Tweet

The Compleat Collier

The way of Boreing.

Servant.] We have two Labourers at a time, at the handle of the bore Rod, and they chop, or pounce with their Hands up and down to cut the Stone or Mineral, going round, which of course grinds either of them small, so that finding your Rod to have cut down four or six Inches, they lift up the Rod, either all at once, as there is conveniency for its Lift; or by Joynts, fixing the Key, which is to keep the Rod from droping down into the hole, and so sometimes looses the Rod, or at least, occasions a great loss of time to get it up again, and taking off the cutting Chissel, puts, or screws on the Wimble or Scoop which takes up the cut Stuff be it what happens; and so by sight of the Stuff taken out of the Wimble, or Scoop, you plainly discover of what Kind it is, which we so cut or grind, and so consequently what follows to any depth; for by Addition of Joynts, (which we screw into the Rod, we can descend to any depth; as also by knowing the length of the Rod to such and such sort of Stone and Coal, &c. we have the certainty of what depth the Coal lies, and likewise thereby may know to an Inch the thickness of the Bed, or Vein, of Coal, besides, (which I need not mention) we also find whether the Rod goes down dry, or where we prick’d the Water Feeders, and (what is farther useful and requisite in Collyries) we can hereby find whether we are sinking upon an old wast (or wrought Collery) which saves a great deal of Moneys in sinking, so deep as 30, 40 or 60 Fathom to no purpose, for you will not be at above 15 or 20s. per Fathom Boreing, when perhaps it may cost 50s. or £3. per Fathom to sink at least, nay, many times a great deal more, especially if a Whin (which is the hardest sort of Stone, met with in the Earth) lye in the way to be cut through, which I have known so hard, that the hardest temper’d Steel we could prepare, would scarce work upon, and that the said Whin of two Yards Diameter, and little more than 3 Inches thick has stood in near £20. cost. But, Note, that about 3 Inches Diameter for a Bore-hole (or Boreing) is sufficient.

Coal-Owner.] Well, I think you have pretty well satisfy’d me of the Method, Benefit, and Charge of Boreing, but do you not use Boreing sometimes in (or with) Sinking?

Servant.] Yes, Sir, very often, for if we meet with a great Feeder of Water in Sinking a Pit in a working Collery, to save the Trouble and Charge of Sinking with that Feeder to the Coal, for it were Folly and unreasonable Charge, besides a vast loss of time to, to Lave, or fill 20 or 30 Tubs of Water per Hour, of 30 Gallons a piece, which Water by a Borehole may be let down into the Collery, where we design to hole our Pit, and so is by a Drift or Watercourse from the old Pits, set away to the place where your Collery Water is all drawn, therefore such Feder so running down such bore-hole, saves its Charge of Boreing in Sinking, by preventing the cost and loss of time in Laying, the Water or Feeder, that would otherwise be drawn up as they work or sink the Shaft, as is the dayly Practice of these Northern Parts. And lastly, it is a very good Caution, even in a Coaled Pit, to put down a Bore-Rod about a Fathom, for a Sump (or Well to a Coal-Pit) to hold the Drawings (or filings as we call them there) of Water, whether Rain or otherwise, least in that little depth, after a Pit is Coaled, we should raise a Feeder which would be a great Charge on the Collery to draw, nay sometimes has drowned a Collery by Sinking it rashly, which might have been prevented by a Fathom boreing in the Thill or Bottom under the Coal you would Work; and you may have Boreing undertaken by the great, or otherwise our Sinking Labourers, with a careful Observant Over Man’s Advice and Inspection, will perform it for sinking Wages, which is about 12d. or 14d. per Day.

Coal Owners Object.] But I have heard of Colleries which have been drowned by Boreing, what say you to that?

