the  group,  and  Ihnn- 
were  some  so  incredulous  that,  nowithstand 
ing  its  weight  and  "silvery  cast,"  they  were  not 
satisfied  that  it  was  roally  silver.  It  was  there 
fore  concluded  to  wait  upon  Mr.  W.  who  at 
the  moment  happened  to  be  absent.  Giving 
the  "specimen"  to  one  of  the  party,  with  rlin 
understanding  of  "mum,"  Mr.  W.  was  called 
in.  That  gentleman  calmly  drew  on  his  spec 
tacles — looked  at  it — felt  it — turned  it  over. 
"Why,  where  did  this  come  from  ?"  said  he. 
musingly.  "This  is  silver — pure  silver !  I 
declare,  it  is  ths  richest  specimen  of  silver  I 
ever  saw ; — whore  did  it  come  from,  eh  ?" 

The  "discoverer"  intimated  that  tliere  wa» 
"some  more  of  the  same  sort  left"  in  the  im- 
mediate neigliliorlioud,  but  as  for   the   e.^^w  i 


Mining. — Speculating  Times,  ^c. 


31 


oeality,  not  being  the  owner  of  tlie  lands,  it 
could  not,  of  course,  be  expected  tlmt  ho 
should  openly  disclose  the  fact  until  ho  could 
secure  them. 

"  But  can  you  find  the  place  again  ? — did 
you  leave  no  mark  ?" 

"  O  yes ! — certainly — to  be  sure  I  I  piled 
up  several  stones,  and  notched  several  trees 
hard  by." 

The  next  day  nothing  was  talked  of  but 
silver  mines,  and  long  before  daybreak  the 
excited  landlord,  moved  with  the  laudable 
impulse  of  securing  the  lands — of  "  plowing 
deep  while  sluggards  sleep,  forsook  his  pil- 
low and  ventured  out  boldly  into  "  the  rheumy 
and  unwholesome  air."  He  was  missed  at 
the  breakfast  table — do.  at  dinner.  A  driz- 
zling rain  had  rendered  the  day  extremely 
dull,  and  as  few  went  out  in  pursuit  of  their 
affairs,  the  hotel  was  crowded.  At  last  the 
corpulent  form  of  the  landlord,  his  clothes 
mudded  and  thoroughly  saturated  from  the 
"  crown  of  his  hat  to  the  tip  of  his  toe,"  was 
perceived  descending  the  hill,  and  gliding 
cautiously  into  the  back  yard.  The  joke  soon 
reached  the  "  vulgar  ear ;"  afid  the  worthy 
host  was  more  than  once  questioned  in  mat- 
ters relating  to  silver  mines — and  especially 
as  regarded  "  filed  stones  and  7wlched  trees  .'" 

We  shall  dismiss  this  subject  with  a  single 
remark.  The  speculating  mania  had  involved 
hundreds  of  persons  unto  utter  ruin;  and  there 
were  few  persons  of  fortune  who  now  ven- 
tured, voluntarily  and  alone,  into  the  mining 
business.  Companies  were  formed,  not  only 
for  the  purchase  of  the  lauds,  but  also  for  con- 
ducting mining  operations  upon  them ;  and  it 
was  thus  hoped,  that  by  concentrating  the 
lands  and  business  of  the  region  into  the  hands 
of  a  few,  whose  combined  capital  and  influ- 
ence could  silence  individual  competition, 
that  the  trade  could  be  made  obedient  to  their 
wild  schemes.  Coal  had  already  been  uni- 
versally adopted ;  and  by  withholding  supplies 
when  they  were  absolutely  needed,  it  was 
thought  ihat  it  could  be  made  to  command 
from  eight  to  twelve  dollars  a  ton ;  and  then, 
the  price  being  thus  established,  another 
series  of  "  calculations"  of  the  value  of  each 
particular  aci'e  of  Coal  laud,  and  fresh  ground 
for  speculations,  would  bo  laid  open.  Advo- 
cates for  Coal  companies  were  consequently 
not  lacking,  and  many  were  chartered  by  the 
Legislature.  But  the  practical  experience  of 
those  interested  in  the  trade,  soon  awakened 
d  powerful  opposition  to  them,  and  this  feel- 
ing has  existed  from  very  nearly  the  com- 
iiR'ucement  of  the  trade  until  the  present 
lime.  It  was  esp  ecially  active  from  1S31  to 
J  839,  during  which  the  trade  had  thrice 
fallen  of}',  in  the  gross  amount  of  the  annual 
product,  from  the  years  respectively  pre- 
ceding ;  and  during  the  whole  of  which  period, 
the  influence  of  the  Miners'  Journal — the  ac- 
credited organ  of  the  trade  from  its  com- 
inencement  in  13-5 — was  directly  arrayed 
against  them.  The  country,  through  such  aid, 
Was  happily  saved  from  the  calamities  which 
threatened  the  trade,  and  which  did  much, 
dilring  this  period,  to  retard  its  annual  growth. 


Nothing  worthy  of  Bi)eclal  notice  occurred 
in  the  progress  of  the  Anlhracilo  tradt^  until 
l838-'39,  and  1340.  It  was  dining  this  pe- 
riod, that  the  attention  of  intelligent  and  en- 
terprising citizens  was  called  to  the  practica- 
bility of  using  Anthracite  Coal  for  the  smelt- 
ing of  iron  ore.  Dr.  Gcisenheimer,  of  New- 
York,  had,  in  the  latter  part  of  f8r38,  and  be- 
fore similar  results  had  beon  obtained,  or  at 
least  promulgated  in  Europe,  secured  a  pat- 
ent for  smelting  iron  with  anthracite  and  hot 
blast;  but  Mr.  Crane  having,  about  this  time, 
succeeded  in  a  series  of  experiments  in  Wales, 
having  in  view  the  same  object,  is  understood 
to  have  purchased  the  claims  of  Dr.  W., 
which  were  as  follows: — First:  In  the  ap- 
plication of  Anthracite  Coal,  exclusively  or  in 
part,  for  deoxidating  and  carbonating  iron 
ore.  Second :  The  application  of  Anthracite 
Coal,  exclusively  or  in  part,  in  combining  iron 
in  a  metallic  state,  with  a  greater  quantity  of 
carbon;  if  bar-iron,  for  steel ;  if  pig  or  cast- 
iron,  for  a  superior  quality,  &c.  Third:  The 
smelting  or  reducing  of  iron  ore,  so  deoxidated 
and  carbonated  by  the  application  of  Anthra- 
cite Goal  as  aforesaid,  into  pig  or  cast  iron. 
Fourth:  The  refining  or  converting  of  iron 
ore,  so  deoxidated  or  carbonated  by  the  ap- 
plication of  Anthracite  Coal,  as  aforesaid, 
into  malleable  or  bar  iron.  Fifth:  The  ap- 
plication of  Anthracite  Coal  as  a  fuel,  m 
smelting  or  reducing  iron  ore  raw  or  roasted, 
but  not  prepared  by  a  separate  process  of 
deoxidation  and  carbonation  as  above  de- 
scribed, into  pig  or  cast  iron.  Sixth:  Though 
not  claiming  an  exclusive  right  of  the  use  of 
heated  air  for  any  kind  of  fuel,  nevertheless 
he  claimed  the  use  of  heated  air,  applied 
upon  and  in  connexion  with  the  said  princi- 
ple and  method  discovered  by  him  to  smelt 
iron  ore  in  blast  furnaces,  with  Anthracite 
Coal,  by  applying  a  blast  of  air  in  such  quan- 
tity, velocity  and  density,  or  under  such  pres- 
sure, as  the  compactness  or  density,  and  the 
continuity  of  the  Anthracite  Coal  requires,  as 
above  described,  &c. 

As  soon  as  this  transfer  was  effected,  Mr. 
Crane  obtained  a  patent  in  this  country,  which 
differed  slightly  from  Dr.  W.'s.  But  it  was 
several  months  anterior  to  the  dates  of  botli 
these  pateftts  that  a  furnace  had  been  blown 
in  at  Mauch  Chunk,  which  used  anthracite  as 
the  fuel,  and  this  enterprise  was  followed,  in 
a  short  time  after,  by  a  more  extensive  and 
successful  one  at  Pottsville.  In  conse(|uence 
of  this,  and  in  view  of  the  certainty  of  litiga- 
tion, Mr.  Crane  never  insisted  upon  an  observ- 
ance of  his  claims  by  priority  of  discovery, 
but,  as  we  are  informed,  published  a  card, 
formally  renouncing  them. 

Experiments  for  using  Anthracite  Coal  in 
blast  furnaces,  had  been  made  at  Mauch 
Chunk  in  1820,  by  the  Lehigh  Coal  Company ; 
and  up  to  the  poriod  of  Mr.  Crane's  method, 
vast  sums  of  money  had  been  expended,  from 
lime  to  time,  in  different  parts  of  Europe,  to 
e fleet  the  same  object;— but  every  attempt 
proved  unsuccessful.  The  living  had  been 
almost  entirely  abandoned  as  impracticable, 
when   the  great   bucret  seems  to  have  beer. 


32 


lievicw  of  thn  Coal  HegkmH. 


inipjirted  sifniiltiineously  in  Europe  and  Amer- 
io;a; — for  wliile  Mr.  Crane  wms  rejoicing  over 
his  triumplis  in  Wales,  tlirco  outeriirisiiif^  gen- 
tlemen ol"  Heading  were  repairing  and  blowing 
in  their  I'urnace  at  Mauch  Chunk — mni  if  not 
the  very  one  previously  abandoned,  it  was  the 
ground,  at  least,  which  had  sustained  a  defeat! 
iFnnn  a  letter  by  Mr.  Lowthrop,  dated  at 
IBeaver  Meadows,  to  Prof.  Walter  R.  Johnson, 
irtfirhiladclphia,  we  gather  the  following  in- 
teresting particulars  concerning  this  first  ap- 
;plication  of  Anthracite  Coal  for  smelting  pur- 
iposes:  The  experiments,  says  Mr.  L.,  were 
irnado  by  Messrs.  Joseph  Baughrnan,  Julius 
iCJniteau  and  Henry  High,  of  Heading,  in  an 
i«ild  furnace  which  was  temixirarily  titled  up 
ifor  the  XJurpose.  They  used  about  eight  per 
■  cent,  of  Anthracite,  and  the  rosidt  was  such 
as  to  surprise  those  who  witnessed  it,  (  for  it 
was  considered  as  an  impossibility,  even  by 
iron  masters;  and  amply  sufficient  to  encour- 
age those  engaged  in  it,  to  go  on.  In  order, 
therefore,  to  test  the  matter  more  thoroughly, 
they  built  a  furnace  on  a  small  scale,  near  the 
Mauch  Chunk  Weigh-Lock,  which  was  com- 
pleted during  the  month  of  July,  1839.  The 
dimensiiins,  &c.,  were  as  follows  :  Stack,  21^ 
feet  high,  22  feet  square  at  the  base.  Boshes, 
54  feet  across.  Hearth,  14  by  16  inches  in 
the  square,  and  4  feet  by  9  inches  from  the 
dam  stone  to  the  back.  The  blowing  appar- 
atus consisted  of  2  cylinders,  each  (i  feet  di- 
ameter; a  receiver,  same  diameter,  and  about 
24  feet  deep  ;  stroke,  11  inches; — each  jiiston 
unaking  from  12  to  Ifj  strokes  per  minute. — 
An  overshot  water-wheel,  diameter  14  feet ; 
length  of  bucket,  3.^  feet;  number  of  buckets, 
36  ;  revolutions  per  minute,  from  12  to 'IS. 

The  blast  was  applied  August  27  th,  and  the 
furnace  kept  in  blast  until  September  10th, 
nirhen  they  were  obliged  to  stop  in  consequence 
of  the  apparatus  for  heating  the  blast  proving 
to  be  too  temporary.  Several  tons  of  iron 
were  produced  of  Nos.  2  and  3  quality.  Tem- 
perature of  the  blast  did  not  exce(;d  200° 
Fahrenheit — the  proportion  of  Anthracite  used 
not  remembered. 

A  now  and  good  apparatus  for  heating  the 
blast  was  next  procured,  (at  which  time  Mr. 
Lowthrop  became  personally  interested  in  the 
works,)  consisting  of  200  feet  in  length,  of 
cast  iron  pipes,  1j^  inehes  thick;  it  was  placed 
in  a  brick  chamber,  at  the  tunnel  head,  and 
heated  by  a  flame  issuing  thence. 

The  blast  was  again  applied  about  the  last 
of  November,  1C33,  and  the  furnace  worked 
rennarkably  well  for  five  weeks,  exclusively 
with  Antlnracite  Coal ;  they  were  then  obliged, 
for  want  of  ore,  to  blow  out  on  the  12th  of 
January,  1839.  During  this  experiment,  says 
Mr.  L.,  our  doors  were  open  to  the  public, 
and  we  were  watched  very  closely  both  night 
and  day — for  men  coidd  hardly  believe  what 
they  saw  with  their  own  eyes,  so  incredulous 
was  the  public  in  regard  to  the  matter  at  that 
time.  Some  iron  masters  expressed  them- 
selves astonished,  that  a  furnaca  could  loork 
whilst  using  unburnt,  unwashed,  frozen  ore, 
such  as  was  put  into  our  furnace.  The  amount 
of  iron  produced,  was  about  1^  tons  per  day, 


I 


when  working  best,  of  Nos.  1,  2,  and  3  quali- 
ty— the  tem[)eialme  of  the  blast  being  still 
about  400"  Fahreidieit. 

The  Ibllowiug  season  the  hearth  was  enlar-  ■ 
ged  to  19  by  21  inches,  anil  .5  feet  3  inches  I 
from  the  dam  stone  to  the  back  of  hearth  ;  and 
on  .Inly  26th,  the  furnace  was  again  put  in 
bl.i^t,  and  continued  in  blast  until  November, 
ICIO, — a  few  days  after  the  dissolution  of  the 
firm,  when  it  was  blown  out  in  good  order. — 
For  about  three  months  no  •other  kind  than 
Anthracite  was  used,  and  the  product  was 
about  100  tons  of  iron,  good  Nos.  I,  2  and  3 
quality.  When  working  best,  the  furnace 
produced  about  two  tons  per  day.  Temper- 
ature of  the  blast  was  from  400  to  6«0°  Fah- 
reidieit. 

The  following  ores  were  used  :  "I'ipo"  ore, 
from  Miller's  mine,  near  Allentown  ;  brown 
hematite,  commonly  called  tnji  mine,  or  iron- 
face  ore  ;  "rock"  ore.  from  Dickerson's  mine 
in  New  Jersey;  and  "Williams  township" 
ore,  in  Northampton  county.  Tiie  last  men- 
tioned ore  produced  a  very  strong  iron,  and 
when  it  is  considered  that  these  experiments 
were  conducted  under  circumstances  wholly 
xmfavorable,  and  that  the  furnace  and  machi- 
nery were  thoroughly  defective, — the  results 
obtained  may  be  viewed  as  being  in  the  high- 
est degree  satisfactory. 

In  December,  1839,  this  furnace  was  blown 
out,  the  work  discontinued,  and  the  firm  dis-  : 
solved.  The  furnace  at  Bott^sville  having,  at  ' 
this  time,  been  in  operation,  and  its  perform- 
ances having  been  decidedly  superior,  the 
credit  of  first  successfully  introducing  Anthra- 
cite Coal  for  smelting  purposes  has  been  very 
justly  claimed  by  the  citizens  of  that  place. 
For  although  the  furnace  at  Mauch  Chunk 
had  overcome  many  difficulties,  its  abandon- 
ment 80  soon,  was  by  many  regarded  as  prima, 
facia  evidence  of  a  failure; — while  the  other 
has  continued  in  operation,  with  short  inter- 
vals, to  the  present  time. 

The  Pottsville  furnace  was  completed,  and 
put  in  blast,  on  the  2Cth  of  October,  1839, 
under  the  direction  of  the  celebrated  Mr. 
Perry.  This  gentleman,  who  had  frequently 
visited  Mr.  Crane,  in  Wales,  and  was  familiar 
with  the  process  adopted  by  him,  declared 
that  the  performances  of  this  furnace  more 
than  equalled  those  obtained  by  that  gentle- 
man. They  were,  therefore,  esteemed  as  in 
the  highest  degree  successful,  and  an  intelli- 
gent irora  master  (  Hon.  Dr.  Eckert, )  who 
had  observed  its  workings,  declared  that  it 
had  triumphed  over  difficulties  and  accidents, 
during  the  first  fortnight  of  its  existence,  which 
would  have  chilled  up  any  Charcoal  worksj 
over  and  over  again !  The  hearth  was  tapped 
night  and  morning,  and  the  yield  at  each  time 
varied  from  sixty  to  sixty -three  pigs,  equal  to 
about  three  tons  of  metal.  It  is  an  all  impor- 
tant fact,  that  in  charging  the,  stack,  nothing 
but  pure  Anthracite  Coal  and  iron-ore  were 
used.  Not  a  scrap  of  old  metal,  wood  or 
Charcoal  was  used,  except  for  tlio  mere  pur- 
pose of  first  ignition. 

The  erection  of  this  furnace  was  mainly  ac- 
complished through  the  efibrt«  of  Burd  Pat 


TakU  txMiU 

»g  the  Prtpirtiu, 

DiMtniitm 

ani 

Operatiotu  tf  tkt  Jim 

it  ntkraeitt  Furnaet$  treeted 

tr>  t\e  United  Statet 

"                                                         ! 

1  ,^...  -»l 

Dimensions  of 
Stack  in  feat. 

Materials  and  yield  per  Number  and  proportio 
week,  in  tons.            of  charges  in  24  hours 

nf    Air  supplied  to  the  Furnace. 

Blowing  machinery. 

Water  power  employed. 

Steam  power  employed. 

Subsidiary  Fuel. 

Nature  of  oraa  ased.        ,1 

1    Name  and 
£    Rituation  of 
^      Furnace. 

Name  of 
Proprieten' 

Name  of 
Occupant 

When 
built. 

oom- 
mencing 

Blast 
with  An- 
thracite. 

3.0  0 

z 

P 

Q 

0    . 
30Q 

a  g.a 

.a-S 

11 

■C    B 

11 

1  a » 

•^     IS  « 

P 

'3  Sgi    i; 

J   ?§.* 

^1 

It 

AS 

II 

hi 

1 

4" 

11 

«* 

J. 

<  ^ 

S  ' 

0-; 

■ft 

S 

°  1 

i 

fl 

1-1 

•B§ 

II. 

II 

JSr 

1^ 

s  S.S, 

For  beat! 
blast,  p 
ton,  of  p 

,  (  Mauch 
'  i  Chunk, 

2  PoltsviUo, 

(  Roaring 
'  \  Creek, 

Baugbman,          ) 
Guiteau  &  Co.  ) 
(  Marahall,  K«l- 
j     loffg  (t  Co., 
Burd  Patterson  \ 
&  Co.,             S 

Tho  Owners, 

Ditto. 

Dr.  Stein-     ) 
berger,     ) 

1838, 
1838, 
1838-9, 

Aug.  27, 
1838. 

July  10, 
1839. 

May  18, 
1840. 

feet 

Us 

;  30 
30 

feet 
214 
35 

30 

feet 
Si 
8} 
84 

feet. 
1  5-12 

34 

68  7 
84 

31  2 
56 

31  2 
21 

8 
28^ 
40 

20 
28 

lbs. 

108 
•crap 
Iron  and 
UOOore 
960 

lbs 

^500 
600 

lbs 

500 
254 

70C 
3769 
2400 

2 

1  5 
25 

deg«.  tons; 
450   21  6 

600 

650   20i 

2 
3 
3 

2 
0 

2 

inches. 
72 

40 

44 

inches. 
11 

72 

60 

134 
13 
11  4 

feet. 
14 

20 

feet. 
34 

8 

inches. 
3 

12 

134 

5  7 

17 
21 

29  4 

inches. 
15 

faet. 

0 

18 

8 

feet. 
20 

inch. 
30 

lbs. 
125 

80 

tons. 

cwt. 
4       \ 

Hematite  and  mag- 
netic of  N .  J. 
Carbonate    and  he- 
matite. 
Fosssiliferoua  perox- 
ide of  Bloomsburg. 

40  to   70 
25  to  50 
SO  to   U 

4  Phoiniivillo, 

Reeves  &Whitaker 

Tho  Owners, 

1837,        1 

June  17, 
1840- 

28 

33 

8 

3  by  64 

73 

59 

24  1 

28 

314 

740 

600 

245  1732    1  5 

700 

20  8 

3 

0 

42 

48 

11  25 

12  25 

8 

10 

Hi 

14 

15  1 

Hydrated  peroxide.   |8  to  SO  1 

5  Danville, 

,  Crane  Iron 
,  S      Work., 
.  6  )      near  Al- 

(  Biddle,Cham-  ) 
;      bers&Co.,    ) 

Dltt). 

1838-9,    I 

April, 
1S40. 

;  30 

30 

74 

70  3 

46  8 

35 

35 

25 

900 

700 

443  2414   2  75 

600 

23  2 

g 

2 

40 

42 

20 

12 

4 

30 

4 

20 

SO 

100 

40 

4 

4       1 

Calcareous  perox- 
ide of  Danville. 

45   to  60 

>  Crane  Iron  Co., 

Ditto. 

1839-10.  1 

July  4, 
1840. 

^30 

40 

12 

34 

104 

69  3 

52 

50 

66 

504 

336 

252 

5065 

2  5 

600 

34 

3 

2 

60 

72 

10  75 

12 

25 

21 

3} 

8 

64  5 

5       \ 

Hydrated    peroxide 
near  the  works. 

40   to  55 

i  Columbia 

7  <       at  Dan- 

f      villo, 

>Goo.  Patterson, 

(    Messrs.   ) 
^  J.P.&J.  > 
(   Groves.    > 

1839,        J 

July  2, 
1340. 

^30 

33 

34 

34 

03  4 

81  3 

64  15 

31  5 

28 

1200 

1050 

800 

1861 

3 

612 

20  i 

3 

2 

32 

64 

15S 

• 

12 

34 

25 

4 

20 

30 

100 

40 

34 

5       \ 

I^alcareous,    fossilli- 
ferous  peroxide. 

45  to   61 

(  Mnutonr  at 
8  <       Danville, 
(      No.  I, 

I  Biddle.Cham-  ) 
)   bers  &  Co.,    ) 

The  Owrners. 

1840,        1 

July  11, 
1841. 

S"' 

32 

12 

4 

154 

103 

61  6 

ro 

44 

1120 

784 

448  5026 

4 

612 

24  8 

a 

4 

40 

72 

16 

24 

6 

16 

8 

20 

30 

60 

90 

r 

5       \ 

Fossil  calcareous,  &  33  to  60   ' 
silicioHs  peroxide.                       j 

9  Ditto,  No.  2, 

10  Sliamokin, 

11  . 

Ditto, 
ShamokinlronCo. 

Ditto, 
Ditto, 

1840.        j 
1840, 

August, 
1841. 

S3, 

40 

32 
42i 

12 

12 

4 
4 

3 
3 

4 
2 

40 
62 

72 
72 

24 
22 

6 
6 

20 

8 
10 

20 
30 

30 
30 

60 
70 

90 
160 

Ditto. 
Carbonate  and  Dan- 
ville foBsiliferouB. 

33   to  60   1 
33   to  60   j 

12  (Stanhope, 

13  (  N.  .T., 

14  ' 

Stanhope  Iron  Co. 

Ditto 

1840-1,    x\i: 

|30 

30 

10 

34 

112  6 

80  9  34  68 

>6 

J 

975 

700   300  4071 

1 

3 

600     25 

3 

0 

72 

72 

13 

20 

8 

2]i 

, 

1 

^  \ 

Magnetic    of   Iron-i  jq  j^  70 
dale. 

1 

•Anthracite  for  Smelting^  Sec. 


^3 


terson,  Ksq.,  who,  from  the  earliest  history  of 
this  region,  has  been  identified  with  every 
measure  of  its  onward  progress.  He  is  still 
H  resident  of  this  Borough,  and,  as  heretofore, 
stands  connected  with  all  new  and  praise- 
worthy enteq*rizes. 

In  January,  1840,  the  furnacs  having  now 
performed  successfully  for  three  months,  a 
deputation,  consisting  of  the  late  Nicholas 
Biddle,  Thomas  Biddle,  Isaac  Lea,  Jesse  Rich- 
ards, J.  M.  Sanderson,  and  Dr.  B.  Kugler, 
visited  this  Borough,  to  inspect  the  ironworks, 
and  to  award  a  prize  of  five  thousand  dollars, 
subscribed  by  certain  influential  citizens  of 
Pennsylvania,  to  be  presented  to  the  individ- 
ual who  would,  within  a  specified  time,  suc- 
ceed in  smelting  a  certain  amount  of  iron  ore, 
with  Anthracite  Coal,  &c.  This  prize  was 
accordingly  awarded  to  the  proprietor  of  the 
Pottsville  Furnace,  and  therefore  settles  the 
question  as  to  the  jperson  and  place  entitled  to 
the  credit  of  having  first  succeeded  in  this 
important  enterprize. 

The  celebration  of  this  event  was  a  happy 
and  brilliant  affair,  and  it  was  not  long  ere  tne 
Union  was  filled  with  the  importance  of  the 
achievment  thus  commemorated.  The  Com- 
mittee were  invited  to  a  dinner  at  the  Mount 
Carbon  House,  and  a  toast  complimental  to 
the  distinguished  gentlemen  composing  it, 
having  been  oSered,  xVIr.  N.  Biddle  responded 
to  it  in  behalf  of  his  colleagues,  in  a  speech  of 
great   practical    learning,  and    profound   elo- 

?|aence; — at  the  conclusion  of  which,  he  of- 
ered  the  following  toast : 

Old  Pennsylvania — Her  sous,  like  her  soil 
— a  rough  out-side,  but  solid  stuflf  within  ; — 
plenty  of  Coal  to  warm  her  friends — plenty 
of  iron  to  cool  her  ememies. 

The  Pottsville  Furnace  was  soon  followed 
6y  another  in  the  vicinity,  called  the  Valley 
Furnace.  This  was  put  in  blast  September 
17, 1341,  and  "  succeeded  admirably  from  the 
first  momeut  of  its  action."  It  used  the  ore 
found  upon  the  ground. 

The  within  valuable  table,  which  will 
exhibit  the  full  particulars  of  each  Anthracite  | 
furnace  in  the  state,  erected  previous  to  1841, 
(and  which  may  bo  regarded  as  the  pioneer- 
works  in  this  country)  is  compiled  from  a 
highly  useful  work  by  Prof  Johnson,  entitled 
Notes  on  Anthracite  Iron,  <J>e.  .f«c. 

At  the  latter  end  of  1842,  after  the  passage 
of  the  Tariff  act  of  that  year,  Anthracite  fur- 
naces began  very  rapidly  to  multiply.  In  the 
followring  year,  they  were  found  in  full  blast, 
and  others  going  into  operation,  in  almost  ev- 
ery county  in  the  State,  where  Coal  and  iron 
ore  were  at  all  accessible.  The  number  con- 
tinned  annually  to  increase,  at  an  astonishing 
rate,  until  very  recently,  when  the  duties  lev- 
ied upon  all  foreign  iron  having  been  greatly 
reduced  in  the  subsequent  law,  it  is  deemed 
impossible,  by  many  iatelligeut  persons,  inti- 
mately associated  with  our  iron  interests,  for 
our  manufacturers  to  successfully  compete 
with  thoae  of  Europe.  The  duties  have  been 
§0  much  reduced,  that  our  markets  are  virtu- 
ally thrown  open  to  the  British  manufacturer  ; 
— for  with  the  present  admirable,  cheap  and 
7 


expeditious  means  of  oceAtt  navigation,  and 
the  comparatively  low  rates  of  dlity, — the  dis- 
advantage in  point  of  distance,  is  amply  over- 
come by  the  great  difference,  between  the 
two  countries,  in  the  prices  of  labor.  Thus, 
the  duty  on  a  ton  of  Knglish'  railroad  iron, 
under  the  present  Tariff"  law,  is  nine  dollars, 
and  the  cost  for  transporting  it  to  Boston  i* 
about  five  dollars — this  being  the  only  chargo 
for  crossing  the  ocean,  foreign  railroad  iron 
can  now  be  purchased,  at  long  credits,  free  of 
all  incumbrances,  at  from  $45  to  |48  per  ton. 
Now,  the  prices  of  wages  being  much  higher 
in  this  country  than  in  England,  railroad  iron 
cannot  be  made  at  our  manufactories  for  less 
than  about  $50  per  ton, — while  to  transport  it 
to  Boston,  from  this  State,  would  cost  quite  as 
much  as  it  would  from  Wales  to  Boston— 
so  that  the  only  actual  difference  is  in  the  itemr 
of  dtcty  and  labor. 

In  estimating  tho  value,  therefore,  of  a  toa' 
of  railroad  iron,  we  must  consider  the  amount! 
of  labor  bestowed  upon  it, — and  in  doing  this, 
we  find  that  in  this  country,  labor  comprizes 
its  entire  value.  The  Coal  and  iron  ore  neces- 
sary to  produce  a  ton  of  railroad  iron  is  not 
worth  more  than  about  two  dollars,  as  they 
are  found  in  the  ground ; — it  is  the  subse- 
quent processes  of  mining  and  transportation 
which  so  greatly  enhance  their  value.  At  the' 
furnaces  they  undergo  new  transformations, 
and  the  product,  arrived  at  the  rolling-mill,  is 
again  Bubiected  to  various  changes,  until  finaUy 
wrought  mto  rails.  Now,  in  tracing  its  history 
forward  to  this  last  and  most  important  change, 
we  find  that  labor  has  done  the  whole  busi- 
ness, and  it  is  labor,  therefore,  which  is  re- 
warded when  it  commands  a  fair  and  just 
price  in  market. 

Under  the  former  act,  numerous  manufao- 
tories  of  railroad  iron  were  erected,  in  various 
parts  of  the  country,  at  each  of  which  from' 
two  to  four  hundred  persons  were  employed. 
The  wages,  as  we  well  know,  varied  from' 
$1,25  to  $3  per  day,  according  to  the  particu- 
lar work  performed  ;  and  in  one  department, 
as  high  as  from  $6  to  $8  per  day  was  realized 
and  justly  earned.  Now,  although  the 
the  payment  of  such  sxxavs  for  labor,  must 
matertally  increase  the  price  of  the  maa- 
iilactured  article ; — yet  it  is  a  fact,  well  known, 
that  our  manufacturers  furnished  rails  at  less 
prices  than  did  those  of  Europe  previously  tc 
the  passage  of  that  act,  when  no  railroad  maa- 
ufactories.  had  been  erected  in  this  country, 
and  when  it  was  deposited  on  our  shores /r«c 
of  duty. 

But  it  is  not  alone  tbe  absence  of  protectioa 
which  cripples  our  manufacturers,  and  fills 
the  market  with  the  fruits  of  foreign  labor;— 
it  is  tbe  want  oi  stability — the  fluctuating  and 
unsteady  policy  which  has  characterized  our 
government  of  late  years.  Capitalists  are 
justly  timid  in  investing  funds  in  any  new  en- 
terprize, howevpr  promising ;  and  to  make 
themselves  secure,  their  first  step  is  to  obtain 
privileges  from  the  Legislature,  which  are  not 
extended  generally  over  the  whole  people. — 
Now,  many  persons  dispute  the  right  of  gov. 
ernment  to  extend   privileges   to  aiiy  class  of 


34 


Review  of  the  Coal  Megions. 


men— believing  that  our  Republican  system 
should  act  by  general,  not  by  partial  laws.— 
But  when  w©  reflect  that,  scarcely  is  a  whole- 
some, consistent  policy  of  government  marked 
out,  than  a  jiew  administration  takes  posses- 
sion of  our  Capitol  and  Legislative  halls,  and 
at  once  reverses  the  whole  policy — changing 
"protection"  to  "free  trade,"  and  "advalo- 
rem  duties"  to  "discriminating  duties;" — it 
will  be  perceived  how  uncertain  and  precari- 
ous the  manufacturing  interests  of  our  country 
are  rendered.  It  is  only  by  the  combination 
of  indi\adual  capital,  and  the  union  of  all  the 
facilities  necessary  for  carrying  on  business 
on  the  most  extensive  scd«,  that  our  manufac- 
turers can  realize  a  fair,  living  profit.  Indi- 
vidual enterprizQ  is  stifled ; — it  cannot  with- 
stand the  powerful  companies ; — again,  com- 
panies cannot  withstand  the  foreign  manufac- 
turers;— when  the  crisis  becomes  insupporta- 
ble, they  must  suspend  operations — and  now, 
let  us  inquire,  who  is  it  that  suffer  most  ? — the 
owners  of  the  manufactory,  or  tkose  thus 
thrown  out  of  employment  ? 

But  the  advocates  of  free  trade  tell  us  that 
we  obtain  foreign  goods  cheaper  than  we  could 
ourselves  manufacture  them.  This  is  not  so. 
First,  we  raise  tlie  cotton,  which  is  carried  in 
bales  to  a  commission  merchant,  who  ships  it 
to  Liverpool  at  a  profit.  The  shipper  makes 
a  profit  for  carrying  it  over  the  sea,  and,  arri- 
ved at  Liverpool,  tlje  consignee  makes  a  pro- 
fit on  storage,  &c.  It  is  now  sold  to  the  man- 
ufacturer, who  converts  it  into  goods ;  the 
goods  are  sent  in  packages  to  the  merchant, 
who  sends  them  to  the  ship,  to  b  e  returned  to 
this  country.  Arrived  again  on  our  shores, 
the  manufactured  goods  change  hands  perhaps 
f(jpr  or  five  times  ere  they  reach  those  of  the 
consumer ; — and  here  v/e  find  that  tJie  greater 
value  of  the  article  is  comprized  in  the  pro- 
portion in  which  it  has  travelled  and  changed 
hands — like  a  traveller  on  a  turnpike,  the 
more  gates  be  passes,  the  more  toll  he  must 
p^y.  Now,  would  it  not  be  wiser  for  us, 
who  raise  and  consume  all,  instead  of  paying 
commissions  and  freights,  and  sending  annual- 
ly millions  of  our  best  currency  abroad ; — to 
retain  the  raw  material  at  home,  and  thus 
give  employment  to  our  farmers.mechanics  and 
laborers^  The  amount  saved  in  commissions 
and  freights  would  more  than  make  up  the 
difference  in  the  price  of  labor  ;  while  a  reg- 
ular, consistent  policy  of  government  would 
give  a  sure,  sound  and  true  basis  for  the  cap- 
ital, and  enterprise,  and  industry  of  the  whole 
country.  We  do  not  throw  out  these  brief 
hints' because  we  entertain  similar  views  as  a 
politician ; — we  believe  them  to  be  essential, 
especially  to  our  Coal  and  iron  interests, — and 
when  a  fact  is  rendered  thus  plain,  we  can 
feel  no  personal  sacrifice  in  honestly  standing 
by  it,  without  reference  to  mere  partizan 
feeUng. 

We  desired,  more  especially,  to  allude  to 
the  peculiar  and  important  advantages  enjoy- 
ed by  this  Region,  over  other  sections  of  coun- 
try, lor  the  manufacture  of  every  description 
of  iron.  It  was,  indeed,  the  appropriate 
theatre  for  the  first  successful  operations  of 


the  Anthracite  Furnace;  and  its  claims foi 
present  and  future  consideration,  in  the  same 
connection,  cannot  be  thrown  aside.  There 
are  several  features  associated  here,  of  vast 
importance  to  the  iron  manufacturer,  which 
could  not  possibly  be  combined  elsewhere  in 
the  same  high  degree.  These  have  been  re- 
peatedly pointed  out  by  the  editor  of  the  Mi- 
ners' Journal,  and  in  casting  our  eye  over  suc- 
cessive numbers  of  that  valuable  publication, 
and  observing  the  substantial  arguments,  and 
the  persevering  efforts  of  the  editor  to  awak- 
en the  spirit  of  enterprize  in  the  public,  in 
relation  to  this  interesting  branch  of  business, 
we  are  astonished  that  so  little  has  been 
done.  The  great  and  all-important  matter  is 
Coal.  Important  it  unquestionably  has  proven 
itself  to  be  ;-«-yet  iron  ore  may  be  called  its 
twin  brother ;  they  repose  in  the  same  bed  ; 
the  one  subserves  the  other ;  and,  in  all  re- 
spects, they  are  alike  essential  for  the  common 
uses  of  mankind.  A  recent  writer  in  the  Jour- 
nal named,  speaks  as  follows : 

"The  principal  ore  used  in  England  and 
Scotland,  is  the  carbonate  of  iron  of  the  Coal 
measures ;  this  ore  yields  from  30  to  33  per 
cent,  of  iron.  It  is  found  in  strata  or  beds 
varying  from  3  to  13  inches  in  thickness,  and 
produces  an  iron  of  excellent  quality.  The 
following  extract,  taken  from  Dr.  Ures'  work 
on  Arts  and  Manufactures,  may  not  be  unin- 
teresting to  the  reader.  After  giving  the  an- 
alysis of  some  of  the  best  ores  from  the  Eng- 
lish and  Welsh  Coal  basins,  he  says'.  The 
mean  richness  of  the  ores  of  carbonate  of  iron 
of  these  Coal  basins,  is  not  far  from  33  per 
cent.— about  28  per  cent,  is  dissipated  on  an 
average  in  the  roasting  of  the  ores.  Every 
ferigenous  clay-stone  is  regarded  as  an  iron- 
ore,  when  it  contains  more  than  20  per  cent, 
of  metal ;  and  it  is  paid  for  according  to  its 
quality.  The  ore  must  be  roasted  before  it  is 
fit  for  the  blast  furnace  :  a  process  carried  on 
in  the  open  air.  A  heap  of  ore  mingled  with 
email  coal,  (if  necessary )  is  piled  up  over  a 
stratum  of  large  pieces  of  Coal ;  and  the  heap 
may  be  six  or  seven  feet  high,  by  15  or  20 
broad.  The  fire  is  applied  at  the  windward 
end,  and  after  it  has  burned  a  certain  way, 
the  heap  is  prolonged  at  the  other  extremity, 
as  far  as  the  nature  of  the  ground  or  the  con- 
venience of  the  work  requires.  The  quantity 
of  Coal  requisite  for  roasting  the  ore  varies 
from  one  to  four  hundred  weight  per  ton,  ac- 
cording to  the  portion  of  bituminous  matter 
associated  with  the  iron  stone.  The  ore  looses 
in  this  operation  ft-om25  to  30  per  cent,  of  its 
weight.  Three  and  a  quarter  tons  of  crude  ore 
or  two  and  a  quarter  tons  of  roasted  ore,  are 
required  to  produce  a  ton  of  cast  iron ;  that  is 
to  say,  the  crude  material  yields  on  an  average 
30.7  per  cent,  and  the  roasted  ore  44.4  of  pig 
metal.  In  most  smelting  works  in  Stafford- 
shire, about  equal  weights  of  the  rich  ore  in 
sound  nodules,  called  gubbin,  and  the  poorer 
ore  in  cakes,  called  blue  flat,  are  employed  to- 
gether in  their  roasted  state ;  but  the  propor- 
tions are  raised  in  order  to  have  an  uniform 
mixture  capable  of  yielding  from  30  to  33  per 
cent,  of  metal.     To  heat  two  and  one-quarter 


Jinthracile  for  Smelting^  Sfc. 


35 


tons  of  roasted  ore,  which  furnish  one  ton  of 
pig  iron,  nineteen  hundred  weiglit  of  lime- 
etone  are  employed ;  constituting  nearly  one 
of  limestone  for  three  of  unroasted  ore  per 
ton. 

Until  the  year  1740,  iron  was  made  in  Eng- 
land almost  exclusively  with  charcoal,  and 
prior  to  that  period  none  of  the  iron  stones  of 
the  Coal  region  were  used ;  but  aa  soon  as 
the  iron  manufacturers  found  it  necessary  to 
locate  themselves  in  the  Coal  region  for  the 
purpose  of  being  convenient  to  the  new  kind 
of  fuel  that  they  were  about  to  adopt,  they 
found  the  necessity  of  searching  for  ore  nearer 
their  works  than  the  magnetic  ores  that  they 
had  been  in  the  habit  of  using  were ;  the  re- 
sult was,  that  an  abundance  of  excellent  ore 
was  diacovered  in  the  Coal  regions  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  their  works,  and  al- 
though it  did  not  yield  so  high  a  per  centage  of 
iron  as  the  magnetic  ores,  they  found  it  more 
profitable  than  transporting  richer  ores  from 
a  distance. 

With  regard  to  this  region,  a  like  result 
has  been  experienced ;  for  it  was  not  until  af- 
ter the  erection  of  the  furnace  at  this  place, 
that  any  investigations  had  been  instituted  as 
to  whether  iron  ore  was  to  be  obtained  or 
not.  But  no  sooner  had  explorations  com- 
menced than  new  and  large  deposits  of 
iron  ore  were  found  daily,  and  the  ore  pro- 
nounced to  be  of  an  excellent  quality.  Mr. 
Benj.  Perry,  the  intelligent  Anthracite  founder, 
has  visited  several  of  these  mines,  and  gave  it 
as  his  opinion  that  any  number  of  furnaces 
could  be  supplied  with  ore  for  an  indefinite 
time. 

In  comparing  the  ores  of  this  country  with 
those  of  England  and  Wales,  we  find  the 
average  richness  of  the  ores  nearly  the  same ; 
but  we  have  a  decided  and  important  advan- 
tage in  the  thickness  of  the  veins,  many  of 
which  being  upwards  of  three  feat  thick,  and 
from  that  down  to  six  inches.  The  average 
richness  of  the  ores  taken  from  the  Coal  re- 
gions of  England  and  Wales,  is  about  33  per 
cent.  The  average  richness  of  eight  speci- 
mens of  ore,  taken  from  the  Pottsville  Coal 
region,  was  33.13  of  metallic  ore.  These 
specimens  were  analysed  under  the  direction 
of  Prof.  Rodgers,  late  State  Geologist — some 
of  them  yielding  39,  38  and  37  per  cent.,  and 
all  taken  from  different  veins.  Prof.  R.  in  his 
fourth  annual  report  to  the  Legislature  of  this 
state,  speaking  of  these  ores,  says :  "  Especial 
care  has  been  taken  to  submit  to  chemical  ex- 
amination, such  specimens  only  as  represent 
the  average  character  of  their  respective  beds, 
— choosing  those  fi-eshly  opened  in  the  mines, 
or  in  some  deep  excavation,  and  rejecting,  as 
far  as  possible,  samples  gathered  from  the 
outcrop,  or  found  loose  on  tne  surface ;  as  they 
invariably  contain  too  high  a  per  centage  to 
prove  a  fair  criterion,  &c. 

The  presence  of  inexhaustible  supplies  of 
coal  and  iron  ore,  suggests  an  important  ad- 
vantage in  the  comparatively  limited  capital 
necessary  to  carry  on  iron  works.  For  while 
Jroo  masters  in  other  sactions  of  country  are 


compelled,  at  all  seasons,  to  keep  on  hand  a 
large  supply  of  coal  and  ore, — no  such  neces- 
sity would  exist  here.  Supplies  could  be 
procured  in  small  quantities,  as  desired  for 
immediate  use,  and  the  necessity  of  buying 
large  quantities  at  high  price*,  is  thus  entirely 
overcome.  The  same  argument  holds  good, 
as  regards  means  of  transportation,  and  speedy 
and  cheap  access  to  market.  While  iron 
works  at  many  places  have  no  avenue  to  mar- 
ket during  the  winter,  and  are  consequently 
compelled  to  retain  a  large  stock  of  their  ma- 
nufactured product  on  hand, — the  manufactu- 
rer here  could  send  it  to  market  in  such  quan- 
tities, and  at  such  times,  as  the  prices  might 
justify. 

We  may  next  consider  the  cheapness  of  the 
fuel,  as  well  as  of  the  ores  used.  For  the 
former,  the  fine  refuse  Coal  tliat  has  been 
crowding  our  mines  and  landings  for  years 
past,  is  now  brought  into  use  for  generating 
steam,  and  heating  the  blast, — and  besides  an- 
swering admirably  the  purpose, — it  is  afford- 
ed free  of  charge,  and  delivered  to  the  fur- 
nace, by  the  Coal  operators, — so  anxious  are 
they  to  get  rid  of  the  large  quantities  annually 
accumulated  about  their  premises.  This,  it 
will  be  granted,  is  an  important  consideration. 
There  is  another  consideration,  with  regard 
to  those  locations  where  the  advantages  of 
the  situation  consist  merely  in  being  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  ore.  After  the 
smelting  of  the  ore  into  pig  metal  is  accom- 
plished, no  more  ore  is  required ; — but  in  the 
process  of  making  bar-iron,  zboxxt  four  tons  of 
Coal  are  necessary  to  manufacture  one  ton  of 
the  latter, — so  that,  independent  of  the  saving 
in  the  cost  of  making  pig  metal  in  the  Coal 
region,  the  saving  in  converting  it  into  bqr- 
iron,  at  a  large  rolling  mill,  would  be  im- 
mense. 

