Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania for the year 1878

Pennsylvania. Inspectors of Mines · 1879 · Historical

Report year ends Dec. 31

Public-domain full text preserved in the Mountain Man Mining Library. Original source: archive.org.

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Reports

Inspectors Of Mines

Tear 1878.

Iiarrisburg

Lane S. Hart, State Printer.

Index.

Page.

Report of Sampson Parton, Inspector for the First or 1'ottsville district, 1

Report of Samuel Gay, Inspector for the Second Schuylkill district, 9

Report of James Ryan, Inspector for the Third or Shamokin district, 34

Report of T. M. Williams, Inspector for the Middle district of Luzerne and Carbon

counties, 98

Report of William S. Jones, Inspector for the Eastern district of Luzerne and Car- bon counties, 127

Report of T. D. Jones, Inspector for the South district of Luzerne and Carbon counties, 206

Maps A]Nt> Illustkations.

Map of Anthracite Coal Fields, Frontis piece.

Cross section of new tunnel at Plank Ridge colliery, 17

Geological section, Ellangowan colliery, 37

Plan of self-dumping carriage, 100

Section of Brisbin mine, showing where Hughes was killed, 146

Map of Pine Brook and Fairlawn mines, 162

Outline drawing of Spring Brook breaker, 169

Murphy Champion ventilator, 179

Plan and section where McFadden and O'Donnell were killed, 209

Section through slopes Nos. 1 and 5, 213

Map showing 'condition of west fifty-feet gangway in shaft No. 1, 217

Section through slopes Nos. 1 and 3, 225

Section through slope No. 2, 241

Section of basin in Coleraine tract, 257

Executive Document. No. 10.

Reports

Op The

Inspectors Of Mines

Of The

For The Year 1878.

First Or Pottsville District.

Office of Inspector of Mines, Pottsville, Pa., 1879. To His Excellency, Henry M. Hoyt,

Governor of the State of Pennsylvania; Sir: In accordance with the requirements of the act of Assembly, I have the honor of herewith submitting my annual report of tonnage of coal shipped, list of accidents, and such other matters as may be of interest to those engaged or interested in mining, for the First or Pottsville division of the mining district of Schuylkill.

The total number of casualties during the year in the district has been forty-four, classified as follows, viz : Fourteen fatal and thirty non-fatal, which, in comparison with former years and in proportion to the quantity of coal mined, it is a source of infinite gratification to be able to report so great a diminution; and with the same amount of improvement in collieries, and care on the part of those employed in the future, we will soon reach the minimum of casualties in this hazardous business. 1 — Mine Rep.

2 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

The working collieries in this district have been considerably improved during the year, and are now in much better condition both as to ventila- tion and general condition than at any previous time in their history.

By courtesy of Messrs. Strauch & Cochran, mining and civil engineers of Pottsville, I am enabled to attach a map of the anthracite coal region, with the district of each inspector colored.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SAMPSON PARTON, Per G.

Ex. Doc]

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

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Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

[No. 10,

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Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

Recapitulation of Non-Fatal Accidents, and causes thereof, for Year ending

December 31, 1878.

Explosion of gas, 11

Explosion of cartridge, 1

Fall of coal, 3

Fall of slate, 1

Struck by coal, 2

Mine wagons, . . . . 4

Loading fan in mine wagon, 1

Premature explosion of shot, 2

Fell down chute, 1

Fall of railroad bar, 1

Team running against closed door, 1

Kicked by mule, 1

Boarding mine wagon while in motion, 1

Total, 30

Recapitulation of Fatal Accidents, and their causes, for Year ending De- cember 31, 1878.

Explosion of gas,

Run over by mine car,

Explosion of blast,

Caving of top of slope,

Falling of slope prop,

Fall of rock, 3

Fall of coal, 1

Total,

Recapitulation of Accidents resulting in Death, and their causes, for Year ending December 31, 1878.

Explosion of gas, . . . Explosion of sulphur, Fell down man-way, . . Kicked by a mule, . . Slip of coal from breast,

Total,

Ex Doc]

Reports of the Inspectors op Mines.

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Reports op the Inspectors of Mines.

[No. 10,

TABLE No. 2. — Coal Produced in Tons, and number of Tons per Fatal and Non-Fatal Accidents, for Years 1877 and 1878,

Tons of coal shipped,

Number of lives lost,

Number of tons mined per fatal accident, . .

Number of employes injured,

Number of tons mined per employe injured,

1,229,081.03

87,791.10

40,969.7

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

Second Schuylkill District.

Office of Inspector of Coal Mines, Shenandoah City, Pa., February 27, 1879.

To His Excellency Henry M. Hoyt,

Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania :

Sir: In accordance with the general act of Assembly of 1870, providing for the health and safety of persons employed in and about coal mines, I have the honor to lay before you my third annual report, on the condition of and workings of coal mines, for the year ending December 31, 1878, together with the schedule of accidents which have occurred during that period, both fatal and non-fatal, with a list of collieries and number of persons employed, both under and above ground, and the respective ton- nage thereof, with such other information that may be of interest.

The accidents, resulting in the loss of life, during the year, have been of a singular character — seventeen of which were killed instantly ; nine died from injuries received, sometime after the accidents occurred ; making a total of twenty-six lives lost, (against thirty-three (33) the previous year.) Twelve out of the total number resulted from falls of coal and roof; eight were of a miscellaneous character, seven of which were the results of the sufferers own carelessness, which, as a general rule, arises from loose dis- cipline ; three were caused by explosions of blasting powder, brought about by the victims own criminal carelessness, by having naked lights hanging on their heads, or in close proximity to the powder they were using. One died from injuries received in returning to a shot without allowing suffi- cient time for the match to ignite the squib ; one life was lost by the ex- plosion of a steam boiler; one was jammed between mine cars.

Eighty -nine (89) persons sustained injuries through various causes. Many of them were not of a serious character.

In the detailed statement I have endeavored to show the cause of many of the fatal occurrences, and how many of them could have been avoided.

The total output of coal in this district, for the year, was 3,041,774 tons, against 3,805,467 tons the previous year. Of the total amount, 2,841,774 was sent to market by rail. The balance was used at the mines and sold for home consumption.

10 Reports op the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

The total number of persons employed was 10,255, hence the rate of production was 299T504i2595 tons per person employed. In the former year the number employed was 10,537, with a proportion of three hundred and sixty-one tons. It will be seen that there were two hundred and eighty-two less employes in the year, under report, than in the preceding one.

This decrease in the output is attributable to the combination entered into by the mining and carrying companies, for the purpose of restricting the production that the producers may receive a fair remuneration for the capital invested in mining anthracite coal. But, like all other combina- tions which are not in unison with the laws of supply and demand, did not end satisfactory, from the fact that they failed to form another compact for the year 1879.

The average number of days worked in the district was one hundred and forty-one. By dividing the total output of coal in tons by the num- ber of days worked, shows that 21,575 tons mined per each day worked. Taking this as a basis, should the collieries in the district work ten months (or two hundred and forty days) out of the year, the production would reach 5,07*,000 tons.

The ratio of casualties is one life lost for every 117,272 tons of coal produced, against 115,317 the previous year. One person was injured for every 34,261f§ tons. Out of every four hundred and seventeen persons employed, one was either killed or died sometime after the accident. One person was injured out of every H4/7 employed.

In order to show the results which have accompxnied the mine inspec- tion act of 1870, I have prepared some tables, showing the output of coal in this district, and the number of lives lost during the nine years the mine law has been in operation. Table No. 4, shows the results of the three southern anthracite mine inspection districts for the eight years succeed- ing 1870. Deplorable as the casualties are at the present time, the follow- ing tables show, had the same condition of things existed in 1877 as in 1870, that the death-roll in these three districts would have reached two hundred and one in place of eighty-eight, which was the number of lives sacrificed in 1877. Although these tables of comparison may not show as favorable results as may be desired, nevertheless I venture to say that it would be difficult to find any fair-minded person bold enough to say that the working of the mine ventilation law has not been attended with beneficial if not satisfactory results.

Yery respectfully submitted,

SAMUEL GAY, Inspector of Goal Mines.

Ex. Doc]

Reports op the Inspectors of Mines.

TABLE No. 1.— The following table shows the amount of Coal produced per life lost in this district, during the first four years the Mine Inspection act was in operation, commencing with the year 1870, up to December 31, 1873.

Year.

Number of tons produced.

Number of lives lost.

Number of tons produced, per life lost.

1870,

1871,

1872,

1,840,914 2,444,267 3,045,314 3,142,671

48,445 59,616 84,592 66,865f

Totals, . . . Averages,

10,473,166 2,618,291|

40|

64,874

TABLE No. 2.— This table shows the comparison between first and second period of four years, commencing January 1, 1874, UP to December 31, 1877.

Year.

Number of tons produced.

Number of lives lost.

Number of tons produced, per life lost.

1874,

1875,

1876,

1877,

2,676,742 2,562,345 2,891,117 3,805,467

92,301§

107,078i}

115,317

Totals, . . . Averages,

11,935,671 2,983,9173

28J

103,311|

TABLE No. 3— Gives the total output for the nine years ending December 31, 1878, together with the number of lives lost during that period.

Year.

Number of tons produced.

Number of lives lost.

Number of tons produced, per life lost.

1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878,

1,840,914

2,444,267 3,045,314 3,142,671 2,676,742 2,562,345 2,891,117 3,805,467 3,049,275

48,445

59,616

84,592

66,863

92,301

98,551

107,078

115,317

117,279

Totals, Avera:

?e

9f

25,458,112

2,828,6791-

33f

84,020

The foregoing figures show the average ratio of casualties to be one life lost for every eighty-four thousand and twenty (84,020) tons of coal pro- duced for the nine years. By taking the two extreme periods of 1870 and 1878 respectively, it will be seen that the output of coal has been increased 68,834 tons per life lost, or over 142 per cent.

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

[No. 10,

TABLE No. 4. — This table shows the total output of Coal in the three southern Anthracite districts, which is comprised of Schuylkill, Dauphin. Northumberland, and Columbia counties, commencing January 1, 1870, up to December SI, 1877, which is divided into two periods, of four years each.

Year.

Number of tons produced.

Number of lives lost.

Number of tons produced, per life lost.

1870,

1871,

1872,

1873,

5,665,472 6,353,257 6,126,183 6,294,769

43,918 49,557 67,321 49,958

Totals, . . . Averages, .

24,439,730 6,109,932

51,452

TABLE No. 5. — Second period, commencing January 1, 1874, ending December 31,

Year.

Number of tons produced.

Number of lives lost.

Number of tons produced, per life lost.

1874,

1875,

1876,

1877,

5,976,818 6,928,691 7,825,979

8,857,411

58,902

75,311

90,999

100,656

Totals, . .

Averages, .

29,588,899 7,397,224

80,186

In the detailed statement, in the report, I have taken the occasion to point out that many of the accidents might have been avoided by the suf- ferers themselves. That a number of those persons losing their lives were careless, and even reckless, there can be no doubt whatever, but the question arises, were they alone blamable, and the management altogether clear of all responsibility ? In answer to these, I would say that it is my candid opinion, had there been that rigid supervision and discipline in force which are necessary .to prevent these occurrences and to render the occupations of employes in and about the mines reasonably safe, the list of accidents accompanying this and former reports, would have been far less than at present. That there is a lack of discipline in and about the mines there is no question, and has been a subject of considerable com- ment, in former reports, by most of the inspectors. And I do not hesitate to say that there is no person better acquainted with the facts than them- selves, as their information is not gathered from a single collier}', but from the whole of their respective districts.

The next question that arises, and is often asked, how are accidents to be prevented, and how is this discipline to be established ? My auswer is the same as in previous reports, by having a code of special rules for the government of the employes of each and every colliery. These rules should have the sanction of the State Legislature, making it a penal offense on

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 13

any person violating any part of said rules. The same penalties should be imposed on any official that knowingly allows such violations to be committed, and not imposing such penalties as provided for by the special and general rules and regulations.

This may appear arbitrary to many, nevertheless, under more stringent rules, the men themselves will be more careful of their own lives. The continual exposure to danger renders us all more or less indifferent to its consequences, therefore, by increasing the discipline, habits of carefulness and thought amongst the men would become the rule and not the excep- tion, which is quite the reverse at the present time.

Reroets of the Inspectors of Mines.

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Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 15

BOILER EXPLOSION. Accident on List, No. 25.

William Kerschner, a fireman, lost his life on January 31, at the St. Nicholas Coal Company's colliery, by the explosion of a steam boiler. This accident occurred about five o'clock in the morning, the deceased and another fireman being the only persons present. Had the explosion occurred a few hours later, when the employes had assembled at the top of the slope, the result would have been fearful. This boiler was of a plain cylindrical type, thirty feet long, plate five sixteenths inch thick, pressure per square inch, seventy to eighty pounds.

In examining the exploded boiler, I discovered no special defect except at the point of the rupture, where there were strong indications of an old break or crack, which had penetrated fully four fifths of the thickness of the sheet, and extended more than four feet around the seam ; neither was there evidence of the use of water containing foreign matter in such quan- tities as to be destructive to any part of boiler, or of an insufficient quan- tity of water — the cause to which the public at large attribute the accident. There are several reasons which may be given for the explosion of boilers; but there is no doubt, in my mind, that the one under consideration was the result of expansion and contraction, effects due to several causes, viz : feed water being forced into the boiler at a temperature lower than the steam ; by cleaning fires with an open damper, whereby a large volume of cool air passes along the bottom of the boiler ; and the most serious practice which prevails at the mines, i. e., the opening of the fire doors whenever steam is escaping from the safety valve ; and to increase the evil, cold water is injected into the boiler, consequently the temperature of the bottom of the boiler is often reduced to 150°, while the top main- tains the temperature of the steam, which varies with the pressure. Note, a pressure of eighty pounds per square inch, producing a temperature of 315° F. It is evident that under these conditions the bottom of the boiler is reduced in length, while the top remains in its normal condition ; hence, there would be a straining effect upon the transverse section of the boiler. Therefore, it is not surprising that owners of boilers should be contin- ually troubled by fracturing more or less. I do not wish to convey the idea that there must necessarily be an explosion every time the sheet of a boiler becomes fractured from contraction. Far from it. It is almost an every day occurrence that some where or other in the coal region a boiler fractures, without any explosion whatever. But suppose we have a boiler which is in a sound condition, and capable of sustaining a pressure of eighty pounds to the square inch, and no more. Under this circum- stance, should a fracture occur, whereby the strength of the boiler would be suddenly reduced five or ten per cent., an explosion would undoubt- edly be the result. I have measured fractures suddenly produced, which extended thirty inches around the bottom of the boiler, and the only in- jury resulting was the extinguishing of the fire, the machinery conse-

16 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

quently stopping until the disabled boiler could be cut off. Had not the remaining part of the sheet had sufficient strength to withstand the extra strain to which it was subjected, an explosion would certainly have taken place. These dangers cannot at present be entirely avoided, but they can be considerably reduced by several means, viz : by heating the feed water to the highest temperature practicable before entering the boiler; by ex- tending the feed pipe from end to end of boiler, and connecting to it a vertical piece of pipe provided with a perforated nozzle, reaching low water-mark ; by running longitudinal stay bolts through the boiler, secur- ing each end in a substantial manner, by nuts or otherwise. It is evident that the last named precaution would not prevent the fracturing of the boiler, but as it would prevent the separated portions from flying apart, it would considerably reduce the amount of damage done by the explosions. In this district, two explosions have occurred this year, which fortu- nately resulted in the loss of but one life, while the destruction of property amounted to more than $3,000. Had stay bolts been used in these cases, the destruction of property would have been prevented, and one life less would there have been to record on the death list.

UNDERGROUND. Fall of Coal and Roof.

Accident No. 1. — Patrick Lyons, a miner, was injured January 1, by a piece of coal falling from the side at the Schuylkill colliery, and died from the effects on the 18th of the same month. The deceased had fired a shot, and at the time of the accident was in the act of removing the coal which was fractured by it. His injuries were not considered to be dangerous, but nevertheless the man died.

Accident No. 3. — George Taylor, a miner, was instantly killed by a fall of roof, on March 1 2, at the Primrose colliery. This accident was the re- sult of insufficient timbering ; the breast ranged from twenty to twenty-six feet in width, and had been driven twenty yards. The top was of a dan- gerous character, owing to the numerous slips which were running through it at all angles, and at the time of the accident not a single prop was stand- ing in the place. Under the eighth section of the mine law, the inside foreman was guilty of a misdemeanor, and under the nineteenth, miners themselves were guilty of the same. The foreman testified that had the place been properly timbered, the accident would not have occurred. He also testified, that he instructed the men occupying the breast, four days before the accident occurred, to stand some props. This was the last time he had visited the breast, until after the accident had occurred. It is not necessary for me to go into further details on this subject, as cases of this class were reviewed, to some extent, in my last report. Suffice is it to state, that the miner who escaped uninjured, and the foreman, were bound over in the sum of $3,000 for their appearance at court. The case here- upon ended, as the grand jury ignored the bill.

Shenandoah District

END VIEW Or TUNNEL scALca recTFCK inch

Sect/ On Of New Tunnel At Plank Ridge

Scale . 60ft. per Inch

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 17

Accident No. 4. — Charles Rirch, a miner, had his scull fractured on 4th April, at William Penn colliery, by a small piece of coal striking him on the head. He shortly afterwards died. This was an accident that the victim had no power to arrest. The place where he received the injury was batween thirty and forty feet high. The sense of hearing was, there- fore, his only means of ascertaining the condition of the top overhead. Mining, in all its branches, is a dangerous avocation, and often affords cases deserving of much sympathy, but none ever deserves more than one like the above.

Accident No. 5. — Joseph Croby, a miner, aged sixty years, received in- juries by a fall of coal from the six foot bench, on April 11, at Packer collierj7, from the effects of which he died.

Accident No. 6. — George Corbet, a miner, aged sixty years, received severe injuries by a fall of coal from the face of his breast, on May 7, at North Mahanoy City colliery. He was taken to a hospital in Philadel- phia, but died on 11th. It is evident that in a case of this kind, a miner must depend on his judgment alone, which oftentimes leads him astray.

Accident No. 7. — Peter Rickert, a miner, was instantly killed by a fall of coal at Elmwood colliery, on May 7. The circumstances of the case are similar to those of Nos. 5 and 6. It is therefore unnecessary to make any comments.

Accident No. 10. — Charles Gosran, a miner, was killed by a fall of coal at Kooh-inoor colliery, on June 20. This accident occurred in one of those high places, where a miner has no means of ascertaining the condi- tion of the overhanging strata, or obtaining warning, except his sense of hearing.

Accident No. 11. — John Bollus, a laborer, aged twenty, was killed by a fall cf coal which formed the roof, on July 20, at Copley colliery. In this case, the miners had not paid that strict attention to the timbering, which the nature of the top required.

Accident No. 12. — Christopher McAttee, a laborer, was fatally injured August 12, at Turkey Run colliery, by a piece of coal falling on him. The deceased was emplojed as a laborer in a gangway by the miners, who had the contract to drive it. The work was carried on by two shifts, day and night, alternately, with three men on each shift — one miner and two laborers. At the time of the accident, McAttee was on the day shift. His two companions were engaged in their work when he arrived, as he was lattr than usual ; they were blasting rock about sixty feet from face of gangway, and had commenced to drill a hole when he reached them. Having reached the face of the gangway, he proceeded to work with the pick, but before many blows had been struck, a piece of coal eight feet long, six feet wide, and twenty inches thick, fell with the result as pre- viously stated. The testimony given at the investigation, shows very clearly that the miners had been careless about this piece of coal. The miner on the night shift testified that it was in a dangerous condition 2 — Mine Rep.

18 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

when his shift had ended, and that when he met the other miner, on his way home, he informed him of the condition of the piece of coal, and that it was not safe to work under, and advised him to put a shot in and blow it down. He also stated that he and his laborers had gone to considera- ble trouble to gather the last car of coal which they loaded, in order to avoid taking it down The miner on the day shift acknowledged this statement to be true, and stated that he examined the coal when he reached it, and considered it perfectly safe to work under, which was the answer he gave when asked wby he did not warn McAttee of the danger.

Accident No. 13. — Jacb Wentz, a miner, aged twenty-two years, was killed August 13, by a fall of coal at Bear Run colliery. The deceased and his father were working together in a breast. The bottom bench had been taken out several fett ahead of the top. The vein at this point was rather free, and I do not think they acted as prudently as they should, al- though the}' bear the reputation of being careful miners.

Accident No. 15. — George Townsend, a miner, aged twenty-three }Tears, was instantly killed September 16, at Indian Ridge colliery, by a fall of coal caused by an unseen slip.

Accidknt No. 24. — Dennis Tracey, a miner, was instantly killed by a fall of coal in the face of a gangway, at Girard Mammoth Colliery, De- cember 27.

Crushed by Mine Cara.

Accident No. 14. — Michael Holland, a top man at the head of an inside slope at Mahano}7 colliery, was instantly killed August 12, by having his head crushed between a car and a tool box attached to the end of another car, the purpose of carrying jumpers in and out of the mines from a tunnel, which was being driven to the blacksmith shop. At the time of the accident, the deceased was in the act of uncoupling the first car of a trip whilst in motion. Just as he was reaching in between the two cars, a young man, whose work was also at tap of slope, spnigged the wheels of the first car, and brought it to a standstill. The remainder of the trip continued on until stopped b}r the first car. The bumpers on the cars ex- tended seven inches, hence there was a space of fourteen inches between the bod}- of the ears when their bumpers were in contact. The tool box was three feet long and ten inches wide, therefore the distance from the tool box and the wagon was but four inches.

Accident Mo. 20. — James Toner, a driver, aged eighteen years, was killed November 11, at Honey Brook, No. 1, by being jammed between a mule and a mine car.

Explosions of Blasting Powder.

Accident No. 18. — John Costello, a miner, was burned by handling powder recklessly at Turkey Run colliery, on 7th of October. On the morning of the accident, Costello took a keg of powder into the mines and put it in a crosb-heading which conducted the air-current through the

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 19

breast pillar, and which he used as a place of safety to retreat to when firing a shot. What is most astonishing is that he, having taken an end out of the keg, was in the act of filling a cartridge when the powder ig- nited— taking it out, a handful at a time, with a naked light on his head, a spark fell from the lamp into the powder, with the result as above stated. Although there were more than twenty pounds of powder exploded, his injuries were apparently of so slight a character that no fears wei'e enter- tained for his recovery — the case being so reported to me — nevertheless, in about nine days after the explosion, he died. A miner, named Thomas, who lost a son, last year, from the same cause, seeing Costello handling pow- der in a careless manner, warned him of the danger, but he answered : " I have been mining coal for thirty years, and have not burned myself, and am not going to do it now." Up to the time, Thomas had been keep- ing his supplies in the same heading, but considering it unsafe to keep there when powder was handled so incautiously, he removed them to an- other cross-cut, and in about a week afterwards the accident occurred.

Accident No. 22. — William Morris, a miner, was fatally injured at Packer colliery, No. 4, November 15, by handling powder in a reckless manner, whereby two kegs of that material were ignited, the result being as above stated. His partner, J. D. Davis, was also burned, though not seriously. This is one of those cases which are as unworth} of the name "accident" as it would be if a man were to take a gun and deliberately shoot himself. This occurrence took place in the following manner: Mor ris and his partner had charged a hole with about three pounds of powder, which failed to explode, through some defect in the tamping. The charge having been taken out, Morris took the cartridge, which was broken, and placed the powder in his hat, as he wished to save it. He then carried it to a cross-heading, where they kept their supplies. It appears, from the evidence given, that while Morris was in the act of preparing another cart ridge Davis placed the lamp, which Morris was using, some distance from the powder, and that Morris afterward removed it nearer to his position. Davis being the only person present during the explosion, he was my only source of information. He stated that he had warned Morris twice before the explosion, to let his naked light stay where he had placed it, and not take it any nearer to the powder, which was still in the hat ; but, as he started to go up the breast, he saw Morris take the light nearer to the powder, the consequence being the immediate explosion of the powder.

Accident No. 23. — Leonard Ward, a boy aged thirteen years, was so seri- ously burned, by the explosion of sixty pounds of powder, on December 20, at the Schuylkill colliery, that he died from the effects. This case belongs to the same class as the preceding on?, except that the probabili- ties are that the man, through whose carelessness the powder was ignited, escaped with his life, but severely injured, whilst the boy lost his.

Accident No. 16. — Robert Schole3, a miner, was severely injured by the explosion of a blast at North Mahanoy colliery, on 2d of October. Hav

20 Reports of tiie Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

ing prepared two shots, which he intended to fire together, he lighted them and retreated to a place of safety. In due time one of the charges ex- ploded, but the other, from some reason or other, which Scholes himself could not explain, did not. He, immediately returning to his working place without giving sufficient time for the fire to take effect, had arrived within a few feet of the face when the shot exploded, throwing pieces of coal in all directions, some of which struck him, severely cutting his head and breaking an arm and thigh. In this condition the man was hauled two miles, in a two-wheeled cart, over a rough road ; and when he had reached his home, he lay there, bleeding profusely, from about one o'clock mid-day, to ten o'clock at night. During this time he was without medi- cal aid, and though several physicians were called on, they refused to at- tend the injured man without being previously paid, or some safe security given. Finally some of Scholes friends made known the distressing cir- cumstances to Dr. G. L. Reagan, of Shenandoah, and that gentleman im- mediately proceeded to the poor man's cot, to administer such remedies as he thought necessary ; but it was too late, the loss of bljod had been so great that the doctor gave up all hopes for his recovery, nevertheless he lingered a week before he died.

This is but one of the many cases of this kind which come under my observation. Undoubtedly there is room for some amendment to our present mine law, and this is one of the subjects which deserves the gen- erous consideration of our Legislature. I do not hesitate to say that the number of deaths would be considerably reduced if medical aid were pro- cured as soon as circumstances would permit.

Miscellaneous Underground.

Accident No. 9. — Alfred Williams, a bottomman, aged twenty-seven years, met his death on 15th June, at West Shenandoah slope, through the carelessness of a topman, who neglected to secure a car to the rope. The car was precipitated down the slope at a fearful velocity, killing Williams, and injuring a man named Beck. An inquest was held to investigate the cause of the accident, and after a close examination of a number of wit- nesses, the jury returned a verdict censuiing Francis Strahley, the top- man, for neglecting to couple the car. Williams' duties were to put wagons on the lower and middle lifts of the slope. Strahley was employed in assisting to put wagons on at the top of the slope. His companion placed the chain used in hoisting on the last wagon, but as they were not coupled, the first one rushed down the slope with terrible velocity. In making its rapid descent the car jumped from the track, and collided with the props that support the roof of the slope. Pieces of lumber were sent flying in all directions. Williams was hit with one of these missiles and killed. Another one hit Beck, injuring him severely. Strahley was guilty of the same offense once before during the same week ; fortunately, no one was injured. Notwithstanding, it shows that he was a careless man, and

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors op Mines. 21

unfit to occupy a responsible position. He was arrested on July 4, and placed in jail until the 14th November, when he was tried, before his honor Judge Walker, and on the part of the Commonwealth the case was con- ducted in a very able manner by George R. Kaercher, esquire, attorney for the mine inspectors of the Schuylkill district. The prisoner was ac- quitted by the jury, because of some technical error in the indictment.

Accident No. 19. — William Dabb, a laborer, was fatally injured by a gangway leg rolling on him at Elian Gowan colliery, on October 21. The deceased, with two others, had taken a set of gangway timbers on a truck to a counter chute, where they unloaded timbers for one of the counter gangways in the shaft. And while they were removing one of the tim- bers, it swung around and rolled on Dabb.

Accident No. 21. — Thomas Davis, a miner, was fatally injured by start- ing loose coal on himself, at William Penn colliery, on November G. The mining operations of the breast had been concluded some months previous. The seam was thirty-six feet thick, and had a pitch of 31°, hence, a large amount of coal was lying loose in the breast after it was finished. Some time before he stopped blasting coal at the face, Davis had lost a drill, and on the morning of the accident he went up in the breast to search for the lost article, and found it fast between some large lumps of coal ; and in trying to release it, he started the coal, which rushed down the pitch carrying him before it. This case may be classed with many others which are recorded year after year in these reports. The man had no business whatever up in the breast, except to secure his drill, for which he risked his life. He had been cautioned by the men in the adjacent breast against venturing up, as it was dangerous, a fact which he undoubtedly was aware of, as he was an experienced miner.

Miscellaneous Above Ground.

Accident No. 2. — Michael Campbell, a miner, lost his life March 5, at Honey Brook colliery, No. 3, by walking under a pump-bob whilst it was in operation. It appears from the testimony given at the coroner's in- quest, that the deceased was standing at the top of the slope after finish- ing his day's work. Whatever possessed the man to try to pass under the bob, would be difficult to say. However, in his attempt to do so, the sill of the bob, as it was descending, struck him, crushing him to death.

Accident No. 8 Lincoln Twiddle, a boy, was killed on June 5, at

Girard Mammoth colliery. This accident was the result of loose disci- pline, in allowing persons to ride where it was unsafe. The boy and a miner were being hoisted out of the slope, both sitting on the spreader chain, which connected the rope to the gunboat or car, and from which the boy was thrown, the gunboat passed over him, crushing him to death. Since the accident, boys have not been allowed to ride either up or down the slope. Certainly this will not replace the life lost, but if the rule is enforced it will prevent the same casualty from occurring again.

22 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

Accident No. 17. — Michael Murphy, a laborer, lost his life on 21 Oc- tober, at the Connor colliery, by being knocked off a dirt dumper while it was passing under the dirt chutes of the breaker. This accident may be classed with the preceding one in the list of loose discipline, for this was not by any means a safe place to ride in, and there is no doubt that the foreman had seen persons riding on the dirt cars time and again, without ever trying to restrain them from so doing.

Accident No. 26. — John Rice, a slate-picker, met his death on 14th September, at William Penn colliery, by suffocation. The deceased and two other boys went down into the chestnut coal bin during the dinner hour to play, and while there, jumping on the coal, the car loader raised the gate, and the coal rushed out of the bin, drawing with it Rice, and completely burying him. To rescue the boy, it was necessary to draw all the coal out through the gate, which was done. The boy was taken out of the same opening, but life was extinct.

Ex. Doc]

Reports of the Inspectors of Mcses.

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Ex. Doc]

Reports op the Inspectors of Mines.

Cause of Accidents.

Severely burnt by igniting powder.

Leg broke by a fall of coal.

Side hurt.

Ankle cut, running after a car on gangway.

Head cut by coal falling.

Lrg broke by a prop falling on it.

Both arms broken whilst Boupling cars.

Name of Person Injured.

John Loyed, . . . William Hoff, . . . William Cafferty, . Miles Keller, . . . John Kelly, John lUass, . . Patrick ilurphey, .

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Phila. and Reading Coal and Iron Co., . Phila. and Reading Coal and Iron Co., . Phlla, and Reading Coal and Iron Co., . Phila. and Reading Coal and Iron Co., . Phila. and Beading Coal and Iron Co., .

Location.

Mahanoy City, . . Mahanoy City, . . Girardsvllle, . . . Mahanoy City, . . Shenandoah, . . . Shenandoah, . . Slienandoah, . .

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26 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10

TABLE No. 8.— Names of Collieries, by whom Operated, names of Land

Name of Colliery.

Name of Operators.

Name of Land Owners.

William Penn, . . . Lehigh, No. 3, . . . Packer, No. 4, . . . Shenandoah, No. 2, Colorado, No. 1, . . Hammond,

Connor

Girard

Bear Ridge, No. 1, . . Pear Ridge, No. 2, . . Keeley Run. No. 1, . Keelev Run. No. 2, .

Kooh-i-noor,

Gilherton,

Draper

Stanton

La wren ee,

Turkey Run

Furnace

Cambridge,

Romoke

West Shenandoah, . .

Cnyler

Girard Mammoth, . . Fast Gilherton. ...

Fast Stanton

Indian Ridge,

Plank Ridge

Knickerbocker, . . .

Fllen Gowan

Boston Run,

Flmwood

Mahanov City

North Mahanoy, . . .

Schuylkill.

Shenandoah City, . .

St. Nicholas,

Bear Run,

Suffolk

Staffordshire,

North Star,

Harford

Honev Brook. No. 1, . Honey Brook, No. 4, . Honey Brook, No. 5, . Tunnel Ridge,

Coplev

Glendon

West Lehigh,

Primrose,

Vulcan,

Morris,

William Penn Coal Company, . . .

Philadelphia Coal Compiny, Lehigh.

Philadelphia Coal Company, Lehigh,

Philadelphia Coal Company, Lehigh,

Philadelphia Coal Company, Lehigh,

Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co.,

Philad'a ft Reading foal ft Tron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal & Iron Co.,

Bear Ridge Coal Companv,

Bear Ridge Toil Company,

Thomas Coal Company,

Thomas Coil Comnanv

Richard TTecksher ft Co

Gilberton Coal Company,

Miller. Hocb A- Co

Lawrence, Merkle & Co.,

TTaas, Br, nizer & Co.,

Thomas Riekert

Cambridge Coal Company,

Davis & Miles, ,

Philad'a Reading Coal ft Iron Co.,

Heaton ft Brothers

Girard Mammoth Coal Company, . ,

Peter Mailer ft Co., ". . . ,

Richardson ft Co

Philad'a ft Reading Coal & Tron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal & Tron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a & Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a* Reading Coal ft Tron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal & Tron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal Tron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal Tron Co., Philad'a & Reading Coal ft Iron Co.,

St. Nicholas Coal Company,

Wiggan ftTriebles,

Suffolk Coal Company,

Ward. Jones ft Oliver,

North Star Coal Company,

Kins. Tyler & Co.,

K. B. Leisenring,

F. B. Leisenring

K. B. Leisenring . .

George W. Cole

Lentz ft Bowman

T. C. Harden ft Co. Fisher ft Hazztrd, Primrose Coal Company, Andrew Turn hull, Parmley ft Russel,

Girard estate, controlled by the city

of Philadelphia

Girard estate, controlled by the city

of Philadelphia

Girard estate, controlled by the city

of Philadelphia, .

Girard estate, controlled by the city

of Philadelphia

Girard estate, controlled by the city

of Philadelphia

Girard estate, controlled bv the city

of Philadelphia,

Girard estate,

Girard estate,

Girard estate,

Girard estate,

Giraril estate

Gilbert. Shaffer, and others,

Gilhert, Shaffer, and others,

GUhert, Shaffer, and others

Gilbert. Shaffer, ami others,

Gilbert, Shaffer, and others,

Gilbert. Shaffer, and others,

Gilbert, Shiffer, and others, . .

Gilbert. Shaffer, and others,

Gilbert. Shaffer, and others,

Gilbert. Shaffer, aud others,

Girard heirs, .

Girard heirs

Gilbert, Shaffer, and others,

Gilbert Shaffer, and others

Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Com] & Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading CohI & Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal & Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal A Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal & Iron Co.. Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co. Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Philad'a Reading Coal ft Iron Co., Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Co., Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Co., Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Co., Philad'a ft Reading Coal ft Iron Co.,

Delano Land Company,

Delano Land Company,

Delano Land Company,

Delano Land Company,

Delano Land Company,

Delano Land Company,

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines.

Owners, aud number of tons produced by each. Colliery respectively.

Where Situated.

West Mahanoy township, West Mahanoy township, West Mahanoy township, West Mahanoy township, Colorado,

Girardsville, . . . . Girardsville, . . . . Girardsville, . . . . Mahanoy Plane, . . Mahanoy Plane, . . Shenandoah City, . . Shenandoah City. Shenandoah City, Gillierton borough, Gilbert on borough, Gllberton borough, Gillierton borough, Shenandoah, . .

Gillierton

Shenandoah, . . . . Shenandoah, . . . . Shenandoah, . . . .

Raven Run

Raven Run,

Gllberton,

Gillierton,

Shenandoah City, . Shenandoah City, . Yatesville, . .

Lanigan's

Boston Run, . . . . Mahanoy City, . . . Mahanoy City, . . . Mahanoy City, . . . Mahanoy City, . . .

Shenandoah

St. Nicholas, . . . . St. Nicholas, . . . . St. Nicholas, . . . . Mahanoy City, . . . Mahanoy Citv, . . . Mahanoy City, . . .

Audenriert,

Audenried,

Audeniied

Mahanoy City, . . . Mahanoy City, . - . Mahanoy City, . . . Mahanoy City, . . . Mahanoy City, . Mahanoy Cit, . . . East Mahanoy, . . .

124,000 87,747

118,118 63,871

15, 70, 7,

164,476

117,165

101,860

88,830

85,955

121,416 102,639 68,905

162,027 87,832 108,314 60,529 2,862

lfO.762 55,570 34,608

155,131

65,260

86,886

21,058

47,903

92,433

66,181

8,265

1,504

102,781

101,281

132,869

30,311)

41,212

23,405

50,573

6,356

3,583

Os

S5

123,000 83,852

88,411 62, 181

102,000 73,000 44,520 51,141

100,358

74,623 71,997 5,000 69.0T0 1,000 105,000 6,000 56,000 86,000 35,000 35,000 57,674 7,000

62,451 64,213 96,535 38,851 42,139 3 (,333 41,447 6,788

0; £

Reports op Inspectors of Mines.

[No. 10,

TABLE No. 7, — Shows the number of persons employed above and beloiv ground in of tiventy-five pounds per keg, number of days worked by each colliery respective- being operated.

Name of Colliery.

William Perm, ,

Lehigh, No. 3

Packer, No. 4

Shenandoah, No. 2,

Colorado. No. 1,

Hammond,

Conner,

Bear Ridge, No. 1,

Bear Ridge, No. 2,

Girard, ...

Thomas collieries, Nos. 1 and 2,

Kooh-i-noor,

Gilbertou, ,

Draper,

Stanton,

Lawrence

Turkey Run,

Furnace,

Cambridge ,

Kooh-i-noor Primrose,

West Lehigh,

Glendon,

Cuyler,

Girard Mammoth,

Indian Ridge,

Plank Ridge

Knickerbocker,

Ellen Gowan,

Boston Run,

Elmwood,

Mahanoy City, ,

North Mahanoy,

Schuylkill,

Shonandoah City,

West Shenandoah,

St. Nicholas,

Bear Run,

Suffolk

Stafordshire,

North Star,

Honey Brook, No. 1,

Honey Brook, No. 4,

Honey Brook, No. 5,

Tunnel Ridge,

Copley,

Primrose,

Morris,

NUMBER OP PERSONS EM- PLOYED l/SDBK O ROUND.

14')

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26*

Number Op Persons Em- Ployed Above Ground.

S-3

£5

Ex. Doc]

Reports of Inspectors of Mines.

the district, the amount of powder use<1, amount of coal produced per keg of powder ly, the name of seam being worked marked "IF.," the kind and number of openings

Amount Op Powdek Used.

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Name Of Seam Worked.

Kind Of Opeving And Number Of Same.

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1,200 1,795 2,525 1,885 1,334 1,535

30,000 41,875 63,125 47, 125 33,350 38,375 47,500

19,375 55,1.25 57,500 13,275 20,475 2,5 0 2,a70 42, 125 12,125 2,500

20,750 27,050 53, 125 47,000 51,575 56,250 32,250 46,2*

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Reports of tiie Inspectors of Mines.

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32 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [Xo. 10,

Improvements.

Under the above head, ventilation has received considerable attention during the past year. However, there is still room for much improve- ment yet, although I have no hesitancy in saying that this branch of mining has been improved over one hundred per cent, within the last three years.

Three new fans have been erected during the year. One, fifteen feet in diameter, at Plank Ride colliery, and a twelve foot fan at furnace colliery ; also, a common exhaust fan, twelve feet diameter, at Copley colliery. Five fans have been remodeled. Three which had open peripheries were in- closed. Two screw propeller fans have been changel into common ex- haust.

The following are the duties performed by one of the fans, having an open periphery, fifteen feet diameter ; vanes, lour feet six inches by five feet, before it was closed :

Engine, direct-acting cylinder, eight inch diameter, twelve inch stroke.

Steam pressure, fifty pounds per square inch.

Speed of fan, eighty revolutions per minute.

Area of air-way where measurements were taken, fifty-four square feet.

Velocity of current, five hundred and sixty-five feet per minute.

Amount of air discharged, thirty thousand five hundred and ten cubic feet per minute.

Ventilating pressure, as indicated by water gauge at fan, three and sixty-four hundredth pounds per square foot.

The following are the results obtained after the periphery was inclosed.

The opening at the throat of discharge was reduced to three feet six inches by four feet six inches :

Speed of fan increased to ninety-one revolutions per minute.

Velocity of air current, seven hundred feet per minute.

Volume of air, thirty-seven thousand eight hundred cubic feet per minute.

Ventilating pressure, as indicated by water gauge, six and eighty-six one-hundredth pounds.

These results were obtained under similar circumstances to the first ex- periment. The same instruments were used, and all measurements taken at the same points. The temperature of the upcast in both trials was about the same. The full head of steam, in both cases were used, at fifty pounds at the boilers.

The difference of power expended in moving the air column, would be thus:

Before Inclosed. 30,510 + 0.7 + 5.2 -j- 33,000 about 3.33 horse power.

After Closed. 37,800 -f 1.03 + 5.2 33,000 =6.50 about horse power.

Ex. Doc]

Reports op the Inspectors op Mines.

The two other fans which were inclosed, showed similar results. I per- sonally attended the closing in of two of the three, and took the measure- ments myself, as the changes were being made at my request.

The above figures show, conclusively, that when the fans were running with open periphery, nearly one hundred per cent, of the power spent was expended on the outside atmosphere, which was due to increased density.

The results obtained in converting the propeller fans were even greater. The volume of air, in one instance, was increased from a little over eight thousand cubic feet to fifteen thousand per minute; in both cases the fan made one hundred and twenty revolutions per minute, and of the same diameter.

The two maps accompanying this report, one showing a vertical, the other a horizontal cross-section of the coal measures in the Shenandoah and Mahanoy basins, which is fully explained on the face, showing the thickness and nature of all the intervening measures, from the Little Tracy to the Buck Mountain seam. The Ellen Growan shaft is located between the Orchard and Primrose seams, of which I gave a short description in my last }'ear's report.

Summary of Accidents in tlie Shenandoah District.

Accidents.

Fatal.

Non-fatal.

Explosions of fire-damp, . .

Falls of coal,

Falls of roof,

Explosions of powder, . . . Crushed by mine cars, . . . Falling down shafts, Miscellaneous under ground, Miscellaneous above ground,

Totals,

Total quantity of coal produced in tons,

Number of tons produced per life lost,

Number of fatal accidents, ...

Number of lives lost by such accidents,

Number of persons employed,

Number of tons produced per person employed, . . . .

Number of collieries in operation during 1878,

Number of kegs of powder used,

Amount of powder used in pounds,

Average number of tons of coal produced per keg used,

Number of mine locomotives in use inside,

Number of mine locomotives in use outside,

Fumber of steam boilers in use,

,049,275

117,279

10,255

58,151

,543,775

Samuel Gay,

Inspector of Goal Mines.

Mine Rep. — 3.

34 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

Third Or Shamokin District.

Mining District of Schuylkill,

Ashland, March 22, 1879.

To His Excellency Henry M. Hoyt,

Governor of the Commonwealth, of Pennsylvania :

Sir : In compliance with the requirements of an act of General Assem- bly of the Commonwealth, approved the 3d day of March, 1870, entitled "An act providing for the health and safety of persons employed in coal mines," I have the honor to herewith submit my report of the character and condition of the collieries of my district, from the 28th day of April, 1878, the date of my appointment, from my own records, and from 1st of Januaiy to that date, from the notes and records of my predecessor, to the 31st day of December, 1878.

This report contains the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents that occurred during the year, with the causes thereof.

Tables, containing the number of boilers, engines, their aggregate horse power, fans, number of mine wagons, yards of mine track, number of mules, number of tons of coal mined and sent to market, with estimated amount consumed at collieries and by employes, and such other informa- tion as I deemed pertinent and of interest to the public. The total quantity of coal sent to market in tons, 2,816,747.14 Estimated amount consumed by machinery and employes, . 253,471.00

Total production of fifty-four collieries, 3,070,218.14

The fatal accidents for year are forty-seven, an increase of nineteen over that of last year ; the non-fatal accidents for }7ear are one hundred and twenty-eight, an increase of sixty over that of last year.

I regret very much, this increase of casualties, and have spent many sleepless nights in devising means by which they might at least be lessened, if not prevented. The cause of increase may be properly attributed, in a great measure, to the unsteady employment caused by frequent suspen- sion of work, at intervals, throughout the year, the employes thereby earn- ing but a scant livelihood for themselves and families. On resumption of work, after these suspensions, the caution and carefulness that should be, is not exercised. The superincumbent strata constantly pressing and draw-

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 35

ing, and, in some cases, almost ready to fall. Regardless or ignorant of this fact, the men rush into their places with undue haste, and without that examination which should be made, to insure safety ; and, again, their undue haste after a blast, frequently not giving time for the smoke, caused by the blast, to be cleared away, and in not taking time to dress off all loose coal from shots or blasts.

In all these cases, it is the imperative duty of the person having charge of the mine to see that all precautionary measures are taken to provide against danger, and it is his duty, under the law, to see that they are en- forced; telling them to do it is not enough, it is his duty to see that it is done, in accordance with the eighth section of the mine ventilation act. And persons neglecting or refusing to comply, will be dealt with in com- pliance with that law.

Having discharged our duties with impartiality, and with a proper re- spect for all whom we meet with, in their discharge, while using due dili- gence and care to uphold the law, being mindful of our responsibility ami duty to those employed in mines, and deploring the loss of so many valua- ble lives of persons of our own calling,

I am, with great respect, your Excellency's Obedient servant,

James Ryan.

Fatal Accidents.

Nos. 1 to 5. January 15. Henry Jones, miner, aged fortj'-five years; Hugh Wilson, miner, aged fifty years ; William Basket, miner, aged forty- five years; George Shivelhood, miner, aged thirty years; and Jacob Guir, driver boy, aged eighteen years, were killed at Potts' colliery by explosion of carbureted hydrogen gas. Jones, Basket, and Shivelhood, were work- ing in the west gangway, and, according to ante-mortem testimony of Shivelhood, there came a rush of gas upon them in the gangway, they ran, taking their safetj'-lamps with them, which were burning, full of sul- phur. That he, Shivelhood, smothered the flame in his lamp, but that he saw his partner, Basket, blow in his, and that the explosion occurred imme- diately after. Shivelhood died very shortly after giving his testimony. Hugh Wilson was working in the upper monkey or air course at the time of the accident. After the explosion he was found in the cross-hole lying on his back, without any marks of violence, the evidence leading to the presumption that in retreating outward after the explosion he was over- come by the after-damp, which caused his death. The driver boy, Guir, was found about two hundred yards from face of gangway. From all the evidence, and the condition of gangway on examination after the explo- sion, the conclusion arrived at in his case was that he was struck by some of the debris that was strewn about the gangway by the force of the ex- plosion. Seven batteries and five doors were blown down. The mule he was driving was also killed at same time.

36 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

No. C>. January 22. Peter Scholia, bottom man, aged nineteen years, fell clown Short Mountain slope. The deceased was some distance up from' foot of slope, and in the act of pulling the bell wire, when it broke, pre- cipitating him to the bottom, causing immediate death.

No. 7. January 26. John Metzinger, miner, aged forty-seven years, by fall of coal at Merriam colliery. The deceased was skipping pillars in the east gangway workings, known as "the flats," and shortly after com- mencing work in the morning at pillar of No. 31 breast, he was barring down a bad piece of coal from the pillar that he was working, when about twenty tons of coal fell from a slip, which falling upon him caused injuries from which he died on the following day.

No. 8. February 6. Morris Wise, miner, aged forty years, by explosion of powder at Luke Fidler colliery. The deceased desiring to fill his lamp with oil, got hold of the powder can, with powder in it, and in attempting to fill his lamp the powder exploded, resulting in instantaneous death.

No. 9. February 8. William Messner, miner, aged thirty-one years, smothered by coal and dirt in No. 4 gangwa}', Short Mountain slope. De- ceased, with two others, were preparing to put in a prop. While engaged sinking the prop hole — the others (John Holley and Jerry Splain) having gone for the prop — he was caught and covered by a rush of coal and dirt. When found about two and a half hours afterwards, he was lying on his back, in the ditch, his head covered with water, dirt, and siush.

Nos. 10 and 11. Februaiy 28. William M. Williams, inside foreman, aged fifty years, and John Mahony, fire boss, by explosion of sulphur at Preston colliery, No. 3. Williams and Mahony were examining the air course on the west side of the workings with safety and naked lamp. Wil- liams being ahead with naked light, fired surphur, causing an explosion by which he was instantly killed, and so seriousby burning Mahony as to cause his death on the 8th of March.

No. 12. April 1. James Hughes, engineer, aged thirty-eight years, at Locust Run slope, by riding on ascending gun-boat. While ascending the slope, and having hold of the spreader, when the car reached the flat in slope the spreader flew upwards, throwing him under the car, injuring to such extent as to cause his death tne next day.

Nos. 13 and 14. April 8. Thomas Ben ney, miner, aged twenty-five years, and Henry Brennan, miner, aged thirty-one years, by explosion of carbu- reted hydiogen gas at Keystone colliery. From all the evidence and examination into this casualty, it appeared that a large body of explosive gas was driven at a high velocity upon and through the gauze of their (deceased) safety lamps, thus causing an explosion and immediate death.

No. 15. April 30. Uriah Malick, boy, on repairs, aged sixteen years, by fall of top rock at Big Mountain colliery. While engaged in cleaning off slate in No. 9, east gangway, a piece of top rock fell on him, breaking his leg above the knee and seriously injuring it between knee and ankle. The leg was amputated and boy died May 3.

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Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 31

No. 16. May 8. Frank Miller, junior, slate-picker, aged twelve years, by jumping on cars while in motion at Monitor colliery. Deceased, while on his way to work in the morning, in attempting to board a moving train of empty coal cars fell under them, the cars running over and killing him.

No. IT. May 13. John F. Wirt, aged nineteen years, by starting machin- ery of graA'ity plane at Short Mountain colliery. From the testimony rendered at inquest, it appeared that in the act of starting the machinery of gravity plane No. 1, counter gangway, west side, in using the bar he put it at the wrong side of the spoke in the fly-wheel, the bar striking and knocking him down, with his head on fly-wheel shaft and leg on fly-wheel spoke — the position in which he was found — with skull fractured and brains oozing out.

No. 18. May IT. Frank Miller, miner, aged forty-one years, bjr fall of coal, at Monitor colliery. The deceased was working in a breast on lower east gangway. A loose piece of coal hanging on the east or inside pillar, which the inside boss (Joseph Byersmith) had told deceased and his " but- ty,'1 the morning previous to accident, was dangerous, and to bar or blast it down, which neglecting, it fell on deceased, causing instant death.

No. 19. June 8. William Mc Andrew, driver, aged sixteen years, caught by mine cars, at Luke Fidler colliery. This accident occurred east of bottom of shaft, at a junction of roads, by two loaded trips of mine cars meeting, jamming deceased between them, killing him. The deceased had instruc- tions from William Hutchinson, inside foreman, to always stop his trip in the cross-cut, and go out and see if the stright road was clear for him, before he drove out. The diiver on the straight gangway had the right of way, to drive in and out without stopping. The deceased, regardless or forgetful of his instructions, drove out without stopping to see if the road was clear, and thus ran into a trip then on straight road, resulting, as above related, in death.

No. 20. June 12. Thomas Owens, driver, aged twenty -two years, caught between loaded mine cars and a mule, at Keystone colliery. The deceased was driving between the middle and inside turn-outs, west gangwa}% there was a wagon left to be loaded at breast twenty-seven, located between the middle and inside turn-outs, and when Owens was about to start with his trip, he was told, by William Thomas, that he need not sprag his trip, as he (Thomas) thought that the wagon at mumber twenty-seven was loaded and taken out. Owens, upon reaching this point with his trip, bumped against the unloaded car, which had not been removed, jamming him be- tween the mule he was driving and the first wagon of his trip, inflicting injuries from which he died shortly after.

No. 21. June 15. Charles Becker, starter, aged twenty-three years, by explosion of gas at Short Mountain slope. This man, accompanied by another, named Chappel, went to start chute of breast No. 33, gangway No. 1, contrary to orders, in not waiting for the fire-boss to make an ex- amination, and report to them if safe, thus igniting the gas, causing an

38 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

explosion, the injuries from which caused the death of Charles Becker the same day.

No. 22. July 11. George W. Fisher, bottom man and driver, aged sev- enteen years, by breaking of rope in slope No. 10, at Cameron colliery. The deceased was assisting bottom man (James Dormer) to put on loaded wagons and take off empty ones, at bottom of slope, and were in the habit of going into slope bottom before the empty wagon was down, thus, when the rope, attached to loaded car ascending, broke, he was caught by the descending car, standing on the track upon which it had been ascending? and instantly killed.

No. 23. July 27. David James, miner, aged thh'ty-four yeai's, by fall of coal, at West Brookside colliery. While engaged barring off some coal, from blast that he had discharged the evening previous, his " butty," John N. Stuch, engaged in drilling a hole that he (James) desired to lighten by removing the coal he was barring; and, although warned by his "butty " to be careful that it was dangerous, but a few moments elapsed when it fell on him, killing him instantly.

No. 24. August 13. Joseph Seltzer, laborer, aged twenty-five years, by fall of slate, at Big Mine Run colliery. This accident occurred in east counter-gangway, at head of new plane, known as " tunnel drift." The miner, George Shade, for whom the deceased was working, testified that he had examined the place the morning before the accident, and considered it safe.

No. 25. August 17. Samuel Carl, miner, aged twenty -nine years, fell down man way, Cameron colliery. From evidence elicited at inquest, it appeared that deceased was driving a cross-heading from breast No. 73 to breast No. 7 4, and while in the act of firing a blast, left the match too short to give him time to get away from it, and that, in his great hurry, he fell down the manway, causing immediate death.

No. 26. August 19. Joseph Louden, laborer, aged fifty-seven }Tears, was caught between mine wagons, Lykens Yalley colliery. The deceased was engaged pushing a mine wagon on pivot, at top of No. 2, east gangway, gravity plane, neglecting to block loaded car, that he had left on turnout, which starting and following after caught him between it and the wagon he was pushing, breaking his leg below the knee, and inflicting other in- juries, from which he died same night at twelve o'clock.

No. 27. August 19. Josiah Gross, miner's laborer, aged twenty-three yeai's. Slip of coal while loosening prop, at Locust Gap colliery. The de- ceased was directed, by the miner for whom he was working, (Charles Tague, his brother-in-law,) to go for a juggler prop, down the breast where they were lying ; instead of doing this, he went into the next breast to loosen a prop that was set and fast, with coal on the head of it ; he had succeeded in partly loosening it, when a part of a slip of coal that was lying on the head of it, the prop fell on him, inflicting such injuries as to cause his death the same day.

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 39

No. 28. August 22. Christian Michel, miner, aged forty-seven years, by fall of slate, at West Brookside colliery. Deceased was shoveling coal over to the wagon, from east side of breast, working under slate that he had been told, by the inside foreman, to be careful and take down before work- ing under it ; yet, neglecting to do so, it fell on him, causing instant death.

This accident is of a class that result from criminal carelessness, and cannot be too severely condemned ; and it cannot be looked upon in any other light than that of involuntary suicide.

Nos. 29 and 30. September 7. Joseph Manning, aged twenty-three years, and James C. Iverson, aged thirty-three years, both miners, by fall of coal, at Stewavtsville colliery. The evidence in this case showed that they had fired a blast, and, after unloading a wagon which they had loaded in their breast, and which, in running out, had got off the track, they returned to the face of the breast, and were engaged barring off the loose coal from blast that had been fired, when the coal fell, killing Manning instantly, and inflicting such injuries on Iverson that he died therefrom, on Novem- ber 14.

No. 31. September 14. William Cawley, miner, aged thirty-four years, fall of coal, at Big Mine Run colliery. This is another of the class of acci- dents arising from neglect, on the part of the miner, to use that ordinary care he should to protect his life ; and, on the part of the inside overseer, a criminal dereliction of duty, as in section eight of the ventilation act, it recites, among other duties of the inside overseer, " the timbering, to see, as the miners advance in their excavations, that all loose coal, slate, or rock overhead is carefully secured against falling, and all things connected with and appertaining to the safety of the men at work in the mine." Shortly prior to this accident, I had made an examination of this mine, and had directed the inside foreman that the place was not properly timbered, and that it should be immediately attended to, which he promised to do. The evidence at the inquest showed that the inside foreman had informed the deceased that the place was not safe for him to work in until he had securely propped it; that the deceased had promised to do so, but had neglected it, and consequently was added another victim to neglect. It would be well for bosses and men to study carefully the ventilation act, with which they are liberally supplied, to know, and each perform their duties, before being compelled to answer before a court for their neglect.

No. 32. September 19. Thomas Beadle, laborer, aged nineteen years, by fall of slate at Henry Cla}' Shaft, No. 1. The deceased was working as laborer for Richard Tucket, in a breast on east side of shaft, No. 9 vein. Tucket, in his evidence, stated that he had sounded the piece that fell about ten minutes before it did so, and that it then sounded solid. On examination of the place, I found it well propped ; the piece that fell was slipped up at the face of the breast, almost over the coal, while down from the face of the breast, about eight or nine feet, there was a feather edge

40 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

slip running up towards, and meeting the slip at the face of the breast, the weightiest part being at the face. Where the props were under it it was thin and light, thus accounting for its falling so treacherously.

No. 33. October 2. Patrick Buggy, miner, aged fifty-eight years, by fall of coal at Cameron colliery. Deceased was working with his son. They had fired a shot in the bottom bench of coal, which did not throw out the coal that was before it. It had cracked and broke the coal inside, where the powder exploded. They then drilled a hole about two feet deep to work the outside coal, but again did not throw what was before it. Thereupon, the deceased started to drill a hole in top bench, about four feet from where the other holes had been fired. There was opposite to him a piece of top coal that was slipped, both on the pillar and at the face of the breast, and while drilling, this piece fell out, squeezing him against prop, inflicting such injuries that he died next day, October 3.

No. 34. October 5. Martin Greager, miner, aged twenty-eight years, smothered in chute at Ben Franklin colliery. Deceased was in the act of starting some coal and stuff that was blocked at the head of his chute in the breast he was working, and in doing so stood on the stuff in chute, when it started, taking him down with it, and smothering him.

No. 35. October 1. John Griek, miner, aged thirty-four years, by fall of bone coal at Monitor colliery. The deceased had fired a shot in the blasting bench of coal, and had commenced to dress or pick off the loose coal that the blast had not thrown. There was a bench of bone coal over him. It was about one and two thirds feet in thickness, eight and one half feet long outside, five feet inside, and three and one half feet deep, slipped on pillar and out towards middle of breast. This fell on him while engaged dressing off shot, and was injured in such manner that he died while being brought to his home.

No. 36. October 9. Edward Sweet, miner, aged fifty years, struck by coal from blast at Continental colliery. The deceased was working skip- ping pillar of No. 88 breast, and from testimony of Martin Purcell, who was working next breast to deceased, it appeared that Sweet had fired two shots about twelve o'clock, mid-day. That about five o'clock, p. M., the inside foreman, in his rounds, found the deceased lying at the opposite side from where he had been working, face downwards, in loose coal, and near the heading that he always ran into when firing shots, evidently showing that he had been struck with coal while retreating, after igniting blast.

No. 37. October 10. John Smith, miner, aged twenty-five years, by fall of top rock at Monitor colliery. The deceased went clown from the face of his breast, to get a piece of coal that was lying in the goaf or gob, with the purpose of putting it in the chute, and that while doing so, a piece of top rock fell, striking him on the head, killing him almost instantly.

