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

468 REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF MINES, Off. Doc.
safety of the workmen and for economy. Mine foreman, Thomas K.
Kane.
Henry Chiy.—This mine made a good record for the year,
which ended with a mine Are, tlie orij^in of wliich is unknown. The
fire originated in a gob, in a portion of the mine which was abandoned
two years ago. No shots had been tire^d in the vicinity of the lire, no
person worlced wdthout safety lamps and no explosion was known to
have occurred. The fire is a complete mystei-}', and must have been
caused by spontaneous combustion, the first occurrence of the kind
in this region. One thing was fortunate in this case. The portion
of the mine where the fire started, is low'er than the workings and all
that was necessary to do was to cement five brick stoppings and to
fill the enclosed area with water, pumped into the mine. As the fire
has been seen on the top of coal, it is thought that it can be drow^ned
out and no trouble is expected, nor is there any danger apprehended.
The other portions of the mine are in good condition.
Sterling No. 1.—This mine was started in November, after having
been in idleness for three years. I made a visit to this place and
found everything in good condition. Mine foreman, Frank Cochran.
Jackson.—This mine is progressing well. All of the old ribs are
being worked out and the diggers will soon be into solid coal. Mine
foreman, George Moore.
Sterling No. 2.—This mine is not in operation and has not been active
for many months.
Eureka.—Many improvements have been made in this mine in the
steep entries, and the ventilation has been bettered by the instalation
of a small electric fan, which was put in at the top of one entry, while
a road has been cut through to daylight, which serves as a traveling
way for the miners and keeps them oil" the haulage road. The other
parts of the mine are in good condition. Mine foreman, James
Bayl^.
Smithton No. 2.—The j)ers()ns who h;id this mine leased for four
years have jiurchascd and are operating it in as able a manner as
owners as they did wlu^n lessees. Mine foreman, James nenderson.
Port Royal No. 1.—Many repairs have been mude during the year,
from the
including new shaft limbei-s a distance of twenty-five feet
top downward. A new derrick for hoisting has als(> been installed.
A great impi-ovement was made at tlic bottom by blasting down the
I'oof six feet, inaking it just that many feet higher than foi'incrly.
The road was then raised so that the loaded wagons bump otT the
empty oni'S, whicli then run to tlu'lr destination without fuither assistance.
Euclid.—As I'cgai'ds ventilation and drainage, this mine is
in good
condition. It is the intention of the conijtany to i-ejiair the sliaft,
and, perhaps, to make it larger, as it is now too small to allow of th(*