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The Compleat Collier

Drawing of Water.

And now as to Drawing of Water, we generally Draw it by Tubs or Buckets; whilst Sinking with Jack Rowl, or by Mens winding up the Rowl, or otherwise, if the Pit be Sunk more than thirty Fathorn, then we use the Horse Engin, which Engine being wrought with one or two Horses at a time, as the Water requires, serves also, after we have Coaled the Pit, to draw up the Wrought Coals. Which Engin, tho’ it be but of a plain Fashion, yet is found by Experience to be more servicable and expeditious, to draw both Water and Coal, than any other Engine we have seen in these Parts yet, notwithstanding we have had many pretenders, in many Kinds and Methods; though we would be glad any Ingenious Artist, could show us a better or more effectual way, for Expedition and Service, then we now use hereabouts. In some places we draw Water by Water, with Water-Wheels or long Axel-Trees, but there is not that Conveniency of Water every where, and as for Wind-Mills, or Ginns to go by Wind; ‘tis sure the Wind blows not to purpose at all times, and therefore, whereas we cannot Sink Pits, but still will have some Water to draw, and many times so much as takes up all (or most of) the spare time we have from Coal-work; it follows we must have a Method whereby to draw this Water when we please, or at any time, or otherwise, we must continue this plain Method we now have, If it would be made Apparent, that as we have it noised Abroad, there is this and that Invention found out to draw out all great old Waists, or Drowned Collieries, of what depth soever; I dare assure such Artists, may have such Encouragement as would keep them their Coach and Six, for we cannot do it by our Engines, and there are several good Collieries which lye unwrought and drowned for want of such Noble Engines or Methods as are talk’d of or pretended to, yet there is one Invention of drawing Water by Fire, which we hear of, and perhaps doth to purpose in many Places and Circumstances, but in these Collieries here a way, I am aifraid, there are not many dare Venture of it, because Nature doth generally afford us too much Sulpherous Matter, to bring more Fire within these our deep Bowels of the Earth, so that we Judge cool inventions of Suction or Force, would be safest for this our Concern, if any such could be found that would do so much better, and with more Expedition than what is done generally here.

And now having given you an Account of our Method of Sinking Shafts, both through the Earth and Stone and Feeders, when I come to the Signs of approaching, or being near the Coal, we generally have the Roof, (or what lies next to, or upon the Coal) of a softer kind of Stone or Mettle, of a blackish Colour, yet do not desire, for the Good of you our Masters, Coal Owners, to have this Roof too soft or tender, neither to have a Feeder next the Coal or too near it, in a too tender Roof, for Water spoils Coals in the Colliery for Sale, making them black and heavy, which doth not relish well with the ShipMaster or first Buyer, because he buyes here by Weight, and therefore being heavy, a less quantity of those Wet and so heavy Coals loads him, then of dry bright Coals, which he finds in his making out in Sale at London or elsewhere, where he sells by Measure, and not by Weight.

And again, if the Roof, or Cover, of the Coal be too tender or soft, though dry, we must not take so much of the top of the Coale away, as when the Roof is strong, but leave perhaps about a Foot thick of the Coal top for a Roof, least by the softness of the Mettle Roof, that Roof should fall down and kill your Miners, or what is also bad, bring a Thrust, or a general Crush in one of your Collieries to close it quite up, and thereby lose the Colliery; it is there fore of great Advantage to have a stong Roof or Cover of the Coal, because of what is already said, and further, because (though it is but rarely so) you may take away, and use all the Coal to the Roof, which is a great Increase of your Quantities wrought out of such Pits: but now being happily past all this Trouble and Charge, after the prescribed Methods, and having happily Coaled this Noble Main-Coal. Mv Business of a Sinker is at an end, only I must give you an Account of the Thickness of the Bed, or Vein of this Coal, which (as before) may be about eight, or eight Quarters and a half thick, and then lastly making a Sump, as before mentioned, I must take my leave of this Subject of Sinking, after you have been pleas’d to give your Sinkers (because it is customary) the Labourers, whom I have employed for you, a Piece or Guinea, to Drink the good Success of the Colliery, which is called their CoalingMoney, and then lye Idle till you have occasion to break, or begin to Sink another Pit, which I hope will not be long first, for it is judged to be a Point of Wisdom and Care, not be too long or tedious in providing a Pit or Pits, to be ready sunk and ready to set to Work against the time you have Wrought out your Coaled Working Pit; that so you lose no Time, or Charges of the Water-drawing, by Coal Work, standing some time before you Coal another Pit. And now I must leave your to your Viewer, or Head Under-over Man, who is to take Charge of a Regular Working of the Colliery.

