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The Compleat Collier

Why the Rise is.

Here I cannot but take Notice by the by, of what we generally have in all Collieries, and that is, three is a Rise, or Ascent, for a Colliery under Ground, and so by Consequence the contrary way a Dip or Setling for a Current; this said Rise is commonly found to be to the South, and to the South West of most Collieries. We can give no Reason why this should be so, only I have with my self Fancied it may be (by a Magnetic sort of Quality) with Respect to the Sun’s Noted Ascent to the said South Points, and I call it Magnetic, not in Respect of the Magnet or Load-Stone, because that draws to North Point but Magnetic, quod magnas habet Vires. Or otherwise by bearing some Proportion with the Nature of the Descent and Current of the Waters, or Rivers in this Kingdom, which are generally Observed to be to the Eastwards but I shall wave this piece of Curiosity, it being above my Capacity, and shall proceed to give some Account of what is a Viewers Office and Duty, and how he ought to be qualified for such an Imploy.

And First, this sort of Servant (as in all other Cases) ought to be well skill'd in this great Concern he takes in his Hand, he ought to know Lineing, and Levelling well, as also the Method of Coal-Working, together with the Knowledge of the Nature of the Coal; for there is very great Occasion for all these four Qualifications, as follows in the Sequel, he should know how to Line well, because he must set out his first Work or Headways, according to Rule by the Compass, (which is as useful under Ground to know which way and how far he goes, as it is in Sailing) nay, being more in the dark (because so deep in the Earth) it is impossible to know how we go under Ground, or at least so exactly as requisite, unless we have our Compass, and so Line by it, to any Point thereof, which we by the Scituation of our Ground and Colliery are obliged to Work to, so that by the Compass seeing how the Headway lies (which alters pretty much in some Collieries perhaps more to the South-West or South East, for the South Headways) then in others, this Headways, I say, or first working (which is generally Wrought by the Yard, whether it be Single or Double) is carried on, according to the Grain of the Coal, as it lies along the Grain, and not cross the Grain, neither is it Wrought so wide, as the other Works or Boards are; a Yard and Quarter broad or wide for a Headways is full sufficient, and out of this it is, we turn off the Boards or other Workings, for every particular Hewer, or Miner, and that Board or Work-place for that one Man, is generally about three Yards, or better, in breadth, and so from the Headways, which we will say runs South, we work the Boards East and West of the Headways, not taking all the Coal away as we go, for then we would bring a Thrust of the Collery upon us: But after we have carried our Head-ways Drift, about eight or ten Yards from the Pit Shaft, then we consider of a Winning, how much to allow for a Winning, which is about seven Yards in these parts, or otherwise, according to the Quality, or Tenderness of it, more or less, as by Judgment is thought safest and best; out of this Winning of 7 Yards, perhaps we dare not venture to take above three Yards breadth of Coal for a Board; so that then there is but three Yards for one Man to work by himself, and therefore would be Dangerous for two Persons to Work together, least they should strike their CoalPics into one another, or at least hinder one another; then the Remainder of four Yards is left for a Pillar to support the Roof and Weight of the Earth above; which makes it out so, that there is not quite half of the Coals taken out of the Ground which lies there.

And in this Method it is that we carry on this Coal Work, taking away three Yards or better, according to the Strength or Softness of the Coal, and leaving four Yards standing for Pillars to support, as before so that reckoning seven Yards to a Winning, and to have twenty Boards, we must of Course drive our South Headways 150 Yards in Length, or thereabouts, to have all the Boards of one side of the Headways: And therefore in a working Colliery, it is best to win out the Headways first, so far, as that we can clap a whole Set of Hewers in to Wine for the Boards, at first entring into a New Pit, for then we keep the Work going all on one side, and when that side is Wrought out, we begin de Novo to work on the other side, the same Headways serving us again as before, and besides we bring our Barrow-Men to put three Score and ten Corves a Day per Tram, as we did at first on the other side of the Headways; which is to the Owners Advantage; and after this South Headways is thus Wrought out to the East and West Hand of it; then it follows to turn the Workings to the North Headways, or other side of the Shaft, which we go on with after the same Method, as in the South, till we have wrought by these same Rules, all the Coal we can, with safety venture to Work or take away; and so by chance have Wrought, or waisted the Colliery 8 Score or 200 Yards to the East, West, North, and South of the Pit-Shaft, and then it is time to have another Shaft at that Distance sunk for another New Pit, which if happily done by the dayly Care, Prudence, and Orders of the Viewer, and his Drift to the New Pit, carried on exactly so as to hit the New Shaft, and supply her with Air, Then has he evidenc’d both his Care and Parts in the Respects I have mention’d, and well deserved his 15s. or 20s. per Week, or more, as he has Pits to look after; and he has an Under-Over-Man, always allowed for every Pit, whilst one Viewer serves for three or four Working Pits, and the Over-Man’s wages is about 8s. a Week.

