Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-05-29
ON The WING.
MAY 20, 1880

MAY 20, 1880,
Found me at the weigh scales of the
Midland mine belonging to the
Hampshire and Baltimore coal COM
pany. They were bound on one cor
ner by the T rail of the tram road
connecting with them. Had the rail
moved back and scales balanced. |
paid attention to number of trips
coming down the plane. The track
is in bad condition, causing the min
ers to lose large portion of their
coal by falling off the cars. The Su-
perintendent promised to have it put
in repair.
MAY 2l.-Visited the Miller mine
operated by the same company. All
| the coal in this mine above the water
| line is mined out. There is slope
900 feet in length driven down below
the above mentioned line, the coal be-
ing hoistsd up by stationery engine
located inside of the mine. Found
the ventilation good. All timber
supplied to the miners and heading
roads all safe. noticed a number of
the props had become decayed in
come of the rooms where the miners
were working, and the roof being
bad, I called the attention of the
boss miner to the fact, and he prompt
ly gave orders to have them replaced
with fresh ones. The remaining pro-
visions of the law are carried out at
this mine.
Inspected tho Midland mine be-
longing to the same company. Found
number of miners engaged in draw
ing pillars where TIE top coal was
down and the slate not propped. l
was astonished to find miners 80 re-
gardless of their lives as to be found
working in such places. Informed
them of their danger and requested
them to leave. Any company that
will ask men to work in such danger,
in case of accident, l will hold re-
sponsible under the law. The Su-
perintendent informed me that he had
ordered them to leave it. The min
ers state, however that they had been
ordered to take the coal out. If the
coal is so valuable that it has to be
gotten out of such places, let them be
timbered and made safe. The ven
tilation of this mine is good and the
timber section complied with.
MAY 22.-Inspected what used to be
one Of the most extensive mines in
the county, namely: the Pompey
Smash mine, belonging to the Consol-
idation coal company. This mine is
nearly worked out; only few men
being employed drawing stumps on
the main heading. When they are
out, good bye, old Pompey. Let me
here quote the words of the poet in
respect to the village of that name:
So when am wearied with wand'rings all
day,
To thee, my delight, in the evening /
come;
No matter what beauties see in my way
They were but my visits, but thou art
my home.
The majority of the miners employ
ed in this mine are working in what
is termed by miners a horseshoe
heading, running up through the
workings of the old Hoffman mine,
for the purpose of mining out few
acres Of coal in the above mentioned
mine. AS | entered this heading l
met number of miners coming out
on account Of bad air. / was not
surprised at this, having learned be-
forehand that the air was not good
in this portion of the mine. On pen.
etrating through every working place
l found the air was unfit for man or
beast to breathe, thus Fgiving the
miners just cause for complaint. The
heading roads want to be timbered to
make them safe for travel. I have
informed the Superintendent con-
corning this condition of affairs.
With my personal knowledge of this
gentleman in relation to such ciroum-
stances, there is no doubt in my mind
that he will talk plain English to
some parties and have things put
right at once.
next inspected the Hoffman Slope.
The original length of this slope was