WOLF CREEK DIAMOND COAL COMPANY.
This Company is located on several of our most successful mines, including the "Diamond," Black Heath and Black Valley, formerly owned by Gideon Bast, Esq., and more recently by Geo. H. Potts & Co. Both of these parties realized handsome profits from their operations.
The coal-beds now worked by the Wolf Creek Diamond Coal Company, are the Diamond J, and the Mammoth E E E, here split in three seams, which is its normal condition west of Mine Hill Gap. Locally these splits are known as the "Reese Davis," "Black Valley," "Black Heath" or Petherick." On the next page will be found sections of the Diamond, Reese Davis, and Black Valley; the thicknes of workable coal in the two latter being respectively from 8 to 10 feet; the benches, as represented, being extremely solid and free from impurities. The Black Heath or Petherick (?) is not represented, but the thickness of available coal is about the same as in the Black Valley, or from 8 to 10 feet. It will thus appear that, though the Mammoth is here divided into three seams, the amount of coal is not thereby diminished. The usual size of the Mammoth is 25 feet, and the three or perhaps four seams into which it is divided at Wolf Creek ranges from 24 to 30 feet in the aggregate. We do not think this division is an injury, since the coal preserves its splendid ap pearance, and many experienced miners are of the opinion that more coal can be obtained from veins of moderate dimensions, than from excessive en largements, when the respective thickness is com pared; that is—three seams of 10 feet each will produce more available coal per acre than one of 30 feet thickness, and—unless the larger bed is favorable formed and stratified—with more econ omy.
These collieries are located about one mile north of Minersville, on the Herbine and Wolf Creek tracts principally, comprising about 1000 acres of laud with a " ruri " of nearly two miles on the "strike " of the seams.
No. 1 colliery is known as the "old white.ash ;" No. 2, as the "Diamond red-ash ;" No. 3, as the "new white-ash ;" No. 4, as the "Black Valley old slope," and No. 5, as the "Black Valley new slope." The steam-power on these five collieries is about 500 horse, and their capacity 200,000 tons per annum.
The quality of the coal from these mines is excellent, and has always stood very high in market. The Diamond colliery on the Diamond vein produces red-ash, which is appropriately named "Diamond" from its rich and splendid appearance, while its combustion in grates and stoves is perfect. For the production of a glowing and genial fire, in the open grate par ticularly, there is no coal equal to the Anthracite red-ash, and none better than that produced from the Diamond bed, or J of our nomenclature.
Between this seam and the Reese Davis E, there are four or five workable•beds or veins including the Orchards, which may be operated by tunnels from any one of the Wolf Creek col lieries.
The Reese Davis is a pink-ash coal, which is rare for any portion of the Mammoth, but the coal thus finds a place be tween the extra red-ash and the white-ash coals, and has been found to answer an admirable purpose for generating steam quickly, and for all purposes where a great draught cannot be obtained. The Black Valley, Black Heath or Petherick are white-ash beds and constitute the lower divisions of the Mam moth, and answer every purpose for which the white-ash Anthracites are used, while the just celebrity of these coals in market is the best guarantee of their general availability and good character.