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

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 33
THIRD OR SHAMOKIN DISTRICT.
To his Excellency John F. Hartranft, Governor of the GommonweaUh
of Pennsylvania
Sir: I herewith submit ray fifth ^ ami last annual report, as inspector of
coal mines for the Third or Shamokin district, for the year ending December
31, 1817. My commission bearing date of April 23, 1873, for five years,
said term of office will expire on the 28th day of April, 1878.
This report gives the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents during the
year, number of tons of coal mined and sent to market, with estimated
amount of coal consumed at collieries and by employes, &c.
Lists, in tabular form, are also given of the working collieries in this
district; also, the names of lessees, land owners, location of coUeries,
and name of veins being worked, with number of openings described, i. e.
slopes, shafts, tunnels, drifts, and macliinery in use at tiie same, and num-
ber of men employed, &c.
I am pleased to be able to report a decrease of nine fatal accidents this
year, but a slight increase of non-fatal accidents ; quite a number of them
however not of a serious nature.
The total amount of coal mined and sent to market, as per statements
given, is 3,229,357 tons, besides estimated amount consumed by machinery
and emploj^es at 242,205 tons, giving a total of 3,471,562 tons, an increase
of 272,256 tons compared with tonnage of 1876.
The number of fatal accidents in 1876 were thirty-seven, and 1877,
twenty-eight, showing a decrease of nine, nearly twenty-five per cent.
In 1876, 81,711 tons of coal were mined to each life lost, while in 1877,
123,842 tons were mined.
Fifty-four colleries are in operation in this district. Forty-six steam
fans are in use for ventilation purposes ; the ventilation is slowly, but
surely improving. Considerable opposition has been met with in trying
to establish good and proper ventilation, but that feeling is gradually
giving way to reason, as it is a too well known fact that a well ventilated
mine is generally the most profitable.
Very respectfullj^ submitted.
WILLIAM HEMINGRAY.
3 Mine Rep.