Report – George Crawhall to Martin Morrison – 31 Dec 1813

       The Mines in the Coalcleugh district are at this time considerably poorer than they have been the last two quarters that I have been at Coalcleugh, & of course many of them require an advance in the Price per Bing or an equivalent adequate to a small advance to enable the Workmen to make a livelihood in many of the Old Workings. The Sun Vein & Flatts at the East End in the Great Limestone is the most productive of any part of this Mine, but not so good as last Quar[ter] , the Ore Bargains are let at the following prices: 6 Men raising Ore at 22s per Bing, 6 at 30s, 6 at 34s, 4 at 35s, 8 at 35s & 12 at 40s per Bing. 4 Men are raising Ore in the  Top Sills at the east end at 38s per Bing & 12 at 40s per Bing, the West End Workings at Coalcl[eugh] in the Limestone are poorer than usual & many of them working fast out, they cannot be expected to be of long duration without we find something thats unknown, the Ore Bargains in this part are 4 Men raising Ore at 30s per Bi[ng], 4 at 35s per B[in]g 8 at 36s, 26 at 40s per B[in]g & 14 at 42s per B[in]g. a part of these Men at 40s per B[in]g have a few pounds over for making trials , drawing Deads etc.

       The Old Workings in the rem[ainin]g parts of this Mine are very poor & the Bargains let at the highest prices thats admitted to be given[.] 36 Men are raising Ore at 40s & 42s per B[in]g & about 30£ are given to diff[eren]t p[ar]tner[shi]ps for ridding & drawing deads etc. The Dead Work that is necessary to be done at this place to carry the Mine on in a regular manner such as Levels, Sumps etc we are pushing forward as rapidly as possible, we are also making preparations for putting in the new Stand of Pumps at High Coalcleugh Engine that were got some years back, should they answer the intended purpose, they will enable us to get some lower workings that I expect will be productive.

       I have just now employed 4 Men in opening out Low Coalcleugh Vein & if we meet with no unexpected obstruction I purpose employing a few more Men in a short time. The Barney Craig Level is driving with 8 Men & making very good progress, 8 Men are sinking to meet the Level forehead for a communication for Air.

       We have not cut the Vein in the Trial at Furneyshield as I expected in the last report, but are in expectation of cutting her every week. The Workings in Wellhope continue very poor & require the best prices for raising Ore that can be given, 10 Men are raising Ore at 42s per Bing & 4 Men cutting X to the Vein in Little Limestone.

       Hartley Cleugh is not so productive as she has been for sometime past, the last length we opened in the South end has been quite dead, should she continue so any length of time, I’m afraid we will have a <partnership> fallen out of employment shortly, being such a soft Vein, the back ground works fast out, the Bargains are 12 Men raising Ore at 26s per B[in]g & 32£ for driving 2 foreheads, 6 Men at 30s per B[in]g & 35s per fa[thom] for 10 fa[tho]ms, 10 Men at 38s per B[in]g & 16 Men at 40s per B[in]g. 24 Men are employ’d in driving Levels, sinking Shafts etc.

       Geo. Crawhall