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

No. 10. EIGHTH BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 449
the law (luring the year, having only from four to nine men employed.
Troy Mine.—Only came under the provisions of the law for a few
months during the year, and then only for such a short space of time
that the operations were again suspended before my visit, but the
mine was generally in fair condition. Foreman, David Patrick.
Union.—As reported in 1896, a new furnace was promised, which
has been put at the bottom of a small shaft that has since been sunk,
which is thirty-five feet deep, with stack thirty-two feet high. And
since it has been put in operation, an average volume of 10,215 cubic
feet of air was in circulation in two currents through the mine.
Drainage was also very fair. Charles E. Henston, foreman.
Webster No. 4.—The ventilation in No. 1 drift was in fair condition,
with an averag-e of 27,0G6 cubic feet per minute circulating
in two currents through the mine. The drainage on main heading
was rather defective at No. 2 drift; air was rather deficient at face
of crop heading, also the drainage on main heading. John Stoker,
foreman.
Whiteside No. 1.—Only employed more than nine men for two or
three weeks at a time, but was not in operation at any of my visits,
usually having eight or nine men at work. Foremen, William Devling
and John Farrel during the year.
Centre County Mines.
Bear Run Mine.—Drift opening on "D" seam.
described in 1S9G report. The ventilation of this mine was not up
to the requirements of the law, but the 5,750 cubic feet of air was
fairly circulated through the mine. A substantial furnace ought
Size of drift was
to be built, but the small coal area the company controls seems to
deter the officials from going into any further expense. The present
furnace is an ordinary cylinder boiler shell, four feet in diameter
and possible six feet long, which rests on the floor of the return airway,
with bars in the shell, possibly eighteen inches from the bottom
side, which does not at all times produce sufficient air. Drainage was
always good. ,Iohn Qniun, foreman.
Black Diamond.—An average of 7,230 cubic feet of air was in circulation
through the mine in one current.
The middle heading was
rather insufficiently ventilated, but other places were fair, but, as
mentioned before, a large area of heading and room pillars are standiug,
which causes ihe ventilation to be scattered. The old pillars are
rapidly being mined out. Tlie drainage was at all times good. John
O'Neil, foreman.
Central.—A volume of 0,000 cubic feet of air was circulating
through the workings of this mine at my last visit on June 30.
Ventilation
and drainage were in fair condition. The mine is now aban-
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