No. 38. October 21. Thomas Sykes, miner, aged forty-three years, from heart disease, at West Brookside colliery. John Gleason, his " butty," testified at inquest as follows : " I was loading a wagon at bottom of slope,

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 41

about five yards from where deceased was working. He was drilling a hole for a blast. I heard him slip. Called to him, but receiving no answer, went to his assistance. He had turned around, and was leaning with his body against the coal that he was preparing to blast. I called for help, and when it came, carried him out to gangway. He died in about twenty minutes from time he stopped working." The verdict of in- quest was : That Thomas Sykes died from heart disease."

No. 39. November 6. Samuel D. Auman, laborer, aged nineteen years, by fall of coal at Bast colliery. The deceased was laboring with David Jones, in breast No. 46, east counter gangway, Skidmore vein. That he was putting coal in chute, when a slip of coal from the pillar fell on him. David Jones testified that he had sounded the piece twice shortly before it fell, and that it had sounded good, in which he was corroborated by testimony of Edward Monahan.

Nos. 40, 41, and 42. November 11. John Murray, bottom man, aged forty three years; Martin Murray, bottom man, aged forty-six years; and James McHugh, bottom man, aged twenty -three years, by descent of loaded mine car by breaking of eye bolt. at Locust Spring slope. The center hitching, or eye bolt of a loaded mine car that was being hoisted, broke when near the top of slope. The car thus released in descending the slope caught the deceased at foot, killing them instantlv. From testimony taken at inquest it appeared that this was the third or fourth car of which the center hitching bolt had either broke or pulled out ; that after the first or second occurrence of this kind, the district superintendent had given or- ders to have side hooks placed on the wagons, as it was not considered safe to hoist loaded cars with the center bolt. The hoisting of two wagons together was stopped, but in three or four days again commenced, hoisting sometimes with side chains, much oftener with center chain, which, from all the evidence given, was considered unsafe, and should have been stopped by the foreman in charge.

No. 43. November 14. Abraham Walters, miner, aged thirty-one years, run over by loaded mine wagons at Williamstown colliery. He was walk- ing through tunnel in the morning to his work. The east side driver was coming towards him with a loaded trip of wagons, and also the west driver following with another trip of loaded wagons, there being two tracks in the tunnel. It is supposed that the deceased intended to get behind the last wagon of the east driver's trip before being reached by the trip of west driver, but did not succeed in doing so, as he was caught by last wagon of east driver and trip of west driver, knocking him down and running over him, inflicting injuries from which he died in about two hours from their occurrence. He could have saved himself by going to west side of tunnel where both trips could have passed him.

No. 44. November 15. Gabriel Derr, miner, aged twenty -three years, by explosion of gas at Merriam colliery. A call of natui'e caused him to go into a breast that was finished, and going up near the face of it ignited

42 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

some standing gas, caused by the breast running up from heading to point where finished. No gas existed in this breast while being worked. Derr died from his injuries on 19th November.

No. 45. November 16. John Hughes, driver, aged fifteen years, run over or jammed by empty mine wagons at Tunnel colliery. He had left the territory to which he was assigned by the inside foreman, Thomas Ed- wards, and gone to that of William H. Tratham's, with whom he was play- ing; and that having called Tratham some improper name, he ran after him, and cracked his whip. Hughes ran along the low side of gangway, but when found was on the high side of gangway, partly under the last wagon of trip, and it off the track, life being extinct.

No. 46. November 21. Philip S. Hoffman, miner, aged thirty-four years, by fall of top rock at Short Mountain colliery. A piece of top rock hav- ing broken or bumped off, a portion of it fell on him while at work in his breast, causing instantaneous death.

No. 41. December 6. George Zimmerman, slate picker, aged thirteen years, caught in monkey rolls at Franklin colliery, No. 2. Zimmerman and a boy named Reifsnyder were " cutting up" with each other, when the former jumped from a window, where he was, across fly wheel of monkej' rolls to the roller box, and from there jumped around to where his seat was, which he missed, landing on the sheet iron in schute, on which he slipped, the rollers catching his left foot, drawing it in up and above the knee. The injuries received caused death to ensue on the 15th December.

Recapitulation of Fatal Accidents for the Year ending 31st December, 1878.

Explosion of gas, 11

Explosion of powder, 1

Fall of coal, 10

Fall of slate, 3

Fall of rock, 3

Mine wagons, 10

Machinery, 2

Blast, 1

Fell down slope, I

Smothered by coal, &c, 2

Breaking of hoisting rope, 1

Fell down manway, 1

Heart disease, 1

Total, 47

Leaving twenty-nine widows and ninety-five orphans.

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Recapitulation of Non-Fatal Accidents.

Explosion of firedamp, 12

Falls of coal, 33

Falls of roof, 11

Crushed by mine cars, 24

Explosion of blasting power, 2

Kicked by mule, 1

Trodden on by mule, 1

Miscellaneous, underground, 33

Miscellaneous, outside or overground, 10

Total, 127

TABULATED STATEMENT for five years of accidents, and their ratio to coal mined, and total number of employees for Third or Shamokin district of mining district of Schuylkill.

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Report in detail of the Shamokin Division of the Mining District of Schuylkill, for the year ending December 31, 1878.

The district comprises all the collieries west of Givardville, Schuylkill county, including Preston's Nos. 2 and 3, all the collieries in Columbia, Northumberland, and Dauphin counties, together with West Brookside colliery, in Williams Valley.

There are sixty-seven collieries of all classes, viz : Five shafts, 55 slopes, 49 tunnels, 55 drifts, 11 inside slopes, with 54 breakers, 673 steam boilers, 305 engines=17, 269 horse power, 50 steam fans, 1,336 mules, 4,111 mine wagons, 325,747 yards of mine track in use.

There were 10,750 men and boys employed inside and outside, produc- ing 3,069,822 tons of coal, in 157 days, average work of breaker.

Have made 167 visits, traveled by railroad and on foot, 3,437 miles out- side, and 255 miles inside, through the workings of the collieries, making a total of 3,692 miles, outside and inside, traveled.

48 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

Improvements in Ventilation.

Mr. J. F. Audenried has put up a sixteen-foot fan on the eastern limits of his Continental colliery, near Centralia, Columbia county.

Shortly after my appointment, I visited this colliery, and found it in a deplorable condition. The men suffering from the gas and smoke of a locomotive, used down in the mine. I gave instructions to the parties having charge of the colliery to put up a fan on the inside part of the workings, to furnish a fresh supply of pure air to the men ; also, to put two doors on the gangway, between where the locomotive ran to and where the men were working, and stop the breast pillar headings opposite the doors, so as to keep the gas and smoke of the locomotive from the men, to open the cross-holes from the gangway to the return air-course, and let the outside fan, work on the part of the workings that the locomotive was running in.

This was complied with. I visited the colliery shortly after, and found everything very satisfactory. The men busy working, and driving out coal.

Mr. Montelius has driven out an air-shaft, preparatory to putting up a fan on his Stewartville colliery, at Mount Carmel, Northumberland county.

The Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company have erected two fans at their Preston, No. 3, colliery, at Girardsville ; a fifteen-foot fan to ventilate the south dip, and a sixteen-foot fan to ventilate the Hun- ter lower workings. The same company have put up an eighteen-foot fan at their West Brookside colliery, -to ventilate the deep slope workings, and a fifteen-foot fan to ventilate the Bast colliery tunnel workings of the Ashland basin.

Ventilation.

It is with feelings of more than ordinary pleasure that I am enabled to state that in the inside workings, with respect to the better and more com- plete ventilation of the mines located in my district, there is a very de- cided improvement, yet not so general as is desirable.

In the performance of my duties, in inspecting collieries, 1 found they were somewhat partly deficient in the requirements of the ventilation act. Upon my calling the attention of the parties, in charge of these collieries, to their condition, and the necessity of their making the required improve- ments, so as to comply with the law, I was met with the excuse that their collieries did not generate sulphur, (carbureted hydrogen gas,) and there- fore not necessary to have air carried to all parts of the workings, as in collieries generating sulphur. In one instance a superintendent, whom I instructed in regard to the necessary improvements that were required and demanded, in order to comply with the law, responded that I had better take charge of the colliery altogether. And this, in respect to a colliery in which workmen were suffering from noxious and poisonous gases, caused in part by explosions of powder and smoke from lamps, and in which there was not a sufficient quantity of air passing through the mine to carry those gases off.

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 49

While it is true that I have a legal remedy to compel compliance with the proper ventilation of mines, yet there are considerations that I deem bear with equal force to deter me from having recourse to these remedies, when the danger therefrom is not imminent. Chief of which is the de- pressed condition of the coal trade, limiting the number of days that the collieries are worked, and the low price of labor depriving the working men and their families of many of the necessaries of life, and where there is a possibility of having the owners or agents make the necessary im- provements, it is with very great reluctance that I would have recourse to an injunction restraining the working of the colliery, or the institution of criminal proceedings against the parties.

It is, or should be, well known that there are gases in mines other than, that of carbureted hydrogen, which, although not of the same dangerous- character, are highly deleterious and injurious to the health and lives of the men working therein; these are choke or black damp and white damp,, the former known by chemists or scientists as caibonic acid gas, and the latter as carbonic oxide gas.

J. J. Atkinson states, in his treatise on gases met with in mines, " That carbonic acid gas is dangerous to life when the air breathed contains eight per cent., or one twelfth of this gas. Lights are extinguished in air con- taining ten per cent., or one tenth of it. This gas, besides being given off naturally in many mines, is always found to result from the breathing of men and animals, the burning of candles and lamps, and mixed with other gases, from the explosion of powder used in blasting." And the same author says, in regard to carbonic oxide gas, or white damp, " that it has a much more deleterious effect on the animal economy than carbonic acid gas. Air which only contains one per cent, of carbonic oxide almost im- mediately causes the death of warm-blooded animals," and "that the gases were apparently produced by the explosion of powder."

Section seven of the ventilation act sets forth as follows: ''The own- ers or agents of every coal mine or collier}-, shall provide and establish for every such coal mine or colliery an adequate amount of ventilation, and not less than fifty -five cubic feet per second of pure air, or thirty- three hundred cubic feet per minute for every fifty men at work in such mine, and as much more as circumstances may require, which shall be circulated through to the face of each and every working place throughout the entire mine, to dilute and render harmless, and expel therefrom the noxious, poi- sonous gases, to such an extent that the entire mine shall be in a fit state for men to work therein, and be free from danger to the health and lives of the men, by reason of said noxious and poisonous gases ; and all work- ings shall be kept clear of standing gas."

Now, as these noxious and poisonous gases are met with, in more or less quantities, in all coal mines, and that men working in them are more or less incapacitated for work, while yet in the full vigor of manhood, by be- ing afflicted with asthma, or miner's consumption, and other kindred dis- Mine Rep. — 4.

50 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

eases resulting therefrom, therefore it becomes incumbent on the inspector, as an important, conscientious, and sworn duty, to have such improvements made as are required or necessary to at all times cause a sufflcent quantity of pure air to circulate through all working parts of the mine, as will secure to the men working therein the minimum of noxious or poisonous gases existing, and thereby protect their health, so far as in his power to do so.

In this connection, I desire, without prejudice, to award the credit to the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, as having the best ventilated collieries in my district, (including the collieries that do not generate carbureted hydrogen gas ;) to the Alaska shaft and North Ash- land collieries, as the best ventilated of these that do not generate ex- plosive gas, and also the Summit Branch Coal Company's colliery, located at Williamstown, Dauphin county, Joseph Anthony, Esquire, general su- perintendent, which was more than ordinarly well ventilated — as, on a recent visit, I found 99,967 cubic feet of air per minute passing through and well circulated throughout the workings of the mine.

Preston, No. 1.

Located north of the borough of Girardsville, Schuylkill county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and by them operated.

There is one slope, sunk one hundred and seven yards, on the south dip of the Holmes vein, on an angle of fifty-two degrees, with east and west gangways ; east gangway driven three hundred and eighty yards, twenty-three breasts opened and worked out; west gangway driven four hundred and eighty yards, with twenty-seven breasts opened and worked out. This colliery was abandoned early in the season.

Colliery employed men and boys, inside, 67 ; outside, 11; days worked during the year, ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) — ; tons of coal shipped, 800 ; boilers, 7 ; engines, 5=horse power, 170 ; yards mine track, 170. No accidents.

Preston. No. 2.

Located north of the borough of Girardsville, Schuylkill countj, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Compan}-, and oper- ted by them.

A slope sunk two hundred and six j-ards on the south dip of the "E" or Mammoth vein, on an angle of . . . degrees, with east and west gang- ways ; the east gangway driven one hundred and thirty yards, with five breasts worked on it; west gangway driven fifteen hundred yards, work- ing seven breasts in twenty-five feet of coal. One hundred and forty- three yards west of slope a tunnel is driven north ninety-seven yards, cutting the " D " or Skidmore vein with east and west gangways ; east gangway driven two hundred and sixty three 3'ards with fourteen breasts opened and worked out ; west gangway driven yards, with forty-

Ex. Doo.] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 51

four breasts opened, thirty-nine worked up and five working now in fifteen feet of coal. At a point three hundred and twenty-three yards west of slope, a tunnel is driven south forty-one yards, cutting the " G " or prim- rose vein in eleven feet of coal, with east gangway driven one hundred and forty-three yards, with nine breasts opened. No work doing in this part of the colliery at present.

Drainage is effected by . . . inch steam pump.

Ventilation is produced by two fans, one twelve and one eight feet.

Colliery employs men and boys, inside, 102; outside, 153; days worked during the year, 156 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,010 ; tons of coal mined, 75,000; non-fatal accidents, 9.

Preston, No. 3.

Located south of the borough of Girardville, Schuylkill county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and oper- ated by them.

There are two slopes, one a hundred and forty yards and the other one hundred and seventeen and one third yards; one used exclusively for drainage, men, and material, the other for hoisting coal. They are sunk on the north dip of the " E " or Mammoth vein, on an angle of seventy degrees, with east and west gangways ; east gangway driven four hundred and twenty yards with nineteen breasts opened ; west gangway driven five hundred and ninety-three and one third }rards, rounding an anticlinal axis, forming a south dip, and driven one hundred and fifty yards. At a point distant five hundred and thirteen yards west of slope, a tunnel is driven south across the basin seventy-nine yards, cutting the south dip at an angle of sixt}T-five degrees, with east gangway driven seven hundred and ninety-two yards, with six breasts working. This tunnel was con- tinued south two hundred and twenty-seven yards, cutting the Hunter vein on a north dip, on an angle of sevent3'-five degrees. East and west gangways are driven — east gangway three hundred and three yards, work- ing . . . breasts; west gangway driven five hundred yards, with eighteen breasts opened and four working.

Colliery employed men and boys, inside, 112 ; outside, 113 ; days worked during the year, 13 1£ ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 465 ; tons of coal mined, 39,000. Non-fatal accidents, 10 ; fatal accidents, 2.

Drainage is eifected by an eight hundred horse power engine running a twenty-four inch bull pump, ten foot stroke.

Ventilation produced by two steam fans, viz : one sixteen feet to venti- late the Hunter vein, lower workings, and a fifteen foot fan to ventilate the South dip workings.

Bast.

Located at Big Mine run, Schuylkill county, on the lands of the Phila- delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and by them operated.

There are two slopes sunk — one two hundred and seventy yards, the other two hundred and ninety-three and a third jrards — on the south dip

52 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

of the " E," or Mammoth vein ; one slope for men and material, the other for hoisting coal, with east and west gangways ; east gangway driven twelve hundred and twenty yards. All the breasts in this gangway worked out. The work now doing being that of taking out breast and gangway pillars. West gangway driven . . yards, with . . breasts opened and worked out ; same class of work being done in this gangway as that in the east. A tun- nel is driven from bottom of big (coal) slope south two hundred and sev- enty yards, cutting the south dip of the " E," or Mammoth vein of the Ash- land basin, with east gangway driven two hundred and thirteen yards, with four breasts opened.

Drainage is had by an eight hundred horse power engine, running a twenty-four inch Cornish or bull pump, ten foot stroke.

Ventilation is furnished by two steam fans. A large quantity of fire- damp is generated in this mine.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 172; outside, 132; clays worked during year, 164 j; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 955; number of boilers, 25; horse power of engines, 1,100; tons of coal mined, 86,000; non-fatal accidents, '5 ; fatal accident, 1.

Big Mine Run, West or Oldttide.

Located at Big Mine run, Schuylkill county, on lands of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, operated by Jeremiah Taylor & Co.

This colliery has four drift levels, working four main gangways and two slant gangways, with forty-four breasts working in Buck Mountain vein, in fifteen feet of coal.

Ventilation is furnished by a twenty-five horse power engine, driving a ten foot fan.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 104 ; outside, 123 ; days worked during year, 109; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,510; number of mules, (inside IT, outside 7.) 24; number of mine cars, 112 ; yards of mine track, 2,900; boilers, 16 ; engines, 4=135 horse power; tons of coal mined, 48,715.06 ; improvements, valued at $150,000; fatal accicidents, 2; non-fatal, 2.

Tunnel.

Located at Ashland, Schuylkill county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and by them operated.

There are two slopes sunk on the north dip of the " F," or Holmes vein ; one two hundred and forty yards, the other two hundred and thirty-one yards; one used for pumping, lowering, and hoisting men, material, &c, the other for hoisting coal. Two tunnels are driven from bottoms of hoist- ino- and pump slopes south, cutting the Mammoth vein on the north dip of the Ashland basin, with east and west gangways. East gangway driven one hundred and forty-nine yards, with sixty-seven breasts opened and worked out ; the work now being done is robbing breast pillars and gangway. West gangway is driven twenty-two hundred and seven yards, with eighty- two breasts opened — two working at present. A tunnel is driven from

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 53

bottom of pump slope, north, one hundred and fifty-two yards, cutting the Primrose vein in seven feet of coal, on north dip, on an angle of 12°, with east and west gangways. East gangway driven one hundred and ninety- two yards, with thirteen breasts opened and now working. West gang- way driven three hundred and twenty-two yards, with twenty-one breasts opened ; none now working.

Drainage is effected by two eight hundred horse power Cornish engines, running four twenty-four inch bull or Cornish pumps.

Ventilation is produced by three steam fans, of thirteen, fourteen, and eighteen feet each, run by three engines, one of forty, and two of thirty horse power each. This colliery generates fire-damp in large quantities.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 96 ; outside, 129 ; days worked during year, 164f; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 150; boilers, 22 ; engines, 16=2,580 horse power; mine wagons, 87 ; mules, 37 ; tons of coal mined, 66,000; fatal accident, 1 ; non-fatal, 2.

Keystone.

Located at Locust Dale, Schuylkill county, on the lands of the Phila- delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and by them operated.

Two slopes are sunk on the north dip of the " E," or Mammoth vein, on an angle of 52° — vein about 25 feet thick. Hoisting slope 173| yards, pumping slope 153 yards — with east and west gangways. East gangway driven 1,497 yards, with 56 breasts opened; one working. West gangway driven 1,483 yards, with 55 breasts opened; three now being worked, the remainder worked out.

Ventilation produced by a sixty horse power engine, running an eighteen foot fan. Fire-damp is evolved in large quantities, but through the care- ful and intelligent management of Edward Samuels, inside foreman, it is destroyed, by the ample quantity of pure air passing through all parts of the mine.

Drainage is effected by a No. 7 bull pump, twenty-two inches, run by a seven hundred and twenty horse power Cornish engine.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 87; outside, 127 ; days worked during year, 150 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 248 ; boilers, 19 ; engines, 7=970 horse power; mine cars, 58 ; mules, 28 ; yards of mine track, 5,864; tons of coal mined, 55,000; non-fatal accidents, 6; fatal, 3.

Potts.

Located at Locust Dale, Columbia county, on the lands of the Phila- delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and by them operated.

There are three slopes sunk on the south dip of the " E," or Mammoth vein ; the " Wadleigh " is sunk ninety yards, the other two, " Locust Dale," three hundred and two yards, on an angle of 48° ; one used for hoisting and the other fur pumping — with east and west gangways. East gangway driven twenty hundred and seventy-three yards, with eighty-two breasts opened ; four now being worked. West gangway driven twenty-one

54 RlPORTS OF THE INSPECTORS OF MlNES. [No. 10,

hundred and ten yards, with ninety-two breasts opened, three now being worked ; average thickness of vein, twenty-five feet.

Generates large quantities of fire-damp, but by the intelligent manage- ment of Morgan Davis, inside foreman, I found plenty of pure air passing through all the workings.

Ventilation i9 furnished by a thirty horse power engine running a six- teen foot fan.

Drainage is effected by a five hundred horse power engine running a twenty inch bull pump at the Potts pump slope; also, at " Wadleigh slope," a sixty horse power engine running a sixteen inch pole pump.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 152; outside, 151 ; days worked during year, 164|; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 525; tons of coal shipped, 80,000; boilers, 24; engines, 6=845 horse power ; mine cars, 76 ; mules, 11 ; yards of mine track, 7,758 ; non-fatal accidents, 12 ; fatal, 5.

Frog Hollow,

Located at Frog Hollow, near Big Mine run, Schuylkill county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and by them operated.

There is one drift level driven four hundred and forty yards, with breasts opened. At a point one hundred and seventy-five j'ards east of mouth of drift, a self-acting plane lowers the coal from a counter level to the lower level gangway. East counter gangway is driven six hundred and seventy-five yards, with fifty breasts opened ; fifteen breasts working in fourteen feet of coal. Buck Mountain vein. The coal mined in this drift is prepared for market in the Bast colliery breaker.

Colliery employs, men and boys, inside, 57 ; outside, 2 ; days worked during the year, — ; tons of coal shipped, embraced in returns of Bast colliery; mules, 9; mine cars, 32; yards of mine track, 1,600. One fatal accident.

Continental,

Located one mile east of Centralia borough, Columbia county, on the Girard estate, (city of Philadelphia, trustees,) operated by J. T. Audenried.

This colliery consists of a tunnel driven north one hundred and ninety yards, cutting the "B" or Buck Mountain vein, sixteen feet thick, on a south dip, and two slopes ; hoisting slope sunk two hundred yards and pump slope one hundred and twelve yards on the south dip of the " E " or Mammoth vein, Centralia basin, on an angle of forty-one degrees with east and west gangways ; east gangway driven twenty-five hundred yards, with one hundred and twenty breasts opened, thirty now working. At a point east of hoisting slope, two thousand yards, a self-acting plane, seventy yards in length, the ccal from a counter gangway is lowered to the lower gangway. The west panel workings were all worked out prior to time of my appointment as inspector. The Mammoth vein is about twenty-five feet thick in this colliery.

Colliery employs, men and boys, inside, 152; outside, 132; number of

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 55

days worked during the year, 147 ; kegs of powder used, 25 (lbs. each,) 1,192; tons of coal shipped, 53,857.17; boilers, 20; engines, 8; inside locomotive, 1; horse-power, 360; mine cars, 65; mules, 16; yards mine track, 3,000.

Pumping is done with two engines of 90 horse-power each.

Ventilation is produced by two engines, one of 30 horse-power and one of 2 J horse-power, running two fans of twelve and sixteen feet respectively.

Fatal accident, 1.

Locust Run.

Located north of the borough of Ashland, in Columbia county, on the lands of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, operated by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.

There is one tunnel and one slope. The slope is sunk two hundred and sixty yards on the south dip of the " E " or Mammoth vein on an angle of 32°, with east and west gangways ; east gangway driven one hun- hundred and eighty-five yards, with eight breasts opened and worked out; west gangway driven eighteen hrndred yards, with eighty -two breasts opened and worked out. The breast and gangway pillars have been taken out to within a safe distance of the slope, so as to keep the slope strong and in safe working condition, with the purpose of further developing the mine at some future time.

The tunnel is driven at water level, north three hundred and forty yards, cutting the " B " or Buck Mountain vein in fourteen feet of coal, dipping south on an angle of 15° with east and west gangways; east gangway driven seven hundred and seventeen yards, with forty-four breasts opened ; west gangway driven one hundred and eighty-five yards, with nine breasts opened and worked out.

Drainage of slope is effected by three steam pumps, the tunnel naturally drained.

Ventilation is secured by a thirty horse-power engine running a ten foot fan.

Colliery employs, men and boys, inside, 84 ; outside, 105 ; days worked during year, 139f ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 285 ; tons of coal shipped ; 40,000 ; boilers, 22 ; locomotives, 2; engines, 10=715 horse-power; mine wagons, 50 ; yards of mine track, 3,300 ; non-fatal accident, 1 ; fatal, 1.

North Ashland.

Located at "Dark Corner," one mile east of the borough of Centralia, Columbia county, on lands of the Grirard estate, (city of Philadelphia, trustee,) operated by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Com- pany.

Three years in operation, and consists of one slope sunk one hundred and ninety-six yaris on the north dip of the "E " or Mammoth vein, Cen- tralia basin, on an angle of 38°, with east and west gangways; east gangway driven seven hundred and sixty-six yards, with thirty-four breasts opened, five working; west gangway driven seven hundred and

56 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

thirty-four yards, with thirty breasts opened, seven working, in vein twenty feet thick.

Drainage of mine is done by two steam pumps.

Ventilation is furnished by a twenty horse-p)wer engine, driving a twelve foot fan. This colliery is one of the best ventilated in my district, of those not generating carbureted hygrogen gas. James Kealy, late inside foreman ; now in charge of Christopher Schaum.

Colliery employs, men and boys, inside, 10S ; outside, 135 ; days worked during year, 171f ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 2,255 ; tons of coal shipped, 71,000; boilers, 13; engines, 8=225 horse-power; mine cars, 43; mules, 27 ; yards of mine track, 3,400; non-fatal accidents, 6.

Merriam.

Located at Locust Summit, Northumberland county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and by them operated.

There are two slopes sunk four hundred and thirteen and three hundred and twenty yards respectively on the south dip of the "E," or Mammoth vein, on an angle varying from 85° to 15°, one slope used for hoisting and the other for pumping. East and west gangways : East gangway driven four hundred and thirt3'-seven yards, with fourteen breasts opened and worked out ; thence it rounded a synclinal axis and was driven a westerly course two hundred yards, with six breasts opened and worked out ; then rounding, an anticlinal axis was driven a south-easterly course seven hun- dred and twenty-seven yards, with thirty-one breasts opened — four work- ing, balance worked out. At a point four hundred and thirty-seven yards east of hoisting slope, a counter chute, and a counter gangway, driven six hundred and thirty-seven yards, with twenty-seven breasts opened, sixteen working. West gangway driven six hundred and seventy yards, with thirty -two b, easts, all worked out. West of hoisting slope three hundred and fifty-seven }'ards a tunnel is driven south ninety-five feet, cutting the seven-foot vein in five feet of coal on an angle of about 22°, with east and west gangways. East gangway driven one hundred yards, with six breasts opened ; west gangway driven one hundred and ninety yards, with eleven breasts opened. This tunnel is being continued, and is now driven two hundred and seven tjT- eight and a half yards.

Drainage is effected by two twelve-inch Allison & Bannan steam pumps.

Ventilation produced by ten horse power engine running a twelve-foot fan.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 187 ; outside, 145 ; days worked during year, 175| ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,705 ; tons of coal shipped, 83,000 ; boilers, 22 ; engines, 7=450 horse power ; mine cars, 94 ; mules, 29 ; yards of mine track, 5,(500 ; colliers' houses, 18 ; fatal acci- dents, 2 ; non-fatal accidents, 5.

Locust Gap.

Located at Locust Gap, Northumberland county, on lands of Philadel pbia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. Operated by Graeber & Shepp.

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors op Mines. 57

Two slopes sunk one hundred and forty yards on the south dip of the " E," or Mammoth vein, on an angle of 40°, with east and west gangways- East gangway driven fifteen hundred yards, With seventy-eight breasts opened, seven breasts working ; west gangway, No. 8, driven seven hun- dred yards, with thirty-nine breasts opened ; west gangway, No. 9, driven seven hundred and ten yards, with forty-three breasts opened. The vein on west side splits in two veins, viz : Nos. 8 and 9, twins of the Shamokin region. The vein on east side is from twenty-five feet to thirty feet thick.

Drainage is done by an eighteen-inch pole pump.

Ventilation is produced by a fifteen horse power engine running a twelve- foot fan.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 96 ; outside, 116 ; days worked during year, 165 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,407 ; tons of coal shipped, 63,970.01 ; boilers, 12; engines, 4=265 horse power; mine cars, 62 ; mules, 26 ; yards of mine track, 5,200 ; non-fatal accidents, 2 ; fatal accident, 1.

Cameron.

Located in Coal township, north of Shamokin, Northumberland county, on lands of the Mineral Railroad and Mining Company, and operated by them.

There are three slopes, numbered 2, 9, and 10, and three drift levels, viz : Nos. 8 and 10, and tunnel or east drift. No. 2 slope is sunk one hundred and twenty-five yards on the south dip of the Lykens Valley vein on an angle of 45°, with east and west gangways ; east gangway driven ten hun- dred and seventy yards, with fifty-six breasts opened, twelve working ; west gangway driven two hundred and sixty-three yards, faulty at face, fifteen breasts opened and worked out. No. 9 slope is sunk one hundred and fifty yards on the south dip of No. 9 vein on an angle of 45° with east and west gangways in Nos. 6, 7, 8, and 9 veins ; east gangway, No. 9, driven thirteen hundred and ninety yards, with eighty-five breasts opened, three working; east gangway, No. 8, driven eleven hundred and forty- three yards, with seventy-one breasts opened, nine working ; east gang- way, No. 6, driven fifty yards, working no breasts ; east gangway, No. 7, driven four hundred yards, working no breasts; west gangway, No. 9, driven sixteen hundred and twenty-five yards, with one hundred and three breasts opened, fourteen working; west gangway, No. 8, driven thirteen hundred and thirty-five yards, with eighty-one breasts, eleven working ; west gangway, No. 7, driven three hundred yards, working no breasts ; west gangway, No. 6, driven two hundred and fifty yards, with eight breasts working. No. 10 slope is sunk one hundred and twenty-five yards on the south dip of No. 10 vein on an angle of 35°, with east and west gangways ; east gangway driven five hundred and seventeen yards, with thirty-two breasts opened and worked out ; west gangway driven eight hundred and sixty yards, with forty-four breasts opened and worked out. Two hundred and twenty yards west of slope a cross-cut is driven south

58 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

across a basin, striking a north dip and gangway driven west two hundred and twenty yards, with thirteen breasts opened and worked out. About sixty-six and two thirds yards east of slope a cross-cut is driven south across the point of a saddle opening the No. 10 vein on south dip, with west gangway driven fifteen hundred and eighty-five yards, with ninety- nine breasts opened, eight working. Eleven hundred and tighty-five yards west from cross-cut a slant gangway is driven west ninety-two yards, with two breasts opened. Work on north dip abandoned for the present. East drift level tunnel vein driven east thirteen hundred and eighty -seven yards, with sixty -five breasts opened aad worked out. At face of this gangway a cross-cut tunnel is driven south, opening Nos. 8 and 9 veins. No. 9 vein gangway driven east eleven hundred and seventeen yards, w'.th seventy- six breasts opened, seven working; No. 8 vein, east gangway, driven six hundred and sixty-seven yards, with thirty-eight breasts opened and worked out; No. 8, west drift level, driven twenty-two hundred yards, with one hundred and nineteen breasts opened, seven working; No. 10, drift level, driven west twenty-two hundred and sixty-seven yards, all the breasts worked out. Work being done now is robbing out gangway and breast pillars.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 300 ; outside, 189 ; days worked during year, 195; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 4,385 ; tons of coal shipped, 100,194.02 ; boilers, 21 ; engines, 14=800 horse power ; mine cars, 218; mules, 70; yards of mine track, 19,908; 1 twenty-five horse power locomotive ; non-fatal accidents, 2 ; fatal accidents, 3.

North Franklin, No. 1.

Located south-west of Trevorton, Northumberland county, on lands of Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and by them operated. One slope, sunk eighty-four yards on the south dip of the Lykens Valley vein, on an angle of 60°, with east and west gangways. East gangway, four hundred and thirty-three yards to rock fault, with twenty-two breasts opened. West gangway, driven one thousand three hundred and thirty- yards to rock fault, with seventy-six breasts opened.

This colliery has been suspended for some time past. One engineer and one watchman employed, pumping the water out of the slope and taking care of the property, are the only employes at work.

Boilers, 12 ; engines, 5=160 horse power; mine cars, 31 ; yards of mine track, 1,926; fan, 1 nine foot. Non-fatal accidents, 2.

North Franklin, No. 2.

Located one mile south of Trevorton, Northumberland county, on lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and operated by them. There are three drift levels, opening the north and south dips of Nos. 8 and 9 veins in the Renney drift, and opening the north and south dips of No. 8 vein in flat workings.

Ex. Doc.J Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 59

Renny drift, No. 9, east gangway, north dip driven one thousand one hundred and ninety yards. Seventy-three breasts opened and robbed out. Also, about twenty breasts on the outer part of the workings on a south dip, opened and robbed out.

East gangway, No. 9, north dip driven three hundred and thirty yards, with nineteen breasts opened and worked out. Sixty-six yards south of drift mouth, in gangway, a gangway is driven south-west three hundred and forty -five yards, with seventeen breasts opened and worked out. The fan, to produce ventilation, is located on this part of the workings. Two hundred and five yards from mouth of drift, south, a tunnel is driven south one hundred yards across the saddle, opening No. 8 vein on a north dip, and Nos. 8 and 9 veins on south dip.

No. 8, east gangway, north dip driven four hundred and seventy-five yards, with thirty breasts opened, five working. No. 8, east gangway, south dip driven five hundred and forty-three yards, with thirty-seven breasts opened, five working. No. 9, east gangway, south dip driven nine hundred and sixty-five yards, with fifty-nine breasts opened, ten working. No. 9, west gangway, south dip driven four hundred yards to fault, with twentj'-six breasts opened, and worked out.

West Flat Working*. — West tunnel, No. 9, west gangway, south dip driven one hundred and fifty-eight yards, with eleven breasts opened, three working. West gangway, No. 8, south dip driven one thousand two hun- dred and twenty five yards, with a large number of breasts opened and worked out ; four now working. West counter gangway, No. 8, north dip driven seven hundred and seventy five yards. All the breasts worked out, and now robbing back breast and west-counter gangway pillars.

Ventilation is produced in the Renny drift workings by a ten feet fan, run by a sixteen horse power engine, and in West Flat workings by a furnace.

Colliery employs men and boys, inside, 120 ; outside, 84 ; days worked during year, 95|; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,220 ; tons of coal shipped, 45,000 ; boilers, 7=45 horse power ; mine cars, 142 ; mules, 21 ; yards mine track, 8,018. Non-fatal accident, 1 ; fatal accident, 1.

Bear Valley.

Located in Bear Valley, two miles west of Shamokin, Northumberland county, on lands of Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and by them operated.

One shaft and one drift level. The drift level being opened by a tunnel driven south three hundred and twenty-eight yards, opening the Nos. 8 and 9 twin veins, with east gangway, No. 9, driven one thousand nine hundred and eight yards to line. All the brea&ts worked out. One thou- sand and ninety-three yards east of tunnel, a cross cut tunnel is driven south seven yards, opening the No. 8 vein with east and west gangways.

60 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

East gangway, No. 8, driven two hundred and thirty yards. All the breasts worked out. West gangway, No. 8, driven two hundred and twenty-five yards, with all breasts worked out. Twenty-five yards east of cross cut, a self-acting plane, ninety-three and one third yards, is driven in No. 8 vein with east and west gangways. West gangway driven one hundred and eighteen yards, and breasts worked out. East gangway, No. 8, driven two hundred and seventy five yards — breasts finished. Forty- one and two thirds yards east of head of plane, a cross cut is driven north seven yards, opening No. 9 vein, with east and west gangways. West gangway driven one hundred and fifty-eight yards, and worked out. East gangway driven three hundred yards, rounding an anticlinal axis, and thence driven west from point of axis seventy -five yards, with eleven breasts opened. An air hole breast is driven at cross cut, with east and west gangways. West gangway driven ninety-five yards, and worked out. East gangway driven two hundred and seventy-five yards. One hundred and seventy-five yards east from air hole, a back switch gangway is driven one hundred and fifty yards, with eight breasts opened. Fifty yards east of face of No. 9 west plane gangway, a back switch gangway is driven east two hundred and ninety-seven yards, with five breasts opened from this back switch. Two back switch gangways have been driven — No. 1 driven one hundred and fifty-three yards, with five breasts opened and working. No. 2 driven one hundred and fifty yards, with four breasts opened and working.

Main west gangway, No. 8, driven one hundred and ninety-seven yards, wilh twenty-four breasts opened and worked out. West main gangway, No. 9, driven nine hundred and thirty yards to rock fault, with forty- seven breasts opened and worked out ; gangway and breast pillars robbed out. West of tunnel, two hundred and thirty-seven yards, a tunnel is driven north thirty yards across the basin to No. 9 vein on a south dip, with east and west gangways. East gangwa} driven one hundred and fifty-three yards, with fourteen breasts opened and worked out. West gangway driven one hundred yards, with seven breasts opened and worked out. Fifty yards west of thirty yard tunnel, another tunnel is driven north sixty-five yards, across the basin, cutting No. 9 vein on south dip, with east and west gangways. West gangway driven two hundred and seventeen yards. Vein pinched out. Seventeen breasts were opened and worked out. East gangwa}r driven eighty-seven yards, rounding an anti- clinal axis, vein forming a north dip, and thence driven west from point of axis three hundred and fifty yards, rounding a synclinal axis, with thirty-one breasts opened and worked out ; thence driven east from point of synclinal axis two hundred and seventeen yards on a south dip, with seventeen breasts opened and worked out ; thence driven around an anti- clinal axis vein running west, and forming a north dip, and from point of axis driven one thousand six hundred and ninety-five yards, with one hun- dred and twenty-one breasts opened, eight working. Six hundred and

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 61

seventy-three yards west of point of cjnclinal axis, a cross cut tunnel is driven south five yards, opening No. 8 vein with west gangway, driven one thousand and forty-seven yards, with seventy-one breasts opened, seven working.

Shaft is sunk one hundred and seven and one third yards to the No. 8 vein, with east and west gangways. East gangway driven one hundred and twenty-five yards, with two breasts opened. Ninety-two yards east of shaft, a cross cut is driven five yards, opening No. 9 vein, with east gangway driven four hundred and sixty-seven yards, and stopped August 2, 1878. Thirty-three breasts opened. West gangway, No. 8, driven one hundred and eighteen yards. No breasts opened. One hundred and ten yards west of shaft, a cross cut is driven north five yards, opening No. 9 vein with west gangway, driven four hundred and eighty yards, and stopped August 2, 1878. Twenty-seven breasts were opened. West of shaft ninety-five yards, a tunnel is driven south forty-five yards, opening the " E," or Mammoth vein, with east and west gangways. East gangway driven four hundred and thirty-three and one third }Tards, rounding an anticlinal or saddle vein running west, and forming a south dip. Twenty- six breasts are opened and working. West gangway driven five hundred and seven yards, twenty-nine breasts opened, twenty-five working.

Colliery employs men and boys, inside, 112 ; outside, 136 ; days worked during year, 166; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 2,368 ; tons of coal shipped, 75,000 ; boilers, 12 ; engines, 7=300 horse power; mine cars, 125 ; mules, 45 ; yards of mine track, 21,350 ; five ton locomotive, 1 ; non- fatal accidents, 5.

The mine is drained by a thirty-four inch Allison & Bannan steam pump.

Ventilation produced by a fourteen foot fan, run by a sixty horse power engine for the shaft workings, and by a furnace for drift workings.

Locust Spring.

Located at Locust Gap, Northumberland county, on lands of the Phila- delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and by them operated.

Slope sunk three hundred and forty-six yai'ds on the south dip of the " E," or Mammoth vein, on an angle of 20°, with east and west, lower and counter gangways. East gangway driven fourteen hundred and fifty yards ; sixty-four breasts opened, eighteen working. East counter-gang- way driven two hundred and eighty five yards ; fifteen breasts opened and worked out. Lower west gangway driven four hundred and seven yards to fault, with seventeen breasts opened, four working. West counter- gangwa}'- driven one hundred and fifty yards, with six breasts opened, and five working.

Drainage is effected by a sixteen inch pole pump.

Ventilation produced by a twelve foot fan, driven by a twenty horse power engine.

The general condition of the inside openings, fair.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 134 ; outside, 140 ; days worked

62 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

during j'ear, 87 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 950; tons of coal shipped, 40,000 ; boilers, 12 ; engines, 4=200 horse power; mine cars, 59 ; mules, 23 ; yards of mine track, 4,000 ; non-fatal accidents, 6 ; fatal, 3.

Royal Oak.

Located at Shamokin, Northumberland county, on lands of Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and operated by George Tillet & Sons.

It consists of a drift driven east five hundred yards, on a five foot red ash vein ; a counter-gangway is driven, and working both north and south dips. The coal mined at this colliery is sold for local consumption. Ven- tilated by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 3 ; outside, 1 ; days worked dur- ing year, 250; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 295; tons of coal mined, 8 ; mine cars, 2 ; mules, 2 ; yai'ds of mine track, 600; no accidents.

George Fair*.

Located one and a half miles west of Shamokin, Northumberland county, on lands of Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and by them operated.

A slope sunk two hundred and two and two thirds yards on the " No. 10" vein, on an angle of 40°, north dip, with east and west gangways. East gangway driven four hundred yards, and robbed out ; west gangway driven four hundred and seventy-five yards, with thirty breasts opened. West of slope, three hundred and fifteen yards, a tunnel is driven north one hundred and sixty-three yards, opening the "No. 11 vein," with east, west, lower, and east counter-gangway driven on north and west counter- gangway, driven on south dips. The principal part of coal mined was on this vein. The colliery has been idle the greater part of the year. The work now being done — only that of pumping water out of slope — is done by an eighteen inch steam cylinder, ten inches diameter working barrel, Cameron steam pump.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, . . ; outside, . . ; da}rs worked during year, . ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 140 ; tons of coal shipped, 3,000 ; boilers, 6 ; engines, 3=130 horse power; mine cars, 34 ; yards of mine track, 4,301 ; no accidents.

Franklin, No. 1.

Located east of Shamokin, Northumberland county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, operated by Lovell & Booth.

A drift level driven east five hundred yards, on the south dip of the " Big Diamond vein," in five and a half feet of coal, with four breasts work- ing. Two hundred and twenty-five yards east of mouth of drift a cross cut is driven south six yards, opening the north dip of same vein, with gangway driven west fort}' yards, working two breasts. Ventilation pro- duced by natural means.

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 63

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 18 ; outside, 14; days worked during year, . . ; kegs of powder used, . . ; tons of coal skipped, 3,444.15 ; boiler, 1 ; engine, 1=10 korse power; mine wagons, 14, mules, 4; yards of mine track, 1,300; no accidents.

Glen C ify.

Located soutb of Glen City, on tke McCauley mountain, Columbia county, on lands of Simon P. Klase & Longenberger, and operated by W. A. M. Crier.

It consists of a single track slope sunk thirty-eigbt yards on the south dip of the "B," or Buck Mountain vein, with east and west gangways. East gangway driven four hundred and fifty yards, working ten breasts; west gangway driven twenty-eight yards, working four breasts. A tunnel is driven south one hundred and eighty-five }ards to "B" vein, and an inside slope sunk forty-five yards. East and west gangways driven to line and worked out.

Ventilation produced by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 69 ; outside, 59 ; days worked during year, 151; kfgs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 770; tons of coal shipped, 22,430.05; boilers, 5; engines, 3=95 horse power; mine cars, 32 ; mules, 10 ; yards of mine track, 2,671 ; no accidents.

Montana.

Located at Montana, Columbia count}', on lands of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, and operated by Miller, Rupp & Beaver.

A single track slope, sunk on the south dip of the Lykens Valley vein on an angle of 42°. It is now sunk to a depth of fifty yards in three and a half feet of coal. This colliery is of the class that mine and sell the coal produced for local use.

Ventilation is produced bj- natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 5 ; outside, 1 ; days worked during 3Tear, . . ; kegs of powder used, . . ; tons of coal mined, . . ; mine wagons, 2 ; horse, 1 ; yards of mine track, 70 ; no accidents.

Located one mile west of Montana, Columbia county, on lands of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, and operated by John L. Kline.

This colliery is of the same class as that described above, viz : Montana, and worked principally in fall and winter. It has one drift level driven west eighty-five yards, in two and a half feet of coal, working two breasts.

Ventilation produced by natural means.

Colliery employs men inside, 3 ; outside, 2 ; da}7s worked in year, . . ; kegs of powder used, . . ; tons of coal mined, . . ; wagon, 1 ; yards of mine track, 165 ; no accidents.

Henry Clay §haft, Xo. 1.

Located south of the borough of Shamokin. on the lands of the Pbila-

64 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

delpkia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. Operated by J. Langdon & Co.

There is one shaft and one drift level. The shaft is sunk one hundred and fifteen yards to the top twin vein, No. 9, north dip, with east and west gangways. West gangway, No. 9, driven five hundred and ten yards, twenty-nine breasts opened ; east gangwa}r, No. 9, driven seventy yards, three breasts opened. Fifty yards west of shaft a tunnel has been driven south forty yards, cutting the No. 8 vein with east and west gangways. West gangway driven three hundred and forty yards, with twenty breasts opened ; east gangway driven three hundred and seventeen yards, with nineteen breasts opened. A self-acting plane, one hundred yards in length, on an angle of 26°, has been driven from east gangwa}, with east and west counter gangwa3rs in No. 8 vein. East counter driven thirty-four yards, with two breasts opened ; west counter driven sixty yards, with three breasts opened. Sixty -five yards east of shaft a cross-cut tunnel has been driven south forty yards from No. 9 vein into that of No. 8. All the coal on this side of the workings in No. 8 vein is brought out through this tunnel to shaft. The drift level is driven eighteen hundred yards, working six breasts in No. 8 vein and seven breasts in No. 9 vein.

Drainage of shaft is effected by two steam pumps.

Ventilation is furnished by a thirty horse power engine running a twelve- foot fan for shaft, and by a ten horse power engine running a fourteen-foot fan for drift workings.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 18*7 ; outside, 88; days worked during year, 214 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 2,514; tons of coal shipped, 96,998.01 ; boilers, 8; engines, 6=410 horse power; mules inside, 9 ; mules outside, 9 ; mine cars, 99 ; yards of mine track, 3,600 ; non-fatal accidents, 10 ; fatal accident, 1.

Reliance.

Located south of Mount Carmel, Northumberland county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. Operated by Thomas Baumgardner.

There are two slopes, one eighty-five and one third yards in depth, the other three hundred and twenty-one jards, sunk on the north dip of the " E," or Mammoth vein, with east and west gangways. The east gangway is driven five hundred and fifty-seven yards, working eight breasts in nine feet of coal. The west gangway is driven six hundred and ninety yards, working three breasts. In top slope the breast and gangway pillars are being robbed out.

Drainage is effected by a sixteen- inch pole pump, worked by a ninety horse power engine.

Ventilation is produced in the deep slope workings by a twenty horse power engine running an eleven-foot fan. Top slope workings are venti- lated by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, . . ; outside, . . ; days worked

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors or Mines. 65

during year, 20 ; kegs of powder used, . . ; tons of coal shipped, 7,374.05 ; boilers, 11 ; engines, 5=260 horse power; mules, 21 ; mine cars, 82; no accidents.

Pneker.

Located west of Mount Carmel borough, Northumberland county, on the lands of the Mineral Railroad and Mining Company, operated by David J. Lewis.

There are two drift levels — one driven three hundred yards, the other one hundred and fifty yards — on the Mammoth vein, south dip, with twenty breasts opened in one drift and ten in the other; all worked out. The work now being done is robbing breast and gangway pillars.

Mine ventilated by natural means.

Collieiy employs men and boys inside, 18; outside, 15; clays worked during year, 140 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 125 ; tons of coal shipped, 5,000 ; boiler, 1 ; engine, 1=10 horse power ; mine cars, 18 ; mules, 3; yards of mine track, 350 ; no accidents.

Ben Franklin.

Located at Doute}ville, Northumberland county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Companj', operated by Doutey & Baumgardner.

There are two drifts, one tunnel, and one inside slope. The tunnel opens the colliery, and is driven one hundred and ten yards to the Lykens Valley vein — eight feet thick, north dip — and from thence nineteen hun- dred and seventy-two yards, with one hundred and twentj'-three breasts opened and worked. About six hundred yards west in tunnel, a counter- chute was drove, and a counter- gangway driven west about four hundred and thirty yards, with twenty-nine breasts opened and worked out. The work now being done is robbing breast and gangway pillars.

One hundred and sixty-three yards north of tunnel mouth an inside slope is sunk one hundred and thirty- five yards, with east and west gang- ways. East gangway driven three hundred and ten yards, with eighteen breasts opened ; six breasts working, balance worked out. West gangwaj driven four hundred and twenty yards, with twenty-five breasts opened ; nine breasts working. No. 2 drift level driven west thirteen hundred and ninety-two yards, with eighty-three breasts opened and robbed out.

Drainage of mine is effected by a No. 4 Cameron steam pump. Venti- lation produced by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 83 ; outside, 60 ; days worked during year, 148 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 655 ; tons of coal shipped, 38,575.01 ; boilers, 6 ; engines, 4=80 horse power; mine cars, 61 ; mules, 17; yards of mine track, 4,760 ; fatal accident, 1.

Helfenstein.

Located at Helfenstein, Northumberland county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, operated by them. Mine Rep. — 5.

66 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

A tunnel driven north one hundred and thirty-three and a third yards, to the Lykens Yalley vein, on north dip. An inside slope is sunk one hundred and seventy-seven and two thirds yards, on an angle varying from 4° to 11°, with east and west gangways. East gangway driven two hun- dred and fifty-four yards, with six breasts opened ; vein cut out by rock at

face of gangway. West gangway driven . yards ; vein

pinched out at face of gangway.

This colliery has been idle for some time past, owing to the vein proving faulty. All that is now being done is the pumping of water out of slope, which is done by a No. 5 Cameron steam pump. One watchman is em- ployed at night, and two men by day to get out coal for use of boilers.

Seven boilers, three engines=150 horse power, four mine cars, six hun- dred and nineteen yards of mine track, and one ten foot fan are on the premises.

No shipments of coal and no accidents.

Lancaster.

Located at Coal run, two miles east of Shamokin, Northumberland county, on the lands of the Mineral Railroad and Mining Company, and operated by Smith & Keiser.

There are four drift levels on the Nos. 8 and 9 Twin veins, south dip. No. 1 drift is driven four hundred yards, with eight breasts opened, four working. No. 2 drift is driven nine hundred yards, with six breasts work- ing. No. 3 drift is driven four hundred yards, with twenty breasts opened and worked out. No. 4 drift is driven three hundred yards, with fifteen breasts opened and worked out; three places are working at present, strip- ping pillars.

Two cross-tunnels — twelve and eighteen yards, respectively — are driven from one vein to the other, in each level, as outlets from each other. The veins are five and a half and seven and a half feet thick.

Drainage and ventilation accomplished by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 34 ; outside, 20 ; days worked during year, lOTf ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 229; tons of coal shipped, 8,691.03; boilers, 2; engine, 1=20 horse power; mine cars, 23; mules, 7; yards of mine track, 2,700; no accidents.

Exeel§ior.

Located at Excelsior, Northumberland county, on the lands of the Phila- delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Coinpan}'. Operated by the Excelsior Coal Mining Company.

One tunnel and four drift levels, on the Nos. 8 and 9 Twin veins, com- prise the openings. South dip drift level driven twelve hundred yards, with sixty-seven breasts opened, eighteen working. North dip gangway driven seven hundred yards, with fifty breasts opened, nine working. " A" drift, No. 9 vein, driven ten hundred yards, with two hundred and fifty breasts opened, five working. "B" drift, No. 8 vein, driven twelve hun-

Ex. Doc.J Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 67

dred yards, with two hundred and eighty breasts opened, ten working. A tunnel, one hundred and thirty-two yards long, opens the Nos. 8 and 9 veins, UA" and " B " drifts ; veins, almost flat ; average thickess, twelve feet.

Drainage and ventilation effected by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys, inside, 149 ; outside, 105; da}'S worked during year, 216 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 2,015 ; tons of coal shipped, 72,310.14; boilers, 6; engines, 2=90 horse power; mine cars, 120 ; mules, 26 ; yards of mine track, 6,000 ; non-fatal accident, 1.

Enterprise.

Located south of Excelsior Station, Northumberland count}', on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Conipan}-, operated by Thomas Baumgardner.

There are two slopes, one pump and one hoisting, sunk on the north dip of No. 8 twin vein. Pump slope is sunk one hundred yards, with east and west gangways. East gangway, No. 8, driven one thousand one hundred and fifty-seven yards, with ninet}T-two breasts opened and worked out. Seven hundred yards east of slope bottom, a cross cut tunnel has been driven north seven and two thirds yards, cutting No. 9 vein, with east and west gangways. East gangway, driven three hundred and twenty-three yards, with twenty breasts opened and worked out. West gangway, driven two hundred and seventy-three yards, with thirty-one breasts opened and worked out. The only work being done at this time is pump- ing water, the coal having all been worked out. Hoisting slope, sunk two hundred and fifty yards on the No. 8 vein, on an angle of 39°, north dip, with east and west gangways, driven on both veins and on both dips. East gangway, north dip, driven one thousand two hundred yards, with eighty-seven breasts opened, one working, balance worked out. Nine hun- dred and ninety yards east of slope, a slant has been driven from this gangway one hundred and eighty-three yards, with ten breasts opened, six working. Fifty-seven yards east from center casting of this slant, a back switch has been driven west ninetj'-seven yards, with six breasts opened and working. Eight hundred and eighty-four }ards east of slope, a cross cut tunnel has been driven north seven and two thirds yards, open- ing the No. 9 vein with east and west gangways. East gangway driven one hundred and thirty-seven yards, with six breasts opened and worked out. West gangway driven one hundred and sixty-seven yards, with twelve breasts opened and worked out. West gangway, No. 8, driven one thousand and forty-three yards to rock fault, with eighty-two breasts opened and worked out. Nine hundred and ten yards west of slope, a north-west gangway has been driven thirty yards, rounding an anticlinal axis vein, forming a south dip. Gangway driven east from point of axis one hundred and ninety-three yards, with twelve breasts opened. Five hundred and fifty yards west of slope, a gangway is driven north-west

68 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. No. 10,

across the basin two hundred and seventy-seven yards, vein forming a south dip, with seventeen breasts opened and worked out. Thirty-three yards north-west from point of commencement of this gangway, a back switch gangway has been opened, running east one hundred and sixty- seven yards, with five breasts opened and worked out. Two hundred and seventy-three yards west of slope bottom, a cross cut tunnel opens the No. 9 vein, with east and west gangways. East gangway driven eighty yards, with five breasts opened and worked out. West gangway driven thirty- three yards, rounding an anticlinal axis vein, forming a south dip, and driven twenty yards from point of axis. No breasts opened, vein on this side being dirty and faulty. "West gangway, south dip, driven eight hun- dred and sixty-seven yards, fifty -two breasts opened and worked out. Two hundred yards west of slope bottom, a slant gangway is driven two hun- dred and eighteen yards, fifteen breasts were opened and worked out. A back switch gangway, running east, has been driven from this slant a distance of one hundred and thirty-three yards, with nine breasts opened and worked out. West counter gangway, south dip, has been driven six hundred and thirteen yards, with twenty-nine breasts, five working. Two hundred and fifty-three yards west of point of commencement of this gang- way, a back switch gangway, east, has been driven one hundred and sixty- three yards, with twelve breasts opened and worked out. Upper west counter gangway is drhren four hundred and eighty-seven yards, with twenty-five breasts opened and worked out. North-east gangway, north dip, driven seven hundred jrards, with thirty-seven breasts opened, twelve working. Basin gangway, south dip, driven one hundred and eighty yards, three breasts opened, one woidring. South dip, counter gangway, driven five hundred and thirt3'-three yards, seventeen breasts opened, five working. Two hundred and eighty-three yards west from face of No. 2, counter gangway, south dip, a slant gangway is drove two hundred and sixty- seven yards, with ten breasts opened, five working. No. 2 slant gangway, south dip, driven four hundred and sixty-seven yards, with twenty-three breasts opened, ten working. Two hundred and eighty-four yards east from point of commencement of this gangway, a back switch gangway has been driven one hundred and forty -seven yards, with nine breasts opened, three working.

Colliery employs men and boys, inside, 145; outside, 66; days worked during }ear, 156-; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,479; tons of coal shipped, 63,406 ; boilers, 17 ; engines, 6=440 horse power; loco- motive, 1=30 horse power; mine cars, 110; mules, 25 ; yards of mine track 10.595; non-fatal accident, 1.

Stewartsville.

Located east of the borough of Mount Carmel, Northumberland county, on the lands of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company. Operated bv William Montelius.

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. G9

Two slopes are sunk on the south clip of the "E," or Mammoth vein, one inside and one outside. Outside slope is sunk sixty yards, on an an- gle of 23°, with east and west tunnel gangways. East gangway driven six hundred yards, with all breasts worked out. South tunnel gangway driven across the basin, three hundred yards, to north dip, with east and west and counter gangways. East gangway, north dip, driven five hun- dred and sixty-seven yards ; all the breasts worked out, with the exception of those at eastern extremit}' , the work now doing is robbing breast and gangway pillars. West gangway, north dip, driven eleven hundred yards and robbed out. A tunnel, driven south sixty yards, opens the " D," or Skidmore vein, in eleven feet of coal, with east and west gangways — east gangway driven nine hundred vards and worked out, west gangway driven five hundred yards and worked out. About forty yards west of slope sunk from surface, an inside slope is sunk one hundred and fifty 3rards, in two lifts ; first lift is sunk one hundred and twelve yards, with south gang- way driven two hundred and thirty-three yards, to point where east and west gangways have been driven ; that on the east, driven three hundred and sixt}T-six yards, with forty breasts, the greater number worked out ; on west, driven four hundred yards, with twenty-two breasts opened, fifteen working. West of slope bottom, one hundred and sixty -six yards, a slate gangway has been driven south one hundred yards, through a saddle, cut- ting the south dip of a basin of coal.

Drainage is effected by sixteen-inch pole pump, throwing from the upper lift to surface. An Allison & Bannan cataract steam pump throws from lower lift to surface.

Ventilation is produced by natural means, at present. A fourteen-foot fan being in course of construction.

Colliery employs men and bojs inside, 165 ; outside, 106 ; days worked during year, 218 ) kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,904; tons of coal shipped, 80,418.15 ; boilers, 6 ; engines, 2=65 horse power ; mine cars, 65 ; mules, 12 ; yards of mine track, 3,000 ; non-fatal accidents, 3 ; fatal, 1.

Big Mountain.

Located south of the borough of Shamokin, Northumberland county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Compaii3T. Operated by Patterson, Llewelbyn & Co.

Five drift levels have been opened on the Nos. 8 and 9 Twin veins. ]S"o. 1, " Mahanoy drift," driven twenty-two hundred yards, with fifty breasts working. No. 2, " Mahanoy drift," driven fifteen hundred 3Tards, with eight breasts working. No. 3, " Mahanoy drift," driven twelve hundred yards, with two breasts working. No. 1, " Blacksmith Shop drift," driven east sixteen hundred yards, thirty breasts working. No. 2, k' West drift," driven five hundred yards, with three breasts working.

Ventilation in Nos. 1, 2, and 3, Mahanoy drifts, produced by a twelve- foot fan, run by a twenty horse power engine. Blacksmith Shop drifts, east and west, ventilated hy natural means.

