Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-06-19
THE MINING CONTROVERSY.
"Humblc Miner Submits Plan.
FRosTBURG, JUNE 5, 1875

To the Frostbuy Mining Journal:
In your last issue appears another long
winded letter from the Straitsville patriarch,
yet still he prescribes no remedy for the
evils he deuounccs. | doubt if he can, al
though he quotes enough figures to COM
pute the national debt if placed correctly.
Figures are the mediums of stock -jobbers,
financiers and engineers. Practical mining
is an art Mr.. Roy says we do not under
stand, and in formation about this art is
what we want Even the Superintendent
are ignorant of the right way to mine this
big vein. With others, | have requested
his advice, yet he vouchsaies nothing but
condemnation. Mr.. Editor, think of man,
worthy of the State Inspectors credcn-
tals-onc, too, who has worked decade
in Maryland mines, who knows only how
it is done, but cannot explain how it should
be done.
The little engineer do not notice. Some
unsettled sailor has, however, evidently
learned him to 'box the compass"
A word with regard to Mr.. Roy's obser-
vations upon mining in Scotlnad. The
first is called the bottom pillar, generally
400 feet square. From each end of the shaft
there is level set off, and driven at the
height of water level. At each end of the
bottom pillar there is heading driven 100
feet and at the rear cross heading which
forms an air course. The headings go to
the rise of the coal leaving rooms on both
sides behind The levels are cutting ahead,
driving rooms every ten yards, which
forms pillars 1870 feet square. The rooms
are 10 feet widc-the pillars the same
width
There is great difference between the
way of getting out coal there and here.
There the material is so handy they can
wind a road around pillar in fifteen min
utes. No shoveing of coal, except into the
car, Tor hutch, as it is called) That is why
they arc SO successful in taking out pillars.
Let us examine the pillars in Maryland.
Are they square or can road wind round
them almost at will Can miners shovel
the coal into the car when they knock it
down? No. pillars are from 200 to 500
feet long, and often that far from the air
course. When miners commence to take
out pillars at that distance from the air
course the first fall that comes chokcs them
With damp. The pillar, so broad, often
from 20 to 45 feet, frequently occasions
shoveling coal three times. The miners off
third fnnrt1, tbn az Slp
keeping to the road rs much as possible
for little fresh air. l have frequently
seen three lamps burning together to make
light enough to load Car. This, Mr.. Edi-
tor, is the grand point in criminal mining.
The roof coal and slate begin to move
down with the pressure of the rock though
the little stumps left in the off side of the
pillars will not let the rock down. Then
the PRESSURE sends the roof coal and slate
down ahead of it, shuts up the room, or
rooms, and leaves the pillars there to be
seen no more.
This is the criminal method of mining
which Mr. Ro.; has seen, but does not I'M
derstand how TO obviatc. Blessed inspcc-
tor
| venture to suggest the following plan
to effect the improvement desired for exhu-
ming more coal Divide the workings in
three parts, IA feet strict for rooms and %
feet for pillars. Returning with the pillars,
every two men would have fourteen feet to
work or, just the same as the room. With
four men on the pillar and a road on each
side--lf this would not take third or
fourth more coal out of the Maryland
mines, l volunteer to be answcrablc for
whatever responsibility attaches to any
false proposition.
1t was not my designto intrude myselfin-
to this discussion, but, seeing year ago the
same charges, pointing to the loss of bit
Of bottom coal, and at this time so many
guns playing on one battery, have
thought it my duty to attempt rescue of
the innocent lambs from the rage of lions