Servants Answer.] That sure has been for want of Care in the Over-Man Imployed, for we should always be watchful, and have good strong wooden Plugs ready made, whilst boreing, to chop into the Bore-hole immediately if a strong Feeder shou’d chance to be raised of a suddain, which Pluging will stop any Bore-hole Feeder I dare affirm; if that Vigilency be observed duly.

Coal Owner.] Well, let me hear now what, you say to sinking a Coal-Pit, what Utensils are requisite! and the Method you propose in Sinking.

Servant.] First, to Sink a Pit, we must have a stock of Timber prepared, that is to say, we must have either Oaken Spars, or Firr bawks, which is most used (being cheapest in these parts) for Pit Bars, and a quantity of deal Boards to be wedged in between the Bars and the Earth, to keep the Earth, or some times soft Mettle, or Minerals (as we meet with it), from falling into the Pit, and filling up our sinking, with a good Quantity of Nails, likewise the Pick-Ax and Shovel to break up the Soil or Surface of the Earth, we are to dig till we sink down to the Stone head, so that the said Pit-Bars of Wood and Deals must be. used till we get to the Stone, and in some places it may be 8 or 10 Fathom of Earth to the Stone Head and more, and in other places but a small matter, so that the Provision for such things is proportioned to the depth as needful.

And now I shall make bold to recite to you something, which in my Experience of Sinking I have Observed, that after we get down to the Stone Head, there being Mould, Sand, Gravil or Clay (all which I call Earth) till we come to the Stone, we never meet with any more Earth again, let us descend to what depth we can, but find it all some sort of Stone (or Rock) or Menerals, and Vains (or Beds) of several sorts of Coal, for you must Note, we have several Coals in some Colleries before we get the Main-Coal, which is generally most esteemed.

