1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. SIXTH BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. 421from 1,500 to 1,700 men. Beyond donbl there is at this {(oijit the bestequipped mining plant to be fonnd in tlie State.In and About Johnstown.—The mines of the Conemaugh valley inand about Johnstown are all in excellent sanitary condition. Thereare five located at this point, three of which are ventilated by fansand the others by furnaces. All are worked on the most improvedplan, thereby insuring the greatest possible safety, and providinggood ventilation. In the Kolling Mill mine compressed air machinesare used for mining coal, and compressed air locomotives dopart of the hauling. For the first two miles the coal is hauled byrope, then one mile by compressed air locomotives, and about a halfto three-fourths of a mile by mules, the distance being from three andone-half to three and three-fourths miles from face of mine to tipple.South Fork Mines.—There are seven workings at this place, all excepttwo being ventilated by fans and in fiv(^ of them coal is hauledby machinery. The condition as to ventilation and general safetyhas been very satisfactoiy except as to our^ mine, which has beenfar from that condition during the ])ast year. This operation isopened up by two slopes, starting from a common point and runningapart until separated by about two thousand feet. In each of theseslopes was a steam line, which completel}' ruined the ventilation byheating the air and causing it to rise so that the fan was almostpowerless to force fresh air in, and besides it made walking in andout of the mine almost unbearable by reason of the high temperature.The steam line in one slope has now been taken out and Iexi:)ect to find the condition of the iiune greatly improved in consequence.The other mines at this point are conducted satisfactorilyas regardsf safety and sanitary condition.Duulo Mines.—There are three mines here, two of them being veryextensive collieries, employing from 250 to oOO persons each. Theyare ventilated by fans and the hauling is done by machinery. Eachis opened up by two slopes from the bottom of the shaft and twosystems of rope haulage also from the bottom of each shaft. Thegeneral condition of the mines is satisfactory. The third mineat this place is a new slope, just being opened up, and is not yetfully developed.Lloydell.—This is a new mining town on the Duulo Branch Railroad.There are two new mines here, Lloydell and Alton. Thelatter is ventilated by a 7-foot '^Stine" fan. w^hich throws a goodvolume of air, that is well distributed and carried to the face of theworkings. Lloydell mine is ventilated by a furnace, which is onlytemporary, however, as the present opening is to be abandoned anda new one made at another point more favorable for development.Ventilation is in fairly good condition.Portage Mines.—Six mines are located on the branch railroad here,