Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of ...

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 89
each person killed and injured at each colliery in operation during 1877,
and also the ratio of coal production per person killed and per person in-
jured at each of the said collieries for the last four years. Table No.
6 relates to steam boilers and machinery, steam engines and pumps.
Table No. 7 gives the dimensions of shafts, slopes, tunnels, and drifts, and
includes all that were in operation during the year. Table No. 8 is in-
tended to give some data relative to fan ventilation, working speed of the
fans, amount of air exhausted and horse power expended to produce these
results, and also the conditions under which these results were obtained.
Table No. 9 is intended to show the power exerted on ventilation by fur-
naces, by whicli it will be seen that the monej^ expended on most of our
furnaces is very unwisely invested and nearly as bad as if thrown awaj'.
There are several fans and furnaces which are not included in the above
named tables, which I explain in the body of my report. Table No. 10 is
intended as a mine director}', giving the names of all collieries in the dis-
trict, their location, names of operators, agents, superintendents, mine
bosses, &c.
In the body of the report, will be found such views as I hold on the
causes of accidents, and how to aveit them, on qualifications of mine
bosses, on the duties of mine bosses, and workmen, on mine discipline, on
ventilation, on mine maps, on improvements made and to be made, and
several other things, which I have come in contact with in the discharge
of my duties. I am happy to be able to say that considerable improvement
has been effected in the ventilation of the mines in this flistrict,
during the last year; and considering the state of the coal trade, these improvements
have been immense. I have succeeded in having thirteen new
fans erected, which, with other improvements connected therewith, such as
sinking air-shafts, improving air-courses, &c., cannot have cost under
$50,000 ; but the money is well expended, and those who have done the
most, are more than satisfied with the result. But there is much more yet
to be done, and I am in hopes that there will be no unnecessary delay in
doing it.
In my relations with all having charge of the mines, I have cause for
great satisfaction, for I have forced improvements as persistent as the ex-
isting state of the trade would warrant, and yet I have been treated with
uniform kindness and respect, at all times and under ail circumstances,
and I desire to return my sincere thanks to all for the consideration with
which I have been treated.
The above, in brief, will giA'e your Excellency an idea of the subject
matter treated in the following report, all of which is most respectfully
submitted by
Your humble and obedient servant,
WILLIAM S. JONES,
ScRANTON, Pa., March 9, 1878.
Inapector of Mines.