There is in some Colleries 7 or 8 sorts of Coal. There are the Pipe-Coal, which perhaps is not above 4 or six Inches thick. The Crow-Coal about a Foot or less thick. The 3 Quarter Coal about 3 Quartes thick or more, all which are foul or bad Coals, and not worth much, tho’ I have known the 3 Quarter Coals used in making Salt, and believe it is so yet at Shields or elsewhere, but, I think the best Coals are best for the Salt Pans and Salt too, and make most and best Salt, if they could afford a Price, as no doubt they may, for best Coals, as some Salt-makers have confest. And there is the half Yard Cole, which is so called, it being of about that thickness, but is generally good Coal, and better than the 3 Quarter Coal, yet being so low to work in, or but of that small Thickness) it is scarce worth while to work it, there is also the five Quarter Coal, which is of about that thickness of 5 Quarters, and that is in some Colleries very fine, and makes a hot quick Fire, but doth not Cement or Cake well, yet I have known it make excellent Fires for any sort of use, but not so lasting as the Main-Coal is in general: I am told there is at a place called Cullercoats, or Blyth Nook, a Coal much of the Nature of this 5 Quarter Coal, which I have above described, and have heard th these 5 Quarter Coal, mix’d with Main Coal, give Satisfaction in their Use or Burning: But there is also the Main-Coal, which is in some Places thicker then others, sometimes you have it 7 Quarters, sometimes 8 Quarters, and sometimes 8 Quarters and half thick, any of which indeed is thick enough and valluable; this is the Coal I would wish you to have, this is the thing I think may please all People for Use, for this in these Northern Parts is generally best, both for a good Fire, and a lasting Fire. You may make a Fire of this 2 or 3 times over, for turn it over after it is Caked, it will again burn brisk and fresh as at first, but .its Excellency is so generally known, that I need add no more on this Head, only by the By I think I may venture to say, It is not so much valued as it ought to be at this time, especially at the Pits, for was it ever heard of, or known that this Noble, this Main-Coale, was sold, as lately it was, or now is, for 8s. per Chaldron, Water, or New-Castle or Sunderland Measure, which (you must Note) is generally reckoned double the Measure of a London Chaldron, or more? This I think is shameful for Owners, who striving to get all the Trade to themselves, or to have a Major Part of Vend, will fall out among themselves, and as it were almost give or throw away so valuable and Indispencibly necessary a Mineral and Servant as this is, Not that I speak this to raise the Price of Coals on the poor, or others about London, or other parts where it is so much used, and especially in these times, when Taxes or other things may be more now, than at other times; No, for I fear they have not the Benefit of the lowness of Price as at the Pits ; but I fear others have the Benefit of it, who less deserve it, and yet make the Poor and others, &c. pay dear enough for Coals, both at London and elsewhere, when, in Truth, I think (would they but lye their groundless pretences by) they may or might afford them cheaper to the Poor, &c. now than when they gave 11s. 6d. or 12s. per Chaldron at the Pits, or first Charge, besides Pittage, &e. but, Sir, I have observed something of the low Price of Coals for these Moderate Purposes, that the poor Miners who do dayly venture their Lives (as perhaps I shall hereafter have occasion to speak of more at large) may have Wages to live on, to get Bread for their Families by their Labour, and that those Gentlemen who have the good Fortune of such Coal-Mines in their Grounds, may be encouraged to set all Idle Hands to work, and prevent Increase of Beggars, and likewise may have a moderate Advantage by their Mines, whereas, I am aifraid, those Owners who have their Mines up in the Country, and so have a long Carriage to the Water of their Coals, adventuring great Sums of Money in their Colleries, at the low Price Coals sell at now cannot get much Profit, which indeed is not to be Comiserated by all well meaning Persons, for it is but reasonable where much is expended, that some Benefit should arise to the Adventurer, especially when such an Adventurer is so useful to the Publick, in imploying and maintaining so many Poor as this doth; nay, if Incouragement (or Profit) were not allow’d to the Adventurers, what would those Persons do to live so well that have Lands wherein Colleries are, yet have not a Fund to work such Colleries, being so obliged to let their Colleries to some Adventurers who have Cash but if no Profit can be raised, I see no Reason why any Man should Adventure his Money. But to proceed, Lastly, there is another Bed of Coal, which is about New-Castle wrought yet not found on Sunderland River (as I know of) which is called the Stone-Coal, it is so called, because it has a sort of Stone, which is in the Bed or Vein of Coal; and about the middle of the Bed or Vein, yet it is accounted as good as the Main Coal, only it is subject to be a little Slaty, as I am told, and which I think cannot well be remedy’d, for it is hard to pick all Stones out, when wrought with the Coal, let Persons be never so careful, and now having given you an Account of the several sorts, names, and nature of these Northern Pit-Coals, I shall beg leave to give you a further account of Sinking these Coal-Pits. I am sensible you know when we sink a Pit, at first we break or cut the Ground four Square, and the Diameter of the Square is generally approv’d of to be, according to the Distick in Virgil.

Dic quibus in Terris, ens mihi magnus Apollo,

Tres pateat Coeli spatium non amplius ulnas.

Virgil Eglog. 3.

About 9 Quarters and he hit it right, if he accounted an Ell according to the Flemish or Dutch Ell, which (I am told) is 3 Quarters, then we carry on our Works with such Timber as before mentioned, and in the same 4 Square Form, till we come near to the Stone-Head, where we form it into 8 Squares, the better to Incline it to answer the Ring, or round Form of the Stone-Work, which is always so wrought or fashion’d; but we always wish not to meet with any Quick-Sand or too great a Feeder of Water, whilst working through this Earthy Part to the Stone Head for some Quick-Sands have baulk’d our Winning the Pit, where we had begun so to Sinck, as likewise some great Feeders of Water have done, therefore many times we are forced (in Case of the Water) to sinck another Pit or Shaft to the stone, or lower shaft to have a Water-Course or Drift from the intended Coal-Shaft to this other Shaft, that the Water which rises at the Coal-Shaft, may run into this Water or half Shaft, to be drawn there by Horses or Water Wheels, as there is a conveniency for it, that so the Water may not follow or descend, with Sinking; which Method I think is esteemed best to carry off Feeders in the Earthy, or top Part of a Coal-Shaft, because if the Feeders be of any considerable Quantity, it will melt, or Dissolve the Earth, so that it will drain through the Deals and Timber work, notwithstanding all that can be done; but Quick-Sands (if not to thick) are often put through by Deals or Timber, for we lay choak Deals (as we call them) which is Deales put in as fast, or all along, as we dig, the Sand, or Earth, that if possible we may keep the Sand by this extream quick Vigilancy and Care from getting in upon us, I have heard of Iron Frames that have been us’d (made square and deeper, then the thickness of the Quick-Sand) to put back these Quick-Sands, which may be of good use, the’ they must be dear to be so Cast or Wrought; but I do not find but this way of Timbering is most used, only they put stiff Clay to the Inside of the Timber work, which is forc’d and ram’d in next the Sand, to keep it back from the Timber.

