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

No. 10. THIRD BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 311
pose of a traveling way. This second opening has been provided
since my visit. The volume of air in circulation was not quite sufficient
as the exhaust steam from the pumps was the only ventilating
power they had, but when the workings progress farther into the
coal property, such means will be inadequate for putting into motion
a sufficient quantity of air for a mine of this size.
Carver.—The quantity of air in circulation was being conducted to
the working faces of the mine in three separate currents. I measured
16,600 cubic feet per minute at the outlet of the mine, which was
being well distributed throughout the workings. While the ventilation
was reasonably good, the drainage was somewhat defective at
Lwo points in two of the butt entries. This is a very wet mine and
some portions of the roof is very soft, requiring the entries in those
parts to be driven very narrow, and as the floor is composed of a very
soft fire clay, proper drainage is hard to maintain.
Stoneboro Nos. 2 and 3.—At my second last visit to No. 2
mine I found the inner workings poorly ventilated. These workings
had reached a point at which the ventilating power was entirely inadequate
to produce a sufficient quantity of air, hence, I ordered an
air shaft to be sunk close to the working faces. At my last inspection
I found that my directions had been complied with. A shaft
sixty-one feet deep and six feet square had been sunk.
Consequently,
I found the ventilation much improved. I measured 12,.500 cubic feet
of air in circulation in the different parts of the mine. The drainage
was fairly good. No. 3 mine has been idle most of the time during the
year. At the time of my last visit, the company was putting in the
tail rope system of haulage, by which the coal from the inner workings
of No. 2 mine could be hauled out at this opening. The workings
of these two places are now connected, and it will be a much shorter
way to haul the No. 2 mine coal out of the No. 3 opening hereafter.
Hill.—The tail rope system of haulage has been introduced at this
place recently. The coal will be hauled by this method for a distance
of 2,.500 feet. This company has made the same mistake as many
others do, in not having the hauling machinery of sufficient power to
do the required work; however, I am informed that a larger pair of
engines will be substituted for the ones now in use. I measured 8,900
cubic feet of air per minute in circulation in the mine, which was
being produced by a small furnace. The company has bought a
ten-foot fan, which will be erected soon, which will be capable of
producing more air than the present furnace. The mine was very
well ventilated and drained.