Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-06-05

II e
this mine, some of them over a mile
in length, I found every old opening
bratticed up, trap doors placed at all
necessary points for the purpose OF
driving the air from one heading to
another, and also two fine overahots
for the purpose of carrying the air
overhead from one part to another.
The workings of this mine are opened
out on the double heading system, the
best mode known to secure good ven
tilation. 1 inspected every room in
this mine with the exception Of few
places in what is known as the fast
line heading, the miners having quit
work before I reached this heading.
The ventilation is good; not sign of
black damp to be seen. There is as
good a ventilating furnace in this
mine as know of in the county, and
if attended to as well as the two or
three days before visited this mine,
black damp or bad air is thing OF the
past; but it must receive attention, as
I am informed that it is one hundred
feet above the level of the downcast
shaft, thus decreasing its power in
warm weather; but with attention it
is able to do the work it was designed
for. have often heard that this
mine was about worked out, and l
was astonished to find that such is
not the case. 1 should say that the
Borden Shaft is good for ten or
twelve years yet. 1t stands to-day in
first-rate condition, second to none in
the county. In case of fire or any
mishap to the machinery there is
good horse road by which the miners
can leave the mine safely.
MAY 29.-Attended an inquest held
on the body of John Watson, killed in
the Big Vein mine, owned and oper-
ated by the New Central coal com
pany.
MAY 29.-Inspected the Bowery
Furnace mine, belonging to the Cum
berland coal and iron company.
The number of men employed in this
mine is limited, none of the coal be-
ing shipped to market, it being man
ufactured into coke for the use of the
blast furnace owned and operated by
the company at this mine. This fur
mace which has been standing idle for
a number of years has of late been
put in thorough repair, large
amount of money having teen ex-
pended for that purpose. 1t is now
in full blast, working tnirty-fve tons
of iron daily. Some Of the ore is
mined on the company's property. A
portion of it is also brought from the
company orc mines in Somerset
county, Pa. This company owns 300
acres of big vein coal. The superin-
tendent informed me he had also dis
covered a large deposit of hematite
ore on the company's lands. Thia
enterprise is of great benefit to the
citizens of Frostburg, and the energy
displayed by the company ought to be
appreciated by item and receive all
the encouragement that they can
possibly give it. 1t is under the per-
sonal supervision Of E. L. Brown, the
president of the company, who as
sured me he will stand by this enter
prise as long as it can be run without
sinking money; but the moment he
finds the manufacture of iron a
losing game, that instant the whole
business would come to stand still.
Business principles govern all the
actions of this gentleman, l found
the ventilation Of the mine good, and
the miners getting all the timber
they require. Weighed one of the
niue cars and found that the lead
balance for the car was too heavy. ]
found also that the cars were not ali
the same weight. Weighed five Of
them and struck on an average
weight. Mr.. Brown promptly agreed
to this weight, like an honorable
business man, and gave orders to The
weighmaster to cut down the weight
to the required standard. l left with
the impression that I had found one
of the Brown family that could run
a furnace, and what he did not know
about the manufacture of iron as
not worth knowing.
MAY 31.-Inspected the New Hope
mine, and slope of the same name, De-
longing to The Consolidation coal
company. Those two mines have re-
Gently tapped the old Eckhart slope,