1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

454 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF MINES. Off. Doc.The Partridj»e mine is a new openilion, looated at Imperial, onthe Montour Kailroad. It is a drift opening, and the main and severalcross entries are advanced forward into the hill for a distance ofabout a thousand feet, and the territory will be sufficiently developedto insure a large output by the time that lake shipments begin nextseason. A shaft has been sunk for ventilation and a fan will be usedto produce the necessary supply of air. There are only two mines outof the above number that generate ex]dosive gas.Mines Located along the Main Line of the Pan Handle Kailroad.There are eighteen mines locite*! in this part of the distrirogress or under coiitcmjihition, among which may bementioned a new ventilating furnace at the Cheny mine and an airshaft at the Laurel Hill No. 1 Mine. North of the railroad the minesare working under a very shallow cover, and during the rainy seasonthe drainage becomes a very difficult matter as it is almost im[»()ssibleto keep the roadways clear of water; these mines are remarkably freefrom explosive gas, but large voliniies of black-damp is generatedfrom the overlying strata, and difficulty is sometimes experiencedin keeping the workings free from this noxious gas. South of therailroad the mines are working under a higher cover. The drjiinageis rather less difficult. The volume of carbonic acid gas is not soprofuse, but all of the mines, with one exception, generate explosivegas.Mines Situated Along the Chartiers Valley and Miller's Run Branchesof the Pan Handle Railroad.There ai-e nineteen mines located in this division of the district.Operations have been carried on with more or less activity at allof these mines during the year, with one exception, but in mostii stances much idle time was ( \]»ei'iem-ed. In my exaujination duringthe year I found the conditions in a majoi'ity of (lie mines to bereasonably satisfactory from a sanitary standpoint, while in othersimprovements were i-eipiired. In the Laurel Hill Mines Nos. 2, 4 and5 the method of conducting the ventilation through the w