The  Middle  Anthracite  Region,  as  we  are 
assured  by  our  friend,  William  F.  Roberts, 
holds  out  inducements  of  the  most  favorable 
character  for  the  investment  of  capital,  in  all 
the  branches  of  iron  making  and  iron  manu- 
factures. The  Coal  is  of  superior  quality,  and 
may  be  mined  at  very  low  rates.  Its  iron  ore 
is  rich  and  in  abundance,  while  it  has  other 
important  facilities  for  iron-making  establish- 
ments to  operate  with  the  greatest  economy 
and  profit. 

The  lands  of  the  Dauphin  Coal  Company, 
we  may  add,  are  also  admirably  calculated  to 
sustain  extensive  iron  establishments.  Taking 
in  view  the  admirable  outlets  to  market,  and 
the  peculiar  character  of  the  Coal,  and  rich- 
ness of  the  iron  ore — they  may  be  said  to  en- 
joy unequalled  advantages  for  this  branch  of 
manufactures. 

But  our  limits  warn  us  from  entering  fur- 
ther into  this  subject,  and  we  shall,  therefore, 
conclude  our  remarks  with  the  presentation 
of  the  following  table,  which  will  exhibit  the 
iron  trade  of  Philadelphia  during  the  years 
specified,  and  indicate  the  importance  of  the 
trade  of  the  entire  state  when  the  present 
tariff  law  went  into  effect.  What  it  will  be 
during  the  next  two  years,  remains  to  be  seen: 


36 


Mevietv  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


Iron  Trade  of  Philadelphia  : 

w 

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Vi 

g,s-o  £.» 

o  o  »  £,£,B- 

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Del.  Canal, 
ill  Canal, 

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£ 

Del.  Canal,  lbs. 
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Railroad, 
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OOOtOCO 

We  shall  now  resume  the  subject  of  Min- 
iHg,  and  briefly  alUide  to  some  of  the  princi- 
pal improvements  lately  introduced. 

In  January,  1832,  the  Coal  Mining  Associ- 
ation of  Schuylkill  County,  was  formed.  It 
was  composed  exclusively  of  master  colliers, 
and  those  immediately  concerned  in  the  min- 
ing affairs  of  this  Region ;  and  the  object  was 
to  collect  and  disseminate  to  and  among  the 
members  useful  information  connected  with  the 
trade,  and  the  practical  operations  of  Mining. 
Upon  its  organization,  Burd  Patterson,  Esq. .was 
elected  President;  and  John  C.  Offerman,  Esq., 
Vice-President.  Samuel  Lewis,  Esq.,  was 
elected  Tresurer ;  and  Andrew  Russell  and 
Charles  Lawton,  Esqs.,  Secretaries.  The 
Board  of  Trade  was  composed  of  B.  H. 
Springer ;  Samuel  Brook ;  Samuel  J.  Potts  ; 
M.  Brook  Buckley  ;  James  E.  White ;  Thomas 
S.  Ridgway  ;  and  Martin  Weaver.  The  of- 
ficers were  elected  annually ;  and  it  was  the 
duty  of  the  Committee  on  Trade  to  report  an- 
nually to  the  Association  the  state  and  future 
p'-osprfcts  of  the  Coal  Trade  of  the  Region. 
This  was  regularly  done  until  last  year,  when 
no  Report  appeared. 
The  officers  of  the  Association  for  1347,  (since 
which  time  none  have  been  elected)  were 
as  follows :  President,  Thomas  C.  Williams, 
Esq.;  Vice  President,  Francis  B.  Nicholls, 
Esq.  (since  deceased).  Treasurer,  George  H. 
Potts,  Esq.  Board  of  Trade,— George  H. 
Potts;  T.  C.  Williams;  A.  Bolton;  A.  B. 
White;  C.  De Forest;  John  Pinkerton ;  J.  G. 
Hewes. 

After  the  introduction  of  railways,  there 
seems  to  have  been  little  done  in  the  vvay  of 
improvements,  to  facilitate  the  operation  of 
mining.  But  without  tracing,  in  regular  or- 
der, the  introduction  of  each  new  feature,  a» 
the  present  is  contradistinguished  from  the 


past,  we  shall  at  once  proceed  to  explain  the 
modus  operandi  of  mining,  as  observed  in  the 
present  day. 

In  the  first  place,  it  may  l)e  necessary  to 
premise  that  the  range  of  all  the  Coal  veins  j 
in  the  Schuylkill  basin  is  East  and  West, — 
converging  to  the  eastward,  and  diverging 
westward,  with  such  slight  variation  from  the 
general  rule,  as  not  to  be  worthy  of  notice. 
The  dip  of  the  veins  is  to  the  South  ;  and  their 
angle  of  inclination  from  the  horizon  varies 
from 30°  to  40°,  parallel,  in  all  cases,  with  the 
surrounding  strata.  From  1833  the  number 
of  operations  below  water  level  have  annually 
increased,  in  a  regular  per  centage  with  the 
increase  of  the  trade.  As  they  are  the  most 
extensive,  and  would,  perhaps,  prove  most  in- 
teresting to  the  stranger,  we  shall  now  de- 
scribe the  minutiiB  of  which  they  are  com- 
prized. 

When  a  vein  of  Coal  is  being  worked  below 
vvatei'-level,  a  steam  engine  and  pumps  are 
necessary  to  raise  up  the  accumulated  water 
in  the  mine  ;  for  below  water-level  means,  sim- 
ply, that  the  Coal  is  being  mined  at  some  point 
below  the  bed  of  the  adjacent  river,  creek,  or 
rivulet.  The  first  step  to  be  taken  at  the 
commencement  of  an  operation  of  this  kind,  is 
to  ascertain  where  the  vein  crops  out  to  the 
surface,  or  so  near  to  the  surface  as  to  be 
easily  found,  from  a  previous  knowledge  of 
the  range  of  the  vein.  A  favorable  location 
must  then  be  selected,  twenty  or  thirty  feet 
to  the  northward  of  the  crop  of  the  vein,  for 
the  location  of  a  stationery  steam-engine.  This 
must  be  where  a  sufiiciency  of  water  can  be 
had  for  the  supply  of  the  steam-boilers  ;  and 
if  not  near  to  a  main  Railroad,  prudence  will 
dictate  that  it  must  be  so  situated  that  a 
branch  or  lateral  road  can  be  laid  down  near 
the  place  where  the  Engine  is  to  be  erected. 
The  descent  into  the  mine  is  called  a  Slope, 
and  thus  those  mines  below  water-lever,  cal- 
led Slopes,  are  contradistinguished  from  those 
above  v^ater-level,  called  Drifts.  Engines 
erected  for  the  purpose  of  hoisting  the  Coal  up 
the  Slope,  and  pumping  the  water  out  of  the 
mine,  are  usually  of  the  capacity  of  from  for- 
ty, fifty,  and  sixty  horse-power,  nearly  all 
horizontal  high-pressure  engines,  and  workine 
with  a  slide-valve.  They  are  generally  built 
in  a  very  neat,  simple,  as  well  as  a  strong  and 
efficient  manner — invariably  erected  by  the 
mechanics  of  the  Coal  Region.* 


*  The  machinistg  of  this  county  are  not  excelled 
by  those  of  any  other  locality  in  the  United  6tatee.— 
The  principal  establishments  are  those  of  Haywood 
&  Snyder ;  John  L.  Pott ;  E.  W.  M'Ginnis ;  J.  T.  Wer- 
ner ;  and  one  now  being  erected  by  Elias  Deer, — all  in 
Pottsville.  In  Minersville,  William  De  Haren  has 
an  extensive  establishment :  in  Port  Carbon,  Tobias 
Winterstein ;  in  Tremont,  P.  Umholtz  &.  Co. ;  in  Ta- 
maqua,  Hudson,  Smith  &,Taylor,  besides  several  others 
of  minor  importance. 

Some  of  these  establishments  receive  orders  from  • 
distance  for  steam-engines  and  machinery — the  su- 
periority of  which  is  well  known  and  acknowledged. 
Thus,  the  machinery  and  engines  for  the  entensive 
railroad  mills  at  PhoBnixialle,  Danville,  and  South 
Boston,  Mass.,  were  all  erected  by  Haywood  &.  Sny- 
der—one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  respvctable 
tirmi  in  this  state,— the  senior  of  which,  in  connection 


Mifies  and  Mining. 


37 


The  locatiou  of  the  engine  being  determin- 
ed upon,  a  slope,  or  inclined-plane,  must  be 
driven  down  in  the  vein,  and  consequently  at 
the  same  angle  of  inclination.  The  thickness 
of  the  vein  is  usually  excavated,  and  the  slope 
must  be  sufficiently  wide  to  admit  of  two 
rail-way  tracks,  from  thirty-six  to  forty  inches 
wide  each,  to  be  laid  down ;  with  room,  also, 
for  the  pumps  on  one  side,  ( and  sometimes 
both  sides )  and  travelling  road  on  the  other 
side  (  or  sometimes  between  the  two  rail-way 
tracks  )  for  the  miners  and  laborers ; — the 
whole  width  of  the  slope  being  usually  from 
eighteen  to  twenty-two  feet.  The  slope  is 
driven  down  about  two  huiidred  feet  for  the 
first  level — at  the  bottom  of  which  the  gang- 
ways  are  commenced,  running  al  right-angles 
from  the  slope,  East  and  West  in  the  vein, 
and  are  continued  at  distances  discretionary 
with  the  operator,  or  to  the  extremity  of  his 
raining  limits.  The  slope  and  the  gangways 
form  a  capital-T.  The  gangways  are  fre- 
quently driven  one,  two,  and  three  miles, 
with  turn-outs  at  intervals  for  trains  to  pass 
each  other.  They  are  made  about  seven 
feet  high,  and  sufficiently  wide  to  admit  a 
railroad  track  to  be  laid  down,  on  which 
a  well-loaded  car,  having  from  one  to  two  tons 
of  Coal, may  pass  freely.  The  cars  are  hauled  to 
and  fro  by  horses  and  mules — the  latter  being 
preferred,  as  well  because  of  their  diminutive 
size,  as  for  their  stamina.  The  gangways  be- 
ing driven  in  a  sufficient  distance  from  the 
bottom  of  the  slope,  the  next  thing  is  to 
commence  digging  out  or  mining  the  Coal. 
The  Coal  in  the  vein  is  left  undisturbed  on 
each  side  of  the  slope,  to  a  distance  of  thirty 
or  forty  feet  East  and  West,  aud  extending  all 
the  way  up  to  the  surface — the  Coal  thus  left, 
in  mining  phraseology,  is  called  pillars,  and 
is  suffered  to  remain  for  the  purpose  of 
strengthening  or  supporting  the  slope ;  as,  in 
an  extensive  mine,  and  in  a  good  vein,  its  use 
may  be  required  for  a  great  number  of  years. 
A  pillar  of  Coal  of  some  twenty  feet  in  width 
is  also  left  all  along  the  upper  side  of  the 
gangway,  and  above  this  pillar,  and  up  to  the 
surface,  all  the  Coal  is  worked  out.  The  plan 
of  woi'king  adopted  by  miners  is  this :  two 
miners  aud  a  laborer  usually  work  a  breast, 
(like  the  swarth  of  a  cradler  in  the  harvest 
field,)  usually  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  in 
width  from  the  pillar  above  the  gangway  up 
to  the  sux-face.  They  make  an  opening  from 
the  gangway  through  the  pillar  above,  about 
where  the  centre  of  the  breast  will  be,  of  four 
or  five  feet  wide,  for  a  shtote ;  after  which  the 
full  extent  of  the  breast  is  opened  out,  aud 
the  shute  is  continued  up  the  centre,  down 
■which  the  Coal  slides  into  a  car  in  the  gang- 
way. Wlien  the  Coal  is  dug  out,  the  roof  is 
supported  by  props  of  timber,  placed  at  a 
distance  from  each  other  varying  from  six  to 
eight  or  ten  feet,  as  the  roof  may  be  found  to 
be  substantial  or  iudiffctdut.  The  seams  of 
Coal  vary  from  two  to  twenty-five  feet  in 

with  Messrs.  Milnes  &  Co.,  is  also  extensively  engaged 
in  Coal  mining,  &c.,  and  as  a  practical  husiness-man,  he 
is  at  once  the  pride  and  boast  of  his  fellcw-citizene  of 
Schuylkill  county.— [Editor. 

8 


thickness,  (rarely  exceeding  the  latter  figure). 
Those  of  from  ai.x  to  ten  feet  are  considered 
best,  as  they  can  be  worked  with  greater  fa 
cility  and  profit.  They  can  be  so  propped 
and  roofed  as  to  enable  the  miner  to  take  out 
every  particle  of  Coal  without  the  slightest 
danger  of  accident ; — while  those  of  greater 
thickness  must  be  worked  in  chambers,  and 
large  pillars  of  Coal  left  standing  to  support 
the  roof;  and  even  then  the  miner  is  exposed 
to  daiigei-  from  t!ie  pieces  falling  continually 
down. 

From  ten  to  fifty  of  these  breasts  are 
worked  sunultaaeously  up  to  the  surface ;  after 
which,  if  the  gangway  ia  far  enough  extended, 
new  ones  are  commenced,  and  the  same  ope- 
ration repeated,  until  all  the  Coal  on  Xh^Xlevet 
is  worked  out.  When  this  is  dorse,  the  slope 
must  again  be  driven  down  some  two  or  three 
hundred  feet ;  gangways  again  opened,  rail- 
ways laid  down,  aud  the  same  process  of  min- 
ing the  Coal  continued.  And  thus  the  miner 
gradually  gets  deeper  and  deeper  into  the 
breast  of  the  earth,  and  to  reward  his  indus- 
try and  perseverance,  Nature  has  provided 
the  purest  and  beet  Coal  low  down,  so  that 
the  farther  down  he  ventures,  the  better  and 
richer  becomes  his  reward ! 

The  deeper  the  mine,  however,  the  mora 
difficulty  is  experienced  in  keeping  the  works 
properly  ventillated  with  fresh  and  wholesome 
air  ;  and  nothing  but  long  practical  experience 
can  furnish  a  thorough  knowledge  of  this 
very  important  branch  of  the  mining  business.- 
We  shall  reserve  some  remarks  which  we 
intend  to  offer  on  this  subject,  for  the  conclu-r 
sion  of  the  present  article. 

Going,  now,  to  the  shutes  in  the  gangway,- 
we  find  cars  loaded  with  Coal.  A  mule,  which' 
is  in  most  cases  used,  will  draw  three  or  fbuf 
of  these  loaded  cars  to  the  foot  of  the  slope, 
where  they  are  left,  and  empty  cars  hauled 
back,  to  be  loaded.  One  of  the  loaded  cars 
is  then  pushed  upon  a  turning  platform,  by  a 
person  stationed  there  for  that  purpose:  he 
places  the  car  fairly  for  the  railroad  track  in 
the  slope,  attaches  the  chaiu  to  it,  draws  the 
pull  of  the  bell  as  a  signal  to  inform  those 
above  that  ''  all  is  ready,"  and  it  is  hoisted  up 
the  slope  by  the  engine,  while  an  empty  car 
descends,  at  the  same  time,  on  the  other  track. 
The  car  of  Coal  being  now  brought  to  the  top, 
it  is  unhitched,  pushed  aside,  and  an  empty  car 
pushed  into  its  place,  hooked  to  the  chain, 
and,  a  loaded  car  being  now  attached  on  the 
other  track,  the  bell  is  again  rung,  and  the 
empty  car  descends  and  the  loaded  one  as- 
cends, as  before.  This  hoisting  and  lowering 
of  cars  is  always  going  on  with  despatch  dur- 
ing the  day-time,  and  sometimes  during  the 
whole  night— ^there  being  always  two  sets  of 
hands  aud  miners,  one  for  the  day  and  the 
other  for  the  night.  The  time  usually  occu- 
ed  for  bringing  up  a  car  is  about  one  minute, 
which  includes  attaching  to  and  detaching 
the  car  from  the  chain,  &c.  Where  from  one 
to  two  hundred  tons  of  Coal  are  prepared  and 
shipped  daily,  (besides  the  refuse  and  accir 
mulated  rubbish  of  the  mine,  which  must  be 
brought  up)  it  will  bs  seen  that  it  forms  on« 


38 


Review  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


of  the  most  active  parts  of  the  business — re- 
quiring regularity,  despatch,  and  permanency 
in  the  machinery,  and  the  strictest  attention 
and  skill  in  the  hands.  Accidents  seldom 
occur ;  tlie  only  danger  which  is  suggested 
to  the  stranger,  is  in  the  strength  of  the  rope 
or  chain.  If  this  should  break,  as  is  sometimes 
the  case,  whoever  may  be  at  the  bottom  of 
the  slope  will  be  in  imminent  peril  with  his 
or  their  lives. 

We  now  come  to  a  feature  in  the  process 
of  preparing  Coal,  which  has  completely  re- 
volutionized the  former  plans  and  instruments 
—we  allude  to  Coal  Breakers. 

Previous  to  1844,  Coal  was  broken  almost 
entirely  by  hand — there  was  but  one  machine 
in  ase,  invented  by  Aaron  Vancleve,  consist- 
ing of  a  horizontal  plate,  perforated  with 
holes,  and.  &  heavy  roller  running  over  the 
Coal,  which  was  laid  on  the  plate.  It  was  used 
nearly  a  year  at  the  Beaver  Meadow  Mines, 
■i;vhen  it  was  thrown  aside. 

There  had  been  two  experiments  tried  at 
the  mines  of  Charles  Potts,  in  this  county ; — 
the  first  consisted  of  a  hollow  cylinder,  with 
points,  and  an  upright  roller, — presenting 
something  in  the  shape  of  a  bark  mill,  or  coffee 
mill,  as,  in  fact,  they  are  now  called.  The 
other  consisted  of  spring-hammers,  placed  on 
a  revolving  cylinder,  striking  from    the  un- 


der aide  of  the  grate  through  the  spaces,  so 
as  to  strike  the  Coal  laying  upon  it.  Both  of 
these  were  soon  abandoned — plates  having 
now  come  into  general  use.  These  plates  had 
holes,  80  that  as  the  Coal  was  broken  it  would 
fall  through,  while  the  larger  pieces  would 
roll  over  it.  This  was  accomplished  by  hand, 
the  instrument  used  being  similar  to  that  used 
for  breaking  turnpike  stones.  To  break  and 
screen  three  tons,  was  considered  a  day's 
work  for  one  man. 

On  the  2Sth  of  February,  1844,  Messrs.  J. 
&  S.  Battin,  of  Philadelphia,  started  one  of 
their  Breakers  at  the  mines  of  Gideon  Bast,  ia 
this  county.  The  Breaker  consists  of  four 
rollers,  two  of  which  are  on  cylinders  about 
thirty  inches  long  and  thirty  in  diameter,  with 
projections  or  teeth  about  two  and  a  half 
inches  long,  and  four  inches  wide,  from  centra 
to  centre.  The  cylinders  are  placed  in  a 
horizontal  position,  and  are  so  geared  with 
cogs,  that  they  turn  round  at  the  top  towards 
each  other,  and  bring  the  teeth  on  each  cylin» 
der  opposite  to  the  spaces  on  the  other. 
Above  these  are  placed  two  other  cylinders, 
with  larger  teeth  and  farther  apart,  geared 
and  arranged  in  the  same  manner,  which 
break  the  larger  lumps  of  Coal  before  they 
are  suffered  to  reach  the  lower  or  finishing 
cylinders. 


FRONT  VIEW  OF  COAL  BREAKER, 


1  Batten's  Breaker,  beneath   which  Perfora- 

ted       do. 

2  Hopper,  receives  the  Coal  after  it  is  brok«n. 
?  Scr»«ni,  with  apartments  for  '^ariotu   size* 

Coal. 
4  Shaft,  attached  to  Screen 


5  Shnte,  receives  Large  Coal. 

6  "        "  Broken  " 

7  "         "  Stove      " 

8  "  Egg 

9  ■•         "  Pea 


Mines  and  Mining, 


39 


The  Breaker  machiueiy  is  erected  as  near 
to  the  top  of  the  slope  as  local  circumstances 
will  admit,  and  considerable  elevation  is  ne- 
cessary in  order  to  break  and  prepare  the  Coal 
at  as  little  expense  as  possible.  The  side  of  a 
hill  is  usually  preferred,  as  a  railroad  to  con- 
duct the  loaded  car  from  the  mouth  of  the 
slope  to  the  Breakercan  easily  be  constructed, 
and  will  thus  avoid  the  expenses  of  ropes,  &c. 
for  an  inclined  plane,  upon  which  to  haul  up 
the  loaded  cars.  The  Breakers  are  all  turned 
by  steam,  with  but  a  few  exceptions.  An  en- 
gine of  twelve  or  fifteen  horse-povi'er  is  re- 
quisite for  driving  the  Breaker,  and  turning 
the  circular  screens,  and  they  are  built  on  the 
same  plan  as  the  larger  engines  for  hoisting 
and  pumping  water.  The  Breaker  rollers  are 
of  cast  iron,  placed  in  very  stong,  compact 
frame-work,  and  turned,  as  before  stated,  by 
means  of  a  belt  and  gearing-wheels.  The  most 
approved  rollers  now  in  use,  are  those  of 
Messrs.  Haywood  &  Snyder — being  perfora- 
ted between  the  teeth,  they  are  a  decided  im- 
provement upon  the  solid  periphery-rollers  of 
the  Messrs.  Battin,  inasmuch  as  there  is  less 


solid  surface  presented  to  the  Coal  in  break" 
ing,  and,  consequently,  less  crushing,  and  less 
Coal  wasted  in  dirt. 

The  loaded  car  being  brought  to  the  head 
of  the  breaker,  it  is  dumped,  and  the  Coal 
spilled  into  a  small  shute,  which  conducts  it 
into  the  Breaker.  The  Coal  passes  between 
and  through  the  rollers,  and  thence  falls  into 
circular  screens,  which  are  made  to  revolve 
continually  by  the  engine.  The  screen  is  so 
constructed  and  arranged,  that  the  different 
sizes  of  Coal  will  fall  into  their  respective 
apartments  below  (See  engraving.)  For 
instances  We  imagine  a  screen  twenty  feet 
long, — in  the  first  five  feet,  the  holes  of  the 
screen  are  quite  small;  the  next  five  feet  the 
holes  are  larger;  the  next  larger  again,  and 
the  next  still  larger.  This  is  the  manner  of 
the  screen.  When  the  Coal  falls  into  the 
screen  from  the  Breaker,  it  is  in  all  sizes  and 
shapes — but  as  it  enters  the  cylinder  it  falls 
into  apartments  below,  entirely  separate 
from  each  other.  Henry  Jenkins,  of  this  bo- 
rough, has  secured  a  patent  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  screens  for  this  purpose.     Previously 


SIDE  VIEW  OF  COAL  BBEAKER. 


1  Fly  Wheel  of  Breaker. 

2  Fully  on  Fly  Wheel  Shaft. 

3  Breaker  Shaft. 

4  Shute  for  conveying  Coal  to  Breaker 

5  Landing. 

6  Tip  Shute  from  Rail-road. 

7  Tip. 

3  Solid  Breaker. 
9  Perforated  do. 


10  Screen. 

11  Hopper. 

12  Shutes  for  receiving  Coal  from  Screen. 

13  Fly  Wheel  for  Engine. 

14  Pulley  on  Engine  Shaft. 

15  Bed  Plates  for  Engine. 
]  6  Place  for  Boiler. 

17  Inclined  Plane. 

18  Rail-road  from  Mine*, 


40 


Review  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


to  the  introdujCtion  of  Breakers,  the  Coal  was 
screened  by  hand.  The  screen  was  from  5  to 
8  feet  long,  and  from  1|  to  2^  feet  in  diameter, 
and  placed  in  a  frame,  slightly  inclined.  As 
the  Coal  entered  the  more  elevated  end,  the 
screen  was  turned  round  by  hand,  like  a  grind- 
stone. When  Breakers  were  introduced,  the 
screens,  as  previously,  were  constructed  of  bar 
iron,  riveted  on  frame  work.  But  great  trou- 
ble and  expense  was  experienced,  from  their 
liability  to  break,  and  the  difficulty  of  repair- 
ing them,  the  whole  work  being  necessarily 
stopped  until  this  was  accomplished.  Mr. 
Jenkin's  attention  was  soon  attracted  to  this 
subject,  and  it  was  not  long  ere  his  mechani- 
cal ingenuity  suggested  a  remedy.  He  ac- 
cordingly invented  a  machine,  by  which  the 
largest  and  thickest  wire  is  wrought  into  shape 
suitable  for  weaving ;  and  being  woven  to- 
gether in  frames  about  three  feet  wide,  the 
frames  are  placed  over  a  large  cylinder,  rouud- 
ded,  and  joined  together  with  strong  rivets, 
and  iron  bars.  The  screen,  thus  complete,  is 
I'emoved  from  the  bench,  and  joined  with  an- 
other of  the  same  dimensions,  but  of  larger 
or  smaller  nett-v^'oi-k.  These  screens  are  re- 
markably durable,  and  are  not  the  least  fea- 
ture which  have  tended  to  bring  Coal  Break- 
ers into  universal  use. 

After  the  Coal  leaves  the  screen,  and  falls 
into  its  appropriate  shutes,  railroad  cars  are 
hauled  immediately  along  side  the  openings, 
which,  being  raised  up  like  the  wickets  in  a 
mill  dam,  the  Coal  falls  out  into  the  car,  and 
when  a  sufficient  quantity  is  obtained,  the 
chute  is  closed,  and  then  the  Coal  leaves  for- 
ever the  scenes  of  its  past  history,  and  is 
borne  off  to  its  future  destiny. 

The  above  principle  can  easily  be  made  to 
break  a  ton  of  Coal  per  minute,  and  as  before 
stated,  has  already  made  an  entire  revolution 
inthe  modes  of  breaking  Coal.  There  are  now 
about  sixty  of  Battin's  Breakers  in  use  in  the 
Coal  regions,  being  nearly  double  the  number 
of  all  other  kinds, — rof  which  there  are  some 
half  dozen. 

The  within  engravings  may  assist  to  give 
the  reader  a  correct  idea  of  the  modus  oper- 
andi vve  have  been  describing, — but  we  are 
satisfied  they  will  not  impress  him  very  favor- 
ably with  the  present  state  of  the  fine  arts  in 
our  country  ! 

The  size  of  chain  generally  used  for  hoist- 
ing Coal  is  three-fourths  and  seven-eights  of 
an  inch ;  formerly  smaller  chains  were  used, 
and,  in  fact,  smaller  engines  and  lighter  ma- 
chinery ;  but  long  experience  and  heavy  bills 
of  repairs,  have  taught  tlie  Coal  operators 
that  engines,  pumps,  gearings,  chains,  &c., 
&c.,  must  be  strong  and  substantial  in  order 
to  withstand  the  incessant  lifting  and  straining 
to  which  they  are  subjected. 

Drainage.— We  may  now  offer  a  few  re- 
marks in  regard  to  drainage,  and  the  plan  of 
pumping  the  water  out  of  mines.  The  capac- 
ity of  the  pump  varies  from  ten,  twelve,  to 
fourteen  inches.  The  working  barrel  is  placed 
a  little  above  the  turning  platform  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  slope,  from  which  pipes  are  con- 
nected up  to  the  surface,  or  near  enough  to 


the  surface  to  have  the  water  carried  off. — 
Pump-rods  are  attached  to  the  bucket  in  the 
working-barrel,  and  extend,  of  coui-se,  to  the 
top  of  the  slope,  and  are  connected,  by  means 
of  a  large  pump-wheel,  with  the  engine. — 
Below  the  working-barrel,  of  the  pomp,  and 
below  the  turning  platform  at  the  foot  of  the 
slope,  a  Sump  is  driven  down,  of  the  same 
dimensions  as  the  slope,  to  the  depth  of  some 
thirty  or  more  feet.  This  forms  a  basin,  into 
which  the  water  of  the  mine  collects  from  all 
the  gangways  and  turnouts,  and  when  the 
amount  of  water  in  the  mine  is  not  very  great, 
it  will  be  a  considerable  time  in  filling,during 
which  there  need,  of  course,  be  no  pumping. 
In  rainy  seasons  the  water  is  sometimes  ren- 
dered very  troublesome  in  the  mines,  and  it 
is  therefore  expedient  to  have  the  sump,  and 
all  connected  with  the  pumping  apparatus,  in 
good  order  and  constant  readiness.  Pipes  are 
attached  below  the  working-barrel  and  into 
the  sump,  and  a  connection  being  thus  formed, 
the  water  is  pumped  out.  The  water  is  gen- 
erally pumped  out  at  times  when  the  engine 
is  not  hoisting  Coal,  though  it  is  often  neces- 
sary, however,  to  hoist  and  pump  at  the  same 
time.  At  some  of  the  Collieries,  two  engines 
are  used,  one  for  hoisting  the  Coal,  and  the 
other  for  pumping  up  the  water.  Several 
hogsheads  of  water  are  thrown  up  per  minute, 
vi'ith  great  ease  and  regularity. 

Drifts. — In  working  a  Coal  mine  above 
water-level,  no  engine  or  pumps  are  required. 
The  drift  is  commenced  on  the  surface,  at  the 
foot  of  a  hill,  where  the  vein  crops  out,  and  is 
driven  through  the  vein  in  the  same  manner 
as  described  when  below  water-level.  The 
mine  being  far  enough  in,  gangways  are  ex- 
tended to  the  right  and  left,  and  tire  Coal 
worked  out  upon  the  same  plan  as  in  slopes, 
when  it  is  hauled  to  the  breaker  by  horses  or 
mules.  As  the  gangway  is  above  water-level, 
with  a  slight  inclination  towards  the  drift, 
of  course  the  water  will  run  out,  thereby  ren- 
dering engines,  pumps,  and  pumping  appara- 
tus, wholly  unnecessary. 

Blasting  is  frequently  resorted  to,  in  min- 
ing, especially  when  working  large  veins. 
For  this  purpose  the  safety-fuse  is  used  almost 
invariably — the  Coal  being  generally  so  wet 
and  damp  that  the  ordinary  processes  of  blast- 
ing would  not  answer,  even  if  preferable  in 
an  economical  view,  which  they  are  not.  The 
safety-fuse,  too,  is  perfectly  safe,  which  gives 
it  not  the  least  important  advantage.  It  is  a 
species  of  fire-cracker,  the  principal  part  of 
the  composition  being  powder,  which  is  sur- 
rounded by  a  hempen  fabric,  and  then  cov- 
ered with  another  composition,  to  render  it 
water-proof,  of  which  the  greater  part  is  pitch. 
In  blasting  Coal,  it  is  difficult  to  keep  the 
water  from  filling  up  the  drill-hole, — but  by 
inserting  a  piece  of  safety-fuse,  and  then  fas- 
tening It  tightly,  no  other  preparations  are 
necessary.  The  match  is  applied,  and  follow- 
ing the  powder  thiough  the  fuse,  produces 
the  desired  result — affording  ample  time  for 
the  miners  to  withdraw,  whenever  desirable. 

Wo  perceive  that  a  patent  has  recently  been 
taken  out  in  England,  by  G.  Smith,  of'^Caro- 


Mines  and  Mining. 


41 


borne,  Cornwall,  for  an  improvement  in  the 
safety-fuse,  by  which  it  is  rendered  less  liable 
to  deteriorate  by  exposure  to  dampness  and 
water.  This  is  effected,  simply,  by  the  appli- 
cation of  a  covering  of  gutta-percha,  a  species 
of  caoutchouc  lately  introduced,  and  which 
promises  to  become  very  valuable  in  every 
branch  of  the  mechanic-arts. 

Faults. — The  Anthracite  Coal  fields  are, 
throughout,  more  or  less  faulty — the  Southern 
region  more  especially.  The  seams  of  Coal 
having  been  heaved  up,  and  at  other  places 
sunk  down,  their  local  positions — if  we  may 
BO  say — are  very  much,  and  in  various  ways, 
disturbed  and  contorted.  A  vein  of  Coal  may 
be  followed  for  half  a  mile  when,  gradually 
or  directly,  it  is  found  to  run  out,  and  a  mass 
of  solid  rock  occupying  its  place,  and  rising 
up  immediately  through  it.  To  get  on  the 
vain  again,  this  rock  must  be  tunnelled,  at  an 
expense  varying  from  fifteen  to  fifty  dollars  per 
yard,  and  without  knowing,  positively,  how 
far  the  tunnel  must  be  extended  ere  the  end 
can  be  accomplished.  In  cases  like  this,  vast 
fortunes  have  been  and  are  annually  spent. 
Persons  who  have  engaged  in  the  mining  bus- 
iness, and  invested  large  sums  in  the  erection 
of  the  necessary  buildings,  machinery,  rail- 
ways, etc.  after  getting  fairly  into  operation, 
and  while  their  success  seemed  complete, 
have  struck  one  of  these  faults,  and  in  a  short 
time  were  thrown  into  utter  bankruptcy.  All 
their  machinery  is  rendered  comparatively 
idle,  their  regular  business  suddenly  checked 
and  deranged,  and  thousands  of  dollars  going 
out  of  their  pockets.  Impressed  with  the 
belief,  which  seems  to  be  invariable  in  such 
cases,  that  a  few  yards  of  tunnelling  will  again 

{)lace  them  on  the  vein,  they  labor  assiduously 
rom  day  to  day,  and  from  week  to  week, 
entirely  realizing — though  not  in  the  literal 
sense — the  lines  of  Pope : 

Hope  springs  eternal  in  the  human  breast ; 
Man  never  is,  but  always  to  be  blest ! 

An  instance  just  now  occurs  to  us,  wherein 
a  Coal  Operator  having  a  cash  capital  of  from 
thirty  to  forty  thousand  dollars,  unexpectedly, 
in  the  course  of  a  successful  business,  struck 
a  rocky  fault.  He  immediately  commenced  a 
tunnel  through  it,  with  the  daily  expectation 
that  the  task  would  very  soon  be  completed. 
Every  additional  yard  of  excavation  but  in- 
creased his  hopes,  and  when  several  hundred 
yards  had  been  completed,  he  still  daily  and 
hourly  expected  to  break  upon  the  Coal.  He 
labored  until  his  means  were  finally  exhaust- 
ed. His  Colliery  establishment  was  exposed 
to  sale,  and  as  usual,  but  more  especially  in 
view  of  the  above  fault,  whose  extent  was 
still  involved  in  doubt,  it  sold  for  scarcely  half 
its  real  value.  The  former  owner  retired, 
dispirited,  exhausted  mentally  and  physically, 
as  well  as  financially.  The  new  one  took 
hold,  rather  distrustfully,  it  is  true ;  but  this 
did  not  long  continue.  A  few  days  placed 
him  on  one  of  the  richest  and  most  productive 
veins  of  Coal  in  the  region,  and  in  a  short  time 
thereafter,  this  gentleman  realized  the  ample 
fortune  lost  by  bis  unfortunate  predecessor ! 


There  are,  as  we  have  said,  vaj'ious  kinds 
of  faults;  in  fact,  although  they  may  all  have 
been  produced  by  the  same  general  agency, 
they  vary  in  their  particular  character  accord- 
ing to  the  ditl'crent  positions  previously  occu- 
pied by  the  strata.  At  some  places  a  stratum  of 
clay,  or  a  combination  of  earthy  substances,  is 
inter[)osed  ;  while  at  others,  no  such  obstacles 
appear — but  the  vein  is  broken  otl,  and  the 
dismembered  portion  sunk  down — just  as  we 
can  suppose  a  piece  of  glass,  laying  on  several 
small  rollers,  and  then  suddenly  broken  into 
irregular  fragments  :  some  pieces  would  be 
comparatively  large ;  some  would  no  doubt 
nearly  and  quite  join  each  other,  v/hile  other* 
would  occupy  various  relative  positions  to 
the  mass. 

The  reader  will  agree  with  us  that  Coal 
mining,  under  such  circumstances,  cannot  but 
be  an  extremely  hazardous  and  uucertaim 
business;  and,  indeed,  the  experience  of  some 
of  our  most  enterprising  and  intelligent  Ope- 
rators affords  substantial  proofs  of  the  fact. 
There  is  no  such  thing  as  overcoming  or  avoid- 
ing, entirely,  even  with  the  best  practical 
experience,  the  difficulties  and  dangers  with 
which  itis  fraught;  and  as  hr  Scientific'know- 
ledge,  ("properly  so  understood) — it  is  unques- 
tionably of  great  value  in  a  generel  way  :  but 
cannot  always  avail  in  each  particular  case 
and  locality, — for  it  is  a  truism  that  some  of 
its  most  accomplished  devotees  fallen,  con- 
temporaneously and  side  by  side,  with  their 
more  unlettered  rivals! 

Veritillntion,  S^^c. — We  now  approach  per- 
haps the  most  important,  abstruse,  and  not  the 
least  interesting  branch  of  the  subject  of  Coal 
mining.  In  England  thousands  of  dollars 
have  been  expended  in  experiments  to  arrive 
at  a  general  system  of  ventillation  ;  and  vol- 
ume upon  volume  of  practical  experience, 
and  theoretrical  essay,  have  been  published. 
But  a  few  years  since,  the  columns  of  the 
English  Mining  journals  were  filled  with  these 
lucubrations;  and  the  astounding  number  of 
persons  annually  destroyed  in  the  mining  re- 
gions,  at  last  excited  the  attention  of  the  gov- 
ernment, and  a  series  of  investigations  were 
instituted  under  its  authority.  The  means 
proposed  were  various,  and  the  wealth  of  a 
Girard  might  be  squandered,  ere  any  one 
theory  could  be  rendered'  practical,  j,er  se,  in 
all  Coal  mining  regions.  The  plan  of  ventil- 
lation must  always,  in  a  great  measure,  be 
governed  by  the  nature  of  the  Coal  itself;  by 
the  situation  and  local  position  of  the  strata ; 
by  the  arrangement  of  the  workings,  and  var- 
ious other  considerations,  which  make  one 
mine  different  from  another. 

From  various  data  before  us,  and  from  the 
practical  knowledge  imparted  to  us  in  repeat- 
ed conversations  with  friends  in  this  region, 
we  shall  endeavor  to  present  to  the  reader  an 
abstract  view  of  the  whole  subject — leaving 
for  him,  if  his  taste  so  incline,  to  add  to  the 
general  stock,  speculations  and  theories  of 
his  own. 

The  whole  subject  was  recently  taken  up 
and  reviewed  by  Prof.  Ansted,  of  England, 
in  the  course  of  a  series  of  Lectures  at  King's 


4'2 


Review  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


College,  on  the  Practical  applicatioa  of  Geo- 
logical Science  to  Mining.  Though  the  pub- 
lished reports  of  these  Lectures  are  of  great 
length,  we  shall  endeavor  to  present  a  brief 
outline  of  his  renaarks  upon  the  subject  under 
consideration, — which,  though  referring  par- 
ticularly to  the  Coal  mines  of  New  Castle, 
will  nevertheless  illustrate  those  of  our  own 
country. 

*  *  *  He  stated  that  he  should  now  confine 
liis   remarks   exclusively    to  the   phenomena 
.connected    with   those   accumulations  of  gas 
in  Coal  mines    which  caused  explosions  ;  and 
he   selected    this  opportunity,  partly  because 
the  subject  arose  naturally  out  of  that  of  Ven- 
tillation  in  Coal  mines,  being  also  itself  a  dis- 
tinct subject  of  the  greatest  possible   import- 
ance, and  also    because   public   attention  had 
been  called  to  it,  by  the  frequent  explosions 
and  the  great  loss  of  life  which  often  accom- 
panied them.     The  applicability  of  means  to 
prevent  these  direful  accidents  was  a  subject 
of  the   greatest  importance,  as   regarded  the 
internal  economy  of  the  mine  ;  and  he  should, 
therefore,  have  to  consider  the  circumstances 
under  which  accidents  of  this  kind  might  be 
expected  to  take  place;  the  danger  of  explo- 
aion  in  Coal  mines  arose,  no  doubt,  from  issues 
of  gas  proceeding   from  the  Coal  itself.     He 
had  already  had  occasion  to  mention  more  tiian 
once  the  fact   that  gas  was  constantly  given 
out  by  Coal ;  not  only  when  e.xposed  to  heat, 
or  unusual  compression,  but  also  under  oi-din- 
ary   atmospheric  conditions.     When  any  one 
went  into  a  Coal  mine  for  the  first  time,  they  j 
would    probably    notice   a   peculiar    singing   ' 
noise,  which,  though  it  was  not  easy  to  under-  ' 
stand,  there  was  no  doubt  arose  from  the  issue  S 
of  gas  from  the  Coal.     It  was  not  known  with  [ 
certainty,  whether  this  arose  from  the  burst- 
ing of  certain  small  vesicles   in  the  Coal;  or 
whether,  in  consequence  of  the  pressure  of  I 
the  gas  on  the  successive  films  of  which  the 
Coal  was  made  up,  the  singing  noise  resulted  , 
from   the   gas  coming  out,  as  it  were,  in  the  ' 
form  of  a  thin  plate.     Certain  it  was,  that  in 
Coal  mines,  there  was  this  unusual  noise,  and  ' 
that  it  was   connected  in  some  way  or  other  \ 
■with   the   presence   of  gas.     The  noise   was 
beard  unceasingly  in  mines  of  certain  kinds  of 
Coal,  and  in  every  such  case,  therefore,  meas- 
ures must  be  taken  with  regard  to  its  results. 
The  quantity   of  gas  thus  produced,  varied, 
however,  very  much  according  to  the  nature 
of  the   Coal  and  the  amount  of  atmospheric  ' 
pressure,  which  appeared  to  be  the  two  prin-  I 
cipal  causes  which   regulated  the  issue  of  gas 
from  the  fractured  surface  of  the   Coal.     In 
order  to  give  some  idea  of  the  quantity  of  gas 
sometimes  given  out,  he  might  mention,  that 
in  the  Bensham  seam,  which   was  known  to 
be  a  particularly   fiery  one,  gas  was  thrown  j 
out  so  rapidly,  and   in  such  purity,  that,  by 
boring  a  little  hole  in  the  mineral,  and  apply- 
ing a  light,  a  jet  flame  would  be  produced. — 
In  this  case,  the   gas  would  be  in  too  pure  a 
condition  to  be  explosive,  because,  to  make  it 
so,  a  certain  admixture  of  atmospheric  air  was 
neceesary.     The  q^uantity  of  gas  thus  given 
out  naturally  "by  emging,"  from  four  acreB  of  j 


Coal,  was  ascertained,  some  lime  ago,  to  a- 
mount  to  ten  thousand  hogsheads  per  minute- 
Seams  of  Coal,  however,  varied  very  much 
in  this  respect,  and  some  contained  scarcely 
any  gas  at  all.  Besides  this  constatit  issue  by 
singing,  there  was  another  way  in  which  the 
gas  was  met  wiih — namely,  in  what  was  cal- 
led '-blowers:"  these  were  puffs  of  gas,  some- 
times  taking  place  at  long  cracks,  or  at  faults, 
and  at  others  at  mere  holes;  they  were  some- 
times very  common,  and  produced  as  much  gas 
as  served  to  light  certain  parts  of  the  mine — 
as,  for  instance,  the  principal  passages;  and 
this,  indeed,  was  the  safest  possible  way  of 
getting  rid  of  it.  In  the  Killingworth  Mine 
tliere  was  a  "blower,"  which  haof  been  burn- 
ing for  some  years.  In  other  instances,  a  fault 
was  touched,  which  gave  out  gas,  and  when 
the  same  fgult  had  again  been  pierced,  it  had 
produced  no  gas.  Sometimes,  as  in  the  case 
of  the  Great  Jarrow  explosion,  when  the 
works  approached  near  a  fault,  the  pressure 
of  the  gas  pent  up  in  it  had  forced  forward  the 
Coal,  which  divided  it  from  the  mine,  and  in- 
volved all  the  workmen  in  certain  destruction. 
These  were  all  very  difficult  circumstances  to 
deal  with,  as  it  was  impossible  to  anticipate 
them.  Besides  these  blowers,  which  occur- 
red in  the  natural  state  of  the  Coal,  there  were 
constantly  dangerous  accumulations  in  por- 
tions of  the  mines  which  had  been  worked 
out,  or  partially  worked,  and  in  which  the 
roof  had  partly  fallen  down.  It  was  impossi- 
ble to  prevent  these  accumulations  where  the 
roof  had  fallen,  and  in  old  workings ;  and  they 
were  always,  more  or  less,  dangerous,  be- 
cause the  gas  was  here  inevitably  mixed  with 
atmospheric  air,  and  generally  in  such  propor- 
tions as  to  be  highly  explosive :  they  were  also 
not  uncommon  in  faulted  districts — where  the 
beds  were  in  a  broken  state,  the  result  of  con- 
traction, or  pressure,  at  some  remote  period. 
In  all  these  cases,  accumulations  of  gas  took 
place,  and  the  gas  was  liable  to  burst  forth  on 
the  smallest  atmospheric  change.  If,  for  in- 
stance, a  fall  in  the  barometer  indicated  that 
the  pressure  of  the  atmosphere  had  become 
less,  its  existence  would  not  be  so  great,  and 
a  quantity  of  compressed  gas  would  be  forced 
out  by  expansion.  Gas  being  thus  present  in 
the  mines,  either  in  the  body  of  the  Coal  it  • 
self,  or  in  accumulated  quantities,  the  danger 
arose  from  the  fact,  that  it  was  impossible  to 
conduct  mining  operations  underground  with> 
out  lights. 

The  most  convenient  way  of  lighting,  ac- 
cording to  the  miners,  was  by  candles;  and 
this,  partly,  because  they  were  easy  to 
carry  about,  and  partly  from  long  custom. 
There  was  a  great  prejudice  in  favor  of  can- 
dles, which  they  always  would  use  where- 
ever  it  was  possible.  Now,  it  must  be  re- 
membered, that  generally  part  of  the  mine 
only  was  liable  to  the  ordinary  issues  of  gas, 
while  other  parts  were  subject  to  what  might 
be  called  extraordinary  issues,  such  as  arose 
from  unexpected  accumulations.  In  the  for- 
mer case,  the  use  of  open  lights  would  be  per- 
fectly safe,  provided  the  general  ventillation 
were  tolerably  good.     Thus,  it  might  be  cotx« 


Ventillatioft  of  Mines. 


43 


sidered  that,  under  ordinary  circumstances 
iuch  parts  of  the  mine  would  be  safe,  and  the 
other  parts  dangerous :  and  it  was  generally 
found,  that  if  the  workmen  were  allowed  to 
use  candles  to  the  safe  parts,  they  did  not  ob- 
iect  to  use  lamps  in  the  dangerous  portions. 
But  the  condition  of  any  district  was  always 
liable  to  be  disturbed  by  new  blowers  com- 
mencing, or  by  theiriflnx  of  gas  from  the  dan- 
gerous districts;  and,  therefore,  a  vigilant  su- 
perintendence of  the  state  of  the  mine  was  in- 
dispensable. It  was  also  necessary,  if  any- 
thing was  to  be  done  in  the  dangerous  parts 
of  the  mine,  that  light  should  be  obtained  by 
safer  means  than  by  candle?,  because  the 
smallest  contact  of  flame  was  suflficient  to  ex- 
plode certain  mi.xtures  of  carburetted  hydro- 
gen gas  and  the  atmospheric  air.  The  explo- 
sive admixture  was  a  mechanical  one,  and  it 
was  necessary  to  understand  precisely  of 
what  proportions  it  was  formed.  If  the  gas 
came  out  pure,  and  a  candle  was  thrust  into 
it,  the  flame  would  be  extinguished,  because 
there  was  nothing  to  support  combustion;  the 
gas  itself  would  take  fire.  If  there  were 
three  parts  of  atmospheric  air  and  one  of  gas, 
it  began  to  be  faintly  explosive  ;  and,  when 
once  explosive,  it  would  set  fire  to  other  gas, 
which  was  too  pure  to  explode.  When  the 
gaswasaslto  6,  it  became  very  explosive, 
and  continued  so  until  the  proportions  were 
1  to  10,  when  it  became  less  explosive. 
The  danger,  however,  was  not  destroyed  un- 
til the  mixture  became  weaker  than  1  part  of 
f;a8  to  14  of  air;  after  that  it  merely  en- 
arged  the  flame  of  any  light  which  might  be 
brought  into  it,  and  turned  it  blue.  The  mi- 
ner was  thus  enabled,  by  the  lengthening  of 
the  flame  of  his  light,  and  its  appearance,  to 
tell  whether  he  was  in  a  dangerous  part  of  the 
mine,  and  the  amount  of  gas  that  might  be 
present  in  the  atmosphere.  If  the  flame  reach- 
ed to  a  certain  height,  the  practical  miner 
could  tell  at  once  how  nearly  the  atmosphere 
approached  an  explosive  combination,  and 
with  some  other  similar  points  affecting  his 
safety,  and  that  of  his  fellow-workmen,  long 
habit  had  made  him  familiar. 

There  were  several  considerations  of  im- 
portance connected  with  these  explosive  ad- 
mixtures of  gas  and  air ;  as,  for  instance,  the 
effect  produced  by  the  breathing  of  a  number 
of  men,  which  very  much  lessened  the  dan- 
ger, by  altering  the  proportions  of  nitrogen 
and  oxygen  in  the  atmosphere ;  and  thus  one 
portion  of  the  mine  would  be  less  explosive 
than  another,  though  both  might  contain  the 
same  proportion  of  carburetted  hydrogen. 

Every  part  of  the  mine  which  was  capable 
of  being  worked,  should,  in  all  cases,  be  visi- 
ted with  guarded  lights,  before  other  lights 
were  allowed  to  be  taken ;  and  the  state  of 
the  mine  should  always  be  well  ascertained 
before  open  lights  were  used.  There  was 
also  a  certain  amount  of  danger  in  going  into 
some  portions  of  a  fiery  mine  ;  and,  until 
within  the  last  thirty  years,  the  only  means  of 
obtaining  any  degree  of  light  in  such  cases, 
was  by  the  use  of  an  apparatus  called  the 
tUtl-miU.     This  wm  a  very  ingenious  contri- 


vance, by  which  a  strain  of  sparks  was  pro  - 
duced  by  pressing  a  flint  against  a  revolving 
plate  of  steel ;  and  this  afforded  sufficient  light 
to  move  about,  but  not  enough  to  work  by. 
It  was,  moreover,  a  dangerous  contrivance — • 
for,  every  now  and  then,  there  could  be  no 
doubt,  a  flame  was  produced,  sufficient  to  ex- 
plode gas  under  certain  circumstances,  and 
particularly  if  olefiant  gas  should  be  present, 
which,  however,  did  not  appear  often  to  be 
the  case  in  English  mines. 

About  thirty  years  ago,  a  great  number  of 
serious  accidents  occurred  in  the  mines  of  the 
north  of  England,  following  each  other  in 
alarmingly  rapid  succession.  Very  many  lives 
were  lost,  and  the  public  attention  was  much 
directed  to  the  question  whether  or  not  some 
improvement  could  not  be  discovered  in  the 
way  of  lighting  the  mines-  Sir  Humphrey 
Davy,  the'n  in  the  zenith  of  his  reputation, 
was  applied  to  by  Mr.  Buddie,  a  well-knowu 
colliery  viewer  of  that  day,  and  invited  to 
turn  his  attention  to  the  subject.  Humboldt 
had  before  attempted  to  overcome  this  diflS- 
culty  ;  but  his  contrivance  was  only  partially 
useful  for  visiting  dangerous  mines,  as  it  would 
not  burn  longer  than  half  an  hour,  the  flame 
being  supported  by  a  reservoir  of  atmospheric 
air  within  the  lamp.  Dr.  Clanny  improved 
this  lamp,  admitting  the  external  air  freely  io 
cases  when  it  was  used  in  an  explosive  state ; 
but  this  lamp  was  practically  useless,  as  th« 
explosions  which  took  place  inside  it  soon  put 
out  the  light. 

The  learned  lecturer  then  proceeded  to 
explain  Sir  H.  Davy's  invention.  Its  princi- 
ple was  founded  upon  the  discovery,  that  the 
explosion  of  the  mixture  in  question  did  not 
pass  through  small  tubes ;  and  after  numerous 
experiments.  Sir  Humphrey  Davy  found,  that 
the  length  of  the  tubes  was  of  no  consequence, 
but  that  wire  gauze,  the  apertures  being  of 
the  proper  dimensions,  answered  the  same 
purpose.  By  this  means,  all  necessity  for  aa 
exterior  glass  was  got  rid  of,  and  the  new 
lamp  might  be  carried  into  the  most  explosive 
admixtures  without  danger.  Such  was  the 
Davy  lamp ;  and  he  believed  that,  as  it  was 
the  first,  it  was  also  by  far  the  best,  real  safety 
lamp  that  had  been  invented.  It  was,  per- 
haps, not  perfect,  judging  only  by  experiment , 
but  it  was  decidedly  the  best  for  all  practical 
purposes, as  it  was  more  manageable  than  any 
other,  and  not  so  easily  put  out  of  order.  The 
gauze  usually  employed  was  made  of  iroa 
wire,  and  it  had  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
four  holes  to  the  square  inch.  Sir  Davy,  hav- 
ing perfected  his  lamp,  went  down  to  the 
Newcastle  Coal  field,  and,  with  Mr.  Buddie, 
traversed  with  impunity  some  of  the  must 
dangerous  parts  of  the  Bensham  seam,  at  that  . 
time  the  most  fiery  known.  The  Davy  lamp 
had  been  used  with  great  success  ever  since ; 
and,  though  some  accidents  had  occurred  un. 
der  circumstances  in  which  no  lights,  but 
those  of  Davy  lamps  were  present — it  was  as 
safe  as  any  such  instrument  could  be.  The 
superiority  of  this  lamp  over  more  recent  in- 
ventions consisted  in  its  producing  a  greater 
quantity  of  light,  and  being  more   port»bl» 


44 


Review  of  the  Coal  Resioiu. 


with  at  least  as  much  safety.  Mr.  George 
Stephenson,  the  engineer,  had  also  invented  a 
lamp,  which  was  called  a  "Geordie,"  after  the 
name  of  the  inventor.  It  was,  however,  mere- 
ly a  modification  of  the  Davy  lamp,  by  the  ad- 
dition of  a  glass  tube,  which  answered  the 
double  purpose  of  increasing  the  light  and 
keeping  the  flame  steady,  by  shielding  it 
from  currents  of  air.  This,  perhaps,  gave  it 
additional  safety  while  porfect,  as  it  was  pos- 
sible to  drive  an  explosion  of  common  street 
gas  through  the  gauze  of  a  Davy  lamp.  The 
glass,  however,  was  liable  to  be  broken,  and 
then  the  instrument  became  a  large  and  some- 
what dangerous  "Davy."  in  some  of  the 
Belgian  mines  a  lamp,  called  "  the  Ivluesseler 
lamp,"  was  in  use,  but  it  was  a  very  conipli- 
cated  affair,  and  for  that  purpose  was  inferior 
to  Sir  H.  Davy's  invention.  No  doubt,  it  was 
safer  theoretically,  as  by  it  the  flame  was  ex- 
tinguished the  moment  the  lamp  was  taken 
into  a  dangerous  atmosphere ;  but  this  very 
much  lessened  its  utility,  the  main  point  being 
that  the  lamp  shall  give  light  with  safety  un- 
der such  circumstances.  The  Davy  lamp, 
with  care,  might  betaken  anywhere.  He  (the 
lecturer)  had  himself  been  in  every  description 
of  atmosphere,  and  he  had  often  seen  explo- 
sions take  place  inside  the  Davy  lamp  by 
which  he  was  lighted.  This,  indeed,  was  a 
circumstance  which  happened  constantly  to 
every  viewer,  over-man,  and  Davy-man  in  the 
Newcastle  coal  field.  The  true  danger  of  the 
Davy  lamp  was  one  that  would  apply  equally 
to  any  other,  and  it  arose  from  the  fact,  that 
its  constant  use  made  the  workmen  careless, 
and  the  more  it  was  used,  therefore,  the 
greater  chance  was  there  of  accidents.  The 
learned  lecturer  here  exhibited  a  printed  pla- 
card, setting  forth  the  regulations  which  were 
adopted  in  several  collieries,  in  respect  to 
Davy  lamps,  the  most  important  being  that 
which  enacted  that  no  man  should  be  allowed 
to  use  his  Davy  lamp  until  it  had  been  exam- 
ined carefully  by  the  Davy-man,  and  pro- 
nounced perfectly  clean  and  in  good  order, 
nor  until  it  was  securely  locked,  so  that  the 
workman  could  not  take  it  to  pieces,  and  ex- 
pose the  flame  in  an  unguarded  manner. 

With  regard  to  actual  accidents,  the  profes 
sor  remarked  that  he  should  not  say  much 
beyond  placing  before  them  the  circumstan- 
ces of  a  few  of  the  most  disastrous,  which 
would  serve  to  explain  the  nature  of  the  re- 
sults of  the  explosions  of  which  he  had  ex- 
plained the  cause.  The  most  important,  then, 
that  he  should  mention,  occurred  in  the  Has- 
well  colliery,  on  the  28th  September,  1844, 
when  ninety-five  lives  were  lost ;  and  the  next 
was  that  at  the  Jarrow  Pit,  on  the  3d  of  Aug. 
J  845,  when  forty-one  persons  were  killed. 
In  the  same  year,  thirty -six  lives  were  lost  at 
Killingworth;  and  in  1846,  nineteen  at  Old- 
bury  and  thirty-six  at  Risca.  By  these  acci- 
dents occurring  within  a  period  of  little  more 
than  two  years,  upwards  of  two  hundred  per- 
80UB  lost  their  lives;  and  he  had  grouped 
these  accidents  together,  in  order  to  give  an 
idea  of  the  extent  to  which  they  occurred. 
There  were,  then,  two  hundred  lives  lost  in 


two  years,  in  working  Coal  mines,  from  acci- 
dents which,  in  the  opinions  of  the  juries  who 
held  inquests  on  the  unfortunate  sutterers, 
could  not  possibly  have  been  prevented — the 
mines  being  in  every  case,  except,  perhaps,  in 
that  of  the  least  considerable,  in  good  condi- 
tion at  the  time. 

In  the  first  of  these   accidents,  that  of  the 
Haswell  Colliery,  there   were  under  ground, 
at  the  time  of  the   accident,  ninety-nine  per- 
sons, of  whom  four  only  escaped.     It  was  an 
important  consideration  ( which  also  applied 
to  other  accidents),  whether  it  was  absolute- 
ly unavoidable,  the  catastrophe  having  occur- 
red, that  all  these  people   should  be  killed. — 
It  might  be  that  the  whole  matter  was  beyond 
human  control,  as  in  the  case  of  a  shipwreck- 
If  we  crossed  the  sea,  the  vessel,  being  made 
by    humau   hands,    was    liable    to   accidents 
which  might  happen  from  stress  of  weather, 
which  no  one  could  help ;    or  by  carelessness, 
in  respect  of  which  some  one  would  be  culpa- 
ble.    If  everything    were  done  to  render  the 
vessel   seaworthy,  there    would  be  no  blame 
attaching   in    respect  to  its   condition,  though 
it  should  be  wrecked  in  a  storm  ;  but,  if  the 
vessel  were  sent  to  sea  in  an  unsafe  condition, 
there  was  blame.     Just  so  was  it  with  regard 
to  mines :  if  the  mine  were  in  as  good  a  con- 
dition as  science,  and  the  adoption  of  the  best 
plans   could   make  it,  no  blame  might  be  at- 
tributable to  any  one  for  an  unforeseen  acci- 
dent.    But,  if  it  were  possible  so  to  manage 
the  mine  as  to  lessen  the  chance  of  accident 
— (  he  did  not   believe  accidents  could  be  en- 
tirely prevented  ) ;  and  if  that  were  not  done, 
then  there  would   be  blame.     The  sea  must 
be  crossed,  despite   of  shipwrecks ;  and  Coal 
must  be   had,  let  it  cost  what  it  might ;  the 
point  was  to  get  it  under  the  most  favorable 
circumstances.    In  the  case  of  each  accident 
therefore,  it  was  important  to  consider  wheth- 
er everything   was  done  by  way  of  preveo- 
tion  and  palliation  which  could  be  done.     la 
the   case   before  them,  that  of  the   Haswell 
Colliery,  the  accident  occurred  in  a  part  of 
the  mine  where  the  pillars  had  been  removed 
and  the  workmen  were  taking  away  the  props. 
This  was  always  a  delicate  operation,  because, 
the  props  being  removed,  the  roof  fell,  and 
the  accumulations  of  gas  were  disturbed,  and 
often  shifted.     Before  proceeding  farther  with 
the  particulars  of  this  melancholy  accident,  it 
would  be  necessary  to  mention   the  effects  of 
an  explosion  upon  the  atmosphere.     The  car- 
buretted  hydrogen  when   exploded  became 
decomposed ;  the  oxygen  in  the  atmosphere 
mixed  with  the  hyflrogen  and  formed  water, 
and  nothing  was  left  to  breathe  but  pure  car- 
bonic acid   gas.     This   was  a  most  poisonous 
gas.  and   produced  instant  death  by  choking. 
At  least,  insensibility  was  instantaneons ;  and, 
although  in  such  cases,  when  measures  were 
taken  almost  immediately,  recovery  had  taken 
place,  death  was   generally   inevitable.     The 
result  of  an  explosion,  therefore,  was  to  turn 
the  atmosphere  into   pure  carbonic  acid  gas ; 
and  every  man  in  that  district  of  tho  mine,  in 
which  the  accident  occurred,  was  doomed  to 
certain  death.     The  Haswell    Mine  was  (iivi- 


Ventillatimi,  ^e* —  Gaseous  Exploiion&. 


46 


ded  iuto  three  great  diviaions,  or  three  paunel 
workings ;    the   explosion    took    place  in  the 
middle   division,    and    thirty  or  I'uity  ptnsous, 
far  removed  from  the  scene  oi  the  accident,  in 
another  paauel,    were   poisoned  by  the  after-  ], 
damp.     This  could  not  have  occurred  had  the 
ventillation  of  each  pannel  been  as  distinct  as 
it  might  have  been  ;    and — ho  was,   therefore, 
bound  to  say — as  it  ought  to  have  been.    The 
explosion  at  the  Jarrow  Pit,  in  Aug.  1845,  by 
which  fortv-one  persons    were  killed,  was  an- 
other instance  where  such  a  larii;e  destructiou 
of  human  life  was  occasioned  by  the  absence 
of  two  shafts  ;  for  the  means  of  vciitillatiou  at 
the  only  one  being  destroyed  by  the  accident, 
there  was  no  means  of  restoring  it  previously 
to  the    niischie!    being  done.     Another  inter- 
esting case  occurred  in  ilie  Killiugworth  col- 
liery in  J845,  which  was  the  result  of  a  fault. 
On  one  side   of  the  district  there  was   a  long 
stone  drift,  at  light  angle?  to  l!ie  main  roUey- 
wa5'  of  the    pannel,  in  which  the   men  were 
working  ;  a  fault  was  reached,  and  this  gallery 
not  prosecuted   beyond  it.     The  chief  object 
was  to  drive  through  a  mass  of  coal  iu  oixler  to 
get  the  ventillation  completed,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose they  were  at  work  day  and  nights     The 
fault  was  pricked  in  the  couise  of  the  work  in 
a  succession  of  places,  up  to  two  or  three  days 
before   the  accident,  which   took    place  on  a 
Thursday,    without   any   uuusual   presence  of 
gas  being  observed.     Ou  the  Wednesday  the 
fault  was  once  more  pricked,  and  no  gas  came 
outi     On    Thuisday,  one  set  of  men  had  per- 
formed  their   allotted  portion  of  work,   and 
about   two   hours  afterwards  aiiother  gang  of 
workmen    descended  ;    and  it  is  singular  that, 
though  the  gallery  was  considered  so  far  dan- 
gerous that  the  meu  were  working  with  Davy 
lamps,  a  boy   wbs   allowed  to  precede  them 
with  an  open  candle — a  piece  of  carelessness 
most   inexcusablff,    and  for  which  they   paid 
with  their  lives ;  before  they  reached  the  spot 
where  the  workings   were,  au  explosion  took 
place,  and  every  person  in  the  mine  perished. 
Some  idea  of  the  force  of  these  explosions 
1   might  be  deduced  from  the  fact   that    on  this 
I  occasion,    a  stopping  consisting   of  thirty-six 
I  fe'et  of  rough    materials,    with  an  inch  and  a 
j  half  brick    wall  on  either  side,    was  blown  to 
!   pieces.     In   another   instance,  at  the   Jarrow 
1  mine,  an  accident  happened,  and  on  examin- 
ing the   mine   afterwards,  a  cavity  was  found, 
in  which  there  had  been  probably  about  two 
hundred  cubic  feet  of  gas  in  a  very  condensed 
state,  and  the  side  of  the  cavity  being  reduced 
j   by  the  working,  it  had  given  way,  and  let  out 
I   the  whole,   which  exploded  with  irresistible 
force.     This  was  a  kind  of  accident  to  which 
I   the  miners  were  constantly  liable,   and  which 
i    no  vigilance  could  foresee  or  prevent.     Acci- 
!    dents,  and  all  their  particulars,   ought  always 
;   to  be  recorded,  and  they  could  not  be  discus^ 
i    Bed  too  mnch.     It  was   quite  clear   that,  al- 
I   though  it  was   impossible  to  avoid  accidents, 
I   the  risk  was  greatly  diminished  by  good  and 
effective    systems  of  ventillation,   and  by  un- 
ceasing care  in  the  use  of  lights. 

In  continuation  of  this  subjsct,  we  make  the 

9 


followiug  extructij,  principally  ij'om  the  recestt 
valuable  work  of  Mv.  Taylor:* 

*  "  The  wiirkrnou  of  the  Creuaot  miae 
descended  oue  morning,  the  oue  following  the 
other,  in  rotation,  into  a  shaft  below,  in  wnicli 
carbonic  acid  had  accumulated  during  the 
night.  Arrived  at  the  level  of  the  "  bain,"  at 
a  few  yards  from  the  bottom  of  the  pit,  the 
first  fell,  struck  with  as[)hyxia,  without  having 
time  to  utter  u  cry  i  llio  second  followed  imme- 
diatr:ly  ;  the  third  saw  his  comrades  prostrated 
on  the  ground,  almost  within  reach  of  his 
arm  ;  he  stooped  to  seize  them,  and  fell  him- 
self; another  quickly  shared  ihs  same  fate,  ia 
his  desire  to  save  the  others,  and  tho  catastro- 
pho  would  not  have  been  arrested  had  not  the 
fifth  been  uu  experienced  master  miner,  who 
obliged  tho.se  whu  followed  him  to  reaseead. 
The  gazes  which  rt>sult  from  the  subterra- 
neous decompofiition  of  the  coal,  have,  besides 
carbonic  acid,  carbonic  oxide,  azote,  sulphur- 
ous acid,  and  the  carburets  of  hydrogen,  which 
have  a  special  odour.  Before  the  coal  taket 
fire,  the  interior  air  is  already  heavy  and  heat- 
ed bv  the  gaseous  disengagemeuts  which  are 
the  precursers  of  ignition.  As  quickly  aa 
these  symptoms  are  remarked,  the  coals  al- 
ready miued  should  be  raised,  and  we  should 
isolate  from  the  surrounding  air  the  region  or 
the  crevices  which  enclose  the  fire  ;  employ- 
ing at  this  work  the  laborers  whose  organiza- 
tion is  known  to  be  the  best  adapted  to  sup- 
port the  deleterious  influence  of  tliese  gazes. 

Azott,  or  nitrogen  gas,  is  much  less  to  bd 
dreaded  than  the  carbonic  acid  ;  because  iti 
action  upon  the  animal  economy  is  less  ener- 
getic: besides,  its  jiroduction  can  only  take 
place  by  the  absorption  of  oxygen  from  the 
air,  and  it  does  not  naturally  exist  in  the  fis- 
sures or  cavities  of  the  rocks.  It  has,  then,  no 
spontaneous  disengagement;  butifwepen©- 
ti-ate  into  the  works  which  have  been  a  long 
time  abandoned,  and  where  there  has  been 
combustion,  the  azote  will  occupy,  in  conse- 
quence of  its  lightness,  the  higher  parts  of  tho 
excavations,  while  the  carbonic  acid  will  oc- 
cupy the  lower  parts;  the  respirable  air  form- 
ing the  intermediate  zone.  Azote  is  found 
isolated  in  certain  mines,  where  there'  exist 
pyrites  in  a  state  of  decomposition ;  the  Bul- 
phurets  changing  into  sulphates,  absorb  the 
oxygen  and  isolate  the  azote ;  the  snlphuret  of 
iron  is.  in  this  respect,  the  most  active  agent* 

Azote  manifests  itself  by  the  red  color  of  the 
flame  of  the  lamps,  which  ends  by  extinction ; 
it  renders  respiration  difficult,  produces  a  hea- 
viness of  the  head,  and  a  hissing  or  singing  ia 
the  ears,  which  seems  to  indicate  a  mode  of 
action  different  from  that  of  carbonic   acid. 

The  ordinary  lamp  of  the  miner  is  extin- 
guished when  the  air  contains  no  more  than 
15  per  cent,  of  oxygen:  [the  atmospheric  air 
is  composed  of  21  per  cent,  of  oxygen  and  79 
per  cent,  of  azote,]  it  is  also  at  this  proportion 
of  85  per  cent,  of  azote  that  asphyxia  or  suffo- 
cation is  caused. 


■  StatisticB  of  Coal,  &.C.— -upwards  of  1200  pp. :  el- 
egan»!v  il'Uitrated  with  maps  and  engravings— pHr* 
^5      rhi'.adelphia.  J.  W.  Msore 


46 


Review  of  the  Coal  Begions. 


Proto-carbonated  liydrogcn,  or  iiiflHinniable 
air,  designated  by  tlie  French  ami  ]3elgiaii 
miners  under  the  name  o{  gri.sou,  is  of  all  tlie 
gases  the  most  ilungcrous;  that  which  occa- 
sions the  greatest  number  of  accidents,  not  by 
asphyxia,  which  it  can  ueveriholess  produce 
when  it  is  not  mixed  with  at  least  twice  its 
volume  of  air,  but  for  its  property  of  igniting 
when  in  contact  with  lighted  flames,  and  of 
exploding  when  it  is  mixed,  in  certain  pro- 
portions, with  atmospheric  air. 

The  grisou  is  more  abundant  in  the  fat  and 
friable  coals,  than  in  the  dry  and  meagre  coals; 
it  particularly  disengages  itself  in  the  crushed 
places,  6boule.rnents,m  the  recent  stalls  whose 
surfaces  are  laid  bare,  and  thatso  vigorously 
as  often  fo  decripitate  small  scales  of  <oal  and 
produce  a  slight  rustling  noise.  The  fissures 
or  fractures  of  the  coal,  and  even  the  clefts  of 
the  roof  or  the  floor,  give  sometimes  outlets  to 
sovfflards  or  jets  of  gas.  The  actifjii  of  this 
gas  upon  the  flaine  of  the  lamps  is  the  most 
certain  guide  in  ascertaining  its  presence  and 
proportion.  The  Hame  dilates,  elongates,  and 
takes  a  bluish  tint,  which  can  readily  be  dis- 
tinguished by  placing  the  liaiid  between  the 
eye  and  the  flame,  .so  that  only  the  top  of  it  can 
be  seen.  As  soon  as  the  proportion  is  equal 
to  a  twelfth  part  of  the  ambient  air,  I  lie  mix- 
ture is  explosive,  and  if  a  lamp  be  carried,  it 
will  produce  a  detonation  jiroportionate  to  the 
volume  of  the  mixture.  When,  therefore,  a 
miner  perceives  at  the  top  of  the  Maine  of  Ids 
lamp  the  bluish  nimbus  which  decides  the 
presence  of  the  fire-flamp,  he  ought  to  retire, 
either  holding  his  light  very  low  or  even  to 
extinguish  it. 

The  chemical  ettects  of  an  explosion  are,  the 
direct  production  of  the  vapours  of  water  and 
carbonic  acid  and  the  separation  of  azote. 
The  jihysical  effects  are,  a  violent  dilatation  of 
gas  and  of  the  surrounding  air,  followed  by  a 
-reaction  through  contraction.  The  workmen 
who  are  exposed  to  this  explosive  atmosphere 
are  burned,  and  the  fu'e  is  even  capable  of 
communicating  to  the  wood  work  or  to  the 
coal ;  the  wind  produced  by  the  expansion  is 
so  gre^t  that,  even  at  considerable  distances 
from  the  site  of  explosion,  the  laborers  are 
thrown  down,  or  projected  against  the  .sides  of 
the  excavations;  the  walls,  tlie  timberirig,  are 
shaken  and  broken  ;  and  crushing,  or  falling 
down,  is  produced.  These  destructive  effects 
can  be  propagated  even  at  the  mouths  of  the 
pits,  from  which  are  projectetl  fragments  of 
wood  and  rocks,  accompanied  by  a  thick  tem- 
pest of  coal  ill  the  form  of  dust. 

The  evil  rests  not  there;  considerable  quan- 
tities of  carbonic  acid  and  azoto,  produc<;d  by 
the  combu.stiou  of  the  gas,  become  stationary 
in  the  works,  and  cause  those  who  have  esca- 
ped the  immediate  action  of  the  explosion  to 
pei-ish  by  suffocation.  The  ventillating  cur- 
rents, suddenly  arrested  by  this  perturbation, 
are  now  much  more  difficult  to  re-eslablish, 
because  the  doors  which  served  to  regulate 
them  are  partly  destroyed  ;  the  fires  are  ex- 
tinguished, and  often,  even  the  machines  fixed 
at  the  mouths  of  the  shafts,  to  regidate  the  cur- 
rents, are  dam;iged  and  displaced,  to  such  an 


1 


extent   that  it  becomes    impossible  to  couveyi 
auy  help  to  the  bottom  of  the  works. 

— A  great  number  of  accidents  have  taken 
place  on  Monday  mornings,  when  the  miners 
descend  after  having  qtdtted  the  mine  on  Sat- 
urday. M.  Bischof  reports  that  having  visited' 
a  gallery  which  had  been  abandoned  for  sev- 
eral days,  he  found  tiie  gases  liquated  to  such 
an  extent  that  they  were  inflammable  in  every 
part  of  the  area  ;  detonating  in  the  ^middle 
portion,  while  the  almost  pure  atmospheric 
air  filled  the  lower  part. 

It  is  very  dangerous  to  allow  these  liqua- 
tions to  accumxdate  ;  it  is  necessary  that  the 
cun-ent  ot  air  be  sufficiently  active  to  pioduce 
immediately  the  diH'usioii  of  the  ga.s  in  the  air 
and  its  withdrawal  out  of  the  mine  before  ilie 
mixture  has  become  explosive.  But,  not- 
withstanding the  precautions  of  ventillation — 
aerage — many  mines  would  be  completely 
unworkable  if  there  had  not  been  found  fclie 
special  means  ol'  guarding  them  from  the  iire- 
danip — grisou.  The  coal  beds  most  danger- 
ous— as  has  been  previously  stated — are  those 
which  are  the  most  valuable  for  their  good 
qualities;  science  ;iiul  industry  have  therefore 
been  called  on  to  seek  the  means  of  combat- 
ing tlie  effects  of  the  grisou,  and  we  proceed  l 
to  expose  tho.se  which  have  been  successively  ' 
employed  : 

Means  to  Check  Firc-Diimp. — The  first  idea 
which  presented  itself  to  the  explorers  was  to 
disembarrass  themselves  of  the  gas  by  allow- 
ing the  liquation  to  establish  itself  and  by  set- 
ting it  on  lire,  so  as  to  burn  it,  in  the  absence 
of  the  minei-s.  For  this  purpose  a  workman, 
cliilhed  ill  vestments  ui  moistened  leather,  bis 
visage  protected  by  a  mask  with  spectacles  of 
glass,  advanced,  crawling  on  his  belly,  in  the 
galleries  where  the  fire-damp  was  known  to 
exist,  and  holding  foi-ward  a  long  pole,  at  the 
end  of  which  was  a  lighted  torch;  lie  sounded 
thus  the  irregularities  of  the  roof,  the  fi-oni  of 
the  excavations,  and  set  fire  to  the  gri.sous. 
This  method,  which  has  beenenqdoyed,  within 
twenty  years,  in  the  basin  of  the  Loire,  and 
even  occasionally  at  the  present  day,  in  some 
of  the  English  fiery  collieries,  has  numerous 
inconveniences.  The  workmen,  whom  they 
called  ■penitents,  were  exposed  to  dangers  to 
such  an  extent,  that  a  great  number  perished. 
\Vhen  the  gas,  instead  of  being  simply  inflam- 
mable, was  detonating,  the  solidity  of  the  mine 
was  cojistantly  compromised  by  the  e.tplo- 
sions ;  the  fire  attacked  the  coal  and  the  tim- 
bers ;  the  gases,  which  resulted  from  the  com- 
bustion, became  stationery  in  the  works,  and 
menaced  the  workmen  with  asphyxia ;  at 
length  it  became  necessary,  in  certain  mines, 
to  repeat,  even  three  or  four  times  a  day,  this 
perilous  operation,  and  yet  it  in  no  respect 
obviated  the  rapid  disBugagements  which 
caused  these  numerous  accidents.  This  meth- 
od was  ecpially  in  use  in  the  English  collieries ; 
only  the  penitent  or  fireman,  instead  of  carry- 
ing the  lire  himself,  caused  it  to  be  moved  by 
means  of  a  slider  placed  over  a  line  of  poles 
connected  together,  and  directed  by  a  system 
of  pullies  and  cords.  The  danger  was  tlius 
diminibhoil  for  the  fireman,  who  retired  into  a 


VentiUalion  of  Mines,  ^'c. 


47 


niche  formed  in  a  neigliboriiig  gallery  ;  bnt  in 
the  mean  tiiiip  many  were  still  overtaken, 
and,  besides,  all  the  oilier  incnuvenienccs 
remained. 

Tlie  nielhod  calleil  the  eienial  lamps  was 
evidently  lietler.  It  consisted  in  i)lac,iiig  to- 
wards the  top  of  the  excavation,  and  in  all  the 
points  where  the  lire  damp  collected,  lamps 
constantly  lighted,  which  burned  the  grisoiias 
fa.stasitvvas  produced;  the  danger  was  di- 
minished in  a  considerable  degree,  because 
there  coidd  not  be  formed  snch  large  acciimii- 
lalioiis  of  intlanimable  or  detonating  gas. — 
This  .mode  of  proceeding  wa.s,  however,  re- 
nounced in  a  great  number  of  mines,  on  ac- 
count of  tlie  production  of  carbonic  acid  and  of 
azote  ;  a  production  the  more  sen.sitive.  since. 
to  facilitate  the  li(piation  of  the  gases,  tin;  air 
ought  not  to  be  very  strongly  agitated. 

At  length  ic  wa.s  devised  to  pi-olit  bv  the 
pi'01)erty  possessed  by  platina  in  sjionge  to  <a- 
cililate  the  combustion  of  the  hydrogen  with 
which  it  brought  in  contact,  and  pellets, 
composed  of  one  part  of  platina  and  tv^'o 
pans  of  clay,  were  made,  and  were  placed 
near  the  [loints  at  which  the  grisou  or  fire- 
tlainp  coiiceutraled.  But  all  these  efforts, 
based  uium  the  incited  combustion  of  the  in- 
flammable gas,  proved  to  be  only  dangerous 
and  incomplete  palliatives,  which  substitiied 
for  a  great  peril  a  series  of  other  dangers,  less 
imniiuciit,  doubtless,  bat  equally  distressing. 

From  that  time  all  the  well  disposed  contin- 
ued to  search  for  processes  based  upon  another 
principle.  Two  only  could  conduct  to  a  good 
result:  1.  The  withdrawal  of  the  gasesoutof 
the  mine  ;  2.  a  mode  of  lighting  different  from 
that  which  was  in  use,  and  which  would  suf- 
"  fice  for  the  purposes  of  the  miner  without  coni- 
prondsiiig  his  safely. 

The  ])rincip1e  of  withdrawing — ev/raine- 
wcnl — of  the  gases  by  a  rapid  venlillation  is, 
without  contradiction,  that  which  was  the  most 
natural  lo  conceive  ;  liecause  it  was  already 
applied  to  all  theotherdekteriousgases.  Dr. 
Vehrle  proposed  at  (irst  to  eff"ect  the  decanting 
of  the  gases  by  making  the  excavations  (stalls?) 
coninninicate  by  ascending  passages  with  a 
gallery  embracing  all  the  works,  and  uniting 
with  an  ascending  shaft.  But  this  project, 
otlierwise  impracticable,  oliered  a  remedy  for 
only  a  jiart  of  these  accidents;  the  execution 
alone  oi'  the  neces.sary  works  could  not  have 
beeu  made  without  the  greatest  danger,  if 
these  works  liad  been  undertaken  in  the  coal; 
while,  in  the  rocks  of  the  roof,  the  expenses 
would  have  rendered  them  impracticable. — 
But  a  good  ventillafion  alone  could  not  suffice 
to  place  the  miners  in  security  ;  it  was  an  ex- 
cellent a\ixiliary  means,  but  it  aKvays  left  un- 
solved this  important  problem:  the  prevent  ion 
of  the  injlammaiion  of  the  gasf.s  which  disen- 
gage themselves  from  the  surfaces  of  the 
"stalls. 

The  lightning  alone  could  conduct  to  the  so- 
.  hitiou  of  this  problem,  and  numerous  attempts 
had  been  made,  imder  this  head,  when  Davy 
discoved  the  safety-lamp.  Before  him,  they 
had  operated  with  a  small  number  of  lights, 
placed  in  llie  lowest  positions,  and  at  a  distance 


from  the  stidls;  ihe  workmen  kept  these 
lani)is  in  view,  and  when  the  blue  nimbus, 
the  indication  of  hydi'ogen,  began  to  show  it-  . 
sell',  they  extinguislied  them  or  withdrew,  cov- 
ering them  wuh  their  hats.  They  made  use 
of,  also,  in  the  most  infected  mines,  various 
])ljos[)horescent  matters,  and  particularly  a 
mixture  of  Hour  and  lime  formed  from  oyster 
shells,  called  Canton  phosphorous,  although 
the  uncertain  and  ephemeral  light  which  these 
materials  jiroduced,  was  but  a  very  feeble 
resource.  At  length  it  was  observed  that  the 
proto-earbfuiated  hydrogen  wassoine\^at  dif- 
iicult  of  ii:nitlon,  and  that  tlie  red  heat  was 
insufficient  to  accomplish  it;  thus  it  was  prac- 
ticalile  to  carr-y  a  red  coal,  or  a  red  hot  iron 
into  the  fire-damp  without  inffaming  it,  the 
white  heat  alone  having  the  necessary  tempe- 
rature. They  [)r()fited  by  this  discovery  by 
lighting  the  stalls  by  means  of  the  steel-mill, 
previously  described  by  I'rof.  Austed,  anil 
such  was  tlie  state  of  affairs  when  iSir  il.  Davy 
took  u)i  the  subject,  and  commenced  his  bril- 
liant experiments. 

— From  the  foregoing  the  reader  will  have 
gleaned  a  true  uiiderstauding  of  the  nature  of 
those  accunudations  in  mines,  which  render 
ventilation  a  subject  of  such  vast  importance. 
The  means  adopted  and  suggested  to  prevent 
the  explosion  of  these  gases,  are  innumerable ; 
and  notwithstanding  that  the  discovery  of  the 
safety-lamp,  by  v^-hich  the  presence  of  noxiousj 
gases  can  always  be  determined,  has  been  a 
source  of  great  moment  and  security,  yet  ita 
use  has  not  been  effective  in  assisting  to  expel 
them,  or  of  suggesting  any  cei'lain  method  of 
ventillation,  beyond  the  actual 'Zi.srotJej-y  of  what 
ought  to  be  expelled.  It  exhibits,  infallibly, 
tiic  actual  jiresence  of  gases; — but  it  has  not 
led  to  the  means  by  which  they  can  be  dispers- 
ed and  driven  out:  so  ihai  the  very  dangers 
which  attended  mining  previous  to  its  intro- 
duction, attend  them  now,  and  alvvavs  will  at- 
tend them  until  some  means  can  lie  devised  to 
drive  them  out  of  the  mines  as  fast  as  they  ac- 
cumulate. A  principle  of  ventillalion,  tor  ex- 
ample, that  will  answer  the  purpose  during  the 
summer  season,  would  not  answer  at  all,  (in 
many  cases,  at  least  in  our  region)  during  the 
winter — notwithstanding  the  fact  that  a^liff'er- 
eiice  of  but  a  few  degrees  occurs  in  the  tcm- 
peratui'e  of  the  mines,  during  the  year.  This, 
of  course,  arises  from  external  causes,  which 
must  always  govern  the  atmosphere  of  the 
mine.  Thus,  when  the  external  atmospliere 
is  varied,  and  suddenly  changed  by  winds, 
lightning,  frost,  snow  and  long  ccaitinued  rains, 
the  gases  in  the  mine  will  be  found  to  ac(Mimu- 
late,  to  disperse,  or  to  be  borne  out  of  the 
mine — as  the  case  may  be.  They  are  always 
regulated  by  the  density  of  atmospheric  air, 
and  rendered  explosive  just  in  proportion  as 
they  nmia  with  it; — here  the  safety-lamp  is 
useful,  because  however  explosive  the  combi- 
nation may  be,  it  will  conduct  the  viewer  safe- 
ly through  it ; — but,  then,  here  is  where  ventil- 
lalion fails,  for  the  admixture  cannot  be  disu- 
nited, or  expelled,  except  in  its  own  time  and 
way. 

The  most  general  plan  of  veatillation  adopt- 


45 


Reinew  of  thi  Coed  liegian.'i. 


•d  iu  Ihii  regjoa  ig,  aiujply,  this:  The  atmo- 
Bpberie  air  is  admitled  at  Or  nenr  the  mouth  of 
the  slope.  After  traversing  the  mine  through 
every  avenne,  the  current  is  drawn  through  an 
etcape-hole,  over  which  a  furnaco  is  erected, 
and  a  regular  and  intense  heat  kept  up.  The 
draft  thus  aflTorded  (there  being  no  other  es- 
cape) is  generally  very  strong,  and  as  the  cur- 
rent of  air  is  borne  along,  it  bears  with  it  all 
ifae  noxiouB  gases  in  the  mine.  Whenever 
ibese  gases  accumulate  in  workings  where  the 
current  of  atmospheric  air  does  not  penetrate 
•nfficiently,  they  are  dispersed  by  the  miners, 
by  means  of  canvasses  or  banners  ;  and  when 
there  is  not  sufficient  air,  boys  are  stationed 
with  revolving  fans,  by  which  the  air  is  kept 
comparatively  clean.  These,  with  like  devi- 
ces, varied  as  circumstances  may  sn'.'jjest.  are 
the  means  resorted  to  in  the  anthracite  regions 
of  this  State.  There  i»  a  viewer  for  each  mine, 
■who  enters  with  a  Davy-lamp,  and  always  re- 
ports the  actual  condition  of  the  mine  before 
the  miners  go  to  work. 

Desultori/  and   concluding  RfviarJcu. — The 
mining  population  of  our  Coal  regions  is  al- 
most exclusively   composed    of    foreigners— 
Erincipally  from  Kngland  and   Wales,    with  a 
iw  Irish  and   Scotchmen.     The  former  have 
a  decided  preference  for  working    in   small 
veins,  and  they  ran  use  the  pick  in  the  narrow- 
est space,  right,  and  left,  and  in  all  positions. 
They  cannot,   nf  course,  swing  it  over  their 
shoulders,  or  givo  it  that  srrinf:  which  is  deem- 
ed so  necessary  for  effective  work — but,  hold- 
ing it  in  front,  and  making  short,  quick  strokes, 
the  pick  is  as  effective  in  their  hands,  in  a  space 
of  three  or  four  feet,  (or  even  less)  as  it  is  in 
less  circumscribed  limits.     This  predilection 
of  the  English  miners  is  principally  attributa- 
ble to  the  fact,  that  the  coal  veins  of  the  Eng- 
lish mining  regions  are  usually  thin,  and  hav- 
ing entered  them  at  a  very  early  age,  they 
have  thus  formed  a  preference  for  thin  veins, 
and  a  prejudice  against  large  ones,  where  it  i« 
necessary  to  blast  and  use  ladders,  &c.    Every 
miner  carries  his  lamp  on  his  cap,  to  which  it 
is  hooked.     While  pursuing  their  labors  iu  the 
mines,  they  soon  become  thoroughly  covered 
over  with  th  e  black  coal  dust,  and  their  clothes, 
which  are  of  the  coarsest  fabrics,  rudely  patch- 
ed together,  are  saturated  with  water.     The 
mines  are  damp,  and  the  floor  usually  full  of 
coal-mud  and  water — hence  the  miners  and  la- 
borers wear  heavy  coarse  shoes,  with  the  soles 
covered  with  tacks.    Although  extremely  heal' 
thy  as  a  class,  the  miners  generally  are  pale  and 
somewhat  delicate  in  the  face,  and  their  eyes 
slightly  protrude,  and  may  be  said  to  be  prom- 
ixeni.     Their   features  are    not  regular,   and 
they  cannot  justly  lay  claim  to  manly  boaiitv. 
They  know    little  but  what  pertains  to  their 
tubterraneouf  employments; — making  tiiatthe 
•ubject  of  their  discussions,  their  jest  and  their 
pastimes,  they  have  little  care  for  things  con- 
cerning the  upper  rrvst.    They  are.  to  a  cer- 
tain degree  superstitious:  even  the  most  intel- 
ligent of  them  yield  to  it.     For  example,  it  is 
considered  an  evil  omen  when  a  stranger,  in 
entering  the  mine,  begins  tr,  ■whistle.     It  pro- 
dnces  a  certain  effect  among  them,  and  de- 
flroyB,  in  a  meaiwre,  their  good  spiritj!.    A  mi- 


ner never  kMsUcs — and  when,  occasionally, 
they  bum  a  tune,  it  is  more  ot  a  soft  and  plain- 
tive character  than  tho  popular  songs  of  the 
day.  The  employment  seems  well  calculated 
to  indulge  thought; — calm,  complacpnt  ideas. 
There  is  no  wildnes? — no  ambition — they  seek 
only  contentment,  and  are  satisfied  with  their 
lot. 

