1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

INSPECTORS OF MINES. 207
SAFETY CATCHES.
The following is a copy of a notice sent each year to the company's officials
using hoisting carriages to lower or hoist persons in their respective
shafts ;
also, copies of their several reports returned to, this office, giving
the actual result of the tests in figures, to wit
Mr.
Outside Foreman,
Company.
Sir : All coal operators, their agents, superintendents, or any persons
in charge of coal mines in this Middle district of Luzerne and Carbon
counties are respectfully requested to attended to the following :
All the safety catches and bridle chains on hoisting carriages, used for
hoisting or lowering persons, that have not been tested within 3 months,
and the result reported to this office, are required to be tested before the
15th day of July, ,
in the manner following : Detach the wire rope
connections from the cross-head of carriage ;
hoist the usual load several
times, leaving the weight entirely upon the bridle chain connections ;
keep
a record of each trial. To test safety catches, each carriage should be
dropped at least three times; keep a record of the result of each trial, the
distance carriage falls, &c. These experiments or tests should be conducted
by competent and responsible persons, and a detailed report furnished
the Inspector immediately thereafter.
T. M. WILLIAMS, Inspector.
To T. M. Williams, Esq.,
Inspector of Coal Mines :
187..
Sir :—In compliance with the requirements of the mining law, I have
had the bridle chains and safety catches tested, with the following result
Bridle chains used as directed, and held the load while being hoisted on the
following carriages, each one three trials satisfactorily. Safety catches
tested as per directions, with the following result
Waterman &
Beaver's Shafts, Kingston; Pa.
No. 1 Shaft.—No 1 carriage dropped, first trial, 6 inches ;
second trial,
6 inches ;
third trial, 6 inches. No. 2 carriage dropped, first trial, 6 inches
;
second trial, 6 inches ; third trial, 6 inches.
No. 2 Shaft.—No. 1 carriage dropped, first trial, If inches; second trial,
1 inch ;
third trial, 1^ inches. No. 2 carriage dropped, first trial, l£ inches ;
second trial, If inches ;
third trial, If inches.
Charles Hutchison &
Company's Shaft, Kingston, Pa.
No. 1 Shaft.—No. 1 carriage dropped, first trial, 10 inches ;
second trial,
10 inches; third trial, 9 inches. No. 2 carriage not used for hoisting or
lowering persons.
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company's Shaft, Plymouth, Pa.
Nottingham Shaft.—No. 1 carriage dropped, first trial, 6 inches ;
second
trial, 4 inches ;
third trial, 2 inches. No. 2 carriage dropped, first trial, 4
inches ;
second trial, 3 inches ;
third trial, 4 inches.