NEW COLLIERY AT THE WILCOX OPENING.
This colliery is located on Mill Creek, a short distance east of Wilkesbarre, on a large coal estate recently purchased by the Union Coal Company. From a late examination, we conclude all the seams from G to A to exist on this property. A slope has been sunk on a fourteen feet bed, which is supposed to be identical with the celebrated Baltimore bed, or the Mammoth, while an overlying seam of nine feet, only separated by twenty feet of slate, appears to be a "split" of the same.
The slope is 350 yards in length, on an angle of eight degrees. This distance is divided into four lifts of about 250 feet each, with eight gangways, on the Baltimore bed, and an equal number, if so desired, on the upper seam, connected by tunnels with the slope. These four lifts, in the same slope, are operated at the same time by a new and peculiar arrangement. A train of six mine cars, of about two tons each, are drawn up at once, so that twelve tons of coal will be hoisted in the same length of time required to lift a single car the same distance by the old and generally used plan.
This colliery is designed and erected with the intention and for the purpose of mining and shipping 1,000 tons of coal per day, which can easily be done from this one slope ; but should a larger production be required, there is ample room on the property for several collieries of equal proportion, while a shaft will be required to develope the deeper coal of the underlying seams at this colliery. The steam-power is 250 horse, and the breaker capacity calculated to meet the productions of the mine.
Of the character of this coal we need not speak, since the Baltimore coal-bed, in the vicinity of Wilksbarre, has long been celebrated for the production of the most excellent coal, which is equal to any that goes to market, without exception.
The officers and directors of the Union Coal Company are :