Visiters  to  the  mines  are  cordially  received, 
and  every  attention  is  shown  them  by  the  work- 
men. A.S  a  stnnger  would  derive  little  satis- 
faction from  his  visit,  unless  he  placed  himself 
in  the  care  of  someone  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  mine,  the  workmen  observe  the  old 
established  custom,  of  requesting  every  visiter 
to  pny  his  footing- — that  is,  the  present  of 
twenty-five  or  fifty  cents  (or  a  dollar  or  five 
dollars,  if  yon  like)  to  the  person  or  persons 
who  '-show  him  the  elephnnr."  This  reque.^t 
is  generally  made  when  the  parties  are  the 
greatest  distance  from  the  slope,  and  when  the 
vi.^iter9  would  naturally  apprehi-nd  some  diffi- 
culty in  finding  his  way  out  !  But,  inasmuch 
as  the  conductor  is  withdrawn  from  his  labor, 
and  the  visitor,  without  him,  would  be  liable 
to  get  in  th»  way  of  the  workmen,  and  per- 
haps meet  with  some  accident — besides  hi.'« 
disability  to  understand  the  operations — th© 
payment  of  the  "footing"  shoidd  never  be  neg- 
lected nor  begrudged.  The  ladies,  of  course, 
pass  free — the  only  charge  being  a  .imilc  or  so. 

The  moral  condition  of  the  mining  popula- 
tion of  the  Anthracite  regions  of  this  State,  is 
vastly  superior  to  that  of  the  same  class  in  anv 
other  country.  They  reside  in  rude  cottages, 
it  is  true:  and  do  not  enjoy  the  same  elegances 
of  life  which  are  obtained  iu  many  other  in- 
dustrial pursuits; — but  they  have  abundance 
to  eat,  good  clothes  to  wear,  and  vioney  in 
their  pockets.  A  more  generous-hearted  peo- 
ple— more  devoted  to  their  friends,  and  faith- 
ful in  their  doinestic  attachments,  does  not 
live.  Upon  their  arrival  here,  where  labor  is 
usually  plenty,  the  first  fruits  of  their  industTy 
are  carefully  hoarded,  and  when  a  sufficient 
sum  is  gathered  together,  it  is  sent  home  to 
cheer  and  bless  some  kindly-remembered  rel- 
ative or  friend.  Thonsands  of  dollars  are  thus 
annually  sent  off  by  the  humble  laborers  of 
the  Coal  regions;  and  the  fact  illustrates  the 
golden  trait  of  our  nature,  which  must  in  all 
time  to  come  hide  a  catalogue  of  sins. 

Strange  are  the  incidents  which  sometimes 
occur  iu  virtue  of  this  noble  impulse.  Last 
year,  we  remember  well,  an  honest  and  indus- 
trious miner,  after  several  months'  unceasing 
toil,  had  laid  by  a  sufficient  sum  to  pay  the 
passage  of  his  wife  and  several  children  from 
England  to  this  country,  besides  a  handsome 
sum  for  necessary  e.tpenses.  The  passage 
had  been  secured,  and  the  money  forwarded. 
The  wife  and  her  children  in  due  time  arrived 
—but,  ala«  !  where  was  the  kind  husband  and 
father-  In  h.]^  grave.  A  day  or  two  pfevi- 
ously  to  tl).:ii  arrival,  he  had  fallen  at  his  work 
in  the  mine — a  victim  to  an  explosion  of  fire- 
damp  .' 

The  career  of  the  miner,  repairing  daily  to 
his  subterranean  workshop  is,  indeed,  fufl  ot 
nnfortsmafe  streaks;  dismal  assoliltide;  bla«k 


Moved  Condi f ion  of  Miivrs.  &^'c. 


49 


M  the  earth  he  dolves.     The  scarred  chieftain 
knowa  less  danger,  and  mach  moi'e  plnry. 

But  although  the  lot  nf  tho  miner  is  little  to 
be  envied,  it  must  be  said,  to  the  eternsl  credit 
of  our  country  and  its  instifuion.s,  that  it  is 
here  stripped  of  the  odious  features  which 
characterize  it  in  other  cnnutries.  To  exhibit 
the  contrast  between  the  miiiins  disti'icts  of 
England  and  our  own  country,  we  have  pre- 
ptired  the  following  items  from  the  report  of 
the  investigating  comraissioiiors,  apjjoip.ted  by 
the  British  Parliament,  a  few  vears  ago.  Tho 
degrading  prncticeof  employing  children  and 
females  in  mines,  does  not  prevail  here.  Boys 
are  employed  to  drive  the  horses,  and  to  assort 
the  coal  as  it  descends  into  tho  shntes  from 
the  breaker — but  these  dutii-s  are  light  and 
suited  to  their  capacity.  Females,  old  or 
young,  have  never  been  engaged  in  the  mines 
of  this  country  ; — (thank  heavon,  our  country- 
tneii  appreciate  them  too  highly  not  to  offer 
them  better  engagements  and  more  pleasant 
and  appropriate  e.mp/oT/ment!) 

In  1341,  the  commissioners  proceeded  to 
investigate  the  condition  of  the  ]aborer.<;,  male 
and  female,  in  the  mines  of  Great  Britain. 
Of  the  number  of  children  employed  in  the 
iron,  coal,  tin,  and  lead  mines,  it  is  difficult 
to  ascertain,  or  to  form  any  nice  estimate — 
but  the  number  must  be  very  large.  In  many 
pit9  the^'  are  set  to  work  at  a  very  early  age, 
w)me  at  six  vears.  and  at  all  ages  beyond  that. 
According  to  the  evidence  of  Or.  Mitchell,  the 
proportion  of  men  to  boys  in  the  jroii-stone 
pits  of  Stafibrdsbire  is  one  hundred  to  seventy  ; 
in  the  coal  pits  it  is  one  hundred  to  90.  Many 
of  these  pits,  especially  the  iron-stone,  are 
low,  and  horses  cannot  be  employed,  which 
is  the  principal  reason  of  there  being  so  large 
a  proportion  of  boys  in  comparison  with  the 
men,  to  push  the  skips  or  carriages  to  tho  foot 
of  the  shaft. 

In  some  of  the  mines  the  improper  and  rep- 
rebeusible  practice  of  employing  female  chil- 
dren to  perform  piecisely  the  same  kind  of 
labor  as  that  performed  by  the  boys,  prevails. 
Tho  practice  of  employing  females  in  coal 
pits,  says  one  of  the  commissioners,  is  fla- 
grantly disgraceful  to  a  christian,  as  well  as  a 
civilized  country.  "  On  descending  Messrs. 
Hopewood's  pit  at  Barnsley,  I  found  assem- 
bled round  the  fire  a  group  of  men,  boys  and 
girls,  some  of  whom  were  of  the  age  of  puber- 
ty, the  girls  as  well  as  the  boys,  stark  naked 
down  to  their  wastes ;  their  hair  bound  up 
■with  a  light  cap,  and  trowsers  supported  by 
their  hips.  Their  sex  was  recognizable  only 
by  their  breasts,  and  some  little  difficulty  oc- 
casionally arose  in  pointing  out  to  me  which 
were  girls  and  which  were  boys,  and  vs^hich 
caused  a  good  deal  of  laughing  and  joking. 

In  the  Flocktoa  and  Thornhill  pits  the  sys- 
tem is  even  more  indecent ;  for  though  the 
girls  are  clothed,  at  least  three-fourths  of  the 
men  for  whom  they  hurry  work  are  stark  na- 
ked, or  with  a  flannel  waistcoat  only,  and  in 
this  state  they  assist  one  another  to  fill  the  cor- 
ves 18  or  20  times  a  day.  I  have  seen  this 
done  myself,  not  once  or  twice,  but  frequents 
\j.  "  Girls,"  continues  the  report,  "  from  five 
to  eighteen,  perform  all  the  work  of  boys. — 


There  is  no  distinction  whatever  in  their  com- 
ing up  the  shaft.i,  or  in  going  down — in  the 
mode  of  hurryinr'  orthrnsting — in  theweight.i 
or  corves,  or  in  the  distances  they  are  hurried 
— in  wages  or  dues.  They  are  to  be  found 
alike  vtilgar  in  manner  and  obscene  in  Ian- 
gunge:  but  wlio  can  feel  surprized  at  their  de- 
bjised  condition  when  they  are  known  to  be 
constantly  a-ssncialfd.  nud  associated  only  with 
men  and  boys,  living  and  labnrinsf  in  a  state 
of  disgusting  nakedness  and  brutality  ;  while 
they  have  theniselve.*  no  other  garment  thau 
a  ragged  shirt,  or,  iti  the  absence  of  that,  a 
pair  of  broken  trowsers,  to  cover  their  per- 
sons ?" 

In  the  mining  districts  of  Scotland,  the  em- 
ployment (if  females  in  this  description  of  la- 
bor, is  generally  considered  to  be  so  degrading, 
that  "other  classes  of  operatives  refuse  inter- 
marriage with  the  daughters  of  colliers  who 
have  wrought  iu  the  pits." 

The  report  of  the  collieries,  etc.  in  the  East 
of  Scotland,  by  Mr  Franks,  contains  correct 
and  authentic  information  as  to  the  condition 
nf  the  laborers  employed  in  them.  The  de- 
scription.s  are  illustrated  bydrawinsrs,  exhibit- 
ing the  operations  and  position  of  the  children 
in  the  mines.  The  following  extract  from  his 
report  will  enable  our  readers  to  form  a  con- 
ception of  the  places  and  kind  of  work,  de- 
volving upon  the  children  and  young  persons 
pursuing  their  sevr-ral  occupations  : 

'■  Many  of  the  mines  in  the  East  of  Scotland 
are  conducted  in  the  most  primitive  manner; 
the  one  horse  gin  to  draw  up  the  bucket,  no 
separation  in  the  shaft,  the  ventilation  carried 
on  in  many  places  by  means  of  old  shafts  left 
open,  etc.  The  negligence  of  underground 
working  corresponds  with  the  above,  the 
roads  being  carelessly  attended  to,  and  the 
workings  very  irregularly  carried  on,  so  that 
the  oppression  of  the  labor  is  hh  niiich  increas- 
ed by  the  want  of  good  superintendence  as  by 
the  irregularity  of  their  work  people  them- 
selves. The  roads  are,  most  commonly,  wet, 
but  in  some  places  so  much  so  as  to  come  up 
to  the  ancle ;  and  where  the  roofs  are  soft,  the 
dripping  and  slushv  state  of  the  entire  cham- 
ber is  such  that  none  can  be  said  to  work  in  it 
in  a  dry  condition,  and  the  coarse  apparel  the 
labor  requires  absorbs  so  much  of  the  drain- 
age of  the  water  as  to  keep  the  workmen  as 
thoroughly  saturated  as  if  they  were  working 
continually  in  water. 

"  The  workings  in  the  narrow  seams  are 
sometimes  100  to  200  yards  from  the  main 
roads,  so  that  the  females  have  to  crawl  back- 
wards and  forwards  with  their  small  carts,  in 
seems  in  many  cases  not  exceeding  20  to  28 
inches  in  height." 

In  fact,  says  a  very  intelligent  witness,  (Mr. 
Wm.  Hunter,  the  mining  foreman  of  Ormis- 
ton  Colliery)  upon  the  occasion  of  being  au- 
thorised to  issue  an  order  to  exclude  women 
and  children  from  the  colliery, — "  in  fact,  wo- 
men always  did  the  lifting,  or  heavy  part  of 
the  workj  and  neither  they  nor  the  children 
were  treated  like  human  beings,  nor  are  the^ 
where  they  are  employed.  Females  submit 
to  work  in  places  where  no  man  or  ereo  lad 


,50 


Reinefiv  of  the  Coal  Eegmis. 


couUl  bo  got  Jo  labor  in  ;  tliey  work  on  bad 
roads,  up  to  thoir  knees  in  water, in  a  posture 
nearly  double.  They  have  swellfd  haunches 
and  ancles,  and  are  prematurely  brought  to 
the  grave,  or  what  is  worse,  a  lingering  exis- 
tence." "In  surveying  the  workings  of  an 
extensive  colliery  under  ground,"  says  Robert 
Bold,  the  eminent  nnner,  "a;narried  woman 
came  i'orvvard,  groaning  under  an  excessive 
wefght  of  coals,  trembling  in  every  nerve,  and 
almost  unable  to  keep  her  knees  from  sinking 
from  under  her.  On  coming  up,  she  said,  in 
a  plaintive  and  melancholy  voice,  '  Oh,  sir, 
this  is  sore,  sore,  sure  work!  I  wish  to  God 
that  the  first  woman  who  tried  to  bear  coals 
had  broken  lier  back,  and  never  would  have 
tried  it  again.'  " 

Now,  when  the  nature  of  this  horrible  labor 
is  taken  into  consideration,  the  extreme  sever- 
ity, its  regular  duration  of  from  12  to  14  honrs 
daily,  and  sometimes  nmch  longer;  the  damp, 
heated  and  deleterious  atmosphere,  in  which 
the  work  is  carried  on ;  the  tender  age  and 
sex  of  the  workers ;  when  it  is  considered  that 
such  labor  is  jierlbrmed,  not  in  isolated  instan- 
ces, selected  to  excite  compassion,  bat  that  it 
mixy  be  regarded  as  the  type  of  the  every  day 
existence  of  hundreds  of  our  fellow  creatures 
— a  picture  is  presented  of  deadly  physical  op- 
pression and  systematic  slavery,  of  which  those 
unacquainted  with  such  fads  would  not  cred- 
it as  existing  in  llie  British  dominions. 

Wo  may  add,  as  worthy  of  remark,  tliat  to 
this  lubor^  which  is  at  once  so  repulsive  and 
.severe,  the  girls  are  invariably  sent  at  an  earli- 
er age  than  "boys — fiom  a  notion  very  general- 
ly entertained  amongst  parents,  that  they  are 
more  acnle  and  obedient. 


VALLEY  OF  THE  SCHUYLKILL. 

The  coal  regions  of  Pennsylvania  are  admi- 
rably situated  for  commanding  ready  accesi^  to 
market.  The  north  branch  of  the  Susquehan- 
na river  rnns  through  the  Northern  region, 
and  uniting  wiUi  the  west  branch  near  Snn- 
bury,  winds  along  the  western  terminations  of 
the  middle  and  southern  regions;  the  Lehigh 
starts  out  in  the  northern  termination,  and  the 
Schuylkill  river  issues  from  the  middle  of  the 
latter  region.  These  streams  are  connected 
by  smaller  ones,  issuing  from  all  directions; 
and  while  they  do  not  always  aflbrd  facilities 
for  navigation,' the  valleys  through  which  they 
are  borne,  almost  invariably  allow  the  con- 
strnctimi  of  railwavs,  and  thus  become  auxil- 
iary causeways  to  the  three  great  outlets  men- 
tioned. ^  ,  1     •   • 

The  valley  of  the  Susquehanna,  dranimg 
about  thirteen  millions  of  acres  of  land,  will 
remain  the  principal.thoroughfare  for  the  agri- 
ctiltural  products  of  the  interior  of  I'ennsyl- 
vania,  and  this  trade  must  annually  increase 
with  the  prosperity  of  the  manufacturing  m- 
teresls  of  the  eastern  portion  of  the  State,  as 
well  as  that  portion  of  Maryland  approaching 
the  Susquehanna  near  Tide  Water.  Of  late 
years  the  number  of  furnaces  and  rollmg 
mills  along  the  Susquehanna  has  greatly  ni- 
creased,— b"f  i"  ootton    manutactnres  no  pro 


gress  whatever  has  been  made.  The  lumber 
trade  still  remains  brisk,  but  as  this  diminishes 
the  supplies  of  grain  will  increase,  with  the 
increase  of  manufactures  towards  the  sea- 
board. 

The  Lehigli  river,  travei-sing  a  district  of 
country  rich  in  its  agricultural  and  mineral 
products,  is  destined  to  become  auxiliary,  es- 
pecially to  the  iron  deposits,  and  the  growing 
manufacturing  interests  of  New  Jersey. 

But  the  Schuylkill,  being  the  centre,  must 
ever  remain  the  principal  avenue  of  the  coal 
trade,  and  ultimately  beconie  the  great  empo- 
rium of  manufactures — including,  more  par- 
ticularly, those  of  iron  and  cotton.  The  soil 
drained  by  this  stream  is  very  fertile  as  it  ap- 
proaches Philadelphia,  and  its  annual  pi'oduct 
is  capable  of  supporting  a  vast  popidation. — 
The  numerous  tributary  streams  afford  abun- 
dant water-power  for  every  desirable  purpose, 
and  especially  for  flouring  mills,  saw  mills,  ete. 
The  locations  for  towns  are  throughout  admi- 
rable and  innumerable ;  and  the  local  advan- 
tages for  comfor-table  and  attractive  i-esidences 
are  not  excelled  elsewhere  in  any  respeel. — 
There  are  large  deposites  of  limestone  and 
iron-ore,  at  •various  places;  and  copper  and 
lead  are  found  in  no  iuconsider'cble  (|uanti- 
ties; — recent  explorations  conlirming  the  be- 
lief that  they  will,  at  no  distant  day,  be  ren- 
dered objects  oi  special  importance  to  iheen- 
teri)rising  capitalist. 

A  railway  connecting  the  Susquehanna  with 
the  Schuylkill  has  long  been  projected,  and 
there  is  some  ground  to  belive  will  soon  bo 
carried  out.  When  this  objecl  shall  have  been 
etiecti>d,  a  new  impnise  will  be  given  to  the 
trade  of  the  Schuylkill,  and  especially  to  Uu; 
business  of  the  smilheru  and  middle  coal  re- 
gions. The  great  iron  i-esources  through,  or 
near  which  the  proposed  route  will  pass,  must 
ultimately  render  this  county  the  principal 
theatre  of  the  iron  m;mufactnres,  as  it  now  is 
of  the  coal  trade  of  Pennsylvania;  and  while 
thus  opening  the  way  for  other  manufactures 
along  the  valley,  will  cmitribute  vastly  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  whole  fanning  and  a(ttivo 
business  community  along  this  groat  on  I  let  to 
the  sea. 

— W'e  wei-e  led  into  the  foregfiing  remarks 
as  jirefatory  to  a  notice  of  the  Schuylkill  Nav- 
igation and  the  Reading  railroad,  with  wdiicli 
we  shall  accordingly  proceed.  A  recent  wri- 
ter in  the  Minei-'s  Journal  has  furnished  data, 
and  we  can  do  no  less  than  avail  ourself  of  it. 

Schui/lkill  Navigalion. —  fn  1847,  this  com- 
pany essentially  improved — in  fact .  enlin-ly  re- 
constructed their  works.  They  widened  and 
dee[)ened  the  entire  canal,  so  as  to  carry  boats 
of  180  tons  burden,  and  have  reduced  the 
irumber  of  locks  from  10!)  to  7  1.  II  of  which 
are  guard  locks  without  lift,  of  which  the  gules 
generally  stanil  open,  and  are,  in  fad,  closeil 
ordy  during  freshets.  The  average  lime  of 
passing  a  lock  witli  a  boat  is  about  four  min- 
utes, at  which  rate  all  the  locks  on  the  canal 
could  be  passed  in  about  five  hoirrs ;  or,  mak- 
ing a  reasonable  allowance,  six  hours  would 
give  ample  time  to  overcome  the  totd  descent 
of  6^0  feet— -and  if  al  every  lock  a  descendin.: 


Valley  of  the  Schuylkill. 


51 


boat  should  n)eet  an  ascending  one,  the  whole 
time  lost  in  eH'et'.ting  the  cross  pass;ige  does 
not  exceed  12  hoiii's.  This  is  an  iniinetise 
irnproveiDCDt  over  thn  old  navigation. 

Above  the;  lilue  Mountain  nearly  all  the 
canals  are  ulinosl  eqind  in  width  to  the  slack- 
water  po<ils  fornierl  by  the  dams.  Below  the 
Blue  Mountain,  the  water  line  of  the  canal, 
which  is  never  less  than  tiO  feet,  widens  fre- 
quently to  100  feet  and  more.  Taking  these 
things  in  connection  with  the  fact  that  about 
half  the  length  of  the  navigation  consists  of 
wide  slackvvater  pools,  and  it  will  be  observ- 
ed that  in  point  of  width  every  thing  practi- 
cally desirable  has  been  attained. 

The  successful  tri]is  which  have  occasion- 
ally been  made  Ijy  hoals  jiiopelled  with  steam, 
go  to  show  the  adafition  of  the  new  canal  to 
this  kind  of  navigation. 

The  b-ngth  of  the  now  navigation,  is  lOf? 
miles — its  lockage  620  feet — the  burden  of  its 
boats  180  tons — the  size  of  its  locks,  110  by  18 
feet — the  width  of  its  canals,  never  less  than 
60  feet — and  the  least  depth  of  water  upon 
the  mitre  sills  o.t,  and  in  the  clear  levels  6  feet. 
A  navigable  route  from  the  lieartof  the  Coal 
Region  to  tide  water,  for  boats  carrying  180 
tons  is,  therefore,  now  in  full  operation.  The 
hve  leading  rail  roads,  and  their  laterals,  to 
the  Navigatioil  are  the  Mine  Mill  and  Schuyl- 
kill Haven,  terminating  at  Schuylkill  Haven  ; 
the  Mount  Carbon,  terminating  at  MoTmt  Car- 
bon; the  Mill  CreekV  terminating  at  Fort  Car- 
bon, and  the  Schuylkill  Valley,  terminating  at 
Mount  Carbon. 

At  Schuylkill  Haven  a;'very  fine  dock  900 
feet  long.  60  feet  wide,  and  6  feet  deep,  with 
its  rail  17  feet  high  ahove  water,  slmtc  and 
landings  on  both  sides,  has  been  constructed 
by  Mr.  Dundas.  This  dock  alone  is  capable 
of  shipping,  in  an  active  season's  work,  at  least 
250,000  tons  of  coal,  and  is  leased  by  the  Nav- 
igation Company. 

At  Port  Carhon  the  Navigation  Company 
have  constructed  an  extensive  series  of  lanil- 
ings.  A  jiart  of  these  landings  below  the 
Mill  Creek  Railroad  bridge,  consists  of  a  dock, 
about  900  feel  long,  60  feet  wide,  and  6  feet 
dee]),  with  its  rail  elevated  18  feet  above  wa- 
ter, with  shutes  and  landings  on  both  side's. — 
There  is  room  at  this  landing  for  30  boats  of 
180  tons  burden  to  load  at  once,  and  is  capa- 
ble of  shipping  500.000  tons  of  coal  per  annum. 
In  the  pool  of  dam  No.  1,  the  company  have 
erected  6  new  landings,  with  their  rails  ele- 
vated 16  feet  above  the  water,  and  so  arrang- 
ed that  6  large  boats  may  load  at  once,  with- 
out interruption.  In  addition  to  these,  and  al- 
so in  the  upper  dam,  the  Navigation  Compa- 
ny have  leased  and  fitted  up  the  long  dock, 
which  accommodates  6  large  boats  at  the  same 
time.  Thus  the  Company  have  42  fine  land- 
ings to  sliip  coal  coming  from  the  Schuylkill 
Valley  and  Mill  Creek  Railroads,  and  capable 
together  of  shipping  near  700,000  tons  in  n  sea- 
son's work. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  the  Company 
have  constructed  a  dock  and  landings  at 
Mount  Carbon,  similar  to  the  Firth  Dock  at 
Vort  Carbon,  and  of  about  the  same  capacity 


To  avoid  any  possibility  of  a  deficiency  of 

water  in  dry  seasons,  the  Navigation  Compa- 
ny purchased  a  tr.ic.t  of  land  on  Silver  Creek, 
upon  which  an  immense  reservoir  is  in  the 
process  of  construction,  and  which  will  be 
completed  early  in  the  coming  autumn  ;  this, 
added  to  the  two  Tumbling  Run  reservoirs  of 
tlie  Company,  opposite  Mf)unt  Carbon,  cannot 
leave  a  doubt  of  the  capacity  of  the  canal  to 
float  her  largest  boats,  with  their  freight,  at  all 
times.  This  reservoir  is  it)rmed  by  throwing 
a  mound  of  earth  and  stone  across  the  valley 
nf  the  stream,  just  above  or  back  of  Mine  Hill. 
This  dam  will  be  nearly  40  feet  high  in  the 
centre  of  the  valley,  and  will  raise  the  water 
to  au  elevation  of  about  800  feet  above  the  lev- 
el of  the  dam  at  I'ort  Carlion,  or  1.510  feet 
above  tide  water.  The  bank  and  pond  of  the 
reservoir,  will  cover  nearly  60  acres  of  land, 
and  contain  about  40,000,000  cubic  feet  of  wa- 
ter— it  will  be  of  itself  ca[)able  of  locking 
down  about  120,000  tons  of  coal  annually. — 
The  waters  of  the  reservoir  will  be  led  down 
through  three  lines  of  cast  iron  pipes,  12  inch- 
es each  in  diamater,  and  being  drawn  in  aid  of 
the  flow  of  the  Schuylkill,  during  the  one  or 
tw(j  months  of  sunnner  drought,  will  add  to 
the  capacity  of  the  navigation  very  materially. 
Indeed,  when  we  reflect  that  at  all  other  timi-s 
the  flow  of  the  Schuylkill  alone  is  ample  for 
any  business,  which  single  lo(;ks  could  readily 
pass,  the  great  assistance  which  a  reservoir  of 
water  equal  to  the  lockage  of  120,000  tons 
must  give,  will  be  evident  to  all.  The  dis- 
tance of  this  reservoir  from  the  head  of  the 
works,  at  Port  Carbon,  is  about  7  miles. 

The  new  depot  for  the  shipments  of  Coal 
going  down  the  Schuylkill  Canal,  called  Red 
Bank,  is  situated  on  the  .Jersey  side  of  theDe- 
leware  river,  and  the  Coal-boats  are  towed 
over  by  steamboats.  The  lots,  wharves,  6bc., 
are  owned  by  a  stock  Company,  and  all  the 
stock  is  already  taken,  and  held  at  a  consider- 
able premium.  There  are  nine  wharves,  at 
the  ends  of  which  there  is  fourteen  feet  of  wa- 
ter, and  over  eleven  feet  at  the  lowest  low- 
water  mark.  At  each  wharf  five  boats  or  ves- 
sels can  load  or  unload  at  a  time,  and  the 
whole  is  capable  of  shipping  300,000  tons  of 
Coal  when  fully  completed.  Red  Bank,  we 
may  add,  is  situated  but  a  short  di.stance  from 
Gloucester  Point,  the  thriving  manufacturing 
town,  which  has  but  recently  sprung  up. 

The  Reading  Railroad. — A  brief  history 
and  description  of  this  great  public  work  may 
prove  interesting  to  the  readers  of  our  little 
work,  the  information  connected  with  which 
has  mainly  been  derived  from  the  weekly  re- 
ports of  its  immense  business. 

The  Railroad  was  projected  in  1833,  a  char- 
ter obtained  in  1334,  surveys  made  the  .same 
year,  and  41  miles  put  under  contract  and  con- 
struction in  1835. 

It  was  originally  designed  for  its  present 
]iur]>oRe,  an  outlet  or  avenue  to  market  for  the 
Schuylkill  Coal  Region;  but  its  first  charter 
extended  only  to  the  city  of  Reading,  59  miles 
from  its  terminus  on  the  Delaware  River,  near 
Philadelphia ;  as  the  right  of  constructing  a 
Rdihoad  between  Readinpj  and  Port  Clinton. 


52 


Review  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


20  milee,  had  already  been  granted  another 
corporation,  th»  Little  Schuylkill  Railroad 
Company,  terminating  at  the  latter  point. — 
From  insufBcieut  means,  this  company  was 
unable  to  extend  their  road,  and  yielded  their 
right  and  charter  to  the  Reading  Railroad 
Company,  who,  with  a  further  extension  of 
their  charter,  beyond  Port  Clinton  to  Potts- 
ville,  went  into  an  active  prosecution  of  the 
whole  work,  from  I'otlsville  to  the  Delaware, 
93  miles,  under  one  charter,  now  kuowu  as 
the  Reading  Railroad. 

Every  Pennsylvunian  is  familiar  with  the 
great  embarrassments  to  the  .business  of  the 
conutry,  checking  commercial  enterprize,  dis- 
asti'ous  to  every  branch  of  industry,  and  fated 
to  public  and  private  credit,  during  the  period 
from  1833  to  184-2.  Notwithstanding  all  these 
difficulties,  the  friends  of  this  road  pushed 
steadily  on  with  its  construction,  taxing  their 
energies,  their  means  and  their  credit  to  the 
wtmost,  to  insure  its  speedy  completion  ;  and 
on  the  first  day  of  1842,  the  first  locomotive 
and  train  passed  over  the  whole  line,  between 
Pottsville  and  Philadelphia. 

From  that  date  to  the  present,  its  business, 
its  revenue  and  its  credit  has  increased,  in  a 
degree  scarcely  paralleled  by  any  similar  im- 
provement, until  its  tonnage  and  its  receipts 
are  measured,  as  at  present,  by  millions. 

Two  continuous  tracks  of  railway  extend  the 
whole  distance  of  93  miles,  from  Mount  Car- 
bon, near  Pottsville,  to  the  Delaware  river, 
three  miles  above  the  heart  of  the  city  of  Phi- 
ladelphia ;  with  a  branch  also  laid  with  a  doub- 
le track,  1^  miles  long,  connecting,  by  the 
State  Road,  with  the  principal  busiue.ss  street 
of  the  same  city,  for  the  passengers,  merchan- 
dize and  city  coal  business.  The  rail  used  is 
of  the  H  pattern,  with  both  top  edges  alike; 
and  weighs  45J,  52^  and  60  lbs.  to  the  yard  ; 
the  lightest  having  been  first,  and  the  heaviest 
last  used.  A  few  tons  of  other  rails,  purchas- 
ed before  a  further  supply  of  the  pattern  adopt- 
ed for  the  road  could  be  obtained  in  England, 
and  varying  from  51  to  57  lbs.  per  yard,  are 
also  in  use. 

The  track  is  laid  in  the  most  simple  manner, 
the  lower  vi-eb  or  base  of  the  rail,  being  notch- 
ed into  7  by  8  white  oak  cro.ss  sills,  and  these 
laid  on  broken  stone,  14  inches  deep  and  well 
rammed.  This  method  is  found  admirably 
calculated  for  the  enormous  tonnage  of  the 
road,  being  rapidly  and  economically  repaired 
and  replaced,  securing  a  thorough  drainage, 
and  proserving  its  line  and  level  true,  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year. 

The  prades  of  this  road,  are  the  chief  ele- 
ments of  its  success  ia  revolutionizing  public 
opinion,  on  the  subject  of  the  carriage  of  hea- 
vy burdens  by  railway.  From  the  most  im- 
portant brahch,  Coalfeeder  of  the  Road,  at 
Schuylkill  Haven,  to  the  Falls  of  Schuylkill,  a 
distance  of  84  miles,  the  grades  all  descend  iw 
the  direclion  of  the  loaded  trains,  or  are  lev.l, 
with  no  more  abrupt  descent  than  19  fed  per 
-mil>i.  -^t  the  Falls,  an  assistant  locomotive 
engine  of  great  power  pushes  the  train,  with- 
out the  latter  stepping,  or  any  delay,  up  a 
^ade  of  42^  feet  per  mile,  for  I   4  10  miles, 


leaving  it  on  a  descending  grade,  within  four 
miles  of  Richmond,  whither  it  is  readily  con- 
veyed by  the  same  engine  which  started  from 
Pottsville,  never  leiviiig  her  train. 

The  bridges  on  this  line,  are  of  great  variety, 
in  plan,  and  material  of  construction,  stone, 
iron  and  wood.  The  most  perfect  and  beau- 
tiful structure  on  the  road,  if  not  in  the  state, 
is  a  atone  bridge  acros.'*  the  Schuylkill  near 
Phojnixville,  built  of  cut  stone  throughout, 
with  4  circular  arches,  of  72  feet  span,  and  16^ 
feet  rise  each,  at  a  ci>st  with  ice  breakers,  of 
$47,000.  There  are  75  other  stone  bridges 
and  culverts,  varying  from  6  to  50  feet  span  ; 
all  of  circular  arcs,  spanning  water  courses, 
branches  of  the  Schuydvill  and  roads.  There 
are  seven  bridges  from  25  to  38  feet  span  each, 
built  of  iron,  trussed  after  the"  Howe"  plan, 
with  wrought  iron  lop  and  bottom  cords, 
wrought  iron  vertical  ties,  and  cast  iron  diago- 
nal braces.  These  bridges  are  stiff  and  light, 
and  present  a  very  neat  and  handsome  appear- 
ance. A.s,  however,  the  flooring  is  of  wood, 
and  therefore  liable  to  decay  and  accident, 
they  have  only  baen  used  where  the  width 
and  depth  rendered  stone  bridges  impracti- 
cable; the  latter  being  always  used  in  replac- 
ing wooden  structures,  wherever  it  was  prac- 
ticable. There  are  22  long  wooden  bridges, 
varying  from  41  to  160  feet  span,  built  on  va- 
rious pi'inciples,  chiefly  of  lattice  work,  assist- 
ed by  heavy  arch  pieces.  Of  this  latter  de- 
scription, the  bridge  over  the  Schuylkill  at 
the  Fall  is  a  fine  specimen.  It  is  636  feet  long, 
consisting  of  four  spans  of  134,  two  of  152,  and 
one  of  160  feet  above  the  river.  There  is  one 
bridge  built  on  Burr's  plan,  with  double  arch 
pieces  of  149  feet  span  ;  and  one  on  "Howe's" 
plan,  156  feef  span,  also  assisted  by  arch  pie- 
ces. Besides  the  above,  there  are  28  wood- 
en bridges  of  short  spans,  from  14  to  30  feet, 
built  of  Kingpost,  Queen  post,  'Howe's  truss,' 
and  joists. 

There  are  four  Tunnels  on  the  road.  The 
longest  of  these  is  near  Phoeuixville,  1934  feet 
long,  cut  through  solid  rock,  worked  from  five 
shafts  and  two  end  breasts;  deepest  shaft  140 
feet ;  size  of  tunnels,  19  feet  wide,  by  17:J  high  ; 
total  cost,  $153,000.  Another  tunnel  at  Port 
Clinton,  is  1,600  feet  long,  worked  from  the 
two  ends  only;  material,  loose  and  solid  rock 
mixed  ;  ]  300  feet  are  arched ;  depth  below  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  1 19  feet ;  total  cost  $133,- 
000.  The  Manayuuk  tunnel  is  960  feet  long, 
through  very  hard  solid  rock,  worked  from 
two  ends;  depth  below  surface,  95  feet;  total 
cost  $10,000.  Another  tunnel  under  the  grade 
ot  the  Norristown  Railroad,  and  through  aa 
embankment  of  the  latter,  is  172  feet  long, 
Ibrmed  of  a  brick  arch,  with  cut  stone  facades. 

The  Depots  on  this  road  are  all  substantial- 
ly bu'lt,  but  with  a  view  to  use,  rather  than 
ornament.  At  Schuylkill  Haven,  three  miles 
from  Pottsville,  is  er'^cted  a  spacious  Engine 
house,  round,  with  a  semi-circular  dome  roof, 
120  feet  diameter,  and  96  feet  high  ;  with  a 
40  feet  turning  platform  in  the  centre,  and 
tracks  radiating  therefrom,  capable  of  housing 
sixteen  second  class  engines  and  tenders.  At 
Reading  are  located  the  most  complete,  ex- 


Valley  of  the  SchuylkilL 


53 


tensive,  and  efficient.  worksli02)s  and  Railroad 

buildings  of  every  (le3cri[)tion  to  bo  found  in 
the  cmnitry.  Tli'^  Company's  property  covers 
here,  besides  tlie  Railroad  tracks,  36  acres,  the 
greater  part  of  which  is  in  use  for  the  various 
occupaticfns  re(]^uired  to  keep  this  vast  machine 
in  life  and  motion.  The  main  machine  shop 
is  159  by  70  feet,  filled  with  (he  most  valuable 
tools  and  machinery,  all  made,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  three  or  four  lathes,  in  the  Company's 
workshops,  by  their  own  mechanics.  Other 
machine  shops,  one  87  by  40  feet,  are  used 
for  fitting  iron  and  brass  exclusively. 

The  iron  foundry  is  16!  by  S2  feet,  with  2 
cnpolas.  The  largest  blacksmidi's  shop  is  121 
by  31  feet,  .57  smith's  tires  being  in  daily  use 
on  the  works,  all  blown  by  fans  driven  by 
steam.  The  inain  carpenter's  shop  is  140  by 
4C  feet,  with  a  pattern  shop  in  the  second  sto- 

The  iron  coal  cars,  tenders  and  smoke  pipes 
are  made  and  repaired  in  a  shop  123  by  S3 
feet. 

A  merchandize  depot  just  comf)leted,  is  124 
by  84  feet,  to  accommodate  that  rapidly  in- 
creasing branch  of  business.  About  a  mile  be- 
low the  Reading  depot,  where  the  railroad  is 
nearest  the  river,  most  efficient  water  works 
are  constructed,  consisting  of  a  reservoir  on 
the  Neversiuk  hill  side,  51  feet  above  the  rails, 
holding  700,000  gallons  of  water,  supplied  by 
a  force  pump,  worked  by  a  small  steam  en- 
gine. Attached  to  this  station  are  also  two 
separate  tracks,  with  coal  chutes  beneath,  300 
and  450  feet  long  each,  for  the  use  of  the 
town;  two  wood  and  water  stations;  a  small 
portable  steam  engine  for  sawing  wood,  a  Re- 
freshment house  for  crews  of  engines  stopping 
to  wood  or  water  ;  a  brass  foundry,  passenger 
car  house,  passenger  rooms,  offices,  &c.  &.c. 
All  the  machinery  of  the  main  shops  and  foun- 
dry, is  driven  by  a  very  handsomely  finished 
stationery  engine,  with  double  cranks,  of  35 
horse  power,  built  entirely  on  the  works. 

At  Fottstown  station,  18  miles  below  Read- 
ing, extensive  and  efficient  shops  harve  also 
been  erected,  chiefly  for  work  connected  with 
the  bridges  and  track  of  the  road,  and  new 
work  of  various  descriptions.  The  principal 
shops  here,  are  151  by  81,  181  by  41,  and  31 
by  44  feet.  The  first  shop  is  covered  with  a 
ueat  and  light  roof,  built  of  an  arched  "Howe 
truss,"  forming  a  segment  of  a  circle,  78^  feet 
span  by  16  feet  rise. 

At  Richmond,  the  lower  terminus  of  the 
Road,  at  tide  water  on  the  river  Delaware,  are 
constructed  the  most  extensive  and  commo- 
dious wharves,  in  all  probability,  in  the  world, 
for  the  reception  and  shipping,  not  only  of  tlie 
present,  biit  of  the  future  vast  coal  tonnag-e  of 
the  railway;  49  acres  are  occupied  veith  the 
Company's  wharves  and  works,  extending 
along  2272  feet  of  river  front,  and  accessible 
to  vessels  of  6C0  or  700  tons.  The  shippiiSg 
arrangertients  consist  of  17  wharves  or  piers, 
extending  from  342  to  1132  feet  into  the  river, 
all  built  in  the  most  substantial  manner,  and 
famished  with  chutes  at  convenient  distances, 
by  which  the  coal  flows  into  the  vessel  lying 
alongside,  directly  from  the  opened  bot- 
10 


TOM    OK    THE    COAL    CAR    FKOSf  WHICH    IT    IKFT 

THE  SUNK.  As  some  coal  is  piled  or  stacked 
in  winter,  or  at  times  when  its  shipment  is 
not  required,  tbe  elevation  of  the  tracks  by 
trestlings,  above  the  solid  surface  or  flooring 
of  the  piers,  afl"ords  sufficient  room  for  stow- 
ing 195,000  tons  of  coal.  Capacious  docks 
extend  in.shore,  between  each  pair  of  wharve?; 
thus  making  the  whole  river  front  availably 
for  ship[)ing  purposes:  97  vessels  can  be  load- 
ing at  the  same  moment,  and  few  places  pre- 
sent busier,  or  more  interesting  scenes,  than 
the  wharves  of  the  Reading  Railroad,  at  Rich- 
mond. A  brig  of  155  tons,  has  been  loaded 
wiih  that  number  of  tons  of  coal,  in  180  raia- 
utC3,  at  these  wliarves. 

A  very  convenient  and  neat  Engine  Housfe, 
is  erected  at  this  station ;  it  is  of  a  semi-circu- 
lar shape,  with  a  40  feet  turning  platform  in 
the  centre,  outside ;  from  which  tracks  radiate 
into  the  house,  giving  a  capacity  foi-  20  En- 
gines and  their  tenders  of  the  largest  class,  the 
building  302  feet  long  on  the  centre  line,  by 
59  feet  wide.  It  is  built  in  the  simple  Gothic 
style,  the  front  supported  by  cast  iron  clmter- 
ed  pillars,  from  the  tops  of  which  spring  point- 
ed arches,  and  the  whole  ca{)ped  with  turret- 
ted  capping.  Immediately  adjoining,  are  bdilt 
spacious  Machine  and  Work  shops,  for  repairs 
of  engines  and  cars,  all  under  one  roof,  221  by 
63  feet;  A  visit  to  this  chief  outlet  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Coal  trade,  will  give  the  best 
idea  of  its  magnititde,  and  of  the  various  bran- 
ches of  industry  connected  with  it. 

The  business  of  this  road  requires  a  large 
amount  of  Running  M'achinery.  The  lattel- 
consists  of  seventy-one  liOcdmotive  Engines 
and  Tenders,  including  five  in  constant  use 
on  the  Lateral  Railroads  in  the  coal  region? 
3020  iron  and  1539  wooden  coal  cars;  482 cars 
for  merchandize  and  use  of  road,  and  17  pas- 
senger cars. 

The  Engines  vary  from  8  to  22^  toriswei^ht ; 
two  very  powerful  engines,  of  27  tons  weight 
each,  are  used  exclusively  on  the  Falls  grade, 
before  mentioned.  The  iron  cars  weigh  24-ia 
tons  empty,  and  carry  five  tons  of  coal.  The 
average  load  of  each  engine,  during  the  busy 
months  of  the  year,  is  about  410  tons  of  coal, 
(of  2240  lbs.)  The  cost  of  hauling  coal  on  this 
road,  is  about  35  cents  per  ton.  Freight  or 
merchandize,  75  cents  per  ton,  and  passengers 
41  cents  each  through.  Its  grades  have  chief- 
ly secured  this  great  economy  in  transporta- 
tion. 

The  total  Length  of  Lateral  Railroads,  con' 
necting  with  the  Reading  Railroad,  under  oth- 
er charters  and  corporations,  but  all  contribut- 
ing to  its  business,  using  its  cars,  and  return- 
ing them  loaded  with  coal  and  merchandize, 
is  about  ninety -five  miles.  Some  of  these  rail- 
roads are  constructed  in  the  most  substantial 
manner,  with  the  best  superstructure  at  pre- 
sent  used  in  the  country. 

By  the  monthly  Reports  which  have  b6en 
made  of  the  business  of  the  Company,  it  ap- 
pears that  the  receipts  from  December  Ist, 
1845  to  October  3l8t,  1846,  were  $1,707,312- 
25.  The  receipts  for  the  remaining  month  of 
the  fiscal  year,  which  ended  NovetOb«r  30th, 


54 


Review  of  the  Coal  Hegions. 


1846,  swelled  the  i,'ross  amount  to  nearly  $1,- 
900,000.  For  the"  fiscal  year  of  184G-47,  the 
receipts  amounted  to  $2'333,659  22;  and,  es- 
timating from  the  same  ratio  of  increase,  they 
will  probably  reach  to  the  amount  of  $4,333,- 
000,  for  the  fiscal  year  of  1847-48. 

Our  Colliers  can  felicitate  themselves  in  hav- 
ing between  their  mines  and  tide  water,  two 
transporting  worlds  hy  land  and  water,  nnsui- 
passed  by  any  other  railroads  or  canals  in  the 
world.  It  remains  for  them  by  a  firm  and 
prudent  course  to  secure  to  themselves,  and 
tiieir  customers,  the  full  and  free  use  of  both 
these  works,  untrammelled  by  the  quarrels, 
or  jealouses  of  either. 


Number  of  Engines,  Cars,  and  Running  Ma- 
chinery upon  the  Philadelphia  and  Reading 
Rail  Road;   November  30,   1847. 

Locomotive  Engines^ 
46  First  Class  Engines. 

22  Second  do.   do.     (2  sold  since  last  report.) 
8  Third     do.   do. 

1  Second  do.    dfr.     ''out  of  use  at  present — 
—  ("  Delawasre.") 

77  Total. 

Coal  Cars. 

