Original writeup "Cache is located north of Ft. Indiantown gap.
there are lots of trails & roads to follow. Elevation of cache
at 1600+ft.This cache is in a green ammo box. Inside there are many
little things. If you want to know you'll just have to find out for
yourself. This is our first cache so do not expect anything too
exciting. Please feel free to sign our log book and take a picture.
Make sure you are wearing quality boots. I would not recomend this
area for children under 8 years old.Thanks for your intrest and
have fun. Steve...Jim...Cheyenne and Buster."
Stone Tower Article by J. Peter Wilshusen that appeared in the
Summer 1984 newsletter of the Keystone Trails Association (KTA),
page 8
J. Peter Wilshushen was a geologist with the Pennsylvania
Geologic Survey for 25 years, he hiked the A.T., maintained a
section and was the author of the book Geology of the Appalachian
Trail in Pennsylvania
"The tower and other engineering structures associated with coal
mining in the vicinity of Rausch Gap and Yellow Springs were
carefully examined in the field as part of the preparation for
Geology of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania."
"All of the structural remains, such as the railroad, bridge
piers, locomotive maintenance pits, wheel house foundations,
building foundations and mine entrance indicate good engineering
practice. The stone tower at Yellow Springs is adjacent to an
engine foundation next to an inclined coal mine entrance. Although
now filled with rubble and decay, the tower remains indicate that
it was a chimney, functioning as shown in the sketch below. If it
had been a tower for a haulage system there would have been
horizontal stresses on this relatively light masonry structure
which probably would have caused it to fail."
"Adequate ventilation of deep mines in an engineering problem
that has been met in various ways throughout mining history.
Methods have ranged from building fires in the mines (a dangerous
practice with coal) to the excavation of ventilating shafts and
installation of large fans. The method used at Yellow Springs fits
the technology of the time...a cast iron pipeline which runs deep
into the mine and connects to the base of the chimney (the tower).
As the fire in the steam engine boiler burns, its exhaust also
flows into the chimney tower. This creates a draft up the chimney
which also pulls air from the pipe. It does not appear that the
mine air via the pipe is used for combustion in the boiler,
although that might be the case. Fresh air from the mine entrance
then must make its way back to the end of the mine where the cast
iron pipe ends, to replace the air being drawn up through the
pipe...you can see a portion of the pipe at the collapsed mine
entrance. The steam engine was used to run the hoist that pulled
the mine cars up from the shaft."
Today the Stone Tower's height has been reduced by time collapsing
inwards and closing the chimney. Over the past 20 years the tower
has begun to develop a lean as the mortar to erodes away.
ST. ANTHONY'S WILDERNESS is the largest, roadless area in
Pennsylvania. Please wear fluorescent orange during hunting
seasons. Take plenty of water, snacks, first aid kit, and bug
spray. Wear sturdy hiking boots and long pants. Deer, turkey, bear,
snakes, and other creatures of the wild reside here. Please respect
their habitat.