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

No. 12.] Second Bituminous District. 329
From the foveofoing- statistics it will be seen that the production of
coal and coke has fallen off. The decrease in coal production is 224,263
tons, and in coke production 1,021,126 tons. Taking- a ton and a half of
coal to produce a ton of coke, which is a fair average, this will show a
decrease in the production of coal in the coking part of the district of
1,531,689 tons. This decrease was caused by a strike in the early part
of the spring, together with a depression in the coke trade for the remainder
of the year. The other part of the district did remarkably well
as is shown by the increased shipment of 1,122,038 tons. Notwith-
standing the five weeks strike at the mines, on the B. and O. railroad?
there is an increase of sixteen persons on the inside, and a decrease of
one hundred and ninety-seven persons on the outside. This will show
a decrease in the total number of persons employed of one hundred and
eig"hty-one.
Owing to the large number of persons killed in the mines this year, I
will offer a few suggestions. In all mines where fire-damp generates, be
sure that you have sober reliable and conscientious fire-bosses, and on
the discovery of drunkenness or neglect of duty, they should be at once
dismissed. Allow no standing gas to remain in your mines that can
possibly be removed, see that all loose coal and rock is taken down or
secured, see that no one is allowed to ride out on full cars, or on the
dilly roads. I fear that the practice of carrying- powder into the mine
in twenty-five-pound casks will result disastrously, and should be entirely
forbidden. The coal dust in some of our dry mines should be
dampened with water. All rib drawing where gras g-enerates on the falls
should be drawn with locked safety lamps. I hope that the foregoing- sug-
gestions will be strictly carried out, and that those having charg-e of the
mines will strictly enforce the law and the rules governing- the mines.
All of which is resoectfully submitted.
Irwin, Westmorel.^nd County, Pa., February 27, 1892.
William Jenkins,
Inspector.
Description of Mines and Mine Improvements in the Second
Bituminous District.
Alexandria Mine.—An air shaft, 110 feet deep and 9 feet in diameter,
was sunk for ventilation and a furnace built; dimensions of furnace fire
bed 7'X8', length of arch, 15 feet. Since the furnace was built I have
measured on an average of 23,843 cubic feet per minute going out at the
outlet, and this volume was fairly distributed through the mine. This
quantity can be increased by firing up well, to 35,000 cubic feet per
minute. The drainag-e was in fair condition, except in No. 5 heading,
where they were drawing ribs. Mining-boss, Daniel Campbell.
Amieville Mine.—This mine has been idle since the seventh day of