1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. EIGHTH ANTHRACITE DISTRICT. 245attention was paid to these protests, but in the early part of theyear the pumps were taken out of tlie Lewis vein slope and withsteam and column lines were placed in the ui>cast, also the wire ropaused for hoisting from an inside slojje was run down this airway froman engine placed on the smrface, which necessitated additional menbeing kept in the upcast at all times to attend to repairs. Threenew lifts were also being prepared to start work in the Lewis vein,which was gaseous, and which would increase the danger in theupcast, which was the only second opening to the mine. 1wrote to the superinlvndent several times, protesting against it, andrequesting that the proi)er airway be repaired, which would not requirea very great ontlay of money, so that the pumpmen and otherscould be kept out of the return. No attention having been ]»aid tothese protests or answer made to any communications, I wrote to thePresident of the company, demanding that the unsafe conditions beremedied. He considered it perfectly safe, and as there is nothingin the mine law to prevent pumps or anything else being placed inthe main upcast of a gaseous mine, wrote me the following letter,requesting me to settle by arbitration, and appointing his arbitrator:The Mai'ion Coal Company,Mines at Pottsville, Pa.,Scranton, Pa., June 11, 1898.Mr. John Maguire, Mine Inspector Eighth District, Pottsville, Pa.:Dear Sir: Your communication of June 7 at hand and contentscarefully noted. Since I tirst became aware of your objection tothe location of the pumping plant at the Marion colliery, I have giventhe matter very serious consideration. Notwithstanding all you sayin your communication, 1 am still of the opinion that it is muchsafer and better for the health and comfort of the men employedtherein than if it would be located in the downcast. I have alsosought the advice of a large number of thoroughly competent mineforemen and have not yet found one whose opinion coincided withyours.Yesterday 1 took the general superintendent of a mine which isnoted as being the most gaseous of any in the United States, andprobably in the world, through the Marion colliery. After goingover the matter carefully, he fully coincided with my view that thepiesent location of the pumping plant is the projter one. In his(:]»inion it is absolutely safe and should remain in its ]»resent position.This being a mattcn* not covered by the mine law, I assume thatyou will have no objection to leaving it (o arbitrators as jtrovidedin cases where the Mine Insj)ector and the owner disagree as to anymatter not covered by the mine law.