70 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

Collieiy employs men and boys inside, 231 ; outside, 101 ; days worked during .year, 165; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,622 ; tons of coal shipped, 92,837.10 ; boilers, 5 ; engines, 3=100 horse power; mine cars, 180 ; mules, 51 ; yards of mine track, 3'J,600; non-fatal accidents, 3 ; fatal, 1.

Mt. Carmel Shaft.

Located near Alaska station, between Locust Gap and borough of Mount Carmel, Northumberland county, on lands of the Philadelphia and Read- ing Coal and Iron Company, and operated bj them.

Two shafts are sunk to the "E," or Mammoth vein. Air shaft sunk fifty-two and a third yards', coal shaft sunk ninety-nine yards, with east, west, lower, and counter gangways on south dip, east, west, lower, and slant gangways on north dip. East main gangway diiven four hundred and fifty yards, six breasts opened, three finished, three working. East air gangway, north dip, driven two hundred and eighty-five yards, with fourteen breasts opened, ten finished, four working. From east air gang- way, slant, driven two hundred and thirty-four yards, with six breasts opened, two finished, four working. East, No. 2, slant gangway, north dip, driven two hundred and seventy-seven yards, with twelve breasts opened, four finished, eight working. E.ist, No. 3, slant, or Grady's gang- way, north dip, driven three hundred and seventy-seven yards, with eight breasts opened, four finished and four working. South-west gangway, north dip, driven six hundred and forty-seven yards, with three breasts opened, one working. South-west, No. 1, slant, north dip, driven two hun- dred j'ards, with ten breasts opened, two finished, eight working. South- west, No. 2, slant, north dip, driven three hundred and thirty-four }rards, with seven breasts opened, four iinished, three working. West, No. 2, slant, south dip, driven three hundred and eighty-four yards, with seven teen breasts opened, fourteen finished, three working. West, No. 3, slant, south dip, driven three hundred yards, with ten breasts opened, four Iin- ished, six working. West, No. 4, slant, south dip, driven one hundred and twent3r-five yards, with three breasts opened, one finished, two work- ing. East counter gangway, south dip, driven eleven hundred yards, with thiiiy-six breasts opened, thirty finished, six working. East counter, No. 1, slant, south dip, driven four hundred and ninety-one yards, with thir- teen breasts opened, nine finished, four working. East counter, No. 2, slant, south dip, driven four hundred and forty-eight yards, with twelve breasts opened, four finished, eight working. West counter gangway, south dip, driven seven hundred and thirty-five yards, with twenty-two breasts opened, eighteen finished, fourworking. Westcounter, No. 1, slant gangway, south dip, driven five hundred and sixty-seven 3Tards, with nineteen breasts opened, ten finished, nine working. West counter, No. 2, slant, south dip, driven three hundred and seven yards, with nine breasts opened, three finished, one idle, five working. South-west air gangway, north dip, driven from point of synclinal axis live hundred and sixty-seven yards, with eight

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 11

breasts opened and finished. East, No. 1, slant, south dip, driven three hundred and thirty-four yards, with twelve breasts opened and finished. West, No. 1, slant, south dip, driven two hundred and eighty yards, with fourteen breasts opened and finished. One hundred and sixty yards west of shaft, a self-acting plane, one hundred and thirty yards long, lowers all the coal from the east and west counter gangway, south dip.

Drainage is effected by a No. 7 Cameron steam pump.

Ventilation is produced by an eighteen-foot fan, run by a thirty horse power engine. In this colliery, in a recent examination, about one hun- dred yards from air shaft, there was sixty-nine thousand four hundred and twenty cubic feet of air passing per minute, and well circulated in the face of the workings. I consider it one of the best ventilated mines in my district.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 219; outside, 199 ; days worked during year, 169 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 3,593; tons of coal shipped, 120,454; boilers, 11; engines, 13=595 horse power; mine cars, 155; mules, 41 ; yards of mine track, 16,026; accidents — employes injured, 6.

Buck Ridge.

Located south of Shamokin, in Coal township, Northumberland county, on lands of Renshaw & Johnson. Operated by Isaac May, senior.

The openings consist of two slopes, one tunnel, and one drift level. New slope is sunk two hundred and thirty-three and one third yards on the No. 9 vein, on an angle of 40°, with east and west gangways. East gangway, No. 9, driven four hundred and seventy-five yards, with twenty- eight breasts opened and worked out ; No. 8 gangway driven same distance, to line, same number of breasts opened and worked out ; west gangway, No. 8, driven three hundred and sixty-seven yards, with twenty breasts opened, sixteen worked out; west gangway, No. 9, driven seven hundred and seven yards, with forty-two breasts opened. Five hundred and eighty- three yards west of slope a slant gangway is driven two hundred and ten yards, with twelve breasts opened. One hundred yards east of face of this slant gangway a back switch gangway is driven one hundred and ninety two yards, with eleven breasts opened. The work being done in this part of the mine now is robbing breast and gangway pillars. Slope on No. 8 vein is sunk three hundred yards on north dip on an angle of 38°, with east and west gangways on Nos. 8 and 9 veins. East gangway, No. 8, driven two hundred and fourteen yards, with ten breasts opened ; west gangway, No. 8, driven two hundred and thirty-five yards, with fourteen breasts opened. A tunnel sixteen and two thirds yards in length, driven north from slope, opens the No. 9 vein with east and west gangwavs. East gangway, No. 9, driven two hundred yards, with ten breasts opened ; west gangway, No. 9, driven one hundred and fifty jards, with eight breasts opened. In drift level the only work being done is robbing out breast and gangway pillars.

72 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

Drainage is effected by a sixteen-inch pole pump run by a forty horse power engine.

Ventilation produced by natural means.

Colliery employs men and bo3rs inside, 167; outside, 85; days worked during year, 125; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,200; tons of coal shipped, 46,198.02; boilers, 11; engines, 4=180 horse power; mine cars, 80 ; mules, 30 ; yards of mine track, 2,500 ; no accidents.

Luke Fidler.

Located in Coal township, one half mile east of the borough of Sha- mokin, Northumberland county, on lands of the Mineral Railroad and Mining Compan}, and operated by them.

A short slope, sunk twenty }rards, from bottom of which a tunnel is driven seven hundred yards north, cutting the Nos. 8 and 9 twin veins, with east, west, lower, and counter gangways driven and all worked out. About forty yards west of tunnel a shaft has been sunk sevent}'-one yards, cutting Nos. 8 and 9 twin veins with east and west, lower, and counter gangways driven on both veins. East gangway, No. 9, driven fourteen huudred and thirty-three yards, with seventy-one breasts opened, eight working ; east gangway, No. 8, driven twelve hundred and seventeen yards, with sixty-five breasts opened, seven working. About ten hundred and sixty-five yards east of shaft a counter gangway is driven east on the No. 9 vein one hundred and sixt}T-seven yards, with twelve breasts opened. The coal from this counter is lowered to lower gangway by a gravity plane one hundred and seventeen yards long. West gangway, No. 8, driven six hundred and eighty-seven yards, rounding an anticlinal axis vein forming a north dip, and thence driven from point of axis east one hundred and sixty-three yards, with fifty-three breasts opened, seven work- ing. West gangway, No. 9, driven seven hundred and seventeen yards, rounding an anticlinal axis vein forming a north dip, and thence driven east from point of axis four hundred and sixty yards, with forty-one breasts opened on south and twenty-seven breasts opened on north dip, six working on north dip. This and No. 8 gangways have been stopped ; veins proving faulty. West of shaft a cross-cut tunnel has been driven south thirteen and one third yards to the No. 9 vein. A gravity plane one hundred and sixty-six and two thirds yards is driven with east and west gangways on both veins. East long plane gangway, No. 9, driven six hundred and ten yards into fault, breasts worked out ; east long plane gangway, No. 8, driven one hundred and sevent}' yards, and abandoned ; west long plane gangway, No. 9, was driven five hundred and twenty-five yards, and abandoned; west long plane gangway, No. 8, driven two hun- dred and ninety-seven yards, with eight breasts opened. East of cross- cut tunnel, west of shaft, a gravity plane one hundred yards long is driven, with east and west gangways on both veins. Fast gangway, No. 8, short plane, driven two hundred and eighty-three yards; west gangway, No. 9, short plane, driven five hundred and fifty-three yards, with thirty-three

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 73

breasts opened and worked out ; west gangwa}', No. 8, short plane, driven three hundred and ninety-three yards, with twenty breasts opened. The coal mined in these counter gangways is lowered by the gravity planes to lower gangway.

Drainage is effected by a seven and a half-inch Niagara steam pump.

Ventilation is produced by a twelve-foot fan run by a twenty horse power engine.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 217 ; outside, 115 ; days worked during year, 188T ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 2,884; tons of coal shipped, 102,964.16; boilers, 12; engines, 4=320 horse power; mine cars, 148 ; mules, 54 ; yards of mine track, 14,000 ; non-fatal acci- dent, 1 ; fatal accidents, 2.

Short Mountain.

Located near Wiconisco, Dauphin county, on lands of the Lykens Valley Coal Company, and by them operated.

There are two slopes sunk on the north dip of the Lykens Valley vein. Short Mountain slope is sunk five hundred and five yards on an angle of 48° average, with east and west gangwa}'s. East gangway driven nineteen hundred and fifty yards, with eighty-two breasts opened, seven working, balance finished. This gangway has been driven under the workings of the Lykens Valley slope. West gangway driven fifteen hundred yards, witli sixty-eight breasts opened, five working ; west counter gangway driven sixteen hundred and fifty-nine yards, with seventy-nine breasts opened, three working. A self-acting gravity plane delivers the coal from this gangway to the lower gangway. Lykens Valley slope sunk four hun- dred and thirty-five yards, first two hundred and fifty yards on an angle of 29°, and the balance on an angle of 60° with lower, east, and one counter east gangway. Lower east gangway driven twenty-one hundred yards, with one hundred breasts opened, eleven working; east counter gangway driven twenty-one hundred and twenty yards, with one hundred and two breasts opened, ten working. The coal from this gangway is delivered on lower gangwajr by a self-acting gravity plane.

Drainage is effected by seven pumps, as follows : One five hundred horse power Cornish bull pump, four Allison & Bannan, one Shoener & Allen, and one Niagara, together with four Niagara steam pumps at Big Lick colliery.

Ventilation is produced by two fourteen-foot fans, each run by two forty horse power engines. The general condition of colliery is fair.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 356 ; outside, 221 ; dajs worked during year, 176; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,904; tons of coal shipped, 112,095.09; boilers, 54; engines, 19=1,705 horse power; six-ton locomotives, 2 ; yards of mine track, 25,655 ; mine cars, 220 ; mules, 98 ; non-fatal accidents, 4 ; fatal accidents, 5.

74 Reports or the Inspectors of Mines. No. 10,

Sterling.

Located at Carbon Run, one mile south of Sharaokin, Northumberland county, on lands of Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, operated by Kendrick & Fnlton.

Slope sunk two hundred and twenty yards on the north dip of the No. 9 vein, on an angle of 22°, with east and west gangways on Nos. 8 and 9. Twin veins, east gangway, No. 9, driven seven hundred and twenty-seven yards, with forty-six breasts opened, ten working. Vein at face of gang- way faulty. Four hundred and thirty-three and one third yards east of slope, a cross cut tunnel is driven south fifteen yards, opening No. 8 vein with east and west gangways. East gangway driven one hundred and sixty-three yards, with fourteen breasts opened. West gangway, No. 8, driven seventy-three yards, with six breasts opened. West gangwa}', No. 9, driven seven hundred and sixty-seven yards, with forty-seven breasts opened. From this point, the gangway is rounding an anticlinal axis vein forming a south dip. Gangway is driven east from point of axis seventy -five yards, with four breasts opened. Five hundred yards west of slope, a slant gangway is driven south-west one hundred and seventy-five yards, with eleven breasts opened. Thence gangway rounding an anti- clinal, and running in a south-east direction for fifty yards, where round- ing a synclinal axis, and running in a south-west direction, and driven one hundred and twenty yards, with nine breasts opened. Two hundred and fifty-seven yards west of slope, a cross cut tunnel is driven south fifteen yards, opening the No. 8 vein with west gangway, driven fifty-eight }-ards, with four breasts opened and working.

Drainage is done by an eight inch Niagara steam pump.

Ventilation produced by a twelve foot fan, run by a twenty-five horse power engine.

Collieiy employs men and boys, inside, 144 ; outside, 11 ; days worked during year, 165; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,374; tons of coal shipped, 54,085.14; boilers, 6; engines, 5=205 horse power; mine cars, 50 ; mules, 15 ; yards of mine track, 1,800 ; non-fatal accidents, 3.

Big Run Gap.

Located about two miles west of Wiconisco, Dauphin county, on lands of the Summit Branch Railroad Company, operated by James Fennel.

There are two drift levels, driven four hundred and fifty and two hun- dred yards, respectively, on the Lykens Valley Big and Little veins, taking the crop coal of the Short mountain west workings. The principal mining season is in winter time, as all the coal produced is sold to the farmers, for their domestic use.

Ventilation is produced by natural means.

Collieiy employs men and boys, inside, 12 ; outside, 1 ; days worked during year, . ; tons of coal mined and sold, 1,798; mine cars, 11; mules, inside, 3 — outside, horses, 3 ; yards of mine track, 800 ; no acci- dents.

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors o± Mines. 75

Summit Branch.

Located north of Williarastown, on the Big Lick mountain, Dauphin county, on lands of the Summit Branch Railroad Company, and operated by them.

Tunnel driven north three hundred and forty-six yards, cutting the Ly- kens Valley vein. Three underground slopes, numbered one, two, and three, west of tunnel ninety-one and two thirds yards. No. 1 slope is sunk two hundred and twenty-five yards, on an angle of 21°, north dip, with east and west gangways on Big and Little veins. East gangway, Big vein, driven to line, breasts worked out. West gangway also driven to line, and breasts worked out. Now robbing breast and gangway pillars.

East of tunnel, about eighty-three and one third yards, No. 2 slope is sunk three hundred and twent3'-five yards, on an angle of 22°, north dip, with east and west gangways. East gangway, Big vein, driven one thou- sand seven hundred and fifty yards, with eighty-one breast opened, twelve working. One hundred yards east of slope, a cross cut is driven south, opening the Little vein, with east and west gangways. East gangway, driven forty yards, with three breasts opened. West gangway, driven east of slope one hundred yards, with five breasts opened. West gang- way, Big vein, driven one thousand four hundred and seventy -five yards, with sixty-six breasts opened, ten working. Two hundred yards west of slope, a cross cut is driven south, opening Little vein with east gangway, driven one hundred and ninety -seven yards, with three breasts opened. Vein faulty. East of tunnel sixty-six and two thirds }rards, No. 3 slope is sunk five hundred and thirty yards, on an angle of 22°, with east and west main and counter gangways. East main gangway driven seventeen hundred yards, with seventy-five breasts opened, eleven working. East counter gangway driven one thousand six hundred and thirty-seven yards, with sixtj'-nine breasts opened, twelve working. West main gangway driven one thousand seven hundred and sixty yards, with eighty-one breasts opened, nine working. West counter gangway driven one thou- sand seven hundred and thirty yards, with seventy-eight breasts opened. The coal from counter gangways is delivered in lower gangways by five self-acting gravity planes, four one hundred yards long, each, and one one hundred and seventy -five yards long.

The tunnel has been driven north from Lykens Valley vein eight hun- dred and eighty-eight yards, cutting through Big Lick mountain. East of north end of tunnel one hundred yards, No. 4 slope is being sunk on the north dip of the " E," or Mammoth vein, on an angle of 45°. This is being sunk for a trial slope. Should the vein prove satisfactory, other and more extensive openings will be made.

Drainage is effected by three steam pumps, viz : One ten inch Allison & Bannan steam pump, and two Niagara's, of the same size.

Ventilation is produced by two twelve-foot fans, driven by two forty horse power engines each. At Bear Valley slope, a fourteen-foot fan,

16 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

driven by a forty horse power engine, ventilates the workings. This col- liery is in good condition, and well ventilated.

Colliery employs men and boys, inside, 494 ; outside, 201 ; days worked during year, 200; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 3,990 ; tons of coal shipped, 251,239 ; boilers, 30; engines, 13=804 horse power; mine cars, 264 ; mules, 96 ; yards of mine track, 7,315 ; fatal accidents, 2 ; non- fatal, 1.

Green Ridge.

Located at Green Ridge, one and a half miles west of Mount Carmel, Northumberland county, on lands of Mineral Railroad and Mining Com- pany, and by them operated.

It consists of one trial slope sinking on the north dip of the "E," or Mammoth vein, on an angle of 51°, and is now sunk about sixty yards. Should the vein develop itself satisfactory, extensive openings will be made. Size of slope, nineteen feet bottom, seventeen feet collar, eight feet high, double track.

Colliery employs, in sinking slope, 46 ; boilers, 2 ; engine, 1=40 horse power ; mine wagons, 2 ; mules, 2 ; yards of mine track, 150 ; no accident.

Coal Ridge, Nos. 2 and 3.

Located at Bell's tunnel, near Mount Carmel, Northumberland and Co- lumbia counties, on lands of Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, and operated by Burton & Bros.

These collieries have been abandoned. Slope on UE," or Mammoth vein, five years, and full of water, and slope on Skidmore vein two and a half years, and also full of water.

Hazel Dell, East.

Located one half mile east of Centralia, in Columbia county, on the lands of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, and operated by George Troutman.

Slope sunk one hundred and ten yards, on the north dip of the " E," or Mammoth vein, in the Centralia basin, on an angle of 45°. Work now doing is robbing out breast and gangway pillars. Ventilated by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 22 ; outside, 34 ; days worked during year, 72 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 120 ; tons of coal shipped, 6,835; boilers, 4; engines, 2=85 horse power; mine cars, 12; mules, 4 ; yards of mine track, 700 ; no accidents.

Hazel Dell, West.

Located in the borough of Centralia, Columbia county, on lands of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, operated by William Peiffer.

This is a small colliery, and coal mined sold to local consumers. It con- sists of a single track slope, sunk forty yards, half course, across the coal measures, with east gangway driven thirty-five yards, with three breasts

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 77

opened and worked out. The onty work now being done is robbing out pillars and gangway.

Colliery employs men inside, 2 ; outside, 2 ; days worked during year, 75; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 6; tons of coal mined, 202; mine wagon, 1 ; mule, 1 ; yards of mine track, 50 ; no accidents.

Lilly.

Located west of Centralia, Columbia county, on the lands of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, and operated by George Troutman.

Slope sunk sixteen yards on the south dip of the " E," or Mammoth vein, with east gangway driven three hundred and thirty-three }rards, twenty-two breasts opened and worked out. Work now being done is robbing out gangway and pillars.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 7 ; outside, 4 ; days worked dur- ing year, 253 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each.) 140 ; tons of coal shipped, 7,711; mine cars, 5; mules, 2; horse, 1 ; yards of mine track, 300 ; no accidents.

Gensil.

Located a half mile south of Centralia, Columbia county, on the lands of Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, and operated by Pulaski Gensil.

Drift driven west seventy yards in the " E," or Mammoth vein. The nature or character of work being done is robbing out crop coal of the Big Mine Run colliery, west workings, and disposed of locally.

Colliery employs miner inside, 1 ; laborers outside, 3 ; days worked dur- ing year, 125 ; kegs of powder used, 10 ; tons of coal mined, 245.10 ; mine wagons, 2 ; mule, 1 ; horse, 1 ; yards of mine track, 70 ; no accidents.

Henry Clay, No. 2.

Located half a mile south of Shamokin, Northumberland county, on lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.

Drift level driven fifteen hundred yards and worked out. Seventy yards west from mouth of drift an inside slope is sunk eighty-two yards, on the No. 8 vein, with east and west gangways driven to boundary line and worked out. The only work being now done is pumping water to prevent it from flowing into the Henry Clay shaft, No. 1 workings, and for this purpose employ one engineer and one watchman.

Boilers, 7; engines 3=110 horse-power; mine cars, sixty-one. Twenty- seven hundred yards mine track are on the premises.

Greenback.

Located at Greenback, two miles south-east of Shamokin, Northumber- land county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company and Lehigh Valley. Operated by Gorman and Toady.

Three drift levels, viz: East and West Buck mountain drifts and east Nos. 8 and 9 drift. West Buck mountain drift is driven three hundred

78 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

yards, with fifteen breasts opened, six working ; East Buck mountain drift driven three hundred yards, twelve breasts opened, seven finished. Work in this drift suspended for the present. East No. 8 drift opens the Nos. 8 and 9 twin veins, with east gangway, No. 8, driven to boundary line, four breasts working ; east gangway, No. 9, driven twenty-eight hundred yards, four breasts working.

Ventilation in West Buck mountain drift is produced by a furnace, and in East, Nos. 8 and 9, by natural means.

Colliery employs, men and boys, inside, 61 ; outside, 66 ; clays worked during year, — ; tons of coal shipped, 7,132.12 ; boilers 7 ; engines, 3=95 horse-power; mine cars, 75 ; mules, 16 ; yards of mine track, 10,560 ; miners' houses, 40 ; no accidents.

Vaughan.

Located in the southern limits of the borough of Ashland, Schuylkill county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Com- pany. Operated by David Yaughan & Co.

Two drift levels driven on the crop of the Bancroft old workings. No. 1 drift driven two hundred and fifty-nine yards, with nineteen breasts opened, six working. A counter gangway is connected with this gang- way and driven sixty yards ; no breasts opened. No. 2 gangway driven one hundred 3'ards, no breasts opened. The character of work being now done is taking out crop coal from old pillars, and the coal disposed of locally.

Ventilation produced by natural means.

Colliery emplo}'S, men and boys, inside, 11; outside, 8 ; days worked during year, 96 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 70 ; tons of coal mined, 1,532; boilers, 2; engines, 2=23 horse-power; mine wagons, 4; mule 1 ; yards mine track, 500 ; no accidents.

Big Mountain, No. 2.

Located three miles south-west of Mount Carmel, Northumberland county, on lands of the Northumberland Coal Company. Operated by the same.

One drift level driven thirty-five yards, on the Lykens Valley vein, in six feet of coal ; no breasts opened.

Ventilation effected by natural means.

Coal produced sold for local consumption.

Men employed, 3 ; mine wagon, 1 ; horse, 1 ; yards mine track, 45; no return of coal sold or days worked, and no accidents.

Burnside.

Located at Carbon Run, one mile south-west of Shamokin, Northum- berland county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and operated by them.

Two slopes sunk on the north and south dips of the No. 9 twin vein. The slope on north dip is sunk one hundred and seventy yards to basin,

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 79

on an angle of 40°, with east and west gangways on the No. 8 vein, and west gangway on the No. 9 vein. West gangway, No. 9, is driven five hundred and ninet}r yards, rounding an anticlinal axis forming a south dip, and thence driven east from point of axis four hundred and three yards, with sixty-one breasts opened, fifty-five finished or worked out. West gangway, south dip, driven five hundred and fifty-eight yards, with thirty breasts opened and worked out. West of slope bottom, four hun- dred and eighty yards, a cross-cut is driven twenty-five yards north from south dip, across the point of saddle, opening a north dip gangway, and driven east one hundred and eighty-seven yards, with thirteen breasts opened and worked out. East gangway, No. 9, driven to boundary line ; breasts all worked out and robbed back. East of slope bottom, fifty yards, a cross-cut tunnel is driven south, opening No. 8 vein with east and west gangways. East gangway, No. 8, driven one hundred and eighty-three yards and stopped, with fourteen breasts opened. East from cross-cut, one hundred yards, a gangway is opened off main gangway, running north- east twenty yards, rounding an anticlinal forming a south dip, and driven west from point of axis seventy-three yards, with seven breasts opened. West gangway, No. 8, driven from cross-cut four hundred and thirteen yards, rounding an anticlinal, vein forming a south dip, and driven east from point of axis sixty-three yards, with twenty-seven breasts opened. Slope on south dip sunk seventy-one yards, on No. 9 vein, to the basin, on an angle of 50°, with east and west gangways on both veins. East gangway, south dip, driven two hundred and forty-seven yards, with fifteen breasts opened. One hundred and seventy-three yards east of slope bot- tom, a cross-cut tunnel is driven north about five yards, opening the No. 8 vein with east and west gangways. East gangway, No. 8, driven forty- two yards, with three breasts opened. West gangway, No. 8, driven from cross-cut one hundred and thirteen yards, with nine breasts opened. East gangwa}', No. 9, north dip, driven three hundred and ninety-three yards to trough of basin, with twenty-one breasts opened. West gangway, No. 9, north dip, driven fifty-five yards and stopped, with two breasts opened.

This colliery was in very poor condition when it passed into the hands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and the entire work done during the jear has been repairing and improving it inside and outside.

Colliery employed miners and laborers inside, 2 ; men outside, 8 ; days worked during year, . ; kegs of powder used, 50 : tons of coal shipped, none ; boilers, 11 ; engines, 5=190 horse power ; mine cars, 95 ; yards of mine track, 6,630 ; men fatallv injured, 4.

Uarson.

Located one mile west of Shamokin, Northumberland county, on lands of Hays, Keller & McCormick, and operated by Philip Goodwill.

One drift level driven west three hundred yards, on the Big Diamond

80 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

vein, in five feet of coal, north clip ; ten breasts opened, five working and five finished.

Ventilation produced by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 20 ; outside, 20 ; days worked during year, 30; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 80 ; tons of coal shipped, 1,430 ; boilers, 2 ; engine, 1=30 horse power ; mine cars, 5 ; mules, 2; 3'ards of mine track, 375 ; no accidents.

Wadieigh Slope.

Located north of the borough of Ashland, Schuylkill county, on lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company.

A slope sunk ninety yards on the south dip of the " E," or Mammoth vein, in the Ashland basin, on an angle of 20°, with east and west gang- ways.

The breaker, slope, engine and boiler-house were burned down about twenty years ago, and the slope let fill with water. In 1816, the Phila- delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company had the water pumped out, preparatory to mining coal under its workings, from the east workings of the Potts colliery. The pumping of water is the only work being done at this slope. One engineer is employed.

Boilers, 4 ; engine, 1=60 horse power; sixteen-inch pole pump, used for pumping, 1.

Diamond.

Located at Little Mine run, east of Ashland, Schuylkill county, on lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Conipan}', and operated by W. H. Burchfield.

Drift level driven one hundred and sixty yards west, on the Diamond vein, in five feet of coal, with nine breasts opened, two working.

Ventilated by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 2 ; outside, 3 ; days worked dur- ing year, 9£ ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 2 ; tons of coal shipped, 20.05; boiler, 1; engine, 1=12 horse power; mine wagon, 1; mule, 1 ; yards of mine track, 310.

Little Mine Run.

Located a half mile south of Centralia, Columbia county, on lands of the Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, and operated by Pilfer & Gereahty.

One drift driven west seventy yards, on the south dip of the " E," or Mammoth vein, west crop working of Big Mine run. Work done is rob- bing pillars. The coal produced being sold locally.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 2 ; outside, 2 ; days worked during year, 24; kegs of powder used, 3; tons of coal mined, 9.10; no accidents.

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 81

Rau§oli Gap.

Located two miles south of Valley View, Hegins township, Schuylkill count}', on lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Conipan}', and operated by William H. Yohe.

One drift level driven west two hundred and ninety-two yards, on the south dip of the Skidmore vein, three breasts opened, two working, one worked out. Coal produced sold locally.

Ventilation produced by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 2 ; outside, 2 ; days worked dur- ing year, 104 ; kegs of powder, (25 pounds each,) 35 ; tons of coal mined, 453.10 ; mine wagons, 2 ; mules, 2 ; yards of mine track, 300 ; no accidents and mine in safe condition.

Glen.

Located one half mile east of Centralia, Cunningham township, Colum- bia county, on lands of Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Company, and operated by Bryson & McBrearty.

One drift level, driven two hundred yards through the Hazle Dell crop workings. Work being done, is extending gangway and skipping pillars.

Ventilation produced by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys, iaside, 2 ; outside, 2 ; days worked during }fear, 27 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 4 ; tons of coal shipped, 300 ; mine cars, 2 ; mules, 1 ; yards of mine track, 300 ; no acci- dents.

Franklin, \o. 2.

Located in Mahanoy valley, Barry township, Schuylkill county, on lands of Benjamin Riegel, Fortenbaugh & Brentzel, and operated by S. S. Bickel.

A tunnel, driven north one hundred and two }ards to the Lykens Valley vein, with east and west gangways. West gangway driven three hundred yards, and stopped, no work having been done for some time past. East gangway driven nine hundred yards, with twelve breasts opened, four working, balance worked out.

Ventilation produced by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys, inside, 20; outside, 14; days worked during 3rear, 100 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each.) 50 ; tons of coal shipped, 9,000; boilers, 2 ; engines, 1=50 horse power; mine cars, 12; mules, 4; yards of mine track, 1,500; no accidents; mine in safe condition.

Brentzel,

Located on the south side of Mahanoy mountain, one half mile north of Rocktown, West Butler township, Schuylkill county, on lands of Riegel, Fortenbaugh & Brentzel, and operated by Brentzel & Cleaver.

A single track trial slope being sunk on the north dip of the Lykens Valley vein, on an angle of 65°. Should the vein develop itself satisfac- 6 — Mine Rep.

82 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

toril}', extensive improvements will be made for the mining and shipping of coal.

Colliery employs miners and laborers, inside, 6 ; outside, 8 ; boilers, 1 engines, 1=20 hore power ; mine cars, 3 ; yards of mine track, 30 ; no accidents.

Monitor.

Located at Locust Gap, Northumberland county, on lands of Philadel- phia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and operated by George W. Johns & Brother.

One slope from surface, and one inside slope. Surface slope sunk one hundred and ten yards on south dip of " E," on Mammoth vein, on an angle of 45° for the first fifty yards, and the balance on an angle of 25°, with east and west gangways. West gangway driven to line, and worked out. East gangway driven six hundred and ninety-two yards, rounding an anticlinal vein, forming a north dip, and thence driven west four hun- dred and fifty yards, to a synclinal vein forming a south dip, and thence driven east from point of axis seven hundred yards, to boundary line. One hundred and twelve breasts opened, and worked out.

Inside slope sunk one hundred and seventy yards on the same dip, on an angle of 25°, with east and west lower and counter gangways. East gang- way driven nine hundred yards, with fifty breasts opened, seventeen work- ing. West gangway driven nine hundred yards, fifty breasts opened, sixteen working. East counter gangway driven five hundred yards, twenty-eight, breasts opened, thirteen working. West counter gangway driven four hundred yards, thirty breasts opened, and worked out. Robbing back breast and gangway pillars.

Drainage of mine is effected by a No. 8 Blake and a fourteen inch pole pump.

Ventilation produced by a twelve-foot fan, run by a twenty-five horse power engine.

Colliery employs men and boys, inside, 183 ; outside, 117 ; days worked during year, 176 ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 2,283 ; tons of coal shipped, 88,210.12 ; boilers, 14; engines, 8=365 horse power; mine wagons, 85 ; mules, 22 ; yards of mine track, 10,200 ; fatal accidents, 4 ; non-fatal, 2.

Black Diamond.

Located at Green Ridge, one mile west of Mount Carmel, Northumber- land county, on land of Henry Saylor, and operated by William Schwenk & Co.

A single track slope, sunk eighty-three yards on the north dip of the No. 8 twin vein, on an angle of 22°, with east and west gangways. East gangway, No. 8, driven four hundred and forty yards, working four breasts. East gangway, No. 9, driven four hundred yards to line, and now being robbed out. West gangway, No. 9, driven three hundred and eighty yards, and worked out to No. 15 breast.

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 83

A tunnel is driven south from No. 14 breast one hundred and eleven yards across a saddle, striking a north and south dip of same veins, with west gangway driven forty-five yards, five breasts opened, and working in coal five and a half feet thick.

Drainage is effected by a No. 6 Blake pump.

Ventilation produced by a twelve-foot fan, run by a twent}r horse power engine.

Colliery employs men and boys, inside, 34 ; outside, 26 ; days worked during year, 182; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 605; tons of coal shipped, 19,616.111 boilers, 4 ; engines, 4=110 horse power; mine cars, 25; mules, 4 ; yards of mine track, 1,200; non-fatal accident, 1.

Peerless.

Located south of Shamokin borough limits, on lands of the Philadel- phia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, known as the "William Green tract," and operated by John Cruikshank.

Two Drift levels opening the No. 10 — two red ash and pink ash veins. No. 1 red ash gangway driven west eleven hundred yards, working ten breasts in six feet of coal, dip 45° north; pink ash gangway driven west nine hundred and seventy-five yards, with ten breasts working in five and a half feet of coal, dip 52° north ; No. 10 gangway driven west three hun- dred yards, with two breasts working in five and a half feet of coal, dip 43° north ; No. 2 red ash gangway driven west sixty yards, working two breasts in three and a half feet of coal, dip 47° north. A tunnel driven south in east drift level opens the other two veins.

Ventilation produced by natural means.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 86 ; outside, 56 ; days worked during year, 158; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 1,190; tons of coal shipped, 33,499.15 ; boilers, 2 ; engine, 1=35 horse power ; mine cars, 39 ; mules, 13 ; yards of mine track, 2,325 ; no accidents.

Hickory Ridge.

Located at Hickory Ridge, three miles east of Shamokin, Northumber- land county, on the lands of the Mineral Railroad and Mining Company, and by them operated.

One slope and one drift level. The slope is sunk ninety-six and two third yards on the south dip of the No. 9 twin vein, on an angle of 75° with east and west gangways. East gangway, on No. 9 vein, driven five hundred and fifty-three yards, with thirty-four breasts opened, none work- ing. East of slope eighty-three and one third yards a cross-cut tunnel is driven north, opening the No. 8 vein with gangway driven ninety-one and two thirds yards, with two breasts opened. East of slope four hundred and ninety yards the No. 8 vein is opened by another cross-cut driven north. Gangway driven east forty-seven yards, with three breasts opened ; west gangway driven twenty-five yards, with two breasts opened, none working ; west gangway, No. 9, driven seven hundred and seventy-two

84 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

yards, with fifty-four breasts opened, twelve working; this gangway in fault. South of breaker a water level tunnel is driven one hundred and seventy-three and one third yards, cutting the Nos. 8 and 9 twin and Skid- more veins with east and west gangways. East gangwa}', Skidmore vein, driven ten hundred and eighty-five yards, and in fault, with seventy-seven breasts opened, one working ; west gangway driven five hundred and thirty - seven yards, with thirty-seven breasts opened, none working. A counter level is opened, and gangways driven east and west. East gangwa}r driven one hundred and eighty-seven yards, with twelve breasts opened and worked out ; west counter gangway driven two hundred and ninety yards, with eighteen breasts opened and worked out. West of tunnel three hundred and forty -three and one third yards a counter level is opened, off breast No. 25, with east and west gangways. East gangway driven sixty-two yards, with six breasts opened and worked out ; west gangway driven one hundred and thirty -three and one third yards, with nine breasts opened, four* working. The breaker at this colliery was burned down on the night of November 4, 1878.

Drainage of mines is effected by a ten-inch pole and one Niagara steam pump.

Ventilation is produced by a twelve-foot fan, run by a twenty horse power engine.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 131 ; outside, 80; da}rs worked during year, 146t7q ; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 787 ; tons of coal shipped, 21,520.02; boilers, 9; engines, 5=200 horse power; mine wagons, 55 ; mules, 16 ; yards of mine track, 3,996 ; no accidents.

West Brookside.

Located north of Tower City, in Porter township, Schuylkill county, on the lands of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company, and operated by them.

One tunnel, one slope from surface, and two inside slopes. No. 1, or slope sunk from surface, is sunk one hundred and forty-seven and a third yards, on the north dip of the Lykens Valley vein, on an angle of 38°, with east and west gangways. East gangway driven nine hundred and forty-five yards, and worked out. West gangway driven one hundred and eighty yards, rounding a synclinal, or basin vein, forming a south dip, thence driven east, from point of axis, twenty hundred and thirteen yards, rounding an anticlinal, or saddle vein, forming a north dip, and driven west, from point of saddle, five hundred and thirty-three yards, with one hundred and seventeen breasts opened, eighteen working. East, from point of basin, fourteen hundred and twenty yards, a counter chute opens No. 2 gangway, driven east three hundred and twenty-five yards, rounding an anticlinal vein, forming a north dip, and driven west, from point of saddle, four hundred and thirteen yards, with six breasts opened and working on north, and twent}r-one opened and worked out on south dip East frv,m basin, nine hundred and seventy-five yards, a counter chute

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 85

opens No. 3 east counter gangway, driven east from counter chute six hundred and thirty-five yards, rounding an anticlinal or saddle vein, form- ing a north dip, and driven west, from point of saddle, eleven hundred and ten yards, with twenty-five breasts opened and worked out on south dip, and forty-eight opened on north dip, six working. East of point of basin, three hundred and forty-three yards, No. 2 plane opens No. 4 gang- way, driven east ten hundred and eighty-three yards, rounding an anticli- nal vein, forming a north dip, and driven west, from point of saddle, three hundred and twenty-three yards to a rock fault, with forty-five breasts opened on the south, and ten on the north dip, and worked out. East of head of No. 2 plane, six hundred and thirty-seven yards, No. 3 plane opens No. 5 gangway, driven east and west ; east gangway driven one hundred and ninety-five yards, with five breasts opened and worked out, west gang- way driven six hundred and ninety-four yards, with nineteen breasts opened, fourteen working. East from plane No. 2, two hundred and ninety-two yards, No. 6 gangway is opened and driven one hundred and thirty-eight yards, with three breasts opened and worked out. West of No. 2 plane, No. 4 west gangway is driven six hundred and thirty-five yards, with thirty breasts opened and worked out. West of No. 2 plane, one hundred yards, on No. 4 west gangway, No. T gangway is opened and driven east three hundi'ed and forty-four yards, with twenty breasts opened, four working. West of head of No. 2 plane, one hundred and eighty-five yards, No. 8 gangway is opened and driven north-west four hundred and twenty-seven yards, with eight breasts opened, two working. East from point of basin, one hundred yards, No. 1 plane opens gangways east and west, east gangway driven two hundred and twenty yards, with ten breasts opened and worked out, west gangway driven two hundred and twenty-five yards, with eight breasts opened and worked out. West of plane No. 1, fifty feet, a slant gangway is driven west one hundred and fifty yards, with six breasts opened and worked out. A back switch gangway is opened off this slant, and driven east one hundred and thirty-five yards, with nine breasts opened and worked out. East and west gangways were opened off this slant ; east gangway driven two hundred and thirty-five yards, with eight breasts opened and worked out, west gangway driven two hundred and sixty yards, with ten breasts opened and worked out.

West of No. 1 slope, three hundred and ninety yards, a tunnel, driven north sixty-two and two thirds yards, opens the same vein, with west gang- ways driven. Tunnel level west gangway driven eighteen hundred and forty-seven yards, with one hundred and one breasts opened, nine working. West of tunnel, thirteen hundred and seventy-four yards, inside slope, No. 3, is being sunk, and is now a depth of seventy-three yards. West of tunnel, four hundred and ninet\ yards, a plane eighty-five yards long has been driven, with east and west gangways. East plane gangway driven one hundred yards, with four breasts opened and worked on it. West plane gangway driven eleven hundred and seventy-five yards, with fifty-four

86 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

breasts opened, twenty-two working. West of plane, two hundred and eighty-five yards, plane counter gangway is driven west four hundred and seventeen yards, with eleven breasts opened and eight working. East of plane a back switch gangway is driven west three hundred yards, with thirteen breasts opened on it.

West of tunnel, one hundred and eighteen and a third yards, inside slope, No. 2, is sunk eighty yards, on the north dip of the Lykens Valley vein, on an angle of 20°, with east and west gangways; lower west gang- way driven twelve hundred and thirty-five yards, with thirty-eight breasts opened, six working. West of slope, three hundred and forty-five yards, a self-acting plane is driven, with east and west gangways. East plane gangway is driven four hundred and eight yards, with nineteen breasts opened, fifteen working. West plane gangway driven six hundred and sixty yards, with thirty-two breasts opened, fourteen working. The coal from all the counter gangways, in both slopes and tunnel level, is delivered on lower gangways by counter chutes and self-acting planes.

Drainage is effected by two six-inch, and one eight-inch Allison & Ban- nan and four Cameron steam pumps.

Yentilation is produced by two eighteen-feet and one ten feet fans, run by three twenty-five horse power engines.

The general condition of colliery is good.

Colliery employs men and boys inside, 495 ; outside, 190 ; clays worked during year, 153; kegs of powder used, (25 pounds each,) 5,050; tons of coal shipped, 282,000 ; boilers, 26 ; engines, 14=400 horse power; mine cars, 115 ; mules, 102; yards of mine track, 21,645 ; five-ton mine locomo- tive, 1 ; employes seriously injured, 7; fatally injured, 3.

Centralis.

Located at Centralia, Columbia county, on lands of the Locust Moun- tain Coal and Iron Company, and operated by Doctor G-. M. Prevost.

Two slopes are sunk on " E," or Mammoth vein, and " D," or Skidmore vein. Slope sunk on " E," or Mammoth vein, two hundred yards on a south dip, on an angle of 55°, with east and west gangways. East gang- way driven five hundred and forty-six and two thirds yards, and robbed back to within two hundred and seventy-three and one third yards of slope. West gangway driven eight hundred and eight and one third yards, basin raising or spooning out at this point, a counter chute is driven, and a west gangway driven four hundred and sixty-six and two thirds yards, striking trough of basin at gangway face, with twenty-five breasts opened, six working in south, and three on north dips. Seven hundred yards west of slope, a plane gangway is driven sixty-six and two thirds yards, to intersect the Hazle Dell lower west gangway, north dip. Fifty yards west of intersection, a counter chute is driven on north dip. Coun- ter gangway driven west three hundred and ninety-two yards, with twenty- four breasts opened, six working next to face of gangway. West of slope

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 87

two hundred 3Tards, a gangway is driven south across the basin to the Hazle Dell lower gangway, north dip, with six breasts working on the west, and three on the east side of the gangway.

A tunnel is driven north two hundred and fifty-three yards, opening the "D," or Skidmore vein, with east and west gangways. East gangway is driven three hundred and ninet}T-five yards, with twenty-eight breasts opened and worked out. West gangway driven eight hundred and eighty- three and one third yards, with sixty -one breasts opened, three working. West of tunnel fifty-six and two thirds yards, a dry slope has been sunk sixty yards. The coal is hoisted up this slope, dumped into a chute, and reloaded and taken from thence to breaker.

Drainage is effected by two sixteen-inch pole, one sixteen-inch Allison & Bannon, and one sixteen-inch Thatcher steam pumps.

Ventilation produced at present by natural means. A twelve-foot fan is on the premises, for use when required.

Colliery employs men and boys, inside, 101 ; outside, 83 ; days worked during year, 180 ; kegs of powder used, 350 ; tons of coal shipped, 62,133.10; boilers, 26 ; engines, 8=743 horse power ; mine cars, 70 ; mules, 28 ; yards of mine track, 5,000 ; five employes injured.

Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. No. 10,

TABLE No. 1. — Number and general description

Name of Colliery.

Mt. Carmel shaft, . . .

Bast,

West Brookside, . . . .

Bear Valley,

Burnside,

George Fales,

Helfenstein,

Keystone,

Locust Run,

Merriam,

Locust Spring,

Potts,

North Ashland, Preston, No. 1, . . . . , Preston, No. 2, Preston, No. 3,

Tunnel,

Wadley slope,

Little Diamond, . . . N. Franklin, Nos. 1 & 2 Big Mountain,

Excelsior,

Enterprise,

Reliance,

Locust Gap,

Franklin, No. 1, . . . Henry Clay, No. 1, . . Henry Clay, No. 2, . . ,

Peerless,

Sterling,

Royal Oak,

Ben Franklin,

Monitor,

Cameron,

Luke Fidler, Hickory Ridge, Short Mountain, . . .

Packer,

William stown, . . . . ,

Lancaster,

Black Diamond, . . . .

Centralia

Hazel Dell, No. 2, . .

Lilly,

Stewartsville,

Big Mine Run,

Continental,

Buck Ridge,

Big Run Gap,

Glen City, ,

Glen,

Little Mine Run, . . .

Carson,

Montana,

Gensil,

Kline,

Green Ridge,

Big Mountain, No. 2, .

Vaughan,

Franklin, No. 2, ... Coal Ridge, No. 2, . . , Coal Ridge, No. 3, . .

Greenback,

Brent zil,

West Hazle Dell, . . . ,

Rausch Gap,

North Franklin, No. 1,

Name of Operator.

Name of Landowner.

rhila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Bead. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Head. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Bead. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co.,

W. H. Burchfield,

Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co.,

Patterson & Llewellyn,

C. W. Kingsley &Co.,

Thomas Baumgardner,

Thomas Baumgardner,

Graeher&Co.,

Level & Booth,

J. Langdon & Co.,

Phila. & Bead. Coal & Iron Co.,

John Cruikshank,

Kendrick & Fulton,

Tillet & Son,

Baumgardner & Co.,

George W. .Johns & Brother, . . Mineral Railroad & Mining Co., Mineral Railroad & Mining Co., Mineral Railroad & Mining Co., Lykens Val. & Short Mt. Coal Co

David J. Lewis,

Summit Branch Coal Company,

Smith & Keiser,

William Schwenk.& Co., . . . .

G. M. Prevost

George Troutman,

George Troutman,

William Montelius,

Jeremiah Taylor & Co.,

J. T. Audenried & Co.,

May, Audenried & Co.,

James Fennel,

J. A. Losee,

Brysen & McBriarty,

Pifter & Geraghty,

Philip Goodwill,

Miller, Rupp & Beaver,

Pulaski Gensil,

John L. Kline,

M. R. R. and M. Co.,

Northumberland Coal Co., . . .

David Vaughan & Co.,

S. S. Bickel,

Gorman &Toudy,

Philip Brentzil,

William Fitter,

William H. Yolie,

Phila. & Read. Coal & Iron Co.,

Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Heading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Locust Mt. Coal& Improvement Co. Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Keading Coal & Iron Co., City of Philadelphia, trustee, . . . Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., P. & R. C. & I. Co., & L. V. R. R., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co ., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Mineral Railroad and Mining Co., Mineral Railroad and Mining Co., Mineral Railroad and Mining Co., Lykens Valley & Short Mt. Coal Co. Mineral Railroad and Mining Co., Summit Branch Coal Company, . . Mineral Railroad and Mining Co.,

Henry Say lor,

Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., City of Philadelphia, trustee, . . . .

Renshaw & Johnson

Summit Branch Railroad Company, S. P. Klase & Longenberger, . . . . Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., Hays, Keller & McCormiek, . . .

Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co.,

M. R. R& M. Co.,

Northumberland Coal Co.,

Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Reigel, Fortenbaugh & Brentzel. . . Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., P. & R. C. & I. Co., & L. V. R. R., . Brentzel, Fortenbaugh & Reigel, . . Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Phila. & Reading Coal & Iron Co., .

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines.

of Collieries in Shamokin District, in 1878.

County.

Name of Vein.

Thickness- Feet.

Alaska, . ... Big Mine Run, . Tower City, . . . Bear Valley, . . Bumside, Burnside, . . Helfenstein, . . Locust Dale, . . Ashland, Locust Summit, Locust Gap, . . Locust Dale, . . Dark Corner, . . Girardville, . . . Girardville, . . . Girardville, . . . Ashland,

Ashland

Little Mine Run, Trevorton, . . . Shamokin, . . . Excelsior, . . . Excelsior, . . . Mount Carmel, . Lo.-ust ( rap, Shamokin, . Shamokin, . . . Shamokin, . . . Shamokin, . . . Carbon Run, . . Shamokin, . . , Douteyville, . . Locust Gap, . . Shamokin, ... Shamokin, ... Hickory Ridge,

"Wiconisco

Mount Carmel, . , Williamstown, . ,

Coal Run

Green Ridge, . .

Centralia,

Central i a,

Centralia, . . . . , Mount Carmel, . . Big Mine Run, . , Dark Corner, . . ,

Shamokin

Williams Valley, Glen City, . . . . Centralia, ... Little Mine Run, , Shamokin, . . . , Montana, . . Upper Shanties, .

Montana

Green Ridge, . . , Coal township, . ,

Ashland,

Barry township, . Bell's Tunnel, . . Bell's Tunnel, . . Greenback, . . . . Roektown, . . . .

Centralia,.

Rausch Gap, . . . Trevorton

Northumberland, . .

Schuylkill,

Schuylkill,

Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . .

Schuylkill,

Columbia,

Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . .

Columbia,

Columbia,

Schuylkill,

Schuylkill,

Schuylkill,

Schuylkill

Schuylkill

Schuylkill,

Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Dauphin,

Northumberland, . .

Dauphin,

Northumberland, . . Northumberland, . . Columbia,

Columbia Mammoth,

E, or Mammoth,

E, or Mammoth,

Lykens Valley,

Twins and Mammoth,

Twins,

No. 10 Vein ,

Lykens Valley ,

E, or Mammoth

Maiumoih and Skidmore,

E, or Mammoth, and Seven Foot,

E, or Mammoth,

E, or Mammoth,

E, or Mammoth,

Skidmore,

Mammoth, Skidmore and Primrose,

E, or .Mammoth,

E, or Mammoth, and Primrose, . . ,

E, or Mammoth.

Little Diamond, or Red Ash, . . . .

Twins, each,

Twins,

Twins,

Twins, each,

Twins,

Mammoth,

Red Ash,

Twins, each,

Twins,

Red and Rink Ash, and Ten Foot, .

Twins, each,

Red Ash

Lykens Valley

E, or Mammoth,

Twins and Lykens Valley,

Twins, ...

Twins and Skidmore,

Lykens Valley

E, or Mammoth,

Lykens Valley and E,

Twins, each,

Twins, . . . .

Mammoth and Skidmore,

Columbia, Northumberland, .

Schuylkill,

Columbia,

Northumberland, .

Dauphin,

Columbia,

Columbia

Columbia,

Northumberland, . Columbia, ... Columbia,

Columbia

Northumberland, . Northumberland, .

Schuylkill,

Schuylkill

Northumberland, Northumberland, . Northumberland, .

Schuylkill,

Columbia,

Schuylkill

Northumberland, .

Mammoth,

Mammoth

Buck Mountain

Mammoth and Buck Mountain,

Twins,

Lykens Valley,

Buck Mountain,

Mammoth,

Mammoth,

Diamond,

Lykens Valley,

Mammoth,

Lykens Valley,

Mammoth,

Lykens Valley,

Mammoth

Lykens Valley,

Skidmore,

E, or Mammoth,

Twins and Huck Mountain, . .

Lykens Valley,

Mammoth,

Skidmore

Lykens Valley,

8, 15, 20

8, 9

25, 12

30, 5

25, 14, 7

24, 7

5, 6 7, 5

6, 7 6.6, 5i, 3, 21

9, 7i,

7£, 7J, 7

7, 8

24, 14

25, 16 7, 74

7, 6, 7

5J

90 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

TABLE No- 2.— Class of Collieries in Sliamokia Division of the Min-

u

Names of Collieries.

o

s

a

Depth— in yards.

o

a o

o u o a S

Length— in yards.

"3

a

'— O u

,D

157, 2S7

Bast,

270, 293 147}, 73

104}, 71

202f

fi

153, 173|

320, 413

302, 302

117}, 140

231, 240

in

1"

Potts,

Hi

Is

100, 2.50

85}, 321

140 each.

o

?'i

:i

3B

70, 125, 150

96}

435, 505

60, 200

1",

Hazel Dell,

Lilly,

4",

-If!

112, 200 233}, 300

Is

Glen,

5?

Gensil,

Kline, . .

r,7

Sh

;n

it

fifl

lit

fi4

West Hazel Dell,

B7

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines.

ing District of Schuylkill, for the year ending December 31, 1878.

s

to

a

O)

-a

o

u

s

b0

a

0)

u o - —

s

Length— in yards.

p. Is

Length— in yards.

03 a

o

s!

U

a u

&

2;

o 2

So

a

a

Length of mine track -in yards.

80,80,85,86,90

93}

69,420 21,281

32,373 25,100

16,026

1,043

5,000

22,000 21,350

6,630 4,301

138J

26,490

5,864

2,000

12,818 35,757 25,763

4,000

7,758

3,800

41, 97

11,242

5,300

4,900 4,133

50,52f,49},210

27,968

1,200,1,266,1,300

17,426 11,33*5

14,205

8,018

39,600

9,000

10,595

13,608

14,062

22,049

14,074

7, 8

5,200

1,800 70, 1,500 975, 1,100

1,300

3,600

2,700

6,243 12,707

2,325

1,800

1,392, 1,972

2,640,3,080,3,080

12,682 20,875 29,594 37,598

6,277 57,561

4,891 99,967

4,935 11,385 40,539

4,760

33}

10,203 19,908

100, 166}

14,000

1,706

3,996

60, 100

25,655

150, 200

1,234 12, 18

225, 325, 530

5 one 175

7,315

100, 300, 400, 900

four 100 each.

2,700 1,200

1,800, 2,150

5,000

1,053 5,550 14,008 11,938 3,623

2,000

2,900

3,000

16f

200, 450

2,500

2,671

1,100

3,449

1,700

2,200

300, 300, 2,800

18,042

10,560

1,926

54 ' 4.210

344,652

Or 197 miles 35f yards.

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

[No. 10,

o x

jatin.iq Xq psyj.iOAi s.iiqi .loqumu iujox

paddjqs

jboo suoi joqumjf

"sasXojd -ma jaquinu vbjox

jaAvod-asaojj

-ouiooo'i jaqiimjj

'sasjoq pun

apisjno sasjoq pu'B s'a[iim aaqmntj

tC(C>SOS c iC CO 00 '.£ i>-

rt — ™ "-1 o o~,"rt " -1

s a

O

55,000 40,000 83,000 40,000 80,000 71,000 75,000 39,000 66,010

!

U7J -1 - M M (C fl Ol

121,267 86,000

282,000 75,000

none. 3,000

92,837 72,310 63,406

7,374 63,970

3,444 96,998

33,499 54,085 28,571 88,210 Kill, 194 103,961 21,520 112,095

N " M M ?3 N WflC-1 N N f 1 h N CM . i-< CM rtMTWlNW

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saauoq aaquin

OJ iC CO "O n a ci n M f w a fl f N lO © N H N H CO MN CD rt f) (N rt H H N M rt ri .-i CM CM i-H i-l i-H

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Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

cqco-40 iCfflNN ra oin wow

i-t O — " i-1

53 io o i

ifliOO1 i-H

'lOfOtJJCOHHN-rflos

lOWI'Wtfil'ffiT QOTTtM

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Reports op the Inspectors op Mines.

[No. 10,

TABLE No. 4. — Classification in detail of Employees, with ratio of Coal ship

Division of the Mining1 District of Schuylkill,

Names of Collieries.

Class Of Openings.

Inside Employees.

Outside

ft

u

s

ft

p. o

tu

o

a

a

s

ft

"3 p

(3

s ft

£

u

!.

&

S s ft

a

o

o u

P £

ft

a

a

O

u

B

ft

u

0) u o ft a

u

0)

s

a

a ©

o u

a

u

o u o

a

O

u

a

"is O

O

O

U

a

a

°H ce

"3

a

O U

a

a a

a

Os

a

O

a

a

ft

?,

ft

in

n

ifi

Tunnel,

Henry Clay, No. 1, . . . .

2fl

Hi

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3fi

in

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4?

Lilly,

Ifi

4fl

Fi4

till

Coal Ridge, No. 3, .

ftt

21

Ex. Doc.]

Reports of the Inspectors op Mines.

peel to No. of Employees, Powder used, and to each miner in the Shamokin for year ending December 31, 1878.

Employees.

,o

0J

o

o

Eh

so

a

a)

oj

o

o

a

y

o ft

rs u

©

"3 o .

u

ft

ft

"3S

u u

B

o

Hi

Co

u o

a

o u.

°ft

O ft

3

Remarks,

H

O

o

o

o

+?

P.

o

O

F,

u

u

O

©

Qj

0J

Oi

&

A

fi

©

O

©

s

a

"3

a

Os

s

s

p

o

o

ca

Os

B)

z

a

fc

H

O

H

H

fc

K

w

121,267.09

3,593

86,000

1,283.11

282,000

5,550

1,247.15

75,000

2,368

1,136.7

No shipment of coal made during year.

No shipment of coal during year.

55,000

;221.15

1,833.6

40,000

1,212.2

175?

1,705

40,000

80,000

1,632.13

71, W0

2,255

6s

' 88

156£

75,000

' 1,010

2. 142. 17

39,000

66,000

3,000

Pumping water.

9,000

92,837.10

1,622

73,310.14

2,015

' 66

63,406

1,479

7,374.15 63,970.01

1,599.5

1,407

3,341.15

96,998.01

2,514

Pumping water.

33,499.15

1,190

' 19

54,085.14

1,374

60.'. 2

38,575.01

88,210.12

2,283

160,194.02

4,385

188j

103,964.16

2,884

14tf

21,520.02

112,095.09

1,904

5,000

200£

257,239.12

3,090

1,169.5

8,697.03

10,616.11

Iso

62,133.10

1,553.7

6,835

3,855.10

80,418.15

1,904

1,086.14

48,715.06 53,857.17

1,510 1,192

l' 170. 16

46,198.02

1,200

1,798 22,430.15

l,4i0

Trial slope being sunk.

1,532.05

'

95}

45,000

1,220

rof water. Abandoned and full

All nnd oiled ;ind full

7,132.13

of water.

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

TABLE No. 4—

Class Op Openings.

Inside Employees.

Outside

Names of Collieries.

r.

p a

a o

Si

a

a

h O .O

a

a

o

'u

O ,Q

o o

o

o

"3 a

g

a

lM

o

O

o

o

o

o

o

O

o

o

b.

h

u

U

0J

a)

p.

.O

,o

Si

P

,o

a

g

a

a

a

S

g

a

a

a

H

a

a

a

s

o

H

fc

S=i

fc

IZi

z.

fc

£

fc

fc

!i

fi4

North Franklin No. 1, . .

3,454

Ex. Doc] Continued.

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

Employees.

s

Oj

a

a)

"3

a

fe

o

a

"3

o

s

Co

0)

Pi

o

.

Remarks.

o

o

o

o3

o

"3

o

"3

o

o

e. o

o

o

H s

s

Cs

fc

fc

H

o

H

H

fc

K

Ph

g

Trial slope.

11,10(1

Pumping water.

2,816,747.14 253,471

58,112

Estimated quant

ity us

ed :it m

nes,

T

)tal,

3,070,218.14

t — Mine Rep.

98 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

Luzerne And Carbon Counties,

Middle District.

Offce of Inspector of Coal Mines, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., February 24, 1879.

His Excellency Henry M. Hoyt,

Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania :

Sir : I have the honor to submit herewith my annual report for the year ending December 31, 1878.

The condition of the district, generally, is satisfactory, although there are a few collieries still below a proper standard, as regards ventilation ; and it would be difficult to find a mine well regulated, even in other re- spects, when the ventilation of the same is very defective — that is to say, that a mine well regulated must be, at least tolerably, well ventilated. A badly or insufficiently ventilated mine is an indication that the manage- ment is defective in more ways than one, and may be taken as a superficial index of the qualifications of those in charge.

During the year last past, thirty-six (36) lives were lost, against thirty- eight (38) in 1877. Ninety-nine persons were injured, more or less, some very seriously. There were a number of others reported as having been but slightby injured, whose names were omitted from the list of serious accidents.

There were 4,082,372 tons of coal produced during the year, against 4,080,327 tons in 1877 ; being equal to 113,399 tons per life lost in 1878, against 107,377 tons per life lost in 1877.

The general average of days worked by each employe* was 139.62, against 135.82 in 1877. The present report, like that of 1877, has the accidents tabulated ; the fatal ones are treated of in the descriptive part of the re- port. It, also, has statistical and comparative tables and a list of the col- lieries and names of officers.

