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

498 Keports of the Inspectors of Mines. [Off. Doc.
other fitted with o-ood stairs for travelinof in case of accident to hoisting-
shaft. A fan is used for veutilatiuor.
Eureka No. 5.—This is a slope mine 3,000 feet long-. Much water has
been and is still encountered here. Two larg-e Cameron pumps are kept
in use. The ventilation is by fan power and is ample. 16,000 cubic feet
were measured at face of main heading-. Drainage is also well attended to-
Eureka No 9.—This is a new slope opening- opposite No. 8. Has not
yet come under the provisions of the law, and when more than nine men
are employed it may be connected in such a way with No. 8 that one man
may attend to both mines.
Excelsior No. 4-—This mine has been_. and is still much troubled by
faults which are many and larg-e. There has been more rock taken out
of this mine than any dozen others in the region. The ventilation was
fair at time of visit, but may be much improved by the use of an overcast.
Ferndale.—This is a small mine, working- 15 to 20 men. I measured
5,000 cubic feet of air circulated by natural means. The working- places,
however, did not share much in this quantity. Drainag-e, like ventila-
tion is natural, and is much affected by rains.
Loraine.—This mine is now nearly exhausted. Considerable g-ood
coal has been lost here, and the mine much abused by the pernicious
system of some superintendents in changing their mine-bosses. The ventilation
here is natural, and at time of visit sufficient, except in a few
places.
Mount Vernon No. 5.—This mine formerly known as West Moshannon,
has been for years and is yet an extensive mine. Haulage is by tail-rope
system nearly a mile in length. The ventilation is by furnace with a
shaft about 75 feet in depth. The mine was well ventilated, when
visited.
3Iount Vernon No. 6.—This is a shaft mine 175 feet deep, fitted with
the safety equipments required by law. The second opening is not com-
pleted. Ventilation is by exhaust steam from pumps at foot of shaft,
which is, however, not sufficient.
Muddy Run.-—This is a new mine, now known as Eureka No. 12. When
visited it had no rooms working. There was a current of 13,000 cubic
feet traveling through the headings. The coal here is low, about 3 feet
thick.
Blahel.—This mine is working the "D" vein about 2' 10" in thickness.
The air courses were found far behind. The furnace is a very crude
affair, and there was no second opening, of which state of affairs the com-
])any was notified.
Ocean No. 1.—This, once the most extensive mine in the region, is
now nearly exhausted. In its palmy days 33,000 tons per month have
been shipped. Thousands of tons of valuable coal are being lost on account
of the bad system on which the mine was ojiened and worked, and
the men who are now drawing pillars are suffering from the great quan-