1900 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. FIRST BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 309
Champion.—Ventilation require improvement in parts of the mine.
The production of the Caledonia mine passes over the former's mine
tipple and the workings form part of the former also.
Amity.—In fair condition as to ventilation and drainage.
Fayette City.—On my last visit it was in lair condition. Previous
to this examination I was notified by the mine foreman,
Thomas Smith, that lire damp had accumulated on a fall and was
giving trouble, as it could not be removed by the means employed.
On examining the place I found fire damp present in such "quantities
as to be detected by an ordinary safety lamp," it was also on another
fall on the same entry. This entry was being worked with
open lights, and persons were permitted to pass the places where
the gas was 011 falls with open ones. Being of the opinion that this
was a violation of the act of May 15, 1893, relating to bituminous
coal mines I ordered the entry to be vacated until the gas was removed.
A short time afterwards I entered proceedings against
the mine foreman for violation of the act above mentioned as far
as it
related to the presence of fire damp on the falls and the use of
open lights near where it had accumulated. The hearing was held
before -I. A. O'Neil, justice of the peace of Fayette City, who dismissed
the case and placed the costs on the county. On being questioned
in regard to this finding, he said that it was "for the lack of
evidence that the gas was in dangerous quantities." 1 take it that
the justice erred, as the law defines the measure of danger.
( Jrothers, Fox and Riverville.— 'Mines not in operation when visited.
Anchor.—In fair condition on my last examination.
Black Diamond.—In working one of the rooms on an entry known
as Xo. 48, ii holed into a part of abandoned excavations of the Ivill
mine from which fire damp made its appearance. A short time afterwards
the lire bosses, Thomas Matthews and Jonathan Cothrey, visiied
lighl
the place and while there the escaping gas ignited from an open
carried by one of them, but fortunately the flame did not pass
i In- a (Kit me made between the two mines. The condition of the
abandoned part into which the conned ion was made being, to a great
extent, unknown, orders were given to vacate the mine immediately,
which was followed by the officials of the Ivill mine being notified
of the matter and they also withdrew their workmen. Opon the
mines being vacated the mine foreman, Joseph Nevens, concluded to
examine, if ;it all possible, the place of holing and on reaching the
vicinity of the same he found that the flame had been extinguished
by some means not fully determined, but supposed to be through the
absence of sufficient air to sustain combustion. On my examination,
the gas was still present, not only in the abandoned pari of the Ivill
mine as far as could be examined, but extending quite a distance
from face of room toward the entry from which the room was