1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. SECOND BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 309piodiiet is used for supplying steam and beat for a large steel plantwhich has been erected near the mine, and operated by the BraeburnSteel Company. Mine foreman, William Bean.Valley Camj).—This is the first report I have made of this mine.It is a drift opening in the Lower Freeport seam. The product isu«ed princi])ally at a large brick works, which is located near by, andoperated by the Kensington Brick Company. I visited this mine onJune 9th, and found ten persons employed inside. This number beingsufficient to bring it under the requirements of the law, I insistedthat some artificial means be used to produce ventilation, also thata mine foreman be employed and placed in charge of the mine asrequired by An act relating to bituminous coal mines, approved May15, 1893.I was informed shortly afterwards by Mr. A. Thomas, the superintendent,that they had reduced the number of persons employed insidebelow ten and would not employ more than nine persons at anyone time. This having been done, relieves me of any further jurisdictionover the mine at present.Plum Creek Drift.—Is located near the Icrminus of the PlumCreek branch of the Allegheny Valley Railroad River Division.The mine has been kept in very good condition during the year,both in regard to ventilation and drainage. The coal is all mined byhand and hauled by animal power to a siding outside of the mine,from whence it is hauled by a steam locomotive through two hills(from which the coal has been mined) to ;i main ]»arting, and is therelowered down an incline by gravity to the lower tipple where it isloaded on the cars for shipment. Mine foreman, Robert Doak.Sandy Creek Drift.—This mine was in very fair condition duringthe year. The quantity' of air in circulation when last measured was28,980 cubic feet per minute. The mining is all done b}' hand, andcoal is hauled from the workings by animal j*ower to a point outside,from whence it is hauled by a steam locomotive (through three hillsfrom which the coal has been mined) to the head of an inclineand then lowered by means of gravity to the foot of the hill. 'It isthen hauled a considerable distance by animal power to the head of asecond incline down which it is lowered by gravity to the tipple locatedin the valley below, where it is loaded oh the cars for shipment.Mine foreman, Joseph Corbett.Mines on and Near the Pittsburg Division of the I*ennsylvaniaRailroad.Weinman Drift.—Is a small mine employing on my last visit onlynine persons inside.Quantity of air in circulation at inlet 3,200 cubic feet per uiinute.The product is consumed by local trade. Mine forenmn, Jacob AVeinman.