The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, November 24, 1886, Page 1

WINE INSPECTOR’S REPORT, | f Bates County For the Year| 1886, -—_+os oo —— js Prepared by John Whitehead and Submitted to the Labor Com- missioner of the State. sooo tr the Hon. Oscar Kochtitzky, Labor Commissioner of Missourt : In submitting this, my first report, [endeavor to appreciate the great responsibility resting upon me in fulfilling my duties alike to compa- ties and miners. It was with great difidence that I accepted the po- stron, after tne duties of the office had been so ably and judiciously med by my most worthy and competent predecessor, M. L. Wolte, who resigned the office in November, 1885, atter haying served gveral yearsin that capacity, This (fice is of much more importance, whe the objects for which it was qeated are tully carned out, and the responsibility resting upon the ” Inspector is much greater than would atfirst appear to an imexperienced clerk perion in mining, and the compen 1888, ation at present given this officer is a wholly inadequate to justify a man ‘and withthe experience and ability to sate perform the duties devoting his time alt md energies to the work. I would — tecommend that the legislature, at ‘Ne ts next general assembly, divide the est, mining portions ot the state into bie. ditncts, and a mine inspector be , sppointed to each of these districts, ne whose duty it shall be to look after city althe mining interests in his respect- ablic ve district, the same as by law he ara: wat present required to do tor his 0. county. The said Inspector to be spointed by the governor ot the ae tate, and have a fixed salary, to be pad proportionately by the counties m said district. Your Inspector, before making out his report, inter wewed a number ot leading miners ineach mine in relation to the pres- ent mining law, and asked of them itthey knew of any changes that j thould be made therein; it so, I wouldembody them in my report and endeavor to have them brought before the next legislature. mbstance in every case was that they were well satisfied with the present lw and its enforcement, and had no changes to recommend. The offic ials of the companies and the miners ate working in harmony, the best ot | feeling existing between them. No fuch thing as a strike or walk-out has occurred during my term of office, Thave the honor to report the following : WORKABLE MINES IN COUNTY. The number ot mines in Bates County required by law tor your Mine Iapector to take recognizance ot are teven in full operation, These Mines are all operated in the Rich Hill coal series, and do not include the strip pits nor those mines worked other coal series of Bates county, fh as Walnut, Mulberry, Hudson, te. To include all of these in my "port would run up into the hun- and would be both useless tad tedious toenumerate. Those in ®peration on the Missoun Pacific Railroad are conducted by the Rich Coal Mining Company and Managed by the tollowing officers: RM. McDowell, general manager ; Tt Fleming, superinteadent; J. T. itd are as follows: MINE NO. Wotked by slope ; the coal 1s arawn ‘Ptothe pple with an engine, 30 7 8 power, Henry Huttanus, en- b Rieer; the pit boss 1s George May- The number of men employed : forty-nine, and fourteen bands Smployed in and about the mine, Sting George Farris, weigh boss. coal will average 4$ to 5 The | Vly, assistant superintendant,and | thich; the root is black slate and soap j Stone; there are two or three small veins above the maim one, not work- able, trom 8 to 15 inches. This mine ts the first one that was oper- ated by the Rich Hill, Coal Mining | Company in 18So0, and has running ever since. been The company is drawing the pillars at present on the north side, and on the south side | where it was thought would have to be abandoned, they are working aj vein trom 5 to 54 of good coal. This | mine has a good furnace and air! shatt and 1s well ventilated; located in section 36. township 39, range 32. MINE NO. 5, Is worked by shatt, 25 feet deep, coal hoisted by single engine, 40 horse power, Ed. Holland, engineer, and Thos Brennen, pit boss, Abel Mentzer, weigh boss. The average thickness of the vein is 44 feet, The number of miners employed in this mine 1s one kundred and fifty, and thirty-five extra hands employed in and around the mines. The roofing is black slate and soap stone,in good } condition. This shaft was first sunk and contracted by Alexander Wilson, but at the present time is operated by the company. Great improve- ment has been made in these mines, both inside and out. Three shoots have been erected, which contain a a revolving screen, which divides the coal in three sizes—egg, nut and slack—besides the lump coal, which passes directly into the cars. This screen is run by a small engine. This mine has a_ ventilating fan which 1s capable of throwing 40,000 cubic feet of air per minute; is well ventilated and tully up to the stand- ard required by law. An average ot powder used per day 1s 25 kegs. The miners fire their shots twice per | day—at noon and at 5:30 p. m. At one time they could only fire once per day, and then in the evening, the air being insufficient to carry off the smoke and gases. There are tourteen mules used in this mine to haul the coal to the bottom of the shaft. There