But now I would give you an Account, that for the fafety of the Miners, we must be careful of guiding the Air under Ground, least we bring a Styth, or a Blast, by the Sulpher or Surfeit, upon the poor Men, as of late it did, not far from New-Castle, I think it was but in October 1705, that I was told by one who was acquainted with, and see some of the Dead buried, and had been at the Pits after the Blast, that there was above thirty Persons Young and Old slain by a Blast, perhaps in less than a Minutes time. How it came to pass he could not give me an exact Account, any further then by what the Banck’s-Men, and those who were about the Pit, and heard the blow, and see what it threw out of the Pit, and shatter’d about the Gins: There was one thing very Strange in it, as I was told, That a Youth of 15 or 16 Years of Age, was blown up out of the Pit and Shaft, and carried by the Blast about 40 Yards from the Shaft, the Corps was found all intire, save the back part of his Head, which was cut off, though the Shaft is said to he odd of sixty Fathom deep, which is an Argument of the mighty Force this Blast is of; but those Over-Men or such, who should have given an Account where and how it first took, were all Slain; yet this is known by woful Experience, and which I myself have seen and narrowly (by good Providence,) escaped that some Collieries are very subject to this fatal Surfeit, and therefore it behoves the Viewers and Over-Men to be experienc’d in guiding the Air to good Purpose, as also to Order well and Prudently for Styth, which I before spoke of, doth Destroy the Ignorant and Unwary.

And thus it is plain, that both the Officers and poor Miners, are in dayly Peril and Hazard of their Lives, for a poor Livelyhood, and that they may be easily Destroyed by Ignorant and Unskilful Managers, from which sudden and sad Misfortunes, I heartily Pray, Libera nos Domine: I have (as before spoke of) observed that their Workings or Boards are carryed by single Persons, a pretty long way under Ground, yet they frequently hole, or cut through from one Board to another, to carry their Air forwards with their Works, and to the end or Face of their Boards, or otherwise, the Air and Communication of it would not be good and safe to Work, but this Care of the Air must be taken in general, That it be not too much Dispersed, or too much Liberty given for want of Stoppings to spread it self from the particular Workings we are in Hand with, for the brisker it ranges in the Works, the sweeter and safer it is for the Miners.

Coal-Owner.] But, Friend, can you give me now any good Account of the Nature of the Vend of Coals, as well as of the Working them.

Servant.] Yes, Sir, I had some Experience in that., not long since; and shall therefore give you the best information I can of it, especially on the River Were or Sunderland River, where I observed. That, first, you must have a good Stock of Coals provided against the time of Sale, which is chiefly in Summer by Reason of the Weather, which makes it hazardous for Ships to Sail in Winter on those Coasts, for which Reason, I have heard good Saylers say, they had rather run the Hazard of an East-India Voyage, then be obliged to sail all the Winter between London and New-Castle, whither it is not common for the Men of War to be out Convoy all the Winter, on those Coasts, perhaps for the same Reasons.

