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

308 REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF MINES. Off. Doc.
be in splendid condition in this respect.
The drainage in the working
parts when last examined was good.
West Penn.—At the time I last examined this mine there were
not many miners employed, and I found the volume of air circulating
to be ample for the requirements. I measured 6,000 cubic feet of air
per minute being distributed in the workings. The drainage was
good.
'Blackston.—I measured 18,720 cubic feet of air at the mine furnace,
and about one-half of this quantity was being conducted to the working
places. The drainage was very good. The workings, especially
the entries, will soon be up to the boundary lines, but the company is
opening a new drift in a hill opposite to the present opening which
will take its place as it becomes exhausted.
Beale.—Near the face of the main entry an air shaft has been provided
and a furnace built in order to provide more ventilation. The
mine was in fair condition, both in regard to the ventilation and
drainage.
I measured 7,100 cubic feet of air per minute on the return
near the face of the works. The mine is practically dry, thus insuring
good drainage. The miners found steady employment at this
place during the year.
Kirkpatrick.—There was no broken time at this mine during the
year. I measured, at the outlet, 14,700 cubic feet of air per minute,
which was very well taken care of until it reached the inner workings.
The mine, as a whole, was in very good condition.
Kerr.—This is a new drift opening which has come under the provisions
of the mining law during the year. This mine supplies coal
for the distilleries at Freeport and for the people living in that town
and neighborhood. The mine was only in fair condition.
Mines Situated Along the Bessemer, Pittsburgh and Lake Erie
Railroad and in Other Parts of Butler and Mercer Counties.
There are still twenty-one mines in those two counties in active
operation, and, although Gomersal, Ormsby slope, Keister and Jewell
No. 1 have been abandoned, four other mines have been brought under
the law during the year.
Hallville.—I measured 10,090 cubic feet of air per minute at the
outlet of the mine, but not much of this reached the face of the workings.
The mine was not in very good condition as to ventilation, as
the air courses were not kept as clean as they should have been, and
the doors on entrances of rooms had also been neglected. These details,
always necessary to be attended to to insure suflticient ventilation,
had been neglected, owing to the fact, no doubt, of the mine
having b(HMi operated so unsteadily for more tlum a year.
Claytonia.—This is a small oi)eration which gives cmph.ymcnt to