is an average ot 40 R. R, cars loaded per day. No. 5 has also a stairway tor men to go in and out of the mine. There 1s an ingress and egress according to law ; there is also proper gates and cover | ings to entrance of shatt at top and lower landing as proscribed by law there should he. This mine is lo- | cated in northwest corner section 36, township 39, range 32. MINE NO. 6, Worked by shaft, 45 feet deep, coal | hoisted by double engine, 60 horse | power, John X. Jones, engineer: John Graham, pit boss; Thos Gra- lham, weigh boss. The average of vein is 5 feet, rooting is black slate and soap stone, in good con- dition, mine well ventilated and well propped. One hundred and fitty }men are required to operate this | | east quarter of section 26, township j black slate. in excelleat working condition. This | mine 1s worked with an average of | 3° Right railroud cars per day. ; here we would digress a little to} notice the efficiency of the engineer, John X_ Jones, who put up and run the first engine at slope No. 1. He also tests all the boilers used by the company, and has never yet had an accident. I find him faithtul and efficient in the discharge of his duties. Mine No. 6 is located in Sec. 31, township 36, range 31. MINE NO. I0, Is operated by shaft, depth 55 feet, with a thickness of coal from 3 to 4 feet, roofing 1s black slate and soap stone, well propped and ventilated. The coal is drawn to the surtace with single engine. 40 horse power, David Conway,engineer;E Allison, pit boss; Chas. W. Lanier, weigh boss. There are 56 miners em- ployed in operating, this mine, be- sides 14 extra hands in and around the mine, with four mules to draw the coal to bottom of the shaft. There are two or three small veins ot coal above this workable vein, the same as in the other mines. It was thought at one time that this shaft would have to be abandoned on ac- count of the condition of the coal, but through the perseverance of the company’s officials it was found to pay, and the cumpany has raised out of this shaft trom 13 to 20 rail- read cars per day. This mine 1s furnished with air shaft and exhaust pan or air fan, the same as in the otker shafts, with the same capacity. There are two openings provided for by law for ingress and egress of men at work in this mine, one a stairway and the other the main shaft. The ventilation in this mine is first-class. It is located in south- 29, range 32. MINE NO. 12 Is at present idle, but not abandoned, tion tor their satety and comtort the mines. In} They endeavor to hve | up to the requirements of the law | in the conduct of their mines, such | as furnishing plenty of aur, requisite modes of ingress and egress, andj} sufficient props. They have always | treated your inspector with the! greatest courtesy, and never failed to immediately rectity any mistakes or violations ot law pointed out to! them. I am glad to report that the | very best of feeling exists between | the managers and men, and all are | working harmoniously together. KEITH & PERRY MINES. Mine No. §, of the Keith & Perry Company, is located on the south- west quarter ot Section 25, township | 39. range 32, is operated by shaft 70 teet deep, and the vein ot coal will | average 5 feet in thickness, with roofing of black slate, soap stone and shale. The coal 1s hoisted to the surtace by a double engine, 60 horse power, M. J. Hobbs, engineer. There are 1o1 colored miners and 66 white miners, besides 30 white and colored hands in and about the mine; twelve mules are used to haul the coal to the toot of the shaft. There 1s an air fan at the top of the up cast shaft, which is run by ma chinery and has a capacity of 40,000 cubic feet of air per minute, which gives a surplus of aiz all through the mine. The average ot railroad cars of coal taken out per day, when the mine is in operation, is 30. There are suitable modes provided tor in- gress and egress as required by law. John Mackey is pit boss and Jesse Lowry weigh boss. This mine has proper gates and coverings to all entrances, as required by law. The shaft 1s fitted up in first-class order with modern conveniences } Notices are posted on the shaft {warning all parties to keep awav from the shaft, and should an acci dent occur it will be at said party’s ali as there 1s lots of good coal to be gotten there, the vein being fiye feet thick. The Hudson mines are worked by dritting. Wm. Hudson is contractor of these mines under the Rich Hill Coal Mining company, and he works 15 miners; the amount of coal pro- | duced is given in with the company’s. | Sim Jay, pit boss. The ventilation in this mine is very good, roofing is The mine formerly worked by Hudson & Brown has been abandoned for the present. The Charon & Wilhams mines, contracted the same as the Hudson mine, by George Charon and Frank Wilhams, works fifteen miners and five extra hands in and around the mine. This mine is worked by slope, the coal being hauled up the slope by mule power. Thickness ot vein being 44 feet, depth below the ground about 15 feet. Geo. Charon, manager and pit boss; roofing of mine, besides 35 extra hands em- ployed in and around the mine. Mine No. 6 was first operated and contracted by Birch and Brown, and was not in good condition, but under the present management of the company 1s fully up to the