Very respectfully submitted,

T. M. WILLIAMS, Inspector of Coal Mines.

Ex. Doc] Keports of the Inspectors of Mines. 99

Condition of the Collieries.

The condition of the mines in the district, generally is quite satisfactory. There are a few collieries, however, that ought to be mentioned as being below the general standard, to be found in the district, which is caused from the inefficiency or incompetency of those in charge. These parties frequently attribute the deficiencies to their superiors in office, or their employers; but I have seldom, or never found a badly arranged and badly ventilated mine where there was a person in charge who had the necessary qualifications to make things satisfactory, as such persons, general, have stamina enough to overcome the objections raised to their phins, in a pecu- niary point of view, by their employers — unless it be that the said officers, having been but a short time in charge, had not had sufficient time to make the improvements necessary. In fact, employers can mostly be convinced, by their head officers and their assistants, when properly explained, that it is cheaper to have a mine well arranged and well ventilated than other- wise. There are some exceptions to this, like other rules, no doubt. It is not only once, but many times, that the writer has heard the head officers blame those under them with having failed or neglected to carry out their wishes, and, in some instances, their positive instructions to comply with the provisions of the mining law. The following are the mines compris- ing the class above referred to, to wit: East Boston, Hutchison, Ellen- wold, Maltby, Forty Fort tunnel, No. 5 shaft D. and H., Plymouth, Pools, Chauncey, and Weat Nanticoke collieries. The last named colliery is in a fair way for improvement, I believe. A new fan is about being erected at the Hutchison. Ellenwold shaft has changed ownership, which may cause improvements there. And new mine bosses are to be employed in Maltby, and several others of those mines, which may also be beneficial.

Mines on Fire.

The Empire, or Kidder slope fire is about the same as when my last re- port was made ; parts of the surface caving in occasionally, which has to be filled up promptly.

Baltimore Old Workings. — These are burning up quite briskly, near the outcrop, for a lai-ge area, and but little hopes are entertained of ever extinguishing the fire in them until it exhausts the fuel within its bounda- ries at least.

Mine Improvements.

Improvements in mining have been very limited again, during 1878, as in 1877.

Maltby Colliery Mr. Maltby had the new coal breaker started in

the month of August, to prepare the coals from a tunnel on the mountain side, as, also, from a new shaft sunk during this year. The old shaft was not yet ready to do any mining in, as it was being timbered anew, besides some other improvements.

Red Ash Coal Company's Colliery. — This company has been organ- ized to operate a small local opening, partially opened out many years ago

100 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

by Mr. Charles Parrish. The same is located a short distance south-east from the old No. 2 Hollenback colliery, near by the Lehigh and Susque- hanna railroad, upon the Red Ash seam. They bought out Mr. Owen Hughes, who only produced coal as local sales. The new parties are now preparing to build a medium sized breaker, with a capacity of three hun- dred or four hundred tons per day, and to ship by rail in 1879.

Hollenback Shaft.

This shaft is located near the S. R. R., and not far from the basin of the canal, within the city limits. It was sunk by the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company, in 1874, to the Baltimore seam, which was reached at the depth of about five hundred feet vertical from the surface. A large bull pump is now being placed in the said shaft, in one of its six compartments, the same being forty -six feet long by twelve feet wide. The pump is to be put in two lifts. The sinking of the second opening and air shaft, located in a south-easterly direction, about thirteen hun- dred feet away, is now about being completed to the seam. It is intended to drive in both ways, i. e., from each of the two shafts, to make the con- nections and complete the second opening.

A large fan, twenty-four feet diameter, of the Guibal pattern, is now being erected at the new air shaft. It is also the intention of the com- pany's officers to ventilate the Diamond colliery from this new air shaft, there being but about two hundred feet of coal to cut through to make the connection. The shaft is to be divided into three compartments, two for air, and one for a traveling way for persons.

The depth of the air shaft will be about three hundred feet, which is twenty feet long, by twelve feet wide. It required ten or twelve thousand cubic feet of fresh air per minute to pass through the shaft to keep it clear of gas, and yet it could be ignited along the sides, at almost any point from the surface down, some jets being very strong. In 1874, when the shafc was only about fifty feet down, and when no lamps were required, an explosion occurred which proved fatal to one person, named Opie.

Fans. — There have been three new fans erected, two of which were of the Murphy ventilator pattern, and put in at the Maltby colliery, one erected at the tunnel, on the mountain side, six feet diameter, and one erected at their new shaft, the latter being eight feet diameter. These are the first of this pattern erected in this district.

Guibal Fan. — One fan, twenty-four feet diameter, of this pattern was erected, and put into operation on the 28th day of December, at the Nottingham colliery. This mine was formerly ventilated, in conjunction with the Washington colliery, where two fans were located, one twenty- four feet diameter, and another fifteen feet diameter. In the future, it is intended to use but one split of air from the Washington fan, the bal- ance of the mine to be ventilated by the new fan, which is located on the Wright rock slope, on the western si.le of their workings. With proper

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 101

care and attention, this colliery ought not to be deficient of proper venti- lation in the future, for some years to come, at least.

SECOND OPENINGS. The Conynglinni Shaft.

Has not }Tet been connected, by completion of its second opening, to the No. 3 Baltimore, where it is intended to reach, work having been sus- pended upon it since the last spring, and nothing else done at the shaft, except the putting in of large Bull pump.

Mallby, No. 2, Shaft.

A second opening has been made, from the new to the old shaft. Hav- ing commenced operations of mining coal for market before the said connection had been completed, it became my duty to require them to stop all work in the new, or No. 2 shaft, except the second opening, which they did, until the connection was made.

Shaft No. 1, IVantieoke.

The connection between the said shaft and No. 2 slope, was completed in the upper, or Hillman seam, during the summer. But it will require a length of time to make a connection in the lower seam now being driven in the shaft, being a part of the Big or Baltimore seam.

Shalt i\'o 2, \anticolte.

The connection between this shaft and No. 1 slope was completed on the 22d day of February, and on the morning of the 27th, the temporary head house and pump house took fire by some means, generally supposed to have ignited from spark from passing locomotive engine, and was en- tirety consumed in less than three quarters of an hour. There were some fifteen or twenty persons down in the shaft at the time, all of whom im- mediately made their escape through the second opening, except Mr. Thomas R. Williams, the mine boss, and one other person, both of whom remained down about the foot of the shaft and around the mule stable for over an hour, when they also came out. Williams stated that at first the smoke descended the shaft, and was forced towards No. 1 slope in part, and part drawn up through up-cast to the fan. But that verjT soon the whole current reversed, No. 1 slope becoming the down-cast, and remained so until the most of the wood had been consumed, when it again reversed, the air and smoke passing towards No. 1 slope, until Williams made an- other change, by manipulation of the doors, when he and his partner as- cended by way of the outlet, just in time to meet parties in search of them from the surface, fearing some wrong had happened them. Had the gen- eral inside foreman, Mr. George T. Morgans, the mine boss, Williams, and a first class set of miners not done extraordinary work in driving out the said outlet, it is more than likely that some lives would have been lost by the burning of said head house, although, as above stated, there were but few persons working there until the outlet was through.

102 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

Avondale Colliery.

A new slope was sunk there this summer, and on my last visit there, on the 20th of December, I found them operating some eight or nine places in a new lift that they had just opened from said new slope, and not haying completed their second opening, which they were driving, I requested them to suspend all mining of coal there until said outlet be through, which they promised to comply with, at once.

Gaylord Slope.

A new tunnel was driven in this mine from the Cooper to the next workable underlying seam called the Ross, and on my visit there, in De- cember, I found several parties working there, besides those driving an outlet, which I ordered to be stopped, this being the second time I did so, Mr. Daniel Edwards, the managing partner and superintendent, promising to comply immediately that I called his attention to it. A second open- ing is to be made to said Ross seam by sinking a shaft to it from the next overlying seam.

Steam Boilers.

There were no explosions of steam boilers in this district during the year, hence no lives were lost. Notwithstanding all this, I am as fully convinced as ever that our present system of steam boiler inspector is any- thing but a proper and safe one, and I once more point out the threaten- ing danger.

Legal Proceedings.

The cases of the Commonwealth vs. Daniel R. Davis, miner boss at Kingston No. 1 shaft, relating to the death of Richard Coon, who was fatally injured by fall of coal and slate, on the 14th day of November, 1871, as also that of Patrick Langan, the miner and partner of said laborer, came up before the court of Luzerne county, January 28, 1878. In the case of Langan, the jury brought in a verdict of not guilty, and directed that the county pay the costs. In the case of Davis, the jury brought in a verdict against the defendant, and recommended him to the mercy of the court. On the following day or so, his honor Judge Harding, after the intercession of the prosecutors' counsel, sentenced Davis to pay a fine of one dollar and cost of prosecution.

I would here state that the verdicts of these two juries took most people, watching the cases, by surprise, as every person could see at a glance that the miner was certainly fully as much, and more, to blame than the boss ; yet he was exonerated of all blame, and the person who had called the miner's attention and instructed him to timber the place, was put in for costs and fine, and had it not been for the mercy of the court might have had to fare worse.

Cool Production for 1878.

The following are the items of coal production of the district for the year: Sent to market, 3,860,413 tons ; coal sold as local sales and con-

Ex. Doc]

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

sumed about the mines in the generation of steam, &c, 221,959 tons. Total amount of coal mined in tons of 2,240 pounds, during the year, equals 4,082,372, including 124,438 tons added to the returns for local sales and consumption, where returns were not full on the basis of six per cent, of returns.

Number of Persons employed in the Wilkes-Barre District, Inside and Outside, in 1878.

Actual miners.

Employes inside.

Do

o

H

Number of actual miners employed, . . . . . .

Number of all men employed, miners included, . .

2,860

7,144 1,506

1,721 2,674

8,865 4,180

8,650

4,395

18,045

Casualties, Widows, and Orphans.

Number of lives lost during the year,

Number of persons seriously injured,

Total,

Widows, 21

Orphans, 57

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

[No. 10,

TABLE No. 1. — Exhibits number of coal breakers, steam boilers, mules, inside and total number of days worked by total number of employees, coal consumed about tons, per day, per breaker, per miner, per employee, in the Wilkes-Barre District

Name of Colliery.

Mocauaqua,

Salem,

S. C. Co., Breaker No. 1, S. C. Co., Breaker No. 2, . S. C. Co., Breaker No. 3, .

Warrior Run,

Fr:\nklin Coal Company, .

Hillman, . . .

Maltby,

Hutchison,

East Boston,

Kingston Coal Co., No. 1, Kingston Coal Co., No. 2,

Chauncey,

Boston

Avoudale,

Jersey,

Enterprfse,

"Wyoming,

Forty Fort,

Pools,

Henry,

Midvale,

Prospect,

Mineral Spring,

Exeter,

Ellenwold,

Mill Creek,

Pine Ridge,

Laurel Run,

Baltimore slope,

Young's slope,

Baltimore Tunnel,

Conyngham shaft, . . . . Plymouth, No. 1, D. & H., Plymouth, No. 2. D. & H., Plymouth, No. 3, D. & H., Plymouth, No. 4, D. & H., Plymouth, No. 5, D. A II.. Wanamie, No. 1, . . . .

Wanamie, No. 2,

Espy,

Sugar Notch shaft, . . . . Sugar Notch slope, . . . .

Jersey, No. 2,

Hartford,

Audenried,

Empire, No. 2, shaft, . . . Empire, No. 4, shaft, . . .

Diamond,

Hollenback, No. 3, slope,

Lance,

Nottingham,

Washington,

Hollenback shaft,

Dodson shaft,

Gaylord,

Totals,

24!

m,

52 i 747 1,073

1,310

Workmen Employed

Inside.

Iso

7,144

1,506

Workmen Employed

Outside.

1,721

2,674

Refuse to give days worked. X Not shippping.

II Denotes general averages in the three right hand columns.

t Burned down.

§ Denotes amount already deducted from foot of shipment column.

Ex. Doc]

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

outside, actual miners, men and boys, employed inside and outside, total employees, the mines, sold as local sales, shipped to market, total returns of coal mined, in during 1878.

u

Total days worked by total employees.

o . .0 tn SS O Of

gl

5

I'a

o

"3

o

o

0)

"3

"3

u

o .

a %2

o

o O

Coal shipped to market- tons.

Total coal production- tons.

Coal

Produced.

Days worked in brea

Breaker— per day.

Os

a

£

S

Employees, per day.

Idle.

12U

im

10H 90*

39,400 61,110 112,424 39, 109 25,679 29,493 9,310 53,298

5,475 6,000

2,081 4,636

3,888

35. S65 77,656 254,638 84,062 50,500 73,353 30,000 16,944 ; 99,048 73,140 80,691 151,432 i 23,901 103,441 188,022

82,294

254,638 84,407 56,453 83,241 30,000 99,048 73,110 80,691

154,611 23,901

188,022

1,383.90

1,220.29

2,102

28,652 19,404 48,287 95,176

3,054

245j

Idle.

27,666 52,260 47,738 8,496 54,720

127,250 85,050 17,455 110,000

64, .500 127,2.50 85,050 19,763 110,000

135,000

P49.61

Us

2,000

Idle.

68,400

135,000

Idle.

40,125

150,000

150,000

1,200.00

Idle.

127* 125*

59,386 49,752 37,743 43,546

7,300 6,710 5,725 4,790

1,750

105,606

98,028

158,478 100,978 102,818

1,027.40 800. i 50

Idle.

34,238

9,220

129,460

138,680

1,308.30

Idle.

Idle.

165£

55,687

3,080

100,676

103,776

Idle.

60 S

35,680

62,890

55,230

2,920

J

1,646

§22,136

63,617 53,211

153,662

16,948 63,783

246,361

230,895 103,590

63,057 134,446

916,476

J

821.36

Idle.

90,390

Idle.

Idle.

iooi

48,621

Idle.

125,654

1,374.39

i

1,670.12

23|

6,650 102,166 37,345

Idle.

Idle.

9,246

1,200

31,124

32,468 3,957,934

60,126

38,595

§3,860,413

Only one breaker in operation at one time.

Reports op the Inspectors of Mines.

[No. 10,

Summaries lor 1878.

Tons of coal mined per life lost during the year, 113,399

Total number of days worked by the whole number of em- ployes, 1, 770, 534

Average number of days worked per employe, 139.62

Ayerage number of tons produced per employe, 312.94

Average number of tons produced per miner, 1,423.9

Total number of horses and mules in use, 1,310

Total number of steam boilers in use, 747

TABLE IVo. 2.— Showing the number of Lives Lost in the Wilkesbarre District, from 1874 to 1878, both inclusive, Classified, and the percentages of each Class to the total number of Lives Lost.

Totals.

Percent- ages.

Explosion of Carbureted Hydrogen Gas.

Falls of Roof and Sides.

Totals by falls,

In Shafts.

Things falling from top.

Things falling from part way clown. Sundries in shafts.

Totals in shafts,

By Mine Cars.

By Explosion of Blasting Powder.

Miscellaneous Under Ground.

Asphyxiated fatally from inhalation of poisonous gases,

'

On Surface.

Ex. Doc]

Reports of the Inspectors op Mines.

lOt

TABLE No. 3.— Exhibits n summary of fatalities; also the coal production in tons per life lost in the Wilkes-Barre district, in the years 1874-5-6-7-'"*, respectively, and classified under five heads.

Accidents Under Ground.

trict

3

u

H i

o a

Cs

£

a'r

5-f

£&

ji

3 n

iO

° o

O

m t-

O .

rt

c-r

X

O

oft

C2

o2

a

Ml

oi

thH 3

&a

a.2

v. a

H

E

o

o

Cs

u

H-

fc

M

a

H

H

H

1874,

80,000 67,629

4,513,837 4.261,263

83,916

4,615,386 4,080,327 4,082,372

1877,

1878,

113,399

Total number of lives lost, . .

21,553,185

Percentage of each item of the

TABLE iVo. 4.— Summary of the items of production, number of persons employed, and lives lost : together with the relation of these items to each other, for the years 1874-5-C-7-8, in the Wilkes- Barre district.

Coal produced per year, in tons,

Number of persons employed,

Ratio of production to each employee, in tons,

Number of lives lost_each year, respect- ively

Ratio of production in tons per life lost,

Ratio of persons employed per life lost, .

4,513,837

13,576

80,000

4,261,263 15,000

67,629

4,615,3*6 14,317

83,916

4,080,327 14,073

4,082,372 13,045

Averages.

4,314,637

14,002

0,464

DESCRIPTIVE PART OF REPORT RELATING TO FATAL ACCIDENTS. Fatal Accidents by Explosions of Gas.

In my annual report for last year, I felt very much elated, and gave vent to my feelings in the said report by reason of the great reduction in this class of accidents, but am sorry that T am not able to present, by far, so favorable results for the year 1818. Out of a total number of thirty-six (36) lives lost, no less than seven (7) were caused by explosions of gas; equal to nineteen and forty-four hundredths (19.44) per cent of the whole. The percentage runs higher because the total number is two less than in 1877.

Accident No. 15 — James Duffe}?-, working in chamber in Wyoming colliery, ignited a small amount of gas in the face of chamber, and was slightly burned, on the 13th day of July. His case was not considered at all dangerous at the time, but, to his friends' surprise, he expired on the 20th. It was stated that by some erroneous idea, his friends applied smart weed poultices to his burns. Many think that such was a great error in

108 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

his treatment, and may have had a deleterious effect upon the condition of the patient.

Accident No. 19. — Benjamin Price, a miner, working in Prospect col- liery, was fatally injured by explosion of gas, August 19, while driving one of two places being driven parallel, near the face of the north-west gangway, northward, for the purpose of testing the quality of the coal, as well as the location of an anticipated anticlinal axis. On the 21st, I visited the place where I met his partner, William W. Williams, who stated that the air was all right, as he was at work in the inside of the two places, and that price had tried the place for gas only a few moments prior to the ex- plosion, and that the place was then clear. It was also stated that Price's naked lamp had been found fastened upon the end of a piece of timber, on the upper corner of the cross-cut. The cross-cut was within nine or ten feet of face of Price's place, and a wing of brattice placed to throw the air up towards said face, which reached about level to the upper side of cross-cut. I measured the air on the gangway, just inside of foot of these two places, this day, and found nineteen thousand six hundred and two cubic feet per minute passing, and there must have been at least fifteen thousand cubic feet passing through the upper cross-cut at the time of the accident. On, the morning of the 8th day of October, Mr. William W. Williams told Mr. William Samuels, the mining boss, that there was sev- eral feet of gas found by Price, in the top and face of Irs place, just a few moments before the gas was ignited, and that Price was working down some soft coal from the face, which brought the gas in contact with Price's lamp, when the explosion occurred. What benefit it could have been for Williams to have told an untruth regarding the affair to me on the 21st of August, I fail to see, and yet it would appear that he did, probably fearing to criminate himself. Price expired on the 26th.

Accident No. 20. — Robert Parks, a fire boss, working in No. 4 slope, Nanticoke, on the 27th day of August, was fatally injured by explosion of gas, from which he died shortly after the occurrence. The mine was not being operated this day, and the fire bosses had not made the usual early examinations, and were then doing some other work, when the mine boss, George Feltmeyer, came along and took the man Parks along into the mine for some purpose. It appears that the fan had been stopped by permis- sion from the head fire boss, George Elmy, for repairs, on the day before, it being Sunday. The boss and Parks proceeded to within a short dis- tance of the face of the east gangway, in the lower lift, and there they saw some wooden brattice, having been blown down and much broken, in a new chamber, and further on they saw that a check door had been displaced ; still they advanced, and when within a short distance of face of the gang- way, and immediately near a chamber just being opened — not having been cross-cutted to — the gas ignited from the naked lamp of one of the two. The boss stated that they had the safety lamp lit, but that the gas was ig- nited from the naked lamp of the man Parks, who, he also stated, had the

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 109

safety lamp. The statement made by Parks does not agree exactly with that of the boss, in that particular, although agreeing in the main.

It was a very careless act, on the part of both men, to say the least. The fact of their having discovered the broken down brattice and door, ought to have been enough to have awakened them from their dreamy state of mind, as they must have been in some strange mood to have went, in the manner they did, into a mine on a Monday morning. And the man Parks at least knew, and the mine boss ought to have known, that the fan had been stopped the day previous ; and even had it not been so, they had not used the most ordinary precaution in entering the mine. This another ex- ample of the standard of our mine management, and until something is done to change our present system of appointing mine officers, fire bosses, and mine bosses we can but expect, occasionally, such suicidal occurrences, classed, wrongfully, under the head of mine accidents.

Accident No. 26. — William W. Williams, J. J. Lewis, George Tasker, and James Rowlands, working in the Prospect colliery, were fatally in- jured by explosion of gas. I would here state that this explosion occurred in the same place that Benjamin Price was burned, only that the place had been driven further up the pitch. The mine boss, William Samuel, had been with these men, at the face of their work, about ten o'clock, A. M., on the day of the explosion, and ordered them to square up the coal in the cross-cut, which they had just made, immediately in the faces of both places, and to suspend further work there for the time. About one o'clock, p. m., Jenkin Lewis, a fire boss, belonging to said section, went in there to put in a stopping in the cross-cut below the one they were then complet- ing, so as to force the air altogether through the new cross-cut at the face, and thus do away with about fifty feet of wooden brattice, built on either side of the pillar, between the two places. Shortly before three o'clock, p. m., the gas was ignited in the face by the explosion of a blast in the crosscut. Three of the four men working there and the fire boss went down to the gangway and took up a few pails of water, and, as they sup- posed, extinguished the fire. When they commenced again to work, re- moving loose coal in the said cross-cut, and building up the stopping in the cross-cut below, the gas was again ignited, causing this time a heavy explosion, whereby the four men above named were fatally injured, having been very badly burned each of them. One of the men belonging to the outside of the two places, happening to be down loading a car, was the only one saved ; he was badly frightened, but not much hurt. At the time of the explosion the upper or new cross-cut was nearly completed, there being only a bench of bottom coal, two feet thick, to lift. It was eight feet wide at the narrowest point, and was four feet high on top of the said bottom coal. The men were working immediately in the face, by their safety lamps, having suspended their n.ked lamps quite a distance down the pitch, upon the wooden brattice, near the middle cross-cut. It is very evident that considerable gas had accumulated there, from the concussion,

110 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

and it is clear, to my mind, that the accumulation could not have been in the inner one of the two places, otherwise the men could not have worked there ; and, again, the foul air found, by the men working in the adjoining place, outside, proved the same thing. Hence, the gas must have been accumulated in the outside of the two places, caused by the great heat from the fire that had been, and was then in the loose and bottom coal in the aforesaid new cross-cut.

The men working in the main air- way and gangway, just a short distance inside, in the same air-current, as, also, the men working in the next place on the outside, in a chamber, all declared that the air current was just as strong and steady as usual, and did not observe any defect in it all day. The air current is kept steady by each section having been provided with double doors, at proper distances, so that no more than one door need be open at one and the same time. On the 11th of the same month, I meas- ured the air at the inside place of the two, on the gangway, and found twenty-five thousand eight hundred and sevent3'-five cubic feet passing.

In my opinion, the gas was caused to accumulate in the outside of the two places, from the heat caused by the fire, causing a larger discharge, and that the brattice must have been cut in the outer place of the two to get material to build the stopping up that Lewis, the fire boss, was at, as there had not been any other material taken in there for that purpose this day. The latter act would naturally have left the outer place be deficient of sufficient air to force the warm air and gas down, so long as the air had an easier passage.

Falls of° Roof and Sides.

Accident No. 1. — Michael Murray, a miner, working in the Nottingham collieiy, on the 5th day of January, met his death by a piece of slate from the roof falling upon him while working a chamber. The thickness of the seam in this locality averages over twenty feet, and whenever that the upper bench of coal — called by the miners, for some reason, the devil's tier — is taken down, then the roof is not as safe as if the said bench is kept up as a roof, and many accidents occur from the treacherous slate or fire-clay lying between the upper coal of the seam and the regular rock top. I am rather inclined to think that outside of the matter of the safety of the men — which ought to be the first consideration — that it would be as cheap, if not cheaper, to leave the said upper bench up for a roof. It would save considerable expense from falls. At various times and places the height would be less, which would make it easier to timber and take less labor and materials. The pillars would be much stronger and could be left proportionally less than when the seam is cut to the top ; and what- ever accidents that might thus be avoided would also help to pay for the lost coal, in being able to work more steady.

Accident No. 2. — James Brislin, a miner, working a chamber in Sugar Notch slope, on the 5th day of January, was killed, and his laborer slightly injured, by a fall of a small piece of fire-clay which immediately overlies

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. Ill

the coal, and which they always take down, being too dangerous to prop, as it breaks down between the props.

Accident No. 3. — Benjamin Betz, an old miner, aged fifty-eight years, working a chamber, in company with his son, in No. 3 tunnel, West Nan- ticoke, on the 11th day of January, was fatally injured by a fall of coal. They had just fired a blast in some top coal, which had only blown the tamping out, and the young man told his father that he would put another charge in the hole, and for him to keep away. He then went to prepare another charge, but the old man heedlessly went to work at something about the coal, when it fell upon him, resulting in his death on the second day after the occurrence.

Accident No. 5. — Bernard McCue, a miner, working in the Forty Fort colliery, was fatally injured on the 2Uth day of February, by a fall of rock, being a piece of rock called by miners "a bell from the roof."

Accident No. 6 William Y. Thomas, an old and experienced miner,

working in the Audenreid colliery, on the 8tn day of March was fatally injured, expiring in a few hours after the accident. He was in the act of making room for a pair of timber on the main gangway, when a piece of bone coal from roof fell, with the above result.

Accident No. 7 Edward Shields, a miner, working in Sugar Notch

colliery, on the 15th of April, was instantly killed by a fall of coal and slate. It occurred while opening and timbering a cross-cut, there being a large slip running diagonally from the one chamber to the other imme- diately on the upper side of the cross-cut, which discharged the timber already erected just as the inside end was being cut through.

Accident No. 9. — Simon Rooney, a miner, woiking in No. 3 slope, Wanamie, on the 16th day of May, was instantly killed by a fall of top coal, and no doubt it was a purely accidental case.

Accident No. 10 Frank Shovlin, a miner, working in No. 4 slope,

Empire colliery, on the 25th day of May, was killed by fall of coal. While taking a skip from pillar, and lifting bottom coal, a large piece fell sud- denly from the side of the pillar over where they were lifting, working with the above result.

Accident No. 11. — Daniel Lyons, working in No. 1 slope, Nanticoke, on the 3d day of June, was killed by falling of a piece of rock upon him on the slope where he was at work at the time. A purely accidental case, no doubt, as the mine boss, Mr. Tim. Downing, had stood in the same place that Lyons lost his life only a few moments before, and did not, at the time, observe the dangerous piece of rock.

Accident No. 12. — William Thomas, a miner, working in the Exeter colliery, West Fittston, on the 6th day of June, was fatally injured by be- ing struck on the back by a small piece of slate in a cross-cut that he was driving. At the time of the accident it was not thought to be so serious a case, but died in a few days after accident.

Accident No. 13. — William Hutchison, an experienced miner, working

112 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

in the Nottingham colliery, on the 20th clay of June, was killed by fall of top coal. This accident happened while taking down the upper bench of coal. It appeared that Mr. II. had fired a blast in the top coal, in the fore- noon, which he was taking down from the face towards back. The said blast did not do the work he expected, and the coal was in a very dan- gerous condition, and especially so to think that the laborer had to load his car right under the very heart of it, to which he had raised some ob- jections. However, they worked on until the miner met his death by a small piece of slate or coal falling upon him from the top or side. One of the men working in the adjoining places had called Hutchison's atten- tion to the dangerous appearance of the said top coal, but he said he would soon fire another blast which would bring it down, and he had a hole bored ready to do so at the time of the sad occurrence.

Accident No. 17. — John McGovern, a miner's laborer, working in Wyo- ming colliery, on the 3d day of August, was killed by a fall of slate from roof. The accident was caused by a large slip in roof, whereby a piece of slate, thick on one side and tapering to a feather edge on the other, reach- ing from the side of the car to the rib, suddenly gave way with the above result.

Accident No. 23. — Meshack Reese, an assistant mine boss, working in the Exeter colliery, West Pittston, on the 3d day of September, was in- stantly killed by a fall of rock. Mr. Reese was in charge of a gang of company men enlarging the main gangway, preparatory to putting a loco- motive engine on the inside road to haul coal, instead of mules, when suddenly a large piece of rock fell from the roof, crushing him against the rib. A purely accidental case, in my opinion.

Accident No. 27. — William Harvey, a miner working in Sugar Notch slope, on the 12th day of October, was instantly killed by fall of coal while robbing a pillar. It was very fortunate that his laborer was not killed the same time and place, as he had just moved away from there to load a car. It took some hours of work to find the body of Mr. Harvey.

In Shafts.

There were no fatal accidents in shafts during the year.

By Mine Cars.

As usual, there were many accidents, fatal and non-fatal, under this

head five of the former and nineteen of the latter. In 1877, we were very

fortunate, there being but one death under this head, and yet the average for five vears reached over twelve per cent, of the whole number of deaths from all other causes. For the year 1878, the percentage of this item to the whole number is 13.88 per cent., while the percentage for five years, including 1878, amounts to 9.64 per cent.

Accident No. 14. — Robert Smith, a driver boss, working in No. 1 Balti- more tunnel, on the 11th day of July, was fatally injured, being crushed between a loaded mine car and the side. He and others were trying to

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 113

get the said car on the track, but by some means it dropped over the end of the wooden sills, i. e., the wheels, and his head was caught and squeezed between car and the coal or rib, his injuries resulting in his death the fol- lowing day.

Accident No. 16. — Thomas Boyer, a door-boy, aged thirteen years, working in the Boston mine, on the 25th day of July, was fatally injured by a trip of mine cars running over him. The boy was away from his door, and in going back towards it, took hold of the mule's head, and fell while the cars were in motion, whereby he was so seriously injured that his case soon proved fatal. It is very hard to keep these small boys strictly to the place where they are needed, but I do not think that as much care is taken of them as ought to be by those in charge, neither by the driver bosses nor yet by the mine bosses.

Accident No. 18. — Daniel R. Daniels, a laborer, working in the Exeter colliery, West Pittston, on the 12th day of August, was fatally injured, being caught between loaded car and side. He was engaged this day in driving, there being one of the other drivers wanting. He expired soon after being taken home.

Accident No. 24. — William Phillips, a door-boy, aged fourteen years, working in the Prospect colliery, on the 18th day of September, was in- stantly killed by trip of loaded cars running over him. It was supposed by some that the boy had fallen asleep by the door. The accident hap- pened about nine o'clock at night, and he had not long been sent to the door by his step-father, who was running the cars, and who told him to open the door for said trip. The poor boy was caught in some manner by the cars and dragged a long distance, and his legs and body mangled in a fearful manner.

Accident No. 31 — Frank Devers, a driver boy, aged about sixteen years, working in the Henry colliery, on the 30th day of November, was killed by being caught between top rail of empty car and a low place of rock roof, as he was taking the car into the place. The miner belonging to the said place, seeing a dim light back along the road, returned there, and saw the boy fast between the car and the roof. He loosened him, but life was extinct, his neck probably having been broken.

By Explosion of Blasting Powder.

Accident No. 25. — William H. Jones, a miner, working in the Gaylord colliery, on the 19th day of September, was fatally injured by explosion of a large quantity of blasting powder. He was handling the powder, having only taken about eighteen inches of a cartridge out of the keg, when a spark from his lamp ignited the balance in the keg, whereby he 8 — Mine Rep.

114 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

was so seriously burned that he died of his wounds within a few days after the occurrence, another victim of his own folly and carelessness.

Miscellaneous.

Six lives were lost under the above head during the year just past, equal to 16.66 per cent of the whole number of lives lost, against 18.47 per cent., during the last five years. The sub-division of this head into two parts — by blasts and sundries — gives each three cases, equal to 8.33 of the whole number in each case.

By Blasts.

Accident No. 4. — John Mooney, a loborer, working in No. 3 Baltimore slope, was fatally injured, on the 19th day of February, by explosion of a blast in coal. Mooney's miner had gone out earlier than usual, and, not having enough of coal loose to complete his day's work, he undertook to fire a blast, and not having given himself enough of time, the blast ex- ploded before he reached a place of safety, with the above result.

Accident No. 8. — Thomas Purdy, a miner, working in Prospect col- liery, was instantly killed by explosion of his own blast, on the 10th day of May. The blast exploded before he had fairly turned away from the hole. What caused it to do so is a mystery, and will likely remain so. His laborer had a narrow escape, as he was close by at the time.

Accident No. 21 M. McClinchuck, a miner's laborer, working in the

Mill Creek colliery, was killed by flying coals from a blast, on the 28th of August. He had been sent away by his miner, to warn the gangway men that his miner was about to fire a blast ; he went in as far as the cross-cut went through into the air- way, and back to a point immediately in front of the blast, just in time to meet the coals, as the blast exploded, with the above results.

Sundries.

Accident No. 22. — William Dougherty, a rock miner, working in the Audenried colliery, on the 31st day of August, was asplryxiated, and died from inhalation of poisonous gas. Dougherty and four others were working in a tunnel, driven by a contract by Messrs. Robert Looney and Richard Faull. They had cut a seam of coal at a distance of several hun- dred feet, from mouth of tunnel rising in front of them, but turned down again within a short distance. The coal in this part, over the tunnel, fell down, leaving a cavity of about six or seven feet above the level of the tunnel. There was a little gas being generated by said coal seam, and the contractors first put in one, then two gas pipes, two inches in diameter, from the air box that they carried with them to ventilate the tunnel. They soon found these pipes inadequate, and put on a wooden pipe, about eight or ten inches square. After this change, it was stated

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 115

by the parties, that they experienced no further trouble until the day of the sad fate of the man Dougherty. About six o'clock on the morning of the accident, while the driver, a tall man, was taking out a loaded car of rock, and standing upon the front end of said car, with his naked lamp upon his head, and when near said coal seam, the gas was ignited, whereby he was slightly burned, and the mule so badly burned that it soon had to be killed. The contractor, Robert Looney, was in at the face of the tunnel, together with his son and three other men, including the man Dougherty. Looney saw the flames on the outside of him, and immediately starting outwards, called upon his men to follow him. Some of the men did try to go out, but returned and took off the pipes from the drilling machines, thinking probabty that the air therefrom would relieve them, as they were using compressed air to drive the said machines. Looney, failing to get his men out, went for assistance, which soon came, and, after several attempts, succeeded in getting the four men out, all of whom were asphyxiated, but were subsequently all restored to life, except Dougherty. Upon inquiry, I learned that the place where the gas explo- ded had not been examined by the contractors or their workmen for sev- eral days previous to the explosion, but that the company's fire bosses had done so on the day previous.

There were two serious errors, in my opinion, connected with this case. First, the ventilation was not properly arranged, the place was ventilated by a current of air being forced there through a wooden pipe along the floor, which would at times be broken by blasts, and thus left unrepaired, and again it would be choked up, on other occasions. Next, the current was passing in the wrong direction, forcing the air in through these pipes instead of the reverse, and thus forcing any gas that might happen to ac- cumulate in the inverted reservoir, as it were, down upon those passing by. They subsequently, at my request, changed the direction of the current, but did not do away with the pipe or box system, as I suggested. And I think it a badly arranged mode of ventilating a tunnel, especially so when it is expected to meet large quantities of gas on cutting the different seams of coal. The general inside foreman, Mr. Smyth, contending that no wooden brattice nor stone wall would stand the concussions from blasting by means of rend rock, and exploding a number of blasts at one and the same time, by means of the " factional electrical battery," was his reas- ons for refusing to do away with the wooden box, above referred to, con- veying the air into the tunnel. I maintained that a stone wall or wooden brattice should have been carried along, and said it would have to be done yet before they would complete their connections there, and Smyth said he thought not.

Accident No. 28. — Conrad Cramer, a driver boy, aged fourteen years, working for his father, who had a contract in hauling fuel to fan boilers, located near Empire shaft, was killed by a mule on the 14th of October.

116 Repobts of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

The boy while taking the mule from old No. 2 shaft dirt bank, towards the boiler house at old No. 1 slope, got entangled in the harness, probably in being thrown, the mule ran around a great deal before he was stopped. The boy being fast in the harness, dangled between his feet, whereby he was killed almost outright, and his little limbs and body horribly muti- lated.

.Accident No. 30. — Isaac Davis, a young man employed in the engineer- ing corps of the Delaware and Hudson Coal Company, was fatall}' asphyx- iated, while at work in the Mill Creek colliery, on the 15th day of No- vember. It happened in No. 3 life, on the east side, which had not been operated for many years. The said No. 3 lift was not worked, except to open a few hundred feet of gangway and airways, it having struck a fault. In later years, a connection was made between the face of the airway and the life below, for the purpose of ventilation. The officers of the company by this time had in view the reopening of said lift, and had informed the mine boss of the same. 1 he mining engineers under the charge of Mr. Thomas S. Morgans, were also informed that they were to make a new survey of it, and had been taking levels in the mine some two or three days previous to the sad fate of the young man Davis. In driving up from No. 4 lift to make the connection with JNo. 3 lift, the faulty ground led them to the left, where they drove a small test hole, up the pitch, dimen- sions 5.5' by 2.5' or 3', having a wooden brattice in the center to force the air around the face, and was up about forty feet from where the connec- tion was finally made.

The main current of air in this section was about 6,900 cubic feet per minute. There was only a feeble current passing around the face of the said rise, supposed to be sufficient to keep it clear of gas, which it usually did. Mr. Morgans desiring to have this place shown on his plan, sent the young man Davis up there to locate a station, and it appears that when up about fifteen or twenty feet ho fell. About this time, a small amount of gas ignited from his lamp, or from Morgans' lamp, which frightened the whole party, and a stampede was the result on their part. They finally returned in search of the boy Davis, with the aid of several others the}' succeeded in getting him out, apparently lifeless, but was restored to life, and lived until the 28th. He was not burned, except a trifle on one side of his neck, and back of hands, though it had happened from a feeder on fire or from his lamp. Several persons fell by getting the boy out as- ph37xiated, but were all resuscitated. The boy was asplryxiated by inha- lation of noxious and poisonous gases, from which he died on the 28th day of the same month. This is one of many of those controlable cases that occur ; hence one that ought not to have occurred. It is true, it is rather a singular occurrence, and yet the result is the same whenever the case proves fatal.

The party of mining engineers were in charge of Mr. Thomas S. Mor- gans, who has had a long experience in the business, having been under the

Leg. Poc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 117

same company this mar years. The colliery was under the immediate charge of Mr. John E. Cook, the mining boss, who has very successfully managed the said mine for a number of years, which is one of three or four of our most extensive and fiery mines.

In making the investigation, one very unpleasant and strange feature was noticeable, and that was the clashing of the testimony to the extent of positive and flat contradiction. Mr. Morgans, and all of his men, three or four in number, stated that they had entered the place without a fire boss, for the reason that Mr. Cook had assured them on the morning of the 13th, about eight or nine o'clock, that they had no need of one, as the place was perfectly clear of gas, but that they did not happen to enter the particular place where the accident occurred on that clay, al- though they had traveled through the greatest part of the said section. Mr. Cook, on the other hand, produced some ten or eleven witnesses, each of whom stated that they saw Mr. Cook in the mine between seven and eight, and up to eleven o'clock a. m., on the 13th day of November, thus contradicting the other statement on the part of Morgans and party, as they could not have been at the head of the mine until about eight thirty, or eight forty-five A. M., arriving by train from Providence. This clashing and contradiction of these statements is sufficient proof that there is something wrong in connection therewith.

I have only to state that it was criminally wrong on the part of Mr. Cook if he refused to give the party a fire boss, unless he intended to so to the place himself with it, when asked by Mr. Morgans to do so. Mr. Morgans stated that previous to this occasion he always had a fire boss, when working inside of the said mine, unless it be when working on the main slope. On the other hand, in my opinion, Mr. Morgans was very much to blame for having entered that section of the mine without a fire boss, or some other responsible person delegated by the mine boss to make the necessary examination immediately previous to their entrance, on Wednesday, the 13th, as well as on Friday, the 15th. The statement of Mr. Morgans and his men, that Mr. Cook refused to give them a fire boss because the place was then clear, does not exonerate them, because they, or at least Mr. Morgans knew that his orders from head-quarters were that he should not enter any of their mines to work therein without a fire boss ; and further, his own experience ought to have been sufficient to warn him from entering. But the presumption on Morgans' part that the place was safe to enter on the 15th, because he was informed, or claimed to have been so informed, on the 13th, showed a great lack of judgment, to say the least, on his part, as he must have known that the presence of carbureted hydrogen gas is always uncertain in mines generating the same. Had Cook refused to furnish him with a fire boss, he ought at once to have acquainted the head officers of the same, and refused to enter until he had thus acted. In fact, the sending of any person into the place where

118 Reports of the Inspectors or Mines. [No. 10,

the young man Davis was sent looked almost criminal, as I should have hesitated in sending a pet animal there without some examination, much less a human being ; and yet I am confident it was all from thoughtless- ness and lack of judgment.

Accident No. 33. — Edward Peirson, working in the No. 2 shaft, Dela- ware and Hudson Canal Company's mines, Plymouth, was fatally injured on the 9th day of December, while standing near the foot of the hoisting shaft, after finishing his day's work. The accident was caused as follows, so near as I could learn : The mine boss, Mr. William Cobley, had taken the men attending shaft foot with him up to the head for the purpose and were in the act of letting down T iron rails by swinging them under the carriage, whereby one got loose and dropped to the bottom. By this time a large number of the workmen had gathered near the shaft foot waiting for a chance to be hoisted to the surface, when suddenly a piece from the T iron rail, which had fallen down and broken into five pieces, flew out from the shaft foot into the gangway, striking the man Peirson on the thigh and abdomen, inflicting such serious wounds as to cause his death in a few hours after reaching his home.

On Surface.

Accident No. 29. — John Lear, a young man nineteen years of age, working at the Franklin colliery, outside, was killed by falling in front of car of pea coal, which was in motion, running over him while doing some- thing about the team of mules. The accident occurred immediately under the coal breaker, on the 13th day of November.

Accident No. 32. — William Howells, a boy eleven years old, working in the Nottingham breaker, was found dead a short distance from his working place, on the 9th day of December. The little boy was stationed in rear of main screen attending to a small gate lever, to regulate the ad- mittance of small coals to a counter screen below. There being so many boys engaged in the main screen room on the lower side of the main screen from him, when the signal was given for quitting time, the boy Howells was not missed by the breaker boss or the other boys. The parents not seeing their little boy getting home in proper time, soon made inquiry, and a search was made in the breaker, and his lifeless form was discovered lying stretched on the floor, near to the side of the hoisting shaft. He had propped up the gate which he was attending and gone away outside of the breaker proper, through a small door leading into a part partitioned off, in which the hoisting shaft was located, there being a floor there, as there was need of persons going in there occasionally regarding a box con- taining a counter-poise to operate some mechanism at shaft head. It was stated by the outside foreman that no other person had any occasion to go into the said place. It was supposed that the innocent little bo}r was led

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 119

to said place from mere curiosity, probably to see the men being hoisted on the carriage from below, when he was possibly struck on the head by the carriage, as the only wounds on him were upon his head, which no doubt caused his death.

120 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

TABLE No. 5.— List of Collieries, and names and location, with

Name of Colliery.

Mocanaqua,

Salem,

No. 1 slope,

Nos. 1 and 2 tunnels, . Nos. 2 and 4 slopes, .

No. 4 tunnel,

No. 1 shaft,

No. 2 shaft,

No. 3 slope,

No. 3 tunnel,

Warrior Run,

Franklin,

Hillman,

Maltby

Hutchison,

East Boston,

No. 1 shaft,

No. 2 shaft,

Gaylord,

Dodson,

Chauncey,

Ellenwold,

Boston, .

Jersey

Avondale

Hollcntiack,

Enterprise,

Forty Fort,

"Wyoming,

Henry, .

Mi<l vale,

Mineral Spring, . . .

Prospect,

Exeter,

Mill Creek,

Pine Ridge,

Laurel Run,

Baltimore slope, . . . Young's slope, . . . . Baltimore tunnel, . , Conyngham shaft, .

No. 'l shaft,

No. 2 shaft,

No. 3 shaft,

No. 4 shaft,

No. 5 shaft,

Nos. 1 and 2, Wanamie

Espy

Sugar Notch shaft, Sugar Notch slope, .

Hartford ,

Jersey, No. 2, ,

Audenreid,

No. 2 shaft, ,

Empire shaft, . . . . Hollenback slope, . . Hollenback shaft, . ,

Diamond,

Eance, ,

Nottingham, . . . . . Washington,

Location of Colliery.

Shickshinny,

do.

East Nanticoke,

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

West Nanticoke,

do.

Warrior Run,

Near Ashley,

Plains township,

Near Wyoming,

Near Kingston,

do.

do.

do.

Near Plymouth,

do.

do.

Near Kingston,

do.

Near Plymouth,

do.

Plains township,

do.

Near Wyoming,

Plains township,

do.

do.

do.

Exeter twp., W. Pittston Plains township,

do.

do.

Near YVilkes-Barre, . . ,

do. . . .

do. . . . Near Plymouth,

do.

do.

do.

do.

Wanamie,

Hanover township, ... Sugar Notch borough, . ,

do. do.

Ashley borough,

Near Ashley borough, . , Near Wilkcs-Barre, . . ,

do. . . .

do. . . ,

do. . . ,

do. . . ,

do. . . ,

Near Plymouth,

Name of Operator.

Mocanaqua Coal Company, Salem Coal Company, ... Susquehanna Coal Company,

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

do. do. A. J. Davis & Co.,

Franklin Coal Company, . .

H. Baker Hillman,

c. s. Maltby

Charles Hutchison, William (4. Payne & Co., . Kingston Coal Company, .

do. do. G-aylord Coal Company, . . Plymouth Coal Company, . Albrighton & Co '. . .

Dela., Lack, and West. R. R. Co do. do.

do. do.

R. S. Pool,

Forty Fort Coal Company, . . . do. do. ...

Riverside foal Company, . . . . Lehigh Valley Coal Company, . do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

do. do.

D. and H. Canal Company, . . .

do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do.

do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do.

Name of General

Superintendent.

Jos. Stickney, .

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do. A. J. Davis, . .

R. R. Morgan, .

H. R. Hillman, Oscar A. Fowler J. C. Hutchison, Wm. G. Payne, Dan'l Edwards,

do.

do.

Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre C. Co.

do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do.

do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do.

do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do.

W. R. Storrs, .

do.

do. R. S. Pool, . . . J. H. Swoyer, .

do.

do. Fred'k Mercur,

do.

do.

do.

do. A.H. Vandling,

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do. Geo. H.Parrish,

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors op Mines.

names of principal officers, in the Wilkes-Barre district, for 1878.

Name Name

of Assistant of General

Superintendent. Outside Foreman.

Owen Richards, do. do. do. do. do. do. do.

J. C. Hutchison,

Clias. Leonard, . do. do.

Christ. Scharar,

do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. P. B. Fairish, do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do.

Owen Richards, .

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do. .

do. Jas. E. Roderick,

William Thomas,

E F. Payne, . Daniel Edwards,

do.

do.

Chas. Leonard, do. do.

Name of Inside Foreman.

Name of Mine Boss.

Zac. Kreiger, . . Geo. T. Morgan,

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do. Jas. E. Roderick,

William Thomas,

Zac. Kreiger, . . . . Timothy Downing, .

David \V. Evans, . .

George Feltmeyei, .

Samuel Witson, . . . Jobn Tarry. . . .

Thomas R. Williams,

Thomas L. Junes, Daniel Edwards,

do.

do.

Worthy Carver, . . John C. Jones, . . . $ John Hughes, . . ( Samuel Thomas, . George Faurick, . . Charles Smith, . . . John Thomas, . . . Thomas L. Jones, . Daniel R. Davis, . . Morgan D. Rosser, George Picton, . .

Name of Outside Foremai,

Benj. Hughes, . do. do.

Wm. McCullocb,

do. do.

John Albright on, Henry 1'. Davis, .

Thomas J. Phillips, R. s. Pool, . . . Robert Hyslop, . . Philip McCabe, . . Jcnkin B. Jones. . Thomas E. Lewis.

Chittenden

do.

do.

do.

do.

do.

do. E. R. Peckins,

do.

do.

do.

do. W. T. Leas, .

do. M. L. Tiffany,

do.

do.

do.

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Christ. Scharar,

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do.

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do.

do.

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Wm. T. Smyth,

do. do. do. do.

Wm. T. Smyth, do. do. do. do. do. do.

William Samuel, . Aliednigo Reese, John E. Cook, . . John T. Moore, . Hugh McDonald, Thomas Tamblyn,

William W. Reese, James Tretheway,

William Cobley.

Edward Halm, . . CalebShonk, . . . David R. Roberts,

William Haskins,

Joseph Weir,

Lewis S. Jones, . James McDade, .

David Jonathan, Daniel Reese, . . James B. Davis, . Daniel W. Evans,

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II. M. Frederick.

do.

do.

do.

do. Idle. Idle.

J. W. McFarland. Robert F. Lloyd.

Charles Farren.

( Jeorge H. Hillman . A. B. Tyrrell. William MeCulloch. E. F. Payne. Thomas I.. Morgan . Morgan D. Rosser. David Isaac. Not in operation. John Albrighton, Jr. Not in opera t ion. Robert Hutchison. Not in operation. Conrad Lee. S. H. Pool. John Eustice.

Patten.

Philip Wintersteen.

William E. Lines.

Idle.

Idle.

William Patten.

A. G. Mason.

William Foot.

S. \V. Franklin.

1). W. Kemble.

John Bowers.

Not in operation.

Edward Mackin.

No breaker.

Breaker burned down

Not in operation. Charles Lawson. A. Schnell. Robert Leas. Breaker burned down Not in operation. D. C. Tiffany. Not in operation.

do.

Thomas Wagner. Not in operation. Thomas Williamson Thomas Conner.

Thomas Conner. James Linn. George R. Conner. P. II. Garrahau.

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Luzerne And Carbon Counties.

Eastern District.

To His Excellency Henry M. Hoyt,

Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania :

Sir : In accordance with the requirements of an act of Assembly, enti- tled "An act providing for the health and safety of persons employed in coal mines," approved March 3, 1870, I have the honor herewith to sub- mit my annual report as inspector of coal mines for the Eastern District of Luzerne and Carbon counties, for the year ending December 31, 1878.

I have prepared such information as I have to submit in relation to accidents resulting in loss of life, and those resulting in serious personal injuries, and also all slight accidents, in tabulated form, as the law re- quires. In relation to all fatal accidents, I have given the result of my investigation into their causes, including the substance of the evidence adduced at said investigations, by reference to which it will be observed that, without a single exception, the accidents were the inevitable results of the most inexcusable negligence, or the most stupid disobedience of orders on the part of the unfortunate victims themselves, or on the part of some other party in close proximity to them.

The number of deaths from accidents during the year was thht3'-four, which, I am happy to say, is six less than for the year 1877. The number of "serious " accidents for the year was eighty-nine, and there were ninet}-- seven slight accidents, making the whole number of non-fatal accidents one hundred and eighty-six for the year, against one hundred and seventy- four for the year 1877, which is an increase of twelve. The number of widows for 1878 was nineteen, against twenty -nine for 1877, a decrease of ten ; and the number of orphans for the year was seventy-two, against one hundred and thirtj'-four for 1877, a decrease of sixty-two. The num- ber of tons of coal mined for each life lost, in 1876 was one hundred and ten thousand five hundred and eleven ; in 1877 the ratio was one hundred and forty -five thousand three hundred and ninety-four tons f or each life lost, which, on the whole, indicates a marked improvement in the care ex- ercised in the working of the mines. The total production for 1876 in this district was four millions eight hundred and sixty -two thousand five hundred and twelve tons; for 1877, the tonnage was four millions eight hundred and eight thousand two hundred and eight tons; and for 1878 it was four millions nine hundred and forty-three thousand four hundred and ten tons.

12S Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

Considerable other information is also presented in tabulated form, which I have thought might be of use to persons engaged in mining. And I have given my views at considerable length on a number of subjects connected with the working of the mines, and bearing on the health and safety of the employes, to which I most respectfully call the attention of the parties interested. There are a number of evils connected with coal mining which should not exist, a large number of which can be removed only by the operators, but the remedy for the greater part of the evils complained of is wholly in the hands of the workingmen themselves, and the latter are the evds that cause the inspectors most trouble. By refer- ence to Tables Nos. 1, 2, and 3, it will be observed that a large percentage of all the accidents resulted from "falls of roof" and " falls of coal," every one of which, in my judgment, could have been easily averted by the exer- cise of ordinary care on the part of the employes, and yet they refuse to exercise that care, notwithstanding they know that their lives depend on it. I know of no instance where the operator has refused to provide tim- ber for propping, but it seems to be impossible to induce the miners to timber their working-places properly, and yet this is a matter for the miners and the mine bosses to attend to, and no other party can do it for them.

In relation to explosions of gas in the mines, it will be seen from an article on that subject, which will be found on another page, that I hold that these fearful explosions can be averted. My views may be considered radical, and perhaps extreme; but I ask an unprejudiced consideration of the matter, so that the principles involved and the facts presented may have their proper influence. I think it is high time that some measure is taken to put an end to the fearful sacrifice of life which occurs annually through these terrible explosions. The practice of working with the mis- called "safety-lamp" is wrong. It is not a "safety-lamp," as the sad experience of thousands fully attest. And I feel that the record in my district for the last year in relation to the matter of explosions is such that I may be pardoned for the egotism that leads me to believe that the record is attributable, in a great measure, to the radical views I hold oa the subject, and which I have tried to enforce. The most competent and experienced mine bosses agree with my views, while the incompetent ones refuse to admit their practicability. Hence, they are as yet only partially enforced ; but I trust they will be universally accepted in the near future, when loss of life and destruction of property from explosions of gas in the mines will be referred to only as fearful horrors of the past.

The condition of the mines as regards ventilation is steadily improving. A large amount of work was done during last year to that end, principally in improving the air-courses in the mines to conduct the air to the face of the workings. Three new fans were put in during the year, which makes the whole number now in this district thirty-nine, of which sixteen were erected in the last two years.

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors op Mines. 129

With feelings of sincere gratitude to all with whom I have had official business for the uniform respect and kindness with which I have been treated ; and hoping that the above synopsis of the following report will give your Excellency an idea of the subject-matter thereof, the whole is most respectfully submitted, by

Your humble and obedient servant,

WILLIAM S. JONES, Inspector of Goal Mines. Scranton, Pa., March 8, 1879.

Accidents from Falls of Roof and Ooal.

The number of fatal accidents from " falls of roof " and " falls of coal," for the year 1878, is sixteen, being forty-seven per cent, plus of the whole number. In 1877, the number of lives lost from these causes was seventy- seven and one half per centum of the whole number. This comparison of fatal casualties for the two years shows a very gratifying result; but the list is still unnecessarily large, and with the exercise of proper care, on the part of the miners themselves and the mine bosses, might be greatly reduced, even from the record of last year. I have had the same difficul- ties to contend with during the year, in my efforts to insure a reform in the matter of propping, and barring down dangerous overhanging coal, bone, slate, and rock, as I had to complain of in my former reports. The trouble is that the miners ignore the importance of incessantly exercising the necessary care and precaution to keep their working places safe, and that the mine bosses refuse to exercise their authority to compel them to timber properly. It seems to be a fearful hardship for very many of the miners to stand timber where they are needed ; they are in too much of a hurry to mine their coal for the day, and to get out of the mines ; and in this haste they neglect to examine the condition of the roof or overhang- ing coal, and when an accident occurs through this neglect, they excuse themselves from all blame by asserting, with the most provoking indiffer- ence and bravado, that " they had not noticed that the roof was danger- ous," and that " they had themselves been working under it only a few minutes before it fell," which they declare they "would not have done if they knew it was about to fall!" All this is too true; and this is just what I complain of. It turns out, in many instances, that they do not know of the fearful danger to which they expose themselves and others, for the simple reason that they do nothing to ascertain whether the roof is safe or not.

Another trouble is that when the miner does examine the roof, and finds it unsafe, he will neglect to stand timber under it until it is too late. The excuses given for this neglect are numerous and various. They desire " to fire another blast," or " load another car," or the props they have in are " too long," or " too short," or " the props would be in the way of the 9 — Mine Rep.

130 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

laborer," or " they had tried to bar it down, and failing, thought it would stand until to-morrow, &c." And when I inquire of them what they used to bar it down, the answer, in nine eases out of ten, will be: " O, it was a drill!'' And usually they will admit that if they had used a strong crow-bar, instead of a drill, they could have barred the mass down ; but it turns out, in many cases, that they do not wish to take the mass down because there is a pile of coal lying under, which they wish to have loaded so that the rubbish will not get mixed with it, necessitating greater care in cleaning said coal to avoid being ''docked" by the "docking boss" outside. But before the coal is loaded the dangerous roof falls, either killing or seriously injuring the miner himself, or his laborer, or perhaps both, while in the act of loading said coal.

Still another trouble is," that where the roof is shelly or cut up with slants or partings, the miners cannot be induced to stand props under it soon enough, that is, near enough to the face of their working places. Thev allow the roof to sag and the fissures to open, admitting the action of the air, the pressure of which is a powerful agent to cause the roof to fall. In allowing the air to enter these fissures in this manner, they admit a pressure of nearly fifteen pounds to the square inch, which acts as an irresistible wedge, forcing the parted strata down. This pressure is no less effective because it is indiscernable ; and as the opening of the fissures increases the surface for this pressure to act upon, the weight of the over- hanging mass also increases, while the power of resistance decreases in the same proportion, until the whole mass gives wa}r, crushing all who may be underneath. This principle is never considered by the miners,- and rarely, if ever, considered or even understood by mine bosses. The reason why props are not put in close to the face is that so few of the miners know how to stand them in such a manner as to withstand a blast ; and their judgment, as to how heavy a charge of powder is required to dislodge the coal, is generally so much at fault that a prop must be well put in or it will be discharged by every blast. The majority of them, in selecting timber for props, will take the very smallest timber they can find ; and in standing them they simply tack them in place so that they will not fall of their own accord, and when a very small piece of coal, flying from a blast, strikes them they are discharged. And even when these small props are well put in, especially when they are from ten to fourteen feet lono- when struck with coal from a blast they wdl spring like a whip-stock and fly out of place. Then the miners will rush in to re-stand the props, without waiting for the smoke to clear away, and without taking a mo- ment's time to examine the condition of the roof, and before they get the props back to their places the roof falls upon them, and the inspector is notified that a man is either killed or injured " while in the act of re-stand- ing a prop immediately after firing a blast." Now, as I have stated in my former reports, the men themselves must apply the remedy for these evils, or all that can be done by the mine bosses will necessarily amount to little

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 131

or nothing. I find that the men must be taught how to stand timber prop- erly, however, and that they must be repeatedly and continually reminded of their duties; and this is to be done by the mine bosses, under whose direction the miners are to do their work.

I am very much pleased that I can state that a marked improvement has been made in the matter of propping, during the year, in many of the collieries. Injustice to the mine bosses, I must say that many of them have exercised unusual care over the timbering during the year, and that they seem to have taken a deeper interest in the welfare and safety of the men under their charge than heretofore, which is very commendable and very much to their credit. When this becomes general in all the collieries, we may reasonably expect a still greater reduction in the list of accidents from these causes. In almost every colliery, I "have had cause to complain of the small size of the timber used for propping, of the scarcity of props, and of the bungling manner in which props are put in place. There is an improvement in all these matters, and I am very much gratified at the action of the supsrintendents of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company in particular, in putting the smallest timber allowed to be used in their numerous collieries at ten inches diameter in the smaller end. It is hoped that they will not allow timber below this standard to be brought near any of their mines, for this is the only way to prevent their use. And it is also to be hoped that all other operators will follow the good example of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company in this matter ; and while we congratulate all parties on the im- provement already effected, let none forget that there is much more to be done, and that continual vigilance is absolutely necessary, if we desire to still further reduce these accidents.

