1900 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

Official Document, No. 11.
Sixth Bituminous District-
(CAMBRIA, SOMERSET, INDIANA AND CLEARFIELD COUNTIES.)
Johnstown, Pa., February 23, 1901.
Hen. James W. Latta, Secretary of Internal Affairs, Harrisburg, Pa.:
Sir: I
have the honor of presenting herewith my sixteenth annual
report as Inspector of Mines for the Sixth Bituminous district. It
contains the usual tables and statistical matter relating to mines
and mine accidents, with a brief report on the condition of each
working, as regards drainage and ventilation.
The report of 1899 showed that there were in the district lOl
mines, which produced 8,594,067 tons of coal.
This year there are
136 mines, producing 10,091,627 tons—an increase of 2,100,560 tons
from 32 additional operations, quite a number of which have just
been opened up and consequently have not shipped much coal. The
number of employes has increased from 11,611 to 14.S79.
Quite a number of costly improvements have been put in at the
various mines, involving changes from mule haulage to a mechanical
system, and from pick mining to machines. Nor has ventilation
been neglected in the district. Furnaces have been taken out and
fans put in, while small fans have been replaced by larger ones.
This is a class of improvements which have often been overlooked,
but experience has demonstrated the folly of endeavoring to get
more coal out by increasing the capacity of mines until the ventilating
appliances have become inadequate to furnish the means by
which men are enabled to work. Fifteen new fans in the district in a
year is a very good record, and one in keeping with the boom in the
coal business which made an increase in the capacity of the mines
necessary.
Respectfully submitted,
Inspector Sixth
J. T. EVANS.
District.
(519)