And now am I come to the Stone-Head, or Stone Work, where we arc likely to meet with hard Work enough, perhaps the Sincker, (or Labourer) has, as before, 12d. or 14d. a Day, yet it is not every Labourer who has been (by chance) in a Coal Pit, or at Labour in other sort of digging above Ground, that is fit to he imployed in this Work, but it should be one that understands the Nature of Stone and Styth, and Surfet, by some Experience had before in such sort of Labour, who for saving Moneys to the Owner, by imprudent managing, and breaking, and spoiling his Tools, or sinking Hacks (which we must have a Smith at Hand to be ready for sharpening, as the Points are broke off, which is still Chargeable and loss of time, or the Hacks wore off, with the constant Labour, can make no furtherance of Work, or does little; as also for his own Personal Security, for if he have not Judgment, the Shivers or Splints of the Whin or hard Stone, which is met with, will Wound him severely (I have known it so) to the loss of their Eyes, and cutting their Leaders and Nerves, in Arms or Legs to their future Lameness and Inability of Labour ever after: But what is worse of all if he be altogether unacquainted with this sort of sinking Labour, he may loose his Life by Styth, which is a sort of bad foul Air, or Fume exhaling out of some Minerals, or partings of Stone (for there are several sorts of Stone, which we pass thro’ as well as Minerals, &c.) and here an Ignorant Man is Cheated of his Life insencibly, as also he by his Ignorance may be burnt to Death by the Surfet, which is another dangerous sort of bad Air, but of a fiery Nature like Lightning, which blasts and tears all before it, if it takes hold of the Candle, which an experienced Labourer will discover and extinguish, tho’ it be going to take at his Candle, and can sometimes smell to be Dangerous or hurtful, therefore all Sinkers should be skilled in these Matters for their own Security sake, as also for the Benefit of the Owner or Master of the Collery. for if £1000 or more be spent in carrying down a Pit or Shaft, almost to the Coal expected, and then by an Ignorant Man should be blasted by a strong Blast, by Surfeit; so that it may (as has been known) tear up your Timber Work and shatter the Gins, and shake the Stone Work, or Frame Work, so as to let in Feeders of Water, besides the Destruction of the Persons in the Shaft, this would be a dismal Accident with a Witness, as well as loss of all the Labour and Cost by Ignorance.

Coal Owner.] But do you not meet with Springs or Feeders of Water in your sinking, which I reckon as great Enemys to the Prize and Concern, as those of Styth, Fire, and Whin?