No. 1 Table.

Accident No. 4. — Thompson Petigrew, a miner employed in the Filer collie, Winton borough, was fatally injured, February 26, by a fall of roof. He was engaged in taking a " skipp " off from a pillar in an old abandoned air-way. One of his laborers had not come to work that day, and as the driver had brought in two empty cars, and had ordered them loaded in a hurry, Petigrew assisted his son (who was working with him) to load them; and in his haste, he neglected to examine the condition of the roof, which consisted of bony six inches thick. This bony was of a brittle, crumbling nature, and no attempt should ever have been made to prop it up, especially in a wide place, such as this was ; but the men are often crazy enough to attempt to do so, and the inevitable result is death or serious injury to some poor unfortunate victim. In this case the father and son were both caught, the latter suffering a fracture of a leg, and the former losing his life. The father was apparently on his knees and in a stooping position, preparing a place to drill a hole, when the fall occurred, so that it came upon his back and injured him internally, so that he soon died. His assisting his son to load the cars caused him to get behind

132 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

with his own work, and this caused him to he in unusual haste. He said : "If the other laborer had been at his work, I would have taken time to examine the roof, and the accident would not have happened." As it was, he sacrificed his life and endangered the life of his son in his inordinate haste to finish his day's work.

Accident No. 5. — William J. Morgan, a miner, employed in the Mar- vine shaft, Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, Providence, was in stantly killed March 1, "by a fall of top coal under which he rushed imme- diately after firing a blast." When I visited the scene of the accident to investigate its cause, I could not avoid seeing at a glance that the unfor- tunate man was the victim of his own inexcusable recklessness. A blast had been fired in the top coal, and he rushed under it and commenced rapping under it with a pick, when a lump about the size of a flour barrel fell on him, pinning him to the thill and nearly cutting him in two. He was working with his brother, who seems to be a very careful miner, and yet I am informed that this is the third person who has been killed when working with him. And it is said that two men had been killed with the deceased.

Accident No. 6. — Thomas Baker, a miner, employed in the Jermyn slope, John Jermyn, Esquire, Jermyn borough, was instantly killed, March 9, "by a fall of top coal, immediately after firing a blast." Baker was "robbing pillars," and taking back top coal. A blast had been fired in the top coal, but it did not bring it down ; then a blast was put in the end of a pillar to knock out the support of the top coal. This last blast weakened it so that a large mass of the top coal commenced to give way in such a manner that the two men working with Baker were sure it wast about to fall, and cleared back out of the danger. But Baker, notwith- standing the repeated, earnest remonstrances of his companions, persisted in taking a drill and in going under the crushing top coal to punch the coal that was crushing in the end of the pillar, and with the first punch he gave, the coal in the pillar bursted out with the report of a cannon, and with the repoi't the mass of top coal fell upon him, crushing him to death instantly. It seems passing strange that men will recklessly rush into known danger in this manner, and that the living refuse to learn wisdom from the sad experience of the voluntary victims of such fearful folly. No warnings or entreaties seem to have any effect to cure men of this fool- hard}r daring. There is no remedy for such cases that can be applied by the operators, mine bosses, nor inspectors, nor any other person, unless physical force is used by the parties witnessing the suicidal act. If the companions of Baker had used force to prevent him from going to his instant death, they would have been entitled to great credit ; but such an act would have been a "new thing under the sun;" and yet, when we see a fellow being committing suicide, we are expected to prevent the act, even when force is necessary. Accident No. 8. — William R. Jnoes, a miner, employed in the Cayuga

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 133

shaft, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, Providence, was instantly killed, April 22, "by a fall of roof immediately after firing a blast." The roof in this man's chamber was badly broken up with slants, and had a large number of props in it, but many of them were too small ; and the}' were not stood near enough to the face of the chamber to pre- vent these slants to " get wind." Jones had fired a blast, which discharged one or two props, and he informed Mulhern, his laborer, that such was the case, and then hastened in to the face of the chamber to examine it. Mul- hern told him he had better not go in, as the place was very dangerous ; but Jones paid no attention to the warning, but went forward up to the car, and was about to pass the car when a large mass of rock fell upon him, killing him instantly. The blast that was fired was a wet hole, which made a thick cloud of smoke, and Jones rushed into this smoke when it was impossible for him to see the condition of the roof, whereas, if he had waited for two or three minutes, the smoke would have been cleared away, and in the meantime the roof would have fallen, and he out of danger. He cannot profit by this consideration, but the living can learn a valuable lesson by it.

Accident No. 9. — Edward Ford, a miner, employed in No. 9 shaft, Pennsylvania Coal Company, Pittston, was killed, May 25, by a fall of roof, consisting of " rider coal." He was working in partnership with Michael Welsh, who testified, on the examination, that they " knew the roof was dangerous," and that they "intended to stand a prop there after firing another blast." This is sufficient evidence to show that they knew that a prop was needed, but they must put it off " until another blast was fired." The blast was fired, and Ford was standing under the overhanging " rider coal," barring out some coal left by the blast, when the roof fell on him, killing him instantly. The fact is, these men did not exercise ordi- nary care to ascertain the condition of the roof, and the surviving miner must feel that the death of his partner is, in a measure, to be attributed to his negligence.

Accident No. 10 — Patrick McGovern, a laborer, working for John Fin- nigan, in the Leggett Creek shaft, Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, Providence, was instantly killed, June 8, by a fall of roof. This chamber was very miserably timbered, and the roof was very bad. The timbers used in it were altogether too small, and the props were put in place in the most bungling and unworkmanlike manner. In addition to the props be- ing too small they were nearly all too short, and cob-houses of sticks were built on top of them, in such a manner that with the least inequality of pressure on either side, the cob-house would topple over, letting the over- hanging roof down. Four props had been discharged in this manner from under the mass that fell, killing McGovern, who was standing alongside of a car which he was loading. The mine boss should never allow so incom- petent a man to have charge of a chamber in such dangerous roof. If the mine boss did not know that such timbering as was done in this chamber

134 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

was wholly insufficient to secure the roof, then I would have no hesitation in saying that he would be utterly incompetent for the responsible position he holds ; but he did know, and hence is very much to blame for allowing it. Accident No. 11. — Michael Heston, a laborer, working for Patrick Lavin and son, in the No. 11 shaft, Pennsylvania Coal Company, Jenkins township, was instantly killed, July 23, by a fall of top coal, through the gross negligence of the miners named. Benjamin Harding, the mine boss, had been in the chamber about eight o'clock that morning, and noticing a slip running parallel with the rib, he suspected that the top coal was un- safe, and ordered Patrick Lavin to stand a prop under it. Instead of obeying this order Lavin went on with his work, and he and his son to- gether drilled four holes and fired four blasts, the last blast being in the top coal at the face, which still further weakened the overhanging mass. Heston was killed at eleven o'clock, hence Lavin had three hours' time to put in the prop, as ordered. According to the testimony of James Red- ington, the other laborer, Heston, had also asked Patrick Lavin to stand a prop there, but Lavin answered that he had no prop in. He was informed by Redington that there was a pi*op lying in an old chamber near by, which would answer, but Lavin said that prop was too long, and added, "never mind, I will go outside and get a prop." But he did nothing until the life of a fine young man was sacrificed to his wicked procrastination. His criminal negligence was so glaringly evident that I deemed it advis- able to order an inquest on the case, which was accordingly done by Alder- man Edward Early, acting as coroner.

The Inquest.

A jury being impanneled, consisting of Patrick Keating, (foreman,) John Shields, Peter McNulty, Alexander Fraser, senior, Abraham Gal- houns,and James Teasdal, with Edward Early, justice of the peace, acting as coroner, the inquest was held at Esquire Early's office, July 24-29, 1878.

Benjamin Harding, sworn : My name is Benjamin Harding. Am mine boss by occupation, in charge of No. 11 shaft, owned and operated by the Pennsylvania Coal Company. Was in the mines, the morning of the 23d day of July, 1878, before eight o'clock. I examined the place where Michael Heston was killed, and saw a slip on the right hand side of chamber, and ordered Patrick Lavin to stand a prop under the top coal which fell. The chamber is worked about one hundred yards from the opening. It is about twenty feet wide. There are no props in the chamber. There was no objection to their splitting the top coal. They have taken down about two feet all along in the center of the chamber. In my opinion, there were no props needed in the chamber. The slip on right hand rib was about twelve feet from face of chamber. If the prop had been put in where I had ordered it, I think the place would be safe, and I expected that Lavin would stand the prop immediately. There was another slip, crossing the chamber about fifteen feet from the

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 135

face. I have been mine boss in No. 11 shaft for the pist seven years. Mr. Lavin has been working there about four or five years ; looked upon him as being an experienced miner.

Cross-examined by mine inspector Jones :

If I had been working in that chamber I would have stood a prop be- fore mining anymore coal. I struck the top coal with my cane, and found it heavy ; then I ordered the prop to be stood. The chamber is twenty- four feet wide where the fall occurred.

Benjamin Harding. James Reddington, sworn:

I work as laborer for Patrick Lavin. Was at work July 23, 18*78, the day Michael Heston was killed. Was at the face of the chamber that morning with Heston. Had a car in the chamber at the time of the acci- dent, and it is there yet, not quite loaded. Had -to leave it there for Lavin to fire a blast. Lavin told us to leave it there that he might fire the shot- Had coal enough in chamber to load it. After the shot, Heston went to finish loading the car. Then Heston left the car again, as Patrick Lavin told him to stand back so that he might bar down the loose coal hanging over him near the face. Heston and I were standing at the end of the car when Lavin told us to go back. Did not think there was any danger there. I saw the slip talked of. The slip was on the right hand rib. Saw the slip that morning when we went to load the car, and saw it also a week before. I did not think of any danger. Worked under it for two weeks. "Mike" Heston told Lavin to stand a prop. I heard him. There were no props in the chamber. Lavin said he would send in a prop when he went out. Heston told Lavin a week before to stand a prop there, and again the day he was killed. Heston said he was afraid of the place. Did not hear Mr. Harding order Lavin to stand a prop until the morning Heston was killtd. Did not know as much about the place as Heston did. Cannot tell whether it needed props or not. Thought it best to work away, as I was not afraid when I had Heston to work with me. I told Lavin there was a prop close by, which I thought would answer. It was about nine or ten feet long. Prop was convenient in an old chamber not far away. Had to cross two chambers to get to it. Prop was not heavy. Two men could carry it very easy. If the prop was put under the fall, I hardly think it would have come. I was there when Harding told Lavin to stand the prop. We loaded nearly two cars afcer Harding told him. Lavin fired four shots after he was told to stand the prop. John Lavin fired the top shot. The place did not work after firing the shot. The blast in the top coal was about nine feet from the slip. We would not be afraid to top off the car. Do not know whether we would be killed while topping off the car or not. The fall did not strike the car. The top coal fell outside of the car. Did not hear Heston say he was afraid to load the car. When I told Lavin to go for the prop in the old chamber, he said "never mind it until I go out, then I will send one in."

136 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

Cross-examined by Mine Inspector Jones : I am nineteen years of age. Never mined any coal. Do not consider myself a proper person to judge about standing props, and so on. I trusted entirely on the miner for that. Never looked to see if the roof was dangerous. Depended on the miner to take care of the roof. Con- sidered tbat to be the miner's business, and not mine or Heston's. Lavin did not tell Heston to go back from under what fell on him. Mr. Harding came there between seven and eight o'clock that morning. The fall occurred between ten and eleven o'clock. Heston called Lavin's attention to the prop after the last shot — about nine or ten o'clock — and during this conversation I told Lavin about the prop in the old chamber. This was shortly before the fall. Heston did not say anything to me about getting the prop and standing it himself. There were no props in the chamber excepting one, which was used for a head-block on top of the run. I did not notice the slip running across the chamber, but Heston said he had. The slip on the rib was an unusual thing in that chamber. I was close by Heston when the fall came upon him. Had I been two feet back from the car, or further to te right, I believe I would have been killed, too. Patrick Lavin was barring near the face and across towards the left rib. Do not think he was in any danger where he stood. John Lavin was back in the entrance when the fall occurred.

James Reddington.

Patrick Lavin, sworn :

Michael Heston worked over one year for me. He understood as much about working a chamber as I did. He was killed in my chamber, July 23, 1878, after firing a blast. Saw the slip that came in on the right hand rib in chamber. Did not think there was any danger. Did not see the slip running across the chamber. Heston did not tell me at any time about the slip. There were no props standing in the chamber. If Mr. Harding did not put me in mind of props I would not think of any. Told him I would send in a prop tbat evening. Heston and Reddington were loading a car when we went to fire the shot in the top coal. Had coal enough in the chamber to load the car. Was anxious to fire so as to go out to get a prop. Mr. Harding had told me to stand a prop. Intended to come in with a prop and stand it. Saw the danger of the place, but if I had the prop in I do not know whether it would have held up the roof or not. Did not think I was weakening the top coal by firing the blast. Cross-examined by Inspector Jones :

I had full charge of the chamber. John Lavin, my son, worked with me. It is my business to attend to the safety of the men working in m}r chamber. Examined the top coal every morning. It sounded well that morning about five feet from the face of chamber. Did not sound it back where it fell. Think it is not safe to work a chamber without props. Never read the ventilation law. Cannot read. Never heard it read. Red- dington did tell me there was a prop in the old chamber. Asked him how

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 137

long it was, and he said it was about nine or ten feet. I said it was too long. Did not have an ax nor a saw to cut a piece off. Did not go to see the prop. No person asked me, at any time, to stand a prop except Mr. Harding. Heston did not tell me to stand a prop until after Harding told me. Do consider it the miner's duty to obey the orders of the mine boss. Think I disobeyed the boss' order on that morning in not standing the prop immediately. Think my disobedience was a violation of the nine- teenth section of the ventilation law.

His

Patrick X Lavin.

mark.

John Lavin, sworn : I work with Patrick Lavin, my father. He had charge of the chamber. James Reddington and Michael Heston were laborers, loading coal for us. Never saw a slip where the fall occurred except the one on the right hand side. Heard Mr. Harding tell father to stand a prop. Was afraid of the slip, but not the one which fell. It was our intention to get a prop after cutting our day's coal. Reddington did not tell us about the prop in the old chamber until after the shots were fired, which was about twenty min- utes previous to the fall. Did not go to examine the prop, nor did he mention any particular prop to m}r knowledge. It was our intention to wait and get one the proper length. Did not hear Reddington state the length of the prop. Was down in the entrance at the time. Heston did not say anj'thing in regard to a prop before this time.

John Lavin.

The Verdict.

We, the undersigned, jurors in this case, on the accident that occurred to Michael Heston, at No. 11 shaft, on the '23d of July, 1878, taking all the evidence into consideration on both sides, come to the conclusion that Michael Heston came to his death through neglect.

Edward Early, J. P., Acting Coroner.

Patrick Keating, Foremen}.

John Shield.

Peter McNulty.

Alexander Fraser, Sr.

Abraham Galhouns.

James Teasdal. I have given the verdict in the exact language of the intelligent jury, so as not to do it any injustice; and it may be proper to state that several other witnesses were examined, but that their testimony is of no import- ance, hence I have omitted it.

It will be seen that the jury found that "Michael Heston came to his death through neglect." They do not say whether it was through his own neglect or through the neglect of somebody else. Why did they not place the blame where it of right ought to be placed ? The reason evidently is, because they did not possess the moral courage to do so. The reader,

138 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [Xo. 10,

however, will readily understand where to place the neglect. Therefore it is wholly unnecessary for me to place it, and yet I must do so in order to eseape the charge of cowardice myself. Without any hesitation, there- fore, I place the blame for the death of Michael Heston on Patrick Lavin. The old man has suffered fearfully in consequence of the sad affair, and he has had my deepest sympathy. His aged wife died during the night of the day of young Heston's burial, and there is little doubt but her death was hastened, to say the least, by the bitter criminations of the young man's friends. Lavin quit working in the mines from that day.

Accident Xo. 12 — Thomas W. Morgan, a miner, employed in the Twin shaft, Pittston Coal Company, Pittston, was fatally injured, August 6, by a fall of roof. He died from his injuries on the 10th. This man had been working all day, knowing that the roof on one side of the chamber was in a dangerous condition, and he did nothing to make it safe, simply telling his laborer not to venture under it. He was about to go home, leaving it unsecure, when his laborer called him, and asked him to make a paper ticket to put on the car before he locked the box. He did so, and carried the ticket to put it on the car himself, and in order to do so, he was obliged to go under the dangerous roof, and just as he reached the side of the car the roof fell, injuring him so that he died as before stated. It was thought at the time he would recover, but it proved that he had received internal injuries, which terminated in his death. This is another warning to miners never to neglect the immediate securing of the roof when they know, or suspect it to be dangerous. They should secure themselves from danger in such cases the first thing, no matter what the circumstances may be, and when it is so evident that this is the only safe course to pursue, it is astonishing that men persist in refusing to follow it. Morgan paid the fearful penalty of his negligence with his life, and others will still follow in his footsteps, and meet the same fate.

Accident No. 15. — Thomas McTighe, a laborer, working for Miles Bo- han, in the Fairlawn slope, Hosie, Archbald & Hosie, Scranton, was fatally injured, August IT, by a fall of roof. The roof which fell, consisted of bony coal, and Daniel Bradley, the mine boss, had ordered the miner not to attempt to keep it up with props, but to draw it down ; but instead of keeping it down close to the face, the miner let it hang back so far that it fell from its own weight. Bohan admitted that the mine boss had ordered him to take down this mass that fell, and added, that he intended to do so "after firing another blast," and that he would have done it, but that Mc- Tighe would not permit it. According to Bohan's testimony, he and McTighe did not work harmoniously together. He says : " McTighe would not let me do the work as I wished, and when I told him the roof was bad, he said it would not come down in a week, and he claimed that he had as much to say about working the chamber, and even more than I had. I did not like to discharge him, and if I had, he would have been sent back to me again by the boss. The miners are not allowed to hire and discharge

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 139

their own laborers in the Fairlawn mines. I have known cases where mi- ners had employed their own laborers, and the bosses discharged them, and put men in their places of their own selection."

This custom of employing laborers for miners by mine bosses and oper- ators, I am sorry to say, is getting to be very general, but it is wrong in eveiy sense. In my opinion, it is of the utmost importance that the laborer should be under the entire control of the miner ; and the mutual safety of both requires that they be on the most friendly terms with each other. But when the right of employing his own laborer is taken away from the miner, and he is compelled to take a man to work for him selected by the boss, there arises a jealousy between them, and the harmony and cooper- ation necessary for their mutual safety becomes impossible. The same is true in relation to the right of the mine boss to employ miners. Where operators take this right away from their mine bosses the miners will not care for them nor obey their orders ; and this destroys their authority, and makes the discipline, that is absolutely necessary for the safety of the men, an utter impossibility.

Accident No. 17. — William Wagner, a laborer, working for Thomas Griffiths in the Elk Hill colliery, Elk Hill Coal and Iron Company, Dick- son City borough, was instantly killed, August 21, by a fall of top coal and boney. An inquest was held by Esquire William D. Burke, acting as coroner. The evidence adduced and the finding of the jury is as follows :

The Inquest.

A jury being impanneled, consisting of Thomas Grier, (foreman,) David E. Lloyd, Patrick Reily, John G. Weiland, John Decker, and William Morgan, with William D. Burke, (justice of the peace,) acting coroner, an inquest was held at the office of Esquire Burke, Priceville, August 22, 187*.

Thomas Griffiths, sworn : My name is Thomas Griffiths. Reside in Providence. Am a miner by occupation. Work in Elk Hill Coal and Iron Company's mines. Am the miner in charge of air-way where William Wagner was killed. Was at my work when the accident occurred. Wagner was killed by a fall of top coal and boney. Did not know this coal and boney was loose. Tried to bar it down, but could not. Tried to bar it down to give me more room around the car. Used a drill to try to bar it down. Drill is not the proper tool to use for barring. Used a drill because there was no room to get a crow- bar over it. Failed to take it down. Could get it down with powder.

Thomas Griffiths.

William Goodwin, sworn :

My name is William Goodwin. Live in Providence. Am a miner by

occupation. Work for the Elk Hill Coal and Iron Company. Have charge

of heading next to Thomas Griffiths' air-way. Was at my work, August

21, 1878, when William Wagner was killed. Heard the fall, then listened

140 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

for a while, and heard a voice call " Bill." Then I hastened over, and found Wagner under the fall, on left side of the car. Thomas Griffiths said " I believe Wagner is under." Told him I thought he was. Found him lying on his " hunkers," with his head down on the bottom. There was quite a pile of coal on him. Helped to get him out. He was perfectly dead when he was got out. When large lumps of coal was removed from his head, I saw an ugly cut on the back of the head. Saw another cut on his arm. Think his back was broken. By the appearance of the place, it is my opinion that piece of coal could have been barred down. It could be taken down without the use of powder. I sometimes try to bar stuff down to make sure that it is solid. Thomas Griffiths was only a few feet away from Wagner when he was killed.

William Goodwin.

Edward Cunningham, sworn: My name is Edward Cunningham. Reside in Priceville. Am a" laborer, and work for William Goodwin, in the Elk Hill mines. Was in at my work, yesterday, when William Wagner was killed. Was in the heading when I heard the fall of coal and boney in the airway, and soon after heard some one call 'k Bill." I then hurried into the face of the airway with Wil- liam Goodwin. Saw Thomas Griffiths on the left hand side of the car, and heard him ask for a light, of Goodwin. Then I saw that William Wagner was killed. Do not know what Griffiths was doing when Wagner was killed. Think he was drilling a hole.

Edward Cunningham.

Benjamin Rees, sworn : My name is Benjamin Rees. Reside in Dickson City borough. Am mine boss by occupation, and have charge of the colliery of the Elk Hill Coal and Iron Company. Was in the air-way of Thomas Griffiths, on the morning of the 21st, about half past six o'clock. Found the place then in a safe condition and well timbered, so far as the regular roof is concerned. I considered the place safe at that time. There was no coal nor boney hanging anywhere when I was there. When 1 heard of the accident I was on top of the slope. Waited there until the body was taken by me. Then I went in to the face of the air-way to examine into the cause of the acci- dent. In my judgment, William Wagner was killed by a fall of top coal and boney. I believe, if the proper pains had been taken, that the coal and boney which fell could have been barred down before the accident. I sent a notice of the accident to the mine inspector. In said notice I said " It is, no doubt, carelessness on part of the miner in not pulling down the top coal and boney which fell on the laborer while he was in the act of loading a car, for certainly, stuff that is so ready to fall can be easily pulled down." A drill is not the proper tool to use to bar down boney or other overhanging matter, because it is too weak for such work. If a crow- bar had been used in this case, I do not doubt but this stuff could have

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 141

been barred clown. If there had been a strong effort to get it down there would have been marks on the roof.

Benjamin Rees.

Verdict of the Jury.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, ) Luzerne county, Dickson City borough, )

An inquisition indented and taken at the boi'ough of Dickson City, in the county of Luzerne, and State of Pennsylvania, the 24th day of August, A. D. 1878, before me, William D. Burke, a justice of the peace in and for said county, in accordance with provisions of act of Assembly of May 27, A. D. 1841. the office of the coroner being more than ten miles distant from where the death occurred and where the body was found, upon the view of the body of William Wagner, then and there lying dead, upon the oaths of Thomas Grier, David E. Lloyd, William Morgan, John Decker, Patrick Reily, and John G. Weiland, good and true men of the county aforesaid, who, being duly sworn to inquire on the part of the Commonwealth, when, where, how, and after what manner the said William Wagner came to his death, do say upon their oaths that the said William Wagner came to his death by a fall of top coal and boney in the ait-way of Thomas Griffiths, a miner, at the mines of the Elk Hill Coal and Iron Company, Dickson City borough, Pa., on Wednesday, the 21st day of August, 1878. And from the evidence adduced we find that there was no cause of blame on the part of the mine superintendent, Benjamin Rees, and that the air-way worked by Thomas Griffiths was well propped, and, in the main properly worked; but there was a want of prudence and care in the management of the top coal at this time, whereby the said William Wagner came to his death.

In witness whereof, the aforesaid justice of the peace, as well as the aforesaid jurors, have to this inquisition put their hands and seals, on the day and year and at the place first above mentioned.

William D. Burke, (J. P.,) Acting Coroner. Thomas Grier,, Foreman, David E. Lloyd, Patrick Reily, John G. Weiland, John Decker, William Morgan,

Jurors. From the explicit and uncontradicted testimony of Benjamin Rees, the mine boss, it was so evident that Wagner lost his life through the gross and inexcusable carelessness of Thomas Griffiths, it is impossible to con- ceive how the jury, under their oaths, could pass over it so smoothly. The responsibility rests with them, however, and I have the consciousness of having done my duty. I have no doubt but Griffiths was very much to blame for Wagner's death.

Accident No. 21 — Patrick Cavanagh, a laborer working for Lackey

142 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

and Patrick Grady, at the No. 5 shaft, Pennsylvania Coal Company, Jen- kins township, was fatally injured, September 20, by a fall of roof — died the following night. The miners had gone home, leaving the place inse- cure. There was a quantity of what is known as "black rock" left hang- ing out from the face by the miners, in direct violation of the oft-repeated order of the mine boss. This order was, never to let "black rock" hang out over three feet from the solid. And it was a very proper order, for this "black rock" is very treacherous and dangerous; but the order was disregarded, and poor Cavanagh lost his life in consequence.

Accident No. 23. — Peter Cannon, a miner, employed at the Brisbin shaft, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, Providence, was instantly killed, September 30, by a fall of roof. He had fired a blast which had knocked out two props, and he then rushed in without attempt- ing to examine the roof, and was in the act of clearing a place to re-stand the props when the roof came down, crushing him to death.

Accident No. 24. — James McNamara, a laborer, working for John T. Jones, at the Von Storch slope, Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, Providence, was instantly killed, October 1, by a fall of roof. A blast had been fired which displaced a prop in this case again; and the laborer, in unusual haste, entered into the face of the chamber before the miner could get there, and as soon as he reached there, a slab of rock from the roof fell on him, killing him instantly.

Accident No. 25 — Thomas Cawley, a miner, employed at the No. 2 slope, Penns3rlvania Coal Company, Dunmore, was fatally injured, Octo- ber 23, "by a fall of roof immediately after firing a blast." He died from his injuries the following day. He had returned to the face of the cham- ber, after firing a blast, to examine what execution it had done. The chamber was near the cropping out of the vein, and the roof was bad. The old man went in without taking any notice of the condition of the roof, and as he was commencing to bar out coal left by the blast, the roof fell, injuring him so that he died, as before stated. He was sixty years of age, but had a strong, hearty son working with him.

Accident No. 31. — Michael McFadgen, a laborer, working for Joseph Waters and George Stevens, in the twin shaft, Pittston Coal Company, Pittston, was instantly killed, November 19, by a fall of "rider coal.'' The roof in this place was not of the best, being considerably broken up with slips, slants, and water-seams; but it was always very poorly propped, and I place the blame for the death of McFadgen on the miners, without the least hesitation. The miners claimed that the chamber was "pretty well propped," but I can inform them that they know nothing about good tim- bering; and until they learn, they are not fit persons to have charge of a working place.

Accident No. 33. — Luke Carroll, a laborer, working for Patrick Atki- son and James Brennan, in the Erie shaft, Hillside Coal and Iron Com- pany, Carbondale township, was instantly killed, November 30, by a fall

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 143

of roof. I found the roof in this chamber in a fearful condition, it being very heavy all the way from the main road to the face. The mine boss, David McDonald, testified that, in his judgment, the chamber needed at least one third more props, and that three props ought to have been put in near the face where the fall occurred ; and yet he allowed the miners to work on in this fearful danger without any attempt at compelling them to secure the roof with a sufficient number of props. And notwithstanding that the roof was heavy, he allowed them to work the chamber two yards wider than the usual width, making it thirty-six feet wide. It seems that he cared but very little whether the place was safe or not. But, as I have no desire to do Mr. McDonald an injustice, I can do no better than to give his own statement, in his own words, as given under oath on my examina- tion into the cause of the accident. He said : " I was in the chamber in the afternoon of the day before the accident, after the day's work was done and the men had gone home. I did not examine the place that day. Was there to take 'short measurements.' I believe I did examine it when I was there before, which was about a week before the accident. I then found the place about as they average, and I did not think it particularly dangerous, but the roof did not sound good, and it has not sounded good in that chamber all along. I told Patrick Atkison to prop the chamber regularly, and my orders have been generally obe}red. The chamber is not well timbered. It should have, at least, one third more props all the way up, and there should have been three more props at the face of the chamber where the roof fell. I do not remember but one instance wnen I ordered these men (Atkison and Brennan) to stand a prop, and that was about six weeks ago, and the prop is not in yet. I had not ordered them to stand additional props in the face, but I saw there was considerable space there without props when I was in there the day before the accident. Sometimes I go around the chambers once a day. Sometimes twice a week. Sometimes I am a whole week before I get around them all. I cannot get around oftener, because I have too much other work to attend to. I am held responsible by my superiors for getting the coal out, and that takes a large portion of my time. I do not think that a mine boss can comply with the requirements of the eighth section of the act of the 3d of March, 1870, without going to every working place every day and examine each place carefully. If I had examined this chamber the day before the acci- dent, it is my opinion that I would have found it sorely needing props. The chamber is too wide for roof of such a dangerous nature. It is thirty- six feet wide, or six feet wider than my orders."

Now, if any one who understands anything about the duties of a mine boss, and about mining, can read the above testimony and not hold David McDonald morally, if not criminally, responsible for the untimely death of Luke Carrol, then I must say that my understanding of the duties of a mine boss, under the law, is very much at fault. His own frank and (no doubt) tiuthful admissions under oath is irrefutable evidence that the men

144 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [Xo. 10,

under his charge were allowed to do about just as they pleased — that he woefully neglected to inquire whether they were working safely or not; and that he did not exercise his authority to induce them to keep the roof properly secured as they advanced in their excavations. A man who manifests so little executive ability, and who is so deficient in ability to exercise his authority for the safety of his men, is, in my humble opinion, far from being competent for the responsible position of "mining boss." I am very sorry that I am obliged to appear severe on Mr. McDonald, and I do it only because I cannot do otherwise. I am oath-bound to give things just as I find them, and I purpose doing my duty to the best of my abilit}-, however unpleasant it may be.

The shortcomings of the mine boss, however, does not exonerate or ex- cuse Patrick Atkison, the miner, who had full charge of the chamber, in the least. He was in that chamber every day, and must have known that he was exposing himself and the three men working with him to continual danger of being killed by his persistent neglect to timber it properly. He admits that he knew the roof was dangerous, and says : "I was going to stand a prop after I had drilled a four- foot hole, and after taking down a piece of the fourteen-inch coal." But before he had done either, an area of about thirty-four square yards of the roof fell, crushing the life out of poor Luke Carroll and nearly covering James Brennan, the other miner ; and if Michael Larkin, the other laborer, had not gone back on that in- stant to look for his rake, there is no doubt but he, too, would have been killed.

This man Atkison was wholly unfit to have charge of a chamber. I had found him working in danger, and allowing his laborers to work in still greater danger, a few weeks previous to this accident. It was on the occasion of a visit I made to make a thorough inspection of the workings. Atkison was then opening the chamber in which the accident occurred ; and as I was passing I noticed a break in the roof, caused by a slant, and a fearful mass of rock hanging over the laborers' heads. I instantly called the attention of the mine boss to it, and asked him if he allowed the men to work in such danger. He replied that he had ordered Atkison to stand a prop under that slab the day before, and he then turned back to ask At- kison why he had not done it. The answer he received was, that he would do it after doing two or three other things. But I insisted on his stand- ing a prop there at once, and made him drop every other work until it was done. K ow, if such men are intrusted with the care of working places, and if mine bosses will not assume the responsibilities of their positions, the untiring efforts of the inspector to reduce the fearful list of casualties from 4i falls of roof" and "falls of coal" can avail but little. There are too many such reckless and incompetent miners in this district, and there is still much room for improvement on the part of many of the mine bosses.

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 145

Non-Fatal Accidents From Falls Of Roof And Coal.

The number of serious, non-fatal accidents during the year 1878, from "falls of roof," and "falls of coal," was thirty-four, and the number of slight accidents from the same causes was thirty-six. Every one of these so called accidents was the result of the most inexcusable carelessness and negligence, either of the sufferers themselves, or of those with whom they were employed. It would be unwise in me to load my report with remarks on each case separately. But I may be excused for reminding the work- men, right here again, that they are the only ones who can effectually pre- vent these accidents. If the men will but make proper use of their common sense, and exercise reasonable care, these accidents can be almost entirely averted. I have repeatedly informed them, that no man should ever woik under roof or coal that is suspected of being unsafe, as there can be no ne- cessity for it; and I have always advised them to drop every other work, until they are sure that their working place is as safe as it can be made. From my own experience as a miner, I know that this can easily be done; and from my experience as an inspector, I know that, if my advice is fol- lowed by the men, these accidents from falls of roof and coal would rarely occur. The excuses invariably adAranced by the workmen for these acci- dents, are unworthy of intelligent men, and they certainly do themselves no credit when advancing them.

Many men meet with accident by rushing headlong under dangerous overhanging roof or coal " immediately after firing a blast," never stopping for a single moment, to examine whether the place is safe or not, and when asked why they persist in running such unnecessary risks, they will an- swer in nine cases out of ten : u 0, I didn't think /" Others know that a part of the roof in their chambers is heav}T, but neglect to stand the ne- cessan timber to make it safe, or to bar the mass down, but persist in putting it off until they have " fired another blast," or until the laborer has " loaded another car," or until something else is done ; and when the roof or coal falls, either killing or maiming their laborers, or themselves or some one else who may happen to be there, and they are asked why they did not stand props under the dangerous mass, or bar it down, they will answer as unconcernedly as if there was not a particle of responsibility resting upon them : " I knew that the roof was heavy, but / didn't think it would come down so soon !" In the name of humanity, I ask, in all se- riousness, is it not time for these workmen to stop and think ? Yes, my fellow-toilers, think! Think of the sad and fearful consequences of your inhuman recklessness, which hurls so many of your fellow men into eter- nity every year, and which cripples so many more for life; think of the widows and orphans whom your reckless carelessness annually multiply at such a fearful rate ; think of your own wives and little ones, whom you may any day leave to the cold charity of the world, through your suicidal foolhardiness ; think of your own lives, that you daily endanger, simply because you refuse to think what you are doing. If you are men, then 10— Mine Rep.

14G Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

think deliberately and incessantly how you should work to insure the safety of yourselves and those around you, and prove that you have intel- ligence to act like men, and not like irresponsible and inanimate machines.

Crushed by Mine C'nrs.

There were five persons killed, twenty -seven persons severely injured and twenty-four persons slightly injured during 1878, by being crushed by mine cars. The fatal accidents for the year, from this cause, amount to fourteen and seven tenths per cent, of the whole number, whereas the per- centage for 1877 was only two and a half per cent, of the whole number. Four out of the five were killed through disobedience of strict orders on the part of themselves or other persons. Notwithstanding that I have many times ordered mine bosses to keep the sides of the tracks in the mines clear of rubbish, so that the runners and drivers may not stumble over large rocks, boney, coal, old props, ties, and mine rails by the road- side, still there are many collieries where this is not attended to ; and, so long as this reasonable order is disregarded, we must expect numerous ac- cidents through falling under mine cars.

Accident JNo. 18. — James G. Gannon, a laborer, working in the Coal Brook tunnel, Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, Carbondale Cit}r, was fatally injured, September 3, by runaway cars on an inside plane. Gannon was on his way out, and had reached the head of the plane just as a trip of loaded cars was about to be run down. The wheelman, on the head of the plane, told him not to go down ahead of the trip, but he an- swered that he was " in a hurry," and went on, regardless of the wheelman's warning. The trip of loaded cars soon followed him, and through the blunder of a boy left in charge of the foot of the plane, the "latches" were misplaced, so that the empty trip was sent up on the track upon which the loaded trip was going down. When the trips were midway on the plane there was a collisiun as a matter of course, and the chain at- tached to the empty trip was broken, letting the empty cars run back with ever increasing velocity to the foot. Gannon was below them, near the foot of the plane, and tried to get out of the way, but the cars keeping the track were too quick for him, and he was overtaken by them, and was pinned fast against a prop on the side of the road, and one of his legs was shattered in the most shocking manner, making amputation necessary, and resulting in his death. He died the same day, immediately after under- going the surgical operation.

This is another case to prove that no person should be allowed to travel on slopes or planes in the mines, while the same are working ; and I have many times ordered the dangerous practice discontinued. I had ordered William McMynne, the mine boss at this colliery, to make a ti'aveling- wajr for the emplo3'es, alongside of this very plane, through the old aban- doned chambers, and under no circumstances whatever to allow any one to travel on the plane while cars were being run upon it. He choose, how- ever, to disregard my order, and, though I had issued the order some

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Ex. Doc. J Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 147

months prior to this fatal accident, he had done nothing to open a travel- ing-way. He claimed that the old chambers, on both sides of the plane, were caved in and impassible, and that it was impossible to make a trav- eling-way, as I hid ordered. But to satisfy myself 1 weut into the old chambers on the left of the plane, and found that he was mistaken, for I found the roof standing the whole length of the plane, and I soon con- vinced Mr. McMynne that it was a very easy task to make a good travel- ing-way, as I had ordered. It was very evident that he had not examined the place, and that he did not expect that I would do so. I had issued this order in all collieries where slopes and planes are in use. Here the order was disregarded, and a life was sacrificed to the disobedience.

Accident No. 20. — Daniel Hughes, a door-tender, employed in the Bris- bin shaft, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, Provi- dence, was instantly killed, September 6, by a trip of loaded cars being run down on a "run" before time and against orders. The boy was one hundred feet away from his door, with a driver; which was, also, in direct violation of my orders. I had given strict orders for the door boys never to leave their doors, and had prohibited everybody sending them away on any pretense whatever; and if little Dannie Hughes had remained at his door he would have escaped uninjured. The gangwa}T in whicli this acci- dent occurred has in it sixteen working places, five of which are on a run extending from inside of them to the foot of the shaft. There were two drivers to attend to these five chambers — Charles Obendeffer and John Evans. These boys -were in with their last trip, Obendeffer having two cars to haul into the two inside chambers, and Evans having three cars for the three outside chambers ; and in the meantime there was a loaded trip of ten cars standing inside, on top of the run in charge of Thomas Evans, a runner, waiting for Obendeffer and Evans to take in their cars to the five chambers below. Obendeffer, as a matter of course, would have his two cars hauled in as soon as Evans could haul in two of his, so that the latter had a car to haul in after the former was done. The rule was for Oben- deffer to wait until Evans had his third car hauled in, and then it was his duty to go to the head of the run and hitch his mule on to the trip stand- ing there, and start it over the head of the run, while Evans was to go out to the foot of the shaft. If this rule had been followed, a collision would have been impossible, but instead of waiting for Evans to haul in his third car, as he had been ordered to do, Obendeffer, after hauling in his two cars, hastened away to the top of the run, told the runner everthing was all right, hitched on his mule to the trip, and started it over the head of the run, while Evans was still on the run below with his third car. He was within a few yards of being out of the way when the loaded trip came rushing to meet him, knocking his mule and car upon him and Hughes, instantly killing the latter and the mule, and severely injuring Evans.

Obendeffer admits that he disobe3red the orders of the driver boss, and has no excuse to offer, only that "it was the last trip," and that he was

148 REroRTs of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

"in too miK-h of a hurry to get out." He has not attempted to shield himself from blame, hut seems conscious that he committed a great wrong, for which he deserves severe punishment. Evidently, the boy did not intend to commit a crime, but this should be a sad warning to him, and to all other boys, always to obey orders implicitly. This is their imperative dut}', for the issuing of all orders alwa3rs imply that they are very im- portant; and in very many instances the preservation of valuable lives depend on unquestioned obedience. I here insert a section of the tracing or map of the mines to explain the accident.

Accident No. 26. — Thomas Leary, a driver, employed in the Hillside collieiy, Hillside Coal and Iron Company, Pleasant Valley borough, was killed, October 29, by being crushed under mine cars upon which he was riding, in violation of the strict orders of the mine boss. He got on the side of the car at first, but seeing that he was in danger of being crushed between the cars and a pillar, he climbed on top of the car, but did not go but a few yards in that position when he came in contact with a cross- timber spanning the road, which knocked him off between and under the cars, where he was crushed in a fearful manner. He suffered a fracture of a leg, his body was very severely crushed, and he was also injured inter- nally, from which he died in about three hours. He was another victim to disobedience of orders.

Accident No. 27. — Henry Scott, a driver, employed in the Pierce col- liery, Pierce Coal Company, Archbald borough, was fatally injured, Octo- ber 30, by falling under a trip of loaded cars. He was apparently trying to unhitch his mule from the cars on the head of a run, when he stumbled and ftll before the cars, and was dragged for over fifty yards before the cars could be stopped, and when he was found he was between the forward and hind wheels of the front car. His right foot was mangled in a shock- ing manner, his left arm was fractured near the shoulder, his head was severely cut, and he received other bodily injuries, all of which was so severe that he died on the 1st of November.

This case demonstrates the great importance of keeping the road-sides clear from everything over which runners and drivers are liable to stum- ble; and this is especially the case on the head of runs, and on branches, and wherever it may be necessary for the drivers to unhitch their mules, or where the runners are obliged to run alongside the cars to sprag them. I am doing all in my power to have the roads kept clear of all obstruc- tions of this kind, and where there are competent mine bosses I am suc- ceeding; but there are collieries in charge of mine bosses that seem to be utterly incapable of realizing the importance of following m}r advice.

Accident No. 29. — John Evans, a pumpman, employed in the Park Coal Company's slope, School Fund Trust Company, Hyde Park, was found dead, November 11, on the slope, having been crushed to death by a trip of empty cars. He was on his way out with a certain bolt belong- ing to a gin-pump which he had charge of, to have something done to it

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 149

by the blacksmith, and as he was on his way up the slopa, and when within about one hundred feet of the top, he wa mat by an empty trip of cars, which struck him, killing him on the spot. The cars were thrown off the track, and when the driver boss and footman went up the slope to put the rope on the pulleys after putting the cars on the track, they found the lifeless body of the poor old man lying across the track.

When at this mine several months previous to this accident, I had per- emptorily ordered the superintendent and other mine officials to prohibit the employes from traveling on these slopes while they were working. But after a short time this order was entirely disregarded, and this finally resulted in the killing of this unfortunate old man.

An inquisition was held by Alderman R. K. Cranfield, acting as coro- ner, which brought out the following evidence, and resulted in the follow- ing verdict :

The Inquest.

A jury being empanneled, consisting of Nicholas Wasburn, John Wag- ner, John H. Powell, M. L. Blair, D. H. Wade, and William J. Price, with R. K. Cranfield, (alderman,) acting coroner, an inquest was held at alderman Cranfield's office, Hyde Park, November 11, 1818. H. I. Jones, M. D., sworn :

I am a physician. Reside in Hyde Park. Viewed and examined the body of John Evans, and found that he had a fracture of the right collar bone and a fracture of the left leg below the knee, and a slight abrasure of the skin on the left temple. In my opinion, the old man was coming up the slope, and the cars must have struck him on the shoulder, and fractured the collar bone, and so knocking him against the side of the slope, thus causing concussion of the brain, and instantaneous death. There are no marks of the wheels of the cars going over the body. There is no fracture of the skull. First saw the body in the office at the mines. Saw it inside of an hour after the accident. He was dead when I first saw him. A very slight shock will cause the deathof a man of his years.

H. I. Jo.nes, Surgeon, dec. William McCoy, sworn :

I reside in Pine Brook, Scranton, work for the School Fund Trust As- sociation, as driver boss. Was at my usual work this morning. The accident occurred about eight o'clock this morning. Am acquainted with John Evans, who was killed. The accident occurred a short way from the mouth of the slope, probably from sixty to seventy feet from the mouth. How I first knew that an accident had happened, I was at the foot of the slope, and as I did not hear the trip coming down regularly, I asked the footman if the trip was not stopped on the slope, and he said " no." I looked up the slope, and did not see the amount of daylight there should be if the trip was not in the slope. Lewis Phillips, the footman, and I went up the slope, and found the trip with the hind car off the track. We then put the car on the track, pulled the signal to slack off, and as no slack

150 Reports of tiie Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

was given, I looked on one side of the track, and Phillips on the other to examine the marks of the wheels in the dirt. Told Phillips to follow up the mai'ksa little, and told him to put the rope on the pulleys, and he went up a few yards, and came upon the body of John Evans, and he called out : " Old John lies here !" I asked him if he was dead, and he said he did not know. Found the body half leaning, and sitting up six or eight inches outside the track, with one leg across the rail, and the other leg up the hill, inside the track. We then took up the body, and carried it out to the company's office. He was dead when we found him. Could not be more than ten or fifteen minutes after he was struck by the cars when we found him. There was another way to get out of the mines than by going up the slope. I saw John Evans this morning, at the passing branch. He said he was going to the shop with a bolt that was broken, belonging to the pump. Cannot say that he was in the habit of going up the slope, but I have seen persons going up when the slope was working. Knew that traveling on the slope was prohibited, and every man that worked there, had notice to that effect, but I believe that every man that works in the mines has violated that order. There was a notice at the mouth of the slope, prohibiting this traveling. The notice was put up over a year ago. Cannot tell how long it was posted. It was in writing, and was up long enough for the men to know what it meant. Have told men several times that they should go out by the mule way. Think I have spoken about it to my superiors. The mule way was not much used. Suppose some went in and out that way. Most of the men went in before the cars commenced running. Lately I did not notify any one of the violation of this order on this slope, but on the other slope we are more particular, as it is worked the most.

William McCoy.

Lewis Phillips, sworn : I reside in Hyde Park. Work in the mines of the School Fund Trust Association as footman. Was at work this morning when the accident occurred. It was about eight o'clock. Was acquainted with John Evans, who was killed. He was killed about one hundred feet from the mouth of the slope. William McCoy, the driver boss, came to me and asked me if the trip was coming down. Told him I did not know as I did not hear noise of the cars coming. McCoy came to the foot, looked up the slope, and said, "the cars are sure to be off the track." So we went up the slope and found the trip standing there, and the hind car was off the track. We put the car on the track, and I then gave the signal to slack off, but there was no response. McCoy then told me to follow up the track of the wheels in the dirt to find what had thrown off the car. Went as far as we could see the mark of wheels, and then saw that the rope was off the pulleys and McCoy told me to go up and put it on. Went up a little way and found the old man on the side of the track. Helped McCoy to carry the body out to the office. He was dead when we found him. Saw Evans on

Ex. Doc] Reports cf the Inspectors of Mines. 151

the bottom of the slope, but did not see him going up. Some of the men go up the slope during working hours. Did not receive orders to stop them. Have been working as footman for four months. Never received any order to forbid men going up the slope. Never saw a notice on top of the slope. There has not been any notice there for the last four months to m}' knowledge. If there had been, I would have seen it. Have cau- tioned men about the danger of going out by way of the slope.

Lewis Phillips. David Brooks, sworn: I live in Hyde Park. Am outside foreman of the School Fund TiU3t Association mines. Was at work this morning at my usual post. Heard a man was killed about eight o'clock this morning. Saw the body of John Evans lying in the office. The officers in charge of the colliery did not allow men to travel up and down the slopes. The cause of prohibiting the men to travel on the slopes was on account of the danger of their be- ing run over by the cars. There was a notice up notifying them of the danger. Notice was put up about a year ago. Have seen men coming up the slopes since that time. Notice was put up because we received orders from Mine Inspector W. S. Jones to do so. It was a paper with notice written upon it. Think the notice remained posted up for about three or four months. Think it was destroyed by the weather. It was not re- placed, thinking that the men had sufficient warning. Think it would be better to put up a permanent notice. We have hired some new men since the notice was destroyed. I have seen men coming up the slope when it was working, and 1 told them it was forbidden to travel up and down the slopes during working hours. Never punished any one for violating those orders, and never reported the violation of the orders to the mine inspector. Did not consider it m}7 duty to report, as the men were not under my charge. Suppose it was the duty of the mine superintendent, Mr. Morgan Bowen. I reported these violations to him. It is understood by all the men that it is against the law for them to travel on the slopes, as they have all been notified. When I told Mr. Bowen about the men, he notified them that they must not do it. It is further to go around by the manway than by coming out through the slope. There were no exceptions made between company men and others as to the order not to travel on the slopes while they were working. David Brooks.

, Morgan Bowen, sworn :

I reside in Hyde Park. Am superintendent of the School Fund Asso- ciation mines. Was at the mines this morning. First thing I knew about the accident was when I came to the office and found the body of John Evans lying there. Think it was about eight o'clock. I have full charge and control of both the inside anl outside works at the mines. Knew of an order forbidding men to travel up and down the slopes while working. That order was given by mine inspector Jones, a little over a year ago. It was carried out for awhile — for several months — and when I tried to carry it out I had no trouble in doing so. Have repeatedly cautioned men

152 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

about going into the slopes, but they said they would take care of them- selves. Have seen men going into the slopes while the cai's were running. Gave orders to the footmen not to let any one travel that way. That was two or three months ago. Don't remember as I ever ordered Lewis Phil- lips to stop the men, but I did the footman before him. I never discharged a man for violating this order, but I threatened a great many. Thought those men whom I cautioned would not violate the order again, so I did not report them to the mine inspector. Told them if he knew of it they would be punished. I think it a mistaken policy to shield the men when they violate the law, and think it would rather be an act of mercy to pun- ish them when they violate the law. It would be the means of insuring discipline in the mines, and good discipline would tend to lessen the ac- cidents. Morgan Bowen.

William S. Jones, sworn : I am inspector of coal mines for the eastern district of Luzerne and Carbon counties. Was notified of this accident, at the School Fund Trust Association, about half past eight o'clock this morning. Went to the mines immediately, and found the body of John Evans lying in the com- pany's office. Was informed by Dr. II. I. Jones that the shock of the accident had killed the old gentleman, and that he had only found a frac- ture of the collar bone. I then went to my office and returned, and then descended the slope, in company with William McCoy, the driver boss, to where the body was found. I measured the distance from there to the mouth of the slope, and found it was one hundred feet; the distance to the bottom of the slope was seven hundred feet. Where Evans' was found there were three pairs of cross-timber very close together, and, it is my opinion, that the old man was standing between the two lower pairs of cross-timber — there was only just room for him there — and, I think, that when the trip was passing him he must have thought that it had passed when the second car went by him, and that he stepped out against the third car, and that the top rail of said third car struck him in the shoulder, fracturing his collar bone, and that the bumper of the car struck his leg, fracturing that also. The blow must have knocked him down between the car and the legs of the cross-timber, thus throwing the car from the track. The first sign of the car being off the track was about a yard from where the body was found. After examining the place closely I went to examine the manwa}\ Went down the slope a short distance from where the acci- dent occurred, and found that the manway crossed the slope at that place. Then I went down the manway to the foot. That part of the manway is a better traveling-way than the slope. Went thence to the pump where the old man was employed, and saw the place where an iron bolt was want- ing, and was informed, by William McCoy, that John Evans had gone out to have the bolt fixed by the blacksmith. I then examined the upper sec- tion of the manway, and found that also, for the most part, was good traveling, but I could not see much indication that it was much used. Near the outlet there were two falls, which I ordered McCoy, Brooks, and

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 153

Bowen to have cleared away. About fifteen months ago, when at this mine, I gave orders not to allow any one to ride up on loaded cars, nor to travel on these slopes while they were working, and I ordered them to put a notice up on the head to that effect, and to keep it there. The order was given to David Brooks and A. B. Stevens, who, at that time, was general manager of the mines. Some six or seven weeks ago, I wrote a letter to the Scranton Republican bearing on the same subject. I believe this acci- dent was caused by a disregard of this order on the part of John Evans himself, and on the part of the officials in charge of the mines. In my opinion, the manway is perfectly safe and a good traveling-way.

William S. Jones.

The Verdict.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, ) County of Lackawanna, City of Scranton,)

An inquisition indited and taken at the city of Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna, the 11th day of November, A. D. 1878, before me, R. K. Cranfield, an alderman, in and for said city and county, upon view of the body of John Evans, then and there lying dead, on the oath of Nicholas Washburn, John H. Powell, M. L. Blair, John Wagner, D. II. Wade, and William J. Price, good and lawful men of the county aforesaid, who, being duly sworn to inquire on the part of the Commonwealth, when, where, how, and after what manner the said John Evans came to his death, find as follows :

We, the undersigned jurors, do find that John Evans came to his death on the morning of the 1 1th day of November, A. D. 1878, by being struck, and killed by a trip of empty mine cars, which were passing down the slope of the School Fund Trust Association mines, he being coming up said slope, contrary to the orders of the mine inspector, for such cases made and provi- ded, said slope or mine being worked or belonging to the School Fund Trust Association. The jurors do further find, that the evidence in this case shows the importance and necessity of strict obedience to all orders issued by the mine inspector on the part, not only of foremen and superintendents of mines in general, but also on the part of the miners and laborers, (and all other employes,) and in view of this fact, they earnestly urge a rigid enforcement of the mine laws, as being the only means of reducing the number of accidents which occur in and around the mines.

Tn witness whereof, as well the aforesaid alderman as the jurors afore- said, have to this inquisition put their hands and seals this 11th day of November, A. D. 1878. R. K. Cranfield,

{Alderman.) acting Coroner. Nicholas Washburn, Foreman. John Wagner, John H. Powell, M. L. Blair, D. II. Wade, William J. Price.

154 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

The above verdict is the most impartial and just verdict rendered by any coroner's jury during my term, and I think they might have been a little more definite. There is a censure entered against some person or persons, but no one is named. Every one admits that the inspector had issued an order which, if it had been carried out in good faith, would have made such an accident as this absolutely impossible. It was undoubtedly Morgan Bowen, the mine superintendent's duty to enforce the order, and he frankly admits that, during the time he did enforce it, he had no trouble with the men. There was no kind of opposition made to the order when it was issued, but a ready acquiescence was given, and a cheerful promise made to the inspector, that it would be rigidly enforced. The inspector hsd a right to expect, and did expect that the promise would be fulfilled, and left the matter in the hands of the proper persons, believing that no person was allowed to disregard the order. The first knowledge he had of its violation, was attained through this sad accident.

The jury say: "That the evidence in this case shows the importance and necessity of strict obedience to all orders issued by the mine inspector, on the part not only of foremen and superintendents of mines in general, but also on the part of the miners and laborers ; and in view of this fact, they earnestly urge a rigid enforcement of the mine laws, as being the only means of reducing the number of accidents in and around the mines."

This paragraph seems to imply that the inspector ought to cause the arrest and prosecution of the officers in charge of this colliery, and I readily confess that perhaps this would be the proper course to pursue, but I have not taken action upon it, and have not yet determined what I shall do.

Explosion of Powder and Premature Blasts.

There were three fatal accidents from the above causes during the year, being eight eighty-two one hundredths per cent, of the whole number. One was from an explosion of a keg of powder, and the other two from blasts. There is great carelessness exercised by the men both in handling powder and in blasting; and it is next to impossible to convince them that they are endangering themselves and those around them. I hardly ever go through a colliery but I come upon miners making cartridges standing over their boxes, or sitting on the edge of their boxes, with their lamps hanging in their hats; and when I warn them of their danger, they answer: "We have always done so, and never had an accident yet." But some one does it for the last time every year, and it is astonishing that the men will not take warning from the sad experience of their fellows. I find the mine bosses still supreme indifferent in relation to this matter, and I often see them passing by a miner exposing himself in this manner, as unconcernedly as if he considered the practice to be the most proper one in the world. I have repeatedly ordered the miners to provide them- selves with boxes to keep their powder in, and to prepare places far enough away from the boxes to place their lamps, and never to approach

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 155

their boxes nearer than such places with their lighted 1 imps. Many have clone this at my request, but there are many more who have not done so, but persist in their old life-long practice. So long as the practice is con- tinued we will continue to have the painful duty to record these suicidal deaths as the inevitable consequence.

Accident No. 2. — John Jeffreys, a miner, employed in the Sloan shaft, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, Lackawanna township, was fatally burned, January 21, by an explosion of a keg of powder. His burns were so severe that he died the following clay. He was at his box making a cartridge, with his lamp hanging in his hat; and after passing safel}- through the imminent danger of that proceeding, he took his lamp in his hand, and taking a squib, he commenced running it back and forth through the blaze of the lamp for the purpose of drying it, and this while he was still standing over his box which contained a keg nearly full of powder. While doing this, the powder in the squib ignited, throwing sparks in all directions, some of which, as a matter of course, fell into the powder, exploding the whole keg, and burning him in a shock- ing manner from the knees to the top of his head. This unfortunate man must have been crazy to attempt to dry a squib in the blaze of his lamp, standing in this manner right over a full keg of powder; and his sad fate ought to be a warning to all those who persist in this dangerous practice. But it is to be feared that scores of them will still refuse to heed the warn- ing, and are only waiting for their turn to be hurled into eternity in the same manner.

Accident No. 28. — Thomas Owens, a miner, employed in the No. 11 shaft, Pennsylvania Coal Company, Jenkins township, was fatally injured, November 2, by an explosion of a charge of powder which* he was "drill- ing out," after failing to set off the blast. He said he had all the tamping drilled out, and he thought he had all the powder out; and after swab- bing the hole, which was a rock hole, he put in the drill and was churning it when the shot went off. He had used water when drilling out the hole, but after swabbing it out the last time he was not positive whether he put water in or not. He thought there could not have been more than an inch or two of powder remaining in the hole; but from the fearful execution of the explosion, it is very evident that there was a large quantity of powder there. Both of his arms were fearfully torn, requiring amputation, which was done the day following the accident. He died on the 6th, at five thirty, p. M., from nervous prostration, caused by the injuries he received, and by the operation of the surgeon. I think that the man's chances for living would have been better if amputation had been postponed long enough for him to recover from the fearful shock his system had received.

Accident No. 34. — Robert Roberts, a miner, employed in the No. 10 shaft, Pennsylvania Coal Company, Pittston, was killed, December 23, by the premature explosion of a blast. Roberts, with William Mahan, his partner, was opening a chamber, and had driven an entrance sixteen feet

156 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

wide into the solid for twenty feet. He was in the act of firing a blast in the left corner of this entrance when the blast exploded almost instantly on his lighting the match. He had not gone above two or three steps when he was struck on the right side, just above the hip, and extending to the small of the back, by a huge lump of coal from the blast. His whole side was terribly injured, and he was no doubt fearfully injured internally, from the effect of which he died within two hours.

There is a mystery connected with this case which I have been utterly unable to solve satisfactorily. Roberts was said to be a very careful work- man, and yet it seems impossible for such an accident to happen in such a favorable place without its being the result of great carelessness. The working place was entirely clear of powder smoke, and he had only eight yards to go to turn a corner, where he would have been perfectly safe. He had every chance to get away, and he must have made an unreasonably quick match or he could have got away with ease. It is probable that in lighting the match he may have set fire to the straw or squib ; and I am very suspicious that he made his match with kerosene oil, and that it was quicker than he anticipated. I admit that there is no direct evidence that kerosene was used, but the presumptive evidence is strong that such was the case.

Accidents from Blasting through Pillars.