Weight, 

Empty.     Capacity. 
1  Eight  wheeled  Iron 

Coal  Car,  .       4.7  11.0 

3,019  Four    do.     do.     do.     2.43  5.0 

1,318    do.     do.  Wooden  do.  2.2  4.65 

268     do.     do.     do.         do.  2.05  3.2 

4,606  2.34  4.79 

Cars  for  Freight,  and  general  use. 

11  Eight  wheeled  Covered  House  Cars. 

32    Do.     do.         Box  Cars. 

48     Do.     do.         Open  Platform  Cars. 
153  Four    do.         Covered  House  Cars. 

28    Do.     do.         Box  Cars. 
230    Do.    do.         Open  Platform  Cai's. 

302  Total. 

Passeriger  Cars. 

15  Eight  wheeled  Passenger  Cars. 

1  Four    do.  do. 
3  Eight   do.    Baggage  Cars. 

2  Four    do.  do. 
1  Four    do.     Express  Car. 

22  Total. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  Company 
own: 

2  Small  Expresa  Locomotives,  "Ariel  and 
"Witch." 

2  Small  Passenger  Cars,  for  use  of  Road. 

13  Stationary  Engines,  from  4  to  35  Horse 
Power,  for  Driving  Machinery,  Pumping  at 
Water  Stations,  Sawing  Wood,  &c. 

2  Portable  Wood  Cutting  Steam  Engines, 
at  Reading  and  Richmond. 

7  Snow  Ploughs. 

50  Horses,  chiefly  for  hauling  iu  Broad- 
street,  Philadelphia 


tiuvnnary  of  Liabilities  and  Assets. 


Liabilities. 


Jan.  1,  1843. 


Capital  Stock,         -  .         .       1,503,550  00 

Common  Loans,  .         .           3,083,435  34 
"         London  Bonds,       604,800  00 

Mortgage  Loan,  .                946,808  56 

Floating  Debt,          .  .         340,075  36 

Unpaid  Dividends,  .                         798  70 

Arrears  of  Interest,  .           867,095  48 


Balance  to  the  credit  of  Profit 
and  Loss  account. 


7,346,563  44 
291,633  86 


7,638,197  30 
Assets. 

Canal  and  River  Improvements,  4,455,000  00 

Lehigh  and  Susquehanna  Rail- 
road, .  1,369,820  75 

Real  Estate,  cost  of  Coal  mine 
lands  and  other  lands,  Rail- 
roads to  the  Old  Mines  and 
Room  Run  Mines,  and  other 
improvements,  Warves  and 
Landings  at  Philadelphia.  &c.   1,193,044  48 

Moveable  effects  due  the  Com- 
pany, Bonds  and  Mortgages, 
and  other  securities,  .  612,475  53 

Cash  on  hand,         .  .  7,856  54 

7,638,197  30 


Measures  of  Coal. 


The  coal  bushel  in  England  was  formerly 
a  metallic  cylinder  19.^  inches  in  diameter 
inside,  and  7J  inches  deep.  In  filling  it,  the 
coals  were  to  be  heaped  six  inches  high  in  the 
middle,  so  that  a  line  drawn  from  the  apex  to 
opposite  sides  of  the  bushel  would  be  11^ 
inches  in  each  direction."  This  would  give 
the  contents  of  a  bushel  of  coals  equal  to 
2,725.4  cubic  inches;  while  the  bushel,  impe- 
rial measure,  of  the  same  country,  is  2,218,192 
cubic  inches ;  and  one  bushel,  Winchester 
measure,  is  2,150.42  cubic  inches. 

The  chaldron  of  coals  with  "  ingrain"  mea- 
sure 104,809.572  cubic  inches ;  and  without 
"  ingrain"  99,809.64  cubic  inches.  The  for- 
mer would  be  33.45  bushels,  as  measured  in 
and  on  the  cylinder  above  described,  and  the 
latter  32.95  such  bushels.  Eight  chaldrons  of 
coals  in  Newcastle,  are  equal  to  15J  chal- 
drons in  London.  The  chaldron  in  Newcastle 
weighs  53  cwt. ;  and,  consequently,  in  Lon- 
don it  weighs  27.35  cwt.  The  same  autho- 
rity which  furnishes  these  data,  also  apprizes 
us  that  38  pounds  of  coal  make  a  bushel. 

Importance  of  the  Coal  Trade. 

The  importance  of  coal,  in  a  national  poinf 
of  view,  need  not  be  enlarged  upon  here  ;  but 
the  vital  influence  it  has  had  on  the  prosperity 
of  Great  Britain,  and  certainly  will  have  on 
this  country,  niuy  be  understood  by  quoting 
the  opinions  of  a  few  of  the  many  eminent 
British  wrilera  oii  political  economy  and  sta- 
tistics. 


Poetry. 


55 


McCuUach  says,  '•  it  is  hanlly  possible  tu 
fXaggeiattt  tlie  advanlaj,'es  Riiglaml  derivu^ 
from  hiT  vast  beds  of  coal ;"  tliiit  "  our  coal 
inine.s  nie  the  jirincipal  soui-ce  a.d  fniindation 
I'l'oui'  manufacturing  and  coinnieicial  prospe- 
rity- Coal  lias  been  happilv  tlefined  '  lioarded 
labor;'  our  coal  mines  liave  sotnctinies  beeu 
called  tlio  Black  Indict,  ami  they  liave  con- 
feri-ed  upon  us  a  thousand  times  more  real 
advantage  than  tlio  conquest  of  iho  iMo|,'nl 
I'.mpire. 

Mr.  Portei' says,  thai  her  "coal  mines  are 
the  sources  of  greater  riches  tliaii  ever  issued 
from  ibe  mines  of  Pciu,  or  from  the  Diamond 
grounds,  at  the  base  of  the  Neela  Mullamoun- 
taius ;"  that,  but  for  the  command  of  Coal,  the 
inventions  of  Watt  and  Ark \v right  woidd  have 
been  of  small  account,  &c, 

'I'he  author  of  "  Fossil  ["ue!"  says,  that  coal, 
by  the  agency  of  steam,  has  enabled  Great 
Britain  to  undersell  the  w()rld  in  her  manu- 
factures. 

Dr.  Buckland  in  nifotiouing  the  impoit- 
anco  of  coal,  says  that  "  amount  of  work  done 
iu  England  has  been  supposed  to  be  equiva- 
lent to  that  between  3  and  400,000,000  of  men 
by  direct  labor,  and  we  are  almost  astounded 
at  the  influeuce  of  coal  and  iron  and  steam,  up- 
on the  fate  and  fortunes  id'  the  human  race;" 
that  "  the  presence  of  coal  is  in  an  especial  de- 
gree, the  ioiindation  of  an  increasing  popula- 
tion, riches  and  power,  and  of  improvement  in 
almost  every  art  which  administers  to  the  ne- 
cessities and  comfort  of  mankind,  &c. 

Mr.   Page,  in   his  evidence  before  Parlia- 
ment, said.  "  The    manofacturin?  interests  of 


this  country,  colossal  as  is  the  fabric  which  it 
has  raised,  rest  principally  on  no  other  base 
than  our  fortunate  position  witb  regard  to  the 
rooks,  (carboniferous'^  of  this  series — should 
our  coal  mines  ever  bo  exhausted,  it  would 
melt  away  at  once,  &c. 

Such  opinions  from  these  eminent  writers 
should  not  surprise  us,  whou  we  know  that 
about  3I,.''j00,000  tons  of  coal,  valued  at  the 
pit's  mouth  at  $fJ3,000',000,  are  annually  mined 
for  the  use  of  twenty-six  millions  of  inhab 
itants,  or  over  one  ton  for  each  person  in  Great 
l^ritain,  and  there  is  no  reason  that  an  equally- 
great  production  and  consumption  iu  propor- 
tion to  the  pfjpulation  should  not,  iu  due  time, 
take  place  in  the  Uidted  States,  if  our  homo 
industry  be  as  wiselv  fostered  as  that  of  Eng- 
land. 'Oui  20,000,000  of  people  at  present 
consume  about  5,000,000  tons  of  coal ;  but  the 
present  rate  of  increase  is  such  as  to  indicate 
a  future  consumption,  twenty  years  hence,  of 
at  least  15,000,000;  and  as  the  population  will 
then  be  over  30,000.000,  this  would  be  but 
half  a  ton  to  each  inhabitant.  But  if  tlie  pop- 
ulation increase  as  some  staticians  have  cal- 
culated, in  1875  to  51,000,000,  and  we  allow 
them  the  same  proportionate  cousumption  as 
now  exists  in  Great  Britain,  we  shall  have  a 
total  annual  consuuiption  of  59,500,000  tons. 
And  there  appears  to  be  no  good  reason  for 
doubting  tho  probability  of  such  an  increase  ; 
for  the  experience  of  the  last  tveenty  years 
has  shown  no  calculations,  however  wild  and 
extravagant  thoy  may  have  soemed,  which 
have  approached  the  conditiou  of  facts  that  is 
now  before  our  even- 


THE   F.LECTRIC  TELEGRAPH. 


Most  wond'rous  specimen  of  art. 

With  nature's  laws  combined — 
Thou  actest  an  enchanter's  part, 

Unrivalledin  its  kind. 
United,  at  a  moment's  date, 

Two  distant  spots  we  see  ; 
Whilst  time  and  space,  annihilate, 

Are  set  at  nought  by  thee  ! 

The  fabled  wonders,  which  of  old 
Our  childhood  loved  to  read, 

Have  scarcely  equal  wonders  told, 
To  match  thy  lightning  speed. 

The  waive  of  the  magician's  wand. 
Makes  distant  scenes  appear; 

Whilst  far-off  lands,  at  thy  command, 
Obediently  hear. 

O'er  miles  and  miles  the  message  flies  ; 

Yet  surely  it  is  said, 
When,  lo  !  the  listener  replies, 

Before  a  moment's  fled. 

When  shall  thy  new-found  influence  cease? 

How  far  wdl  it  extend  ? 
Shall  not  its  curious  power's  increase 

Ramotest  nations  blend  ? 
10* 


Yet  enemies  thou  need'st  must  fiud — 

True  merit  raises  spite  ; 
Then  think  of  the  foes  coTnbit>ed, 

With  which  thoul'thave  to  fight. 

Ambassadors,  who'll  be  seut  back 
From  every  foreign  nation, 

With  secretaries  at  their  back. 
All  dying  of  vexation. 

The  Post-office  destroyed  will  be  ; 

For,  w here's  the  use  of  writing — 
\Vhen  back  the  answer  comes  by  thee, 

Whilst  queries  we're  inditing? 

Let's  have  a  talk,  then,  quite  at  ease. 
And  gossip  while  we  may  ; 

Let's  chat  a  while  with  the  Chinese, 
And  jest  with  Paraguay. 

We'll  ask  a  riddle  in  Peru, 

Tell  tales  at  Ispahan — 
Just  speak  a  word  in  Timbuctoo, 

And  whisper  with  Japan. 

As  round  the  world  thy  influenco  rolls. 
For  one,  I  shall  not  wonder, 

To  fiiid,  through  thee,  the  very  Poles 
Cannot  be  kept  asunder 


NOTES  AND  STATISTICS  OF  THE  PENNSYLVANIA  COAL  TRADE 


Coal,  observes  an  anouymous  writer,  is  eri- 
dently  a  result  of  the  decomposition  of  the 
compound  of  bodies  from  which  it  is  obtained. 
It  consists  of  the  greatebt  part  of  the  earthy 
principle  of  these  compound  bodies,  with 
which  a  part  of  the  saline  principle,  and  some 
of  the  phlogicton  of  the  decomposed  oil,  are 
fixed  and  combined  very  intimately.  Coal 
can  never  be  formed  but  by  the  phlogiston  of 
a  body  which  has  been  in  an  oily  state ;  hence 
it  cannot  be  formed  by  sulphur,  phosphorus, 
metals,  nor  by  any  other  substance  the  phlo- 
giston of  which  is  not  in  an  oily  state.  Every 
oily  matter  treated  with  fire  in  close  vessels, 
furnishes  true  coal ;  so  that,  whenever  a  charry 
residuum  is  left,  we  may  be  certain  that  the 
substance  employed  contains  oil. 

The  inflammable  principle  of  coal,  although 
it  proceeds  from  oil,  certainly  is  not  oil.  but 
pure  phlogiston,  t-ince  coal  added  to  sulphuric 
acid  can  iorm  sulphur ;  to  phosphoric  acid,  can 
form  phosphorus,  &c.,  and  since  oil  can  pro- 
duce none  of  these  etlecls  till  it  has  been  de- 
composed and  reduced  to  the  state  of  coal. — 
Besides,  the  phenomena  accompanying  the 
burning  coal  are  dift'erent  from  those  which 
happen  when  oily  substances  are  burnt.  T)jo 
flame  of  charcoal  is  not  so  bright  as  that  oi 
oil,  and  produces  no  flame  or  soot. 

All  the  phlogiston  of  coal  is  nut  burnt  in 
the  open  air — particularly  when  the  combus- 
tion is  slow.  One  part  of  it  exhales  without 
decomposition,  and  forms  a  vapor,  or  an  invi- 
sible and  insensible  gas.  This  vapor,  (which 
is,  or  at  least,  contains  a  great  deal  of  fixed 
air)  is  found  to  be  very  pernicious,  and  to  af- 
fect the  animal  system  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
occasion  death  in  a  very  short  time.  For  this 
reason  it  is  dangerous  to  remain  in  a  close 
room  or  place  where  charcoal  or  any  other 
sort  of  coal  is  burnt.  Persons  struck  by  this 
vapor  are  stunned,  faint,  suffer  a  violent  head- 
ache, and  fall  down  senseless  and  motionless. 
The  best  method  of  recovering  them,  is,  sim- 
ply, timely  exposure  to  the  open  air,  and  by 
making  them  swallow  vinegar  and  breathe  its 
steam. 

Among  coals,  considerable  difference  is  ob- 
sen-able,  which  proceeds  from  difference  in 
the  bodies  from  which  they  are  made  ;  some 
coals,  particularly,  are  more  combustible  than 
others.  This  combustibility  seems  to  depend 
on  the  greater  or  lees  quantity  of  saline  prin- 
ciple they  contain— that  is,  the  more  of  the 
saline  principle  it  contains,  the  more  easily  it 
decomposes  and  burns.  This  difference  in 
coal  varies  in  about  the  same  proportion  that 
the  difference  in  the  properties  of  various 
kinds  of  wood  varies  when  exposed  to  fire. 
The  difference  in  coal,  unlike  »bal  in  wood, 


relates  also  to  the  localities  where  »t  is  found — 
it  is  therefore,  rarely  that  the  opposite  ex- 
tremes of  its  analytical  properties  are  united 
in  the  same  spot.  We  append  an  analysis  of 
these  two  extremes — the  first  being  that  of 
the  purest  and  best  coal,  and  the  latter,  the 
inferior,  and  least  valuable. 

Analysis  of  Anthracite. 

V  Carbon 90  percent. 

1    }  Volatile  matter,  6i    do 

(  Ashes 3|     do 

1  00 

S  Carbon, 77  per  cent. 
Volatile  matter,          .11      do 
Ashes.       .....     12      do 

1-00 

This  difference  in  the  quality  of  coal  is 
again  perceptible  in  reference  to  its  weight. 
We  append  the  following,  which  will  exhibit 
the  character  of  our  anthracites  according  to 
the  weight  of  each  respectively,  per  cubic 
yard. 

Weight  of   Ahthkacitk  Coit. 
First,  or  Schuylkill  Region. 

Weight  of  • 
Localities  proceeding  from  West  cubic  yard 

to  East.  in  lbs. 

Lyken's  Valley.  2224 

Stony  Creek,  6  mile  openings,  2244 


Big  Flats, 

BboDt2351 

Rausch  Gap, 

2453 

Lorberry  Creek, 

2484 

Pottsville, 

mean  2504 

Tamaqua,  Vein  N. 

2700 

Lehigh,  Mauch  Chunk, 

2615 

Do      Nesquehoning, 

2646 

Second,  or  Middle  Region. 

Weight  of  • 

Localities  proceeding  from  West 

cubic  yard 

to  East. 

in  Ibt. 

West  Mahanoy  Coal, 

2313 

Hazleton, 

2615 

Girardville, 

2700 

Beaver  Meadow, 

2700 

The  Pennsylvania  Anthracite 

appears  to  be 

altogether  heavier  than  the  European,  as  will 

appear  from  the  following : 

European. 

South  Wales  (Swansea,) 

2131 

France,  (Grenoble,) 

1809 

Black  Spring  Gap, 

2351 

Pennsylvanian . 

Wilkesbarre,  (Baltimore  co.) 

2484 

Pottsville, 

2649 

Tamaqaa,  beliviest, 

8808 

'^l]^x^,^,,^y,.i<J^JrIr;^<<i^Tin■-^y.i>l^y.i■in\\y.^/l^^^^^^^ 


OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  THE  PENNSYLVANIA  ANTHRACITE  COAL  TRADE, 

From  lis  commencemeiit  in  1320,  to  the  close,  of  1847  :   shoroing  the  receipts  from  the  various  mines,  the  total  supply  and  the  annual  increase  of  the  Trade. 


LEHIGH. 


BBAVBRl   llAZLE-j  SU&AU  .    BUCK    L^jjjjjJ 


IMeadowi     ton.      loaf. 


1820  ,365 

1821  1,073 

1822  2,240l 

1823  5,823! 

1824  9,541} 

1825  28,393 
182f)  31,280 
1827  32,074 
1S28  30,232 
182!)}  25,110 
18^0!  41,750 
183l|  40,966 
18:52  70.000|  i  j 
18331123,000,  j  j 
1834,106,244;  |  ] 
1835' 131,250}  !  '  | 
18:56il46,562'  \  .  '  } 
18:r/|  192,320:  33,617 

1838  159.564'  38,426  16.221i 
1839' 142.071  i  38.429  34.000; 
1840;  102.183!  43.619  50.366i 
184ll*78. 1641*26,232  *2J.263! 
1842, 163,762}  45,422  31.012.' 

1843  138.8251   54,729    44.579; 

1844  219,245'  70,479  73,6151 
181o257.740[  77,227  70.266} 
181fi'274.623|  85,648  98.1501 
18471334,929,109,110  105.639; 


7.550 
29.039 
17.170 
31.930 
26.8il4 
2-5i66 
1  643 


2.844| 
13.749| 
23.8141 

46.103;    17.773 
50  847  |43,086 


SCHUYLKILL. 

HAIL 
nOAD. 


OTHER  REGIONS. 


365 

1,073 

3,240 

5,823 

9,541 

28,393 

31,280 

32,074 

30,232 

25,1101 

41,750 

40,966 

70,000 

123,000 

106,244 

131,250 

146,522 

225,937 

214,211 

221,850 

225,288 

142,821 

272,129 

267,734 

377,821 

429,492 

522,989 

643,973 


TOTAL. 


' 


6,500 


16,767 

31,360 

47,284 

79,973 

89,984 

81,854 

209,271 

252,971 

226,692 

339,5081 

432,045 

523,152 

433,875 

442,608 

452,291 

584,692 

491,602 

447,058 

398,443 

263,559 

3,440 


49,290} 
230,23  r} 

441,4911 

820,237) 

1,233,562, 


222,693  1,360,681) 


LACKA- 
WAIVA 


PIXE- 
OROVE. 


SHAMO 
Kljr. 


WILKES" 
DARUK. 


6,500 

16,767 
31,360 

47,284 

79,973 

89,984 

81,854 

209,271 

252,9711 

226,692 

339,508 

432,045 

523,152 

433,875 

442.608 

452,291 

584,692 

540,892 

677,295 

839,934 

1,083,796 

1,237,002 

1,583,3741 


4,360.108  6,077,622|4.135,49S  10,213,120  2,857,133  349,665  109,461  875,553 


7,000 

43,000 

54,000 

84,600 

111,777 

43,700i 

90,000 

103,861 

115,387 

78,207 

122,300 

148,470 

192,270 

205,253 

227,605 

251,005 

273,435 

320,000 

[388,203 


17,000 

13,000 

20,639 

23,860 

17,653 

32,381 

22,905 

34,916 

47,928 

58,926 

67,457 


11,930 

15,505 

21,463 

10,000 

10,0001 

lH,n87l 

iO,OOC 

12,572 

14,904 


Great  Freshet  which  injured  the  Canal. 


t  10,'3'17  ton.-i  lV(jm  Wilkeebarrc. 


47,346 
58,000 
114,906 
ITS. 401 
192,503 
284,398 


AGGRE- 
GATE. 

365 
1,073 

2,240 

5,823 

9,541 

34,893 

48,047 

63,434 

77,516 

112,083 

174,734 

176,820 

363,871 

487,748 

376,636 

560,758 

682,428 

881,476 

739,293 

819,327 

865,414 

958,899 

1,108,001 

1,263,539 

1,631,669 

2,023,052 

2,343,992 

2,982,309 


ANNUAL      ICONSUMP-j    UX90LD 
INCREASE.         TXOX.         APRIL   1. 


18,793,602 


25,353 
13,154 
15,837 

14,082 

34,567 

62,651 

2,086 

187,051 

123,877 

DECREASE 
184,122 

121,670 
199,048 

DECREASE. 
80,034 

46,087 
93,485 
149,103 
155,538 
368,130 
391,383 
320,940 
638,317 


177,000 

298,871 

434,986 

415,186 

635,935 

632,428 

680,441 

788,968 

867,000 

973,136 

958,899 

1,158,001 

1,263,539 

1,631,669 

3,023,052 

3,343,992 


SOLD  05 
CANAL  Sc 
B.  ROAD 


none. 

65  000 

117,762 

79,213 

4,035 

54,035 

355,070 

305,395 

157,632' 

100,000 

100,000 

50,000 

50,000 

50,000 

50,000 

50,000 


3,154 

3,373 

3,332 

5,331 

6,150 

10,048 

13,439 

19,439 

18,571 

17,863 

31,749 

28,775 

30,390 

28.924 

41,223 

40.584 

34,619 

60,000 

90,000 

155,460 

226,610 


I 

i 


:^'V/^v:^V'^"■v^;'•^>;^v/^>•^;|^^>v^''^>^'^'^'W^v^'^^■:\V•.^^Vx'^^ 


\x'  '^'-'\s'  '^' -^v  '^-■?^v  '^>/^Ui^"^x^'/^>^>vy>►^v^>^\^"^'>^^•■^;j'>j^'J;^^i^^^ 


0^^^ 


TABLE  SHEWING  THE  COMPAKATIVE  PITTANCES  FROM  THE  COLLIERIES, 

BOTH  ANTHRACITE  AND  BITUMINOUS,  IN  THIS  AND  ADJOINING  STATES,  TO  TIDK  WATER  AND  THE  1-UINCirAI,  HABKETS 


Girarilvillc, 

Nesquelioning  or  Room  Run, 

Maucli-Chnnk— Summit  mint 

Beaver  Meadow  minett, 

Hazcllon, 

Buck  mountain, 

Will<esl)arre  mines, 


Do.  by  Union  canal, 
Plymouth, 

Shamokin  collierica,  : 

West  Malianoy  coal, 
Lyken.s  Valley  old  mines, 


Do. 


AUeghany  ^fountain— Loyal  sock 


Farrandsville, 


14  miles  aliove  Dun 


Kaxiliuj4, 

Clearfietd. 
PliilipsburK— tentn 


Rail  read  3j,  Unit 


38 


do 


46.1  do  18 


Hi,  Wo.  Feed.  4.  Pa.  can.  5.'i  do 

)  MillerBtortii  26,  do    55  do 

10,  Slackwatct  17.  Havre  108 
15,  Stony  Creek  Railroad  25,  Canals  PO 
20,  Feeder  12,  Canals 88 
5,  Union  canal  52,  Penna.  canal  18,  Tide 
7.  Union  and  Tide  canals  lOOi 
.ll,  Peni 
12 


South  coal  r 
I   Biluminr 


anal  35,  Tide  45 
4IV.I,  Havre  C;! 


Railroad  15,  Ca 


Pennsylvania  canals 
Northumberland 
By  Susquehanna 

do 
Railroad  33i,  Penna.  ci 


15,  Dauphin  48,  H» 


163,  Tide  Canal  45 
103    Dauphin  48.  Havre  i 
22.  and  canals  231 


00 


231 


Is  1421,  Tide  45 
•27  do  142J     do     45 

17  do  173      do    45 

40,  Canals  171 

25,  Penna.  canals  131,  Tide  canal  45 
Slackwater  navigation  and  canals. 


y  Creek,  Schuylkill  Haven,  and  Reading  railroad 
Do  Port  Clinton,  do 

Harrisburg  and  Lancaster  railroad 
By  Tide  canal  80,  Delaware  79i,  lockage  327  feel 
By  Pa.  17,  Union  80,  and  Schuylkill  canal  62,  lockage  73811. 
Harrisburg  14,  Lancaster  railroad  108 
Ksilroad  ii,  Columbia  canal  35,  Railroad  82 
Do        6,  Havre  80,  Delaware  city  38.  Philadelphia  42 
Do        6,  Union  80,'  Penn.i.  17,  Schuylkill  canal  62 
Do        0,  UavieSO,  Wilmington  railroad  58 
Lancaster  railroad  116 


13 


116 


13,  Havre  80,  Delaware  80 
13,  Union  canal  80,  Penna  i 
161,  Harrisburg  8,  Lancaster  r 


nand  Schuylkill  c 


Do.  Trout  Run  at  Bii;  Dam  3i 
Indian  Creek  Gap  10,  Union  and  Schuylkill  canals  116 
Schuylkill  Haven  and  Beading  railroad 
Port  Clinton  and  do 

Trout  Run  3,  Railroad  to  Philadelphia  104 
Stony  Creek  21,  Middletown  17,  Union  3n<l  Sch'l  canals  142 

Do  25,  Lancaster  railroad  116 

Trout  Run  8,  Canals  123 

Poll  Mifflin  6,  Union  and  Schuylkill  canals,  128.; 
Pinegrov.;  8,  Schuylkill  Haven'l4,  Reading  iailio.id  86 

Do        8  do  14,  Canal  100 

Do        8,  by  Port  Clinton      23.  and  Reading  railroad  73 

Do        8  do  23,  Canal  87 

Port  Mifflin  41,  Railroad  48i,  Reading  railroad  54 

Do         41.  Union  and  Schuylkill  lanals  12ni 
Stony  Creek  26,  Middletown  17,  Canals  142 
By  Union  and  Schuylkill  canals 

Railroad  5,  Union  72,  hick.  .390  ft.;  Sch.  canal  62,  lock.  182  ft 
Fishing  Creek  railroad  71,  Union  canal  601,  Schny.  canal  62 
By  Schuylkill  Haven  and  Canal 
By  Port  Clinton  and  Reading  Railroad 
Swatara  Gap  and  Railroad  to  Reading  and  Fhiladelpliia 
Railroad  10,  Canals  to  Philailelnhia  134 
By  Schuylkill  canal,  lockage  610  feet 
Bv  Railroad 

By  Railroads,  Port  CUnton  20,  Rtading  railroad  79 
Liltle  Schuylkill  railroad  and  Schuylkill  canal 
Railroad  and  Schuylkill  navigation 
Railroad  5,  Lehigh  navigallnn  47,  Canal 60,  Philadelphia  18 

Do     9,  Canals  125,  in  52  tan  boms 

Do  26         do     119 

Do  30        do     119 

Do    4,  Lei: 

Do  20 
By  Tide  water  canal  and  Delaware 

Pa. canals  133, U.  ^  S.  canals  142;  lock.  200.\5I9nI82=»6I  ft 
By  Tide  Water  Canal     . 
Railroad  15.  Ifavre  128.  Philadelphia  by  Delaware  60 

Do    26,  Feeder  and  Canals  to  Havre  100,  Philada.  60 

Do     16.  Penna.  canal  .57,  folu.obla  railroad  82 

Do    16       do  Middletown  39,  Union  and  Sch'l  nav.  M2 

Do    16,  Feeder  and  Canals  116,  Delaware  to  Philad.  80 

Do    25,  Penna.  canals  113,  Union  canal  80    Scliuyl.  62 
Slackwater  40,  Ponn ..  Union  and  Schuylkill  canals  255. 
By  Pottsville  railroad  and  Schuylkill  canal 
By  Cattawlssa  and  Reading  railroads 
Railroad  15,  Pa,  canal  85,  Harrisburgi  Lane,  railroad  108 
By  Fotlsvillo  and  Reading  railroads 
Railroad  15,  Penna.  canal  94,  Union  ant!  Schuyl.  canals  142 

Do    15,  Wilkesbarre  7.5,  Lehigh  roiile  171   . 

Do    25.  Penna.  canal  108,  Lancaster  railroad  108 
By  canal  and  Cattawlssa  and  Reading  ri.ilioads 
By  Pottsville  and  Reading  railroads 

By  Potuville  and  Sunhury  railroad  and  Schnyl.  navigation 
Railroad  »,  Penna.  cmiil  108,  Union  and  Schuvl  canals  112 
Do         I  do  133,  Lancaslei  Bailinad  108 

Do  Penna  cnnul  and  Pottsville  railroad  and  Schnyl  nav. 
Railroad  1,  Penna  canalHl,  Union  and  Schnyl.  lanala  142 

Do    2,  to  Middletown  145  do  142 

Do    2,  Penna.  canal  to  Columbia  163,  Railroad  82 
Pennsylvania  canals  to  Columbia  163,  Railroad  82 
By  Erie  and  Lancaster  railroads 

y  Penna.  canal  and  railroad  to  Philadelphia. 
Hug  railroads  137 


Railroad  27,  Penna.  canal  115,  Lancaster  railroad  108 
Do       27  do  I  I2i,  U.  canal  80.  Schnyl.  canal  62 

Do        27,  Havre  197,  Delaware  to  Phjlailclphia  80 
Do         17,  Penna.  canal  155,  Unlonand  Schnyl.  canals  112 

„""        '7  d.>  146.  Lancaster  railroad  108 


Do  ,Nnrlh  regit 


Br.  To],  rec,  bitn 

Do 
Alleghany  region 


m 


Sinnemshoning  mouth, 


Karlhaua, 

ClHarflelil. 
Pllilipsburg— t 


Blair's  Oap, 


Bear  Valley  coal  dUtrirt, 


Do. 


ilo. 


Do.  via  ClearHelil,  West  Branch  B.  R(l» 

Do.  West  Braiidi, 
?iiinemahoniiig  iiiouth, 
Montezuma— New  Yoik  canal,    -        - 
Erie,  (via  Siinbuty  and  Eric  rail-rOBdi,) 
Do.  via  Lancaster  railroad,    - 
Do.  via  Klmirn,  rail-road  route, 
Lake  Ontario,  via  Sunbury, 
Cleavoland.  Oliio, 
Iticlimond,  Virginia,  Clieslcrneld  coal 

Port  Lyoh  ob  Dacphih. 
To  Piltsbure, 

Hollidaysliiiri;, 

Now  York  and  Erie  rail-road, 

Erii-  Cnnal  at  Montezuma, 

BulTalo,  Lake  Erie, 
Lake  Erie, 

Albany, 
Lake  Ontario, 

To  Tide  WiTEB 
Wilksbarre.  -  -  -        - 

Maucli  Chunk, 
Room  Run.        .        - 
Beaver  Meadow, 

Northampton  and  Luzarne  Company, 
llazelton  mine, 
Buck  mountain  mine, 
Towanda  coal  district. 


Stony  Cr'kcoalDistrie 

Do. 
Rattling  Run, 


Black  Spring  Gap, 


Do.  •  -  ■ 

.Alleghany  mountain — Farranda' 
Cumberland  nfiar  Froetburg,     • 

Do.  Westernport, 

Do.  George's  Creek, 

Pli  ili|,»burg-Centre  mines. 

Do.  •  •        • 

Berkley  and    Martineburg, 
Wbeeliug, 
Pittsburg, 


From  Port  Lyon  or  Dauphin. 

Do.  Six  mile  openings, 
Pottsville, 
Mauc  h  Chunk, 
Lyken'B  Valley  mi^c^ 
parraudseille, 

To  Ti^B  'Watib 
Stony  Creek  CoaiDillriU. 
From  Port  Lyon  or  Daupliin, 

Do. 
Six  mile  openings. 


Berkley  region,  .         .  . 

Cumberland  region  near  Frostburg, 

Do.  WcEtornport. 

Do.  George's  Creek. 

Do.  16  miles  above  Westornport, 


Richmond,  Virginia,  Chestertield, 

To  Tide  WaxKB 
.Mauch  Chunk— Summit  mines, 


Eei 


Do 


r  Meadow  t 


Lycoming  Creek  mines, 
Port  Lyon  or  Dauphin, 
S  innemaboning  mouth, 
Erie  by  Dauphin. 
Pitlsbu  rg  by  Sunbury  rail  r 
"      by  Peuna.  cajul. 

via  TTew  York  and  Ohio 
Cleveland,  Ohio, 


By  Brie  and  Lancaster  railroads 

To  Columbia  by  Pcima.  canal  and  railroad  to  Philadelphia. 

By  Sunlniry  103.  Pottsville  and  Reading  railroads  137 

By  Pcniia.  ranal  and  Union  and  Schuvlkill  cuna:s 
tin  Ilo 

Kiiilroad  S7,  Penna.  canal  IIS.  Lancaster  railroad  108 

)        27  do  Il'iJ,  Jl.canal«>.  Schnyl.irannlCJ 

1        27,  Havre  107,  Delaware  In  Philadelphia  90 
3         17,  Penna    canal  US,  Union  Bml  Schuyl.  canals  142 
:i        17  do  146,  Lancaster  railroad  lOS 

By  Columbia  railroad 

Railroad  "26,  Canals  100,  Delaware  In  Philadelphia  80 
~  a        10,  Mahantango  IT,  Midn.  45,  WIlS.  canals  142 
>.  to  Susquehanna  2?.  Canals  187 
na.  canal  2U7.  Union  80.  Schuylkill  canitl  62 
1  389,  Lancesler  railroad  108 

Pitlsb.  10  (liarah.  ratlroail  prupd.  '2411,  and  Lane  railroad  Ki 
lemahoning  Ii7,  Snnbury  103,  by  Pottsville  137 

New  Aleaandria,  Slnnemaboning  117,  Philailelphia  258 

Sunbury  railroad  103,  Pa.  canal  50,  Lancaster  railroad  !08 

By  the  Lehigh  and  'Delaware  route 

Lockhaveii  220,  Sunbury  63,  bv  Pottsville  137 

"""irren62.  Sunbury  178,  Harfisburg  54,  Lancaster  108 
JImira  205,  Williamsport  73,  Danville  42,  Pottsville  63, 
Lillle  Schuylkill  21,  Reading  railroad  54 

Montezuma,  Williamsport,  Pottsville,  Reading  railroad 
;analB.  Pittsburgh,  Chesapeake  and  Ohio,  Ac. 

Railroad  or  canal  13,  Fort  Monroe  120,  Philadelphia  306 

MiaCEl.LASEOlH. 

Pennsylvania  canal  138,  I'c 
Pennsylvania  canal 
Williamsport  88,  Elmira  73 

ira  ICl,  Seneca  Lake  61,  Montez 
To  Montezuma  245.  BulTalo  157 
To  Elmira  161.  Erie  railroad 205 
Montezuma  245,  Eric  canal  206 
Elmira  and  Montezuma  245  Oswego 


age  37, 


ntion  17,  Deliiware  Canal  60 


15,  Wilkesbarre  75,  Bristol  153. 


Canal  25,  York  Haven  railroad  60 

5  80,  Baltimore  railroad  35 
80,  Chesapeake  54 
Railroad  6,  Canals  to  Havre  80,  Baltimore  railroad  35 
6,  and  York  Haven  route  85 
13,  HSvreSO,  ChesapeakeSl 
13,  York  Haven  route  85 

10.  by  Indian  Cr.  and  Union  canal  26,  Y.  Haven  OS 
ny  Creek  railroad  21,  and  York  Haven  85 

Do  21,  State  Canal  &  Chesapeake  134 

Do  by  Union  canal  route 

Do  20.  Havre  80,  Chesapeake  il 

nal  46i  Havre  63.  Bait,  railroad  35 
r.anal  18,  Tide  15,  Chesapeake  51 
Raih 


:  Railroad. 


By  Railroad  4i,  Union  i 
By  Union  canal  SI,  Stal 

ly  canal.)  nod  York  Hav 
Do  by  Havre.  Bnltiino 
Do  do     Chesapeake. 

Do  do     nnhimore  Railroad 

Do  do    Chesapeake. 

By  the  Lehigh  and  Delaware  route, 

Havre  20'2.  Chesapeake  54. 

•"   ■■    lad  10.  Canal  l.'iS,  Unih-oad  70 
I'J     da 


BrietoUSO,  Balilir 


1'2    do      1.18 


70. 


By  Canal  and  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Kailroa.l 
National  rond  to  Cumberland  131.  Canal  K18.  : 
Monongahein  56.  National  Railroad  74,  Canul  a 

To  Dblawark  City. 


Schuylkill  Navigation  and  the  Delaware. 
Railroad  9.  Lehigh  route  125.  Delaware  49 

o        16.  Havre  100,  Delaware  38. 

0  1.    do     '201,        do        38. 


At  W 

ale  to  Havre  80.  Railroad  73. 
To  York  Haven  25.  Baltimore  60,  Washington  38. 
Railroad  6.  samo  route  li3. 

0        6,  Havre  80.  Railroads  73. 
Railroad  13,  Havre  80,  Railroads  7;i, 
By  Indian  Creek, 10  Union  Canal  26,  York  Haven  106. 

Do  10,  Havre  89.  Chesapeake  24.  Washington  38. 

By  Stony  Creek  21.  and  Yorkhaven  Railroad  12a. 
By  Ohio  Canal.  Georgetown  1. 
By  do  187,  Railroad  10. 

do  187,         do      28. 

do  187,        do     -3a. 

do  167.        do      32. 
Havre  20'2,  Baltimore  54.  Washington  36. 
By  Pittsburgh  and  Chesapeake 


Do  Anthiuc 
Midille  rei'ii 
Do  Anthrati 


nail 


rigat; 


d  Ohio  Canal, 
ad  72.  Ohio  Canal  187, 
64,  Ship  navigation  287 


At  New  York, 
;  Railroad  9,  Lehigh  Navigation  47,  in 
I  Canal  101.  in  25  ton  boats. 
Railroad  i).  by  Black's  Eddy  and  Raritan 


;  Do 


9.  Bristol  107.  Raritan  90. 
5  Lehigh  Navigation  47.  Dela 
Black's  Eddy  in  200  tons  barges. 


:  and  Raritan  126, 
nd  Raritan  99. 


d  5,  Lehigh  Nav.  47,  Bristol  60,  Dela. 

Uo        26.  by  Black's  Eddy. 

Do        28,  and  by  Mortis  Canal  141. 

Do       25.  Pn.  Can.88,  St.  Cr.toEastonlOO.  Mor.  Canal  101. 
ProposedR.Rd.  hy  Ft.  Clint,  to  Allen.  94.  Enston  16,  do  101. 
Sunbury  103.  Port  Lyon  48,  hy  Morris  Cnnal  210. 
Railroad  to  Sinncmahoning  180.  to  Moiv  York  as  above  361 . 

Do  do  157.  Dauphin  151.  by  do  210. 

Canals  to  Dauphin  280.  to  New  York  as  above  210 
Cnnal  670.  Rivcr  145.  Lako  193,  (lockage  1,877  I'cet  ) 
Bu«nlo  160.  Albany  350.  New  York  150. 
Via  Pittsburgh  and  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Cnnal.  Sec, 
By  the  Erie  Canal. 
By  tlie  Lehigh  and  Morris  Canals. 


By  Philadelphia,  &c. 
Railroad  5.  Lchigli  47,  Morris  Canal  101. 
■  Do        17,  with  1,767  ft.  rise  and  fall ;  Dela.  and  Hudson  ( 
.  nal  lOS.with  1.076  ft.  lockage  in  30  ton  boaW,  and  Uie  Hudsi 
By  Black's  Eddy. 

By  Susquehanna  and  Lehigh  Railroad  20, 73,  101. 
By  Havre  de  Grnco. 

By  I'emia,  Union  and  .Schuylkill  Cnnals. 
I.nhigh  Nav.  73.  Dela.  Canal  60.  Delaware  10,  Rnritan  89. 
'  Railroad  15,  Penna.  Canal  to  Wilkesbarre  75  Rail 
I.chigh  Navigation  73.  Dela.  Canal  CO,  Dela.  10.  R.i, 
83,  Morris  Canal  101. 


\   South  coal  field. 
Do  Anthracite. 


5    North  region 
Anthracite. 


Notts  and  StatUtics,  4'«- 


07 


The  buarainous  coala  of  the  Uaited  States 
are  alio  eonsiderably  heavier  than  those  of 
fcurope.  With  but  one  or  two  exceptions,  all 
Coals  of  the  United  Slates  exceed  one  ton  in 
weight  to  the  cubic  yard;  while  there  is  no 
instance  of  the  bituminous  Coal  of  Europe 
reaching  that  weight. 

Prof.  Johnson,  who  conducted,  by  authority 
ot  Congress,  a  series  of  experiments  on  Ame- 
rican Coals,  applicable  to  steam  navigatioi., 
and  to  other  purposes,  in  his  rept.it  u  ;hat 
body,  m  1844,  says  that  the  justly  celebrated 
foreign  bituminous  Coals  of  Newcastle,  l-iver- 
pool,  Scotland,  Pictou,  and  Sidney— Coals 
which  constitute  the  present  reliance  of  the 
great  hues  of  Atlantic  eteamers— are  fully 
equalled,  or  rather  surpassed  in  strength  b'y 
the  analogous  Coals  of  eastern  Virginia;  that 
they  are  decidedly  surfajsed  by  all  the  free- 
burning  coals  of  Maryland  aud  Pennsylvania; 
and  that  an  equally  decided  advantage  in 
steam-generaling  power  enjoyed  by  the  anth- 
racites over  the  foreign   coals  tried,  whether 


we  consider  them  under  equal  weights  or 
equal  bulks- 

He  also  adds,  that  experiment  appears  to 
demonstralo  thai,  for  the  purpose  of  rapid 
evaporation,  for  the  production  of  illuminat- 
ing gas,  the  coal  of  Indiana,  though  neither 
very  heavy  nor  very  durable,  is  inferior  to 
none  of  the  highly  bituminous  class  to  whicb 
it  belongs;  since  in  heating  power,  and  in 
freedom  from  impurity,  it  surpasses  the  splint 
and  canuel  coal  of  Scotland. 

From  this  report  we  select  the  following 
table,  which  is  copied  by  Mr.  Taylor  with  the 
following  remarks : 

"Our  ."ipace  precludes  our  quoting  exten- 
sively from  this  voluminous  document,  [I'rnf. 
Johnson'*  Report] ;  but  we  cannot  refrain 
from  selecting  the  IbUowing  table,  ut  the  rela- 
tive degree  of  comparative  power  of  different 
coals  under  similar  or  uniform  bulks.  NVe 
select  this  table,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  au- 
thor, in  preference  to  that  which  exhibits  "the 
order  of  evaporative  power  under  equal 
weights." 


Classification  of  American  Coala  in  the  order  of  Evaporative  power  under 
equa^  bulks,  to  which  is  added  the  relative  numerical  rank  of  ttie  same 
coals  under  efiMuX  weights,  also  in  the  order  of  their  specific  gravities, 
■od  of  theif  marketable  weight. 


m 


Names  and  localities,     j    State  or  County. 


Quality. 


Atkinson's  Cumberl'd  coal, 


Maryland, 


PennsylTania, 
Schuylkill  Co.  Pa., 

Maryland, 
Cumberland  coal, 
Clinton  Co .  Pa. 
Tioga  Co.,  Pa 
Maryland, 
Cumberland.  Md. 
Pennsylvania, 


Beaver  Meadow,  Slope  V., 
Peach  Mountain, 
Forest  improvemeat. 
Kasby's  CuHiberland  coal, 
N.  Y.  &  Maryland  Comp., 
Queen's  Run  coal, 
Blosaburg. 

Neff's  Cumberlanci  coal, 
Easby's  "  coal  in  store," 
Beaver  Meadow,  ^f o.  3, 

"  navy  yard, 

Mixture  1-5  Cumberl'd,  and 

4-5  Beaver  Meadow,         | 
Lehigh  Coai,  Pennsylvania. 

Ralston,  i  Lycoming  creek,  Pa, 

Summit  Portage  coal,  I  Cambria  Co.,  Pa. 

Mixture    I  5    MidLothian.j 

and  4-5  Beaver  Meadow,  ' 
Barr's  deep  run, 
Liackawanna, 
Karthaus, 
Stony  Creek.  Perseverance 

seam 


near  Richmond,  Va. 
Penn.iylTania. 


22  Lykens  Valley, 

23  Pictou, 

<24  Mid-Lothian,  average, 
j25  Crouche's  Pits, 
j26  Newcastle. 
i27  Mid  lothian,  900  feet  shaft, 
)28         "  new  shaft, 

(39  Pictou,  Canards. 
530  Chesterfield  company, 
''"  Mid-Lothian  screened, 


Dauphin  Co.,  Pa. 

