The colliery was opened
by a slope sunk 330 ft. on the south dip mammoth vein by George W. Johns and
brother in 1869. The first shipment of 8869 tons was made in 1870 and increased
to 58,881 tons in 1871 and 58,185 tons in 1872.
In 1873, the slope was extended
150 ft. across a flat in the vein that was nearly horizontal when it was extended
180 ft. further to a second level, and again extended 330 ft. to the third level.
A 90 horsepower engine was located on the flat for hoisting the coal from the
lower levels.
The west gangway workings
were driven 1800 ft. into the workings of the Wolf Colliery operated by A. A.
Wolf. The drainage of the colliery was accomplished by a blake pump that raised
the water in the lower levels and discharged it into the Wolf Colliery where
it was pumped by the hoisting engine of the wolf slope.
In 1878, the west gangway
was driven 2700 ft. on the east side. The west side gangway 1200 ft. and the
east counter 1500 ft. were all worked out and robbed.
In 1881, an inside slope was sunk 180 ft. and a hoisting engine placed at its head for raising the coal to the surface. George W.Johns & brother continued operating until 1884 when the colliery was purchased by the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co.
In 1885, they sunk a new
air slope 226 ft. long and 13 ft. wide on the mammoth vein from the upper east
gangway and connected it with the new air shaft 31 ft. deep from the surface.
A new 18 ft. guibal fan operated by a new fan engine was installed.
The breaker was improved and new machinery replaced the old appliances. Eight new standard boilers were erected with sixteen wootten patent blowers for burning culm. The P&R C&I Co. continued until the coal had been exhausted and the colliery was abandoned on Nov. 9, 1899. The colliery was consolidated with the Locust Spring Colliery. The total shipment from Monitor Colliery was 2,427,243 tons.