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

No. 10. SEVP^NTH BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 411
Essen No. 3.—This mine is also in much better condition than at the
time of my hist report, but the air current was still below the requirements
in one section of the workings, and some parts of the
works were receiving more air than was required. The plan of development,
method of mining and haulage are similar to that in
vogue in the No. 2 mine. A 10-foot double inlet Capell fan, 6 feet
wide, is now used to produce the ventilation. At the time of my last
visit I made a test of this fan, with the following results: Speed of
fan, 340 revolutions per minute; quantity of air delivered, 109,000
cubic feet; W. G., 7.9 inches; horse power developed 136; percentage
of body output, about 70; horse power of engine not taken. The
above results speak well for the fan, and it also shows that the airways
are in very poor condition. The workings are extensive and
the airways small, and there is not sufiScient coal left to enlarge them,
and about the only way out of the difficulty will be to make a main
inlet shaft near the face of the mine, and place double doors on the
main hauling road and use that for one of the return airways to the
fan.
Federal Spring and Hickman.—These mines are operated under the
same management. In the first named mine they are mining out the
entry pillars, and the mine will soon be abandoned. Quantity of air
passing at the outlet, 12,000 cubic feet per minute. In the Hickman
mine, I measured 28,000 cubic feet of air per minute passing out at
the furnace and the quantity measured near the face of the workings
varied in the different entries from 4,000 to 11,000 cubic feet per
minute. The total volume of air produced is not sufficient since the
mining machines have been introduced, but previous to that time,
when the coal was mined by hand labor, the ventilation was about
equal to the requirements. The mine is worked on the double entry
system. Haulage is by animal power, and the link chain type of
machine is used to undermine the coal. Electricity is the motive
power.
The Federal and Pittsburg Fuel mines have remained idle
throughout the^vear, and the Beachmount mine is not now in operation,
and worked only for a short time during the year.
Pan Handle.—This mine is worked on the double entry system.
The coal is undermined by both the Harrison and chain cutter bar
types of machine. The hauling is done by the head and tail rope
system. A 16-foot Brazil fan is used to produce the ventilation.
Quantity of air passing into the mine, when last measured, 44,000
cubic feet per minute, the greater part of which was being conveyed
to the face of the entries. I observed that many of the room pillars
were not cut through as often as was necessary. On the whole, the
condition of the mine is better than formerly, but the capacity of
the ventilating fan is not equal to the requirements of the mine.