Coal Mines of Virginia. 127 



were first opened about 30 years since, and worked to some 

 considerable extent. Experiencing, however, much inconve- 

 nience from the near approach of the works to a part of the 

 coal which was on fire ; and finding, from their unskilful mode 

 of mining, that the business was not profitable, they abandon- 

 ed the works, and filled up their shaft. Some few years after, 

 Mr. Heth obtained possession of the land ; and, having import- 

 ed two Scotch miners, commenced working the coal again. He 

 has now three shafts open, in a line with each other, in the di- 

 rection of the vein. They are sunk near the brink of a steep 

 hill, which rises about 180 feet from the western bank of a small 

 brook. The depth of one of the shafts is 350 feet. The 

 other two are about 300 feet deep, each. A steam-engine, con- 

 structed by Bolton & Watt, is erected at the middle and deep- 

 est shaft. It is used exclusively for pumping out water ; but 

 I will not trouble you with an account of the modus operandi, 

 as it would be only a repetition of your own description of the 

 same operation at the Cornwall mines. The coal is raised ia 

 a box, called by the miners a cowe. These cowes contain about 

 two bushels each, and two of them are alternately rising and 

 descending in each shaft. They are raised by means of ropeSj 

 fastened to a simple wheel and crank, which is turned by 

 mules. In sinking their shafts, they cut, in the first place, per- 

 pendicularly (i. e. to the surface of the earth) through the 

 coal, to its lower surface ; and then turning westwardly, they 

 open a horizontal gallery through the inclination of the vein, 

 to its upper surface ; by this means, to use their own terms, 

 ''gaining a double cut on it." Their principal gallery passes 

 (in the direction of the vein,) by the mouth of each shaft. Its 

 length is 1350 feet, and it is terminated at each end by a hitch 

 or dyke of hard sandstone. (The passage was stopped with 

 rubbish in such a manner as to prevent me from seeing the 

 stone myself, and the gentleman who escorted me through the 

 mines is my authority for its being sandstone ; he might pos- 

 sibly, however, have been mistaken, as it is difficult to ascer* 

 tain what a stone is, in such a place, until it is broken.) Whea 

 I was at the pits, they were preparing to blast through thi« 

 rock. At right angles to the principal gallery, tjiey hai^e 



