THE SOUTH-EASTERN COALFIELD 407 



almost complete ; and it is confidently hoped that this pit, 

 already so deep and so amply equipped, will rapidly be 

 carried down to the Coal Measures, which are expected at 

 about 1,200 ft. 



In November 1907 the first sod was dug of the second 

 shaft, the Gabrielle Pit, which was rapidly sunk to a depth 

 of 400 ft. into the dry zone of Terebratulina gracilis, through 

 the most dangerous part of the wet chalk, while the pon- 

 derous main sinking equipment was being installed. It has 

 since been carried down to a depth of almost 600 ft. into the 

 Grit Bed. 



At the close of 1906 the Fredville boring spoke out ; and, so 

 soon as the fine Beresford Seam was proved, steps were taken 

 to open out a third colliery in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 the boring. This is the Snowdown Colliery, which, with its 

 tall, slim ferro-concrete chimney, is a familiar sight to the 

 travellers from Canterbury to Dover, as the line passes the 

 works, and is connected thereto by a siding. 



Two pits, each with a diameter of 18 ft, were started in the 

 following spring ; but these were doomed to try the patience of 

 the explorers, for at a depth of 275 ft. in the zone of Micraster 

 cor-testudinariutn a strong feeder was struck which drowned out 

 the pit, unfortunately with fatal results. By an evil misfortune 

 the shaft had chanced to meet with one of those open fissures 

 carrying streams which occasionally occur in the chalk or other 

 limestone formations. This fissure, or pocket, was evidently 

 connected with the surface ; for instead of being clean and clear, 

 like the other chalk water, this feeder was discoloured by dirt, 

 which, upon examination, appears to be identical in composition 

 with the superficial drift which locally caps the chalk, and no 

 less than 18 ft. of this mud was washed into the bottom of 

 the pit. 



The provision and installation of the necessary pumps are a 

 tedious business, as all mining engineers know to their cost ; 

 and, when once fitted in their places, a new and entirely original 

 difficulty presented itself. The colliery is situated on a dry 

 chalk plateau ; it is three miles to the nearest watercourse. 

 The question of the disposal of the pumped water became 

 crucial : as the pumping should only last a short time, a large 

 capital outlay was not justified. The least expensive, but rather 

 risky, method was adopted, and the result a failure. The pumps 



