1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

396 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF MINES. Off. Doc.duetioii of automalie doors in the mines, which gives niucli moresatisfaetoivv i-esults than by having boys to attend them.These mines have nearly reached the extremes of their boundarylines, and ar(^ now being worked largely on tlie retreating system. Anew system of working has been adopted, with reference to therooms and ribs, which has given snch excellent resuKs that j)erhai>sa greater percentage of the coal seam is being recovered than in anyother mine in the Connellsville region. Actual results show thatabout 13,000 tons per acre have been obtained.An extension of the present system of endless i-ojx' haulage isbeing projected, w^hlch when completed will compai-e favorably inpoint of efficiency and economy with any now in ojxMalion in thisdistrict. During the year an electric plant was installed for thepurpose of furnishing light at the bottom of the shafts, stables andpump room, also for the outside plants, stores, offices, etc. Miningbosses, Albert J.AA'illiams and Chas. M. Porter.Paul.—This mine sustains its former good reputation.Everythingis being well looked after; no cause of comidaint can be found, butrather words of commendation for its excellent condition. Miningboss, Robert Nelson.Percy.—The workings of this mine are confined to the drawingof the ribs and pillars. It is in good, healthful condition. Miningboss, Everhart Shipley.Pine Hill.—At no lime during the year did this mine employenough persons to biing it under the i-equirements of law. It is in afairly good condition.Ponfeigh.—This mine li;is not been running full handed, as for thegreater part of the year less than the lawful number of jx^rsons wereemployed.The mine is located on the bank of a creek. Two openings intothe mine are made so near to the creek level that danger was a])i)rehendedthat water from it ^vould enter the mine and Hood it (all theworkings being to the dip), thereby endangering the persons employedtherein. This was more to be feared from the reason ofThe existence of two large dams built across the stream above themine which held back a large body of water. These dams were notin a safe condition, and in the event of their giving way, would allowa ton-ent of water to rush down the-stream, which would undoubtedlyentci- the mine, as one of the openings was only four feet above theoi-dinaiy level of the creek, and the other ten feet. In order to giveprotection to the persons em]>loyed in the mine, orders were given toclose up the lower opening by building a masonry dam in the driftand to raise the walls of the shaft ten feet higher above the creeklevel, thus making it twenty instead of ten feet above. Objectionto this was raised on a