Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite and bituminous ...

No. 12,] First Bituminous District. 293
Buffalo.—On my last examination of this mine the g-eneral condition
was fair.
Allen.—A ventilating- furnace has been pnt in at this mine during- the
year which is producing- air in sufficient quantities to keep the mine in
a healthy condition. When examined, December 4, there was 13,600
cubic feet of air entering- the mine.
Condition of mine fair.
Beaumont.—When examined last this mine was in a fair condition.
During- the year the company has put down a slope which has a dip
of one in six and 720 feet in length, out of which they are hoisting- the
products of the mine ; heretofore they have used a shaft for that pur-
pose. They have also erected a ventilating- fan.
Courtney.—When examined, November 18, the general condition of the
workings was fair.
Mines on the Pittsburg and Wheeling Division of the B. & O. R. R.
Anderson Mine.-—The tail rope system of haulag-e has been introduced
in this mine during the year, of which the following is a general de-
scription :
The engines are of 100 horse power with boilers, ropes and electric
signal system complete.
The engines, of which the accompanying cut is an illustration, consist
of two cylinders 13 inch bore by 15 inch stroke, coupled at right angles
to one engine shaft svliich is geared to the drum shaft by heavy gearing.
The two drums are each 5 feet in diameter by 30 inch face with flanges
to hold 9,000 feet of three-fourth-inch hauling rope.
Both drums are loose upon the shaft, the heads being fitted with hard
bronze bushings and are connected to the drum shaft by means of heavy
patent band friction clutches which are securely keyed to the drum shaft
and are both operated by the one-hand wheel shown in cut.
Each drum is provided with a separate brake band operated by foot
levers on either side of the hand wheel for operating clutches and in
convenient reach of the operator without leaving his position.
By this arrangement, when one drum is driven by the engine the other
runs loose upon the shaft, but is controlled by the brake, thus keeping
just the required tension on the ropes.
Steam for operating this plant is supplied by two steel cylinder
boilers, each 40 inches in diameter by 30 feet long, which supply more
than enough steam for the engines.
When hauling, the trip-rider can communicate at any time with the
engineer by means of the electric signal system, which reaches every
part of the mine in which the ropes are placed ; this arrangement allow-
ing the tri}) lider to
mine.
start or stop the trip at any desired point in the
At present the hauling is on the main entry and one side entry, but