Servant.] Yes, Sir, too often, and it is very rarely found, that a Pit of 40, 50, or 60 Fathom is sunk, without going through several sorts of Feeders; indeed, were it not for Water, a Collery in these Parts, might be termed a Golden Mine to Purpose, for Dry Colleries would save several Thousands per Ann. which is expended in drawing Water hereabouts, and I call them Feeders of Water rather then Springs, because, I have always observed, That the Water (which is the same in Taste, and as drinkable as what you call Fine Springs on the Surface of the Earth or above Ground, (which we so often cut through, and put back, or Cawke, like as a Ship or Vessel is Cawked on the Ocean or River) we by our Works find not to rise upwards or Perpendicularly, but to come in some parting of Stone, or Mineral, or otherwise, between or parting the Earth from the Stone, or else parting some kind of Earth from other sort of Earth, slanting or sideways; so that we think it cannot be so well called a Spring, which doubtless some take to be, by Boiling always upwards, as if it came up through the whole Centre of the Earth; whereas (if rightly considered in our Opinion) it is impossible that Water should Perpendicularly so Bubble or Boil up, through such a vast Body of Rocks and Minerals, and therefore as we often go through and below those Waters or Feeders; it is plain it cannot come Perpendicularly, for we leave it above our Heads in the Shaft, either framed and cawkt back, or else we by a Drift or Water-Course, (as before mentioned) draw it at that depth and no lower, at another Shaft. Besides, it is further plain and apparent to us, that there are several Partings or Partitions, with several Concavities, where out comes sometimes Dry, Stinking, Sweet and Sulpherous Air, and such sort of Waters likewise, so that the Reason why Water Bubbles up, is, we think, because the Parting in which it had its Course is some how stop’d, and as it cannot descend through the mighty Body of Stone. it must of necessity rise through the spungy Earth, all which Water we suppose to come from the Sea, and so being fed by that inexhaustible Fountain, we call it by the Name of a Feeder, and that it may rise to the top of any Mountain or part of the Earth, we are subject to believe no great Matter of Wonder, because we are so often, by the Curious and Learned, told, That the Sea, this Fountain Head, is higher than the Earth; and it is a common thing to see the like Performance, that any Water coming from the Fountain, will rise to the height of that Fountain Head, as in all Water Works, &c. in London and elsewhere.

Coal Owner.] Well, you tell me of Framing and Cawking back your Feeders and of drawing up your Water, let me hear your mannear of framing, and drawing your Feeders in your Shafts.

Servant.] For framing back our Shaft Feeders, we make use of Wood, but chiefly Firr, because it being a soft sort of, or spungy Wood, we think it swells with the Water lying against it, and Wedges best by reason of its yielding Quality or Softness, so that the least Thread, or Leak of Wator, which may proceed from the least Chinks, or openess of the Wood, arc best stop’d, and wedged back by Firr Timber, yet requires Judgment in the Head-Servant (or Over-Man) of the Sinkers, to give prudent Directions, how high or big to make this Frame, for by chance we may have a Feeder come in some small parting of Mettle or Stone, the Concavity whereof is not much more than half an Inch, yet having so much Liberty, will afford us a great deal of Water. Now if we were only to Wedge or Frame back that half Inch’s Concavity, it is two to one but there may be a soft sort of Stone, or Mettle, above or below, (or both) that Cranny or half Inch Frame; which if, then will the Feeder certainly burst throw that soft Stone or Mettle, when as your Frame rightly order’d holds, or stands, so that your head Sinker, (whose sole Care above all things, must be to be always present at such Framing) should understand well what sort of Stone will hold back the Feeders with the Frame, and therefore before he puts in the Frame, he should know this aforesaid, and so cut out such soft Stone or Mettle, and making his Frame so much bigger at first and Judicially, may save a second Trouble and Charge thereof.

But it must be further Observed, That as this Mettle, or Stone, or Coal, may be ruff, and cannot be cut up so extraordinary smooth as to stop all Drainings of Water, then in such a Case we make use of Sheep-Skins with the Wool on, the Wool next the rough Mettle, &c. which being well Wedged in between the Frame and such rough Mettle, &c. the Wool we find to Perfect our Design of stopping the Water: And Wool is generally said to be of a very durable Quality, scarce ever to rot; I have known such Frames to have stop’d back whole Waists of Water in Collieries, and not doubted but to last to Purpose.