The Skidmore, D, Gamna, C, and Buck mountain, B, are all good workable seams ; the latter being sixteen feet in thickness, and is a magnificent bed of coal, almost equal to the Mammoth.
The Locustdale colliery may be considered a model estab lishment; since it was the first in which the Fan Ventilation was adopted, and the first to adopt machinery and improve ments to render a single slope capable of producing 1,000 tons of coal per ton. Such an enormous capacity would have been thought impossible a few years ago, and even now, we find many who doubt the possibility of its accomplishment.
But there are now several other slopes in course of development which will be above this capacity. For instance, we may name the New Boston slope. Much mechanical ingenuity and engineering skill are displayed at this colliery, not only in the general plan and development of the mines, but particularly in the automatic regularity with which the heavy mine cars are drawn up a distance of six hundred feet and shot off to the " dump," at the rate of one every two minutes, with out manual exertion. One thousand tons of coal can thus be raised readily in ten hours.
There are two coal breakers at this colliery, which are fully capable of preparing the productions of the mines. The general present capacity of the colliery may be safely put down at 750 tons per day, which may, however, be increased to 1,000 tons, with adequate transportation from the mines to the markets. During 1865 only 82,709 tons were produced, but the mines were nearly half the time idle and never worked beyond half their capa city, on account of the frequent suspensions and the want of cars on the leading lines.
The steam capacity for pumping water, hoisting and preparing coal, and other purposes, is about 600 horse power, and fully equal to the wants of the mines. The ventilation is produced by an exhausting fan, first erected at this colliery, by J. Louden Beadle, the company's general superintendent, in 1857, on the strength of experiments previously instituted, and which has been in successful operation ever since. This is believed to be the first practical application of the suction fan to mine ventilation, and the inventor—Mr. Beadle—has been granted a patent on its use. This mode of ventilation is perfect. It will keep the deepest, most extensive and gaseous mines, free from fire-gas and noxious vapors, and in perfect safety, as far as danger from gases are concerned, provided the air courses are properly constructed, which is essential in all mining operations. The system of fan ventilation now in use has been copied from Locustdale.
In view of the many advantages possessed by the Locustdale Coal Company, in the extent and character of their coal lands ; the number and size of their coal-beds ; the great aggregate thickness of available coal ; the favorable position of both seams and basins for mining operations, and the improvement, capacity and perfection of their mining machinery, their lands and mines may be classed among the very best in the Anthracite regions, and second to none in value, availability and economy.
Of the characters of the coal, we need only say there is no better. The officers and directors of the Locustdale Coal Company are: