Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-05-22

mend IN my report, and it has been in the
mines under his charge for the past eighteen
years. naxe not said anything to the con-
trary. My structures referred wholly to the
acoste in mining-to a loss Of more than
one-half of the ceal in many abandoned
mines, and to frye feet Of coal three feet Of
which is of easy and inviting removal, is
left untouched in the mines along Georges
Creek. The facts in the case are that of
thrty-hree mines in present operation in
the Cumberland coal field seventeen take
up the benches (Which | mention in my
report as being three feet in thickness) and
two of them work out the whole height of
seam-two additional feet Of ROOF coal, v
Mr, Douglas says these benches arc Only
thirty three inches thick, and are Consid-
cred unfit for commercial purposes. Now
as they make equally good coal all over the
coal area and as more than ope-half of the
mines work them and ship them to the same
competing market, the reason Mr.. Douglas
gives "as being good and sufficient rca-
son" for mining them is no reason, at all.
Unless he can show that, they are interior
coal, where they are not rked out, he Tor
others) Stands open to the charge off, I'M
worthy stewardship of the riches which a
hountiful nature has commi.ttel 40 his care" "
He says must surely, allow the operators
of Maryland sufficient good sense to judge
what part of their coal is tit for commercial
purposes without holding them as criminal
or their managers as lacking in knowl-
edge of their business. l did pot refer to
the operators at all as being held rrimi-
mall |, only wondered that they permitted
such waste, because it is clearly to their in
tcrcst to have the miners yield all the coal
possible The practical fact is, the "bcnch-
es" make as good coal as any part of the
seam, but they contain two thin layers
of slate, the separation of which requires
the exercise of a little care and trouble but
no "opens
Prof. James 7. Hodge, Of Plymouth,
Mass, mining geologist IN the summer of
1869 made an elaborate survey of the Cum
berand coal region, and his report was
published by the Consolidation Coal Co.
According 10 his estimate the average yield
per acre of the mines was only 5,13O tons.
His estimate Of the Georges Creek Coal &
Iron Cos mines is 1922 tons to the acre.
Prof. Hodge estimated, at the present
wastcful manner of mining the exhaustion
of this fine seam of coal in less than thirty
three years taking the production of 1868
as the average annual yield Of the mines of
the Georges Creek c. & |. Co. to average
only eleven feet of thickness, an acre of
coal, if it were all mined one would yield
17,146S tons According to Prof Hodge,
the actual yield is but ), 122 tons being a
waste of 10 ,024 tons per acre, Comment
Cumberland coal field, Macfarlane, in his
Coal Regions Of America, says: This
great waste in mining is not Il pleasant
spectacle, and the region is greatly in wan.
of some first rate mining engineers and a
much improved system Of minAg abe pre-
cnt plan is shockingly wastcful.'
After the area of the great seam has been
worked over what is there left to draw up.
on? 1t is true the lower seams extend ovcl
! much more ground. and some of them rist
to four an! SIX feet OF thickness, but they are
hike the 'he3ehcs Hstrcall"d with layers OF
slate, and there is not another bed Ct Thy
series which will yield an amount Of Goa
per acre in tons to what the benches o
the Big Vein would yield if worked out
The six foot vein has two sircals of Stat,
and bone coal, and the coal is disposed tc
/ crumblc and tall to pieces in handling
Moreover abe slate and bone coal adhere
with great tenac:ty to the coal, making il
both costly and difficult to separate, Will,
in the case of slate of the ''benches' of the
great seam The states readily part from Il c
coal, and can be cleaned out without any
perceptible loss of time-certainly without
any cost for digging.
l beg to assure Mr.. Douglas, in conclu-
sion, that no man regards him with kind
lier feelings than do. If have asserted
anything in my report in regard to the
Cumberland coal region of Maryland not
warranted by the facts, as soon as = am
shown my mistake, will acknoM ledge it
promptly. Mr. Douglas is al. Old man, and
has5assed many years, of useful and honor
able service as u manager in the employ
ment of the Cumberland coal regions, and
standing high in his profession, but very
grave apprehension has long existed that
the mines Of that coal field were not made
to yield as they ought to yield and it re-
mains for Mr. Douglas (and others to put
the matter at rest by satisfactory tXplara
ton of the facts fit can be done
ANDREW Roy