THE KYEBURN COALPITS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 269, 1 May 1874, Page 3

THE KYEBURN COALPITS.

The ' Bruce Herald'" Traveller" writes: —The Kyeburn coalpits, the property of Mr. David M'Cready, are situated on the west bank of the JLyeburn River, and about 100 ft. above its level. Accompanied by Mr. M'Cready, I entered the main drive, which is 600 ft. long. The seam is 25ft. deep by 30ft. wide. About 400 ft. from the entrance a diagonal winze pierces the seam at an upward angle of 45 deg. to the distance of 60ft., when it enters a gallery, also in the coal seam, and after traversing 60ft. parallel to the main drive. Through the seam we turn at,right angles again, and find ourselves in the upper main level, with a solid -mass of coal beneath our feet and at the top of the main level. No . timber is used, nor is it required, because the coal is mined off the solid, and passed down to the main drive by a diagonal winze, the face being about Bft. wide between the walls of coal. When the seam is worked up, and the side wall next the drive passed down, the debris from the.roof and sides falls in and "fills the void, thus making the ground safe. Two men can thus do as much as six by any other method. The truck man fills up from below, and runs out to the depot at the mouth. Here it is bagged, and transmitted to the drays below by means, of a double wire r cable and gasket rope, working on each side. , Thus the bag of coal is slung and let go, when it runs down to the dray, while the other, sling and empty bag. comes up the other. By this method Mr. M'Cready can send down forty bags in ten minutes. Mr. M'Cready sends coal to Naseby, Pigroot, Hamilton, Hyde and other places. The railway might be profitably run in this direction by-and-bve. The Victoria Coalpits, (Messrs. Durward and Co) are under the management of Mr. Keene, C. E., who is also a partner in the concern. The present new pit is worked by a shaft 52ft. deep, and has a cross-drive north and south; The lay of the seam is lOdeg. west of north. The character of the coal is very good, and is likely to prove a great success, as Mr. Keene certainly deserves a reward for his pluck in sticking to the enterprise. The JSTaseby folks will see that they are notv forgotten, and I will do myself the pleasure of visiting in memory their pleasant little town in a future paper.