No person was killed during the year through this cause, though three men very narrowly excaped with their lives, and four others were slightly injured ; and in every instance it was through the most inexcusable care- lessness and negligence of the miner firing the blast. It is most astonish- ing that the miners can be so reckless of the lives of their neighbors, that they will fire blast breaking through pillars without giving warning to those working on the opposite side, but it is true nevertheless. Every one of the accidents which I have to report from this cause during 1878, was the result of this inhuman recklessness. In the case of William Mahan, who was very seriously injured in the Meadow Brook shaft, Jan- uary 11, by a blast thus fired in a cross-heading through a pillar without warning, by John Dougherty, I felt it to be my duty to cause the arrest of the offender. He was brought before Alderman I. L. Post, and held to bail for his appearance at court to answer for his negligence ; but the case was subsequently withdrawn at the earnest solicitation of Mahan. Dough- erty paid the costs, and paid Mahan's doctor bill, and is indebted to the generosity of Mahan entirely for his good fortune in escaping fine and imprisonment.

Accidents from Miscellaneous Causes.

There were three deaths from miscellaneous causes during the year. One supposed to have been kicked by a mule, one from coal flying from a run- away on a slope, and one by drowning.

Accident No. 7. — Evan Llewellyn, a driver, employed in the No. 5 shaft, Pennsylvania Coal Company, Jenkins township, was found lying by the

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines 151

side of the track, in the mines, April 10, in a dying condition. He had hitched his mule to a trip of loaded cars, and was heard urging the mule to go on by Sidney Monk, another driver, who was close behind with an- other trip. Llewellyn's mule started on, and Monk supposed that every- thing was all right, and followed after, and did not miss Llewellyn until he was a long distance on his way out, where he met Benjamin Ilavard, who was engaged at some work by the roadside. When Llewellyn's mule passed Havard he saw that there was no driver with it, but supposed he was back with the other driver ; but when the other driver came up to him he saw that Llewellyn was not with him, and he asked Monk where Llew- ellyn was. Monk answered that he had gone out ahead with his trip, but Havard said, "no, he has not gone out;" and fearing that there was some- thing wrong, he stopped both mules and ran back to where the trip was started from, and there he found the boy lying by the roadside, writhing in intense agony. He died as he was being carried home, and without giving any information relative to the manner by which he was injured.

I must say that I am not satisfied with the investigation had in this case, and I feel that an inquest should have been held, but the company officials did not notify the coroner, as the law requires. No surgical examination was made, though I ordered the friends of the boy to have a post mortem examination made, hoping to clear up the mystery surrounding the case in that manner. They promised me that this should be done before the remains should be buried, but for some reason that is to me as much of a mjstery as the accident itself, nothing of the kind was done. It is sup- posed that he was kicked by the mule, but I am not satisfied that such was the case. The mystery, however, must remain unsolved.

Accident No. 14 John Gardner, a mine carpenter, employed in the

No. 1 tunnel, Pennsylvania Coal Company, Pittston, was fatally injured August 14, by coal flying from two cars of a trip which had run away, through the breaking of a coupling, between the first and second car of the trip. The trip had been hoisted about one fourth of the distance up the slope, when the coupling parted, and as the dip of the slope is about thirty-three degrees, the cars, when they struck the level at the bottom, were shattered into fragments, and the coal was thrown for over fifty feet, striking Gardner in the legs, and crushing him under an empty car, by the side of which he was standing. The flesh of his left leg was torn in a shock- ing manner, and the bone was also badly shattered. The accident occurred at four o'clock P. m. ; at six o'clock, Doctors O'Malley and Gorman am- putated the injured limb, and at ten o'clock the poor man died.

Now, with the greatest respect for the learned doctors, I desire to say, that from the experience that I have, it is my firm conviction, that when a person requires a limb taken off, that the operation should not be per- formed until after the system has recovered from the shock it has received from the accident. The chances for saving a person's life are very slim, in nearby every case where an operation is performed so soon upon the suf-

158 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

ferer, and it is my humble opinion, that such haste in using the knife, de- stroj'S the chances persons may have to live. It may seem impertinent in me to presume to advise professionals, but perhaps my presumption will be pardoned, when I assure the gentlemen, that I have witnessed the effect of all kinds of treatment in critical cases of this kind, and that I have in- variably found the most favorable results to follow, where as much time is given for the system to recover from the shock it has received as possible. There are a few doctors in my district, who seem to hold the same views that I do, or at least, they follow the practice that I here advise, and it is but justice to them to say, that they are very successful in saving the lives of their patients.

But to return to the accident. What we need, is something to prevent these runaways. In some slopes, drags are attached to the hind axle cf the cars, made of two inch square iron, which are let down at the foot of the slopes, and when the coupling breaks or the rope parts, these drags will hold the cars, or instantly throw them from the track. I have advised this plan adopted on all slopes, and if my advice is followed, I feel sure that there will be less accidents from runaways on slopes in the future. These drags will operate in slopes on the same principle as the safety catches on carriages in shafts do. But the operators are very reluctant to act on any suggestion advanced by the inspector, even when it is re- quired by the very letter of the law in plain terms, and they are still less willing to do .anything suggested, if they can persuade themselves that the law does not express require it. It may be some time before I can induce all the operators to adopt this simple contrivance, to insure the safety of their employes, and to insure the safety of their own property, and I have grave apprehension that more lives and limbs mint be sacri- ficed before this is accomplished.

Accident No. 19. — Frank Fassold, a driver employed in the Pine Brook shaft, Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company, Scranton, was drowned, Sep- tember 4, by the Pine brook breaking into the mouth of the Fairlawn slopp, thence into the lower workings of the Pine Brook shaft. This ex- traordinary flood in the Pine brook was caused by unusual heavy rain during the night of September 3, and during the forenoon of the 4th, and by the smallness of several culverts through which the water must pass. There were three of these culverts — one running under Washington ave- nue, one under the main tract of the Delaware and Hudson railroad, and one below that, put in by the Lackawanna Iron and Coal Company — all of which had been choked up with stumps, old logs, and other rubbish, so that the water could not pass through. While the culvert under the Del- aware and Hudson road and the one below it were choked up in this man- ner, the culvert at Washington avenue, having also been choked up for some time, causing the accumulation of a small sized lake of water, gave way, and a gap several yards wide was washed away of the avenue, letting that great body of water down on the culvert below the Fairlawn slope,

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors or Mines. 159

raising the water there for twenty feet above the bed of the brook. This was considerable higher than the mouth of the slope, and the mouth of the slope being in a bend of the brook, the fl >od rushed down the slope, as a matter of course, in torrents, sweeping away every barrier, including the timbering at the mouth of the slope for several yards, or until the solid rock was reached. The water thus made for itself a new channel, so that the force of the current kept rushing down the slope like a deluge, for the greater part of the afternoon, notwithstanding every effort made to pre- vent it.

I was not notified of the inundation from either colliery, but I heard of it within two hours after, and hastened to the scene of the disaster. On reaching the Fairlawn slope, I found the body of the Pine brook rushing down the slope like a deluge. I immediately sought John Hosie, Esquire, and inquired of him relative to the safety of the men in his slope, and he assured me that all his employe's were safe, having found their way out through the second opening, belonging to the Pine Brook shaft. 1 then sought Charles F. Mattes, Esquire, of whom I inquired relative to the safety of the employes in the Pine Brook shaft workings, and I was as- sured by him also that the employes in his charge were safe. But in a few minutes a rumor reached me that there was a boy missing in the Pine Brook shaft, and I hastened to the head of said shaft, where I met Rees R. Griffiths, of whom, upon inquiring, I learned that a boy named Prank Fassold was in the shaft, and that the last seen of him was on the dip road struggling for his life against the flood. I was informed that John B. Davies, a miner, was the last to see him, and upon finding Davies I learned that Fassold and another boy were clinging to his clothes, as he was strug- gling against the flood coming down the dip road, but that when within a few yards of the top of the dip he lost his footing and fell into the torrent, when Fassold lost his hold on him, and was swept away into the dark abyss, and was lost.

On learning these facts, I ordered safety lamps prepared, and informed Griffiths, the mine boss, that I wanted him to go with me into the mines to find the boy ; and, after examining the map of the mines to ascertain the location of the dip workings, where the boy was supposed to be, Rees G. Griffiths, Rees G. Brooks, Job Davies, and myself hastened in through the second opening, and entered cautiously to the head of the dip road, and down said road until we found the lifeless body of the unfortunate boy, wedged tight under the " T " iron track. The water at this time had ceased running in that direction, having found a shoiter and more direct course to the dip, by washing stoppings away nearer the foot of the main shaft. But the indications were that the current had been terribly strong and swift, for it had swept the road bed and raised the track from its place, carrying sections of that away.

After bringing the body of the boy to the surface, Alderman C. W. Roesler was summoned to act as coroner, who, upon reaching the ground,

160 Reports of tiie Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

selected a jur}T from the bystanders, and instituted an inquest. Messrs. John and James Hosie, Ilees R. Griffiths, John B. Davies, William Mc- Coy, and John Troester were sworn by the acting coroner, and from the evidence adduced, the jury found the following strange and unwarranted verdict.

The Verdict.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

' y ss: Lackawanna County, Scranton City,)

An inquisition indented and taken at Scranton, in the county of Lacka- wanna, on the 4th day of September, A. D. 1878, before me, Charles W. Roesler, acting coroner, as provided by the act of May 2*7, 1841, upon the body of Frank Fassold, then and there lying dead. Upon the oaths of William II. McGarrah, James 0. Brown, Terrence Kearney, Jacob Wal- ters, Ferdinand Frey, and Richard McCoy, good and lawful men of the county aforesaid, who, being sworn and affirmed to inquire on the part of the Commonwealth, when, where, how, and after what manner the said Frank Fassold came to his death. After careful examination of the witnesses and the parties present, do say that the said Frank Fassold, on the 4th day of September, in the year aforesaid, at Scranton, in the county aforesaid, came to his death by drowning in the flooding of the Pine Brook mines, caused by a culvert on Washington avenue, in said city, giving way, sending a large body of water and drift wood down, causing the water to back up at a culvert running under the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company's railroad, a short distance below the mouth of Fauiawn slope. The water being backed suddenty, broke through and washed away the mouth of the Fairlawn slope, causing a flood of water to run down said slope, and thence following to the Pine Brook mines.

We find that John Hosie gave prompt warning to his men at the Fair- lawn mines, and to the mine boss at Pine Brook mines. And also that Rees 11. Griffiths, mine boss at the Pine Brook mines, gave prompt warn- ing to his men. And according to the evidence heard, we exonerate Mr. John Hosie, of the Fairlawn mines, and Rees R. Griffiths, of the Pine Brook mines, and verily believe that they did all in their power to save the lives of the inmates of said mines, and the said Frank Fassold came to his death by accident and by misfortune, and not otherwise.

In witness whereof, as well the aforesaid acting coroner, as the jurors aforesaid, have to this inquisition put their hands and seals, on the day and year, and at the place first above mentioned.

Charles W. Roesler,

Alderman, acting Coroner.

William H. McGarrah, Foreman,

James 0. Brown,

Terrence Kearney,

Jacob Walters,

Ferdinand Frey,

Richard McCoy, Jurors.

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 161

This jury find "that Frank Fassold came to his death by accident and misfortune, and not otherwise." The manner of his death was " by drown- ing in the Pine Brook mines," and if these gentlemen of the jury know themselves, they believe no one is to blame for his untimely death. The}' " verily believe that John Hosie gave prompt warning to the men in the Fairlawn mines, and to the mine boss of the Pine Brook mines." So far as Mr. Hosie is concerned, the finding of the jury is correct. But they find, " also, that Rees R. Griffiths, mine boss at the Pine Brook mines, gave prompt warning to his men in said mines," and that he, as well as Mr. Hosie, " did all in his power to save the lives of the inmates of said mines."

Now, so far as the finding of the jury relates to Rees R. Griffiths, the mine boss at the Pine Brook shaft, I cnnnot hesitate for a moment to take exception to it as unwarranted by the evidence, and as being directly contrary to the facts. And I hereby challenge the coroner, or any one of the six sworn jurymen, to point to the first syllable of evidence going to show that Rees R. Griffiths ever gave warning, or ever caused any one else to give warning to the men under his charge in the Pine Brook shaft at all. He neither warned them of the danger himself, nor did he send any one else to warn them. All that he did was to send his fire boss to open a way for the Fairlawn men to come through into the old workings of the Pine Brook shaft, and the fire boss was fully competent to do that, and did do it. But Rees R. Griffiths, according to his own testimony, must needs follow the fire boss where he was not wanted, when he had about thbty-five lives in far greater danger than the men of the Fairlawn, in that fatal "dip " under his own immediate charge, for whose safety he did literally nothing, not even sending any one to warn them.

The first warning these men had that there was anything wrong, was that the air-current was not traveling regular, which was caused by the rushing waters destroying doors and stoppings in its course; and as the " dip workings " generated large quantities of gas, some of the men having noticed the trouble in the air, called to their companions, saying: "We had better get out of this, for the air is not traveling as it ought." This is what started the men out of that perilous dip, and on their way they were met by the water rushing down the main dip i*oad in fearful torrents, against which they were compelled to battle for their lives. This deluge of water which was allowed to sweep down upon these men was what swept little Frank Fassold before its fury, and engulfed him on that dip road. And if it had not been that an observant miner had noticed the disturbance in the ventilation, we would, beyond all doubt, have the pain- ful duty of recording the destruction of many more lives, through what I must term as the most inexcusable stupidity of Rees R. Griffiths, the mine boss.

Griffiths has never claimed that he warned his men, but has always ad- mitted that they were not warned, and he admitted this under oath at the 11 — Mine Rep.

162 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

inquest, and how the jury could find such a verdict is to me the most pro- found mystery. Those who heard the evidence will remember the ridicu- lous excuse he gave to account for his neglect. His excuse was that he misunderstood the warning he received from the lips of William McCoy, who was sent to him by Mr. Hosie to tell him that the Pine brook had broken into the Fairlawn slope. William McCoy said ; " The creek has broken into the Fairlawn slope!" And Griffiths said that he understood McCoy to say: " The quick has broken into the slope,'' by which he meant "quicksand." But there was no quick to break into the slope, and Mc- Coy's pronunciation of "creek" was so distinct that nothing but the grossest stupidity could have misunderstood him. He did not manifest any desire to know what the trouble was, for McCoy's uncontradicted testimony proves conclusively that he made no inquiry whatever relative to the " quick " or anything else. McCo}T said : "I thought he was taking things very easy," and there is no doubt but he was.

Now, I desire to assert that there was plenty of time, after R. R. Grif- fiths was notified by McCoy of the danger, to get every soul in the Pine Brook dip workings out of peril before the water from the Fairlawn reached said working, and that there was no cause for this unfortunate boy to lose his life excepting the inexcusable neglect of Griffiths, the whitewashing finding of the coroner's inquest to the contrary notwith- standing. I am very sorry to be obliged to differ with coroners' juries in this manner, but I cannot see how I can do otherwise. The truth should be brought out in these investigations or the law will be a farce. I here- in enclose a draft of the flooding of the mines on the surface, and also sections of the workings of Fairlawn and Pine Brook workings, showing the flooding inside of the mines.

Fatal Accidents on the Surface.

There were six lives lost during the year by accidents on the surface, being seventeen and six tenths per cent, of the whole number. Two were killed by machinery in breakers ; one kicked to death by a mule ; one crushed to death by mine cars breaking through tresling ; one crushed to death between cars and breaker chute; and one killed by mine cars on an outside plane.

Accident No. 3 — William Van Buskirk, a slate picker, employed at the Taylor shaft breaker, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Com- pany, Taylorville, was instantly killed, February 9, by his head being crushed in the pony screen. The boy had been sent into the " hopper " at the upper end of the screen, immediately after the day's work was done, to scrape out the culm that had accumulated there during the da}r, so that it might not freeze fast there during the night. He had done this work and was getting away through the screen, and was getting out at the lower end of the screen, with his body outside, when the engine was started by the engineer, and the arm of the screen caught his head against the timber, fracturing his skull and killing him instantly. The engineer was

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Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors op Mines. 163

not notified when the boys were sent into the "hopper," and it was an outrage in any case, in my opinion, to send boys into such a place. There was not even the plea of necessity to justify the sending of boys in there, for the work could easily be done without thus putting the boys in danger of their lives. A long-handled scraper in the hands of a boy standing entirely out of danger would have done the work effectually. On exam- ining into the case, I felt that there was great blame resting somewhere, and as the most proper means of placing the blame where it rightly be- longed, I requested Esquire E. E. Aston to act as coroner, summon a jury, and to hold an inquest in the case, which was accordingly done.

The Inquest.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,) Luzerne County, Taylorville, )

Testimony elicited on behalf of the Commonwealth, during an inquisi- tion held at the office of E. E. Aston, (J. P.,) acting coroner, in and for Luzerne county, touching the death of one William Van Buskirk, a boy twelve years of age, who came to his death in one of the screens in the Taylor breaker, on Saturday evening, February 9, 1878. John Cooper, sworn :

I am outside superintendent of the Taylor mines. Was so acting on Saturday, February 9, 1818. Saw the body of William Van Buskirk lying dead. Was in the office at the mines at the time the accident occurred. Alfred Randall first told me there was a boy fast in the screen. I never gave any one orders to clean the screens or hoppers. Never saw any boy cleaning the hopper. The breaker bosses make a practice of putting boys to clean the hoppers. Do not consider it necessary to go into the hoppers to clean them. Do not know of any boy being discharged for refusing to go in when ordered by the breaker boss. Whatever the breaker boss re- quires the boys to do, they are expected to do. Peter Jones' boy was sent home for disobeying orders. Did not tell the breaker bosses not to let the boys go in and clean the hoppers. Alfred Randall's duty is to clean the upper hoppers. Do not know whether he was called upon to clean the others. The scrapers used are not intended for the cleaning out of the hoppers. If the boys objected to going into the hoppers, when told to do so by the breaker bosses, I suppose they would be sent home. We allow a breaker boss to discharge a br>y, if he does not do as he is told. I can- not see any danger in going into the hopper, when the screen is standing. Saw borne of the scrapers this morning. They can be made to any length by order of the breaker boss. Do not think it necessary for boys to go into the hopper at all, as they can be cleaned without their going in. My son Harry keeps the time of the boys employed. Do not know as the boys get extra pay or not for cleaning hoppers. The engine was never started to my knowledge, when repairing was being done.

John Cooper.

164 Repobts op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

Thomas Duffy, sivorn : I am a breaker boss at the Taylor mines. Have charge of some slate pickers. I ordered William Tan Buskirk to go in and clean the hopper, after the whistle blew "all over." Did not notify the engineer when the boys were cleaning the hopper. Am not in the habit of notifying the en- gineer. They clean the hopper every night, in the winter only. Do not think there is any danger to go in to clean the hopper. Do not order the boys in when the breaker engine is running, but always forbid them. Have no scraper long enough to clean the hopper without going in. Never asked for a long handled scraper. I discharged one boy, named Evan Jones, for refusing to go to clean the hopper. He could not reach far enough with the scraper without going in. Do not give any pay to the boys for this extra work. Mr. Cooper hires the boys. I order the boys to do what is required, and if they refuse to do what I ask of them, they are likely to be discharged by me. I never saw the engine started up be- fore, after quitting time. There is a signal bell in the engine-room, with connection by wire to the screen-room. Never notified the engineer when boys were sent into the hopper. A ten-feet scraper would answer all pur- poses without getting into the hopper.

Thomas Duffy.

John Judge, sworn : I am a breaker boss at the Taylor mines. Have been in that position five or six years. Was such on Saturday last. It has been the custom for boys to go into the hoppers to clean them. Had orders from Mr. Cooper to see that this was done. It is safe to send boys in if they will take care of themselves. Mr. Cooper said I could clean it with a scraper, and I have cleaned it without going in. A man can clean it with the scrapers we now have from the outside, without going in. The hopper is cleaned every night when it is freezing, but no other time. It is not cus- tomary for me to notify the breaker engineer when the boys are sent in. Never notified the present engineer. Never notified Alfred Randall to rino- the bell to warn the engineer not to stai't the engine when the boys were in the hopper. Never discharged any boy for refusing to go in. When they refused, I did it myself. If any one should happen tolip while in the hopper he might fall into the screen. A long iron scraper would do away with the necessity of going in. The scrapers we have now are not lono- enough. Can have any length I ask. The screen was started up once

before, by another engineer, after quitting time.

John Judge.

Sheppard Snow, sivorn : I am breaker engineer at the Taylor mines. Have been engineer for two years, always running the same engine. I ran the breaker engine on Satur- day last. Stopped as soon as the coal was out of the screens. Have never been notified to stop when boys were in the hoppers. The engine stood still for about four minutes before I started it up. Saw that it was stopped

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 165

on the center, but I had to grease it. Took her off center, and greased her afterwards. Have stopped her on the center often before, and 1 get her off the center as soon as possible. The engine did not make a full revo- lution at this particular time. They notify me only when the carpenters go into the hoppers, but I never was notified when the boys were sent in, by the breaker bosses nor any one else.

Sheppard Snow.

Alfred Randall, sworn: I am oiler of machinery at the Taylor breaker. Have worked at this over three years. I also clean coggs, and have two hoppers above to at- tend to. It is not my duty to attend to signals from the breaker bosses. Have to clean my own hoppers when required. Did not clean them Sat- urday. I clean them from the outside. Do not need to go into the hop- pers to the large screens. I helped the engineer to move the engine when she was on the center. Had hold of the lever, but could not stop her right away. I do not think it safe for the boys to go into the hoppers. I told Duffy, the breaker boss, that the hopper had to be cleaned. Told him this because it was customary for them to be cleaned. Had no orders to tell him. I have run the breaker engine myself for two weeks, when the engineer was sick. I knew then that the boys were in the habit of going into the hoppers, but I never received any notice when the boys were sent in to clean them. I did not know that they were in on Saturday evening. When I am told to ring the bell, I do so.

Alfred Randall.

Patrick Donnelly, examined: I am a slate picker at the Taylor breaker. Am about ten years old. Have worked not quite one month. Work the same side Thomas Duffy is bossing. Duffy told me to go in the hopper on Saturday evening last. I was afraid to go in, but had to go for fear of being stopped. Duffy or- dered me to go in. He said he would stop me if I did not go in and clean the hopper. I came down through the screen with William Van Buskirk. If we had come out the way we went in, we would have been all right. Never went through the screen before. We made it up to go down for fun.

Patrick Donnelly.

James Sullivan, examined: I am thirteen years old. Am employed dumping boxes in the screen- room of the Taylor breaker. Was there on Saturday last, and worked until quitting time. Had just started out when I heard halloing. Went back, and met Patrick Donnelly, who told me there was a boy killed in the screen. Never heard boys say they were afraid to go into the hop- pers. We were ordered in by John Judge, the breaker boss ©n the other side. I once came down through the screen myself, but I never did after that. Was afraid they would start up, and they did start up just as I got out of the hopper. Evan Jones and Johnny Prosser were sent home by

166 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

Thomas Duffy for refusing to clean the hopper. We got no extra pay for this extra work.

James Sullivan.

The Verdict.

An inquisition indented and taken at Taylorville, in the county of Lu- zerne, the 12th day of February, 1878, before me, E. E. Aston, (justice of the peace,) acting coroner of the county aforesaid, upon the view of the body of William Van Buskirk, then and there lying dead. Upon the oaths of John B. Daniels, John Weber, junior, John E. Davies, Morgan M. Wil- liams, John W. Houser, and Ira C. Atherton, good and lawful men of the county aforesaid, who, being sworn to inquire, on the part of the Com- monwealth, when, where, how, and after what manner the sai I William Van Buskirk came to his death, do say, upon their oaths, that the said William Van Buskirk came to his death by accident. But we find a cer- tain amount of carelessness and negligence, on the part of some of the superintendents of the Taylor breaker, by not furnishing scrapers of suffi- cient length to avoid the necessity of boys being compelled to go into some certain hoppers, connected with the screens of said breaker, to clean said hoppers.

In witness whereof, .as well the aforesaid acting coroner, as the jurors aforesaid, have to this inquisition put their hands and seals, on the day and year, and at the place first above mentioned.

E. E. Aston, Justice of the Peace, acting Coroner. John B. Daniels, Foreman, John Weber, junior, John E. Davies, Morgan M. Williams, John W. Houser, Ira C. Atherton, Jurors. It will be seen that the jury found "a certain amount of carelessness and negligence, on the part of some of the superintendents." This seems to imply a censure on somebody, but " some of the superintendents " is too indefinite. But, as there is but one superintendent at the breaker, we must conclude that he is the party referred to, and there can be no doubt but that conclusion is the correct one.

From the testimony of Duffy, one of the breaker bosses, and that of the boys, it is very evident that the boys were afraid to go into that danger- ous trap, and that they went only because the penalty for refusing to go was a summary discharge. Two boys had been discharged, and the little fellows knew that the same penalty would be visited on them also, if they dared to disobey the inhuman order of their cruel boss. And all this tyranny and cruel oppression was exercised, where there was not the least shadow of necessity for it, as all readily admit.

Accident No. 13. — Patrick Leonard, a teamster, in the employ of the

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors op Mines. 167

Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, was found in the mule barn belonging to the Bellevue shaft and slope, August 12, in a dying condition. It is supposed that he was either kicked or crushed by a frac- tious mule belonging to his team. He was putting in his team for dinner, and was in the stall with the mules, when he was heard yelling excitedly to the mules by James Ratchford and Matthew McCarthy. These men also heard noise as if the mules were kicking, and they both ran to see what was the matter, and on reaching the spot they found Leonard lying on his face, between the mules in the stall. He did not speak, so that no information could be derived from him in relation to the manner of his being injured, and he died in a few hours after being conveyed to his home, with the mystery unexplained. He was living with his aged mother, whose only support he was, his father and two brothers having died of violent deaths in different ways before.

It does not seem just or fair to charge an accident of this kind to mining coal, for it has no more connection with the working of a colliery than if it had been a teamster belonging to a merchant which furnished supplies to the mines.

Accident No. 16. — John Dichmiller, a mason, employed building a cul- vert under a trestling, belonging to a road connecting the Pierce colliery, in Archbald, with the breaker in Winton borough, was instantly killed August 19, by coal cars breaking through the ti'estling, pitching a whole car load of coal upon him, fracturing his skull. The Pierce colliery is three miles distant from the breaker, where the coal is prepared for market, and the coal is transported from the mines, to the breaker over a narrow gauge track, which has a descent from the mines to the trestling, which is mid- way between the mines and breaker, of one hundred and eighty-seven and a half feet, or one hundred and twenty-five feet to the mile ; but the actual grade for the half of the road nearest the mines is much heavier than this, and these figures only give the average. The coal, therefore, runs from the mines to the breaker by gravity, and a mine locomotive is used to haul back the empties. On the morning of the accident, a trip consisting of thirteen loaded mine cars was started down this heavy grade, and just as it started, twelve of the cars broke away from the locomotive, and rushed down the grade with fearful velocity, with only one brakeman in charge, and became utterly unmanageable. The brakeman, finding that he could not control the trip, because the brakes would not stay down, on account of the catches failing to hold them, jumped off to save his life. Then the flying cars rushed on with ever increasing velocity, until they came to the trestling under which Dichmiller and several other men were work- ing. Just before striking the trestling, there is a very sharp curve which extends for several yards on to the trestling itself, and as the cars came thundering along, Griffith Williams, the boss mason, heard their fearful noise, and as he looked up he saw them rushing upon them, and cried out to his men to " clear out of the way," and ran himself, at the same time,

108 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

for a place of safety. Dichmiller attempted to follow him, but had not gone above five yards, when a whole car load of coal was dumped upon him, killing him instantly.

Griffith Williams made a mistake in running on the wrong side of the curve, drawing Dichmiller to follow him, and he also had a very narrow escape. It would have been safer to stay where they were, under the center of the trestling, than to run in the direction they did, and if they had remained where they were, they would have escaped unhurt. The other men ran in the opposite direction, and escaped uninjured.

It was the height of madness to attempt to run a trip of thirteen cars down that heavy grade with but one brakeman to manage it. But I was assured that there were two employed by the operators, but where the second one was, or who he was, I have never been able to learn. And the catches to hold down the brakes were not what they should have been, nor were there brakes enough in the trip to hold it, five only out of the thir- teen cars having brakes on. This is an unusual accident connected with mining coal, and should not be charged to the business.

Accident No. 22 — John Ousey, "car patcher," employed at the No. 6 breaker, Pennsylvania Coal Company, Dunmoie, was killed September 21, by being crushed between big cars and the breaker chutes. Ousey was running cars down a grade under the chutes, and had put down the brake on one car, then ran to another brake, and was in the act of putting that down, when he came in contact with the bottom of the chute, which pro- jects for some distance over the cars, and was knocked back on to the top railing of another car behind him, wedging him fast between said railing and the bottom of the chute. He was caught across the bod}T, above the hips, and suffered a disruption of the bowels, from which he died.

Accident No. 30. — George L. Smith, a track boss, employed at the Greenwood mines, Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Company, Lackawanna township, was instantly killed Iovember 11, b}r a trip of loaded cars on an outside plane near the breaker. A few minutes before he was killed he was in the breaker engine-house, where he had swallowed a dose of some kind of a drug. He then went out, and walked up the plane on the side upon which the empty trip was to ascend. When about midway on the plane he saw the empty trip coming, and stepped over on the other track immediately in front of the loaded trip, which was descending. A laborer working close by saw his danger, and called to him to get out of the way, and the footman and a boy also saw him, and called out to him loudly. But he paid no attention to any of them, but stood still until the loaded cars struck him down, crushing him to death. The cries of the men, calling to him to warn him of his peril, were so loud, that the brake- man at the wheel on the head heard them, and stopped the trip, but he failed to stop it quick enough to save him. He seemed to be entirely stupefied, and I cannot rid myself of the impression that the unfortunate man deliberately committed suicide.

Outline Drawing

Of The

Spring Brook Breaker operate: d By the

Hill Side Coal and Iron Co.

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 169

Accident No. 32. — Thomas Garrett, a slate picker, employed at the Spring Brook colliery, Hillside Coal and Iron Compan}', Moosic, was in- stantly killed November 22, by being crushed in the pony rolls, into which he fell through a trap door in the top of the box inclosing the rolls, which had been opened by order of Enis McDonald, the breaker boss. The box inclosing the rolls was only about a foot above the level of the floor, and the boys, as they passed from one side of the room to the other, used to pass over it. The door in the top of the box was never to be opened, ex- cepting when the rolls would be choked or blocked by too much coal, in which case it was to be opened for the purpose of removing the coal, so that the rolls would start again. The law requires that all machinery shall be fenced off or otherwise made safe, and the superintendent had repeatedly ordered McDonald never to allow this door to be opened but for the pur- pose aforesaid. But in utter disregard of this order, and contrary to law, McDonald frequently directed and ordered the door to be opened by the boys under his charge, for the purpose of shoveling coal through it into the rolls, instead of into the chute leading to the rolls. McDonald admits that the order of the superintendent had been disobeyed by him for from three to four years, and it is passing strange that some one had not stepped into the rolls long before this.

In view of the fearful and aggravated criminality of the offense, I caused the arrest of the offender, and had him brought before Alderman I. L. Post, Scranton, who, upon hearing the case, put McDonald under bonds to appear at court to answer. The case has not yet been disposed of, owing to the erection of the new county of Lackawanna, which has for a time interfered with our court business.

The boy went in feet first and was drawn into the rolls, crushing his legs and the lower part of his body in a horrid manner, his body choking the rolls so that the belt running them slipped on the pulley. On my ex- amination, I found that there was no engineer in charge of the breaker engine, and that the engine was not stopped for several minutes after the boy fell in. See draft.

Explosions of Carbureted Hydrogen Gas.

I take great pleasure in reporting that there has been no serious explo- sion of carbureted hydrogen gas within this district during the last year. No person has lost his life, and no person was seriously injured, and but five persons have suffered injury whatever from this cause, and the injury received these was but very slight burns. It has been my firm conviction from the time I first assumed the duties of an inspector that there is no reason why this deadly enemy of the miners cannot be held under absolute control. I have held that the mine ventilation act pro- vides for " an adequate amount of pure air to dilute the gas and carry it off." It requires as much "pure air as circumstances may require, which shall be circulated through to the face of each and every working-place throughout the entire mine, to dilute and render harmless and expel there-

1T0 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

from the noxiou3, poisonous gases to such an extent that the entire mine shall be in a fit state for men to work therein and be free from danger to the health and lives of the men, &c, and all workings shall be kept clear of standing gas." This provides for sufficient ventilation for " each and every working-place," to keep them clear of gas. It does not contem- plate any way but through ventilation to keep the mines clar of gas, and the amount of pure air must be sufficient to dilute the gas and " render it harmless." Hence, allowing gas to accumulate in the working-places, and then dislodging it by the old process of "brushing out the gas " is plainly prohibited. The process of " brushing out the gas" does not dilute it, but simply carries it off in a body with the current of air, so that it is ever in clanger of coming in contact with a naked light. For this reason I am striving to induce all parties to discontinue the dangerous custom of "brushing out the gas." It is still practiced in some collieries, however, but, as a rule, my advice in this respect is generally followed.

Another custom was to slacken the speed of the ventilators during the night, and this practice I have tried to break up ; but my orders regard- ing it as yet are only partially carried out. Some of the colliery man- agers refuse to do this, and those collieries are the only ones where gas is found lodged in the working-places in the mornings by the fire bosses, when making their morning rounds. This ought not to be, and if my in- structions are carried out in good faith, with the proper circulation of the necessary amount of air to the face of the workings, no lodgments of gas need ever be found in the mornings. The reasons advanced for non-com- pliance with my orders in this matter are entirely unsatisfactory. It is claimed, for instance, that the keeping up of the current at its full velocity during the night would cause the main shafts, which are generally down- casts, to freeze, so that the carriages would not run in the mornings when work would resume. This is true, unless measures are adopted to prevent the shafts from freezing. If the shafts are properly lined, the water can be easily kept out of the carriage ways ; but in most cases there is no lining in the shafts, and whatever water escapes from the strata falls into the shaft and upon the buntons and carriage guides, and in such cases the guides must freeze, as a matter of course. But the remedy is easily ap- plied by an outla}r of a few dollars. In addition to lining the shaft, steam pipes might be put in to keep the temperature above the freezing point. It is the disposition to do this that is wanting, and not the ability to do it. I am pleased to bar testimony, however, to the cheerful compliance to these orders rendered on the part of many of the mine managers in this district, and I hope to be successful in convincing all that these precau- tions are absolutely necessary, if we desire to avoid accidents from explo- sions of gas.

Falling into a Shalt.

Accident Xo. 1. — An unknown man. a tramp, was found dead at the bottom of the Taylor shaft, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 171

Company, Taylorville, on the morning of January 7, having fallen from the top of the shaft sometime during the previous night. His body was fearfully crushed, the ribs and back broken into many pieces, his right arm was broken at the shoulder, and the left leg was fractured. The breaker building, inclosing the top of the shaft, was all closed, and the landing of the shaft had gates inclosing it, about five feet high, and the man had to climb over this inclosure to get into the shaft. The carriage was left standing, during the night, about midway in the shaft, and he fell on top of the carriage, and wh-n the carriage was lowered to the bottom he rolled off, and was found as already stated. He must have fallen in early in the night, for the body was frozen into a solid mass. The night was very cold, and the probability is that he entered toe breaker building in search of a warm place to spend the night, and that he was climbing over these inclosures on his way, as he thought, to the boiler-room. An inquest was held, and the following verdict rendered :

The Verdict.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,) County of Luzerne, Taylorville, )

An inquisition indented and taken at the Taylor mines, Lackawanna township, in said county, the 7th day of January, 1878, before me, E. E. Aston, (justice of the peace,) acting coroner, of the county aforesaid, upon the view of the body of an unknown man then and there lying dead. Upon the oaths of A. Woodworth, Ira Atherton, William Halstead, John Weber, junior, Jonn Wizenflue, and J. W. Houser, good and lawful men of the county aforesaid, who, being sworn to inquire, on the part of the Com- monwealth, when, where, how, and after what manner the said "unknown man" came to his death, do say, that the said "unknown man " came to his death by accidently falling into the Taylor shaft, belonging to the Del- aware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, sometime during the night of January 6, 1878.

In witness whereof, as well the aforesaid acting coroner, as the jurors aforesaid, have to this inquisition put their hands and seals, on the day and year, and at the place first above mentioned.

E. E. Aston, Justice of the Peace, acting Coroner. A. Woodworth, Foreman, Ira Atherton, William Halstead, John Weber, junior, John Wizenflue, J. W. Houser, Jurors.

Explosion of Ga§ in the Mines.

The whole civilized world is periodically startled from center to circum- ference with the terrible shock of oft-repeated explosions of carbureted

172 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

hydrogen gas in the coal mines, and with the heart-rending news that hun- dreds of human beings have been sacrificed to this fearful Moloch. The world shudders when the news of these terrific explosions is flashed on the wings of lightning from continent to continent, but there is no one, apparently, who inquires why these explosions occur, for it seems to be the universal opinion that they are unavoidable, and that there is no means within the power of man to pi-event them. It seems to be the universal conviction that all has been done that man can do, by the invention of the safety lamp by Sir Humphrey Davy, to enable men to work in constant peril of their lives. And I propose to suggest some thoughts in opposition to this universal opinion, though I may be ridiculed for my pains. All I ask is an unprejudiced consideration of the facts as I present them ; and if I succeed in drawing out a free discussion of the subject, I shall feel that I can bear any amount of criticism.

It is impossible for any person, who has not witnessed one of these ter" rific explosions, to have any idea of the awful horror, and yet the inde- scribable grandeur of the fiery tempest created by them, when the whole atmosphere of the mines is like molten metal, boiling, seething, and sweep- ing with lightening velocity through every gallery, chamber, or passage, throughout the entire mine. This terrible tornado of fire, in its irresist- able course through the colliery, tears away everything that may in any way obstruct its passage ; hurls cars, props, stoppings, doors, roads, men, and beasts, like chaff before it in one conglomerate and helpless mass. Everything combustible is set on fire. Men and beasts are literally baked alive, and are compelled to breathe this fiery atmosphere until death mer- cifully ends their suffering. And if, per chance, any one may escape the fire, or may pass through it without receiving fatal irjury, he is immedi- ately overtaken with the deadly "after damp," and falls a victim to it with no power on earth to save him.

The horrors of an explosion of gas in the mines are utterly indescrib- able. The fearful physical sufferings of the victims, and mental sufferings of the friends of the lost ones, baffles the descriptive powers of the most vivid imagination ; and it seems to me that this immense and most heart- rending suffering and distress cries out in thundertones to the philanthropic scientists of this enlightened age for an effective remedy, or I should say for an effective preventative, for this awful sacrifice of human life. Is there no way to prevent these explosions ? I think there is. Why is it that the atmosphere of our collieries in Europe and in this country is allowed to become so nearly explosive that the least change in the atmos- pheric pressure, or the least accident to the mechanical means used to pi'ovide ventilation for the colliery, will inevitably set the whole mines in a blaze ? Is it right, I ask in the name of suffering humanity, to work a colliery, with hundreds of men and boys, when the air of the whole mine is so near to its explosive point as to necessitate the universal use of the safetydaiup? Are we not taking too great a risk when we compel our

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 173

fellow men to work in air that will not permit the use of naked lights ? Is the flimsy gauze of the safety-lamp not infinitely too unsafe as a barrier or defense for precious lives against this deadly and relentless foe ? Is it not high time for mining engineers to take a radical step forward and de- mand that the safety-lamp, as a means to provide light to work by, shall be discarded at once and forever, and that all operators shall be compelled to provide a sufficient quantity of pure air to dilute the gas and make the atmosphere of the mines absolutely non-explosive ? Is it not a million fold wiser to remove the clanger than to rely on any safety-lamp, or to de- vise any other means, to work in the danger ? And now the all- important question is, can this be done ? And I propose to prove that it is not only possible to do this, but that it is as practicable as it is possible.

All who have taken any interest in this matter will admit that all those fearful explosions that periodically occur in England, Wales, and on the Continent, occur in collieries where it is boasted, on the part of the mana- gers, that "the use of safety-lamps in the mines is rigidly enforced." And what are we to understand by this "rigid enforcement of the use of safet}'- lamps " in those collieries ? What does this mean ? Why it simply means that all the employes in said collieries were forced to work with safety- lamps ; and in hundreds of instances they are forced to work with the gauze of their lamps red hot from the burning gas inside of them. It means that the air in those mines was at all times within a very small trifle of being at the explosive point. The proportion of pure air and gas in such cases is always from fourteen to twenty of air to one of gas, and, under such conditions, an additional strong "blower" or "feeder," a sudden fall in the barometer, a dull fire in the furnace, or a slight decrease in the speed of £he fan, is more than sufficient to reduce the proportion of air and gas below thirteen or twelve to one, when the whole atmosphere of the mines becomes explosive. The safety-lamps then immediately fill with burning gas; men and boys become excited, and in their wild attempt to get out of danger, some one of them moves the lamp suddenly, or some one falls with a lamp, causing the burning gas inside of the lamp to pene- trate through the gauze, igniting the gas outside, and an explosion inevit- ably follows throughout the whole mines. It does not require more than one mistake or mishap in such a case to bring the most appalling disaster upon every person in the mines, and some one is invariably found to make the fearful blunder.

Let us suppose there is a section of a mine with fifty persons employed in it, and let us suppose that carbureted hydrogen gas is generated in that section at the rate of one thousand cubic feet, per minute, with, say fifteen thousand cubic feet of air to dilute this gas and carry it off, would it be safe for men to work there under those conditions ? I emphatically answer, No ! The margin of safety is too infinite small, or, I should say, there is no margin of safety at all under those conditions, and the least accident would reducd the quantity of air to less than thirteen thousand cubic feet

174 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

per minute, in which proportion the whole volume of air and gas would explode, or the gas might increase to disturb the conditions with the same result. The custom in such cases is to compel the employes to work en- tirely with safety lamps, or, to use the term selected to express the same thing by the managers, " the use of safety lamps in the mines is rigidly enforced." But the proper thing to do, would be to double the quantity of air, so as to make it perfectly safe to work with open lights. We would then have thirty cubic feet of air to one of gas, and an explosion would be an utter impossibility. Then, if a change should occur in the atmos- pheric pressure, the margin of safety would be ample to cover it, and to cover any other accident, and an explosion could never happen.

During the year 1878 there were two terrific explosions in Wales — one at Abercarn, near Newport, Monmouthshire, and the other in the Rhondda Valley, Glamorganshire — through which an aggregate of over three hun- dred lives were sacrificed to the life-destroying custom of compelling men to work with safety lamps, instead of providing a sufficient quantity of air to enable them to dispense with safety lamps, as a means to provide light to work by.

I may be alone in holding the opinion that the safety lamp was never intended as a means to provide light to work by, and that it is only- adapted for the purpose of testing the condition of the atmosphere in mines as the works are extended ; that it is adapted only to find the danger, and not to work in it, for it does not remove the danger, and it cannot remove it. I say I maybe alone in advocating this idea; but under the firm conviction that my views are correct, and that the experi- ence of the past in all parts of the world will undeniably and irrefutably sustain me, I do not concern myself in regard to the isolation to which I and my opinion may be consigned by the scientific world. I hold that the flimsy gauze of the safety lamp is a million times too weak a barrier or defense between the precious lives of the miners and almost certain death ; and I hold further, that the defense of the safety lamps as proper means to light our coal mines, is an unmitigated disgrace to the boasted civilization and scientific intelligence of the nineteenth century. I feel that the time will and must come when this view of the subject under dis- cussion will be accepted as the correct and only safe one to take, the world over ; and that the power of the government of all countries will be in- voked and exercised to enforce it, and to compel all operators of coal mines in every land to provide "an adequate amount of pure air to dilute the gas and make it harmless," and to keep their collieries entirely free from standing gas.

It will be asserted, no doubt, in the present state of public opinion, that this cannot be done. But I assert that it can be done, even in the most fiery mines. Let us inquire into the circumstances connected with the fearful disaster at Abercarn, in Wales. Here we find a very fiery vein of coal," known as the " black vein," ten feet six inches thick, eight feet of

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 175

which was worked, leaving the remaining thirty inches as a roof, the shale and rashes above this being too friable for a roof. It was principally worked on the stall and pillar system, the stalls being eighteen yards wide, and the pillars ten yards wide, while the cross-headings or entrances through the pillars were three yards wide, and eighteen yards apart. The stalls are what is known as double stalls — that is, there is a tram road on each side of the stall — so that there was always plenty of area for the air to travel. The mine was an extensive one, having been operated in the "black vein" since 1862, and was worked night and day with three relays of workmen.

Up to 18Y L the colliery was ventilated with two furnaces, which pro- duced ninety thousand cubic feet per minute of air ; but in that year a Guibal fan was substituted for these furnaces, having a diameter of forty feet, with twelve feet face, which increased the ventilation to one hundred and fifty thousand cubic feet per minute. I have no data to show how this quantity of air was conducted around the workings, and cannot, there- fore, tell whether it was divided into a large number of currents, as it should have been, or not ; but that is not material for the present discus- sion. The data above given is more than sufficient to demonstrate that there was ample area to manage two or three times the quantity of air that they had at the time of the explosion ; and if the managers had in- creased the ventilation even to double the quantity they had, or even to two hundred thousand cubic feet per minute, instead of boasting to an outraged people that " the use of safetj' -lamps in the mine was rigidly en- forced," they would have averted the sacrifice of two hundred and eight}'- one lives, and would have saved tens of thousands of pounds sterling in property to the proprietors. The same is true in every case where these terrific explosions occur, both in Europe and in this country.

But it will be claimed that the Ebbw Yale Iron Compan} the operators of the Abercarn Colliery, had provided the very best ventilation possible for the colliery, and that they had the most improved mechanical means to produce it known to mining engineers ; that they had put in a mon- strous large Guibal fan, which is conceded to be the best ventilator in existence. This, however, I deny, in toto. It was not only possible but eminently practicable to increase the ventilation ad infinitum. Their monstrous Guibal fan did not exhaust the quantity of air that might be expected for so large a machine ; and if the quantity given — one hundred and fifty thousand cubic feet per minute — was the utmost capacity of the fan, then I have no hesitation in asserting that we have fan? in this dis- trict about one fourth its size, of another pattern, that give far better re- sults than this great Guibal. The fourteen feet fan at the Bellevue col- liery belonging to the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, in this district, makes over one hundred and fifty thousand cubic feet per minute, every day, and has a greater capacity even than that. And it is claimed that the fourteen feet diameter Champion Yen-

176 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [Xo. 10,

tilator of Francis Murphy, C. E. Streator, Illinois, will produce about three hundred and twenty-five thousand cubic feet in ordinarily con- structed air ways, and that it will, in good air ways, produce over four hundred and twenty-five thousand cubic feet of air per minute. And wherever these fans have been erected, they invariably prove far more effective than the inventor and patentee claims them to be, and in one instance the air passed through twelve miles of ordinary air wa}-s. I be- lieve the fan at Abercarn was much too large and ponderous, and that it must necessarily move the air very slow. But I do not wish to be under- stood as desiring to disparage the Guibal fan, nor as being an especial champion of any fan, though I readily admit that I have a very decided preference.

What I desire to do now, is to prove that one hundred and fifty thou- sand cubic feet of air is not the possible maximum quantity that can be produced for such a mine as Abercarn colliery. Let the Guibal fan be used if preferable, but if one fan will not give the required quantity of air that is necessary to dilute the gas and clear it out of a mine, then, I say, put in two, or three, or any number necessary to do the work. This should be done whatever kind of a ventilator is used ; if one will not answer put in more. In any event, I protest with all the earnestness that I am capable of, in the name of humanity, against working a colliery without providing the necessary quantity of God's pure and free air to dilute and expel the gas from the workings, so that, so far as explosions are concerned, the miners can follow their occupation in absolute safety. It is well known that some collieries have been supplied with a far greater amount of ven- tilation than that at Abercarn, even with furnaces. Hetton colliery, in England, at one time had two hundred and twenty-five thousand one hun- dred and seventy-six cubic feet per minute of air from three furnaces; and I think no one will deny for an instant but the capacity of fans is infinitely greater than that of furnaces.

Now, if these facts are as represented, (and there can be no doubt in the premises,) why do mining engineers not advocate a thorough system of ventilation, and insist upon having the necessary quantity of air in every fier}r mine to dilute the gas to such an extent as will forever prevent these periodical life-lestroying explosions? Is it not criminal and inhuman to refuse to do this when it is so evident that it is not only possible but eminently practicable ? Would not such a system of ventilation as I here advocate not only save hundreds of precious lives annually, but also save an incalculable amount of property to the owners and operators ? Woulu it not be infinitely cheaper to prevent these explosions than to pay the cost of repairing the damage done by them ? And ought not the whole power of the government to be exercised to compel the inauguration of this reform in working fiery coal mines ? I answer all these queries, with- out the least hesitation, in the affirmative, and without fear of successful contradiction.

Leg. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 177

I am not ignorant of the great plea of the expense that my plan incurs, I have considered the matter well in all its bearings, and while I have no consideration nor sympathy for dollars and cents when the preservation of life is in the balance, still, I would not burden our mining interests with one cent of unnecessary expense. But it is easity demonstrated that there would be an immense saving in the expense of running a colliery evolving gas, by the adoption of my system. I have no doubt but the proprietor or operator of any fiery colliery can find from his books that more money is paid out to repair damages done by explosions, than would more than pay for the improvements I advocate. There can be no ques- tion about this. Let us consider the case of the explosion at Abercarn, already referred to. Here the mines were made literally impassible by the force of the explosion. Then the whole colliery took fire, making the whole extent of the workings one terrific holocaust. Then, to master the demon of fire, the mine was flooded. Then months were consumed to pump out the water. And now it is believed that the whole colliery is forever closed by caving in, beyond the possibility of reclaiming it, and over two hundred and fifty human beings are buried in the terrible abyss, with no possibility of ever getting at their remains. This will incur an expense of re-opening the colliery entirely anew, which will be many times greater than the necessary expense would have been to furnish two or three times the ventilation they had at the time of the explosion. And in addition to this, the whole amount of capital invested has been lying worse than unproductive for many months. Take the case of any explosion in Europe or America, either great or small, and the inquiry will prove in every instance that it is far cheaper to prevent explosions, than to repair the damage done by them, and the maxim that " an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," can never be applied with more force than to this matter in hand.

But it may possibly be arguei, that if it be admitted that the necessary quantity of air to make the most fiery colliery absolutely safe can be pro- duced, and if it be admitted that it would be cheaper than the present system, still, such immense volumes of air cannot be controlled in the mines, therefore the plan is impracticable. Now, I know that this ar- gument is the offspring of the most profound ignorance, and I hive only the deepest commiseration for those who will advance it. It is true only as it relates to incompetent managers, and I do not propose to give way to incompetency. The standard of competency must be raised materially higher than it is at present, and ignoramuses must not be allowed to en- danger life and property through their ignorance. Whatever the diffi- culties may be to control large and strong currents of air in the mines, they are only such as can be effectually overcome by men of intelligence, if they will but apply themselves to the task. It may appear to some that it would be impossible to control such an amount of air as I suggest in small, low veins ; but if we bear in mind that all that I contend for is to keep the 12 — Mine Rep.

178 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

proportion of air to gas high enough to prevent explosions, this trouble will vanish at once. If the air-courses are properly constructed, so that the colliery can be ventilated in sections, and with separate and distinct currents or panels of air, the amount of ventilation can be easily increased to any extent desired. In the Hetton colliery, to which I have already referred, when two hundred and twenty-five thousand one hundred and seventy-six cubic feet of air per minute was circulating through the mines, the air was divided into sixteen distinct and separate current?, each of which was conducted directly from the down-3ast into and through a section of the workings, and thence directly into the return air-way, and to the up-cast. In this manner the aggregate quantity of air was increased, the velocity of the air was reduced, and the friction was also greatly reduced, and the men in all parts of the mines had pure air to work in. This is the prin- ciple to work upon, and all that is needed is to have men in charge of the collieries that can understand the principle and work it out. Then there- form, for which I am contending, can be inaugurated with the greatest ad- vantage to all parties concerned.

Now, I only desire to add that the matter of working collieries ex- clusively with safety lamps ought to receive the most careful and un- prejudiced consideration of scientific mining engineers. The whole trouble rests with this false idea of security with those lamps. They are adapted to find the danger, but they cannot remove the danger, and I am more than convinced that men should not use them to work in the danger. Let the danger be removed when it is found, and that can only be done in the way I have pointed out.

" The Champion Ventilator."

The "Champion ventilator," to which I have referred in the foregoing article, deserves a more extended notice than I can give it at this time, and I think it should be brought prominently to the notice of those needing such a machine, so that it may have a fair opportunity to establish its claim to the name it bears. If it is capable of doing what is claimed for it, then there need be no further trouble in providing any amount of ven- tilation in our coal mines that may be desired. It claims many inherent merits above all other machines used for ventilation, one of which is that it can be used as an exhauster or blower, at pleasure. This is a very de- sirable and valuable arrangement, in many respects. In cold weather it is especially valuable, for the current can be instantly reversed at night, making the main shafts the upcast, so that the warm air of the mines will keep them from freezing, and there could then be no excuse for slacking the speed of the fan during the night. In describing the fan, however, the best thing I can do is to insert extracts of a notice given to it in the Engineering and Mining Journal, for September 30, 1876, which are as follows :

"Although belonging to the general class of centrifugal fan blowers, it differs from all others, in several important particulars. A double fan,

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Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 119

working on one shaft, is used, and the casing is so arranged that the ma- chine is convertible from an exhauster to a blower, or vice versa, without stopping or changing the motion of the fans. This casing is made of wood, and embodies several novel features in the details of its construction. It consists of three vertical, box-like compartments, two of which are placed on the opposite sides of the central one. The two side compartments are of equal size, and are considerably narrower than the central one. The latter acts as a receiving chamber, through which all the air passes on its way to the fans. The two side compartments contain the fans, and are ar- ranged so that the air forced into them can be led either into the open air or down the mine shaft, at will. There are doors opening outward, on the sides of the air-receiving chamber, and also on the two side chambers. There are doors, also hinged, along the lower edge of the partition walls, between the central and side chambers, which, when raised, close all com- munication between the air shaft and the central chamber, and, at the same time, open a passage from the fan chambers to the air shaft. By changing the position of these doors, the air chamber is thrown in communication with the shaft, and the passages from the fan chambers are closed. Weighted counter balances are used, to make the doors move freely, which also serve to catch and hold them when in position.

" Very simply-constructed right-angled catches, hinged at the angle, hold the doors when they are in a horizontal position, and are closing the mouth of the shaft. Without considering, now, the special construction of the fan, let it be supposed that air is being drawn in through two circular holes cut in either partition between the central and side chambers, the central openings in the fans corresponding with these holes. Now, if it is desired to exhaust air from the mine shaft, the doors at the bottom of the casing are thrown down to a vertical position, so as to open communication be- tween the shaft and the air receiving chamber, and at the same time shut off communication between the side chambers and the shaft. The other doors to the central chamber are then closed, while those of the side cham- bers are opened to the air. The current being outward through the before- mentioned openings in the partitions, the machine draws air from the shaft and freely discharges it at all points from the fan chambers. When it is desired to force air down the same shaft, the position of the doors in the shaft is reversed, and the outside doors on the air-receiving chamber opened, while those on the fan chambers are all closed. The air now passing into these chambers, is forced down through the side passages under the casing into the shaft."

In addition to the above lucid extract, I also insert three plans of the ventilator, copied and enlarged from circulars issued by Messrs. Eraser & Chalmers, Chicago, Illinois, who are the sole manufacturers of the fan. Plan No. 1 shows the machine as an exhauster ; plan No. 2 and No. 3 shows it as a blower. Plan No. 3 is a cross-section, which will further illustrate the interior construction of the ventilator, and also the manner of chang- ing the direction of the current.

180 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

" This plan shows the apparatus as arranged for forcing air into a mine. A is the receiving chamber; BB the side chambers; CC the fan wheels; D the open door of the receiving chamber through which the air enters, as indicated by the arrows; EE are passages which connect the side cham- bers with the shaft S, represented as open; FF are doors shown in the horizontal position, in which they completely close the mouth of the shaft. The counterpoise weights, PP, slide on iron rods which extend from these doors into the air passages EE ; HH are the top doors of the side cham- bers, represented as closed, and aa are the inner arms of the fan wheels.

'k When it is desired to change the current and exhaust air from the mines, the doors at FF are allowed to drop into the vertical position shown by the dotted lines at ff. This opens the mouth of the shaft and connects it directly with the receiving chamber, and at the same time, closes the passages EE, which entirely disconnect the side chambers from the shaft. The doors D, of the receiving chamber, are also closed, and the top doors, HH, as well as the end doors of the side chambers, are all thrown open. The air drawn from the shaft through the receiving chamber, after pass- ing through the wheels, is discharged into the outside air through the open doors of the side chambers.

" It will be readily seen from the above, that to change the direction of the current, it is only necessary to change the position of the several doors in the manner described, and that it does not require that the fans should be reversed. It is a peculiar feature of this ventilator, that, although the current may be changed at will, the fans revolve in one direction only."

Amongst my tables will be found one giving some very interesting data relative to the several sizes of this machine, the amount of air it moves, the power required to run it, &c. It will be noticed that the quantity of air moved that is given in the table is the "unrestricted discharge." Of course it will be understood that it will not discharge this amount when in actual operation at a mine, when the drag or friction of the mine will be attached to it ; but it has been satisfactorily demonstrated that it will give from sixty to eighty per cent, of those figures when in operation, rated according to the size and condition of the airways.

Present Condition of the Mines.

The condition of the mines, as regards ventilation, is steadity improv- ing, and although there was not as much done during 1878 as during 1877, yet I am certain that as much has been accomplished as the condition of the coal trade would admit. I have forced on improvements as rapidly as, in my judgment, I deemed prudent. The work done during last year has been done principally inside of the collieries, and consisted in improving the air-ways for the purpose of conducting the air properly through the face of the workings. Many collieries had a sufficient quantity of venti- lation, but it was not utilized ; it was allowed to enter into the mines and return to the surface without ever reaching the face of the workings. A

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 181

large amount of work has been done to remedy this evil, and it has been performed very general, where it was needed, throughout the district. There is much yet to be done, however, and I shall not cease to urge on the good work until all the collieries are in as good condition as they can be made. One fact alone is sufficient evidence that a great improvement has been effected in the ventilation of these mines, and that fact is, that no person has lost his life nor received any serious injury from the explosion of gas during the year, and I know of no year in the history of coal min- ing in this district that has so favorable a record.

The Hillside Coal and Iron Company have put in two fans during the year — one at the Powder Mill shaft, Moosie, and the other at the Erie shaft, Carbondale township. The one at the Powder Mill shaft was sub- stituted for steam-jets, which did not give the amount of air required ; and the one at the Erie shaft was substituted for a furnace for the same reason.

An air-shaft has also been sunk by the same company at their mines at Forest City, in Susquehanna county, in which a furnace has been erected, which for a time will ventilate the colliery satisfactorily. I desire to con- vey my grateful acknowledgment to Samuel Himes, Esq., the general superintendent of this company, for his prompt compliance with my or- ders and for his uniform courtesy in all our dealings; and his employes also have cause for deep gratitude towards him, for his humane and gen- erous conduct. The collieries under his charge will soon be in as good condition as any in my district.

A small fan has been put in at the Fairlawn slope, belonging to Messrs. Hosie, Archbald & Hosie, but it is not sueh as I expected would be pro- vided to ventilate this mine, and I have grave doubts that it will answer the purpose. They had put down an air-shaft the fore part of the y ear, and I expected that they would have erected a good fan on said shaft, as they had repeatedly promised to do, but for some reason, known only to them- selves, they have located the fan on the slope. Of course, I could not prevent them trying the experiment any further than to tender them my advice, and they will undoubtedly be obliged soon to return to the origi- nal plan and erect a fan on the air-shaft.

