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

No. 10. FIFTH BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 359
engines by a steam pipe through a 14-ineh bore hole from the surface.
The exhaust steam is also conveyed up through the same bore hole
and escapes into the atmosphere outside. This is accomplished by
the casing of the bore hole being so much larger than the steam pipe
within it, viz., twelve inches inside diameter of casing; outside diameter
of steam pipe, six inches, thus allowing three-fourths of the
area of the casing for the exhaust steam. This keeps the engine
room extremely cool. This mine has produced the largest quantity
of coal of any mine in the district, 714,988 tons. The mine having
worked 311 days, gives an average daily output of 2,299 tons, thereby
doubling the production over that of last year, during which there
was an average output of 1,125 tons per day. This is one of the
best equipped mines in western Pennsylvania for handling large
(juantities of coal, and is splendidly kept up by the officers of the
mine. Mining boss for No. 1, George Sautimeyer; for No. 2, John
Bell.
Walker.—This is perhaps the worst ventilated mine in the whole
district. No effort has been made to provide means for conducting
the air current around the mines since the present lessee commenced
operations. Previous to that time, the ventilation and general conditions
of the mine were good. The natural advantages are very favorable,
and if even an attempt to help nature was made, the mine could
be kept in a comparatively healthful condition, but absolutely nothing
had been done to conduct the air into the workings. A furnace had
been built by the former operator, but even this was not used. As
blasting is going on at all hours, the atmosphei-e of the working
places is thick with smoke, which never moves, as there is no current
of air in circulation.
Frequently the men have to quit work and leave
the mine. How they work in it at all is wonderful. The same person
operates this mine who operates the Nellie mine, described in a former
part of this report. Here, the same methods are adopted with reference
to the employing a mine boss, viz: A person who holds a certificate
of service under the law is employed as a cat's paw to the lessee.
This individual digs coal just as the other miners do, but for a paltry
sum he is engaged to visit the working places of the other miners, as
a blind to comply with law, but which is virtually an evasion of it, and
this is the extent of his boss-ship. The result of all this is that the
mine is neglected and the persons employed therein are the sufferers.
At ray last visit, I found the air in such an awful condition that I at
once notified the lessee that unless he would put air into the working
places of the mijiers within three days, I would take steps to shut
down the mine. This had the desired effect, and a force of men was
put to work erecting brattices and doors; also, to repair the furnace
and fire it up. Within the specified time the ventilation was satisfactory.
Mining boss, Thomas Conlehan.