Coal - Mine Water Problems of the Pennsylvania Anthracite Region

PENNSYLVANIA's anthracite region lies in the heart of the richest and most densely populated area of the U. S. Nearly 70 million people live within a radius of 500 miles, in which 130,000 manufacturing plants employ more than 8 million workers. The region comprises some 3000 sq miles and contains 484 sq miles of coal measures, which folding and erosion have divided into four separate and distinct fields, known as the Northern, Eastern Middle, Western Middle, and Southern. One million people live in the anthracite region proper, and their prosperity depends to a great extent on the anthracite industry, which produces more than $200 million in new wealth for the U. S. each year. Nearly 80 pct of the tonnage shipped out of the region is handled by nine railroads, which depend on this traffic for a large part of their revenue. It follows that the economic health and the very existence 0: this industry is of real concern not only to the region itself but also to the state of Pennsylvania and the country as a whole. Anthracite mining is one of the oldest mineral industries in America. About 1760 burning rock or stone coal was discovered on the hillsides of northeastern Pennsylvania. Within a few years a systematic search for coal bed outcrops was under way, and hand mining was begun. At first production was very limited, since anthracite was difficult to burn and was not readily accepted as a fuel. Pennsylvania anthracite is one of the densest and hardest of all coals, and its content of volatile matter is low. Consequently it does not ignite easily and it burns without smoke. About 1808 Judge Fell of Wilkes-Barre burned anthracite in an open grate fireplace and demonstrated proper handling of an anthracite fire. From