1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

352 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF MINES. Off. Doc.1 eiiii, Iviveiview. Leechbui'ji Xo. 4, Pine Riiu, Avoiunore. Bealc Xo.1, Kiik]fatii(k. Haddon, Ken- and (Jil|»in, located along this railroad.They are all opened on the f^anle seam of coal (Upper Freei>ort) exceptthe Avonmore mine, which is opened on the Pittsburg coal bed. Thesame general system (single entry plan) of v^orking ont the coal preyailsat all of these mines except at the Avonmore, where the doubleentry system, has been adopted. The power used ar al lof themines for producing yen(ilati(ui is the furnace. ^Vt eleven of thesemines the existing natuial conditions are all fayorable to insuringsafety to the workingmen enijdoyed therein.At the Ayonmore minethe natuial conditions are unfavorable. In the former the seam isnot thick and it has an excellent roof, while at the latter the seamIS high and it is oyerlaid by a poor roof; however, owing to' theextrcMue caic taken by both miners and ofticialsvery few accidentsoccur in Avonmore mine. At all of these mines I found exctdlentsanitary conditions i>revailing and the law being comitli'Ml with.The only exception was jiossibly at the Beale Mine No. 1, where theywere short of air at the face of the main entry but tiiis defect hasbeen remedied (1 am informed) since my last visit to it. The coml»anyoperating the Beale mine has sunk a new air shaft and buillfurnace thereat, which is located near the very face of the workings.In fact the air shaft A\as about completed at the date of my lastvisit.Mines Situated along the P>essemer, Pittsburg and Lake Erie Kailroadand in other parts of llutler and INIercer rounties.There are at present foui-tceu mines in ojx-ratiou in this ]»art of thedistrict. P^nteijMise mine, ol I'utlci- county, and Spears mine, ofMercer county, are not now emjdoyinjj a suHicii'ut number of personsto bring them undei- the i)rovisi(»ns