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

No. 10. THIRD BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 305
ventilating furnace, but tliis power is capable of putting in circulation
a much greater quantity of air when it is properly attended to.
At the date of my last examination 1 found the mine, as a whole, in
veiy good condition. The quantity of air measured was reasonably
well conveyed to the working places of the mine. The drainage was
also good. The coal is being mined on the single entry plan. This
mine usually runs very steadily, the most of its product being used
for coaling locomotives on the Pittsburgh and Western Railroad.
Thompson Kun.—This mine has not been in operation very steadily
during the year, and at the date of my last visit it was idle owing
to a strike existing among the miners. Since that date, the company
has gone into the hands of a receiver. At a prior visit, however, I
found the mine in reasonably good condition generally.
Connessing.—This small operation has had a very steady run during
the year.
Nearly all the product of this mine is used in coaling
locomotives on the Pittsburgh and Western railroad. The coal
seam here averag-es only about thirty inches in height. I found the
mine in very good condition generally. There was an ample volume
of air circulating throughout the workings. The drainage was also
excellent. The quantity of air in circulation was 11,700 cubic feet
per minute.
Penn.—This mine has not been running very steadily during the
year and at the date of my last visit it was again idle. At the last
examination, when the mine was running, I did not find it in a very
satisfactory condition, owing to the volume of air being insufficient
at the face of the workings. I measured 5,400 cubic feet of air per
minute at the furnace, but the fire in it was very low, which was one
of the principal reasons for the insufficiency of ventilation.
Mehard.—This mine is being worked on the single entry plan, and
as usual when the butt entries are driven up a distance of about 900
feet, the air current becomes weak, owing to the excessive leakage
which takes place at the room doors along the entries. I
found this to be the condition of things at this mine, although I
measured 10,250 cubic feet of air per minute at the inlet and outlet.
All other conditions were very favorable, except that the "second"
opening was not in good condition for travel. However, another
Traveling way has been completed since my visit.
Kxcelsior Nos. 1 and 2.—The No. 1 mine will soon be exhausted, as
there are only pillars to be drawn now, and they were pretty well
taken out. The working places here were very well ventilated. No.
2 mine is yet a small o])eration. I found it in fairly good condition,
both in regard to ventilation and drainage. A second opening has
been provided and an air shaft six feet by five feet and eighty feet deep
has been sunk. The ventilating furnace has not yet b^en built.
Cannelton.—This mine is a small operation, but. owing to the fact
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