Nova  Scotia. 
Richmond,  Va, 

England. 
Virginia, 

Nova  Scotia, 
Richmond,  Va., 


32  Natural  Coke. 
;33  Creek  company, 

34  Pittsburg, 

35  Sydney  Coal, 

36  Liverpool, 

37  Scotch, 
(38  Tippecanoe, 
;39  Cannelton. 

40  Clover  Hill, 

41  Coke^  of  Cumberland  coal, 

42  Coki«  of  RiohmjBn(}  coo)], 
J43  Dry  Pin»  Wood, 


Dry  Bitimlnoua  coal. 

Anthracite  white  ash, 
"  red  ash, 

"  white  ash. 

Dry  Bituminous  coai, 
'•    free  burning, 

Moderately  biuitainous, 

Free  burning  bituminous, 
Anthracite  white  ash. 


Mixed, 

Anthracite  white  ash, 
Moderately  bituminous, 
Bituminous, 

Mixed, 
Bituminous, 
Anthracite  white  ash, 
Moderately  bituminous, 

jSemi-bituminoua, 

Anthracite, 

Bituminous, 


Fat  Bituminous  coal, 
Bituminous, 


Chesterfield  Co.,V&.| 

Pennsylvania.  jpat  Bituminous  ooal. 

Cape  Breton,  iBituminous, 

England,  JFat  Bituminous  coel. 


Scotland, 

near  Petersburg,  Va 

Indiana, 

Richmond,  Va. 

Maryland; 

ViygiBja, 


Bituminous, 

Cannel  coal. 
Bituminous, 
CoKe, 

Pine  wood, 


?J^ 


Remnv  of  th-e  Coal  Regioiu. 


Mr.  JuhiistHi  remarkfi,  that  Coal,  "when 
sold  by  weight,  unci  used  od  shore,  the  weight 
per  cubic  foot  is  a  poiut  of  little  moment — 
Space  for  storage  is  easily  obtained.  But  in 
steam  iiavigHtion,  bulk,  as  well  as  weight,  de- 
mand attention;  and  a  difference  of  twenty 
per  cent.,  which  experiment  .'^hows  to  exist 
between  the  highest  and  lowest  average 
weight  f  f  a  cubic  foot  of  different  coals,  as- 
mirtiep  a  value  of  ho  little  magnitude.  This  is 
obviously  true,  eince,  if  other  things  be  oqtial, 
the  leu-^t'i  of  a  voyage  must  depend  on  the 
amount  of  evaporative  power  afforded  by  the 
fnel  which  can  bo  stowed  in  the  bunkers  of  a 
«T«=air'rr,  always  of  limited  capacity 


fj'entr^rl    Fcahires  of  Pi 
thracitc  ■ 


\'f"<'inia    An- 


Tlioaiithiaciieshavc  spccifiu  cruviticy,  vury- 
iiig  fi-on.  1.39  to  i.GI  ;  retain  ibi'ir  fjrm  when 
exposed  t<i  a  heat  of  ignition,  a:i.i  uuji  rgo  no 
proper  ikittimescence  while  parting  with  the 
email  portion  of  volatile  inalter  which  ihey 
.contain  :  or,  if  changed  at  all,  jire-  f)nly  disin- 
tegrated into  angular  fragmenft.  Their  flame 
is  generally  -ihort,  of  a  blue  color,  and  conse- 
quently of  liitlg  illuminating  power.  They 
arc  ignited  with  ciifHcuHj- ;  give:  an  intense 
concentrated  heat ;  but  generally  become  ex- 
tinct while  yet  a  considerable  quautity  re- 
mains unburut  in  the  grate. 

In  experimenting  with  American  coals, 
Prof  Johnson  thus  describes  the  differences 
between  tho  red  and  whi!.t;-asli  coals  of  our 
region. 

First,  of  the  Red-Ash,  Peach  Mountain. — 
The  sample  exhibited  a  deep  jot-black  color; 
an  uneven  .'.plintory  fracture;  a  lustre  varying 
from  dull  tn  shining,  according  to  the  direction 
in  which  the  f  acture  is  made.     Like  all  the 


other  anthracites,  il  wae  wholly  nnaffrcted  by 
atmospheric  influences  in  aperiod  cf  eighteen 
months,  during  which  time  they  w  ero  in  my 
charge. 

This  sample  is  more  easily  seperated  at  the 
surfaces  of  deposition  tha[i  most  of  the  white- 
a.'ih  coals,  but  less  so  than  that  of  Lyken's 
valley.  It  ha.s  no  exterior  indications  of  im- 
purity, such  as  discoloration  fiom  (vxide  of 
iron,  or  efflorescence  of  metallic  salts.  It  has 
certain  surfaces  polished  and  minutely  striated, 
appearing  as  if  they  had  been  subjected  to 
friction  under  intense  pressure.  This  feature 
is  not,  however,  of  so  frequent  occurrence  in 
this,  as  in  many  other  samples  of  anthracite. 

Its  .specific  gravity,  determined  by  two  spe- 
rimct;s,  was  found  to  be  1,46.5  and  1.1632 — 
the  mean  of  which  ctiablo«  ns  to  calculate  the 
weight  of  a  cubic  fool  of  oolid  coal  at  91.50.3 
pounds.  But  the  weighing  of  70  charges  of 
2  ctibic  feet  each,  in  the  state  of  lumps,  gave 
50  7933  pouuils  per  cubic  loot,  proving  that 
the  actual  weight  in  the  market  is  but  0.5878 
of  the  calculated  weight  in  the  mine.  Th«* 
same  data  prove  that  ■jr.'i'l  cubic  fi  ct  of  space 
whW  be  rerjuircd  lnr  one  gross  ton. 


Annlt/nis. 


Carbon, 

Vrjlatile  matter. 
Earthy  matter, 


36.087 
6,965 
6,948 


S-icnd.  of  the  White-Ash,  Summit  Hill. — 
The  aspect  and  character  of  this  coal  leave  uo 
doubt  that  i.t  will  lemain  for  any  desired  length 
of  time,  either  under  shelter  or  in  the  open 
air,  without  material  change. 

The  coal  was  received  generally  in  lumps, 
requiring  to  bo  reduced  in  order  to  be  burned 
advantageously  on  the  grate.  Its  aspect  is 
that  of  most  of  the  harder  anthracites,  pos- 
sessing a  deep   black   color,  shining  uneven 


Compasiuon  and  character  of  Ashes,  from  various  kinds  of  Coal. 


Charitter  and  ingre-j  a, 


dAnii.tsof  nphes 


E  o  t.  i  t: 
o  5  to   ~ 


soK  CO    ec  2  so  !  20  B  CO 


Per  centaga  of  ashes}  ' 

in  the  coal,  i  4.83        8.73       2.242|     3.079 

Color,  I  light    reddish}  white. [reddish 

I   buff.    '■  whito  ; 
Eilicain  ashes,  pr.  ot.:53.603  ■  45.1051  43.68 
Alumina,  '36.687  i  37  000;  39.34 


Peroxide  of  iron, 

Limo, 

Magnesia, 

Oxide  of  manganese,' 

Less, per  cent. 

Sum 


5.590 
2.357 
1.076 
0  18G 


13.000 
1.380 
2.430 


1.085 


99.989  TOO. 


Notes  and  Statistics. 


5iJ 


aiiti  »|)liiitoiv  t'lictuiv,  wiili  occasional  exfK.- 
sure  of  coDchoidnl  forms  ;  a  strintoil  ratber 
grayish  apixMrnncc,  generatiy  indioitivo  of" 
C(uisiclc'):ih!c  portions  of  earthy  inipnrily, 
marks  cort.-iin  sui  tiires.  Tlio  st-amrt  of  depo- 
^»ition  lire  Hcl(!oin  follo\vt;il  by  tlic  rr:icturf8. 

The  specific  i'r-ivity  of  two  spcciiiieiis  was 
fotuid  to  lie  l,61'i6  and  1,5079,  from  wliicli  tlic 
calcnhiti'd  weights  per  cubic  foot  aro  100  79 
mid  97.90  pomids.  respectively,  or,  on  an  avc- 
i-ngc,  99. .T9  pounds. 

C  Carbon,  -         -         8!!. 0.52 

Anu///fi!!.<^  Volatile   matter,     -  .5.235 

(  r:nrtby  matter,        -  6.663 

The  foregoin-'  tables  will,  doiibtU-ss,  give  a 
snii.'irnctory  cxliibil  as  to  tfio  rolalivo  value  of 
the  ditrereiit  coals  nnnunl  for  Bteain  navica- 
tion,  iron  ninking,  or  for  generating  steiUi  or- 
dinarily. For  stove  nse,  the  following  expe- 
riment will  determine  the  respective  value  of 
the  white  and  led-asb  varieties.  Two  rooms 
of  nearly  the  same  size,  and  having  the  same 
temperature,  were  selcclr-d  to  asceitain  how 
many  ponnd.?  of  each  kind  would  be  reqnircd 
to  heat  Iheni  to  a  temperature  of  fj.i  degrees, 
flaring  a  period  of  fifteen  hours,  when  the 
temperature  out  of  doors,  at  9  A.  M.,  was  at 
ten  degrees  below  the  freezing  [loint.  Two 
days  were  occupied  in  the  trial,  so  that  the 
red  and  while-ash  coals  might  be  used  in 
alt'nnatc  rooms.  Fires  were  made  at  9  ^.  M. 
and  continued  until  12  P.  M.  Two  thermo- 
Cannl  and  Railroad  Syslcm  in  relation  to 

'■  Names  of 

;  RAILRO.\DS  AND    CANALS. 


meters  (one  in  (  ach  r  ><>ni)  were  su.^peaded  at 
the  greatest  distance  from  the  grates,  and  th-e 
temperature  was  cai'efnlly  registered  every 
hour.  The  reside  was  as  follows:  Thirty-one 
pounds,  each  day,  of  the  Schuylkill  rtd-ash 
coal,  t;ave  a  mean  temperature  of  64  degrees; 
and  ihirty-soven  j'onnds.  each  day,  of  tho 
Leiiigh,  whilc-a^h,  taken  ii'oni  a  vein  of  high 
repute,  gave  a  mean  temperature  of  63  de- 
grees— thus  making  2000  pounds  of  the  red- 
ash  to  be  ecpial  to  2.337  [)ounds  of  the  whito- 
asb,  or  red-ash  co:d  .it  $5  50  per  ton,  to  be 
equal  to  white  ash  at  $1  CI.  This,  says  Mr. 
Taylor,  settirs  the  question  between  the  two 
coals  on  the  score  of  economy. 

MISCELLA  NEOUS  ST.VflSTICS. 

Accompanying  this  work  will   be    found  an 

interesting     table,     e.vhiljiting     the    difTerent 

routes  to  marktt,  with  the  respective  distances 

of   the    njining    districts    from    the    principal 

markets.     (.S'  e    page  57.)     \Ve    have  altered 

I  its  shape  (uiiy,  as  taken  from  the  Report  of  tho 

;    President  o!  thy    Dauiiliin   Coal    Cornoanv  to 

j    the  Board  of  Managers,   1812. 

The  following  tabli>  will  show  t!;e  railways 

I   and  Canals  in  direct   communication  with  the 

I    Coal  regions  of  Pennsylvania,  atid  which  were 

constructed  almost  entirely  for  the  purpose  (jf 

I    tho  Coal  trade.     Of  the  railroads  uncler  ground 

I   no  e.'cact  statement  can  be  afforded.     We  have, 
however,    made  an    estimate  of  the  probable 
length  and  cost,  which  will  doubtless  suffice  : 
the  Anthracite  Districts  #/  Pennsylvania. 


Canals. 


Lehigh  Navigation, 

Lehigh  and  Susquehanna  Railroad, 

Manch  Chunk  and  Summit  Railroads,  &c., 

Delaware  Division  of  the  Penn.   Canal 

Beaver  Meadow  Railroad, 

Hazleton  Railroad, 

Buck  Mountain  Railroal, 

Summit  railroad,  .... 

Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal — partly  in  N.  .Jersey 

Morris  Coal  Canal,  in  New  Jersey, 

The  Schuylkill  Navigation, 

The  Reading  and  Pottsville  Railroad, 

Little  Schuylkill  and  Tamaqua  Railroad, 

Mine  Hill  and   Schuylkill  Haven  and  E.xtension, 

to   Swatar-a, 
Danville  and  Pottsville,  Ai\  m.  unfinished, 
Mount  Carbon   Railroad, 

Do  and  Port  Carbon  Railroad, 

Sch'jylkill  Valley  Railroad, 
.Mill  Creek    Railroad, 
Railroads  by   individuals, 
Under-ground   Railroads, 
Lyken's  Valley  Railroad,  - 
Wisconisco  Canal,        .... 
Swatara  Railroad, 
North  Branch  Canal — division, 

Do  extension, 

Wyoming  Improvements,  not  ascertained.!, 


No.  Miles 


87^ 


43 


103 
102 
108 


Railroads, 


No.  Miles 


12 


73 
90 


623i 


17 


20 

36 

26 

10 

1 

2 

16 


98 
20 

55 

29i 

7 

14 

6 

70 

100 

16 


Total  Cost. 
Dollars. 


436 


$4,455,000 

],35C,000 

831,634 

1,734,958 

360.000 

120,000 

40,000 

20.000 

3,250,000 

4,000,000 

5,785,000 

11,590,000 

500,000 

550,000 

630,000 

155.000 

120,000 

300.000 

120,000 

180,000 

120.000 

200,000 

370,000 

20,000 

1,491,894 

1,298,416 


There  are  many  private  railroads  constructed  since  the  above  wos  drawn  up.    The  whole  may  be  estimated 
•tmore  than  forty  millions  of  dollare. 


«0 


Review  oj  ih%  Coal  Ittgions, 


The  labte  eraitled  "  Official  Report  of  the 
Anthrscite  Coal  Trade  of  Pennsylvania,"  and 
which  is  attached  to  the  table  of  "  Dinlances"' 
accompanying  this  work,  wi!l  exhibit  the 
autiual  product  of  each  mining  district  from 
the  comtnencenient.  Annexed  is  a  tjible  show- 
ing the  Importation  of  Foreign  Coal  i-ifo  tk''. 
United  States; 


1  Official  1     Duties 

Years. 

Ton«.  i  Valae   [Received, 

Tariff-. 

iDollars. 

DollHrs. 

1789 

3,850      — 



t  cte. 

R  bushel. 

J795 

4,477;     — 

8.338  . 

1800 

11,787 

— 

25.150  \ 

1805 

17,805 

25  810  ( 

octs. 

do. 

J810 

14.030 

— 

1^,907  ■' 

1814 

C»I 

War. 

War.  ) 
Pfftce.  > 

do. 

1815 

3,514 

Peftce. 

1820 

24.061 

— 

53,685 

5  eta. 

do. 

1825 

25,795 

108,527 

JB30 

58.382 

204,773 

98,417 

1835 

59,972 

143.461 

1837 

15.3,450 

— 

1> 

6  ct». 

do. 

1839 

iei,.55I 

— 

1840 

162,867 

387,238 

273.610 

1842 

141.526 



1843 

41.163 

I16,:n2 

1844 

87,073 

236,963 

) 

1845 

85.771 

224.483 

151,021  S 

$175 

pr.  ton. 

1846 

156,853 

378.597 

274,492  > 

1847 

148,021 

370,985 

123,662 

30  pr 

c.  ad  vl. 

Average  Prices  of  Labor. 
wAons  PER  daV. 


Years. 

Miners. 
$1  00 

Laboreri. 

Remarkd. 

1831 

80  cenU, 

1840 

87i 

70     "  ) 

1841 

87i 

70     •'  ( 

Wages  paid  ini/rder$. 

1842 

«7i 

70     ••  5 

1843 

1  10 

80     "  ) 

3844 

1  15i 

85     "  ( 

Labor  indemand.  and 

J  845 

1  20 

87     >'{ 

wages  paid  in  money. 

1846 

1  25 

87    '•  ) 

1847 

1  25 

88    •'    * 

1848 

1 00     ! 

'»"1 

Labor  not  in  demand. 

wages  paid  in  orders. 

*  Wages  same  price  as  last  year,  owing  to  high 
•price  of  provisions.  The  price  of  coal  averaged  25 
■cents  per  ton  less,  and  the  collieries  generally  loKt 
money  on  their  business. 

Average  Prices  of  Anthracite  in  Neic-York, 
Boston  and  Philadelphia . 


Philadelphia. 

New  York- 

Boston. 

Years. 

Wholesale, 

Retail, 

Retail   per 

per  ton 

per  ton  ol 

ton    of   2000 

of  2240  lbs. 

2000  lbs. 

lbs. 

1839 

$5  50 

$8  00 

$9  00  to  10  00 

1840 

5  50 

8  00 

9  00  to  ]  1  00 

1841 

5  00 

7  75 

8  00  to   9  00 

1342 

4  25 

6  50 

6  00  to    6  50 

1343 

3  50 

5  75 

6  00  to    6  50 

1844 

3  37 

5  50 

6  00  to    6  50 

1845 

3  50 

5  75 

6  00  to    7  00 

1346 

4  00 

6  00 

6  50  to    7  00 

1847 

1  3  8d  to  4  00 

5 50  to  6 00 

6  50  to    7  00 

COAL  TRADE  FOR  1847—8. 

The  following  is  the  official  qusati^  of  Coal 
lent  to  market  in  the  following  years,  which 


we    have    procured   at  considerable   troable 
and  can  be  relied  on  as  correct. 

1346.        Increade. 
1,233,562       127.119 


Schuvlkill.  1347. 

Railroad,  1,360,681 

Canal,  222,693 

Pinegrove,  67,457 


3,440 
58,926 


Lehigh, 
Lackawanna, 
Wilkesbarro, 
Shaniokin, 


1,650,831 

643,973 

388,203 

234,398 

H.904 


1,295.928 

522,989 

320,000 

192,503 

12,572 


219,253 
8,531 

354,903 

]20,984 

63,203 

91,895 

2,332 


2,982,309     2,343,992 
2,343,992 


Incieaee  in  '47,  638,317  tons. 

Of  the  quantity  sent  to  market,  Schuylkill 

County  furnished,                     tons,  1,650,331 

All  other  regions,                       "  1,331,275 


Excess  in  favor  of  Schuvlkill  Co. 


319,536 


It  will  be  observed  that  the  increase  for 
Schnylkill  county  in  1847,  354,903  tons,  and 
the  increase  from  all  the  other  regions  was 
only  283,211. 

Of  the  whole  quantity  sent  to  market  since 
the  commencement  of  the  trade,  Schuylkill 
Co.,  has  furnished  tons,         10,213,120 

All  other  regions,  "  8,580,430 


18,793,603 


Coal  Trade  of  the  Line. 

The  following  is  the  quantity  of 
vered  on  the  fine  of  Railroad  in 
1847. 

1847. 
Orwigsburg,  167 

Port  Clinton,         .  .  0 

Hamburg,  1007 

Mohrsville,  1060 

Between    Mohrsville   and 

Reading,  .  1324 

Reading,  47,574 

Baumstowa,  1446 

i   Douglassville,  .  1733 

I   Pottstown,         .  .        6109 

I    Royer'sFord,  •  285 

PhfBnixville,  .  45,878 

Valley  Forge,  .  1990 

Port  Kennedy,  •  6774 

Norristown,  .  •         9061 

Lime  Kilns  below  Notristown  2C54 

Conshohocken  Spring  Mill 

and  Plymouth, 
Manayunk, 
Falls, 

Germantown, 
Nicetown, 
Trenton  Railroad, 
Junction  with  Sate  Road, 


To  Philadelphia, 
To  Richmond, 


201,140 
203,540 
936,001 


Coal  deli- 
1846  and 

1846. 

75 

6 

971 

1300 

1042 

35.738 

1854 

1433 

3696 

317 

23,853 

1480 

4079 

11,988 

1362 

26,170 
6930 
2996 
5362 
5720 
2907 
6181 

155,460 
193,582 
844,216 


1,360,681    1,188,258 


Notes  attd  Slatisiics,  ^'c. 


%t 


The  quantity  of  coal  delivci-ed  on  the  line 
of  cBDal  duriui;  the  year  1847,  was  25, 470 
toD»— making  the  whole  supply  for  the  year 
1847,  226,610  tooR,  an  increase  over  1846  of 
71, ISO  tons. 

Lehigh  Coal  Trade. 

The  following  is  a  comparison  of  the  trade 
in  the  following  years,  sent  from  the  difforeut 
sections  of  this  region  : 


1817. 

1846. 

Lehigh  Sumuiit  Mines, 

201,961 

165,011 

Do.     Eoom  Run, 

132.978 

109,6,52 

Beaver  Meadow  Co, 

109,36.3 

35,948 

Summit  Co. 

32,820 

11,863 

Hazleton  Co. 

105.766 

93,541 

Buck  Mountain  Co. 

50,847 

46,104 

Wyoming, 

10.216 

5,o6t: 

6-43,912 

522,989 

.^22,989 

Increase  in  1847, 


120,983 


The  Swafara  Coal   Region. 

This  region  is  beginning  to  attract  attention, 
from  the  fact  that  it  has  secured  to  it  two  out- 
lets to  market,  which  will  greatly  incren^e  its 
trade  hereafter,  and  render  a  large  extent  of 
coal  land  prodnctive.  During  the  last  season 
the  extension  of  the  West  Branch  Rail  Road, 
a  distance  of  7^  miles,  was  completed,  which 
connects  Tremont,  Donaldson,  &c.,  with  the 
Schuylkill  Valley  at  Schuylkill  Haven,  and 
about  2(XM>  tons  were  sent  to  market.  The 
increase  this  year  will  be  coiisidorable. 

Little  Schuylkill  Coal  Trade. 

The  trade  from  this  region  is  on  the  in- 
crease, and  will  no  doubt  continue  to  increase 
very  rapidly  hereafter.  The  facilities  have 
been  greatly  increased  by  the  laying  down  of 
a  substantial  iron  road  leading  from  Tamaqua 
to  Port  Clinton,  a  distance  of  20  miles,  and  the 
introd'jction  of  motive  power  during  part  of 
the  past  season.  There  are  ten  collieries  in 
operation,  and  one  preparing.  Eleven  en- 
gines in  all,  of  200  horse  power,  are  at  work 
jn  the  region,  ten  of  which  drive  breakers — 
and  one  is  used  for  hoisting  coal.  There  was 
sent  from  this  section  of  the  region,  iu  1847, 
106,401  tons  of  coals,  by  the  fmlowing  ope- 
rators : 


J.  &  E.  Carter. 
Heaton  &  Carter, 
Harlan  &  Henderson, 
Robert  Ratcliff&  Co  , 
James  Taggart, 
Wm.  Donaldson, 
Hendricks,  Jones  &.  Birbeck, 

(new  colliery.) 
John  Anderson  &  Co. 


tons, 


31,344 
24,282 
16,901 
13,512 
9.488 
9,265 

802 
807 


106.406 
The  followisg  shows  the  trade  of  this  re- 
gion fi-Dm  its   oommencement    in  1832.  in 
roand  nombere : 


In  1832 
I83:J 
J  834 
1835 
1836 
1837 
1738 
1839 
1840 
I84J 
1842 
1848 
1844 
18tf> 
1846 
1347 


Ton*. 

14,000 

40,000 

34  000 
41,000 

35  000 
31.000 
13  000 

9,000 
20,000 
40,000 
27,000 
3I.O0U 
67  000 
74  000 
91.000 
198,401 


Total  in  16  years,  654,258 

The  town  of  Tama(iti!i  has  increased  vorv 
rapidly  in  popubuion  during  the  last  year — am 
suppose  it  has  nearly  trebled  within  the  hrst 
four  years.  Whole  streets  have  sprung  up  as 
if  by  niHj^ic,  and  some  o(  the  edifites  arfl 
aiming  the  iilr^o.^t,  most  substuntial  and  b<saH. 
tiftd  in  the  county. 

Thi  Foreign  Coal  Trade. 
Tho  fi)llowing  is  the  quantity  of  coal  im- 
ported in  the  United  States,  from  June  30tli, 
1821,  to  June  30th,  1847,  both  years  inclu- 
BJve,  in  tons  of  23  bushels,  obtained  from  the 
official  documents  at  Washington,  together 
with  the  quantity  of  Anthracite  sent  to  mar- 
ket annually  during  the  same  peri  >d. 


Years. 

Foreign  Coal. 

Anthracite  Coal 

1820 

365 

1821 

22.122 

1,073 

1822 

34,523 

2,240 

1823 

30.433 

5,323 

1824 

7,228 

9,541 

1825 

25.645 

34,983 

182G 

35,66& 

48.047 

1827 

40.257 

63.434 

1828 

32,302 

77.516 

1829 

45,393 

112,033 

1830 

58,136 

174,734 

1831 

36.509 

176.820 

1832 

72,978 

363,871 

1833 

92,432 

437.743 

1834 

71,626 

376  636 

1835 

49,969 

560,753 

1836 

108.432 

682,428 

1837 

153.450 

831,476 

1838 

129,083 

739,293 

1839 

181,551 

819,327 

1840 

162,867 

865,414 

1841 

155,394 

958.399 

1842 

141.521 

1,103,001 

1843 

41.163 

1,263,539 

1844 

87.073 

1,631,669 

1845 

85.776 

2,623,052 

l84iS 

156,853 

2,343,992 

1347 

148,021 

2,982.309 

The  importation  of  Foreign  coal,  under  & 
doty  of  ^1  75  per  ton,  mir  readers  will  oh- 
eervc«  b»  increased  considerably  within  ^e 


62 


Review  of  tfw  Coal  Eegiotis. 


last  two  years,  oiuliiiri  June  3()tli.  1847.  Tliis 
was  tauseiJ  in  a  pruni,  ineasuie  by  the  heavy 
trade  between  thie  couotry  and  Knrnpe,  iu 
the  tliape  of  bread  stuffs — coal  having  been 
substituted  on  their  route  lionic  us  ballast. 

The  Coal   Trade  of  184S. 

The  Coal  Trade  has,  throughont  the  whole 
of  the  season  now  drawing  to  a  close,  been 
exceedingly  dull.  The  prices,  eaily  in  the 
scasuu,  experienced  a  ruinous  full,  and  they 
have  not  yet  recovei-ed  ;  nor  is  there  a  reason- 
able prospect  of  an  immediate  recovery- — 
There  has  been  no  material  increase  of  con- 
sumption over  last  year,  for  iiiniuifacturiiig 
purposes;  the  principal  inci-euso  has  been  for 
steamboats,  and  similar  pniposes — while  fur 
domestic  purposes  the  increase  has  maintaiued 
its  usual  per  centum  with  the  increase  of  pop- 
ulation, &c.  The  whole  increase,  therefore, 
is  less  than  une-half  what  it  was  at  the  same 
period  last  year,  and  the  j'rospects  of  the 
miner,  the  laborer,  and  the  Coal  operator  are 
alike  gloomy  and  alarming. 

Schuylkill. — The  following  is  the  amount 
of  Coal  transported  over  the  sevsral  railroads 
of  Schuylkill  county,  up  to  ihe  bxh  oi  August, 
1848. 

Mine  Hill  and  S.  H.  Railrcnd         369, -liS  Ql 
Mount  Carbon  do  139,033  02 

Schuylkill  Valley  do  180,730  06 

Mill  Creek  do  121, .539  10 

Mt.  Carbon  &:  Ft.  Carbon  do         226,128  19 
Little  Schuylkill  Railroad  91,2,54  03 

Union  Cannl  Railroad  02,091  13  2 

Svvatara  Railroad  lj„581  OG 

The    following    is  the  amount  of  Coal  sent 
from  the  points  named,  up  to  the  3d  of  .\ugust, 
348. 

RAILROAD.  CANAL. 

224,175  15  139,994  01 

119,280  17  15,408  19 

305,139  11  58,584  10 

87,031  06  3,185  16 


Port  Carbon 
Pottsville 
S.  Haven 
Port  Clintun, 


725,627  09       217,172  06 

[  For  rates  of  toll,    and  other  particulars  of 

iuland  transportation    from  the  Coal   Regions, 

8oe    advertisements    near    the    end    of   this 

book.] 

Lehigh. — The  following   is  the  amount  of 
Coal  forwarded  from  the  mines  in  the  Lehigh 
District,  up  to  July  29,  1848. 
Summit  114,606  09 

Rhume  Run  59.659  03 

Beaver  Meadows  40,077  19 

Spring  Mountain  32,781  11 

Hazleton  53,527  15 

Buck  .Mountain  37,459  08 

Wyoming  3,113  09 

341,225  09 

To  the  same  period  lastyear,  325,561  01  tons. 

Delaware,    and    Hudson. — The   amount   of 

Coal  shipped  this  year  to  July  22,  is  194,949  00 

— to  same  period  last  year,  162,596  00. 

Coal  Breakers. 

On  the 'West  Branch  there  are  36   Breakers 
in  uee,  19  of  which  are  of  Battin's  Patent,  3  of 


KMutlinan's,  2  of   Richardson's,  and  2   of   De- 
haven's. 

On    the  Norwegian  there  are    13   Breakers, 
12  of  IVdttins'  and  1  of  Dehaven. 

On  the  Mill   Creek  there  are  13  Breaker.^ — 
10  of  Battin's  and  three  Coffee  Mills. 
On  the  Schuylkill  Valley  there  are  1!)  Break- 
ers— 15  of  Battin's,  1  of  Richanlson's,  1  of  De- 
haven's,  and  two  Coffee  niills. 

On  the  Little  Schuylkill   there  are  7  Break- 
ers, we  believe  all  of  the  Lehigh  pattern. 

On  the  Swatara  there  are  5   Breakers — 1  of 
Battiu's,  the  others  ureUmholtz'  jjdtterit. 

RtC'ipUulation. 
Battin's         .         .         .         .         - 
Richardson's 
Dehaven's 

Coffee  Mill  Breakers, 
Kauftman's 


On  the  Little  Schuylkjil,   Lehigh  Pattern 
On  the  Swatara,  Umhollz's  Pattern, 


57 
3 
5 
5 

3 
7 
4 

84 


Total  number  of  breakers  in  use, 

All  Battin's  Breakers  are  driven  by  steam, 
e.vcept  llii-ee — one  of  which  is  driven  by  sva- 
ter-power,  und  the  others  by  h(!rse-[)ovver.  One 
cf  Richardson's  is  driven  by  horse-power;  also 
three  of  theCoHee  .Mills."  The  other  Coffee^ 
Mills  rire  driven  by  water-power.  The  num- 
ber of  breakers  driven  by  steam-power,  is  73. 
All  these  breakers,  with  the  exception  of  one 
or  two,  have  been  introduced  within  three^, 
years. 

Prog7-ess  (if  ^^feant    I'uwer  in  ike   Coal 
Business. 

The  whole  number  of  Steam    Engines  oa- 

fraged  in  the  Coal   Trade  in  this  region    is    as 

follows  : 

,,      •  Horse 

Lugiues..      „ 

°  Power. 

Lngaged  in  the  trade  in  1845,    68  2018 

Added  in  1846,    33  903 


Added  in 

167  4465 

Making  the  whole  number  of  Engines  en- 
gaged in  pumping,  hoisting,  and  breaking 
Coal  in  the  Schuylkill  County  Coal  Region, 
167 — with  an  aggregate  power  of  4465  horses. 
As  a  portion  of  these  engines  are  run  day  and 
night,  a  horse  power  may  be  estimated  eciual 
to  the  power  of  ten  men,  consequently  they 
perform  the  labor  of  forty-four  thousand  six 
hundred  a7id  fifty  men. 

All  the  Engines  added  in  1847  were  built 
iu  Schuylkill  County. .  Our  machinists  also 
built,  during  the  year,  13  engines  for  other 
pur]^)oses  than  mining,  with  an  aggregate 
power  of  663  horses.  Eight  of  these  are  used 
in  Schuylkill  county  for  various  purposes — 
the  others  were  sent  to  Boston,  Reading,  Har- 
risburg,  Columbia  and  Carbon  counties,  Sun- 
bury,  Mexico,  &c.  &c.  making  79  steam  en- 
gincsofthe  power  of  2212  horeee  turned  out 
iu  Schuylkill   County    in  the  year  1847.     We 


Nott8  and 

% 

question  whether  any  other  comity  or  city  in 
the  United  Stales  turned  out  au  equal  niiiii- 
berof  engines  within  the  same  period. 

By  a  recent  oflicial  report,  it  appears  that  in 
France,  whirh  numbers  a  popaiatiou  of  up- 
wards of  3-1,000,000  inhabitants,  there  were  in 
1845,  only  207  steam  engines  in  o))eration  in 
that  country — there  are  in  Schuylkill  county 
alone  206  steam  engines  erected  at  the  present 
time,  all  of  which  are  running  except  three  or 
four. 

The  engines  built  aud  sold  during  the  last 
year  were  turned  out  at  the  following  esta- 
blishments : 

No. 
Haywood  &  Snyder,  Pottsville,  IS 
E.  "W.  McGinnis,  "  12 

J.  L.  Pott,  "  4 

W.  Ochaven,  Minersville,  20 
8  Siliyman  &  Co.,  Port  Carbon, 6 
T.  ^Vintersleen,  "  6 

Hudson,   Smith   &  Taylor, 

Tamaqua,  -  3 

lJmholtz&,Co.,  Tremont,  4 

Hawks,  Sykes  &  Vancleve,  St. 
Clair,  .  .  1 


H.  Power. 
658 
480 
75 
540 
120 
139 

140 
50 


79 


15 


2212 


MISCELLANEOUS    STATISTICS    OF 
SCHUYLKILL    COUNTY. 

Schuylkill  county  was  erected  from  Berks 
and  Northampton  counties,  by  an  act  of  the 
Legislature  of  the  1st  of  March,  1811.    Length 
30  miles,  breadth  20,  and  area  750  miles. 
Population  in  1820,  11,339 

1830,  20,744 

"         1840,  29,053 

1845,  31,992 

1848,  33,551 

Its  MOUNTAINS  are,  on  the  South,  the  Kitta- 
tiuny  ;  then,  Second,  Shai-p  and  Broad  moun- 
tains occur;  the  Mabantango  and  the  Line 
mountains  are  in  the  North-West  part  of  the 
county,  and  on  the  North-East  are  the  Locust, 
Mahanoy  and  Green  mountains.  Several  oth- 
ers of  less  size  fill  up  the  spaces  between  the 
principal  ridges  above  named. 

The  STREAMS  are  the  Schuylkill  River,  flow- 
ing to  the  Delaware,  with  its  various  branch- 
es, of  which  Little  Schuylkill  is  the  principal, 
and  Norwegian  and  Mill  Creek  the  least ;  the 
Swatara  in  the  South-VVest,  the  Mahantango 
iu  the  North-West,  and  the  Mahanoy  in  the 
North,  all  emptying  into  the  Susquehanna.  In 
the  North-East,  the  Catawissa  empties  into 
the  North  Branch,  aud  in  the  South-east  are 
some  of  the  tributaries  of  the  Lehigh. 

Schuylkill  county  contains  18  townships,  6 
boroughs,  and  a  numbar  of  busy,  flourishiag 
villages. 

Primary  and  Common  Schools  in  1340,        31 
Academies  and  Grammar  Schools,    "  3 

Pereous  engaged  in  Mimng,  "        1,1(08 

"  Agriculture,      "        3,216 

■"  Commerce,      "  78 

"     Manufs  &  trades,  "  972 


Statistics.  <J8 


Priuiary  and  Common  Schools,  in  1348,        40 

Academies  and  Grammar  Schools,      "  5 

Persons  engaged  iu  mining,  over       "     7,000 

"         agriculture,  "      3,302 

"         commerce,  over,    "         250 

"         manufs  &  trades, "        1,50 

Neicspapers  published  in  the  county. 

In  Potisville,  3  English,  2  German. 

In  Schuhlkiil  Haven,  1 
Tn  Orwisburg,  1         " 

In  Tamaqua,  1         " 


Cou.NTY  Officers. 


J  Thomas  Werner, 
Christian  M.  Straub, 
Samuel  Guss, 
Benjamin  Christ, 
George  H  Sticher, 
Lewis  Dreher, 
Isaac  Betz, 
G.  B.  Zulich, 


Sheriff 
Prothonotary 
Register  and  Rec'r 
Treaurer 

>  Commissioners. 

Comm'rs  Clerk 


Officers  of  the  Court. 
Hon.  Luther  Kidder,  President  Judga 

;;     Str^f'NPalmer,  ?  J         ^ 

"     Charles  r  rauey,      J 
Christian  M  Straub,  Clerk 

Francis  ^V.  Hughes,  Dep.  Att'y  Gan. 


Members   of 

THE  Bar. 

Christopher  Loeser, 

Orwisburg. 

John  Bannan, 

" 

AVilliam  B.  Potts, 

" 

J.  H.  Graeff, 

r» 

J.  W.  Roseberry, 

i» 

Charles  Whitman, 

)i 

B.  W.  Cumming, 

Pottavillo. 

B.  Bartholomew, 

II 

F.  W.  Hughes, 

11 

C.  W.  Hegins, 

11 

E.  Owen  Parry, 

" 

J.  H.  Campbell, 

11 

J.C.Neville, 

11 

D.  E.  Nice, 

It 

Horace  Smith, 

It 

J.  Henry  Adam, 

ir 

R.  M.  Palmer, 

n 

Howell  Fisher, 

11 

John  P  Hobart, 

ti- 

Thomas  H.  Walker, 

" 

J  K  Hamlin, 

" 

R  H  Hobart, 

'1 

E  0  Jackson, 

" 

A  W  Leyburn, 

SchuylkiU  Ha' 

G.  W  Matchin, 

" 

T  Robinson, 

" 

Samuel  Brownwell, 

Tamaqua. 

James  A  Banks 

I) 

J  K  Clement, 

Minersville 

EsiiMATiSD  Population 

or    THE     P»II 

Tow^s. 

Pottsville 

7,500 

Tamaqua 

S,000 

Minersville 

3,300 

Port  Carbtfu 

2,200 

Schuylkill  Haven 

2,009 

Revieip  qfjhe  Coal  Regions. 


Orvvigsburg, 

900 

St.  Glair, 

1,400 

New  Casile, 

300 

Llewellyn, 

550 

Tremoiit, 

800 

Ponaldsou, 

700 

Pine  Grove, 

500 

Tuscaroro, 

400 

Brockville, 

500 

Middleporl, 

400 

Heckslierville, 

900 

iMODNT  OF  State  Tax  coliectkd  in  1847 

Taxes  on  Merchandize, 

$2,658  15 

"         Tavern  Licenses, 

1,803,  83 

Post  Offices. 

Barre, 

Bearmount, 

Blylbe, 

Broad  Mountain, 

Catawissa  Valley, 

Doualdson, 

Fountain  Spring, 

Friedensburg, 

Hecksherville, 

Kepner's 

Llew^ellyn 

Lower  Mahantango 

M'Keansburg 

Middleport 

Minersville 

Norwegian 

Orwigsburg 

Pine  Grove 

Port  Carboa 

Port  Clinton 

Pottsville 

Schuylkill  Haven 

Tamaqua 

Upper  Mahantango 

West  Penn 


Post  Masters. 

H.  M.  Otto 
Jacob  Heberling 
J.  H.  Alter 
\V-  Reifanyder 
J.  Eisenhower 
David  Lomison 
George  Seitzing«r 
Augustus  Heinlz 
"William  Paine 
Samuel  K  M  Kepner 
John  Koch 
Daniel  VViest 
Joshua  Boyer 
Daniel  Koch 
Michael  Weaver 
Jacob  Metz 
C.  A.  Rahn 
Paul  Barr 
Peter  Aurand 
Samuel  Boy 
Daniel  Krebs 
Jacob  Rahn 
Benjamin  Heilner 
Charles  Maurer 
Jacob  Schwartz 


$4,461  98 
Receipts  and  Expenditures  of  the  County, 

fOR  THE    YEAR  ENDING  DeC.  31,  1847. 

Received,  Tax  on  real  and  perso- 
nal property,  &c.  $36,696  02 

Expenditure  for  Alms 

House,  $  5,500  00 

Balance  of  expendi- 
tures, inclusive,         30,427   18 

35  927   13 

Bal.  of  receipts  over  expenditures,  $663  84 
Ljst  of  Post  Offices  in  Schuylkill  Co.  Pa. 


Thomas  Brady,  M.  D.  Treasurer 
William  Housel,  M.  D.  Cor.  Secretary 
John  G.  Koehler,  M.  D.  Rec.  Secretary 
Meet  at  the  Pennsylvania  Hall,  in  Potts- 
ville, on  the  first  Wednesday  in  each  month. 
Post  Office  Regulations,  at  Pottsville,  Pa. 
Hours  of  closing  the  Mails,  from  and  after  May  1st 

1848. 
To   Philadelphia,  Reading  and  intermediate  places,  at 
8  o'clock,  P.  M.,  and   12o'c.  A.M..  daily,  except 
Sundays,  and  arrives  daily  about  1  o'clock,  P.  M., 
&6iP.  M. 
To   New  York,  Boston,  &c.,  at  8  o'clock,  P.  M.,  daily 
except  Sundays,  and  aiTives  daily  about  li  o'clock, 
P.M. 
To  Mauch  Chunk,  Allentown,  Easton,   &c..  at  9  o'- 
clock, A.  M.,  daily,  except  Sundays,  and  arrives 
daily  about  1  o'clock.  P.  M. 
To  Beaver  Meadow,  Wilkesbarre,  &c.,  at  9  c'clock, 
A.  M.,  daily,  except  Sundays,  and  arrives  daily 
about  1  o'clock,  P.  M. 
To   Northumberland.Sunbury  and  intermediate  places 
at  11 J  o'clock,  A.  M.,  daily,  except  Sundays,  and 
arrives  daily  about  8  o'clock.  P.  M. 
To   Danville,  Williamsport,  &c.,  at  IH  o'clock,  k.  M., 
daily,  except  Sundays,  and   arrives  daily  about  2 
o'clock,  P.  M. 
To  Minersville,   Llewellyn    and  Donaldson,  at     11 J 
o'clock,  A.  M.,  daily,  except  Sundays,  and  arrives 
daily  about  7  o'clock,  A.  M. 
To  Port  Carbon  and  Norwegian,  atllj  o'clock,  A.  M., 
daily,  except  Sundays,  and  arrives  daily  at  about 
7  o'clock,  A.  M. 
To   Pmegrove,  Jonestown,    &c.,   to  Harrisburg,  at  8 
o'clock,  P.  M..  on  Mondays,  Wednesdays  and  Fri- 
days, and  arrives  the  same  days,  about  9  o'clock, 
P.  M. 

Post  Office  Hours. 
\       From  7  o'clock,  A.   M.,  till  9  o'clock,  P.  M.,  except 
I   Sundays,  when  the  office  is  open  one  hour,  from  12  till 

1  o'clock,  p.  M. 
I  Daniel  Krebs,  P.  M. 

j  List  of  Post  Offices  in  the  Coal  Region,  oct  of 
I  ScHuvLKiLi,  County. 


Names  of  Offices. 
Hazl6ton,  Luzerne  Co., 
Beaver  Meadows,  Carbon  Co., 
W  ilkesbarre,  Luzerne  Co, 
Mauch  Chunk,  Carbon  Co., 
Sumniit  Hill,  du. 

Lehigh  Gap  do. 

Wiconisco,  Dauphin  Co., 
Susquehannah,       do. 
Linglestown,  do. 

Dauphin,  do. 

Halifax,  do. 

West  Hanover,       do. 
Friendensville,  Lehigh  Co., 
Lancon  Valley,       do. 
Coopersburg,  do. 

Catasaugua,  do. 

Lackawanna,  Luzerne  Co., 


EiEwriON  Returns  of  Schuylkill  Coanty,  at 
the  Gubernatorial  election,  Oct.  1847. 
SJntuk,  D.  Irvin,  W 

3,720  2,83:^ 

2,833 


887  Shuuk'fl  majority . 

Schuylkill  County  Medical  Society 

George  Halberstadt,  M   D.  President. 
Jame^  8.  Carpenter,  M  D.  Vjce  President 


Postmastert. 
Wm.  A.  Tubbs. 
Wm.H.Coo'. 
Eleazer  B.  Collinss, 
Alex.  Stedman, 
D.D.  Broadhead, 
Thomas  Craig,  Jr. 
Homy  Schaetfer, 
Margaret  Halback, 
Thomas  Barrett, 
Thomas  Milliken, 
A.  W.  Loomia, 
J.  S.  Vanderslice, 
A.  L.  Halback, 
J.  H.  Wagner, 
Milton  Cooper, 
Nathan  Fegley, 
John  Knapp. 
Edward   Lockwood, 
John  Brees, 
Samuel  Saylor, 
Israel  Bruniage 
Moses  P.  Berry, 
H.  P.  Eneang, 
Nathan  Beach, 
Shamokin,  Northumberland  Co.,  Joseph  Zuem, 
Mahoney,  do.  Wm.  Jeppen, 

Rush,  Susquehanna  Co.,  Almon  Pickett. 

