1) The noun was used as a measure of wood prepared for the wood collier and may have been so called originally because it was measured with a cord (OED).
1572-5 thre lode of wood, and to everye lode thre corde and everye corde most be 8 foutte longe, four foutte brode and four foute hye, and for the makynge of a corde 4d, Esholt. As a verb it meant to cut and stack the wood according to the local custom, ready for the collier: 1675 liberty … to take away, coarde and coale the sayde woode, Tong
1763 to Rank and Cord the Cordwood in the said Grounds, Esholt.
2) Cord or rope had a variety of industrial uses, and references in colliery records are frequent.
1750 Pd for a lock, oil and cording, Shibden
1761 pd for cording 1d, Tong
1763 For a Cord to tye the Chain with 6d, Tong. Cord was probably less thick than the usual pit ropes but ‘cording’ clearly served to reinforce or mend the main ropes: 1716 Pd Jo. Reyner for the Roap peeceing 3d, Farnley
1732 coarding to repair the roop, Whitley.