The Pittston Coal Company, acting on my advice, have enlarged the sectional area of the air shaft under the fan they put in during 1877, and the result has shown that my advice was sound. They have thus increased the aggregate amount of ventilation from eighteen thousand one hundred and twenty cubic feet, in 1877, to fifty-seven thousand cubic feet per min- ute in 1878.

On the whole, a great deal of improvement has been effected during the year, and the good work goes bravely on. We now have forty-two fans in this district, several of them ventilating two and some three collieries. In addition to this, there are twenty-six furnaces, and three collieries ventilated with steam jets, the balance having only natural ventilation.

182 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

The latter are generally small collieries, and are well supplied with air, excepting in spring and autumn, when the temperature of the air in the mines and on the surface is equal. However, I am very firm in the con- viction that there should be fans to ventilate all the collieries, and I cannot be satisfied until that end is reached.

Cavings in of the Mines.

There have been frequent cavings in of the mines during the year on an extensive scale, but no lives were lost by them, though some very narrow escapes have been reported, through the reckless daring of parties that did not have sense enough to realize the danger. These caves have gen- erally occurred where two or three veins are worked one over the other, though some have occurred even where only one vein was worked, but the latter occurred in the old abandoned workings, and have not interferred with the mining of coal. The first one of importance, where one vein was being worked over the other, occurred in the Mt. Pleasant slope, Hyde Park, in August last. Here the Diamond vein had been completely worked out, and under it the Rock vein had been extensively worked. Each of these veins had been worked without any regard to the manner in which the other had been worked, hence the pillars in each vein were either over or under the vacuum of the chambers in the other, and the natural con- sequence was that the pressure of the overlying strata caused these pillars to crush through the intervening rock between the veins, and the whole strata above settled down, closing up both veins entirely. In order to get the remainder of the coal in the Rock vein, a new opening will have to be made by a plane, through rock, from the Big vein below. Another very extensive cave occurred at the Diamond mines, and still another at the Bellevue mines, both belonging to the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company. In each of these cases they were working three veins, one over or under the other, and the caves were caused by the same sys- tem of working as at the Mt. Pleasant mines. In no case, so far as I know, is there any attempt made to work the pillars in one vein exactly over the plillars in the vein below, or vice versa, and so long as this is not done, there is no hope of preventing these caves. I admit that it requires good mining engineering to do this, and I must also admit that our present class of mine bosses are not competent for the work, but that will not alter the facts in the case. I believe it can be done, and I believe it would pay the operators to try the experiment.

NEW COLLIERIES. Pierce Colliery.

This colliery is owned by Messrs. H. S. Pierce, Edward Jones, John Hosie, and II. B. Phelps, the last named having one tenth interest in the firm, and the others three tenths interest each. The land upon which the colliery is located is in the warrantee names of John Claik and Aaron

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 183

Clark, consisting of nine hundred and eleven acres, and was purchased by the Pierce Coal Company from the heirs of William and Charles Wurts, of Philadelphia, in May, 1874. From three to four hundred acres of the land is underlain with the vein of coal, known in that locality as the "Arch- bald vein," but known about Scranton as the " Clark vein," and at Pitts- ton as the " Spencer vein." The average thickness of the vein on this prop- erty is ten feet and a half, nine feet of which is pure coal of excellent quality, the remaining eighteen inches being composed of slate and sul- phur. A small portion on the north-west end of the property contains an upper vein eight feet thick, about one hundred and fifty feet above the Archbald vein, and there is an intermediate vein, three and a half feet thick, but the coal in the latter, so far as proven, is not good. The Arch- bald vein will yield an excellent coal, known in the market as Carbondale coal, after deducting all impurities, thirteen thousand six hundred and seventy-three tons per acre in the ground. The general inclination of the strata is N. 75° W., but the dip is very moderate, not being over 4i°. There is a fault running nearly east and west through the land, and this fault changes the dip to the north-east, throwing the coal down about seventy feet, the angle of the dip on this down-throw being about 18°, and by taking this angle into consideration with the fact that the coal retains its hard unbroken quality, it might be objected to call this disturbance a fault, for it seems to me that there is no disturbance of the measures that will materially interfere with the mining out of all the coal, but as the proprietors call it a fault, I will not quarrel with them on that point.

These lands are situated in the borough of Archibald. They are well timbered with yellow pine, hemlock, spruce, and some white oak, which is a great advantage as timber for the mines for propping, &c, are ever near at hand, and a large amount of it is needed, as they use between three and four thousand lineal feet per month at the rate they are now working. The openings consist of two tunnels, one being a rock tunnel five hun- dred feet long, driven through sandstone, which strikes the coal on the line of the Olive Smith and John Clark warrantee tracts. This tunnel was driven by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Coinpan}' in the year 1857, at a cost of about $5,000. Since that time, the tunnel had not been used until the property came into the hands of the present owners. In 1877, the Pierce Coal Company purchased this tunnel from the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, and is now one of their principal openings. The course of the headings from this tunnel is north-west or diagonally across the tract, leaving about seven hundred feet from the heading to the land line, the coal from which will have to be worked out by a slope. The second tunnel is driven through rock and shale to reach the coal. The course of this heading is south-west, and there is another heading opened in the crop above the last named, which will open up a large area of coal. The three headings contain fifty -three chambers, which, when full handed, will produce an average of five hundred and eighty-three tons of coal per

184 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [Xo. 10,

day. The colliery was opened in the spring and summer of 1877, and commenced shipping a small quantity of coal in November of the same year, and from that date to the 31st of December, 1878, the colliery has produced sixty-six thousand five hundred tons of coal.

The breaker belonging to the colliery is located in Win ton borough, and is connected with the mines by three miles of narrow gauge railroad, the gauge being three feet, and the track composed of " T " rails, forty pounds to the yard. The average grade is one hundred and twenty-five feet to the mile ; but the part nearest to the mines is much heavier than the lower part. This road is equipped with two mine locomotives and two hundred and fifty mine cars. The usual number of cars for one locomo- tive to haul up the grade is thirty, though forty can be taken ; but it is slow work with the latter number. The loaded cars run from the mines to the breaker by gravity, with strong brakes on every other car, and with three runners or brakemen on each train of thirty cars. The breaker used is one that was built by Messrs. Filer & Livey, and has a capacity of eight hundred tons per day. Its height of dump above the Winton Branch railroad track is eighty-one feet. The original cost of the breaker, in- cluding all the machinery, was $45,000 ; but the Pierce Coal Company pur- chased it for just half that sum. The total cost of the whole improvement of the company, including road and equipments, opening the colliery, breaker, and machinery, was about $90,000.

When the colliery was first opened it had a very unpromising reputation, the coal was pronounced as being of too poor a quality to pay for mining it, and the gentlemen who invested their money in it were set down as little better than subjects for the lunatic asylum. It was said that the vein was more than half waste, and that the coal was utterly unmarketable. I cannot conceive what object the would-be wiseacres could have in spread- ing such unfounded reports, unless it was from an execrable desire to in- jure the gentlemen interested in the enterprise. If that was the object, then it was so contemptibly base and unworthy that the parties who were guilty of the wrong ought to hang their heads down in shame and dis- grace, and never hereafter have the presumption to claim that they are honest men. But if these faUe and damaging reports were circulated through ignorance, then the parties are very much to be pitied. What- ever the motive was in circulating such reports, it was very evident that they had prejudiced the mind of the public against this colliery, and until I visited the mines I must admit that I had decided unfavorable impres- sions in relation to the enterprise ; and when I went through the colliery I was astonifched at the wonderful difference there was between the reports I had heard and the reality as I saw it. I went through the whole colliery carefully, and found that the coal was of excellent quality in every place that the vein was proven ; and it gives me great pleasure that I can con- gratulate the parties interested on their merited good fortune. I have not seen the Archbald vein anywhere in that section superior, if equal, to

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 185

"what it is in the Pierce colliery. The coal will bear me out in what I sayt and will establish its reputation in market beyond the possibility of evil- designing persons to do it an injury.

There is but one thing needed to make the Pierce mines a first-class colliery, and that is the erection of a good fan to ventilate it properly, and I trust that ere I shall be called upon to pen my next annual report, that the lessees, Messrs. Jones, Simpson & Co., will do this one thing needful.

Forest City Colliery.

The Forest City colliery is located in Susquehanna county, is owned by the Hillside Coal and Iron Company, and was added to the eastern dis- trict of Luzerne and Carbon counties, by an act of the Legislature at its last session. The colliery is a small concern, and consists of a drift driven to the crop of the coal through sand. The coal is very near the surface, and a great part of it is known as "rusty coal," and is therefore con- demned as being unfit for the present fastidious market. The time will come, however, when this fastidiousness will pass away, and when anthra- cite will be a luxury, even though it may be a little "rusty.'' The extent of the area of coal in this locality has not been ascertained, but it is be- lieved not to be very great. There is no breaker attached to the colliery, and all the machinery there is of any kind consists of screens driven by horse power, said screens being connected with chutes to deliver the coal into cars on the Jefferson branch of the Erie railroad.

The condition of the mines in regard to ventilation, when I first visited it was about as bad as it could well be, but it has been considerably im- proved since then. As I have stated elsewhere, an air shaft has been sunk and a furnace built, which has improved things considerably; but I pro- tested against the putting in of a furnace, on the principle that money ex- pended on furnaces in such shallow workings is money thrown away, but it seems the company has more money than it knows what to do with, and prefer to throw it away in this manner. As the works extend a little they will find that their furnace will have to be re-placed with a fan, as I have already informed them. The mine superintendent will learn after awhile that it is futile for him to contend against the unyielding and inflexible laws of natnre, and he may, through experience gained at the expense of the company, learn something of the nature of these laws.

The " Mine Clerk."

Much has been said in and out of the Legislature in relation to the office of " mine clerk." It seems to be the general impression that the " mine clerk " is a clerk to the " mine inspectors," and that as such, he attends to all the clerical work of the mine inspector's offices ; that he keeps a com- plete record of all the inspector's acts, arranging all matter pertaining to accidents, relative to the condition of the mines and machinery, relative to the ventilation of the mines, and all other things appertaining to the

186 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

health and safety of persons employed in and about the mines, in tabulated form. The public evidently believe that all the clerical work done in the offices of the inspectors is done by said " mine clerk," and that even the annual reports of the inspectors are written by the clerk; and it has been asserted that the inspectors cannot make their own reports, and that they do not make them out.

Now, I most respectfully submit that this false impression does great in- justice to the inspectors, for it robs them of the credit due them for a large amount of arduous labor, much of which they perform by the light of the midnight lamp. I therefore protest against this injustice, and I do it with no desire to reflect unfavorably on the mine clerkship. I feel that it is but simple justice that the public should know the facts, and that each office shall have the full credit for all the work done by each respectively. Therefore, for the information of all who feel an interest in the matter, I here assert, without qualification, that the inspectors do all the clerical work of their offices themselves, without any assistance from any source whatever, and that they have a complete record of all things required by the mine ventilation act on file in their respective offices. And further, whatever credit or criticism the annual reports of the inspectors may be entitled to, belongs entirely to the inspectors themselves, and to no one else ; and I desire to add, that in my opinion, no person is capable of holding the position of mine inspector, unless he is competent to make out an an- nual report to the Governor of the Commonwealth, as required by the twenty-second section of the mine ventilation act. There is no authority in law for the inspector to farm out this or anjr other part of his duty to the "mine clerk," or to any other party. The law says : " It shall be the duty of each inspector to make an annual report of his proceedings to the Governor of the Commonwealth, at the close of every year, &c." The language is plain and imperative, and is so personal in its application, that no one who desires to understand it can mistake its meaning.

But it is said that the office of " mine clerk " was created to watch the inspectors, to see that they faithfully perform their duties ! If that be so, then all I have to say is that I have no objection to being rigidly watched. On the contrary, I earnestly invite the most searching inquiries into all my official acts, not only on the part of the mine clerk," but also on the part of the courts and the sixteen thousand persons employed in the collieries under my charge, and on the part of the whole people, whom I serve to the best of my abilities. I do not doubt but the inspectors are diligently watched, and I am pleased that it is so. The workingmen have a right to watch us, and I hope they will never cease doing so. I think the inspectors feel the fearful responsibilities of the positions they fill, and though they have assumed them with fear and trembling, still they do not desire to shirk them; and while they will not descend to follow the will impracti- cable schemes of fanatics and demagogues, still they are ever ready and willing to receive and act upon the advice of any intelligent person who

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Minks. 1ST

has the welfare of the men who are employed in the mines at heart, and will always be grateful for information bearing on that point.

But, in all seriousness, does not the ventilation act itself provide for sufficient surveillance over the inspectors ? I think that the sixteenth section of the act is intended for that purpose, and I believe that the courts are certainly competent to hold the inspectors to a strict account- ability for a faithful discharge of their duties. But if this is not enough, then let us have a "committee of investigation " at once.

But it is said by many well-meaning persons that if the inspectors do not have the clerical assistance of the " mine clerk," they ought to be pro- vided with clerks to do their office work. Others claim that deputy in- spectors should be provided. Now, these matters are delicate questions for me to touch upon, and yet I feel that a word or two can do no harm. First, I am very positive that the inspectors do not ask for a clerk nor a deputy, and so far as my information extends, none of them have ever complained because no clerk is provided for them. But they are not sat- isfied that another person should get credit for doing work done by them- selves. Secondly, I am very positive that neither clerks nor deputies are half so much needed at this time as they were needed when the mine ven- tilation act was passed. The collieries are now fast approaching as per- fect a condition as to ventilation as can be desired, and are being still further improved as rapidly as circumstances will admit. Hence this multiplying of inspectors, deputies, and clerks is entirely uncalled for, and is simply an attempt to create offices to be filled at the public expense.

Free Distribution Of- The Ventilation Law.

In the early part of last year, I distributed nearly six thousand copies of the mine ventilation law, in pamphlet form, to the miners and other employes in this district, and also furnished two copies, in large type on card-board, for each colliery, to be posted up in conspicuous places at the collieries, and I have no doubt but this general distribution of the law tended very materially to reduce the accidents for the first half of the year. By reference to table No. 1, on another page, it will be noticed that for the first seven months of the year the number of fatal accidents was only ten, while the number for the remaining five months was twenty-four. For the first period named, eveiybody had a copy of the law in his hands, and the respective duties of the different classes were subjects of general dis- cussion, and every person was on guard ; but when the novelty of the thing wore off, the employes of all grades, bosses included, fell back into their old habits of carelessness and negligence, and the natural conse- quence was that the death list swelled rapidly. I tried to check this by writing to the masses through the daily papers ; but my efforts were not as successful as desirable.

Reports or the Isnpectors of Mines.

[No. 10,

TABLE No. 1. — List of Accidents resulting in death, reported to the Inspector in

and the cause of each accident, as shown by the investi

Same of Person

KlLLi-D.

Name of Colliery.

Location of Colliery.

Feb. [9

Mar. 1

Apr. 10

May 25

June 8

July 23

Aug. 6

Sept. 3

Nov. 2

Dec. 23

Unknown,

John Jeffreys, . . .

Win. Van Busk Irk. Thomp'n Petigrew. Win. J. Morgans, .

Thomas Baker, . . Evan Llewelyn, . . Win. R. Jones, . . Edward Ford, . . . Patrick MeGowan,

Michael Heston, . .

Thos. W. Morgan,

Patrick Leonard, .

John Gardener, . . Thomas Tigne, . . . John Deichmiller,

William Wagner, .

James G. Gannon,

Frank Fassold, . .

Daniel Hughes, . .

Patrick Cavanagh, John Ousey, . . . .

Peter Cannon, . . .

James McNamara,

Thomas Cawley, . .

Thomas Leary, . . Henry Scott, . . . Thomas Owens, . .

29 John Evans,

George L. Smith,

Mich'el McFagden, Thomas Garrett, .

Luke Carroll, . . . Robert Roberts, . .

Taylor shaft,

Sloan shaft,

Taylor shaft breaker, Filer colliery, Marvlne shaft, . . . Jermyn's slope, . . .

No. 5 shaft

Cayuga, shaft,

No" 9 shaft,

Leggett Creek Shaft,

No. 11 shaft,

Twin shaft, . . . Bellevue colliery,

Taylorville, Lackawanna tp.

Lackawanna township, . . .

Taylorville, Lackawanna tp.

Winton borough,

Providence

Jermyn borough, ,

Jenkins township,

Providence,

Pittston borough,

Providence,

Jenkins township,

No. 1 Tunnel, . . . . Fairlawn slope, . . . Pierce colliery, . . .

Elk Hill colliery, . . Coal Brook colliery, Pine Brook shaft, . . Brisbin shaft, . . . .

Pittston borough, Lackawanna township, .

Pittston township, Scranton city, . . . Archbald borough,

No. 5 shaft

Dunmore breaker, Brisbin shaft, . . .

Von Storch slope, No. 2 slope, (Dunmore,)

Hillside colliery, Pierce colliery, . No. 11 shaft, ." . .

Park Coal Co.'s slope, .

Greenwood colliery, . Twin shaft,

Spring Brook colliery,

Erie shaft, . No. 10 shaft,

Dickson City, . . Carbondale City, Scranton city, . . Providence, . . .

Jenkins township, Dunmore borough, Providence, ...

Providence, . . . . , Dunmore borough;

Pleasant Valley borough, Archbald borough, . . . . Jenkins township

Hyde Park,

Lackawanna township, Pittston borough, . . .

Lackawanna township,

Carbondale township, Pittston borough, . .

Ex. Doc]

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

the Eastern District of the Wyoming Coal Fields, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, gation of the Inspector, for the year ending December 31, A. D. 1878.

Cause of Deaths.

Remarks on cause of Death.

This man was a "Tramp,11 and apparently had gone to the breaker for a night's lodging, and in seeking for a warm place, fell down the shaft, where he was found in the morning, dead, . .

Fatally burned by an explosion of a teg of powder. Died the fol- lowing day,

Killed hy liaving his skull fractured in tlie pony screen,

Fatally injured by a fall of roof,

Killed hy a fall of top coal, immediately after firing a blast,

Killed instantly by a fall of top coal, immediately after Bring a blast,

Found in a dying condition. Supposed to have been kicked by a mule,

Killed instantly by a fall of roof, immediately after tiring a blast, . .

Killed hy a fall of rider coal constituting the roof,

Killed instantly by a fall of roof, near the face of the chamber worked by John Finnegan,

Killed instantly hy a fall of top coal, through the gross carelessness of Patrick Lavin, tlie miner,

Fatally injured by a fall of roof. Died on tlie lflth,

Killed by being kicked by a mule, in tlie barn connected witli the col- liery, on tlie surface,

Killed by coal flying from a runaway on the slope, at the foot of said

slope.

Fatally injured in the hack and inwardly, by a fall of roof. Died on the 19th,

Killed instantly by ears running away from the mines, and breaking through a trestliug fifty-eight feet high, under which he was working,

Killed instantly by a fall of coal and honey, through the carelessness of the miner, T. Griffiths,

Fatally injured by being crushed by runaway cars on a plane. Died on the same day, .

Drowned by Pine Brook breaking into the Fairlawn slope, thence into Pine Brook shaft,

Killed by a trip of cars run down on a "run" before time, and con- trary to orders,

Fatally injured hy a fall of roof. Died during the following night, .

Killed by being crushed between a car and the chute of the breaker, .

Killed by a fall of roof while preparing to re-stand props, which had been discharged by a blast,

Killed by a fill of roof, immediately after firing a blast, which had discharged a prop,

Fatally injured hy a fall of roof, immediately after firing a blast. Died the following day,

Killed by being crushed by mine cars between which he was riding, .

Fatally injured by falling under mine cars. Died the following day,

Fatally injured while drilling out a charge of powder in a rock blast which exploded, tearing both hands ami arms, so that amputation had to he performed. Died November 4,

Killed hy being crushed by mine cars on tlie slope up which he was traveling against orders,

Killed by being crushed by mine cars on a plane, outside, near the breaker,

Killed instantly hy a fall of rider coal,

Killed by falling into the pony rolls which were uncovered by order of the breaker boss, in violation of law, and against the strict or- ders of his superiors, .

Killed instantly by a fall of roof, through the reckless carelessness of

the miners,

Killed by premature explosion of a blast,

Reports of the Inspectors of Minec

[Xo. 10,

TABLE No. 2. — List of Serious, but Non-fatal, Accidents reported to the Inspector

and cause of each, as found by investigation of the

Date.

Name of Person Injured.

Name of Colliery.

Location of Colliery.

April 15

2G

May 3

June 3

July 5

Lewis Garry, . Michael Malia,

Hugh Hughes,

Pees Powell, . John Fagan, . .

William Malum,

Hubert Davies, .

Phillip A. Millar,

William Brennan, Michael Hogan, . Tuos. Leysuou, jr. John Andrews, . John Ward, . . . Michael V- hite, . Edward Judge, .

16 John Murphy,

28 22

March s ;

17 46

Joseph Jenkins, David Harris, . . John Howard, sr.,

Patrick Mulheron, John Elias Jones,

Edward Garry, . l'eier Dully, . . .

Peter Jordan, . . J. G. Humphreys,

James Devlin, . . ,

Michael Murphy, ,

Owen Vahey, . . ,

Patrick Corcoran, Patrick Luddon, . Patrick G olden,

William Vahey, .

James Sweeny, . .

Thomas Fad den, . John Keily, . . . .

John Farrell, . . . Stephen Kearny, . Michael O'Boyle, . John Keed, . . . . Peter Gerrity, . . . Zachariah Hughes,

Casper Taunlcr, . .

Thomas Leyshon, . Anthony Goulden, James McDonald, William Phillips, . John Carabine, . . Richard Hennehan,

Park Coal Co.'s slope,

Grassy Island shaft, .

Tompkins1 shaft, . . .

Forest City coll ie-y, . No. 2 Diamond shaft,

Meadow Brook shaft,

Park Coal Co.*s slope, Pyne Brook shaft, . .

Erie shaft,

Brisbin shaft, . . . Brisbin shaft, . . . Von Storch slope, . Grassy island shaft, Pyne shaft, . . . . ,

Marvine shaft,

Elk Hill colliery, . .

No. 2 Diamond shaft,

I No. 1 shaft,

Pyne shaft, . . Hampton shaft,

Tripp's slope, . . . . Grassy Island shaft,

Tierce colliery. Grassy Island shaft, No. 5 shaft,

Butler shaft, Seneca slope,

No. 10 shaft,

ISO. 4 slope,

No. 10 shaft,

No. 6 shaft,

Green Ridge slope,

Filer colliery,

No. 2 Diamond shaft,

Jermyn's shaft, Cayuga shaft, . Shirk shaft, . . No. 2 shaft, . . Ca> uga shaft, . Law shaft, . . .

Pyne shaft,

Brisbin shaft, ... Coal Brook colliery, . Spring Brook colliery, Cayuga shaft, . . . . Eddy (reek shaft, . . No. 2 slope,

Hyde Park

Olyphant borough, . .

Pittston borough, . . .

Forest City,

Hyde Park,

Seranton city,

Hyde Park,

Seranton city,

Carbondale township, .

Providence,

Providence,

Providence,

Olyphant borough, . . . Pittston borough, . . . Old Forge township, . .

Providence,

Dickson City,

Hyde Park,"

Carbondale City,

Old Forge township, . . Lackawanna township,

Hyde Park

Olyphant borough, . . .

Archbald borough, . . .

Olyphant borough, . . . Jenkins township, . . .

Pittston township, . . . Pittston borough, . . .

Pittston borough, ... Jenkins township, ... Pittston borough, . . . ,

Jenkins township, . . . ,

Dunmore borough, . . . ,

Winton borough,

Hyde Park,

Jerm> n borough

Providence,

Pleasant Valley borough, Dunmore borough, . . . .

Providence,

Pittston township, . . . .

Old Forge township, . . .

Providence,

Carbondale City,

Lackawanna township, -

Providence,

Olyphant borough, . . . . Jenkins township, . . . .

Ex. Doc]

RErORTS OP THE INSPECTORS OP MlNES.

in the Eastern District of the Wyoming Coal Field, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, Inspector, for the year ending December 31, A. D. 1S78.

Remarks ox Extent of Injury and Cause of Accident.

Severely injured by a fall of roof, in the back, side, and head

Leg fractured and body severely injured by being crushed between

Thigh fractured, arm dislocated, and head severely cut by a blast

thro us.

pi

LUlUUJill 1/L1L.H, . . .

Leg fractured by a fall of roof; amputated just above the ankle, . . . Severely injured by being kicked by a mule and falling under mine

cars, which ran over him,

Head severely injured by a blast tired in an entrance through a pillar, which was tired by John Dougherty, in the adjoining chamber, with- out warning

Face and hands severely burned by an explosion of powder while

making a cartridge,

Face, arms, and body badly burned by an explosion of powder while making a cartridge, ...

Body severely injured by being crushed between mine cars and pillar,

Leg fractured below the knee by a fall of roof

Arm fractured near the wrist by being crushed between cars and pillar,

Collar bone fractured by a prop falling on him,

Collar bone fractured, and bead and shoulder cut, by a fall of roof, .

Back and head severely injured by a fall of roof, ...

Several teeth knocked out, and face severely injured, by a kick from a mule,

Head, face, and arms severely cut and bruised, and an eye put out by an explosion of a blast, unto which he returned too soon

Both arms and collar bone fractured by falling under a mine car, . . .

Severely injured by being kicked by a mule,

Head aiul back severely injured by a fall of roof, immediately after firing a blast,

Leg fractured twice below the knew by a fall of coal,

Both hands fearfully mangled by an explosion of a rock blast, the charge of which he was drilling out.

Severely injured in the body by being crushed by mine cars,

Body and leg severely injured by being crushed between amine car and pillar,

Leg fractured by being knocked oil a trestling by a mine locomotive,

Leg fractured by a piece of coal falling on him while mining it out. .

Hips severely injured by falling in front of a trip of cars which ran over him

Three ribs fractured and back injured by a fall of roof,

Seriously injured by a blast which hung tire, but exploded on his re- turning to it,

Hip severely injured by being crushed between a mine car and prop, .

Back and bhoulder seriously injured by fall of coal from side of pillar,

Leg fractured near the thigh by being crushed between two trips of mine cars on a branch,

Back, head, and shoulder severely injured by being crushed by mine cars,

Leg amputated above the ankle, and the other foot severely cut, caused by cars running away,

Leg fractured by a fall of roof— amputated,

Face, shoulder, and side severely injured by being crushed by a mine car,

Leg fractured, and otherwise injured by a fall of top coal,

Knee-cap dislocated and body injured by a fall of roof,

Back and chest severely injured by a fall of top coal,

Hand severely crushed by coal rushing out from a chute,

Foot crushed and ankle bone fractured by fall of roof— foot amputated.

Head, face, and leg severely injured by a fall of roof immediately af- ter tiring a blast,

Leg fractured below the knee by the "tip-up" on top of the shaft falling back on him,

Leg fractured by a fall of coal which he was mining out after a blast,

Leg and arm fractured by a fall of roof,

Leg fractured below the knee by a fall of top coal,

Legs severely injured by being crushed between mine oars and pillar,

Back and hips severely injured by a fall of roof,

Head and neck seriously injured by mine rail flying up and striking him, caused by " rider coal" falling on one end of it,

Reports of tiie Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

TABLE No. 2—

Name of Person Injured.

Name of Colliery,

Location of Colliery.

Jul)- 2i

Aug

5S

Sept

0J

fit

6S

Oct.

Nov. 5

Dec. 2

James Teben, . . .

Samuel Hutchings, Anthony Gannten, Edward Davies, Mich1] Reddingten, Henry Clark, . . . John Walsh, . . . .

Ed. A. Richards, . Patrick Hart, . . . George Telford, . . Joseph Williams, . Thomas Davies, . . Patrick Kelley,] . .

James Loflus, . . .

John Evans, . . . . Edward Drury, . .

Jeremiah Thomas, Daniel Williams, . William Morris, . Dennis Derrig, . . Anthony Gibbons, Richard McHale, . Hugh Murray, . .

Owen Quinn, . . .

David Reese, . . .

Martin Williams, .

Patrick Sullivan, .

William Ilofman, Richard Lewis, . .

Thomas P. Reil, . .

James Donohue, . John Craig, . . . . Frederick Beber, . Stephen Riber, Thomas CostellO, . Michael Flcmming.

Michael Seanlon, . Patrick Lyden, jr. Patrick O'liara, .

Anthony McGoff, .

David Kennedy, .

No. 3 shaft, . . . ,

Pierce colliery, . Eddy (.'reek shaft, Central shaft, . . Law's shaft, . . . Jermyn's shaft, . No. 10 New shaft,

Cayuga shaft, . , Cayuga shaft, . . Twin shaft, . . . Sloan shaft, . . . No. 2 Diamond shaft Green Ridge slope, .

Coal Brook colliery,

Brisbin shaft, . Bellevue slope,

No. 2 Diamond shaft,

Sloan shaft,

Eddy Creek shaft, . Gipscy Grove colliery Stark shaft, . . . Eddy Creek shaft, Filer colliery, . . .

Meadow Brook tunnel.

Taylor shaft, Pyne's shaft, Sibley shaft, .

Green Ridge slope, . . Leggett's Creek shaft,

Tripp's slope,

Phoenix shaft,

White Oak colliery, . Grei n Ridge slope, . .

Roaring Brook shaft, Coal Brook colliery, . No. 4 shaft,

Green Ridge slope, . .

Sibley shaft,

Roaring Brook shaft,

Bellevue shaft,

No. 2 Diamond shaft,

Dunmore borough, . . . .

Arehbald borough, . . . . Olyphant borough, . . . .

Hyde Park,

Pittston township, . . . .

Scranton city

Pittston borough, . . . .

Providence,

Providence,

Pittston borough, . . . . Lackawanna township, .

Hyde Park,

Dunmore borough, . . . .

Carbondale City,

Providence,

Lackawanna township, .

Hyde Park,

Lackawanna township, . Olyphant borough, . . . . Dunmore borough, . . . . Pleasant Valley borough, Olyphant borough, . . . . Wintou borough,

Scranton city,

Taylorville,

Old Forge township, . . .

Old Forge township, . . .

Dunmore borough, . . . . Providence,

Hyde Park,

Pittston township, . . . . Arehbald borough, . . . . Dunmore borough, . . . . Dunmore borough, . . . .

( larbondale City,

Jenkins township, . . . .

Dunmore borough, . . . . Old Forge township, . . . Dunmore borough, . . . .

Lackawanna township, .

Hyde Park,

Ex. Doc] Contin ierl.

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

Remarks on Extent of Injury and Cause of Accident.

Hips and body severely injured by coal from a blast fired through a pillar, without warning, by Richard Ro we, (

Arm fractured and otherwise injured by a f4ll of roof

Back and shoulders severely injured by a fall of roof,

Head severely injured by being- crushed between mine cars,

Collar bone fractured by a fall of roof,

Foot crushed by being caught in switch, and mine car running over it.

Leg severely injured by falling under a culm car while trying to un- hitch li is mule, .

Head seriously injured by coal falling from top to bottom of shaft, . .

Head seriously injured in the same in inner, time and place,

Leg fractured below the knee by a fall of roof,

Thigh fractured and otherwise seriously injured by a fall of roof . . .

Arm severely injured and thumb cut oft' by falling under a mine car.

Arm fractured near the shoulder, anil otherwise injured by being caught in machinery in the breaker,

Leg fractured below the knee by being crushed between a mine car and a door,

Rack and body severely injured by being crushed by mine cars, . .

Head ami body seriously injured by being dragged by bis mule, be having fallen off, and his foot being fast in the harness, .

Leg fractured by being crushed between mine cars, '. .

Leg fearfully mangled by being crushed between mine cars,

Leg fractured by being run over by a mine car,

Leg fractured by a fall of roof immediately after firing a blast, . . . .

Leg fractured below the knee by a fall of coal, . . . .

Both bus fractured, and otherwise severely injured by a fill of coal, .

Breast severely injured by a blow from a drill, with which he was b IX- ring down coal, . .

Leg fractured above the knee by a large piece of coal rolling over and catching him against a car, . . . . .

Leg fractured by coal sliding and catching him against the bumper of a mine car ... . . . . .

Eye knocked out by a piece of coal flying from coal which he was bar- ring down, . . ...

Foot severely crushed by fall of a "bell " from roof— accident hap- pened on the lOth, . ,.

Foot and leg severely injured by a fill of roof,

Head and arm seriously injured byeoal flying from a blast, by return- in;;' before the blast exploded

Hip dislocated by being crushed between cars, upon which he was riding. ...

Leg fractured by being crushed by a mine car,

('best seven Iv injured by being crushed between mine car and pillar.

Head severely injured by a fall of roof,

Leg fractured by a fall of coal,

Leg fractured below the knee by a fall of roof,

Leg fractured by carriage being hoist d to the sheave wheel, and the

rope breaking, . . .

Body severely injured by lit ing crushed by mine ears,

Leg fractured below the knee by being crushed by mine cars, . . .

Leg fractured, and otherwise injured by returning to a blast before it

exploded, . .

Four fingers crushed by being run over by a car which he was sprag-

Several ribs fractured, and otherwise injured by a fall of roof, . . . .

13— Mine Rep.

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

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Luzerne And Carbon Counties,

South District.

To His Excellency Henry M. Hoyt,

Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania :

Sir: In presenting ray annual report, I regret exceedingly to state that the number of lives lost during the year 1878, has been four more than the preceding year.

The number of fatal accidents were twenty-six, and none fatal, seventy, resulting in the loss of thirty lives. The increase is partially attributable to the irregularity of the collieries working due to the dullness of the coal trade, and the anxiety of the men, working on contract, to accomplish as much work as possible during the few days worked in each month.

The accompanying tables briefly explains the nature and cause3 of these accidents, which, I trust, will prove satisfactory. The average number of months worked last year did not exceed four and a half, and the collieries that were advantaged by the most favorable circumstances under the re- striction of the coal combination worked about five to eight months. The tun- nage of coal marketed from this district for 187 8,was 2, 737, 58 1.1 2 tons against 3,768,530.14 tons for the corresponding period of 1877, showing a decline of 1,030,949.12 tons, equivalent to 27.36 per cent, decrease. The ratio of coal produced to each life sacrificed was 98,553 tons. The improvements in venti- lation are steadily progressing, and to enable }Tou to foim an opinion, I have prepared a table of the number of ventilating fans erected since the com- mencement of my term of office. These fans will produce adequate air, and there need be no defective ventilation if the parties in charge attend to their duties in conveying the air-currents to the face of the working places. Elsewhere in this report will be found a tabular statement of the abandoned mines in this district, giving the date when they commenced operation, when abandoned, number of years in operation, and the number of lifts sunk, together with such information, partaining to their condition at the time of abandonment, as could be obtained. Also accompanying this re- port will be found several cross sections of the coal basins, and sections showing when and how accident occurred, with my views thereon. It is needless to state here the contents of all the tables, and for further infor-

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 201

mation I would most respectfully refer you to the various tabulated state- ment in this report.

I remain your humble and obedient servant,

T. D. JONES, Inspector Coal Ilines. Hazleton, February 17, 1879.

Description Of Accidents.

Falls of Hoof and Sides.

Accident No. 1. — John Jenkins, miner, aged fifty-seven, was fatally in- jured by a fall of slate at Tresckow, No. 6, January 9. The deceased was employed at driving the airway, and while in the act of driving a cross- hole from the gangway into the airway a piece of clod fell on him, injuring him so severely that he died in a day or so after the accident. He was aware that the piece was bad, as he had cautioned others of the danger, and yet, unfortunately, he was caught himself.

Accident No. 2. — Patrick O'Donnell, miner, aged thirty, was fatally in- jured bjT a fall of coal at Spring Brook, No. 5, January 31. O'Donnell was working in a breast, and at the time of the accident was baring down loose coal, after firing a blast, when a slip of coal fell on his hip knocking him against the but-end of the drill, which struck him in the abdomen. He died from the effects the same evening. His working place was well center-propped, and from the general indications would consider him a careful miner.

Accident No. 6. — Charles Rule, miner, aged forty, was instantly killed by a fall of slate in the Wharton gangway, in East Sugar Loaf, No. 4, February 20. He had drilled a hole in the slate to blast it down, but de- ferred firing the hole until he had mined two cars of coal from the face of the gangway. Dui'ing the interval, the slate got loose, caused by a stream of water issuing between the slate and top rock, and when he went to sound the slate it fell on him, resulting as stated. The laborer said that the mine boss had been there the preceeding day, and gave them positive orders not to do any more work on the face till he had blasted the slate down, but as the miner was anxious to finish loading the two cars, they kept dodging the defective piece in going back and forth from the face of the gangway.

Accident No. 8 — Conrad Zell, miner, aged fifty-three, w.is fatally in- jured in Cranberry mines by a fall of coal off the pillar, and died in two days afterwards. The breast was pitching about twenty-five degrees, and had been driven up to the old gangway driven from Crystal Ridge col- liery. When he reached his place of working, early in the morning, the loose coal, which was evidentally ready to fall, came tumbling down the breast. His son, who was laboring for him, hastened up the breast, and found his father lying part-way down the breast with his brains oozing out. The boy said that his father did not have time to commence to

208 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [Xo. 10,

work from the time he left him until he heard the coal rushing clown the breast, consequent the coal must have been on the eve of falling when he arrived on the fatal spot. The breast was up sixty-five yards from the gangwa}T, and nine yards wide, and was not unusually dangerous.

Accident Xo. 9. — Andrew Keichner, miner, aged thirty, was instantly killed by a fall of roof, at Council Ridge, Xo. 2, March 27. The breast was not unusually wide, and the top rock very good. The portion that fell was what is termed the clod, and varies in thickness in different locali- ties. It adheres to the top rock, and is sometimes very hard to take down. The only suggestion I would offer in this case was to work on the top benches first, which would afford an opportunity of securing the top or roof; but as this mode of working requires more blasting, it is natural to presume tint the majority of the impracticable miners will resort to the easiest way of making coal, irrespective of danger, if permitted to do so by the mine boss.

Accident Xo. 10. — Patrick Sullivan, miner, aged forty, was fatally in- jured by a fall of coal at Hazleton mines, April 1. At the time of the accident, the deceased was drilling a hole in the face of his breast in the four foot bench of coal, while his partner was trimming down the four and seven feet benches. His partner thought he heard the coal " work " or crushirg, and he jumped back from the face to escape the fall, and was caught in the attempt. Had he remained at the face, the accident would not have occurred, for there was ample room between the face and the piece that fell. The place had the appearance of being a very safe place to work in.

Accident Xo. 11. — Henry Warner, miner, aged forty-two instantly killed by a fall of coal, at Council Ridge, Xo. 2. The deceased was driving up a breast, in company with another man, and had mined too far on the bot- tom bench before trimming down the sides and blasting down the top coal. The vein was pitching about 20°, not sufficient to carry a manway, hence they were obliged to travel along the pillar to and from their breast. When the deceased and his partner saw that the hanging coal was likely to give, they began to wrangle among themselves to get out of the way, and while in the scuffle the coal fell, resulting as previously stated.

Accident Xo. 12. — Patrick Brislin, age thirty-five, was instantly killed by a fall of coal, while laboring in the gangway at Beaver Brook, Xo. 6. There were three shifts on this gangwa}r, in the twenty- four hours, and the preceding shift considered the coal that fell dangerous, had drilled a hole in it to blast it down, when the succeeding shift came then to relieve them, and not being informed of the dangerous character of the top, com- menced to work on the face. The deceased, in the meantime, had some business to go back from the face, and in the attempt the coal fell on him. In such cases as this, there ought, by all means, to be a mutual under- standing, at least, between the two miners when changing shifts, of the condition of their working place. It is a great trouble with gangwaj- men

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77 1 i 'i i 7 i T i I J

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. 209

to have them to timber the gangway as they advance, and is often deliyed until they go ahead the length of several sets of timbers, and during the interval very often an accident happens. I think it would be a charitable act on the part of the mine bosses to exact upon timbers being stood im- mediately where it is thought there exists the least suspicion of danger.

Accident No. 14. — John O'Donnell, miner, age forty, was fatally injured by a fall of the dividing slate at Cross Creek, No. 1. The deceased was in the act of barring down some loose coal, after firing a blast, when it happened. His laborer stated that k' they knew the piece to be bad, but they wanted to load the car before taking the slate down." Where the accident occurred, I considered it unusually safe, and if the miner had acted promptly in the matter to have taken down the defective piece when he knew it to be bad, instead of deferring the work, it is natural to sup- pose that the accident would not have happened. It is an undisputed fact that from twenty-five to thirty per cent, of the fatal accidents in this dis- trict, during 1878, can be traced to procrastination on the part of the suf- ferers, and I know of no way by which such frequent occurrences can be reduced than for the mine boss to exact, upon the least suspicion of dan- ger,, being immediately removed at any inconvenience to the person in danger.

Accident No. 10 — James H. James, miner, aged thirty-one, was instantly killed by a fall of coal at Psesquehoning, No. 3. Mr. James and his part- ner had fired a blast in their breast, and remained in their manway for a space of time to allow time for the disturbed coal to settle. After the lapse of about fifteen minutes, they entered the breast and walked back along the manways, one on each side, to examine the execution of the blast, and with the intention of re-starting to work. They had scarcely been their five minutes, when they heard a loud report of the coal crushing, and both jumped forward towards the face of the breast, and James was caught in the attempt and crushed beneath the falling mass. According to meas- urements, the coal that fell weighed about eleven tons. The condition of the breast indicated that the deceased was very careful, and a practical miner.

Accidents Nos. 18 and 19. — William McFadden and John O'Donnell, ages twenty-five and nineteen, respectively, were instantly killed by a fall of roof in Spring Moantain Colliery, No. 5, July 3, 1878. Between the top rock and the coal, there is a slate varying in thickness from five inches to three feet, termed " clod " by the miner. This clod is very treacherous, and often falls without giving the least warning. I have known miners to make several ineffectual attempts to bar it down, and, perhaps, in course of half an hour, it would fall of its own gravity. Again it is very deceiving in the manner in which it makes its appearance. Sometimes forming the shape of a wedge, increasing in thickness and thining in like manner, and will drop down without giving any indications of falling. It is presumable, that this accident could have been avoided if the miners and mine boss had used Mine Rep. — 14

210 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

the necessary precaution, in center-propping their place along the portion of the pillar excavated, from Xo. 1 on section, to the face of "skip." This, at least would have given them warning that danger was pending.

This breast contained three "clods " or bench of slate next to the top rock. The first, next to the coal, is about five inches thick ; the second, one foot, and the third, two feet thick. The first clod is taken down as the miner advances on his working place, but the second clod is generally center-propped, but in course of time the slate becomes deteriorated by the action of the atmosphere, and breaks around the head of the props, and they become of no available use for the support of the third clod.

An inquest was held by Hugh McGarvey, Esq., acting coroner, when it was elicited that they had frequenthr sounded the roof and found " it like an anvil, and that they did not apprehend any danger whatever." This is a misteiy to me, why the}7 should sound the roof so often and find it " per- fectly safe," when the next day or so it fell, covering an area of about three thousand square feet, and weighing about one hundred and fifty tons, unless they did suspect danger. One of the laborers stated that the pillar was crushing, and that they thought that it was only the second " clod " was causing it to crush. Hence, if it was only the second clod, it certainly indicated danger independent of the third clod, or that above it, and should have been taken down or adequately center-propped. When a breast nearly sixty feet wide comes to be worked, when the top is as treacherous as it was in this case, it is not surprising to hear tell of accidents.

To understand the situation more fully, I have prepared a map of the scene of the accident, giving the condition of the works at the time of the accident, which I think will assist any one acquainted with mining, to re- alize the situation.

Accident Xo. 20. — Richard E. Thomas, aged eighteen, laboring for his father in the gangway, at Upper Lehigh, Xo. 4, was killed by a fall of roof, August 6, 1878. The mine boss, on entering the gangway, noticed a de- fective piece of "clod," and requested the miner to take it down, for fear it would fall on him. So he went immediately to work and put a blast in it, and the hole failed to do its execution, and they made several ineffectual attempts to bar it down and failed. The father, becoming discouraged, sent lor his other two sons, who were working in a breast, to assist him. He and his four sons worked at it till two o'clock in the afternoon, and failed, and gave it up in despair ; so they re-commenced to work on the face, (in the meantime cautioning the boys not to go in proximity to the defective piece,) intending to fire a blast on the face, and then go home, leaving the place to settle till the next morning. After the hole was drilled, the father went back to the supply-box, to make a cartridge of powder, and during the interval one of the boys commenced to fill the car, shoveling right under the defective piece, and scarcely had thrown two shovelsfull into the car, when it fell on him, resulting in his immediate death.

Accident Xo. 25. — Daniel Gallagher, laborer, aged twent}'-two, was in-

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 211

stantly killed, at Beaver Brook, No. 6, October 18, 1878. Gallagher was laboring for a miner, and had just finished loading a car, when he and the miner concluded to sit down and take a smoke, right under some coal which they had, a few minutes previous, been trying to bar down, and in the meantime it fell, seriously injuring the miner, and resulting as stated, to the laborer. The indications of the face of the breast and along the pillar was sufficient to warn them that any coal hanging overhead, unsup- ported, was extremely dangerous, owing to the water cracks in the coal. The breast was eighteen feet from the gangway, twenty feet wide, and the vein niue and one half feet thick. Many are ready to say that the in- spectors are too apt to blame the miner, when an accident happens to their laborer. Now, according to the construction put upon the law, the miner must care for his laborer, as well as for himself, and any accident that his laborer may receive, through his recklessness, he deserves more than cen- sure.

Accident No. 27. — John Bonner, miner, age thirty-five, was instantly killed at Oak Dale Slope, No. 2, by a fall of coal, November 14, 1878. The deceased and his partner had fired a blast in the four-feet bench of coal, after which they went to take dinner; and, after returning, the deceased's partner commenced to bar the loose coal, after the shot, when deceased called to him to stop until he would rake or pull some loose coal into the chute, and when in the act of doing so, about four tons of the seven-feet bench fell, with the above result. The breast was up sixty-six feet from the gangway and twenty-four feet wide, pitching 25°.

Explosions of Carbureted Gas.

Accidents No. 29 and 30. — Owen Garrighan, miner, and Benjamin Griffiths, fire boss, ages forty-one and forty-five respectively, were fatally injured by the wind blowing them against the mine cars and timbers, caused by an explosion of carbureted hydrogen gas in shaft No. 1, Room Run, located at Nesquehoning, November 20, 1878. The explosion was at- tributed to one of the miners opening his safety-lamp in a place where none but such were permitted to be used, not from any inadequacy of ven- tilation, but due to the liability of an outburst of gas. Owing to the dangerous character of this part of the mine, I had exacted upon the most rigid discipline being carried into execution. Only eight men were allowed to work in this district, including the fire boss and teamster. The fire boss was there to test the gas and satisfy himself, before any blasting by any one, that it was safe to do so, and I am credibly informed that it was invariably done. The men had the utmost confidence in him as fire boss. I was through this district on the 17th of October, about a month preceding the explosion, and every thing apparently was as usaul. The ventilation on that day measured, near the face of the gangway, four thou- sand six hundred and fifty7 cubic feet per minute for eight men, or about five hundred and eighty-one cubic feet for each person employed. The

212 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [Xo. 10,

temperature seldom exceed sixty degrees, summer or winter, at the face of the gangway, and the difference between the inside and outside temper- atures (due to various causes in the mines) was from five degrees to ten degrees. After I arrived at the shaft, I examined all the safety-lamps, and found them in good condition, except one that was missing, which was Joseph Trewick's. When we reached the scene of the explosion, a search was instituted for the lamp referred to, and when found, it was unscrewed, but otherwise was in as good condition as the rest. This of course re- vealed the nrysteiy, and everybody seemed to be satisfied as to the cause of the explosion. I have made a map of that portion of the workings where the explosion occurred, together with notes of reference, which I trust will be satisfactory.

At the time of the explosion, this gangway consisted of about four breasts, drawing out loose coal, and two chutes being opened, the gangway having been discontinued, owing to their being sufficient room to open breast. This vein has always been very troublesome to work and ventilate. The vein pitches very rapidly, as can be seen by the profile, and the coal is of a shelly nature, which makes it almost impossible to carry man ways along the pillar much further up the breast than ten to twent} yards from the battery. After this distance is attained, the breast generally runs, and the miner has nothing to do but to draw out the loose coal. Conse- quently to ventilate the face of these breasts it takes the skill of the most experts, as the vein does not out-crop, but forms an anticlinal, and another basin to the south. Two air holes have been driven from the gangway to the top of the anticlinal, and abandoned at that point, for reasons that the " cap-rock " was considered too thick (one hundred and fifty feet) to drive to the surface.

I have suggested to the superintendent to put down a series of bore- holes from the surface, to tap the old workings, to liberate any standing gas that might have accumulated in the old breasts, with some other im- provements. They have made a thorough surve}7, of the locality, in order to determine upon the most feasible plan of ventilating this gangway in conjunction with tunnel No. 2. This explosion, I presume, was caused by the gas coming from the outside chute, (No. 4 on map,) and igniting from Trewick's naked light, at P, on map, as the lamp was found at that point, as peviously stated. The evidence given at the inquest, and from what I seen by personal observations, justifies this conclusion, and that it was sheer recklessness on the part of Trewick deliberately exposing his naked light in a place so imminently dangerous. The men had remonstrated with him the day preceding, and the morning of the explosion, not to be so careless about exposing his naked lamp, and the replay they received was : Oh, there is no danger." Now, if these men, who saw him open his lamp in the morning, before the explosion, had chased him out of the place, which they had a perfect right to do, or had informed the fire boss or the mine boss, and had him discharged, or placed somewhere else in the mines,

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Mammoth Seam

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Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 213

where there was no fire damp, it is reasonable to presume that two live might have been saved. Accompanying my report will be found a copy of the inquisition held by John II. Harris, justice of the peace.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,) C'ai'bon County, )

An inquisition indented and taken at Nesquehoning, in the county of Carbon, the 21st day of November, A. D. 1878, before me, John R. Har ris, a justice of the peace in and for the county of Carbon, upon view of the bodies of Owen Garraghan and Benjamin Griffith, then and there lying dead. Upon oath of Patrick Lawler, Owen McGorry, William Siddle, Richard Branch, Stephen Griffith, and Jacob Buss, good and lawful men of the count}- aforesaid, who being duly sworn to inquire on the part of the Commonwealth when, where, how, and after what manner the said Owen Garraghan and Benjamin Griffith came to their death, do say that on the 20th day of November, A. D. 1878, at Nesquehoning, and in the county aforesaid, by injuries received by an explosion of gas or fire-damp in West "Fifty- foot" gangway, shaft No. 1, came to their death.

(Mines owned and worked by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com- pany, and known as Colliery No. 3.)

Testimony.

Phillip Coyle, sworn :

I am a miner. Was in West Fifty-foot gangway, shaft No. 1, at time of explosion. Safety -lamps were always kept in good condition. When we had occasion to blast always called the fire-boss. Would not fire a hole when there was fire-damp in battery ; but never fired a hole when we suspected gas, unless by permission of the fire-boss. When there was no apparent danger, -would fire without telling the fire-boss. The fire-boss al- ways examined eveiy breast in the morning before the men went to work, and pronounced things safe or apprised the men of any danger. Did not see any indications of fire at time of explosion. When I closed the sheet the air circulated up the inside chute, thence through the cross-cut, and down the inside chute to the gangway. I am sure the gas did not ignite with me. After the explosion, heard a groan. Went at once to Joseph Treweek. Asked him who exploded the gas. He told me he did ; but how it happened he could not tell, unless the lamp exploded. Had eight lengths on one side and nine on other. Breast run at that point. Used nothing but safety lamps in this gangway. Were never opened during working hours, and only could be opened by the fire-boss.

Philip Coyle. Joseph Treweek, affirmed, (lying in bed :)

1 did not find any sulphur in my breast in the morning, but found it awhile before the explosion. I came down from chute because my light was out. To the best of my knowledge I unscrewed my lamp while com- ing dowui chute, and while on the way down the explosion occurred. I do not know what caused the explosion as my light was out. I did not tell

214 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

Philip Coyle that I exploded the gas, but said that a lamp must have ex- ploded somewhere. Do not know what become of my lamp after the explo- sion, but before the explosion had lamp apart with bottom part in one hand and top part in other, but no light in lamp, jumped down from chute to- ward gangway to call for light. Always tested the gas before blasting. The fire-boss chastised me once for blasting while the driver was coming in, but I was not aware the driver was coming in the gangway at the time. I believe the fire-bos salways examined the breasts in his gangway before the men went to work in the morning. Never saw any one in this gang- way with a naked light. The sulphur put my lamp out. The bod}*- of sul- phur came from the outside.

liis

Joseph X Treweek.

mark.

Morgan Jenkins, sworn :

I am a miner. Work in West fifty-foot shaft, No. 1. Was working there at time of explosion. Safety lamps were always kept in good con- dition. When I had occasion to blast, always called on fire-boss. Never fired a hole when there was gas in battery. When explosion took place I was back in gangway to get drink of water. Did not see the fire coming, onty experienced the concussion. Benjamin Griffiith and Owen Garrahan were found about fifty feet apart after explosion. Both of those men died after being taken home from the injuries received. I cannot tell what caused the explosion, as I was outside, and the gas was ignited inside. I believe a very large body of gas was ignited, and onty by a naked light being brought in contact with fire damp. Found Joseph Treweek's lamp down on the gangway opposite the chute unscrewed or apart. The gauze was about six inches from the lamp. The fire boss always examined the places before the men went to work in the morning. I went with him m}Tself on the morning of explosion. Joseph Treweek was also with us. If the gas had exploded in Philip Coyle's place he would have been roasted ; but he was not burned at all.

Morgan Jenkins. John Cox, sworn :

T am a driver. Was in West fifty-foot gandway at time of explosion. Safety lamps were always kept in good condition. Was coupling my trip under Patrick Dermott's chute when explosion occurred. Did not see any fire. Experienced the shock. How it was put off or who did it I cannot tell. Benjamin Griffith was standing by my side when the gas went off. He was thrown under the cars that I was coupling. Owen Garrahan was found a short distance from where Benjamin Griffith was thrown. There was good air in the gangwa}r that day. Found Joseph Treweek's lamp on gangway opposite chute unscrewed. The gauze was quite close to the lamp. Don't think the lamp could have been thrown in the position in which it was found by the concussion. It appeared as though the lamp had been placed in position to light. The gas never ignited in my lamp

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 215

while I was in the gangway. I leave my naked light outside the work- ings of this gangway and exchange it for a safety lamp. There were eight men working in this district. Benjamin Griffith, fire-boss, had charge of the district, and was responsible for the safety of the men. The safety lamps were all numbered. Each man had his number.

John Cox.

Owen Clarke, sivorn :

I am a laborer. Work in shaft, timbering on night shift, in district where fire occurred. Philip Coyle handed me a lamp (that had been stuck in his shirt bosom) when I went in to assist in getting men out. Lamp was not unscrewed. I was four or five hundred yards back in gangway from point of explosion. Went into where explosion took place. Always used a safety-lamp when timbering in this district.

Owen Clark.

Patrick Dermott, sivorn :

I am a miner. Was working in West fifty-foot on clay of explosion. Had gone back toward bottom five or six hundred yards when I heard ex- plosion. I immediately returned, and assisted in taking out Owen Gar- rahan about one hundred and fifty yards, then returned and assisted in taking out Joseph Treweek. Staid with him until he got home. I saw no light in gangway until I got in with the lamp I had. The explosion must have been caused by a hole being fired, or a naked light being brought into contact with the gas. There was gas in my battery that day. Ben- jamin Griffith, fire-boss, had informed me of that fact. Should my light go out in breast, would come down to gangway and find a safe place to light. Would not consider it safe to light a lamp any place, inside of place al- lowed for that purpose.

Patrick Dermott.

Matthew Duke, junior, sworn :

I am a laborer. Was in Owen McGorry's battery at time of explosion. Was thrown down battery. Called, and John Cox answered. Said to him there was a man lying in the gangway under chute. Went, in com- pany with John Cox and Philip Coyle, to where the person lay, and found it to be Owen Garraghan. When I first met Morgan Jenkins, could not say that he had a light in his lamp, but when I was with him awhile, knew he had a light. I assisted in getting Owen Garrahan home. I have no idea what caused the explosion. Have found gas in battery. If there is a great deal of gas, it puts the light out. I use the glass lamp, (Clanny.) I suppose the gas went off about or near Joseph Trewick's place. I think if the rules of working were properly carried out, it would be safe to work in this district. The fire boss, Benjamin Griffith, had from time to time instructed me to be careful. Would consider it dangerous to have both hands occupied while making my way down battery to gangway. Did not

216 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

hear Joseph Trewiek say what caused the explosion. Air was good in gangway.

Matthew Duke, junior.

William W. Watkins, sworn: I am inside boss at Shaft No. 1. Was in the West fifty-foot the day be- fore explosion. My instructions to Benjamin Griffith, fire-boss, was that he should go in and examine every place each morning, and if there was any apparent danger, come back to bottom of shaft and report same to me. There were six miners in this district. I believe the explosion is more power- ful when the gas is mixed with coal dust. When there is a great body of gas, the light in the "Canny" lamp goes out. I never knew a "Canny " lamp to explode. The light goes out in the " Canny " lamp, because there is not enough oxygen to support combustion. Never knew blaze to go through gauze, but think it might do so by a very strong current of air. I meas- ured the air last week, and found five thousand eight hundred and seventy- five (5,875) cubic feet per minute.

William W. Watkins.

Additional testimony elicited by the Mine Inspector, T. D. Jones. Philip McDonald, affirmed : Was in the West fifty- foot gangway day before explosion. Saw Joseph Treweek outside his chute, with safetj'-lamp unscrewed, and trimming the lamp, within the forbidden district. Morgan Jenkins was present at the time. I passed the remark that we could not ba too careful. I thought it was wrong for him to do that. The thought did not occur to me, at that time, to report the occurrence.

Philip McDonald.

Morgan Jenkins' statement corroborates the above testimony, and states that he saw Joseph Treweek with his lamp unscrewed, trimming the wick, and made the remark to him that if he did not be more careful he would have a new skin put on him before long ; also saw him with his lamp un- screwed the morning of the accident, before the explosion. I did not like to report him. Thought it a duty involved on me to do so, " but you know the way it is." I will guarantee you that I will report any such vio- lation hereafter.

We, the undersigned jurors, find that Owen Garrahan and Benjamin Griffith came to their death on the 20th day of November, A. D. 1878, by injuries received from an explosion of gas or fire-damp, (in West "fifty- foot " gangway shaft No. 1, collier}' No. 3, worked by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company,) on the above date. The said explosion was caused, we believe, by Joseph Treweek, who, while in the act of lighting his lamp in the gangway, within a forbidden district, ignited the gas. Said act was a violation of the company's rules.

In witness whereof, as well the aforesaid justice of the peace as the

)

Map Sm

€Off DITIIONI OF PORT l GANGWAY 111 SHIArT

TIME ©F THE EXPLfl

SCALE, IOiF

reference:

S -Chute .

- Cross- holes from gangway to airway

H —Chate, jaxl finished- ho Treviek.

P- Jthere Trerick'.s safety lamp was found opened .

M- Morgan Jenkins chute.

D frnere Gairaghan was found, .

C- WTtem the fire boss and lea in shrs were .

standing ot lime of explosion l~— Jlliere fire boss was found under Ike raps, a - Sheets on gangway. V— Air pipes lofactaf 'gangway. Al-Jlirrvag G- Gangway.

~*fJirect?loji of air anrre nls E-Baltcnj.

T.D.Jones, Inspector Of Mine

Iwing Thje

Ii ©Ft Hie Wist Soft. Room Ruhu A\T The Iiion November 2Cmb7B.

Vt. To An Inch.