Jackson  Valley,      do.  Charles  Campbell, 

Foreign  Mails. 
Notice  to  the  Public,  and  Instructions  to  Postmasters — 
Post  Office  Department,  March  \st,  1848. 
Ist.  Letters  to  any  Post  Office  in  Bremen,  Ham- 
burg. Oldenburg,  Hanover,  Brunswick,  Prussia  or  Sax- 
ony, in  Gennauy,  may  be  sent  by  United  States  Mail 
Steamers,  Washington  and  Hermann,  postage  unpaid, 
or  pre  paid  to  deslination,  or  pre  paid  to  Bremen  only, 
at  the  option  of  the  sender. 

U,  States  Postage,  if  mailed  at  N.  York       24  c.  single, 
if  mailed  within  300 
miles  of  N   York  20 


White  Haven, 

do. 

Wyoming, 

do 

PlainesviUe, 

do. 

Nescopeck, 

do. 

Greenville, 

do. 

Carbondale, 

do. 

Beach  Haven, 

do. 

Notes  and  Statisttci^  SfC. 


65 


U.  Statea  Postage,  if  mailed  orer  300 

miles  of  N.  York  34  C;  Mngle. 

No  additional  Postage  to  Bremen. 
Postage  to  be  added,  if  to  be  pre  paid  to— 
Hamburg,  6  c.  single. 

Oldenburgh,  5 

Hanover,  6 

Brunswick,  6 

Prussia,  lij 

Saxony,  12 

Single  letters  limited  to  half  ounce. 

2d.  Writers  may  pre  pay  to  the  following  places 
and  countries,  or  send  unpaid,  or  they  may  pay  the 
United  States  postage  only  :  which  last  is  advised. 

Add  to  the  United  States  postage  (see  above)  if  pre- 
paid : 


To  Leubec 

9  c.  single 

Austria 

18       " 

Coburgh 

15 

Darmstadt 

15 

Baden 

18 

Gotha 

13 

Cassel 

10 

Bavaria 

22 

Frankfort  on 

the  Maine 

13 

Wertembur 

?h 

21. 

Single  letters  limited  quarter-ounce,  except  to  L«u 

bee  and  Ootha.  which  is  limited  to  half  ounce  (foreign.) 

3d.  In  t  he  following  cases  it  may  be  best  to  pay  the 

United  States  postage  only.     Nevertheless,  the  writer 

may  pay  to  destination  or  may  send  unpaid. 

Postage  in  addition  to  the  United  States  rate  ("see 
above  )— 

To   Altonn  6  c.  single. 

Keil  U 

Eastern  towns  of  Italy  18        " 

Constantinople  37        " 

Copenhagen  and  Denmark  generally  22 
Stockholm  and  furthest  part   of 

Sweden  39 

Burgen,  Christiana  and  furthest  part 

of  Norway  28        " 

St.  Petersburgh  or  Comstadt  24        " 

Alexandria,  Cairo  or  Greece  37        " 

Basle,  and  Switzerland  generally         21        *' 
The  single  letter  in  Denmark,  Sweden  and  Prussia, 
limited  to  halt  ounce,  in  the  other  countries  on  list 
No.  3,  limited  to  the  quarter  ounce. 

4th.  On  Newspapers  and  Pamphlets  the  U.  States 
postage,  and  that  only,  is  to  be  pre  paid ;  3  cents  per 
Newspaper  or  pamphlet,  with  inland  postage  added, 
If  mailed  elsewhere  than  New  York. 

itfemorawdMm.— Newspapers  will  be  rated,  abroad, 
with  foreign  letter  postage,  if  printed  in  any  other 
language  than  the  English,  and  if  enveloped  other- 
wise than  with  narrow  bands.  Bremen  delivery  is  an 
exception  to  this  rule. 

5th.  Each  letter  is  to  be  maried  or  stamped  on  the 
face,  with  the  name  of  the  office  sending  it,  and  on  the 
back,  with  the  name  of  the  New  York  post  office.  If 
U.  States  postage  only  is  pre  paid,  it  is  to  be  marked 
or  stamped  -Paid  part''  in  black.  It  postage  through 
is  pre  paid,  it  is  to  be  stamped  or  marked  in  red  "  Paid 
all,"  and  the  amount  of  the  for^n  postage  received 
is  to  be  stated  on  the  letter,  in  red.  If  the  letter  is  un- 
paid, the  U.  States  postage,  in  black,  is  to  be  stated . 
C.  Johnson,  Post  Master  General. 

Military  op  Schylkill  County. 
Ist  Regiment  Schuylkill  Co.  Volunteers. 


Colonel, 
Lieut.  Colonel, 
1st  Major, 
2d  do. 

Adjutant, 
Quarter  Master, 
Burgeon, 


F.  M.  Wynkoop 
Daniel  Larer 
J.H.  Graeff 
Nicholas  Fox 
D.  E.  Nice 
John  E.  Wynkoop 
Dr  G  H  Brandner 


2rf  Brigade  Staff. 
Brigadier  General,  John  M.  Bickel, 

Brigadier  Major,  D.  E.  Nice 

Brig.  Quar.  Master,  Michael  Weaver 

Brig    Inspector,  Daniel  Krebs 


\st  Division  Staff. 
.Major  Gc-uerftl,  Wm.  H.  Keim 

Aid-de-Camp,  Levi  Kline 

Do.  D.  W.  O'Brien 

Division  Inspector,  James  H  Campbell 

Dlv.  Quar.  Master,  e!  Hartzell 

Minerwille  Artillery. 
Captain,  B  C  Chn'at 

Ist  'Lieutenant,  J  Vernert 

2d      Do  William  Hoch 

Washing! »u  A riillerisls. 
Captain,  James  Nagle 

1st  Lieuteuant,  S.  S.  Nagle 

2d  Do.  F.  B.  Kaercher 

3d  Do.  Edward  Rehr 

Cavalry  — \st  Troop  Lin^ht  Horse. 

Captain,  George  C.  Wynkoop 

l  =  t  Lieutenant,  M.  Mortimer 

2d     Do.  Daniel  Shertle 

Port  Carbon  Artillery. 
Captain,  Peter  Aurand 

1st  Lieutenant,  H.  Guiterman 

2d         Do.  Daniel  Hillegas 

3d         Do.  Jacob  Met? 

Union  Artillery. 
Captain,  Daniel  Kitzmiller 

Lieutenant,  John  Strimpfler 

National  Light  Infantry. 
Captain,  E  E  Bland 

Ist  Lieutenant,  I.  Severn 

2d         Do.  Frank  Pott 

3d         Do.  R.  M.  Palmer 

Washington   Yeagers. 
Captain,  M  DoerHinger 


1st  Lieutenant, 
2d        Do 


Peter  WoU 
Peter  Goddie 


1st  Re gt.  Schuylkill  County  Militia. 

Major,  Daniel  Hein 

Adjutant,  John  Minnig 

Quarter  Master,  Joseph  Maurer 

Surgeon,  William  Link 


Colonel, 
Lieut.  Colonel, 
1st  Major, 
2d     Do, 
Adjutant, 
Surgeon, 


Lieut.  Colonel, 
ist  Major, 
2d     Do, 
Surgeon, 
Assist.  Surgeon, 
Adjutant, 

^th  Regiment. 


Regiment. 

Geo  D  Boyer 
Nicholas  Jones 
Daniel  Moyer 
Joshua  Boyer 
Samuel  Bossard, 
Dr.  M  Zulich 

Regiment. 

John  W.  Heffner 
—  Lentz 
Jacob  Minnig 
Dr.  J  G  Koebler 
A  Holmes 
John  Jones 


Colonel, 
Lieut.  Colonel, 
Major, 
2d  Do, 
Adjutant, 


John  Silver 
John  T  Werner 
Samuel  M.  Mills 
Boss  Bull 
JoMph  F  Seidii^s 


66 


Review  of  the  Coal  Regions. 


Quarter  Master, 
Snrgeon, 
Assist.  Surgeon, 

Colonel, 
Major, 
Adjutant, 
Quarter  Master, 
Surgeon, 

6th, 
Colonel, 
Lieut.  Colonel, 
Major, 
2d  Do, 
Adjutant, 
Quarter  Master, 
Surgeon, 

Mahantango 

Major, 
Adjutant, 
Quarter  Master, 
SnrgeoD, 


H.  A.  Aechternacht 

Dr  E  Chichester 

Dr.  Geo.  H.  Brandner 

Regiment. 

John  F.  Stmthers 

.Tames  Palmer, 

J.  Dintinger, 

Shaeffer 

Dr.  Charles  Leib, 

Regiment 

Isaac  F.  Davis, 
Francis  Dengler 
William  Hoch 
Philip  Ozman 
David  N.  Lake 
Daniel  M.  Weist 
Dr.  William  Link 

Volunteer  Batatlion. 

Daniel  Hein 
John  Minnig 
Joseph  Maurer 
Dr.  William  Liuk. 


BOROUGHS.— POTTSVILLE. 

Pottsville,  the  county  seat,  is  the  largest 
borough  in  the  county,  and  the  great  mart  of 
the  Schuylkill  Coal  trade.  It  is  situated  on  the 
Schuylkill,  thirty-five  miles  from  Reading, 
and  is  remarkably  located,  being  embosomed 
in  lofty  hills  which  cluster  in  and  aroiind  it. 
It  was  incorpoiated  in  1 823. 

Population  in  1840,  3,200 

Do        in  1845,  5,000 

Do        in  1848,  7,500 

Pottsville  is  86  miles  N.  W.  of  Philadelphia, 
in  a  direct  line,  and  93  miles  by  the  Philadel- 
phia and  Reading  Rail  Road;  58  miles  N.  E. 
of  Harrisburg,  and  256  miles  N.  F,.  of  Pitts- 
burg. 

BoKOUGH  Officers. 

Benjamin  T.  Taylor,  Chief  Burgess. 
Town  Council. 


E.  W.  McGinnis, 
Jas.  M.  Beatty, 
Hiram  Rigg, 
Wm.  Wolf, 

F.  H.  Maurer, 
Daniel  Shertle, 
Henry  Jenkins, 
Charles  Lord, 
Thos.  Foster, 


(Term  of  service  ex- 
l       pires  in  1849. 

(Term  of  service  ex- 
l       pires  in  ISSO. 

STerm  of  service  ex- 
pires in  1851. 

Auditors. 


Daniel  Krebs,  Richard  Lee 

Nathan  Newnam 
School  Directors  for    Common  Schoolt  in 
Pottsyille  District. 
Benjamin  Pomroy,  J  S  C  Martin 

Benjamin  Bannan,  George  W  Slater 

Adam  Shertle,  E  Hammer 

Societies,  4"C. 
Ancient  York  Masons — Pulaski  Lodge,  No.  216 
John  Saunders,  W.  M.   _ 

Edward  T.  Taylor,       S.  W. 


—  Johnson,  J.  W. 

Dr.  J  C  Carpenter.  Treasurer. 

John  S  C  Martin,  Secretary. 

Grand  Lodge.— United  O.  O.  Fellows. 
Robert  M.  Palmer,  R  W  G  S. 

Nicholas  McCarty,         R  R  W  G  S 
Richard  Duncan,  D  G  S 

M.H.  Coram,  R  W  G  Scribe 

Nicholas  McCarty,         Treasurer. 
Thomas  Johnson,  C.  M 

Meet  at  Stichter's    Hall,   last  Saturday  in 
.\pril,  July,  October,  and  January. 

1.  O.  O.  Fellows.— Miner's  Lodge,  No.  20. 
William  7'iII,  N  G 

B.  Erdman,  V  G 

John  I.  Jones,  Secretary. 

J.  S.  C  Martin,  Treasurer. 

Meet  every  Tuesday  evening  at  Town  Hall. 

1.  0.  O.  Felloias. — Hay  den  Lodge.  No.  44. 
David  Brill,  N  G 

Chas.  F.  Kopitcsh.        V  G 
H.  Schloss,  Secretary. 

P.  Kinsler,  Assis.  Sect'y. 

J.  G.  Brown  Treasurer. 

Meet  at  Town    Hall  every  'i'hursday  eve- 
ning. 
I.  O.  O.  Fellows.— Girard  Lodge,  No.  53. 
J.  L.  Yoder,  N  G 

J.   H.  James,  V  G 

Doct.  B.  Becker,  Secretary. 

—  Hans,  Assis.  Sect'y. 

Daniel  Shartle,  Treasurer. 

Meet  at  Town  Hall  every  Friday  evening. 
I,  O.  O.  Fellows.— Lilly  of  the  Valley  Lodge. 
No.  281. 
Thomas  Foster,  N  G 

H  A  Aechternacht,        V  G 
L  Womelsdorff,  Secretary 

Jos  S.  Elliott,  Assis  Sec'ty 

Jacob  D  Rice,  Treasurer 

Meet  at  Stichter's  Hall  every  Friday  eve- 
ning. 

U.  O.  O.  Fellows.— Penn  Lodge,  No.  2. 
Hiram  Saxon,  N.  G. 

James  Blackmun,  V.  G. 

Nicholas  McCarty,        Rec  Sect^y 
R  M  Paln#r,  Treasurer 

Meet  at  Stichter's  Hall  every  Saturday  evs- 
ning. 
I.  O.  O.  Fellows. — Franklin  Encampment, 
No- 4. 
John  B  Reed,  C  P 

Joseph  L  Yoder,  H  P 

G  W  Mortimer,  S  W 

Nathan  Newnam,  J  W 

John  J  Jones,  Secretary 

Daniel  Shertle,  Treasurer 

Meet  at  Town  Hall,  1st  and  3d  Wednesday 
of  each  month. 

United  O.  0.  Druids.— Elvin  Lodge,  No.  18. 
Nathan  M  Newaam,    N.  A. 
John  W  Shaw,  V.  A. 

Jacob  D.  Rice,  Sect'y 

Daniel  Shertle,  Treasurer 


Notes  and  Statistics,  S^'c. 


67 


J  Dunklielberger,  J.  G. 

Med  aiTovvn  Hall. 

Sons  of   Temperance. — Pula,-ki  Division, 
No.  160. 
Isaac  Huopt.  W  P 

Jamrs  McAfee,  VV  A 

Joseph  Coatsworlh,        P  W  P 
.Jacob  Emhart,  Rec.  Scribe 

Daniel  H.  Leib,  Treasurer 

Meet   alSiichter's  Hall  every  Tuesday  eve- 
niaig. 
Sons  of  Temperance.  —  Polisville  Division, 
No.  52. 
George  W  Good,  H    P 

W.   VV.  Bonnell,  W  A 

Charles  M  Ent,  T>.  W.  P. 

George  W.  Hughes,       Rec  Scribe 
Jas  W  Bowen,  Treasurer 

Meet  at  Slichter's   Hall  every   Wednesday 
evening. 

United  Ordti  Americar:  Mechanics. — Council 
No.  5b. 
John  M  Schomo,  C. 

,  V  C 

Charles  Ent,  Treasurer 

Henry  Schomo,  F.  S 

Daniel  Hill,  Jr.,  Ex.  C. 

Meet  at  Stitcher's  Hail,  every  Monday  eve- 
ning. 

Mutual  Mechanics  Protection. 
S  L  W  Werman,  S.  P. 

John  L  Minnig,  Jr,        J  P 
J  L  Yoder,  R  S 

D.  A  Smith,  F  S 

Hugh  R  Hughes,  Treasurer 

Meet  at  Stichtei's  Hall  every   Monday  eve- 
ning- 
Good  Intent  Fire  Engine  Company- 
Charles  Kaercher,  President 
Wm  W  Jones,              Vice  President 
Thos  F  Beatty,  Rec  Sect'y 
E  3  Jackson,  Cor  Sec'y 
Albert  Sillyman,             Treasurer. 
Board  of  Directors. 
Wm  Beidlemen,        Charles  Kaercher, 
John  H  Gable,           Alexander  Cake, 
E  B  Jackson,             A  Sillyman, 
William  Fox. 

Pottsville  Literary  Senate. 
Peter  F  Mudey,  President 

Thomas  D  Kempton,     Vice  Pres't 
Chas  S  Wynkoop,        Secretary 
J.  S  Elliott,  Treasurer 

Meet  at  Town  Hall  every  Tuesday  evening. 

Miner's  Bank  of  Pottsville,  Schuylkill  Co. 

John  Sbippen,  President 

Charles  Loeser,  Cashier 

Isaac  Beck,  Teller 

Directors  : 

John  Shippen,  George  H  Potts, 

Nathan  Evans,  Thos  C  Pollock, 

Charles  Miller,  James  M  Beatty, 

D.  R  Bennett,  Benjamin  Pott, 


Thoma.s  Evans,  VVm  jVloriinicr,  Jr. 

(iideon  Bast.  Eiijih  Hammer, 

Joseph  Richards. 
Hibernia    Berievoient   Institution. —  Incorpora- 
ted in  1833. 
Patrick  F-^sjarty,  President 

Bernard  Riluy,  Vice  Pns't 

Peter  F  Mudey,  Secretary 

Michael  Daly,  Treasurer 

Benevolent  Sons  of  Erin. 
Owen  Marin.  President 

John  McGinni^,  Vice  Pres't 

Peter  F  Mudey,  Secretary 

Mich.iel  Riley,  Treasurer 

MlNEK.SVlLLK. 

Minersvillo  is  on  the  West  Branch  of  the 
Schuylkill,  four  inile.s  N.  W.  of  Pottsville;  it 
is  built  in  the  heart  of  a  beautiful  valley,  and 
like  the  towns  in  the  co.il  region  genoi-ally,  13 
remarkably  healthy.  It  is  the  most  important 
town  oil  the  West  Branch,  and  next  to  Potts- 
ville the  largest  in  the  county.  It  was  laid 
out  in  1829,  and  incorporated  as  a  borough  in 
1831.  The  increa.se  of  its  population  in  the 
last  three  years  keeps  pace  with  its  early- 
growth. 

Population  in  184.'),  1,2C)') 

Do.       1848,  3,300 

The  Mine  Hill  Railroad,  the  Iron  works  of 
Mr.  De  Haven,  and  the  mammoth  coal  works 
for  breaking  and  screening  coal,  of  Mr.  Heil- 
ner,  are  among  the  conspicuous  improvements 
of  the  neighborhood. 

Societies,  ^x. 

Independent  O.  O.  Fellows — Social  Lodge, 
No.  56. 
Peter  Stroup  N  G  D  Conaway  Sec'y 

Joseph  H  Christ  V  G        J  T  Powell  Treas'r 

Meet  at  O  F  Hall,  Wednesday  evenings. 

I.  O.  O.  Fellows — Anthracite  Lodge,  No.  136 

Wm  H  Charington  N  G    E  P  BurkhcrtTreas- 

Wm  Becker  V  G  D  K  Kressler  Sec. 

Meet  at  O  F  Hall,  Friday  evenings. 

I-  0-  O.  Fellows — Friendship  Encampment, 
No-  60- 
John  Lazarus  C  P  MA  Morgan  Treas 

John  Montague  H  P       Peter  Stroup  J  W 
Wm  Haynes  G  VVm  Baker  S  W 

Wm  Stroup  Sec'y 
Meet  at  O-  F-  Hall,  Ist  and  3d  Mondays  in 
every  month.' 

Ancient  York  Masons — Minersville  Lodge, 
No.  222. 
S  P  Gumpert  W  M         T  T  Jenkins  Sec'y 
VVm  Sterner  S  W  S  Heilner  Treas 

J  F  G  Kumsius  J  VV 
Meet  at  O.  F-  Hall,  on  or  after  the  first  Mon- 
day of  full  moon- 
United  O'  O-  Fellows — Rising  Sun  Lodge, 
No.  10. 
Samuel  Lanagau  N  G  VVm  Dyer  Sec'y 
,   Eman  Hall  V  G  Wm  Kelly  N  F  &  Treas 

R  B  Duncan  District  G  M 

Meet  at  U  O  O  Fellows'  Hall,  Saturday 
evenings- 


m 


Review  0/  the  Coal  Regions. 


U  O  American  Mechanics — Fidelia  Council, 

No.  60. 
S  A  Philips  C  D  Schurnkcr  R  S 

Davis  Evans  V  C  G  I  Lawrence  F  S 

Wni  F  Kelly  Ex  C  C  W  Taylor  Treas 

Meet  at  Mechanics'  Hall,  Tuesday  evenings. 

Daughters  of  Temperance — Wreath  of  Friend- 
ship Union,  No.  52- 
Mary  Dobbins  P  S"        Ann  Richards  T 
J  \V  ThurKvell  A  S       Sarah  Thurlwell  C 
Lucy  A  Zerby  R  S         Agnes  Wythes  A  C 
L  A  Jenkins  A  K  S        Martha  Jones  A  G 
Amelia  Prevost  F  S 
Meet  at  U  O  O  Hall,  Wednesday  evenings. 

Sons  of  Temperance — Cave  Spring  Division, 
No.  1.54- 
John  Morrison  W  P     L  M  Gabler  A  R  S 
Wm  Templiu  W  A  Miller  F  S 

L  E  Jones  R  S  Philip  Werner  Trena 

Meet  at  U  O  O  Fellows'  Hall,  Monday 
evenings. 

ScHUTLKILI.     HaVEX. 

Schuylkill  Haven  is  situated  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  Schuylkill  river,  four  miles  below  Potts- 
viile,  and  immediately   below  the  junction  of 
the   West   Branch.     At  this  point,  the   West 
Branch  Rail  Road  connects  with  the  Schuyl- 
kill  navigstion.     Schuylkill  Haven   was   laid 
cut  in  1829,  by  Mr.Danl.L  Rhodes  and  others, 
and  difTers  from  most  of  the  towns  in  the  Cool 
Region,  being  surrounded  by  fertile  farms,  in- 
stead of  the  rugged  and  bare  mountains  of  the 
coal  towns  generally. 
The  population  is  estimated  at  2,000. 
Societies,  Banks,  4"C. 
Farmer's  Bank  of  Schuylkill  County. 
Absal.  Reifsnyder,  President 

Jos,  W  Cake,  Cashier 

J  W  Waggonseller,      Teller 
Directors : 
Hon  George  Raho,   Alexander  Cumming, 
J  Henry  Adam,        F  W  Hughes, 
Absal.  Reifsnyder,    Henry  Saylor, 
John  Zmo,  A  J  Brenner, 

Augustine  Holmes,  Daniel  E  Will, 
Benjamin  Lewis,      Thomas  H  Wilson, 
One  vacancy. 

Societies. 
Sons  of  Temperance.— Mountain  Spring  Di- 
vision, No.   153. 
B  W  Hughes,  W.  P. 

Levi  Lewis,  R.  S. 

B  Kaercher,  F.  S. 

W  Ungerhuhler,  C. 

John  Rader,  J.  S. 

J  W  Waggonseller,         W.  A. 
Franklin  Feger,  A.  R.  S. 

A  Reifsnyder,  Treasurer. 

Francis  Shappel,  A.  C. 

David  Gerger,  0.  S. 

Meet  at  Temperance  Hall  every  Saturday 
evening- 
United  American  Mechanics. — Metamora 
Council,  No.  66. 
G  D  Bowman,  C. 


J,  M  Eager, 
Franklin  Fager, 
A  G  Qninlin, 
Henry  Kipple, 
David  Basehoro, 


V.  C. 
ExG. 

R.  S. 
F.  S. 
Treasurer. 


Meet  at  Temperance  Hall  every  Thursday 
evening. 

Port  Carbon. 

This  town  is  built  on  the  main  branch  of 
the  Schuylkill,  two  miles  above  Pottsville, 
and  at  the  termination  of  the  Schuylkill  Navi- 
gation. The  town  was  laid  out  in  1823,  by 
several  enterprising  individuals,  among  whom 
may  be  named  Messrs.  Abraham  Pott,  Jacob 
AV.  Seitzinger,  William  Lawton,  and  Daniel  J. 
Rhoades.  The  Schuylkill  Valley  Rail  Road, 
with  its  numerous  lateral  roads,  connect  with 
this  poiut,  aod  leads  a  large  business  to  the 
town. 

E  stimated  population,  2200. 

Soeieties,  i^'*"- 
In.  O.  0.  Fellows— Schuylkill  Lodge,  No.  27. 
James  N  Benner,  N  G        Philip  May,  Sec'y 
Wm.  H  King,  V  G  Sam'l  B  Young,  Tr. 

Sons  of  Temperance— Roliauce  Division. 
Wm  Berger,  W  P  Jacob  Wentz,  R  S 

Charles  Ferabee,  W  A     Rob't  Jackson,  Treas 

Orwigsburg- 
Orwigsburg  is  situated  in  a  pleasant,  fertile 
valley,  3  miies  S-  E-  of  Pottsville,  on  the  Read- 
ing and  Suubury  turnpike-  The  town  was 
laid  out  by  Peter  Orwig  in  1796,  and  incor- 
porated into  a  borough  in  1813.  As  the  for- 
mer county  seat,  it  contains  the  usual  county 
buildings,  an  academy,  and  three  churches.— 
The  neighborhood  presents  many  thriving 
farms  and  fruitful  orchards,  the  property  of 
honest  Jind  industrious  German  farmers.  Ei- 
timated  population  900. 

Societies,  ^c. 
Indepen't  0  0  Fellows— GraceLodge,  No.  157 
Daniel  K  Graeff  V  G         D  F  Burkert  A  Sec 
F  B  Dreher  V  G  Isaac  Orwig  jr-  Treas 

G  D  Buyer  Sec 
Meet  at  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  Saturday  evenmgs. 

Ancient  York  Masons— Schuylkill  Lodge, 
No.  138. 
H  Hesser  W  M  John  M  Bickel  Treas 

John  G  Koehler  S  W    Wm  B  Potts  Sec 
Wm  G  Gulden  J  W 
Meet  in  the  Court  Buildings,  on  or  after  the 
first  Tuesday  of  full  moon- 

Tamaqua. 
Tamaqua  is  situated  on  the  Little  Schuyl- 
kill, 15  miles  East  of  Pottsville,  between  the 
Sharp  and  Locust  mountains-  The  town  wa.-* 
first  projected  and  laid  out  by  the  Lehigh  Coal 
and  Navigation  Company  in  1829;  it  is  fast 
growing  in  importance  and  population,  and 
presents  the  appearance  of  a  busy,  thriving 
borough- 

Pop\lUtiou  ill  1845,  4«5 

D6  1848,  3,000 


Notes  and  Statislics.  SfC. 


69 


Societies,  Jrc- 
10  0  Fellows— Harmony  Lodge,  No.  ^G- 
Jacob  Strolh.'M  N  G     Benj.  T  Hughes  C  8 
Chrisliaa  Carter  V  G    J  Harlan  Treas 
Thos-  P  Simiiions  U  S 

Meet  on  Monday  evenings- 

Towns,  &c. 
St.  Clair  is  situated  three  miles  North  East  of  Pottti- 
vllle,  on  the  Mill  Creek  Railrond.  The  town  i«  rapid- 
ly increasing  in  population,  and,  from  its  convenient 
location,  at  and  near  many  large  Coal  operationi=, 
rromisestobe  a  thriving,  busy  plac«. 
Estimated  population  WOO. 

Heckskerville,  is  a  new  town  on  the  West  West  Branch 
eight  miles  North  West  of  Pottsville,  nt  and  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  ot  Messrs.  Payne,  llecksUer,  and  the 
Forest  improvement  Company's  mines.  The  inhabi- 
tants are  principally  miners. 
Estimated  population  900. 

Tremont  is  situated  thirteen  miles  Soiith  West  of 
Pottsville  ;  it  is  ato-.^n  ot  reoeiit  growth  (sfiircely  tv.-u 
years  old)  and  has  been  built  up  entirely  through  the 
enterprise  of  Messrs.  Samuel  B.  Fi.-sher,  Robert  Morris, 
Howell  Fisher,  &  Co.,  the  proprietors  of  the  land — 
these  gentlemen  having  afforded  facilities  to  settlers 
by  the  willing  disposal  of  town  lots  for  building,  &c. 
Estimated  population  HOO. 

Donaldson  is  one  mile  North  West  of  Tremont, 
it  was  laid  out  by  Judge  Donaldson,  from  %vhom  it 
takes  its  name.  After  a  series  of  years  spent  in  de- 
veloping the  resources  of  the  neighborhood,  and  in 
drawing  together  a  settlementof  industrious  miners 
and  mechanics,  its  enterprising  proprietor  is  now 
reaping  a  rich  aiid  <I<;served  harvest. 
Estimated  population  700. 

Llewellyn  is  two  miles  South  of  Mmersville,  on 
the  West  West  Branch  of  the  Mine  Hill  &  Schuyl- 
kill Haven  Railroad.  It  was  originally  settled  by 
Welsh  miners,  attracted  thither  by  the  increased 
growth  of  the  Coal  trade  in  that  neighborhood. 
Estimated  population  550. 

Pinegrove  is  situated  on  the  Swatara.  between 
the  Kitlatinny  snd  Second  Mi<untain,  seventeen 
miles  South  West  of  Pottsville.  A  branch  of  the 
Union  Canal  connects  here  with  a  Railroad  from  the 
Coal  mines  on  Lorberry  Creek  ;  short  lateral  roads, 
from  various  collieries,  extending  as  far  up  as  the 
main  branch  of  the  Swatara,  intersect  and  lead  to 
the  main  road. 

Estimated  population  500 

BrockviUe   is  built  on  the   Schuylkill  Valley  Rail- 
road, nine  miles  East  of  Pottsville.    The  inhabitants 
are  principallv  miners,  employed  in  the  extensive 
collieries  of  George  LI.  Potts,  Esq.,  on  the  estate. 
Estimated  population  500. 

Middleport  is  situated  on  the  Schuylkill  Valley 
Railroad,  eight  miles  East  of  Pottsville.  Its  trade  is 
altogether  local ;  depending  for  support  upon  the 
Coal  trade  of  the  neighborhood.  Population,  400. 
M'ew  Castle  is  four  miles  North  of  Pottsville,  on 
the  Sunbury  turnpike  ;  it  occupies  a  high,  mountain- 
ous position  and  increases  but  slowly  in  trade  and 
population. 
Estimated  population  300. 

Tuscarora  is  twelve  miles  East  of  Pottsville,  and 
is  situated  at  the  termination  of  the  Schuylkill  Val- 
ley Railroad.    Present  prospects  augur  an  increas- 
ing trade. 
Estimated  population  300. 

Patterson    is  situated  on  the   Schuylkill  Valley 
Railroad,  nine  miles  East  of  Pottsville. 
Estimated  population  200. 

Luzerne  County. 
Luzerne  is  bounded,  East  by  Wayne,  North 
by  Wyomitig  and  Susquehanna,  West  by  Ly- 
coming and  Columbia,  South  by  Schuylkill 
and  Carbon,  and  South  East  by  Monroe. — 
Area  1400  sqitaro  miles. 

The  mountains  are  the  Allegheny,  broken 


into  large  detached  masses  and  irregular  hills, 

the  Lockawannack,  Naniicoke,  Shou'nee,Moe- 
slc,  Wyoming,  Nescopeck  and  Buck. 

The  streams  are  the  Susqnehann<i.  or  North 
Branch  river,  and  the  Lehigh.  The  creeks 
are  ihe  Lackaicanna,\Va'pivalope,n,  Nescopeck, 
Hnidingdon,  Shicksldnny,  Hemlock,  Bear  and 
Harrey's. 

Luzerne  contains  33  townships,  3  boroughs 
and  several  thriving  villages.  Wilkes  Barre 
is  the  Seat  of  Justice.  Carbondale  and  Wilkes 
Barre  may  be  noted  as  depots  for  the  Coal 
trade  of  ihe  county,  and  as  deriving  a  flourish- 
ing business  therefrom. 

The  public  improvements  are  the  North 
Branch  Canal,  the  Railroad  of  the  Lehigh  Com- 
pany from  Wilkes  Barre  to  White  Haven ; 
and  a  Railroad  from  Carbondale  to  Honesdale 
in  Wavne  county — several  turnpikes,  and  a 
large  Bridge  over  the  Susquehanna  at  Wilkes 
Barre. 

Population  in  1840,  33,000 

Estimated        do         1848,  40,000 


Carbon  (Bounty. 

Carbon  adjoins  Schuylkill,  and  is  bounded 
N.  E.  by  Monroe,  N.  W.  by  Luzerne,  and  S.  E. 
by  Northampton  and  Lehigh.  Area  400  square 
miles.  Its  priuci|iiil  mountains  are  Mauch 
Chunk,  Broad,  Pokono,  Spring,  Baldridge, 
and  the  Kitiatinn,  iorxa\n^  its  S.  E.  boundary. 

The  streams  are  the  Lehigh  river  and  the 
Aquanchicola,  Big,  Lizard,  Mahoning,  Mauch 
Chunk,  Nes'iuihoning,  Quaquake  and  Hays' 
Creeks.  Carbon  contains  eight  townships 
anil  several  towns  and  growing  villages. 

The  public  improvements  are  the  works  of 
the  Lehigh  canal  and  Slackwater  Navigation 
Company  along  the  Lehigh  ;  the  Beaver  Mea- 
dow Railroad,  and  the  Lehigh  Coal  and  Navi- 
gation Company's  Railroad,  and  inclined  plane 
from  Summit  Hill- to  Mauch  Chunk. 

Mauch  Chunk  is  the  Seat  of  Justice.  A 
great  quantity  of  coal  is  shipped  yearly  from 
the  various  collieries  of  the  Lehigh  Coal  and 
Navigation  Company. 

Estimated  population,  15,000. 

Northumberland  County. 

Northumberland  is  bounded  on  the  East  and 
North  East  by  Columbia  county,  North  by  Ly- 
coming, West  by  Union,  South  by  Dauphin, 
and  South  East  by  Schuylkill.  Area  500 
square  miles. 

Its  mountoins  are  tVie  Line,  Little,  Mahanoy, 
and  Big  Mountains,  in  the  South  ;  the  Shamo- 
kin  Hill,  in  the  middle;  Montour's  Ridge,cel- 
ebrated  for  its  iron  ore,  and  Limestone  Ridge, 
North  of  the  North  Branch ;  and  the  M«ncy 
Hills  in  the  extreme  North. 

The  streams  are  the  North  and  West  Bran- 
ches of  the  Susquehanna,  uniting  at  the  town 
of  Northumberland,  thence  forming  the  main 
Susquehana  river,  at  the  western  extremity  of 
the  county  ;  the  creeks  are  Mahantango,  Ma- 
hanoy,  Skaniakiu,  Roaring,  Chillesquaque  and 
Liinestone. 

This  county  contains  17  townships,  3  bo> 


70 


Poetry. 


roughs  and  several  growing  towns  and  villa- 
ges.   Sunbury  is  the  Seatol  Justice. 

ropulatiou  iu  1840,  20,027 

Estimated       do  1848,  25,000 


Dauphin  County. 

Dauphin  is  situated  partly  iu  Cumberland 
Valley,  and  partly  iu  the  Anthracite  region  ; 
it  is  bounded  E.    by  Lebanon  and  Schuylkill, 


N.  by  Northumberhuid,  W.  by  Perry,  Cum- 
berland and  York,  and  S.  by  Lancaster.  Its 
area  is  530  square  miles.  This  county  contains 
19  townships,  4  boroughs  and  many  growing 
villages  ;  and  is  celebrated  for  the  Bituminous 
and  Anthracite  Coals  mined  from  the  exten- 
sive collieries  of  the  Dauphiu  Coal  Company. 

30,118 


Estimated        do. 


Population  iu  1840, 


37,500 


Harrisburg  is  the  county  seal. 


JJoctrj). 


THE  MlNlll  LAD. 

Nay,  don't  despise  the  Miner-lad, 
Wholjurrows  like  the  uioli^; 

Buried  alive,  fruiii  morn  to  night. 
To  delve  for  household  coal — 

Nay,  miner-lad,  ne'er  blush  for  it, 

Though  black  thy  face  be,  as  the  pit! 

As  honorable  thy  calling  is 

As  that  of  hero  lords, 
They  owe  to  the  poor  Miuer-lad 

The  ore  that  steels  their  swords — 
And  perils,  too,  as  fierce  as  theirs 

In  limb  and  life,  the  JVMner  shares ! 

Ye  gayest  of  the  gaudy  world. 

In  gold  and  silver  bright, 
\Vho,  but  the  humble  INliner-lad, 

Your  jewels  brouglit  to  light? 
Where  would  bo  your  gold  and  silver, 
But  for  yonder  delver'/ 

Ye  brows  of  pearly  diadems, 

Who  sit  ou  lofty  thrones, 
Smile  gently  on  tije  Miner-lad 

Who  wrought  your  precious  stones. 
And  rescued  from  their  iron  bond 
The  ruby  and  the  diamond  ! 

Ye  instruments  of  brass,  that  pierce 
The  ear  with  trumpet  sound. 

Your  notes,  but  for  the  INIiner-lad, 
Had  slumbered  under  ground — 

Nor  imaged  bronze,  nor  brazen  gate, 

Had  graced  the  trophies  of  the  great  I 

Then  don't  refuse  the  Miner-lad 
The  crust  of  bread — his  prayer .' 

Beneath  that  blackest  face  of  his 
He  bides  a  heart  afi  fair ! 

The  toil  of  his  bare  brawny  arm 

All,  all  our  h*artsaad  houees  warm  ! 


K.XOW  YE  NOT  THAT  YE  ARE  MEN  ! 

Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  men, 
Yo  laboring  throngs  of  earth  ? 

.Must  ye  be  told,  and  told  again, 
What  truth  and  toil  are  worth  ? 

\Vliy  do  ye  look  upon  the  ground? 

No  fire  within  the  eye. 
When  noble-born  are  all  around, 

And  wealth  and  rank  go  by  ? 

For  have  ye  not  a  heart  within, 
And  sense  and  soul  as  they  ? 

And  more — have  ye  not  toiltd  to  win 
The  bread  ye  eat  to-day  ? 

Do  ye  despise  your  sunburnt  hands — 
So  hard  and  brown  with  toil,         ' 

That  have  made  fair  the  forest  lands 
And  turned  the  forest  soil  ? 

What!  do  ye  fear  the  haughty  gaze, 

Of  men  in  rich  array  ? 
'Tis  said  pride  hath  not  many  days, 

And  riches  fly  away. 

Up,  heart  and  hand,  and  persevere, 
And  overcome  the  scorn — 

The  haughty  hate  and  heartless  sueor, 
Of  this  world's  gentle  born  ! 

Fear  not — shrink  not — to  you  is  given 
The  guardianship  of  earth; 

And  on  the  record  book  of  Heaven 
Is  wi'it  your  honest  worth  '. 

Honor  yourselves!  ye  honest,  true, 
.'-nd  willing,  firm,  and  strong! 

Do  well  whate'er  your  hands  may  do. 
Though  praise  may  linger  long  ! 

A  high  and  holy  work  is  yours, 
And  yours  shall  be  a  fame, 


Poetry. 


71 


That  lives  for  ages,  and  endures 
Beyond  the  hero's  name  ! 

Go — vvitli  your  hand  upon  the  plough. 

And  the  plough  beneath  the  sod; 
Pity  the  heart  that  scorns,  and  bow 

To  nothing  but  your  God  ! 


LABOUR. 

Ho  I  ye  who  at  the  anvil  toil, 

And  strike  the  sounding  blow, 
Where,  from  the  burning  iron's  breast. 

The  sparks  fly  to  and  fro  ! 
While  answering  to  the  hammer's  ring. 

And  fire's  iptenser  glow — 
Oh  !  while  ye  feel  'tis  hard  to  toil 

And  sweat  the  long  day  through, 
Remember,  it  is  harder  still 

To  have  no  work  to  do. 

Ho !  ye  who  till  the  stubborn  soil, 

Whose  hard  hand  guides  the  plough, 
Who  bend  beneath  the  summer  sun, 

With  burning  cheek  and  brow — 
Ye  deem  the  curse  still  clings  to  earth 

From  olden  time  till  now, 
But  while  ye  feel  'tis  hard  to  toil, 

And  labour  all  day  through. 
Remember,  it  is  harder  still 

To  have  no  work  to  do. 

Ho  !  ye  who  plough  the  sea's  blue  field — 

Who  ride  the  restless  wave — 
Beneath  whose  gallant  vessel's  keel 

There  lies  a  yawning  grave  ; 
Around  whose  bark  the  wintry  winds, 

Like  fiends  of  fury  rave. 
Oh  !   while  ye  feel  'tis  hard  to  toil, 

And  labour  long  hours  through, 
Remember  it  is  harder  still 

To  have  no  work  to  do. 

Ho  !  ye  upon  whose  fevered  cheeks 

The  hectic  glow  is  bright, 
Whose  mental  toil  wears  out  the  day. 

And  half  the  weary  night — 
Who  labour  for  the  souls  of  men, 

Champions  of  truth  and  right; 
Although  you  feel  your  toil  is  hard, 

Even  with  this  glorious  view. 
Remember,  it  is  harder  still 

To  have  no  work  to  do. 

Ho  !  all  who  labour — all  who  strive— 

Ye  wield  a  lofty  power  :  • 

Do   with  your  might— do  with  your 

strength — 
Fill  every  golden  hour  ! 

The  glorious  privilege  to  do. 
Is  man's  most  noble  dower. 

Oh  !  to  your  birthright  and  yourselves, 
To  your  own  souls  be  true  ! 

A  weary,  wretched,  life  is  theirs, 
Who  have  no  work  to  do. 


THE  SONG  OF  STEAM. 
Harness  me  down  with  your  iron  bands 

Be  sure  of  your  curb  and  rein ; 
For  I  scorn  the  power  of  your  puny  bands, 

As  the  tempest  scorns  a  chain. 


How  I  laugh'd,  as  I  lay  conceal'd  from  siglit, 

For  many  a  countless  hour. 
At  the  childish  boast  of  human  might. 

And  the  pride  of  human  power. 

When  I  saw  an  army  upon  the  land — 

A  navy  upon  the  seas, 
Creeping  along — a  snail-like  band — 

Or  wailing  the  wayward  breege  ; 
When  I  mark'd  the  peasant  faintly  reel 

With  the  toil  which  he  daily  bore. 
As  he  feebly  tnrn'd  at  the  tardy  wheel. 

Or  tugg'd  at  the  weary  oar : 

When  I  measur'd  the  panting  courser's  speed — ■ 

The  flight  of  the  carrier  dove — 
As  they  bore  a  \ci\v  that  the  king  decreed, 

Or  the  lines  of  impatient  love — 
I  could  not  but  think  how  the  world  would 
feel, 

As  these  were  outstripped  afar. 
When  I  should  be  bound  to  the  rushing  keel. 

Or  chain'd  to  the  flying  car. 

Ha !  ha  !  ha !  they  found  me  at  last — 

They  invited  me  forth  at  length — 
Andlrush'd  to  my  throne  with  thunder  blast. 

And  laugh'd  in  my  iron  strength. 
Oh  !  then  ye  saw  a  woud'rous  change 

On  the  earth  and  ocean  wide. 
Where  now  my  fiery  armies  range. 

Nor  wait  for  wind  or  tide. 

Hurrah  !  hurrah  !  the  waters  o'er —    , 

The  mountains'  steep  decline. 
Time — space  have  yielded  to  my  power; 

The  world — the  world  is  mine  ! 
The  rivers,  the  sun  hath  earliest  blest, 

Or  those  where  his  beams  decline — 
The  giant  streams  of  the  queenly  West, 

Or  the  orient  floods  divine  : 

The  ocean  pales  where'er  I  sweep. 

To  hear  my  strength  rejoice, 
And  the  monsters  of  the  briny  deep 

Cower,  trembling  at  my  voice. 
I  carry  the  wealth  and  the  lord  of  earth — 

The  thoughts  of  the  god-like  mind; 
The  wind  lags  after  my  flying  forth — 

The  lightning  is  left  behind. 

In  the  darksome  depths   of  the  fathomless 
mine 

My  tireless  arms  doth  play, 
Where  the  rocks  never  saw  the  sun  decline, 

Or  the  dawn  of  the  glorious  day. 
I  bring  earth's  glittering  jewels  up 

From  the  hidden  cave  below. 
And  I  make  the  fountain's  granite  cup 

With  a  chrystal  gush  o'erflow. 

I  blow  the  bellows — I  forge  the  steel 

In  all  the  shops  of  trade ; 
I  hammer  the  ore  and  turn  the  wheel 

Where  the  arms  of  strength  are  made; 
I  manage  the  furnace — the  mill — the  mint; 

I  carry — I  spin — I  weave ; 
And  all  my  doings  I  put  into  print 

On  every  Saturday  eve. 

I've  no  muscle  to  weary — no  breast  to  decay 
No  bones  to  be  "  laid  on  the  shelf:" 


72 


Poetry. 


And  soon  I  intend  you  may  "  go  to  play," 
While  I  manage  tili«  world  by  myself. 

But  harness  me  down  with  your  iron  bands — 
Be  sure  of  your  curb  and  rein ; 

For  I  scorn  the  strength  of  your  puny  hands, 
As  the  tempest  scorns  a  chain. 


THE  MINERS'  DOOM. 

Written  fox  the   London    Mining    Journal,  by    the 
Author  of  the  "  Syne  Exile's  Return." 


