BROAD MOUNTAIN BASIN.
This magnificent basin of coal will be found fully described in Chapter XIII, from page 269 to 278. It is an isolated deposit, identical with the Anthracite coal formation, but disconnected from any of the grand divisions or fields forming the Anthracite regions. It is rather nearer to the Mahanoy or Middle coal field, than to the First, or Southern Anthracite field, and partakes more of the general character of the Mahanoy basins and coal-beds, than of the Schuylkill region; but we cannot justly assign it to either, and have, therefore. considered and described it as a distinct formation, as we have the Lehigh Basins, which are similar in extent, and in the character of their beds and coals.
The transverse section given above illustrates the number and relative sizes of the coal-beds, and their minimum and maximum dips. The character and location of the extensive improvements now being erected are approximately given, and the general style of the works in progress for the full development of the basin.
It will be noticed that a slope is sunk on the Buck Mountain bed. This slope is of large dimensions, and is sunk 420 feet below water-level. At this depth, a tunne is driven from the Buck Mountain to the Mammoth, which will cut both (C) and the Skidmore. Each of these veins or beds is in good workable condition, the first being from six to seven feet in thickness, and the latter from nine to ten. The accompanying vertical section gives the relative dimensions of the coal-beds, their distances apart, and the total depth to the bottom of the basin.
It will be noticed that A, which is seldom found in workable size elsewhere, is:here seven feet thick, and productive of good merchantable coal. B, or the Buck Moun tain, is a fine bed, of 18 feet thickness, and the coal, thus far developed, is of the most splendid character, both in appearance and for general use ; as a steam and furnace coal, it must ultimately become a great favorite in the market.
The Mammoth here, however, is the grand bed of the Anthracite regions, and ranges as high as seventy feet in thickness ; is evenly deposited, and with none of the imperfections gene rally attending the great enlargement of this magnificent bed. We give (Fig. 219) a section showing its dimen sions and divisions, in which it will be seen that the amount of bone and slate is very limited, compared with the size of the vein.
The works now being erected by the New Boston Coal Company on this basin, are of the most complete and extensive character, being designed and executed by George H. Potts, assisted
by his superintendent, J. Louden Beadle, while the massive and powerful en gines required, aggregating 700 horse power, are built by George W. Sny der, of Pottsville. and promise to be perfect models of mine machinery.
The slope, engines, and breaker, are all estimated for the production of 1,000 tons of coal per day, and we have no doubt but that double this amount might be produced from this one slope and mine, if desired, since twelve gang ways may be driven in the six seams of coal here available, and entered by tun nels from the main slope on the Buck Mountain. It is designed to elevate a train of four cars at once, which, on arriving at the top of the slope, runs by gravity to and from the top of the breaker ; and at the bottom of the slope it is so arranged that a train can always be in waiting. It is thus evident that not only 1,000, but 2,000 tons per day can be produced from this simple slope on the Buck Mountain bed, B, a section of which is here presented.
The estate of this Company, in the New Boston Basin, com prises about 1,600 acres of land, and runs on the " strike " of the seams or veins a distance of three and a half miles, which, of course, gives the length which the gangways can " run " on the same. The average width of the basin is about 2,000 feet, and the depth from 900 to 1,000 feet. The total thickness of the coal is about 100 feet, which will yield, under economical 'mining, nearly 150,000 tons per acre; but taking the average yield at the safe estimate of 100,000 tons per acre, a small amount of calculation will produce a vast array of figures as the probable production of this property. We hesitate to make them, since the result would scarcely be credited.
The location of this basin is available to both the Philadel phia and New York markets. It is about five miles from the Broad Mountain and Mahanoy Railroad, which is a feeder of the Philadelphia and Reading Road, and now a branch of the same. The mines may be connected with this road on easy grades, if desired.
A road is, however, now in course of construction from the New Boston Mines to Delano, on the Lehigh and Mahanoy road—a distance of about eight miles—with easy grades. This branch puts the New Boston Mines in direct connection with New York by rail, with an advantage in grades and distance over the Mahanoy Region generally, and nearly on a par with the Hazleton Mines.