Index  Return to Colonial Events 1841

Colonial Observer 25 November 1841

Coal

It is one of the most indispensable duties of the Press, especially in a country, like ours comparatively new, to take every opportunity to direct the attention of the public to its unemployed productive resources. Under this impression we shall adopt every means to obtain information on such subjects, and communicate that information for the public advantage. In the present article we intend to submit to our readers such particulars as we have been able to obtain relative to the workable coal seam lately discovered by the Rev. Mr. Threlkeld, and to the progress of the operations entered on for the purpose of rendering the coal available to the public service. We have been kindly furnished with the following information:

Newcastle - The Ebenezer coal works originated in the following manner: A seam of apparently cannel coal broke out at the water's edge, running into the salt water lake, and has been known to exist for some years. The A. A. company advertised that no coal could be supplied for exportation. Several gentlemen proposed plans to obtain coal in different parts of the colony, but it so happened that restrictions in the working of coal prevented mines being opened in different situations, whilst the grant at Lake Macquarie, named Ebenezer, was, providentially for the grantee, given before the restrictions took place. On digging the cropping out coal to ascertain the depth of the seam, it was found to be nearly five feet thick, and after raising a number of tons which were sent off immediately to Sydney to convince parties of the existence of coal, it was found to terminate in a fault or throw down. (It appears rather to be what is technically called by the British miners a saddleback - Ed). It was thus necessary to sink a shaft some little distance on a hill and it was supposed that at twenty five yards the seam would be found, but at twelve and a half yards depth the miners came to a fine seam of coal five feet thick, with a good roof and sort of sand stone floor. It was then deemed most advantageous to run out a funnel to the water's edge, which was effected, and after laying down a railway, the miners commenced and delivered the coals at the mouth of the funnel to the barges which lay alongside in seven feet water. The first sample of coals proved prejudicial to the concern, in consequence of being surface coal and necessarily of an inferior quality to the main seam, the coal from which is now making its way rapidly amongst the families in Sydney. As respects its quality for steam engines, it is found to be much improved, and one engineer who has tried it gives his decided opinion that it will ultimately prove excellent coal for the steamers; but, like all new comers, it has to encounter prejudices which a little time will no doubt remove. It was feared that the seam was only a small vein running across the peninsular part of the grant, but on running a tunnel some few yards under the hills, about two miles distant inland, from the shaft the seam was entered and appears of a bright and excellent quality. The principal obstacle to be overcome is the transhipment of the coal in barges to vessels lying at anchor in 6 or 7 fathom of water outside the bar entrance to the lake, to avoid which, if sufficient encouragement is given to the sale of coal, vessels of a peculiar construction might be built, to bring up the coal direct to Sydney, and thus ensure a constant supply at a steady price for the consumers here. The works can be extended to bring out any amount by only increasing the number of miners, the local situation being such as to afford the greatest facility at a small expense without the aid of expensive machinery - an advantage in which the public partakes by the coals being delivered at two shillings per ton under the present Newcastle price.