re- quireme~ts of law, regarding health, safety to employes and ventilation. There is now an air shaft with a ventilating fan with a capacity ot 40,000 cubic feet of air per minute; there 1s also a stairway for ingress and egress, whi in connection with the shaft, makes two outlets to this mine as proscribed by law. | average of 16 kegs of powder per day 1s used, the miners fire their | shots twice per day, the same as No, 5. The reason so much powder is | not required is on account of the coal | being higher and better to work. | Only one shot a day was formerly tired in this mine on account of the | insufficiency ot air to drive out smoke The same number of x | and gases. | coal shoots with revolving screen are | their dealings with the men working feet attached to this mine as in No. 5 and ‘ under them, and use every precau- An) black slate, ventilation very good, being an air shaft and furnace. amount of coal! is givenin with the | company’s. The Wilson mines, worked on the same principle as above, contracted by Alexander Wilson, is worked by slope, the coal being hauled up the slope by mule power, They work nineteen miners and five extra hands 'in and around the mine. Thickness of vein 5$ feet, jsoap stone roofing. This mine is | located opposite No. 5 mine and is ‘on the epposite side of the hill trom old No. 1 slope, a part of which has | been abandoned because of the great |length to pull the coal. Some day | series of Walnut, Mulbery and Hud- | this slope will run into that part of] son, and other senes of Bates coun- | The coal is about 20] ty, have not been conducted exten- | enough to demand my official | ty of | No. 1 works. or ‘we j | boss. The} 30 feet below the surtace, and is! sively Il ventilated by air shaft and tur- | attention and presence but some coal jnace. Jas. Kirkby is pitand weigh jis being taken out in each of the | ations in m.ning. jabove series and Iam convinced | plished by means of furnaces at the | The officials of this company are | that the coal is equal in quantity and | gentlemanly and accommodating 1n | quality as in those fields bemg d , Walnut has a ratlroad;the mines as some, even AMON | the t pliowing accidents in our mines her | practical miners suppose; but by al own risk. | MINE NO. 4, of this company’s mines is located on the southeast quarter ot section 25, township 39, range 35; 1s worked | by drift and strip pit, the coal being hauled out by mules W. M. Hodge} 1s pit boss The number of under- ground miners emploved are 35, all white; in the strip pit are 3 under W. Bracken, 3 under Davis & Barn ard, 6 under Neptune, 3 under Houghton, 3 under Wells, 4 under Fry, 4 mule drivers, 5 road men, 2 car turners and 4 others. The coal is 8 or 10 feet under ground and the vein about 4 feet thick. Ventilation good. ‘These mines were only run two months during the year. Keith & Perry Company, under the able management of George R. Sweener, Superintendent, operate {coal mined and shipped during the The! coal will be extensively mined ina very short time. | From a careful | study of the coal interests ot Bates | county for years, I am led to believe | that the coal is almost inexhaustable. | It would be impossible, however, for me to give even an intelngent approximate estimate of arrear. COAI. SHIPPED DURING THE YEAR. this vast The following is the amount of vear as taken from the companies records. Rich Hill Coal Mining Company, 339.300 tons. This includes all the strippings and contracts. Keith & Perry Coal Company, 198,000 tons. This 1s from December 1, 1885 to 1886, inclusive. DIVISION OF COAL. At Nos. 5 and 6, ot the Rich Hill Coal Mining Company, there are shoots or bins in operation where the coal is divided into three parts, namely, from its size, the egg, nut and slack coal. When the coal is hoisted trom the mines by the main shaft, it is taken trom the cage and heating the air it expands and light- ens and rushes up tne shaft and af course the heavy or cold air rushes in atthe down cast to fill up the space. A great many miners use tans at the top ot the up cast shafé which answers the same purpose as the furnace, this fan bemg run by machinery. The condition of the | atmosphere has considerable to do with the quality and quantty of air received in the mines. When it ie a damp day the air 1s not so pure, being softer, the same as when the wind 1s 1n the south it is not as pure as whenit is im the north The temperature in the mine is variable according to the depth under ground and the number of men and mules worked therein. There would be 2 natural ventilation trom these causes but not enough to turnish air tor man and beast. The air to havea continuous circuit and reach all parts of the mine must have channels lett’ open, and men working in various parts of the mine cannot be too care- tul in this respect in seeing that thew supply of air is not interferred with by obstructions placed in the way, weighed and dumped into the screen. The bars of this screen is tar enough apart to let egg, nut, and slack, go through and the lump coal passes directly over the screen into the rail- road cars. The egg, nut and slack ts conducted by a small shoot to the revolving buckets, which convey it to the revolving screen. This screen is run by a small stationery engine, 10 horse power, which