Coal Owner.] Well, honest Sinker, now thou hast Coaled the Pit, take thy Wages and the Labourers too, with what thou sayest is Customary to drink, and this Viewer, or this under over Man thou hast Recommended to me, I hope will give me an Account of what his Business must be, and how he designs to go on with his Coal-Work, being, I perceive, you Sinckers differ in Judgment, and Methods from hewing or working Coals.

Viewer.] Sir, my Neighbour and Acquaintance having, in my Opinion, provided a very good dry and convenient Shaft; with your good Leave, I shall make bold to acquaint you of what is requisite to be done on yours and my part, for there is something on both sides to be done or provided: In the first Place, Sir, on your side, you are to buy in a stock of able strong Horses to draw your Coals to Bank (or Day) out of the Pit; and whereas by my Plumet-Line, which I Measure the depth of the Shaft by, as they line or sound for the depth of a River, I find the Pit is about 60 Fathom, about 21 Scores of Corves of Coals wrought, and drawn per Day, is a good Days work, and as much as most Collieries of that depth, can, or do constantly Work, which Pit will require at least eight Horses every Day, to perform that Work, which is, as always Customary, 4 shifts of Horses, at two in at a time, and indeed you shou’d have a spare Shift, or two Horses more ready, least a Horse or two, Tyfle, or be out of Order by a Fall, or any other Accident or Illness, and so out of Condition to Work; for if you want a Shift or two of those eight Horses, you either loose a whole Days Work of Coals, or at least one ¼ of it; besides, your Workmen, or at least some of them, will expect as much for their Days Work, though it wan’t a quarter of its Quantity; so that two Spare Horses, which so you know, makes it up ten Horses, is, in my Opinion, for those Reasons above, rather more Convenient for you to buy for one Pit, and it will Ballance the Charge of maintaining a spare Shift of Horses, in the said two Respects, both of supplying a lamed or sick Horses place, (which would be destroyed by work, when in such an ill and unfit Condition, as also of making out your Days Work, and wages as aforesaid. These ten Horses must at least in these Parts stand you in six or seven Pounds a piece, or more the better; I have known some do not value to give ten or twelve Guineas a piece for young, strong and mettle Geldings or Mares; for by those Qualifications you may expect them to last longer in this heavy Work, and old weak Horses (though cheap bought) are soon wrought out or spoyl’d by such Labour; and we do not find Stone-Horses fit for this use, because they are more unruly and ungovernable, neither can we in these open Countries conveniently turn them out in Summer time to Grass amongst themselves, or Geldings, least they lame or spoil one another, and it is very convenient to refresh these constant hard working Horses in their Limbs, in Summer time, otharwise they are subject to Beat or Founder to their Feet or Leggs; we must have two more Horses of a less Value, bought to Sledge out with, or draw the Corves as they come out of the Pit, on a Sledge on both sides the Pit, of three or four Pounds a Piece, or Aged wore out Coal-Horses, which after some time Wrought, you will have, may serve turn for Sledge Horses; the same Gin that your Sinkers used, will serve for Coal Work, and every thing thereto belonging: But a Cable of three Inches round and of good Stuff, will do better for Coal-Work, because it will be lighter for the Horses, than this Sinking Rope or Cable of four inches, or thereabouts.

And whereas I speak of Corves, or Baskets to put the Coals in, we must have a Man (which is called the Corver) to make them.