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

INSPECTORS OF MINES. 175
the grade of the road between them, and the length of the team and trip
likely to be required on said section.
I am happy to state that a plan accompanying this report, and gotten up
by myself, has given general satisfaction in the arrangements of the doors,
both near the foot of sliaft or slope and in the interior of the mine, wherever
it is applicable. There are several mines opened out upon the system suggested
in the said plan. It has been a great error in the past to open a
mine without regard to any system.
Many of our old mines, and some not yet very old, are expensive monuments
to the random s^^stem of mining that prevailed in our anthracite coal
fields in the past.
Mine Signals.
Tiie importance of having appliances that can be used to convey a known
signal or signals from the ventilator, generally located on the surface, to a
certain station in the interior of the mines is becoming more apparent each
day in our deep and fiery mines. Better still could the telegraphic system
bo introduced, when any message could be transmitted from the surface to
the men in the mines and vice versa. Two different kinds of machines have
been introduced, in connection with signals, into this district of late.
An electric signal is being used in the Stanton slope, where the ventilating
fans are erected that ventilate the Audenreid shaft collieiy. The battery
is situated in the fan engine room, and a regular code of signals is
used whereby the parties at the foot of the slope can correspond with those
at the fans in relation to matters indicated by the aforementioned code of
signals. The object of those signals is to give an alarm to the workmen
below in case that anything happens, whereby the ventilation may be
affected, and thus provide against accidents from explosions of gas. The
dis-tance between the fans on the surface and the extreme end of the wire
in tlie mines is 2,200 feet.
There is still another signal in the shaft and a speaking tube. The new
signal in the shaft is one of Mr. Howard's patent pneumatic signals. The
signal is attached to the ends of the speaking tube, and makes a very excellent
arrangement, for it can be made to operate signals at the first and
second landings and engine room simultaneously. At the Empire, No. 5,
slope another of the electric signals is in use very successfully. Distance
from fan to station, 1,500 feet.
DlSCIl'LIN'E.
The matter of discipline is not what it should be in our mines. The lack
of discipline is caused by the absence of any code of general or special
rules required by the mining law, together with the indifference of both
officers and workmen.
Our mining is getting much deeper each year, which necessarily increases
our dangers, and better discipline must be had if our accidents list is to receive
any attention.
In my opinion there should be some changes in our mining law ere long
to meet our wants, which have changed materially since the enacting of the
present law. The law of 1870 has worked admirably without a doubt, yet
there is room for improvement that would come in well at the present stage
of mining enterprise, to cope successfully with difBculties that arise as we
advance in this science.
The matter of special and general laws are certainly worthy of our consideration,
and to make them effective more legislation must be had. Again