SCRANTON DISTRICT OF THE LACKAWANNA COAL-REGION.
The Lackawanna coal region is the eastern portion or half, or the Northern anthracite coal-field. The Scranton district was the last in this coal-field to be developed, as the Carbondale district was practically the first; but at present it is first both in regard to the state of development or the amount of production. The Wyoming district was partially developed as early as 1820; the Carbon dale district in 1829; the Pittston in 1840, or earlier ; and the Scranton in 1855! Yet the enterprise and energy here displayed have thrown all other districts into the shade, notwithstanding the comparatively short space of time in which the work has been done.
The miners and coal-operators of this district labor under some disadvantages, but the advantages here offered more than counterbalance these objections. The veins are -much deteriorated by the numerous bands of slate, bone, and other impurities which are intercalated with the coal. These bands seriously interfere with the work of preparing acceptable or merchantable coal, and greatly increase the labor of mining, cleaning, and separation. But, on the other hand, the coal is obtained at a moderate depth from the surface, and the low angle of dip, approaching the horizontal, enables the miner to put his coal into the drift or mine cars direct, and thus obviates all extra handling. Coal-seams which approach the horizontal,—or from 5° to 10° of clip,— and those which angle of from 35° to 50°, can be operated with more economy than those which vary to a greater or less degree when not affected by circumstances of a different nature.* It will be noticed in the accompanying vertical section that the measures at Scran ton are much deeper than at Carbondale, and that the veins are deposited in a greater thickness of intervening strata; but, com paring the section at Scranton with that at Wilkesbarre, we find a still greater dif ference. The depth at Scranton is less than 500 feet; at Wilkesbarre it is over 1000 feet.
There is no difficulty in identifying the veins here with those of other portions of the anthracite coal-fields. Most of the important seams found elsewhere are here developed, though in less dimensions than they assume as a general rule in other regions.
The mining engineers of the Scranton district have adopted a local nomenclature of their own to designate the seams. We have lettered the coal, from the conglomerate upwards, progressively, as the only practicable mode which is applicable generally. The seams which are sometimes found locally in the conglomerate we have not included, since their exist ence is precarious and their extent and localities are uncertain. We find none of those lower beds in the Northern coal-fields, except a very small one, perhaps, between the upper and lower conglomerate, near Scranton.
At Scranton, the seams are lettered from the top downwards, though there is some uncertainty where to make the commencement. The "big vein," however, is always designated as G, and from this, as a base, those above and below are enumerated.
The uppermost seam developed as workable coal at Scranton is I, corresponding to the Scranton C; and as they have named the coals from the top downwards, and we from the bottom upwards, the identity is thus:—Our is Scranton D; G, or Primrose, is Scranton E; F is the same in both columns; E, or the Mammoth, is their G; D, or the Skidmore, is the Scranton II; C is Scranton I vein; B, or Buck Mountain, is their K; J being omitted, though it exists as a small unworkable scam, and is the lowest vein named.
E and G, or the Primrose and the Mam moth, are the two principal beds, and those chiefly worked. These veins vary consider ably. The Mammoth, or E, ranges from 12 to 24 feet, and the Primrose, or G, from 10 to 15 feet.
The figures on the left of the accompanying illustration, Fig. 26, denote the thickness in feet and inches of the benches or bands of coal, bone, and slate which constitute the seam, or about 21 feet total thickness. This repre sentation of E, or Scranton is from the Bellevue Mines, belonging to the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company. It is in its maximum dimensions and best condition. We give in the following notes the size and condition of this bed at other points.