seperates the coal into the apartments above spec- ified. This coal may then be load- ed into railroad cars by simply htt- ing a door and let the coal run into the car. GASES IN MINES. No mine is ever entirely free from gases, one need not expect to find this state of things to exist, but if a sufficient current of airis sent con- tinuously through the mines it drives out these gases betore they can ac- cumulate, There 1s several kinds of gases to be found, the black damp, white gas and explosive gas. 1 consider the white gas the most injur 1ous from the fact that jt will allow the men to work 1n it until they be come weak and powerless to get out, usually fall to sleep and die, while explosive gas, while the most pow- erful can be guarded against. It clings to the top of the rooting and soon accumulate sufficient to be- workman and explode. ignite. would be perfectly tree from explo- 1f not driven out by the air it would come igaited from the candle of the It takes a certain proportion of atmospheric air mixed with this gas, before it will For instance, if a room wis completely tull ot it tree from aur, it sion unul atmospheric air was let in. One toot of gas mixed with seven to; altogether on the Gulf railroad. They have in vogue a custom that I don’t find in any other company in Bates county, that of sending to the miners at work props, rails or any- thing else needed in their works, by ithe drivers, hence obviates the nec- essity ot their losing time from their work. Mr. Sweeney uses eyery precaution possible tor the comfort and safety of the miners under him, and never hesitates to rectify any evil that may be pointed out to him by the inspector. He has treated with black slate and | your Inspector with the greatest of | and it will kill it one stays in st, courtesy and is ever ready to assist ten teet of air would be the greatest explosive mixture. This gas con- sists of four parts of hydrogen and one of carbon. Carbonic acid gas (or black damp) is invisible, in- | combustable, and inexplosive. It 1s a positive poison and at once kills, it lays close to the bottom, lke mud does in water. The miner can be warned ot its presence by his light going out, After damp isa gas that accumulates just after an explo- It has a choking sensation i Its presence is recognized by a choking sion. him 1m the discharge of his official duty. AREA OF COAL. Mining operations in the | saneed aow and we have no doubt that coal | le- sensation, and a kind of lethargy | takes possession of the victim. These i mines being so well ventilated that | there 1s practically no danger from | any of these gases. VENTILATION. Proper ventilation to give plen- good air to the men at work 1s ; one of the most important consider- | This 1s accom- | bottom of an yp cast shaft, this fur- | nace does not draw the air through W: we Any practical miner can readly tell it he has sufficient air, or it the sup- plv 1s pure from obnoxious gases, this he can teil by his own feelings or by holding his lamp in the draft. DIVISION WORK. 1 have devoted much study and observation as tu the best methods of turnishing fresh airto men at work, and ot taking away the im- pure air already breathed and the smoke and impure gases. The present svstem used in our mines to have only one draft ot air going the tull length of the mines, every miner in the works breathing the same wir, now my theory is, that the men should be worked in divisions and the impure air or that used by each respected division separated from the pure air by means of an over cast and taken off to its escapes. This we believe, would prove more satistactory and healthtul to the men and be of benefit to the company it !as much as the men could do much more work and 1n a more satistacto- rv manner under such favorable cir- cumstances. This is no wild theory but is eminently practicable and should be put into effect. BOILER TESTS. All boilers used to generate steam tor the engines at the mines have been tested by hydrostatic pressure and warm water, by a qualified per- son eyery six months, and the papers led in my office. IRON AND COPPER TAMPING BARS. As anymber who may read this report might wonder what is meant by a taming bar a very short expla— nation we think would not be amiss at this time. A tamping bar or tamping iron as it is some times called, is a bar used to firmly embed- the tampting substance onto the power, this bar has acrese to fit around the needle so as to make the tamping matter thoroughly compact. In the tamping process accidents otten happen by the bar striking fire from sulphur which substance is found in greater or less. quantities im all coal. The question is often in dispute which is the sater to pre— vent accidents, the iron of copper bar Ina test case by scientific men ot Europe, cut ot 36 cases test- ed, 19 struck fire with iron andg | with copper, so that the percentage: jas greatly in favor ot copper. Hew- j ever, a great many miners differ on | this question and we leave the mat- j ter with the practical miner to use | his own judgment. Either 1s sate ‘enough when proper precaution = i used. ; ACCIDENTS IN THE MINES. It becomes mv sad duty in sub- mitting this, my first report to the — Labor Commissioner, to chronicle (Continued ox Editorial Page} — LEON SERRE RAPE PLEA Ana REI eRe?