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

436 REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF MINES. Off. Doc.
'•E" Seam Opening.—In case of heavy rains, the drainage is unavoidably
deficient owing to the shallow strata over the coal and the
constant breaks that are met with, also owdng to the seam thirty feet
below having been mined out causing the coal and other strata to
settle very unevenly, leaving in place what are known as breakers,
or large spaces where the coal has dropped below the natural level,
and the roof strata is all broken the same as gob falls, which requires
skilled workmen to open and maintain haulage ways. It would have
been more economical to have taken the upper seam first, but, owing
to the lower seam proving most valuable, it seemed natural for this
to be first taken out; however, a volume of 20,080 cubic feet of
air was in circulation on my last visit. A new shaft has been sunk
nearer the working face, which seems cheaper than trying to maintain
a good airway, owing to the breakers spoken of. Arthur White,
foreman.
Belsena No. 2 Mine, Formerly Sterling No. 1.—The '*E" seam opening
had 8,960 cubic feet of air circulating on my last visit, the ventilation
having been in fair condition. Roads were dry, which was
accounted for by their being drained into the old workings in the
seam mined out thirty feet below. An opening called Compressor
mine, on the '"D" seam, was being worked with a few men, but no
noticeable current was in circulation. The atmosphere outside was
still, and in a few minutes an opening could be made to the surface
by knocking a few props out, the strata over the coal being very light,
from six to fifteen feet on the crop line. It could not be said
that the men were suffering for w'ant of ventilation, but it was not
up to the requirements of the law. Paul Hyde, foreman,
Belsena No, 8 Mine, Formerly Old Eureka No. 11, which B. W. C.
M. Co. abandoned.—The mine was found in a healthful condition,
both as regards ventilation and drainage, but the ventilation had to
depend upon natural means and was at times deficient for the
eighteen men employed. The heading stumps, or pillars, are being
withdrawn, so that it is not expected that the mine will last very
long. James McAlarney. foreman.
Belsena No. 4, Formerly Pine Run Mine.—This mine had been shut
down for a number of years and went to wreck in the haulage and airways,
and it seems there never was an escape way made for use
of men in case of emergency. On my visit on July 22, and again on
October 21, I notified the operators that they must make a second
opening according to article II, section 1 of the Bituminous Mine Law,
which notice they immediatel^v complied with, by ordering a route
surveyed and they have since informed me that the necessary opening
had been made and a furnace put in oi)eration to cause a permanent
circulation of air. Roads were fairly well drained on my last visit.
Frank Grimes, foreman.