Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-06-19

brattlce1 Information upon thls
point will he thankfully received from
the Superintendent down to the hum
blest miner in the counties referred
to, by your humble servant.)
But another question here presents
itself to the public mind, namely, |
what was the mode Of ventilation in |
these mines before the headings were
driven to the outcrop and an opening
made? Let me answer: it was upon
the bone, muscle and lung mode, and
it is upon the same mode they are
ventilated when the pillars are being
drawn back, inasmuch as they get
closer up and become of no use for
ventilating purposes. When the
young, strong and healthy miner is
compelled by the law of necessity to
sacrifice his bone, muscle and lungs
to provide for the wants of himself
and family, and when not able to
do this any longer, and no pleasure
left him, his name can be found on
the records of our almshouse if he
is fortunate enough to gain admission.
If there is any one who disputes the
truth of this statement let him take
tour through our mining region the
same as l have done lately, and ask
the pale faced youth of seventeen
summers that works in some OF our
mines the reason why he is not at
work. The answer is-"bad air" His
countenance will tell you that he has
been working and inhaling too much
of the noxious fluid. Travel on and
you will meet the miner that has just
passed forty years with a pallid com
plexion, sunken eyes and stopped
shoulders; repeat the question, and he
will answer he "does not feel well,
and was just finding out the effects
of working too much in bad air.
Further on you will meet the veteran
of fifty years, with all the above men
toned indications, with stick in hand, ,
the never failing hard cough, which
is a sure sign that the mortgage he
holds upon life on this lower sphere
of existence will shortly be foreclosed.
Ask him the question and the answer
will be the same.
Now | do not mean your readers to
understand that all our mines that
are ventilated by the natural mode
are to be classified with the last
named mode, as some of them by
their geographical location have three
and four air-ways driven ont to out
crop, and in drawing back the pillars
in those mines, when the inside air
ways close up, they have the other to
fall back upon, and in some of those
mines everything that can be taken
out by this mode is taken. For when
| inspected those mines | found the
air passable, but with a change O.
temperature it might he bad the next
day, and | know such was the cast
regarding some Of them. The great
evil with this system of ventilation
is, there is no security with it; it il
good to-day and bad tomorrow, anc
it is my opinion that successful Goa
business cannot be prosecuted upor
this mode of ventilation.
Now, gentlemen, these are tn
three modes Of ventilation now in us
in our mines and the only one tina
can carry out the spirit and intent O
, , the law is the mode by re-draugh
and is not adopted by one-third G
our mines, for the simple reason tha
> the Superintendents believe it vii
= cost dollars and cents, while the othe
modes have cost hundreds of acres G
our big vein and sent hundreds {
our miners to premature grave. l
financial point of view the loss {
. the coal ought TO be an importar
= item to the stockholder that has h
money invested in our coal land
= leaving out of question the injuriol
. . effects that it has upon the health
the miner, as that does not cost mucI
- for brains, bones, muscle and lung
! can be got in the labor market at
. moderate cost at all times.
In conclusion, let me state to yo
> that | am of the opinion that tn
:. section Of the law needs to be ament
:. ed, but l will do the best | can und,
- it as it now stands. There are 9th,
- amendments wanting in the law, rs
: believe it Is entirely too one-si de
!, You will hear from me next week {
=. this subject. THOMAS BRowNr
Mine Inspector.