1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

xvi ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc.mined over liad been lost forever. Better methods, more knowledgeand care under advancing systems have reduced the loss very much oflate years, but the \ery best practice, in all probability, does notgive more than 9U per cent, of a yield under the most favorable conditions.With favorable conditions it is belived that practically allthe coal can be secured by the system now being put inoperation.Credit is due Mr. Keighley or any other man w^ho can devise and putin practice methods whereby two tons of coal can be secured whereonly one was obtained before. It has been said that the man whomakes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before is api'blic benefactor, so also is the man who can secure from the bowelsof the earth two tons of coal where only one was secured before.Since the above was written an opportunity has been had of i^ersonallyexamining the Oliver and Snyder Steel Company's mines andfrom observations while there, it is believed that there is no doubt Mr.Keighley will realize all he anticipates. A casual observer canreadily see the pronounced advantage the new or ''retreating" systemhas over the old or ''advancing" system, in regard to the safetyof the workmen, the ventilation and the' great difference in thequantity of coal secured. The haulage is by endless rope, and theinstallation is such that cars can be attached to it at any time and inany place. The cars are fastened to the rope with a specially constructedgrip that is easily manipulated. The speed at which therope travels is such that the attendants have no trouble in attachingfind detaching the cars. Everything about the mine is in first classcondition, showing that Mr. Keighley fully realizes that what isworth doing is worth doing well, and while this is true in Mr. Keighky'scase, the same condition appears to exist pretty generallythroughout the coke region. At the time the Oliver mines werevisited some of the H. C. Frick Coke Company's mines were also visitedand the plants found in first class condition, and all machineryand appliances well constructed.The reports furnished by the several Inspectors of the bituminousmines during the year show that the coal in 328 mines is owned bythe operator, and that in 240 mines it is leased by the operator, andin 41 mines it is partly leased and partly owned. Safety lampsare used in all the districts except the Third and Tenth. There are288 minesi where ventilation is pj-oduced by furnaces, 288 by fans.3 by steam and 34 by natural means. The water is removed from271 mines by pumps, from J) by syphon, and from 333 by naturaldrainage. The method of haulage is by mules in 344 mines, byrope in 231, by steam locomotive in 8, by electricity in 28, by compressedair in 4, Fifty four mines are reported where no attemptis made to draw the pillars. Twenty-four mines are re])()rted ofwhich thei-e are no maps. At 210 mines the miners are paid by