72 STATISTICS OF THE COLLIERIES OF 



Shafts of greater depth are proposed; but at present 520 

 yards is the greatest depth of any working pit.* Deeper 

 coals have been worked by inclined planes from the bottom 

 of shafts, and workings are now going on in this way at 

 about 600 yards below the surface, 679 of the pits are in 

 Lancashire; 50 in Cheshire; and 150 in North Wales. 

 Their average depth is 115 yards^ Those of Lancashire 

 being 118 yards; Cheshire 123; and North Wales 97 yards. 

 The united depths of the working pits being upwards of 57 

 miles. 



At these pits 849 steam engines are at work pumping and 

 winding, besides other engines used for surface arrangements. 

 Water wheels, water balances, hydraulic engines, horse gins, 

 and horse runs, are also employed in a few instances. 



At most of the pits flat hemp ropes are used for winding 

 materials. Wire ropes are also used, and are becoming 

 common, especially in the deep pits, to which they are 

 peculiarly applicable on account of their lightness. Three- 

 link flat chains are common in North Wales, also a few 

 single-link chains; but it is only in two exceptional cases, that 

 I am aware of, where the latter are used for the ascent and 

 descent of men. Most of the shafts are fitted with guides, 

 either of wood, wire-rope, iron rods, or chains ; and in nearly 

 all the modern winnings cages are used. 



Having obtained from a large majority of the colliery 

 proprietors a return of their respective operations during the 

 year 1852, lam enabled to furnish the following particulars, 

 and to state, with a very close approximation to accuracy, 

 that the output of coals during that year reached nearly ten 

 millions of tons ; viz. : — 



Tons. 



Output of coals in Lancashire in 1852 8,255,000 



Ditto ditto Cheshire 715,000 



Ditto ditto North Wales 953,000 



Total produce of the district in 1852 9,923,000 



* Two pits at the Pendleton colliery. 



