Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-06-05
Visit to Hoffman and Aston Mines.

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TON Brown.
Homecoming, May %.

F'nosTBuRG, Mp, JUNE ., 1915.
Mr. EDIToR:-Thc Hoffman and Aston
mines are now shipping from 900 to SOC
tons Of coal per day, though they have
shipped as much as 1000 tons in the same
time.
This vast amount Of coal is weighed by
Mr.. j. r. Moody before it passes into the
railroad cars for shipment. Mr. Moody's
ability and long experience as weigh master
enables him to give general and entire sat
isfaction
There are two small locomotives in these
mines, the can't and Mole" The Office
of the former is to haul the coal to the bot
tom of the slope 1t is run by Mr.. Rober,
Pasco, and comes out every evening only
while the latter makes round trip every
thirty minutes, and hauls thirty cars each
trip.
The stationary engine which winds the
coal up the slope is 75-heSse power 1t il
of good manufacturc and efficient in its APP
plication. 1t is run by Mr.. John Fletcher
who is fully qualified for the position. Mr.
William Arthur, the chief engineer, keeps
all of the engines above mentioned in good
running condition, for which he deserves
much credit.
AS the Mole was about to enter the
mines we were invited to get in the engine
but fearing that economical piece of ma
chinery might attempt short cut over
some rough road on the ragged edge" OF
the mountain, We preferred q seal in the
rear car of the train with Capt M Higgins
The starting signal was given by the
engineer, Patrick Blake, when we entered
at fearful rate into the region of darkness
In less than fifteen minutes we were car.
ried two-and- half miles, or fve-siXths OF
the whole distance from the mouth to the
extreme end of the mine.
The ventilation in these mines is all that
can be desired. 1t is plentiful and of cx.
ccllent quality, $4,000 cubic feet OF pure all
passes through the Hoffman furnace per
minute, while $1,000 cubic feet escapes
through tl.e Astor furnace, making $4,000
cubic feet coursing in and out of these
mines every minute in the day. These
two furnaces consume about seven tons OF
coal in twcptyfour hours.
The many distractions to be overcome
in these mines in the ventilation would
make this vast quantity inadequate for 500
men, the number employed, were i, not for
the vcntiator's economical and scientific
distribution of the precious fluid
The current of pure air reaches the
miners before it comes in contact with the
locomotives gas, or smoke. The latter
is caught by the current which leaves the
miners, carried to the f Race, and drawn
from the mine before it reaches any portion
of the men at work. The heading through
which the miners pass in and out to and
from work has a current of fresh air con-
stantly passing through free from all gas or
smoke from the engine. The quantity OF
air passing through these mines is accurate
ly measured by an thermometer,
We wish to call particular attention to a
successful piece of engineering on the part
of Mr.. Philip McMahan, the principal min
ing boss under the direction of Joseph b.
Thomas, chief superintendent of mines for
James B. Thomas, agent of Consolidation
Coal Company. Mr., McMahan is cutting
an air-course in the Hoffman mine from a
point several hundred feet from Mllermine
the point of destination-for the purpose
of vcntilating the Hoffman and Asor mines.
In driving this aircoursc he has cut through
three headings. He had two sets of men
working at different points at the same
time, one following directly in the line OF
the other. Under these difficult circum-
stances the men in the rear did not vary a
fraction of an inch from the course of those
whom they followed. Mr.. McMahan is
now driving heading in another portion
of the mines on the same economical prn-
ciple above stated with hopes of similar
success.
Mr.. james Sloan holds az important po-
sition in these mines as assistant mining
boss
The conductors of these mines certainly
deserve the credit of making the most use
of locomotives with the least possible in
convenience to the miners. 1t is also con-
ceGed that .heir mode Of mining enables
them to take ont the greatest possible guam
tity of coal to the acre with the least waste
The information of the officials of these
mines on all things pertaining to the phil;
osophy of mining seems to be general and
complete. We are viking to concede to
each his need of distinction, but the real
credit must naturally revert t2 the priaci-
pal mover in the work.
The oldest miner at the place is ,EphG
Stuart, who was born in the year 1896
*. G. r.