And though for such a Stock of Coals, it be at first considerable to Disburse, if it be but two or three Thousand Pounds, yet it will afford you good Interest for it, in two Respects, first you get your Coals cheaper Wrought in Winter time, then in Summer, or time of Trade, because Labourers or Miners are then more Numerous thereabouts, being Land-Sale Collieries are most commonly laid Idle for that Season of Ill Weather, and rather than those Labourers will lye Idle, they are prevailed on generally, and as it is customary to lower their Wages during the Winter Season; and then, Secondly, by having a good Stock aforehand, you have wherewith to Answer Demand, in time of Vend, so that thereby your Return is greater and doubtless (according to the old Maxim) the greater your Return is, the greater will your Profit be; for how, if I have a Shop, and have no Goods in it, shall I furnish the Demand of my Customers, when they come to buy of me, they will say they cannot stay till I get them bought in, or made: and surely Ships can as ill lose time, or tarry till you get a Stock of Coals Wrought, because it is at no time Prudence, or proper to lose any part of the trading Season, but surely it is much more imprudent to lose time, when for safety the Ships dare not Trade without Convoy in this War time: So that to lose time then, is to lose the Opportunity of Convoy, and by consequence to loose Trade, which I know to be too true by woful Experience in my late Business, and therefore, I hope you will Pardon this Advice from your Servant, being he does it to forwarn you of the Mishief and Damage, of want of a good Stock laid in aforehand, and I hope you will not be so unreasonable as to think, Brick can be made without Straw, or blame us, as others have done, because you will not provide for, or get a Trade, when you might thus secure it, and certainly it is the Master, and not the Servant, that should advance Moneys for a Stock or Trade, which can never be had, without you make such Provision for it, though it be the best Colliery in the whole World ; but to add this is needless to any Gentleman of common Sence; therefore I shall proceed to my next, that an Interest is to be made in the Fitters, or those Persons who live at the Ports and have Keels, (which are much like to Lighters Built) to load the Ships, for the Rivers are not Navigable for Ships, so high as they Keys or Coal-Steaths, therefore these Keels are built flat Bottom’d for the purpose, and carry the Coals on Board; these said Fitters you are, I say, to have an Interest in, for they are best acquainted with the Ship. Masters, and many times, nay generally have parts in the Shiping, so that to be sure where they Adventure their Moneys in a Ship, there they, in Reason, expect to have the Benefit of Loading them as oft as they can, and so it is that Fitters have great Interest in loading the Vessels, and by consequence can befriend what CoalOwners they please in the Vend of Coals; and of late I fear it is, that they knowing their Interest and Power, make some Advantage (especially of new Collieries) to bring Trade to beginners; their pretence is to have and get no more then two Shillings and six Pence per Chaldron of the Master for Fittidge, which because a Keel carries no more than seven Chaldron a piece, at Sunderland, is but seventeen Shillings and six Pence per Keel, for the rest of what they have of the Master of the Vessel, is given to the Labourers that work the Keel, but (as before) for the Encouragement of Trade, I am afraid you must abate six Pence per Chaldron of the pretended current Price privately, either by doing as it is said, some Persons have formerly done, that is, by ordering your Steward to return the six Pence per Chaldron, when the Fitter pays him, and so may say, as they did, you don’t do it, because the Servant did it by private Orders, which the kind Fitter will keep so close and secret, that he would not Devulge it, though he give broad Signs of it to another Owner, when he complains of want of Trade with him, but yet for fear it should Create open War amongst the Owners, he for his own Interest, will not publickly declare he has such an Abatement from such an such a kind Owner, of which Number, if you can by such a Method get to be one, than may you reasonably expect a Vend, and the Fitters Favour, because it is his Interest.

From hence it is that one great Colliery on the Wear, is thought to get so much of the Fitters Favour, and (Trade, much good may it do at the Current Noble Price Coals go at there now;) but I have heard some say, which seems more reasonable, they would desire but a reasonable Living-Price for Coals, and have all to be Just to such an Established Current Price, that so the Owners of Vessels, may not run away with all the Profit, whilst the Consumers, and especially the Poor and the Coal-Owners get nothing by it; and this puts me now in mind of an Act of Parliament which was in Force, and Observed, for Admeasuring those Keels spoken of already, which I am told was design’d for a just Gauge or Measure, which should Oblige all Persons to be Content with, but whether the said Act did Oblige Owners not to give any more, I cannot hear yet.

