Hornick v. Bethlehem Mines Corp.

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Maxey,

Plaintiffs’ claim was based on the alleged drying up of springs of water on their farm of 154 acres. Plaintiffs contended that these springs became permanently dry because of the mining and removal of coal by the defendant underneath this farm. The defendant had the right to mine and remove this coal but was liable for any damages that mining did to the surface. Beneath plaintiffs’ farm were two seams of coal, the “B” and the “C” seams. The “B” seam lies approximately 500 feet below the surface and the “C” seam approximately 400 feet. In 1925 the defendant began…