Section Through A-B

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 211

jurors aforesaid, have to this inquisition put their hands and seals on the

day and year, and at the place first above mentioned.

John R. Harris, J. P. Patrick Lawler, Foreman. Owen McGorry, William Siddle, Richard Bratjch, Stephen Griffith, Jacob Buss,

Jurors.

Explanatory Notes to the Accompanying Map.

The air circulates in through the gangway, up the breasts, and out through the air-way to the outlet.

Opposite each chute is a sheet, made of strong canvas, and well-tarred, which is placed across the gangway to force as much air as is required up each chute, and if the breast generates a large quantity of gas, a hole is driven from the air-way to the battery, (see section through line AB on map,) and the foul air was instantly disposed of by being conveyed di- rectly into the return air-way. At breast No. 1, on map, it can be seen that the air current only circulates to the battery. This is owing to the breast having run, closing the man-ways. At breast No. 4, it is intended to show the manner in which the air travels before the breast commences to "run." In this case the air circulates up the outside chute to the face of the breast, and down the inside man-way, through the second chute, to the gangway, thence to the return air-way. As long as the man-ways can be continued up the breast, there is not the last difficulty in ventilating the breastings. The map only exhibits that portion of the gangway where the explosion occurred. The gangway leads directly from the shaft, and the return air-way leads directly to the outlet, and is ventilated, independent of any other part of the workings, by a twelve-foot diameter fan, driven by a horizontal engine. At the time of the explosion, the fire- boss and teamster were standing at C, on map, bumping the trip of cars together, and after the explosion the fire-boss was found under the front car, at F. Garrighan, who was the worst of the two, was standing be- tween the hind part of the trip and the explosion, was found at D, (see map.)

It should have been stated that two keg3 of powder exploded when the gas ignited, which I believe was the cause of those two men's deaths. This information was elicited after the inquest was held.

On Slope and by Hoisting Machinery.

Accidents Nos. 21 and 22. — David D. Williams and John Sweeney, ages sixt}five and thirty-four, respectively, were fatally injured at Cross Creek Colliery, No. 1, August 6, 1878. Williams was employed at oiling the cars at the bottom of the slope, and Sweeney was on his way to his work,

218 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

crossing the bottom of the slope at the time of the occurrence. The empty- cars are not let down this slope, but are run into the mines by a gravity road ; hence it is necessary to have a truck to take the rope back to the bottom after hoisting the car. This truck is coupled to the hind end of the loaded car and hoisted to the top, where it is uncoupled and the hoist- ing rope hitched to it and again is sent down. This is repeated for every car hoisted. At the time of the accident, the loaded car jumped the track when about midway in the slope, and by the car jolting on the sills or railroad ties, the truck uncoupled itself and ran back, keeping the road all the way down the slope even around a very short curve at the bottom, and killed the men at a point of about twelve feet inside of the line of the slope pillar, where they had ran to secrete themselves. It is very mysterious how the truck kept the track, and going part way around a curve (seventy- five feet radius,) with such fearful speed, instead of keeping the straight track. Since this accident, men are forbidden to cross the bottom of the slope while the cars are in motion.

By Premature Blasts.

Accidents Nos. 3 and 4. — Earnest Kich and George Weaver, both miners, ages thirty-five and thirty-two, respectively, were found dead in their breast at East Sugar Loaf Colliery, No. 5, February 23. It is presumed they were killed by a premature blast. The colliery was not working on the above date, and they went in to blast some coal preparatory to resuming work, and as they were not home at the usual time, suspicion was aroused, and a search was instituted, and upon entering the breast, both were found dead. The indications were, that the match held fire, and when they en- tered the breast, via of the cross-cut, the blast went off, resulting in their death. A coroner's inquest was held, and the jury rendered a verdict of accidental death.

Accident No. 23. — John O'Donnell, miner, aged thirty, working at Buck Mountain slope, No. 6, was instantly killed by a blast, October 4, 1818. The deceased and his partner had drilled three feet two inches of a hole, and had tamped it, and a patent squib inserted into the blasting tube with about nine inches of a cotton match attached. Before firing the hole, they desired to have the laborer to push a "buggy " past their chute, and one of the miners went to help him. When they had pushed it about ten feet outside of the chute, the blast went off. Now, as to the cause of the ig- nition of the blast, it is only conjectured that the deceased's lamp came in contact with match or squib. The hole did not do any execution except to blow out the tamping, which struck him on the side of the head, scat- tering his brains in all directions. This is one of those accidents which cannot be accounted for, other than that given above. From the indica- tions it would appear to me that he was sitting with his back towards the hole, under the blasting tube, which projected two feet from the mouth of the hole, and his lamp came in contact with the squib or match, igniting the same.

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 219

Miscellaneous Underground.

Accident No. 17. — John "W. Green, mine locomotive engineer, at Eber- vale No. 2, was fatally injured June 2, by a car jumping the track, knocking out two sets of timbers, which fell on Green. There were five other per- sons on the engine at the time, some of which narrowly escaped sharing the same fate. The facts elicited at the examination were, that the engine was running faster than usual. The engineer started from the turnout to the bottom of the slope with ten loaded cars. The engine was pushing the cars, and about midway in the gangwa}r, the car next to the engine jumped the track, loosening two sets of timbers which fell on the engine, when on the backward motion, after being reversed by the engineer. The speed of these mine locomotives varies from five to eight miles per hour, with a trip of ten loaded cars, including car and coal; grade, five inches in one hundred feet.

I offered the suggestion of decreasing the speed, and increasing the load.

Tjy Mine Cars.

Accident No. 7. — James Jones, aged eighteen, was fatally injured, at Highland, No. 1, March 20, and died March 22. The deceased was riding on the side of the car, and at a place pretty narrow in the gangway he was crushed between the car and timbers. It was not considered danger- ous at first ; but inflammation having set in, it resulted in his death in two days afterwards.

Miscellaneous Underground.

Accident No. 5. — Adam Aby, aged forty-eight, was fatally injured at the stripping of the coal, at Coleraine, March 8. The deceased was em- ployed at the stripping, i. e., taking the surface off the coal. It appears that he was very venturesome, and would go in under the clay when, apparently, it was ready to fall. The superintendent, the clay preceding the accident, removed him to another part of the pit for fear that the hanging clay would fall on him. The teamster, who was working at the place at the time, stated that the deceased came to him and told him to come out from under the lump, as he did not want to see him leave a widow, as for him- self, he had nobody to care for. After he was taken home, he said that if he had done as the superintendent had bade him he would be all right.

Accident No. 13. — Clinton McMurtrie, aged seventeen, was killed at breaker No. 9, Panther Creek valley. May 24. The boy was employed as "Patch," i. e., doing a little of everything about the breaker. During noon hour, on the above date, he was assisting the driver to haul coal from the breaker to the boiler-room, and while in the act of turning the T of the drop-gate of the transportation car, it is presumed, (as there was no one there at the time, the driver having gone to dinner,) that the wrench slipped while turning the T, precipitating him through the car into the pea-coal bin. He was not missed until the breaker had quit work, when a search was instituted, when he was found dead underneath the coal, with

220 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

his neck broken. A coroner's inquest was held, and the jury rendered a verdict of accidental death.

Accident No. 15. — William Timoney, aged fifty-five, was fatally injured by falling over the trestling at Buck Mountain, No. 7, June 1. Timoney was employed at unhitching the cars on top of the slope, on the night shift. I was credibly informed that the deceased was near-sighted, and while strolling around, fell over the side of the trestling, causing internal injuries, from which he died the following day. The question might be asked, wt was there no guide-rail on the side of the trestling ? The only answer I give to such interrogatories is, that the trestling was in course of construction. At any rate, there was nine feet of space from the track to the edge of the trestling, affording ample room for him to do his work. Since the completion of the trestling, a guide-rail has been put on.

Accident No. 24. — John Strube, age twenty, was instantly killed while attempting to unhitch a car on top of the slope, at Cranberry mines, Oc- tober 17, 1878. The deceased was employed at running the empty cars to the top of the slope, and had changed places with the unhitcher. The men working there supposed that he lost his equilibrium, while in the act of unhitching, and fell under the car. when he was crushed between the car and the rope roller. He was considered very active, and had frequently unhitched before. It is customary, at all collieries, to have an extra hand, who is familiar with any kind of work around the mines, and I am credi- bly informed that this man was practicing to unhitch at the time.

Accident No. 26. — Andrew Nuk, age eighteen, driver on the slate bank at Upper Lehigh, No. 2, was fatalby injured by falling under the car, No- vember 13, 1878. The boy was bringing the empty car from the tip, and while endeavoriug to unhitch his mule, it is supposed, he fell under the car. It was stated that the mule had previously shied at some object, and jumped out of the track, causing the car to get off the road, hence it is presumed that the bo}r, fearing the same result, by the mule frightening, he attempted to unhitch him to prevent a recurrence. He died from the effects of his injuries the same evening.

Accicent No. 28. — William Finster, boy, aged fifteen, instantly killed, by falling into the pony rollers at breaker No. 5, Council Ridge, Novem- ber 20, 1878. The boy, with four others, two of whom were old men, were employed at picking the slate out of the coal, before it was put through the rolls, and during an interval, waiting for coal, the boy got up from his seat and walked to an accessible place of crossing the chute. It is sup- posed that he either slipped on the sheet-iron, or stumbled against the side of the chute, and was precipitated into the rolls, and was not missed until his hat was found by the boys, on the lower table. This created suspicion, and an alarm was given, when the breaker was stopped and the boy found in the screen. The coal was fed to these rolls from two opposite chutes, one of which projected over the other about two inches, and the heighth from the bottom to the top chute,, eleven inches by two feet ten inches wide,

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 221

and 15° pitch, equivalent to about two and six tenths square feet area. The diameter of the rolls, twenty inches ; length, three feet, with forged cast- steel teeth and parallel screw for adjusting the rolls to the size of coal re- quired, making, at the time, about one hundred and fifty revolutions per minute. The frequent changes, constantly occurring in breakers, by the fixing and re-building of chutes, and the repairing of machinery, often re- quires the temporary removal of the fencing or protection, and very often it is neglected being properly replaced, and resulting in the loss of life. Par- ties in charge cannot be too careful in seeing that the necessary protection is given to their operatives, and if this had been attended to in time, it is reasonable to conclude that the accident might have been avoided.

Improvements In And About The Mines.

The improvements in and about the collieries have not been very exten- sive during the past year, this is partially owing to the dullness of the coal trade. Nevertheless, I deem it proper to give a brief account of the improvements that have been made in this district during the past two years, as the same for the preceding year had been omitted for special reasons. Among the first and foremost in this line are the Coxe Bros. & Co., operating Cross Creek collieries, locate! at Drifton. The improve- ments that have been made in and about these mines excels anything that I have seen in connection with coal mining in the l-egion, the State not excepted.

To give a brief description of the collieries, I will commence with slope No. 2. This slope is sunk on the south dip of the Buck Mountain vein a distance of about four hundred and twenty-five feet, at which point the gangwa}-s are turned off' east and west of the slope. The inclination of the vein where the slope is sunk varies from 25° to 30°, but as the gang- ways advance from the slope, the pitch increases. The coal is dumped into what is called gun-boat or gondola, and will hold one car of coal, equivalent to about two tons, and hoisted direct to the top of the breaker, where the gondola dumps of itself. The dumps on this breaker are the latest got up, and will repay any one interested in coal-works to inspect them. The coal from the old drift workings is hoisted up on the third track in the slope, which extends from the mouth to the first lift. The empty cars, after being dumped, are run off on the trestling by a wing-bridge. This bridge is quite a piece of mechanism, and is as easily adjusted as the turning of a railroad switch, and will un- doubtedly take the place of the many rude contrivances now in use at other slopes, called "drop bridge." I have seen great delays caused by this old-fashion bridge, by cars getting off the track when taken off the slope, and the inconvenience caused by it costs annually the price of two, yes four, of the new bridges, and I would most cheerfully recommend its construction in lieu of the' old ones. We have had some fatal accidents caused by the old bridges, through the balance-pole breaking, and, with the

222 Reports of tiie Inspectors of Mines. [Xo. 10,

object of saving life, together with the convenience and safety of the wing- bridge, I deem it my imperative duty to advocate its erection wherever it is needed. The empty cars, after they are run off on the trestling, are hauled into the mines (first lift workings) by a mine locomotive, down a slant gangway, and, when loaded, are pushed to the bottom of the first life, from whence they are hoisted on the third track to the breaker. The en- gine returns to the surface for another trip of cars, and everything moves along like clock-work. The capacity of this colliery has not yet been de- termined, but I would estimate it about one thousand tons per day of pre- pared coal.

The Ventilation.

This is produced by two twenty-foot diameter fans, built of wrought- iron casing. The fan engines are direct acting, the size of which are 16//X24//, working horizontally. These fans have not yet been tested, but as they are built on the Guibal plan, and of the very best material, doubtless they will excel any other fan in my district. Mr. Ooxe and myself had intended testing the capacity of these fans, but owing to tbe difficulty of obtaining an indicator, I have concluded to postpone the test until next summer. Suffice it to say, the ventilation is adequate.

Desciption of the Breaker.

This breaker contains all the modern devices for the preparation of coal, and I do not propose to give a detailed account of each piece of ma- chinery it possesses. The screens, the breaker rollers, the jeg3 for sepa- rating the slate from the coal, and the new dumps are very complete. Also the protection put around the machinery, to prevent the bo}-s from being hurt, is not left unnoticed, and, indeed, this is a very important con- sideration. The improvements in machinery at this colliery, i. e. hoisting engines. The dimensions are as follows : For hoisting out of the lower lift, one pair of first motion engines; length of stroke, six feet; diameter of cylinder, twenty-two inches ; diameter of drum, ten feet, with an 8"X 15" steam brake attached, and a two-inch diameter speaking tube ex- tends from the engineer to the bottom of the slope, and another to the top of the breaker. Dimensions of engines for hoisting out of the first lift, 20"X48"; diameter of drum, seven feet. The hoisting from the first lift in No. 2 is done by friction cones. Dimensions of breaker engine, 18X34; horse-power, about seventy. Dimensions of pull pump: Diam- eter of cylinder, fifty-five inches; length of stroke, ten feet; diameter of plunger, twenty-two inches ; capable of running about five revolutions a minute, equal to 197.4 gallons of water per revolution. Another steam pump, of the Allison make, is located in the first life, the dimensions of of which are as follows: Diameter of steam cylinder, thirty-two inches; diameter of water cylinder, sixteen inches ; length of stroke, six feet.

Steam Boilers.

There are eighteen in number, tbirty-ixs feet long, thirty-four inches di-

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 223

ameter, and carrying a pressure of seventy pounds per square inch ; each boiler has a water gauge, and three cock gauges. In the engine-house is a large. twelve inch diameter steam gauge that works with the delicacy of a watch. The steam pipes are covered with material made by the com- pany for that purpose.

The dampers, for checking off the surplus draught, are so constructed that the fireman can raise or lower them at ease. This cannot be said of all places, although it would be well if superintendents would give the matter their attention for reasons given in my report of 1876.

Cross Creek Slope, No. 1.

At this slope a twenty foot diameter fan has been put up, built of wrought iron, and driven by a 16//X24" horizontal engine. This, with the other sixteen-foot fan at the slope, will certainly keep these mines in a healthy condition. The sixteen-foot fan will Arentilate the east working of the lower lift, while the twenty foot will ventilate the western workings and the portion that the mine locomotive travels. After the lower lift is con- nected with the upper, the idea is to have the mine locomotive all the coal mined in the western working of the first lift to the surface, via of the slant road, lately made, instead of running it to the bottom of the slope, and then hoisting it to the surface. This will increase their production considerably, coupled with the improvements under construction. The company are now building a new breaker at this slope, to take the place of the old one, and when finished will be very complete.

Cross Creek I\o. 3.

This slope has undergone a great deal of repairs, and is now in good condition. The slope collars are "XHand six feet between the notches. The legs 12"X12", and seven feet in the clear; batter, two inches per foot. Mud sills same dimension as the slope collars. The timber in the pump- way is Georgia pine, and of the same sized timber as the slope, and the length of the collar, between the notches, is five feet ; length of leg, six feet ; pitch of slope, 44°; pitch given to slope timbers, 42°. The coal in the eastern workings has been pretty well worked out, and they have resorted to sinking a new slope called No. 4, near the western end of the basin. This slops is sunk from the surface, on the north dip, through the west gangway, driven from No. 3 down to the synclinal. The coal will be hoisted to the level of the old gangway and run to the bottom of No. 3, where it will be hoisted unto the breaker. Owing to the basin dipping so rapidly westward, they have been obliged to drive a slant slope from the old gangway in order to follow the dip of the synclinal, when it becomes necessary to do so. The length of the slope, from the surface to the basin, is about three hundred and thirty feet. Inclination varies from 25 z to 30° ; length of slant, two hundred and ten feet; pitch, 15°. The basin dips about 18° westwardly, necessitating the driving of a gangway on both dips. The vein is of a very fair quality, and is about the usual thickness given to the Buck Mountain vein. As soon as circumstances permits, a

224 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [Xo. 10,

sixteen foot diameter fan will be erected to ventilate this slope; this, with the spacious airways in these working, will evidently supply sufficient ventilation for this colliery. The improvements on the surface are the erection of a pair of second motion hoisting engines, size 16"X24", and three new steam boilers, dimensions, thirty-three inches diameter ; length, thirty-six feet.

Telephone connections have been made from the company's main office to each of their colliery offices, and conversation can be heard at either end of the line very distinctly. This is certainly a great convenience to all parties concerned, and the company will evidently be remunerated for their investment. This company deserves commendation for the manner in which they treat their employes. When an accident happens to any one working about the mines, they are tenderly cared for until they recover, and if the accident proves fatal, the widow is provided for, and a better feeling never existed between employers and employes than does at these collieiies.

Mount Pleasant Colliery.

This colliery is operated by Pardee and Sons, and has undergone a great deal of improvements since the present firm leased it. This colliery, which was in a very delapidated state, and, indeed, nearly destroyed, is now in first class condition. The whole mine has been overhauled, the railroad tracks have been put in good order, and the mine throughout is well center- propped. By the latter precaution the company have been able to mine a large amount of coal that was considered by many to be forever lost, and doubtless many a precious life saved. The " clod " in this mine is un- usually thick, and unless adequately propped, as the miner advances on his working place, it is apt to fall without giving the least warning, and the coal left in the breast, under many circumstances, will not warrant the clearing of the debris, and consequently hundreds of tons of coal were annually lost through recklessness.

Ventilation.

This has been considerably improved by the erection of a large furnace, capable of producing fifteen thousand cubic feet of air a minute. Men employed, eighty. Owing to the manner in which this mine was worked heretofore, regardless of ventilation or anything else, it has required con- siderable expenditure and skill to restore the ventilation. The following ir the air measurements for the week ending November 7 : At face of east gr.ngway A, eight thousand nine hundred cubic feet a minute. Number of men, thirty-five. At face of west gangway J, one thousand two hundred cul ic feet a minute. Men, five. At face of east gangway B, two thousand nine hundred cubic feet a minute. Men, eighteen. At face of west gang- way A, two thousand two hundred cubic feet per minute. Men employed, twenty-one. This gives fifteen thousand two hundred cubic feet per minute for seventj'-nine men.

1Uck Mt. S Eam

Wharton Sea M

SLOfgE NO. I. TIDE ELEVATION I SB*. 0 7. MAMMOTH ST AM.

Hazle Creek

r

N W

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m

o o

m

m

Ip

m

m

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O uj o

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Mammoth Seam

WHAFtTOhl SEAM

Buck Mt. Scai

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 225

When I first visited this collieiy there was not air enough in the face of any gangway in the entire mine to turn the anemometer. My first object in ventilation is to ascertain the amount of air there is at the face of the workings, and if the requisite quantity is found there, it must certainly be at the inlet and outlet. But if the required quantity is not obtained in the inlet, it evidently cannot be found at the face of the gangways, and the only way to remedy such evil is to erect a ventilating fan or furnace. The former is decidedly preferable, as it is more effective and costs a great deal less to run it. The number of accidents to persons in this mine during the past year were two. One man received a compound fracture of the thigh, by a fall of rock, and the other had a leg broken by mine cars. Taking into consideration the dangerous character of the roof, Mr. Robert C. Fishburn, the mine boss, deserves commendation for the care he exercises in behalf of the men under his charge.

Harleigh.

These collieries have changed hands, and are now operated by McNair & Co., who took possession about the first part of lust year.

Since the abandonment of slope No. 3, they have sunk a slope on the north dip of the same basin at a point of twelve hundred feet west of No. 2. The slope is two hundred and twenty-five feet long, from the surface to the synclinal, and dips at angle of 45°.

The slope will be continued through the intervening strata to the Whar- ton vein, but will increase in pitch so as to enter, as near as possible, the center of the basin. Bore-holes have been put down from the surface tap- ping the Wharton, in very good condition, and proved to be about eight feet thick. Since the sinking of the slope they have driven the gangway west about two hundred feet, and the coal proves to be of superior quality. At this point an air shaft has be driven to the surface, on the north dip, for ven- tilation, and an other air shaft, from the underlying vein in line with the shaft from the mammoth, will be driven to the surface. A fan will be erected between these air shafts to ventilate both veins. In order to pre- vent a crush from the old workings, they have reserved sixty feet of bar- rier pillar between the new slope and the old workings, from No. 2. If the Wharton veins proves as satisfactory by the slope as it did by the bore- holes, there will be about two hundred acres of coal, equivalent to about one million six hundred thousand tons of coal yet to be mined in the Hai'- leigh tract alone. These collieries which were supposed, by the old firm, to be nearly worked out when they gave up their lease, have produced about forty thousand tons of coal with a very fdir prospect of an increase tonnage in the future.

This company are desposed to push thing3 right along, and doubtless will be reimbursed for their investment. The machinery erected at the head of the new slope are those taken from No. 3.

Humboldt Colliery.

This colliery is operated by Linderman, Skeer & Co. Since the aban- 15 — Mine Rep.

226 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

donment of slope No. 3, the company have sunk another slope on the south dip of the same vein, at a point of two thousand nine hundred and sixty feet north of Mo. 3. This is the distance between the north and south out- crop, and in the intervening space is a continual series of anticlinal and synclinals. The seam, which is the Wharton, is in very good condition when they turned their gangways off. A section of the same can be seen in this report. The slope is down four hundred and fifty feet, dipping at mouth of slope, 26°; one third way down, 20°; midway, 15°; near the bottom, 5°. Average, 16°. The coal mined, at this slope, will be pre- pared at the old breaker.

Trescow Colliery.

Since the writing of my preceding report, two of the slopes at the above named place have been abandoned, owing to all the available coal having been worked out. Over the No. 2 basin the company have stripped quite a large area of coal land which will, probably, produce about one hundred thousand tons of excellent Mammoth coal. They have erected a station- ary engine to hoist the coal out of the pit, and a railroad has been built from the stripping to the breaker. This will considerably increase their production during the coming summer. During five months of the summer of 1877, slope No. 2 was idle, owing to being inundated with water, through the caving in of the intervening strata. The Mammoth vein had been abandoned and left to fill with water, and in course of time the under-lying vein became so extensively worked that a crush on the Wharton vein was inevitable. When the water broke into the Wharton it came in gradually, but increased on the pumps very fast, until it raised on the slope to its level in the Mammoth. 1 had predicted this to the mine boss, and re- quested him to center-prop all places where large areas of coal had been mined. The mine boss said kt he didn' think there was the least danger of the rock breaking; its like bell metal ;" and even after the water had broke in, he was of the belief that it came from the bottom rock, until he was convinced by seeing that the top rock had broke, and the water coming from the Mammoth vein. The water broke in on the 6th of May, 1877, and was all pumped out by the 7th of October of the same year. Tbe es- timated number of gallons of water pumped was five hundred million in five month's time; what portion of this came down from the Mammoth vein, and what was made in the Wharton I am unable to tell. The inter- vening rock, where it broke, was nearly one hundred feet thick. They are now making pregarations to sink another lift west of the present slope, which enters the basin at about eighty yards of a lift.

Buck Mountain.

This colliery is owned and operated by the Buck Mountain Coal Com- pany. They have sunk one hundred yards of a slope on the south dip of the B vein, which connects at that point with a gangway driven from the eastern extremity of the basin, a distance of about three quarters of a

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 227

mile. When this gangway was first started, it was intended to take the coal that way instead of hoisting it up the slope referred to, as they had partially concluded to build a new breaker at the eastern end of the basin, but for some reasons, best known to the company, they abandoned the idea. They have built a very substantial brick engine-house, and have placed in it one pair of first-class second motion engines, sixteen-inch steam cylinder, thirty-inch stroke; diameter of drum, ten feet; together with four new steam boilers, twenty-two feet long, thirty-two inches in di- ameter. They will be able to hoist one thousand two hundred tons of coal per day on this slope, if the coal can be mined. The gangway driven from the eastern end, connecting on a level with the one driven from the slope, will afford drainage and ventilation. The coal at the eastern end of the basin is not so good as where the slope is put down. At the latter point the coal is in excellent condition, and the vein is about its usual thickness. The workmanship in and about this slope is a great improvement on the old ones. It is supposed that they will be able to enter the old workings of No. 3 by this new slope, where, it is said, there is a great deal of coal left in by the old mode of mining. I am credibly informed that the six-foot coal is all in, and if this is true, Buck Mountain has more coal than the majority of people give it credit for. Owing to old No. 3 connecting with Council Ridge, No. 1, both places being inundated with water, it would not pay to mine the coal left in No. 3, unless they get at it in the manner as above proposed.

Sandy Run Colliery, Operated M. 8. Kemmerer & Co.

This colliery has been in operation during the past two years, and a de- tailed account ought to have been given of the same in last years report, but for special reasons, the matter was postponed.

This colliery consists of three slopes and one breaker. Slope No. 1 is sunk on the north dip of the Buck Mountain vein, and as this slope en- tered a local basin, and the vein forming another basin north, No. 2 slope was sunk on the same dip, over the anticlinal, and made the permanent hoisting slope, while the east gangway was driven to the spoon of the basin in good coal, the west continued in fault for a distance of two hundred yards.

No. 3 slope is also sunk on the same dip at a point of nine hundred and ninety feet west of No. 1. As the anticlinal, between Nos. 1 and 2 wears out before it reaches No. 3, it is presumed that No. 3 will be the main north dip, and in driving east, will connect with No. 1. The coal in No. 1 will not last a great while. The coal in No. 2, present lift, may possibly last another 3rear, while No. 3 will become the main coal producing slope, unless there is connection made between Nos. 2 and 3, which is not im- possible.

The coal in this colliery is of superior quality, and will average eighteen feet thick. The condition and ventilation of these mines is very good. The ventilation is produced by a sixteen-foot diameter fan, capable of ex- hausting about sixty thousand cubic feet of air a minute when running

223 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [Xo. 10,

one hundred revolutions, and if one half of this amount is made to circu- late to the face of the workings, there need be no complaints of " bad air." A test of this fan can be seen in the table under the head of fans contained in thie report, giving dimensions of engine, &c. A very substantial brake has been put on the drum, and a speaking tube in the slope, also a wash- house is built for the men to wash themselves in when returning from work. The breaker is very commodious, and the machinery is well protected by guide rails to prevent the boys from getting in contact with the running gearing. Their machinery consists of one pair of hoisting engines, eighteen inch cylinder, thirty inch stoke, at No. 2, and eight steam boilers, thirty- four inches diameter, thirty-six feet long. They have built twenty blocks of miners houses which are well adapted for such purpose, and each block is neatly fenced in. They have shipped during 1878, eighty-two thousand and thirteen tons of coal in two hundred and twelve and a half days. They employ one hundred and fifty-four men and boys. A section of the vein worked at this colliery, can be seen elsewhere in this report.

Mines On Fire.

Scarely a 3-ear passes around but what we hear of some mines being on fire. Some are of a trivial character, whilst others are of a more damaging effect. On the 3d of January, 1878, a very large fire broke out in elope No. 4, owned and operated by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. This slope is located on the south side of Panther Creek valley, near the town of Summit Hill. The slope is down seven hundred and ninety feet from the surface, dipping at an angle of seventy-nine degrees, and was working the third lift when the fire broke out. The first lift was worked by a tunnel, driven from the base of the mountain. The origin of the fire is said to be the work of an incendiary, and indications at the time confirm this conclusion. The fire was discovered to have originated at a point of one hundred and thirty feet east of the slope, in the second lift, and in course of time it extended to the west side, and continued up the air shaft towards the fan. At eleven forty-five, A. M., the mine boss and the fire boss were hoisted up the slope, and everything, apparently, was all right, and in about three quarters of an hour later the alarm was given that the slope was on fire, and the mine boss, with others, were lowered down the slope, but were compelled to retreat to the surface, owing to the density of the smoke. Several attempts were made, and some got to where the fire was, but were unable to do much good. It was conjectured that the fire ex- tended to the west side of the slope, through starting the ventilating fan, which had been idle for two or three days, owing to repairs. The idea of starting the fan was to change the air current so as to effect an entrance into the mines by way of the slope, as the smoke, by this time, was issuing in volumes from all the openings. Seeing that the running of the fan was more destructive than advantageous, it was immediately stopped, and the sealing up of the mines was resorted to. This required three stoppings,

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 229

one in the slope, and one in each of the pumpways, which were put in temporarily at the time to check the progress of the fire, and permanent stoppings put in afterwards, and the steam generated by twenty-seven boilers was injected into the mines. This undoubtedly checked the fire, but, owing to the old cave-ins from the surface, the steam escaped, and not until the holes on the mountain were partially filled up did the steam cease to escape, and to be of much effect towards extinguishing the fire.

The slope is now filled with water to the level of tunnel No. 5, and to raise it any higher, it is doubtful, for reasons that there is not sufficient barrier pillars between No. 4 and the adjoining colliery, although it may be possible to raise it about thirty feet above the tunnel level by discon- tinuing the working of tunnel No. 9 for the time being. It is evident that the fire below tunnel No. 5 is extinguished, but whether it is above the tunnel, to the out-crop, I am not prepared to state. However, it is en- couraging to say that places where the fire was burning fiercely no traces can now be seen of it. This unfortunate occurrence has cost the company a large sum of money, and the employes have suffered considerably by being thrown out of employment.

The colliery, when working, shipped five hundred and fifty tons of mar- ketable coal per day, and employed three hundred and forty-two men and boys.

The Fire at No. 6,

On the north side of Panther creek, as previously reported, is still burning, but not making much headway.

The Fire in the EaM Sugar Loaf (Stockton) Minis

Is presumed, by the officers of the company, to be out, although I am not prepared to substantiate the presumption. They have fought the fire well, and have erected a stopping within a few feet of the place where it origi- nated.

Council Ridge Aline Fire.

Two mine fires took place in slope No. 2, during the month of January, 1878. The first fire was discovered in the inside engine-house, but as it was checked in time, it was easily extinguished by applying the hose to it. It was supposed to originate by some one throwing the stump of his lamp wick away, and falling among some combustible material. The second occurred shortly after the first, in the flue leading from the steam boilers, which were placed in the mines. The fire was not of a very damaging character, and was extinguished by letting water down the outlet. These are the only steam boilers in the region that are placed in the mines, ex- cept a few in Stockton No. 5, which the company are now taking out ; and if those boilers in the Eckley mine were taken out and placed on the surface, too, the mines would be ameliorated and the company paid for their trouble. There is no excuse for any one to have steam boilers in the mines nowadays, for the conveying of steam for thousands of feet has been done very satisfactory.

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

[No. 10,

Vertical Section of Buck Jloantain Seam, at Sandy Bun Colliery.

Coal, 1' 10"

Mining, 3"

Coal, V 2"

Dividing slate, 9"

Boney coal, ) " %"

Coal, 6'

Total thickness, 16'

Summary — Coal, 15' 90 per cent.

Refuse, 1' 8" 10 per cent.

False Bottom underlying the same Vein.

Bone coal, 4'

Coal, 8'

Slate, 8'

Bone, . . . 6'

Mining, 8'

Coal, 2'

Mining, 9'

Slate, 9'

Total thickness, 6' 4

Summary — Coal, 2' 8" 42 per cent.

Refuse, 3' X" 58 per cent.

Vertical Section of Wharton Seam, at Humboldt Colliery, New Slope, or

No. 4. Clod.

Rough coal, 1' 2"

Slate, 2"

Coal, 1' 2"

Bone coal, 2"

Rough coal, 2' 6"

Slate, 1"

Rough coal, 2' 5"

Total thickness, V

Summary — Coal, V 3" 94.5 per cent.

Refuse, b" 5.5 per cent.

The character of this coal is somewhat rougher looking than at some of the other collieries, nevertheless, it is a good, free burning coal. The above section was taken at the time of sinking the slope, at a distance of five hundred and ninety feet from the surface. The vein was dipping, at the mouth of the slope 26°; one third way down, 20° ; midwa}r, 15°; near the bottom, 5° ; average, 16°.

Ex. Doc]

Reports op the Inspectors op Mines.

Vertical Section of Wharton Seam, at South Sugar Loaf Colliery, in the

Hazleton Basin.

Section No. 1.

Section Nc

Refuse.

Coal.

Total.

Refuse.

Coal.

Total.

Remarks.

Clod. Coal, . .

3'

3' 1'

6' 2' 8"

1"

4'

1''

Rough coal, but good. Excellent coal.

Bone, Slate, . .

1' 6"

Bone,

1" lr 6" 8"

2' 4"

1" 1" 6"

8" 2' 4"

Slate, . .

Slate, .

Coal, . .

Excellent coal.

Total, .

1'6"

5' 8''

7' 2"

1' 5"

6' 4"

7' 9"

The above section was taken in the new tunnel, lately driven from the Mammoth to the Wharton. Length of tunnel, fifty-four feet ; angle of seam, 50° ; thickness of intervening strata, forty-one and three tenths feet. A small leader was cut in this tunnel, at a distance of twenty-three feet in, but not workable. These sections were taken at a distance of two hundred jards apart.

Section of Wharton Seam in East Sugar Loaf Colliery, located at

Stockton. (Clod 6")

Coal, 3'

Slate, 6"

Coal, C>"

Slate, 8"

Coal, 3'

Total thickness,

V 8'

Summary — Coal, 6' 6" 84.8 per cent.

Refuse, 1/ 2" 15.2 per cent.

Section of Buck Mountain Seam, at Buck Mountain Slope, No. 6.

Top.

Soft coal, 2'

Good coal, 4/

Sulphur, 1"

Good coal, 4r

Dividing slate, 6"]

Boney coal, , . 8" (

Slate, 5'

Boney coal, 1' 8'

Good coal, 5' 5'

Total, 18' 9'

232 Reports of the Inspectors op Mines. [No. 10,

Summary — Coal, 15' 5" 82.2 per cent.

Refuse, 3' 4" It. 8 per cent.

The following is the sizes of the different "benches" in the Mammoth

Seam, Hazleton Basin. Top rock. Clod 4'.

Four-foot inferior coal, 4'

Six-foot coal, passable, 6'

Three-foot bench, passable, 2'

Two-foot bench, passable, 2'

One-foot bench, mixtures impassable, 2'

Seven-foot excellent coal, 7'

Four-foot or dividing slate, 10"

Four-foot or bottom bench, coal good, 5'

Bottom slate. Bottom rock.

Total average thickness, 28' 10"

The dividing slate in the above section is only 10", and occupies the same position as the " eigteen-inch " slate does at the Summit mines. The dividing slates in the mammoth is like that of the underlying veins, it varies in thickness in different localities. Sometimes it increases in thickness as to occupy the place of the four-foot bench. Cutting the coal out entirely.

RATES OF WAGES. Wages paid at Jeanesville for Month of July, 1878.

Miners per week, $10 09

Company laborers, 8 30

Wharton gangway, per yard and the coal, 3 65

Airway, per yard and the coal, 2 45

Cross-cuts, per yard and the coal, 1 82

Opening breasts, 12 73

Price per car for Wharton coal, 80

Price per car for Mammoth, 68

For Two- Ton Gar.

Double timbering per set, $1 31

Price per two-ton car for Wharton, in June, 1878, 79

Price per two-ton car for Mammoth, 67

Advance in July : per cent.

Outside Men.

Platform men, per week, $7 20

Outside hands, per week, 6 60

Price of coal in market during July: $3 90.

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 233

Vertical Section of Wharton Seam at Coleraine, No. 4-

Section No. 1.

Section No. 2.

Refuse.

Coal.

Total.

Refuse.

Coal.

Total.

Remarks.

Clod, 1.

Coal,

1'

' 3' 4 ;

3''

1'

6"

3' 4"

6'1

6"

3'

6' 6'

6' 6"

Coal good.

Bone,

Coal, .

6''

Coal good.

Bone,

Slate,

Coal,

6" 6"

8"

4''

8" 4'

Coal good.

1 6"

Total,

7'4r

8' 10"

8"

10' 6"

11' 2"

The above sections were taken at a distance of five hundred yards apart.

Refuse, =17 per cent.

Coal, . . =83 per cent.

Second Section.

Refuse, 6 per cent.

Coal, =94 per cent.

Mean of both Sections.

Refuse, =11.5 per cent.

Coal, =88.5 per cent.

Vertical Section of the Wharton Seam at Jeanesville, Spring Mountain

Colliery, No. 5. (Clod, 2i feet.)

Coal, 6' 6"

Bone coal, 8"

Slate, 9"

Coal, 4'

Total thickness, 11' 11'

Summary — Coal, 10' 6" 88.1 per cent.

Refuse,. 1/ 5" 11.9 per cent.

This vein is extraordinary for size and quality at this particular mine. The coal is equal to the best of Mammoth vein. It is a fact worthy of note that where the " clod" is unusully thick the coal is of superior qual- ity, and where there is no clod the reverse is the case. The coal is of a rougher character, and it adheres to the roof, requiring a great deal more labor to blast it down.

The top slate, locally termed " clod," varies in thickness in different localities. Sometimes it is three feet thick, but generally it will average about six inches. When it exceeds this it is centerpropped, and if neg- lected by the miner it is apt to fall on him without a moment's warning, resulting in loss of life or serious personal injury. At the point where the above section was taken, two men were instantly killed by the clod falling on them, an account of which is embodied in another part of this report-

234 Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

TABLE No. 1, — List of Colliery Accidents, and loss of life arising therefrom,

Date.

'3

o ©

Name of Collieries.

Name of Persons Killed.

Occupation

o

Os

A

a

u

O

Jan. 1

Tresckow, No. 6,

Miner, . . .

Spring Brook, No. 5,

Patrick O'Donnell,

Miner, . . .

Feb. 23

East Sug ir Loaf, No. 5,

Ernest Kicli,

Miner, .

East Sugar Loaf, No. 5,

George Weaver, . .

Miner, .

Mar. 8

Coleraine Stripping, . .

Adam Abv,

Laborer,

E ist Sugar Loaf, No. 4,

Charles Rule,

Miner, .

Highland, No. 2, . . . .

James Junes,

Laborer,

Cranberry, No. 1, . . . .

Conrad Zell,

Miner, .

Council Ridge, No. 2, .

Andrew Keiehner, .

Miner, .

April 1

Hazleton mines,

Patrick Sullivan, . .

Miner, .

It

Council Ridge, No. 2, .

Henry Warner, . . .

Miner, .

Beaver Brook, No. 6, .

Patrick Brislin, . . .

Laborer,

May 25

Panther Creek, No. 9, .

Clinton McMurtrie,

Extra hand,

Cross Creek, No. 1, . . .

John O'Donnell, . .

Miner, . . .

June 1

lo

Buck Mountain, No. 7,

William Timony, . .

Laborer, . .

Nesquehoniug, No. 3, .

James H. James, . .

Miner, . . .

Ebervale, No. 2,

John W. Green, . .

Engineer, .

July 3

Spring Mountain, No. 5,

William McFadden,

Laborer, . .

Spring Mountain, No. 5,

John O'Donnell, . .

Laborer,

Aug. 6

2(1

Upper Lehigh. No. 4, .

Richard E. Thomas,

Laborer,

Cross Creek, No. 1, . . .

David D. Williams,

Oiler, . .

Cross Creek, No. 1, . . .

John Sweeney, . . .

Miner, .

Oct. 4

Ruck Mountain, No. 6,

John O'Donnell, . .

Miner, .

Cranberry, No. 1, . .

John Strube,

Laborer,

Reaver Brook, No. 6, . .

Daniel Gallagher, .

Laborer,

Nov. 13

Upper Lehigh, No. 2, .

Andrew Nuk,

Oliver, .

Oak Dale. No. 2

John Bonner

Miner, .

Council Ridge, No. 5, .

William Finster, . .

Slate picker.

Nesquehoning, No. 1, .

Owen Garragh an,

Miner, . . .

Nesquehoning, No. 1, .

Benjamin Griffiths, -

Fire boss, .

Recapitulation,

By explosion of carbureted hydrogen gas, . . . By falls of roof and sidt-s, i. e., coal, slate, &c, By hoisting machinery breaking, and on slopes,

By mine cars in mines,

By premature blasts,

By miscellaneous, under ground,

By miscellaneous, above ground,

Percentum due to Causes.

Number of Per- sons Killed.

Ex. Doc] Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. 235

in the /South district of Luzerne and Carbon counties, daring the year 1878.

NuiiBEtt of Persons Killed.

Nature and Causes of Accident.

Fatally injured by a fall of roof, by driving cross hole from gangway to airway,

Fatally injured by a fall of coal In the Wharton vein,

Both found dead in their breast. Supposed to have been killed by pre- mature blast or fall of coal. (See account in another part of report,)

Fatally injured by a fall of clay at the stripping of the coal,

Killed by a fall of roof in the Wharton gangway,

Fatally injured. Crushed between the mine car and gangway timbers,

Fatally injured by a fall of coal otf the pillar,

Killed by a fall of coal in his breast or place of working,

Fatally injured by a fall of coal and slate,

Killed by a fall of coal in the breast,

Killed by a fall of coal in the gangway,

Killed by unloading a car of pea coal. Lost his balance and was pre- cipitated into the cars,

Fatally injured by a fill of the dividing slate,

Fatally injured by a falling over the side of the trestling,

Killed by a fall of coal in the breast,

Fatally injured by gangway timbers falling on him. Caused by car jumping tin1 track,

Both killed by a fall of roof. (See full account in another part of this report,)

Killed by a fall of roof (clod) in the gangway,

Both fatally injured by a runaway truck on the slope. Both were at the bottom of the slope at the lime,

Killed by a blast in coal. It is presumed he ignited the match unaware, I . .

Killed by falling under the car while unhitching the same, I. ,

Killed by a fall of coal. lie and the miner had loaded a car and sat under a piece of coal that fell, 1

Fatallv injured bv filling under the slate car while in motion,

Killed 'by a fall of coal in the breast 1

Killed by being crushed to death by the pony rollers

(Fatally injured by the concussion of the wind, caused by an explo- )

sion of tire-damp. .Joseph Treweek opened his safety-lamp in a '

( place I had strictly forbidden naked light to be used, ) '

so

LssS

10 a

2

5

Accidents from premature blasts are of rare occurrence in my district, and the three given in the table occurred under such peculiar circumstances that I have failed to tind the positive cause. Acci- dents from mine cars in the gangway happen through various causes, and can be attributed to old timbers, and mud from the gutter, piled up along the side of the gangway, when it should be loaded up and sent out to the slate bank, not affording ample room for the drivers to collect their ears. Also due to insufficient room between the cars and timbers, often caused by the crush on the mine timbers; and when timbers are not needed it is due to the negligence of the mine boss in not exacting on the men to drive the gangway wide enough to give the drivers ample room to bump their cars. However many accidents occur to this class of men and boys through their own recklessness in being in too much hurry to get to dinner or to go home at night or to get back to the bottom of the slope to play, and gen- erally it happens when making the last trip. Accidents from mine cars on the slope and by the hoist- ing tackle breaking will amount to about fourteen percent, of the whole number of accidents in all the veins. These can be traced to the rope breaking, to persons riding upon Loaded cars up the slope, (the latter practice has been entirely stopped,) and being caught by the timbers and the car. Some deaths have occurred by persons working on the slope, fixing or oiling pullies, when being struck by the ascending or descending car, whilst others have fallen down and receiving fatal injuries. The only suggestion I have been able to otter in some of these cases to the parties in charge is for them not to permit any person to work on the slope while the same is in motion, and to see that the hoisting rope is kept in good condition.

Accidents by blasting powder.— These are few and can be prevented by the person using it if care- fully handled. It is not an unusual thing to see a miner standing over a keg of powder with the naked light on his head, cartridge in one hand and the powder in the other, tilling th cartridge as uncon- cernedly as though there was not the least danger.

Accidents under haul of miscellaneous, under ground, are accidents that do not come under either heads given in the table, and the causes can be seen in the tabular list in this report.

Accidents above ground are caused by falling into breaker "pockets " or chutes, and over the side of trestlings, by transportation cars and by breaker rollers, &c.

236 Reports op the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

TAT5LE No. 2. — Table of accidents not proving fatal in the South District of

Date.

cj

o

fe

Jan. 5

Feb. 9

Mar. 2

Apr. 3

May 6

June 8

July 8

Aug. 1

' 40

Sept. 10

Oct. 4

Name of Collieries.

Tunnel No. 1. Panther Creek,

Mount l'leasant

Colerain,

Ebervale

Sandy Run,

Sandy Run,

Crystal Tii.lare,

Spring Mountain, No. 4,

Ebervale, ,

Cross Creek,

Oak Dale,

Panther Creek, No. 9, . .

Laurel Hill,

Cross Creek,

Milnesville, No. 7, . . . .

Upper Lehigh. Highland, No. 2, .

South Sugar Loaf,

Ebervale,

Ebervale,

Spring Brook,

Spring Brook, . . Council Ridge, . Buck Mountain, Easl Sugar Loaf, Easl Sugar Loaf, Luck Mountain, Nesquehoning, .

Colerain,

Mount l'leasant, . . . Upper Lehigh, . . . .

Ebervale,

East Sugar Loaf, . . . Hazleton Mines, . . . Panther Creek, No. 9, Spring Mountain, . . Council Ridge, No. 2, Council Ridge, . . . .

Fbervale,

Nesquehoning, . . . .

Cross Creek,

Spring Mountain, No. 5,

Spring Mountain, Spring Mountain,

Spring Brook, . . I ross Creek, . . . Council Ridge, . E LSI Sugar Loaf, Tresckow, . . . . Cross Creek, . . .

Cross Creek,

Cross Creek,

Latimer, . . . Upper Lehigh,

Nesquehoning,

Name of Injured.

Conahan, .

Dennis Breman, Evan Evans, Richard Allen, . Manns Waters, James Gallagher,

Michael Clark, . James McFarlane, William Vaugli, John O'Donnell, . Patrick McHugh, John Brady, . . John Longshore, Henry A. Evans, Monroe Fritinger,

James H. Waldron, John Long, . . . .

Dominic McElwee, John ('owns, . . . Henry Workley, .

George Duce,

Patrick Dugan,

A bralram Peter,

Thomas P.rennan

John McGlinn, 2d,

Robert E. Carter, mine boss,

Grillitli Jones

Patrick McMahon,

Matthew Herbert,

James Judge,

David Jones, .

Anthony Cull,

William Hill,

Morres Ferry,

John Boyle, 3d

William llerner,

George Anthony,

Hugh McGrorty,

Hugh Boyle

Richard L. Thomas,

Robert Edwards, John Daugherty,

James O'Donnell, James S. Thomas,

John Kelley,

Gallagher, .

Xeal Ward, . .

Leonard Keong, . . Anthony O'Donnell, Edward Gallager, .

John Green, ... Amhouv Nichlour,

John Conlon, Christ. Brislin,

Michael Gallagher,

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

Luzerne and Carbon counties, during the year ending December 31, 1878.

Nature and Causes of Accident.

Injured— jam bed between the mine car and center prop,

Compound fracture of the thigh byafalloi ruck,

Injured by a fall of coal. Venturing too far intu the old workings, . .

Injured by a fall of coal. Foot badly mashed,

Both injured by a fall of roof. rhey had bee"n taking down some of .the loose slate, and supposed it all down, when a second fall took

place,

Seriously injured by attempting to jump on the cars while in motion,

Ankle badly mashed by being jambed by mine cars

Seriously hurt while barring down loose coal after a blast,

Seriously injured by a fall of the dividing slate,

Leg broken by barring down top coal,

Dangerously injured by a fall of coal in the old No. 2 slope workings,

Slightly injured by a fall of slate,

Injured by fall of rock from roof of tunnel in lower lift, . . . . . Dangerously injured on the slope, by the breaking of the clevis of

the hoisting rope,

Leg broken by falling under the car, while bumping the same, . . Seriously injured while coming up the slope, jammed between the

car and slope collar, . . ... . . . .

Collar bone broken by failing from the platform

Seriously cut about the head, fracturing the skull, by a fall of coal, . Amputation of a toe, and otherwise injured, by falling under the

mine car,

Leg broken by a fall of coal while in the act of re turning to work after

a blast,

No. of Persons Injured.

o

h

o

Injured on the back by a fall of coal while drilling a hole,

Seriously hurt by a fall of coal, . . . .

Leg broken by fall of coal,

Injured about the head and hack by a fall of coal,

Leg broken by mine cars, while riding on the cars in the gangway, . . Se\ erely bruised about the head, by a piece of coal falling on him, . . Door boy, face badly burned by an explosion of blasting powder,

while playing with the same

Leg probably broken, and injured otherwise by a fall of clod,

Leg broken, caused .by a mine car taking Lhe wrong track,

Cut about the face, and back strained by a fall of coal, . .

Jammed between the car and pillar, caused by his light extinguishing, Ann badly scalded by escapi d steam from the I'vuA pipe id' tile boiler?, Sex ere cut on the arm by filling on loose coal, and otherwise hurt. . .

Injured by a fall of coal in No. 2 slope workings, . . .

Leg broken by a piece of clod sliding down the breast against it, . . . Leg broken by a fall id' roof, while robbing back an old gangway, . . Wrist broken by being jammed while riding between two mine cars,

Injured by a fall of coal, while working after Bring a blast

Seriously hurt, by being thrown from the back of a mule, and the

mule falling on him,

Leg broken by a piece of the dividing slate sliding against his leg, . . Seriously burned by a keg of powder exploding, ignited bj a spark

from his lamp, . .

Severely cut on the shoulder by a piece of coal

Both legs broken, and injured otherwise by a fall of coal. Hopes are

entertained of his recovery

Two lingers cut off while riding down the slope. Car jumping the track, Severelv injured. Jammed between the ear and the roof, ... Three ribs broken. Does not stale how. Too much trouble, I presume,

Two toes cut off. Run over by mine ears . . .

Severely hurt by a fall of clay at the stripping of the coal

Leg broken by a fall of coal. Worked too far on the bottom coal be- taking down the top, ... . . ... . . .

Injured by a fall of coal. Worked too far on the bottom coal before

taking down the top,

Injured by a fall id' the dividing slate. Venturing too far underneath

before taking it down,

Severe cut in the mouth by a piece of coal, . .

Small bone in leg broken, and ankle of the other leg dislocated by a

fill of coal,

Injured by fall of coal, while cutting hitch for leg in face of gangway,

M

;

IS a

i;

i %

o

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. [No. 10,

TABLE No, 2 —

Date.

O

o

fc

Oct.

So

Nov

Dec.

Name of Collieries.

Nesquehoning,

Nesquehoning,

Harleigh,

Harleigh

Mil lies ville, No. 7, . . .

Nesquehoning, No. 1, . East Sugar Loaf, East Sugar Loaf,

Sandy Kun,

Milnesville, No. 7, . . .

Miltiesville, No. 7, . . .

Panther Creek, No. 9, .

Spring Mountain, No. 5, Spring Mountain, No. 5,

Cross Creek,

Name of Ixjcked.

Ezekiel Johns,

Thomas Solomon,

John McManiman,

Earnst Lemonhart,

Joseph Snyder,

Joseph Tre week,

Robert E. Carter,

Matthew Elliott,

Daniel Shovelin,

Willoughby Kepp,

John Hennahaw

William E. Lewis,

Patrick Gallagher, miner, . William McUaryey, laborer,

Martin Hartranft,

Ex. Doc] Contimied.

Reports of tiie Inspectors op Mines.

No. or Persons Injured.

Nature and Causes of Accident.

SjG

o

o

o u

o

fa.

o

O

- —

c z - z.

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Both seriously injured by a fall of rock in the gangway, while they

Both severely hurt by a fall of coal. The former had two severe cuts

Severely injured. Jammed between two mine ears. Car jumped the

Seriously burned by igniting the gas, causing an explosion of fire-damp,

Arm badly shattered. Caught between the car and collar coming up

Severely injured by a fall of coal, while laboring in the gangway. Dangerously injured by being jammed between the mine car and

Severely hurt about the back by a fall of clod. They had fired a blast, and after returning to work, a piece about four feet square fell, in-

Boy, oiling cars. Kuu over by mine car. Leg broken and foot mashed,

Reports of the Inspectors op Mines.

[No. 10,

TABLE No. 3. — Exhibits the number of collieries in the South District of Luzerne

of coal shipped to market during

Name of Colliery.

By Whom Operated.

Upper Lehigh, No. 4, Upper Lehigh, No. 2, Woodside, No. l, . Cross Creek, No. l, . . Cross Creek, No. 2, . .

Sanity Run,

ljuck Mountain, . . . Council liiilge, No. 2,

Upper Lehigh Coal Company, . Upper Lehigh Coal Company, .

Coxe Bros. & Co.,

Coxe Bros. & Co.,

Coxe Bros. & Co

M. S. Kem merer & Co.,

Ruck Mountain Coal Company, J. Leisenring & Co.,

Council Ridge, No. 5, J. Leisenring & Co.,

Oak Dale, No. 1,

Oak Dale, No. 2,

Highland, No. 1,

Highland, No. 2,

Ebervale, No. 2,

Ebervale, No. 3,

Harleigh, No. 1,

Lattimer, No. 1,

Lattimer, No. 2,

Milnesville, No. 6,*

Milnesville, No. 7,

Hollywood, No. l,

East Sii ji-;l r Loaf,- No. 2, ... La>t Sugar Loaf, No. 5, Cast Sugar Loaf, No. 7, . . . Soulh Sugar Loaf, No. 1,*. . .

Sugar Loaf, No. — ,

Hazleton, No. 3, (abandoned,)4

Laurel Hill,

llazlelon mines,

Crystal Ridge,

Cranberry,

Mount 1'leasant,

Humbolt, No. 1,

West Lehigh, (Gowen,)

Stanton. (Ijowen,)

Stafford, (discontinued,)*. . .

Coleraine, No. 1,

Coleraine, No. 2,

Spring .Mountain, No. 1,* . . Spring Mountain, No. 4, ... Spring .Mountain, No. 5, ...

Beaver Brook, No. 1,

Beaver It rook, No. 2,

Spring Brook, No. 5,

Spring Brook, No. fi,

Tresekow,

Room Run, No. 3,

Panther Creek, No. 4,* Panther Creek, No. 5,* Panther Ireek, No. 6, . Panther Creek, No. 9, . Screen Building, . . . .

Totals, in 1878, totals, in 1877,

Decrease,

G. B. Mark let Co.,

G. B. Markle & Co.,

(i. B. .Markle & Co.,

G. B. Markle & Co.,

Ebervale Coal Company,

Ebervale Co d Company,

.Me Nail- it Co.,

Pardee Bro. & Co.,

Pardee Bio. A Co.,

Stout Coal Company,

Stout Coal Company,

Calvin Pardee &Co.,

Linderman, Skeer & Co.,

Linderman, Skeer & Co.,

Linderman, Skeer & Co.,

A. Pardee A Co.,

A. Pardee A Co.,

A. Pardee & Co.,

A. 1'ardee & Co.,

A. Pardee & Co.,

A. Pardee & Co.,

A. Pardi e& Co.,

Pardee & Sons,

Linderman, Skeer & Co.,

Lewis Rothcrmel,

I. .Martial Stout,

(In litigation, )

C. F. Slioener,

C. F. Shoener

J. C. Hayd n & Co.,

J. C. Hayden&Co.,

J. C. Hayden & Co

C. M. Oodson & Co

C. M. Dodson & Co.,

Thomas John & Co.,

Thomas John & Co.,

E. B. Leisenring,

Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co.,

Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co., Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co., Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co., Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co., Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co.,

v

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- ."

Number Of

D 2 1) 2

H0.5

u te,

14$

52 5,564.0

52 I 8,376.5

2,812.5

Marked thus not in operation during 1878.

Number of collieries in operation during the year, i. e. shipping coal, 41.

T— tunnels ; D— drifts ; S— shafts.

4®=- The aggregate returns of the coal tonnage of the different companies, given in the above table, shows that ( the restriction of) the coal shipments for 1878 was nearly 27.36 per cent, less than in 1877. Theaverag time for each breaker to work in 1877 was about four and a half months.

OWER A $E4tv1 UPPER ASEAM

L O Wer 7T Seam' Posi Tion

Ex. Doc]

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

and Carbon counties, by whom operated, the force employed, and the number of tons year ending December 81, 1878.

Number Of Underground Workmen.

Number Of Surface Workmen.

Total Number.

o

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92,696.08 105,895.19 6,863.08 249, 453. 18 29,004.01 82,013.05 113,208 98,779.01 45,105.08 62,730 02 61,379.06 60,087.02 55,942.15 91, 187 67, 127 35,000 60,399.10 51,471.07

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2,167

5,593

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1,691 3,060 2,325

1,320 1,107 1,041 1,263 1,425 1,450

1,860

1,864 1,253

66,330.17

49,076

35,327.18

62,302.18

79,764.07

38,903.13

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1,172

1,190

142,152.12

106,420.10 44,109.18 22,476 13,246.17

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1,148

1,140 1,660

1,861 1,547

57,430 38,227

' 86,323 82,601 5,882 59,480 85,325.07

1,190

49,333.10 55,655.18

1,210

85,419.12 99,903.05

2,737,531.12 3,768,530.14

1,030,949.02

2,355 2,499

1,216 1,428

4,929 5,430

1,206

1,388

2,122 2,070

3,630 3,786

8,559 9,216

51,492 64,280i

1,089 1,107

m II'

Number of slopes in operation, 63

Number of tunnels in operation, (surface openings,) . 7

Number of drifts in operation, 4

Number of sbafts in operation, 1

Total, . . 75

Mine Rep. — 16.

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Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

TABLE No. 7. — Equal quantities of powder at different velocities.

Time in passing over first 25 feet.

Time in passing over second 25 feet.

Total time.

Average velocity of the air current as indi- cated by smoke.

12" 10'

8" 7"

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233"

193"

16 '

126.3 feet a minute. 151.9 feet a minute. 179.1 feet a minute. 187.5 feet a minute.

TABLE No. 8. — Different quantities of powder at equal velocities.

Total time.

Quantity of powder.

1 cubic inch,

2 cubic inches,

Time in first 50 feet.

Time in second 50 feet.

Velocity per minute.

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4 cubic inches, 22*

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122.4 feet. 131.8 feet. 132.6 feet.

The charge of powder in the above table was varied in quantity, and exploded fifteen feet to the windward of the first station, the time being noted when the smoke reached the commencement, and at each of the dis- tances given in the table. It will be noticed that during the first instance, in table No. 2, the time occupied in traveling over the last fifty feet is about twenty-eight per cent, more than in the first, the cause of which has been given in the preceding table. However, it is impossible to record the time underground more minutely than to the quarter of a second, and as the discrepancy of only a quarter of a second is sufficient to cause an error in the calculation of about three feet, the difference in the veloci- ties can be comprehended, although the two last instances differ but very little. The accuracy of obtaining the velocities of air-currents b}r powder smoke depends mostly upon the person whom you have to call out to you when the smoke reaches the distance designated.

Reports of the Inspectors of Mines.

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