Report of the Bureau of Mines of the Department of Internal Affairs of ...

No. 10. FOURTH ANTHRACITE DISTRICT. 101
gas to make an air current of 75,()()()
eiibic feet per minute explosive,
and kept it so for several weeks, but it gradually lessened until it
^^'as exhausted. Thev have cleared out the gangways and airways of
Hillman seam and have been working steadily da}- and night to open
those of the Baltimofe seam, but it will take two or three months
more to complete it. Extraordinary care was exercised in working,
and so far they have been successful, luiving had not one accident.
The work has been extremely dangerous.
The Conyngham Mine, Delaware and Hudson Canal Company.
This mine has had a fire in it for several years and was filled with
water the second lime in an endeavor to extinguish it. On January
14, 1897, the water had filled to a height of 313 feet. The Inspector
being apprehensive of danger to the employes of the Hollenback mine
lest the pillar should give way, requested that all emploj^es of the
latter mine be prohibited from entering the mine until it was considered
safe, and the following day work at the mine was suspended.
The water was poured into the Conyngham until it attained a height
of 394 feet. Two bore holes were drilled to let the pent up gases
escape.
On March 2, they started to hoist and pump the water out and
the Lehigh and Wilkes-Barre Coal Company was permitted to work
in the Hollenback, and started on March 8. By Saturday, September
18, the water was all pumped out and early in November evidence
of the existence of a fire became noticeable again. A wide
extent of the workings are caved, breaking down all to the surface
and the fire lurks somewhere in the heart of the cave. On November
K> a c\irrent of noxious gases and steam that came out from the cave
had a temperature of 100 degrees F., which at this writing has risen
to 150 degrees.
Having flooded the mine with water twice and failed, they are now
flushing culm in to fill a circuit of old workings around it, so as to
shut the air entirely oil" and have it so isolated that it cannot do any
injur}'. At this writing they are flushing the culm in at three points,
viz: At the Baltimore air shaft, at one of the bore holes and at the
Conyngham shaft. It is hoped and b