1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. SECOND BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 311the workings extend, and the number of Si»lils of the air eiirrent nowin use.Tile kirge number of si')lits, (12), reduces the velocity in manyentries near the face until it is not sufficient to keej) them clear ofthe powder smoke given otf by blasting. The improvement in theventilation is caused by considerable work having been done in themain inlet aii' way in removing falls, and enlaiging the area and alsoby increasing the si)eed of the fan. The fan is placed near the minemouth and has a considerable distance to force the air before itreaches the workings, and I am of the oi)ini()n that the ventilatienvill not be increased a great deal so long as (he fan remains so faraway from its work.The coal in this mine is all mined by hand and Wiuled from theworking faces to the bottom of the different Imtt entries, from whenceit is delivered to the tipple outside by the endless rope system ofhaulage. Mine foreman, John Williams.Peun (jias Coal Kun Drift.—All the coal here is mined by pick, anddelivered to the tipple outside by mule hanlage. The mine is keptin very fair condition both in regard to ventilation and drainage.Mine foreman, A\'illiam Kodgers.Penn Gas No. 1 Shaft.—This mine has been kept in very favorablecondition during th« year. The quantity of air measured at the inleton my last visit was 46,1G0 cubic feet per minute, which was well conveyedto the face of the workings. The tail rope system of haulageis used. Mine forenmn, John Bolam.Westmoreland Shaft.—The ventilation of this mine has been improvedduring the year b^ sinking three shallow air shafts near thehead of the workings, which are used for inlets; new air courses havebeen driven and others are now being driven for the purpose of splittingthe air current and improving the ventilation generally. Onmy last visit to the mine I measured 75,800 cubic feet of air perminute passing in at the inlets, Avhich was carried to the face of thew^orkings.There are 21 coal cutting machines of the Harrison type— punchers—in use in this mine, also one of the chain cutter type, or what isknown as the Jeffrey machine, has lately been introduced, all drivenby compressed air. The endless rope system of haulage is used.Mine foreman, James Thompson.Pleasant Valley Drift.—Has been kept in v(^ry fair condition duringthe year, both in regard to ventilation and drainage. Air in circulationwhen last measured, 17,:^60 cubic feet per minute passing atthe inlets. This was well conveyed around the workings. The coalis all mined by hand and delivered to the tipple outside by mulehaulage. Mine forenmn, Joseph H. Powell.Hemptield Slope.—The improvements at this nunc during the year