However it is a great Complaint that there are several Keels which work on that River Wear (if not on Tyne) which are not Admeasured according to that Act, and that the Persons that did formerly look so well, after such Admeasurement, have not of late done it as ought to be, and all is for want of such Admeasurement as the Act required, but indeed I have never heard of any Complaint of this, either by Master or Owner of Vessels, I suppose it is because neither of them care how much Measure they get, nor how low the Price of Coals be there, so they be but dear enough at London, or where they are sold again.

But, Sir, in time you will best Judge of this Matter, after you see what Profit your Colliery gives you, I would think some Owners have already had more Reason then myself to speak and stir more in it, for the Motive I have is my desire my Masters should live, which would be Encouragement to them to pay us Servants more Chearfully, for I have found that where Profit doth not arise there Wages are paid, (though we venture our Lives never so much) but very Grudgingly, if at all.

But there is one thing more I would willingly take Notice of before my Conclusion, and that is the ill Condition of the Harbour of Sunderland, it is Confess’d that they have as good, or better Coals on that River, then on Tyne, and so doubtless might have as good a Vend, or better then New-Castle, because it is nearer to London than New-Castle, and because of the Commodity. Nay, farther, because there is better Measure allowed they say, for at Sunderland they pay but for seven Chaldrons, when they have actually eight Chaldrons, whereas at New-Castle I have heard them say, if eight be on Board the Keel, they are paid for that eight, and so do not give eight for seven, as at Sunderland; yet for all this, New-Castle gets the Majority of Vend by much, for if any Storm arises at Sea, there is no safety in offering to go into Sunderland, there wants a Peor, as at Whitby and Burlington, or elsewhere, besides the Bar is so choaked up, that there is great want of Water; so that were there something built for Sccurity of Shipping, and cleansing the Haven there, it would bring doubtless much more Trade to it, then it now has, and there is no fear but were this Recommended to the Consideration of our Honourable Redressors, they would take effectual Care of it, for thereby both Ships and Lives would be saved, which are too often lost, for want of such Safe-Guard, and indeed, why should not the Coal-Owners and Fitters (who are Interested by Coal-Trade) be obliged to contribute towards so useful and necessary a Work as this is; and surely one need not fear but the Masters of Vessels will be as ready for their Lives and Interest Sake, as any body, and be likewise as free to pay for there Safety there, as in Burlington, or any place else.

I have heard that the Annual Vend of Coals at Sunderland, is Computed at about sixty Thousand Chaldrons, if the said but sixty Thousand Chaldrons were to pay four Pence per Chaldron, it would raise a Thousand Pound per Annum, whereas it may by such amendment and safety of the Harbour nigh double the Trade, yet this Thousand only per Annum would do the Business I am told, as also with what other Additions and Allowances of Tunnige for other Wares and Merchandize as are paid at the Ports aforesaid.

The said four Pence per Chaldron might be raised thus, and I am apt to think nobody would contradict it, viz. the Coal-Owners to pay two Pence per Chaldron, the Fitters one Penny per Chaldron, and the Masters of Vessels loading in that Port, one Penny per Chaldron, which doth the Work.

Object. Ay, but what will New-Castle say to this? we know they will say it will prejudice their Trade, and therefore they must be against it with Might and Main.

Answ. Why truly, I see no Reason, but one Part of the Kingdom may and ought to be encouraged as much as another, and that the Adventurers and Poor thereabouts should expect Trade and a Livelyhood, as well as at New-Castle; and besides, this is but for one Branch of Business, namely, Coals; but surely again if it be the Preservation of so much Shiping, and sefety of many Lives. No Christian Man would be against such a good Act, for then we should not hear of the Complaints of so many poor Widows and poor Fatherless as we do thereabouts; and what Wrecks have been seen near Sunderland, or about a place called Souter between Sunderland and New-Castle, those Northern Parts can Witness, whereas had there been Provision of Safety made in that Port, those Misfortunes or Losses had been prevented.