'Twas  evening,  and  a  sweetei  balm  on  earth  was 

never  shed, 
Tbe  sun  lay  in  his  gorgeous  pomp  on  ocean's  heav- 
ing bed , 
The  sky  was  clad   in  bright  arraj',  too  beautiful  to 

last. 
For  night,  like  envy,  scowling  came,  and  all  the 

scene  o'ercast. 
^Tis  thus  with  hope — Mia  thus  with  life,  when  sunny 

dreams  appear. 
The  infant  leaves  the  cradle-couch  to  slumber  on  a 

bier; 
The  rainbow  of  our   cherish'd    tove,  we    see  in 

beauty's  eye. 
That  glows  wuh  a'l  its  mingled  hues, alas!  to  fade 

and  die : 
'Tts  dark,  still  nighi,  the  sultry  air  scarce  moves  a 

leaf  or  flower; 
The  sspen,  trembling,  fears  to  stir,  in  such  a  silent 

hour; 
The  footsteps  of  the  timid   hare,  distinctly  may  be 

heard 
Between  the  pauses  of  the  song  of  night's  porten- 
tous bird,— 
And  in  so  drear  a  moment,  plods  the  miner  to  his 

toil. 
Compelled  refreshing    sleep    to  leave,  for  labor's 

hardest  moil: 
By  fate's  rude  hand,  the  dream  of  peace  is  broken 

and  destroyed— 
The  savage  beast  his  rest  can  take,  but  man  must 

be  denied ! 
And  why  this  sacrifice  of  rest"!— did  not  the  Maker 

plan 
The  darksome  hours  for  gentle  sleep,  the  day  for 

work  by  man'? 
Ye*!— but  the  mighty  gods  of  earth  are  wiser  in 

their  laws — 
Th*y  hold  themselves  with  pride  to  be  their  Creator's 

first  great  cause. 
The  miner  hath  his  work  begun,  and  busy  strokes 

resound, 
Warm  drops  of  sweat  are  falling  fast— the  Coal  lies 

piled  around. 
And  what  a  sight  of  slavery!— in  narrow  seams 

compressed 
Are  seen  the  prostrate  forms  of  men  to  hew  on  back 

and  breast. 
Fainting  with  heat,  with  dust  begrimed,  their  meagre 

faces  see. 
By  glimmering  lamps  that  serve  to  show  their  looks 

of  misery.  .  . 

And  oft  the  hard  swollen  hand  Is  raised  to  wipe  the 

forehead  dews; 
He  breathes  a  sigh  for  labor's  close,  and  then  his 

toil  renews. 
And  manly  hearts  are  throbbing  there— and  visions 

in  that  mind 
Float  o'er  the  young  and  sanguine  soul,  like  star* 
that  rain  and  shine.  , 

Amid  the  dreariness  that  dwells  within  the  cavern  s 

gloom  .     ,    .  .    -    , 

Age  looks  for  youth  tosoUce  him— waits  for  his  fruits 

to  bloom. 
Behold !  there  is  a  careless  face  bent  from  yon  cab 
intii  nook ; 


Hope  you  may  read  in  his  bright  eye— there's  ftiture 

in  his  look ; 
Oh,  blight  not,  then,  the  fairy  flower,  'tis  heartless 

to  destroy 
The  only  pleasure  mortals  know — anticipated  joy! 
Oh,  God  !  what  flickering  flame  is  this  1 — see,  see 

again  its  glare! 
Dancing  around  the  wiry  lamp,  like  meteors  of  the 

air. 
Away,  away?— the  shaft,  the   shaft! — the  blazing 

fire  flies ; 
Conflusion  !— speed  I— the  lava  stream  the  lightning's 

wing  defies ! 
The  shaft  I — the  shaft ! — down  on  the  ground,  aud 

let  the  demon  ride 
Like  the    sirocco  on  the   blast — volcanoes  in  their 

pride  I 
The  choke-damp  angel  slaughters  all — be  spares  no 

living  soul  I 
He  smites  them  with  sulphureous  brand--he  blackens 

them  like  coal  I 
The  young— the  hopeful,  happy  young— fall  with  the 

old  and  gray. 
And  oh,  great  God  I  a  dreadfiil  doom,  thus  buried  to 

decay 
Beneath  the  green  anil  flowery  soil  whereon  their 

friends  remain — 
Disfigured,  and  perchance,  alive— their  cries  un- 
heard and  vain  ? 
Oh,   Desolation  !    thou  art  now   a  tyrant  on    thy 

throne, 
Thou  smilesl  with  sardonic  lip  to  hear  the  shriek 

and  groan  I 
To  see  each  mangled,  writhing  corse  to  raining  eyes 

displayed— 
For  hopeless  widows  now  lament,    and  orphans 

wait  dismayed. 
Behold  thy  work  !    The  maid  is  there,  her  lover  to 

deplore ; 
The  mother  wails  her  only  child,  that  she  shall  see 

no  more ; 
An  idiot  sister  laughs  and   sings— oh,  melancholy 

joy! — 
While,  bending  o'er  her  brother  dead,  she  opes  the 

sightless  eye. 
Apart,  an  aged  man  appears,  like  some  sage  David 

oak, 
Sheding  his  tears,  like  leaves  that  fall  beneath  the 

woodman's  stroke  ; 
His  poor  old  heart  is  rent  in  twain— he  stands  and 

weeps  alune — 
The  sole  supporter  of  his  house,  the  last,  the  beat  it 

gone ! 
This  is  thy  work,  fell  tyrant  I— this  the  miner's  com- 
mon lot ! 
In  danger's  darkling  den  he  toils,  and  dies  lamented 

not. 
The  army  hath  its  pensioners — the  ious  of  ocean 

rest, 
When  battle's  crimson  flag  is  furled,  on  bounty's 

downv  breast ; 
Out  who  regards  the  mining  slave,  that  for  hit  coun< 

try's  wealth 
Resigns  his  sleep,  his  pleasures,  home,  bis  freedom 

and  his  health  1 
Froni  the  glad  skies  and  fragrant  fields  be  cheerfully 

descends. 
And  eait  his  bread  in  stenchy  caves,  where  his  ex- 
istence ends. 
Aye,  this  is  he  whom  masters  grind,  and  level  with 

the  dust— 
The  slave  that  barters  life,  to  gain  the  pittance  of  a 

crust. 
Go,  read  your  pillard  calendar,  the  record  that  wU 

tell  .       ,  .        ,.       V 

How  many  victims  of  the  mine  in  yonder  church- 
yard dwell.  .    ,.      . 

Hath  honor's  laurels  ever  wreatqed  the  despot  • 
haughty  brow?—  j      ,.      ,.    • 

Hath  pity's  hallowed  gems  appeared  when  he  in 
death  lay  lowl 

Unhonored  is  his  memory,  despised  his  worthless 
name—  ... 

Who  wields  In  life  the  iron  rod,  In  death  no  teat 
can  claim  I 


^,v;<\aiiii4i»*^y<^iiy:'X/ 


?^Sf^S;W15K5^ 


sSSiSl^^^^^^^^^^^^ffl^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 


STATISTICAL  TABLE  OF  MINING  OPERATIONS, 

ExhiMtin<r  «  condensed  view  of  statistical  fads,  connected  with  Mines  and  Mining  in  the  Anthracite  Coal  Regions  of  Pennsylvania. 


number  of    eiiBtoei  in  mo.  with  the  quimUW  of  power;  °'^J"  ,'^^„ '?°8^  ?'  ,  Vj "h. Tn^^^^^  reeion    at  the  espenae  of  much  time,  labor  i 

eneountorcd;  oltwllhatandlng  »o  have  >Jtei  Per.on.">.  ne'rl^  'U  fte_co^^^^^^  {^^^  __^,i^^,„j  ,„   j„  „p  „, 

Uble.  are  unavoidably  omltUjd  ;    the  proprietors,  in  moal  cmct.remninb 
calculating  opon  the  capacity  for  aWpptog  from  the  qu^^^^^^      f  ".'^'Si^Wcoil.toed^WVi^he^mrnV  oUtTcto  "c'oitinu^^  way  of  our  complete 


namee  of  proprietori;  amount  of  coal  shipped;  capacity  for  abippmg; 

atctement,    such  aa  we  offer  our  readers,  much  difficulty  has  been 

the  proprietors  during  our  visitt.    The  few  oper.*tora  not  noted  in  oqr 

iustaucea,  poaalbly  be  slightly  exaggerated  from  the  actual  shipmeota  heretofore  made ;  the  operators,  in  such  caaea, 


■auacity  for  shipping  from  the  quantity  ol  Coal  mined.  Geperally,  however,  the  hgb 
0  of  tils  appafentlT  simple  uidertaklng  is  .eriouslv  consllered.  w.th  the  many  ob 
reading  world  u  matter  of  such  general  and  useful  import. 


1  all  critical  opinions  will  be  suapemled 


ia  Intended  to  present  at  a  glance,  all  Uie  useful  Information  connected  with  each  operation ;  the 

names  of  land  owners,  fix.  &c.  In  coUectiug  ihe  necessary  facts  for  a  ylain  and  condensed 
have  had  in  some  instances  to  depend  upon  second  hand  sources  for  a  le%v  details,  not  being  able  to  " 
The  amount  of  Coal  shipped,  aa  eshibited  by  each,  may.  ■  .  -    .    . -. 

ve  gleaned  all  we  could,  and  have  only  to  regret  that  a  few  of  the  prominent  Coal  proprietors  in  the  region,  from  certain  private 


,  have  thought  proper 


NAMES  OF  COAL  OPERATORS 


George  Spencer  it  Co., 
Henry  I'ryor, 
David  lirowu  &  Co., 
R.  Heckalior, 
John  Spoocer, 
Thomus  Williams, 

Jas.  C.  Oliver, 


Do. 

Do. 
Georgo  H.  Polls, 

Do. 
T.  &W.  Pollock, 
Robert  AdamB  &  Co. 
Samuel  KillyraaD,  • 

Morgan  &  Ilines, 
Sillynian  &  Fialer, 
Robert  Adams  &.  Co., 
Cbarlea  Miller, 

OS  C.  Oliver,    : 

Caleb  Parker, 
Marachall  &Tboina«, 
Neill  &.  Oliver, 

Doubly  &  Boaser, 

D.  &  W.  Murray, 

J.  &  C.  Reod, 
Lt.  Oreeoawault, 
I  Colt,  QtibViDa  Sz.  LomasoD, 
i  Harvey,  Steeao  &.  Co., 

Wheeler  &  Miller, 
j  E.  W.  M'Ginnia, 

Do. 

Do. 

j  Pugh  &  Pollock, 
■"    .Pothrick, 
jJohuFlood, 

iJos.  F.Taylor, 

Georgo  Mason, 

Snyder  4^  Darr, 

Ileil  &  Bower, 

Henry  Eckel, 

Reiooebl  &.  Gordnert 
is  &,  Fisher, 
tSillymnn&.  Reed, 
j  George  H.  Potto, 

{Gideon  Bast  &  Co., 

cob  Serrill, 
jjobu  Pinkertou, 

Thos.  C.  Williams, 
jjohn  Rosser  &.  Co., 

Hooler  &M'Coweu, 
(Jonathan  Wasley, 
I  Fitzsimmons  &  Glenn, 
1  Daniel  Edwards, 

Job  Rich, 

j  Charles  Miller  &  Co., 

J.  D.  Steinberger, 
Do. 
Do. 

Rogers,  Sinnickson  &  Co. 

Do. 

M'Cormick  &.  Clark, 
H.  Eckel, 

Spangler&Barndt, 
Milues,  Haywood  &  Co., 

Do. 

Do. 


2— 120  yds. 
1— ?0    do. 

60  yards. 


90  yards, 
403  feet, 
1018  do. 

130  yards, 

75  yards, 

opening, 

200  yards, 

;  1—75  do. 

1—240  do. 


1—74  yds. 
1—180  do. 


100  yards, 
each — 90  do. 


80  yards, 
115  do. 


70  yards 


350  feet, 
150  yds. 


-tl  feet, 
350  do. 
1000  do. 


20O  yards, 
1200  do. 
400  do.  each 
200  do.  each 

600  yardi 


150  to  450  yd! 


2  milesiaall, 
1500  ydi 


6D0  yards, 
ISO  do. 


40  yards, 
opening, 


45  yards. 


250  yards, 


400  do. 
3  to  800  yds 


3  to  500  yds. 
5  to  SOO  do. 


leOtoJOOydi 
260  vds. 


130  yards, 


jjt)  yards, 
OOU)600yd( 
250  to  550  do. 


40  yards, 


80  yds 


200  yds. 


80  yds. 


lUOO  yds. 
1000  yds. 
700  do. 
SOO  do. 


Spobn  vein. 
Orchard  do. 
Primrose  do. 


Lewis,   Spohn,  Clark- 
son  &  Yard. 
Peach  Mountain, 


Black  &  Selkirk, 


Mammoth  vein. 
Middle  &  Rainbow, 
Little  Diamond, 
Rainbow, 
Mammoth  vein, 
Black  Heath, 

Lewis  and  Spobti. 

Gate  veins, 

Diamond  veins. 
Peach  Mountain, 
Little  Tracy, 

,  BigTiacy, 

Diamond, 

Peacli  Mountain, 


Bis 


vein, 


Long  Creek  vein, 
<  Lewis,  Spohn.Pal- 
l  raer  &  Potts  veins 

Gate  veins, 

Flat  vein. 


5  Diamond,  Little 
\  Kockill  veins, 
Clarhson, 


Tremont  veins, 
Barclaugh  &.Kttany 

Green  Park  vein,       ) 

Reese  Davis  do.,         > 

Tunnel  &  Diamoml,  ) 

Blk  Heath  &Blk  Valley, 


Flowery  Field, 


(  Diamond,  , 

(  Peach  Mountain,   ( 
Pott  &  Clarkson,        ' 
Palmer  cfe  Spohn, 
Lewis  &  Yard, 

Lewis  &.  Clarkson, 
Pch  Orchard,  Blk  Heath, 
Raven,  Lather,  Black 
Valley,  &Noith  v. 
Bonewitz, 
Tunnel  veins, 

Salem  vein. 
Tunnel  do. 
Salem   do. 


7  to  10  ft 

5  to  25  ft 

6  to  9  ft 

8  to  10  ft 
8  to  10  ft 
8  to  10  ft 
3ito  5  ft 

2  to  12  ft 

5  to  20  ft 
4  to  7  ft 

6  to  12  ft 
44  to  6  ft 


20  ft. 
7  to  22  ft 
4  to  5  ft 
7  to  22  ft 
20  ft. 
6  to  7  ft 
4J  ft, 

3  to  7  ft 
3i  to  8  ft 

4  to  lOfl 

3  to  10  ft 

4i  to  12  ft 

5  to  10ft 
5  ft. 
22  ft. 
10  ft. 
20  ft. 


4j  ft, 

5  to  8  ft 
4ito6Jfl 

2  to  6  ft 

6  to  8  ft 
4  to  10  ft 

3  ft. 
22  ft, 

7  ft. 
1-12  ft 
3-5  ft. 

7  ft. 

8  to  9  f 

3   to   8   ft 


6  to  8  ft 
3  to  6  ft 


2  to  8  ft 
2  to  5  ft 


p  Sift 

3  to  4  ft 

4  to  7  ft 
U  ft. 

3  to  44  ft 


Red  Ash, 
Grey  Ash, 

Do. 
^Vhite  Aib, 
Red  Ash, 
Bed  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 

Red  Ash, 
White  Asb, 
White  Ash, 
-do.  1-RedAsh 
Red  Ash, 


White  Ash, 
White  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 
White  Ash. 
White  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 

Red  Ash, 

Red  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 

Red  Ash, 

Red  Ash, 

Red  Ash, 

Red  AiET 
White  Ash, 
White  Asli, 
Red  Ash, 

Red  Ash, 

Red  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 
White  Asl, 
Red  Ash, 
Bed  Ash, 
Red  AhIi, 
Grey  .-Vsh, 
Grey  Ash, 
^Vllite  Ash, 
White  Asb. 
Red  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 

$  Red  Ash,     ) 
\  White  Asli,  S 

White  Asli, 
White  Asb, 
(Jrey  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 
Red  Asli, 
Red  Ash, 
Grey  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 

Red  Ash.    . 
Red  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 

Bed  Ash, 
While  Ash,  ( 
Red  Ash,      ( 

Grey  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 
White  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 


Schuylkill  County. 
West  Norwegian, 
2  m.  above  Miuersvil 
Oak  Hi 
Taylorville, 
Taylorville, 
Taylorville, 

Combola, 

Silver  Creek, 
Silver  Creek, 
Tuscarora  Mountain, 
Above  Tuscarora, 
Y'ork  Farm, 
York  Farm,  Orchard, 
Mill  Creek, 
Broad  Mountain, 
3  m.N.  of  Port  Carbon, 
Oak  Hill, 
St.  Clair, 
Broad  Mountain, 
Pottaville, 

Bellemont, 
New  Philadelphia, 
Lich  Run, 
iN.E.  of  New  Philadelphia 

East  Norwegian, 

N.E.  of  New  Philadelphia 
Norwegian  Township, 
At  Tremont, 


New  Philadelphia, 

Potlsvillc, 

Port  Carbon. 

Oak  Hill, 

West  West  Branch, 

3  m.  N.  of  I'ottsville. 


4  m.  above  Tremont, 

Do 
Near  Donaldson, 

Do. 
At  Tremont, 
a  m.  E.  of  Port  Carbon, 
Brockville, 

Wolf  Creek, 

Wolf  Creek, 

Si.  Clair. 

Mount  Laffy, 

Oak  Hill, 

Oak  Hill, 

23  m.  N.  ofPotlsville, 


Mil 


■illc 


Milford, 

Woodburn, 

Bushey, 

Near  Pottsville, 

2  m.  S.  E.  of  Middleport, 

Near  Donaldson, 
Near  Tremont, 
Donaldson, 
West  West  Branch, 
West  West  Branch, 
Young's  Landing, 


horse 
horse 


,  Road  &  Canal, 
Rail  Road, 


Do. 

Do. 

R.  Boad  &  Canal. 

Bail  Boad, 

Canal, 

Bail  Boad, 

Do. 

Do. 

Canal, 
Rail  Road, 


Canal, 
Rail  Road, 


Canal, 
Bail  Road, 


B.  Road  &,  Canal, 
Roil  Road, 


R.  Road  &.  Cat 
Rail  Road. 


R.  Rold  &  Canal, 
Rail  Road, 


20,000  toBS, 

10,000 

20,000 

30,000 

20  to  30,000 

10,000 

25,000 

new  colliery, 

40,000  tons, 

15,000 

20,000 

not  shipping, 

55,000  tons, 

20,000 

40,000 

32  to  40,000 

10  to  12,000 

25,000 

50,000 

20,000 

35  to  40,000 

15  to  20,000 
new  operatioi 
5  to  8,000  Ins. 

40,000 

3,000 

20  to  30,000 

4,000 
20,000 
new  operation 

Do 
50,000  Ions. 

5,000 
not  shipping, 
10,000  tons, 
40,000 
15  to  20,000 

25  to  30,000 

7  to  8,000 

8,000 

15,000 

20,000 

15,000 

10,000 


26,000  ' 
50,000 


50,008 

50,000 

new  operation 

2o,ooo  tons, 

25,000 

18,ooo 

I8,ooo 

26,000 


Spohn  Colliery ; 
Herbine  Tract ; 
Oak  Hill  do. 
New  opening; 


24  m.  E.  of  Port  Carbon  ; 

Glentworth  Colliery : 

H  m.  fromN.  Philadelphia; 

Not  yet  developed  ; 

Making  improvements ; 
Slope  32  ft.  wide,  7  ft  high 
Near  Port  Carbon ; 
Pine  Knot  ColUery'; 
Rainbow  do. 

Little  Diamond  do. 
St.  Clair  do. 

Pine  Knot         do. 
Guinea  Hill       do. 

14  m.  E.  of  Fori  Carbon ; 
Gate  vein  Colliery ; 
}  m.  above  New  Philadelphia  ; 
Diamond  Colliery; 

East  Deleware  Mines ; 

Knickerbocker  Mines ; 
West  Delaware  Mine» ; 


Largest  Red  Ash  vein  in  the  region 
Steam  Saw  Mill  at  mines ; 
Gate  vein  Colliery; 

Horse  power; 

Do. 
Forestville  Colliery : 
Primrose  Mine; 


Worked  by  rotary  engine  ; 
Use  Umholtz's  Patent  Breake 
Above  water  level ; 
Do. 

New  operation ; 
On  Brockville  Estate ; 
1  m.  above  MineriviUe ; 
Do. 


3Jm.S  W,  ofPotUville; 
Wadesville  ; 


Phoeni.x  Colliery ; 

Near  Middleport ; 
Do- 
Do 

N.  American  Mines ; 
New  veins  opening , 

Above  water  level ; 

Do 

Do 
7  m.  above  S.  Haveu ; 

Do. 
Near  Pottsville ; 


Nicholas  E.  Thouron 

Brock  Colp  &  Hammer 

Wetherill's 

Forest  Improvement  Co- 
Do.  I 
Do-                                     [ 

Bell  &  Hubly 

Alspach  &.  Bast  | 

Valley  Furnace  Co.  | 

Samuel,  Bell  &  Lea 
Stevenson,  8trulher»&  Co.       ' 
Lea,  Hart  &  Miners'  Bank       ; 
Do  i 

Seitzinger  &  Welherill  I 

Chas.  Miller, Patterson* Co     : 
Seitzinger  Welherill  t  Co.       I 
In  dispute:  Jas.Siliyman.Agt. 
Seitzinger  t  Welherill 
Miller,  Patterson,  Dondas  k  Co 
Lea,  Kimber  *  Co. 
Samuel  Bell 

Welherill,  Patterson  k  Co. 
Joseph  S-  Silver 
Valley  Furnace  Co 

Delaware  Coal  Co 

Valley  Furnace  Co- 
Delaware  Coal  Co- 


Do 

Swatara  Coal  Co. 
Welherill,  Patterson  jt  Co. 

M'Ginnia  k  Farnum, 
,  Star,  Biddle  t  Co. 
M'Ginnis  *  Farnum, 
In  dispute:  J- Sillyman,  Agt. 
Forest  Improvement  Co. 
~      lall,  Cummings  l.  Co 

Joseph  F.  Taylor 
Thomas  Haven 
Swatara  Coal  Co 

Do 
Donaldson  Coal  Co. 

Do 

Swatara  Coal  Co.  and  others 

B.W-Wister*Thoe.  Sillyman 
Brock  at  Cumming 
Wadsworlh,    Wharton, 
Kimber  k  Co. 
Gideon  Bast 

Welherill,  Seitzinger  k  Co. 
Refuses  to  give  information: 

Wetherill's 

Cumming,  Bonsell  k  Co. 
Do 

Lea,  Hart  k  Miners  Bank 
B-  W  Packer 

Brooke,  Rabb  a  Co. 
Wood,  Dwey  k  Co. 
Sellers,  Davis  k  Co, 
N.  American  Coal  Co 

Spayd  k  Lnlher 

Donaldson  Coal  Co. 

Do 
Donaldson  Coal  Co. 
James  Cresson  k  Bro's. 
.Vlilnes  Haywood  k  Co. 
AmursljE  M'Dnrmut. 


If. 

i 

1 

Jacob  Serrill, 
Jobu  PiDkertoD, 

2 

1 

2  miles. 

1 

(  Tunnel  &  Diamond, 
2  Blk  Heath  &.  Blk  Valley 

' 

6  to  8  ft 

4  to  21  ft      White  Ash, 

Wolf  Creek, 
Si.  Clair, 

1 

t 
25 

B.  Road  &.  Canal, 
Rail  Road, 

26,000  • 
50,000 

Do. 

West  of  MiUcreek ; 

Gideon  Bast 

Wotherill,  Seitzioger  it  Co. 

g 

$ 

TlioD.  C.  Williaros, 

White  Ash, 

Mount  Laffy. 

West  Branch ; 

Refuses  to  give  information. 

Z 

-' 

John  Ros»er  &.  Co., 

Grey  Ash, , 

Oak  Hill, 

•i 

J? 

Hooler  &  M'Coweu, 

1 

1 

2 

6  to  8  ft      R«<}  Ash. 

Oak  Hill, 

horse 

break'r 

Canal, 

3i  m.S  W.  of  Pottsville ; 

Wetherill's 

X 

^5 

Jonalhan  Waeley, 
FitzeimmoDB  &.  Glenn, 
Daniel  Edwardw, 

1    1 

130  yards. 

80  yds. 

2      Flowery  Field, 

Red  Ash, 
3  to  6  ft     P^d  Ash 
Grey  Ash, 

23  m.  N.  ofPottsvillc, 

horse 

power 

20  to  25,000 

Wadesville ; 

Cumming,  Bonsell  it  Co. 
Do 

i 

J; 

j  Job  HJch, 

Red  Ash, 

York  Farm. 

Lea,  Hart  i.  Miners  Bank 

S 

i 

i  Charles  Miller  &  Co.,                 .           1 

5    1      2 

70  yards. 

200  yds. 

(  Diamond, 

\  Peach  Mountain, 

2  to  8  ft      J^^d  Ash, 
2  to  5  ft      R'"J  Ash,    . 

(  W.  West  Branch,  near  ) 
I      Miiiersville,                 J 
Milford, 

2 

20 

60 

Rail  Road, 

40,000 

Phoenix  Colliery ; 

R.  W  Packer 

1 

'i 

J.  D.  Steinberger, 

2      Pott  &  Clarkson, 

1 

20 

Do. 

Near  Middleport  i 

Brooke,  Rabb  a  Co. 

1 

'-* 

Do.                    . 

2      Palmer  &  Spohn, 
2      Lewis  &.  Yard, 

Do. 

Keel  Ash, 

Woodburn, 

1 

20 

Do. 

Do 

Wood,  Dwey  a  Co. 

; 

Do.        . 

5  240  feet, 
)  420  do. 

Do. 

Red  Ash, 

Bushey, 

Do. 

Do 

Sellers,  Davis  a  Co, 

E 

g 

Rogera,  Sinnickson  &  Co.                    ^ 

1  rnany 

80  yds. 

1000  yds. 

2     Lewis  &  Clarkson, 

8  to  9  ft|     B<--d  Ash, 

Near  Pottsville, 

1     ^ 

20 

70 

35 

Do. 

50,008 

N.  American  Mines ; 

N.  American  Coal  Co 

1 

i» 

(  3,50  feet, 
i  1.50  yds. 

(     1000  yds. 

Feb  Orchard,  Blk  Heath 

.  1 

k  Whifp  A«li    ) 

1 

i 

Do.               .                .                  2 
M'Cormick  &  Clark, 

3 

1 

uuO  yards. 

4      700  do. 
I      800  do. 

6      Raven,  Luther,  Black  >5»  25ft  [  Red  Ash,     S 

Valley.&North  veins,  ^            ,       „ 
1      Bonewitz,                     3  to  4  ft     Grey  Ash, 

2  m.  S.  E.  of  Middleport 
Near  Donaldson, 

3 

1 

20 
10 

60 

1     60 

Do. 
Do. 

50,000 

new  operation 

New  veins  opening ; 
.\bove  water  level ; 

Spayd  a  Luther 
Donaldson  Coal  Co. 

g 

*; 

H.  Eckel, 

1       3 

100to600yd« 

3      Tunnel  veins. 

4  to  7  ft|     Red  Ash, 

Near  Tremont, 

)2 

Do. 

2o,ooo  tons, 

Do 

Do 

1 

;> 

Spanglor  &  Barndt,                     '. 

2 

250  to  550  do 

I 

U  ft. 

White  Ash, 

Donaldson, 

1 

20 

Do. 

25,000 

Do 
7  m.  above  8.  Haven ; 

Donaldson  Coal  Co. 

^ 

Milnos,  Haywood  &  Co.,                       1 

400  feel. 

1      Salem  vein, 

3  to4if 

Red  Ash, 

West  West  Branch, 

15 

30 

Canal, 

18,000 

James  Cresson  il  Bro's. 

i 

Do.             .            .              .             1 

350  do. 

1      Tunnel  do. 

Red  Ash, 

West  West  Branch, 

q 

15 

60 

Do. 

18,000 

Do. 

,V1  lines  Haywood  a  Co. 

1 

Do.                 .             .                      1 

1000  do. 

1      Salem   do. 

Rod  Ash, 

Young's  Landing, 

3 

15 

30 

30 

Do. 

26,ooo 

Near  Pottsville ; 

Amurst  tt  M'Durmut. 

^ 

Do.         .                 .             .              1 

1 

290  do. 

1      Gate  &  Lewis, 

3  to  7  f 

Red  Ash, 

Mill  Creek  Valley, 

15 

30 

Do. 

1 8,000 

i  m.  from  P.  Carbon; 

Wetherill  jt  Seitzinger 

^ 

'J 

Do.               .              .                   1 

500  do. 

1      20  feet  vein, 

12to20f 

White  Ash, 

Near  St.  Clair, 

2 

15 

60 

Do. 

17,000 

Pine  Forest  Colliery ; 

Wetherill,  Seitzinger  a  Co. 

2 

1 

Jafl.  H.  FitzsimmoDs, 

George  Dougharty,              .                      f 

\ 

sinking, 
340  yards. 

]       Diamond, 
1      Jackson, 

6  ft. 
5  ft. 

Red  Ash, 
Grey  Ash, 

Norwegian  Township. 
Tuscarora, 

horse 

power 
power, 
power, 
power, 
power. 

Rail  Road, 
Do. 

new  operation 

New  veins  opening ; 
Above  water  level; 

J.  H.  Fitzimmons,  Lessig  a  Qq 
Alter  &  Strnthers, 

i- 

V 

Rowe, 

800  do. 

1 

4  ft. 

Red  Ash, 

Near  Tuscarora, 

Do. 

s'ooo 

Do 

C.  Stephenson  a  Co. 

^ 

'- 

iSmith  &  Hodgson, 

250  do. 

1      Poach  Mountain, 

7  ft. 

Red  Ash, 

Near  Tuscarora, 

horse 

Do. 

6,000 

Do 

Do 

<- 

V 

Srnilh  Sc  M«m, 

200  do. 

] 

5  ft. 

Red  Ash. 

Near  Tuscarora, 

horse 

, 

Do. 

3  to  5,000 

Do 

Do 

^ 

5 

Roichert  &.  Stapleton,          '. 

150  do. 

J  1— 180  yds. 
(  1-250  do. 

1 

8  ft. 

Grey  Ash, 

Near  Tuscarora, 

horse 

Do. 

new  operation 

Do 

Alter  a  Struthers. 

t- 

? 

Oliver  &  Beecham, 

2 

6 

5  to20ft 

White  Ash, 

Near  Tuscarora, 

1 

20 

Do. 

30  to  4o,ooo 

Do 

Samuel  Bell, 

s 

I 

Do,                 .               .                  1 

1 

30  yards. 

I  1— 650  yds. 
<  1—320  do. 
I  1— ]80  do. 

2     Tu9carora&  Greer,       Is  to  12  ft 

Red  Ash, 

Near  Tuscarora, 

20 

60 

Do. 

2o,ooo 

Capacity  increasing; 

C.  Stevenson  a  Co. 

i 

i 

Cl)i"-le''''o',llyin»u&Co. 

3 

5  Big,  Black  Heath,  &  ( 
6  1   Black  Valley  veins.  > 

7  to  10  ft 

White  Ash, 

Patterson, 

1 

20 

R.  Road  St,  Canal, 

35,000 

Im  N.of  Town; 

<  8.  Sillyman  &VaUey  Fur- 
\      nace  Co. 

!l 

, 

KorBter  &.  Butler, 

1 

400  yds. 

3 

5  ft. 

Red  Ash. 

Dry  Hollow, 

Lehigh  Canal,  Carbon  Co. 

new  operation 

21  W.  of  Summit  HiU; 

Lehigh  Coal  a  Nav.  Co. 

i 

I 

j  Jacob  Werntz, 
'  Kosold  &  Ebort, 

1 

2 

100  yards. 

3      Salem,  Gate  &  Black, 
2      Peacock  ani  Clinton , 
J      Jagular, 
J      Mammoth, 

3  ft. 

Grey  ,\sh, 
Red  Ash, 

Near  Donaldson, 
Near  Tremont, 

2 

15 
power 

Rail  Road, 
Do. 

Do. 
Do. 

Above  water  level ; 
Do 

Swatara  Coal  Co. 

J.  Hoffman,  Esq.,  and  otbera 

i 

? 

Duly,  Harlan,  &  Co., 

2 

1100  do. 

4  to  7  ft 

Red  Ash, 

St.  Clair, 

break'r 

Canal, 

10,000 

Do 

Thomas  Haven 

s 

1 

Brock,  Patterson  &  Co:, 

Do.            ;            .            . 

1 
1 

100  do. 

50  to  60  ft 
30  ft. 

White  Ash, 
White  Ash, 

Ashland, 
Ashland, 

W.  Branch  R.  Road, 
Do. 

new  operation 
Do. 

ISm-NWofPotUrille; 
Do 

Brock,  Patterson  a  Hart 
Do 

i 

j 

Do.               : 
Do.         .                .            . 
John  D.  Colt, 

1 
I 

40  do. 
300   do. 

\      Hart, 

6  ft. 

White  Ash, 
Whila  AaK 

Ashland, 

Do. 

Do. 

Do               : 

Do 

r Uo 

■  i} 

1 

5  ft.'' 

Red  Ash, 

Ashland, 
Donaldson, 

Do. 
Rail  Road, 

Tk,'. 

Do                   ' 

Donaldson  Coal  Co. 

'? 

Colt,  Gaakins  &,Loniison, 

1 

300   do. 

1 

10  ft. 

White  Ash, 

Donaldson, 

Do. 

Do. 

Do 

!   ^- 

Lehigli  Coal  &.  Navigation  Company 

1 

900  feet. 

1      Basin, 

„       Do.                1 

5       Oo-                t 

100  ft. 

White  Ash, 

Carbon  County. 
i  m.  N.  of  Mauch  Chunk, 

Lehigh  Canal, 
Do. 

new  operation 

Lebigh  Coal  a  NavigationCo. 

1  1 

1 

Packer  &  Douglaaa, 

1 

50  ft. 

White  Ash, 

Room  Run, 

55,000  tons. 

5  m.  from  Mauoh  Cbank; 

Do 

;      5 

1 

Do. 

1 

50  ft. 

White  Ash, 

Room  Run, 

Do. 

65,000 

Do 

Do 

i      si 

j 

Dauiol  Bertflcb, 

2      2 

(  627  feet, 
\  850  feet. 

775  yds.   ) 
570  do.     5 

I       Do.                t 

lltoSSft 

J  White  Ash,  ) 
l  Bed  Ash,      S 

Panther  Creek  Valley, 

2 

<  1-20 
I  I --20 

Do. 

4o,ooo 

Worked  in  Quarry ; 

Do 

ill 

1 

Lehigh  Coal  &  Navigation  Company 

6 

i       Do.                i 

5  to  55  ft 

White  Ash, 

Summit  Hill, 

9 

1—20 
J  1—20 
1  1-JO 

1—20 

20 

Do. 

3  to  400  pco    I  <  1  Stationary  engine,  100  bone ; 
n  1                  Do             40     do. 

Do 

1^ 

M'Lean  &Leycon,                                 1 

1       1 

598  feet, 

75  yards. 

1682  yds. 

Do.               1 

50  to  55  ft 

White  Ash, 

Springdale, 

Panther  Creek  Valley, 

2 

Li-ao 
15 

30 

Do. 

45.0OO 

Worked  in  open  quarry; 

Do 

George  H.  Davis, 

312  do. 

Do.                1 

2  to  27  ft 

White  Ash, 

lorse 

power. 

Do. 

not  shipping, 

Capacity  for  40,000  tons  ; 

Do 
Do 

t' 

1 

Hodorick  &  Ryan, 

363  do. 

i 

Do. 

3  to  20  ft 

Red&WhiteAeh 

Panther  Creek  Valley, 

lorse 

sower. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do                do 

i 

Leliigb  Coal  &  Navigation  Company 

< 

>  to  40  ft 

White  Ash, 

Room  Run, 

1 

12 

Do. 

140,000  tons. 

4  m.  N.  W.  of  Mauch  Chunk  ; 

Do 

? 

Spencer  &  Connor, 

383  do. 

r  ft. 

Red  Ash, 

Panther  Creek  V  alley. 

lorse 

aower. 

Do. 

aot  shipping. 

Capacity  for  40,000  tons , 

Do 

1 

!<          ' 

Leiseuring  &.  Nunamaclier, 

230  do. 

Red  &  White  Ash 

Summit  Hill, 

lorse 

sower. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do                 do 

Do 
Hazleton  B.  Road  a  Coal  Co. 
Algernon  a  Edward  Roberta 
B.  M.  R.  Road  a  Coal  Co: 

i 

1 

A.  Pardee  &  Co.,                                    2 

Do.             .             .            .              1 

B.  Meadow  K.  Road  &  Coal  Com'y,    6 

400  feet, 

sinking, 

1  to200ys.  ea. 

< 

>  to  18  ft 

»  to  18  ft 

to  30  ft 

White  Ash, 
White  Ash, 
White  Ash, 

Hazleton,  Luzerne  Co. 
14  m.  W.  of  Hazleton,  do 
Beaver  Meadow,         do 

2 
1 

7 

t 
10 

40 

40 

2  of  30 

40 

R.  Road  &  Lehigh  Ca  nal, 
Do. 
Do. 

120,000  tons, 
30  to  4o,ooo 
100,000 

Luzerne  Co- 
Do 
Northampton  Co. 

i 
1 

Win.  Milnes  &.  Co.,                              2 

<  1 — 50  feel, 

)  1—80  y     . 

300  feet, 

390  feet. 

450  feet, 

( 

to  27  ft 

White  Ash, 

Summit,                       do 

3 

10 

40 

20 

Do. 

150,000 

3  m.  W.  of  B.  Meadow  ; 

Joseph  Jeanes  a  Co. 

1 

1 
1 

1 

^  ! 

Thos.  Roderick,              .                       1 

George  Spencer  &  Co.,                         1 
Harvey  Steese  &  Co., 
J.  &  R.  Carter, 
Ileaton  &  Carter, 

3 

1 

80  0  do. 

80  yards, 

lOlO  yds. 

Diamond  vein, 

Do. 
Lorbery  vein,                s 
Mine  Hill  veins. 

to  9  ft 
to  6  ft 
ft. 

Oft 

0tol2ft 

White  Ash, 

Red  Ash, 
Red  Ash, 
White  Ash, 

Buck  Mountain,            do 

Silver  Creek,  Schuylkill  Co. 

Near  Minersville,      do 

Lorbery  Creek,         do 

Near  Tamaqua,  Sc'lkill  Co. 

Do. 

liorse 

1 
2 

1 

power, 
12 
15 

15 

40 

Do. 

Canal, 

Bail  Road, 

Union  Canal, 

Rail  Road, 

Do. 

50,000 
35,000 
2o,ooo 
11,000 
31,344 
24,282 

9  m.E.  of  Hazleton; 
Near  New  Philadelphia ; 
Minersville  Tract; 
Above  water  level  ; 
Do 

Buck  Mountain  R;  R.  a  Coal  Co 

John  Alspach 

Joseph  Jeanes 

Swatara  Coal  Col 

Little  Schuylkill  R.  B  Co. 

Harlan  &  Heudorson, 

Do. 

Do. 

16,901 

S     ! 

Robert  Rndcliff  &.  Co., 

Do. 

Do. 

13,5)2 

« 

James  Tangart, 

Do. 

Do. 

9,433 

C' 

V       I 

William  Donaldson, 

Do. 

Do. 

9,265 

'i 

'-*    ! 

Hendrick,  Jones  Si,  Berwick, 

Do! 

Do. 
Wolf  Creek, 
HeckersviUo, 

Do. 

802 

New  operation ; 

^ 

John  Anderson  &Co., 

M.  G.  &  P.  Heihisr,                             1 

William  Pavne, 

1 

Ij  mile. 

Daniel,  North&Jaggular,  1 

to  20  ft 

White  Ash, 

3 

20 

60 

30 

Do. 
Do. 
Do. 

807 
10,000 
64,273 

Do. 
Near  Minerjville; 
W.  ofCoalCasUe; 
1  m.  above  St  Clair; 

A.  F.  Miller  a  Co. 
Forest  ImproTement  Co. 
Pott,  Bannan,  Lawton  a  Co 

1 

1 

Joseph  G   Lawton,         •        .               2 
Chailes  M.  Hill, 

2    1       4 

150  ft.  each. 

i  nle. 

150  yards, 

each  ^  mile. 

Mammoth  or  Daniel, 

7  ft. 

White  Ash, 

Mill  Creek, 
Mine  Hill  Gap, 
Mine  Hill  Gap, 
Mill  Creek, 

2 

20 

12 

R.  Road  &  Canal, 
Do. 

16,573 
36,091 

1 

J> 

W.  &  T.  Johns, 

Joseph  G.   Lawton, 

Thomas  F.   Ash,         ■           .          .         1 

4 

170  yards. 

2  miles  in  all.    ' 

Primrose  and  Orchard,  4 

jft. 

Red&GreyKAsli 

2 

20 

30 

Do. 
Do. 

29,523 
22,496 
15,927 

St  Clair ; 

Carey  a  Hart 

j 

i' 

A.  Hoebuer  &■  Sons, 

13,374 

j 

1 

R.  Kear, 
James  Penman, 

1 

10 

11,287 
11,286 

Refuses  to  give  any  .nfomMion. 

0 

Jones  &  Evans,            ■            .                i 

8,903 

s 

James  Barry, 

7,980 

'; 

A.  A.  Clarksou, 

7,951 

1  ' 

H.  Guitermau  &Co. 

M.  G.  &  P.  Heilner,          .           .        1 

Do.                                      1 

Do. 
Lewis  C.  Dougherty, 

120  yds. 
900  feet. 

Black  Valley,  *c. 

4  to  9  ft 

White  Ash, 

Wolf  Creek, 

2 

IS 

60 

BaU  Road, 

6,846 

NearMintrnille; 
Do.        do. 
At          do. 

Brock,  Hammer  a  Co 
Joseph  Jeane* 
A.  F.  Miller  a  Co. 

i; 

1 

900  yards. 

Basin  vein, 

3  ft. 

White  Ash, 

Wolf  Creek, 

1 

15 

Do. 

40,000 

1 

Faust,  Little  Babbit, 

4  to  9  ft 

Red  Ash, 

Llewellyn, 
Coal  Castle, 

1 

IS 

Do. 

Dundas  a  others. 

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t  In  addition  lo  the  veins  nombei^. 

t  Bresking  sad  Hoisting  Engine.                                                                                                                                                                                           9 

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Coal-Beds. — Heath's  mine  in  Virginia,  is  repre- 
sented  to  contain  a  coal  bed  fifty  feet  in  thickness  ;  a 
coal  bed  near  Wilkesbarre,  Pa. ,  is  said  to  be  twenty- 
five  feet  thick  ;  at  Mauch  Chunk  is  a  coal  bed  forty 
to  fifty  feet  deep,  and  in  the  basin  of  the  Schuylkill 
are  fifty  alternate  seams  of  coal,  twenty-five  of 
which  are  more  than  three  feet  in  thickness.  Inf 
Nova  Scotia  is  a  coal  formation  fourteen  hundred ! 
i  feet  deep,  and  containing  seventy-five  alternate  lay- 
ers of  coal.  The  Whitehaven  coal  mine  in  England, 
j'las  been  worked  twelve  hundred  feet  deep,  and  ex 
tends  a  mile  under  the  sea,  and  the  Newcastle  coal 
mine  in  the  same  country  has  been  worked  to  the 
depth  o  fifteen  hundred  feet,  and  bored  to  a  similar 
additional  depth  without  finding  the  bottom  of  the 
coal  measure. 


The  national  armory  in   Springfield,  Mass.,  made,, 
in  the  month  of  June,  25,000  rifled  muskets. 


Wonderful  Growth  of  Commerce. 

In  1784  an  American  vessel  entered  Liverpool, 
with  eight  bales  of  cotton  as  part  of  her  cargo. 
This  was  seized  by  the  Customs  on  the  convic- 
tion that  it  could  not  be  American  growth. 

In  1857,  a  million  and  a  half  bales  of  cotton 
^yere  imported  at  Liverpool  from  the  United 
States.  The  first  steam  engine  used  at  Man- 
chester was  not  erected  till  1 790.  It  is  now 
computed  that  in  that  city,  and  the  district 
within  a  radius  of  ten  miles,  there  are  more 
than  50,000  boilers,  giving  a  total  power  of  up- 
wards of  10,000,000  horses.  The  engine  of  Watt 
has  proved  the  very  Hercules  of  modern  myth- 
ology ;  the  united  steam  power  of  Great  Britain 
being  equal,  it  is  estimated,  to  the  manual  labor 
of  400,000,000  of  men,  or  more  than  double 
the  number  of  males  supposed  to  inhabit  the 
globe. 


I^I^CKAWANNA  COUNTY  LIBRARY  SYSTEM 


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