22 



beasts as tolerable as possible. They have the best 

 of fodder, not omitting the succulent roots produced 

 on "the farm," and Chase River water is brought in 

 pipes down the pit, in abundance. The bedding is of 

 peaty soil from spots on the company's estate, sent 

 down for the purpose, which, after use, goes up with 

 the manure to fertilize the farm. Mules working in 

 places off the main slope, are lodged in the "stables" 

 on the surface. The mule drivers' and stablemen's 

 lives may not be thought by them to be very happy 

 ones, but one cannot help feeling that the mules 

 themselves have a good enough time. 



Proceeding to the well lighted landing, and ob- 

 serving the dispatch of cars made by the "cagers," 

 who standing in a perpetual downpour of air from 

 above, damp and cold in temperature, as it were in a 

 constant draught, yet have positively no time to 

 "catch cold," from mere press of work, for the cars 

 come and go without any respite. The cager's job 

 is not a sinecure. In the engine room near the head 

 of the main slope is a fine winding engine, of sixteen 

 inches cylinder, thirty-six inch stroke, and five-foot 

 drum, which hoists cars from the slope. The steam 

 comes down the No. 2 shaft, into which the exhaust 

 is conducted. The main slope has been driven for 

 upwards of 6,600 feet in an easterly direction at the 

 face the depth below the surface datum level is about 

 1,450 feet. On both sides of this long slope counter 

 slopes are driven as far down as 2,400 feet, and from 

 thence a counter on one side. Off the slope are 

 levels running north and south, numbered from I 

 to 5. Of the No. i north I have already spoken, and 

 of the others, suffice it to say that No. 3 north is con- 

 nected with the Protection Island workings. The air 

 in the workings off the slope is brought from the 

 downcast of No. i shaft, and returns up the No. 2 or 

 upcast shaft. I noticed some very fine looking coal 

 on the slope, and one's attention is at once directed 

 to the uniform, hard texture, and cubical fracture of 

 these huge specimens. It is true, hard, bituminous 

 coal, without any bony or foreign matter to be seen. 

 The depth of this slope is about a mile and a quarter. 



