Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-08
FOR MINERS SAFETY.
Recommendations of Various In
spectOrS in the BituminOuS
Coal Districts.
PERIL In GAS PIPES AND WELLS.
Mr.. Keighley, Writing Before the Dun
bar Horror, Says the Works
in That Region Are
PERIL IN GAS PIPES AND WELLS.
GENERALLY IN A GOOD CONDITION.
Interesting Notes Of Events in Nearby Towns in
Three States.
rsrEc1AL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

HARRISBURG, October flames Blick,
Inspector of Coal Mines for the Seventh
bituminous district, comprising Allegheny,
Washington and Westmoreland counties,
gives the following reasons for the reduc-
tlon Of production the past year, amounting
to 154. .2O5 tons, in his report to the Depart
ment O. Internal Affairs:
''This reduction of output is due partly to
lack of shipping facilities for the lake trade
during the summer months The extreme
mild winter has also caused falling of in
the home consumption, but the principal cause
is, I believe. due to the scarcity of miners.
During the shipping season many of the mines
were greatly hampered on this account. 1t is
a notable fact that very many of our bes;
miners have left the mines and are seeking to
better their financial condition by engaging in
the various branches of outside labor, and il is
not to be wondered at when we consider the
struggle they have had in the late years in try
ing to keep their families respectable and
above want. If we take the trouble to compute
the number of tons of lump coal produced for
the past three years. and the average price per
ton paid for mining. and divide the total
amount by the number of miners employed, we
VIII see at once that the average amount for
each person is so small that it will require the
housewife to be well versed in the rules of
practical economy IN order to make both ENDS
meet OF course at some of our mines, which
run pretty steadily throughout the year. the
financial condition of the miners is far above
the average. but a large number of mines de-
pend principally upon the summer rum and the
present rate paid for mining will not admit of
much being saved for idle time. 4"
DANGERS THAT THREATEN.
After speaking OF the tendency in few
mines to neglect precautions for the health
and safety of the miners, Mr. Blick points out
another danger-that arising from natural gas
lines being laid over mines. Trouble and liti-
cation will continue unless the Legislature
compels gas companies to place the pipes on
top of the ground in crossing mining property
lie saws in reference to another danger in de-
VelOpInC the coal mines in the future:
AS Is well known. many Of the gas wells are
drilled through the Pittsburg coalbed, and all
of them il this region are drilled through the
lower coal measures. The law directs that all
abandoned wells must be plugged at certain
points and in a certain manner, and the upper
section Of the wells will be filled up with sedi-
ment in the course of time but the plugging
may be imperfectly done or the plugs may in
time become useless from decay and gas NAV
and undoubtedly VIII, be held at high pressure
below the upper filling of sediment and the
fact Of q miners pick penetrating one Of these
old gas wells under such conditions would be
attended with serious consequences"
Fred Z. helghley, Inspector of the Fifth
bltumlnOuS district. in which the ill-fated Dun
bar mine is located, says in his report (which
Nas prepared before the terrible casualty: 'ln
making my inspections ! find there is a disposi-
iion among the more extensive miners to live
up 10 the law, and many of them openly
press desire to remedy deficiencies. All the
large mines are now equipped with good
machinery, and many have powerful fans and
/ think l can cOnScientiouSly say that with the
exceptions of some OF the smaller operat1ons,
these mines are, rs rule, in a very creditable
condition. One great source of danger lies
directly with the miner himself viz the
neglect to set up posts just as fast as his work.
ing place advances. Mine bosses in all parts
0l The district complain that their men over
estimate the safety of their working places,
and that often that where they tell man to
set up posts the reply is that they are able to
Judge OF their own safety and take care of
themselves. In cases of that kind the mine
boss should show his authority and either see
the posts put up or remove the man.
ECONOMY IN WORKING MINES.
William Jenkins of the Second bituminous
district. says: "The day for wasting coal has
gone by. Practical men have long claimed that
more economical methods must be employed
Many of the operators of the drift mines in the
COnnelsville coke region are beginning 70 see
the folly of the old system, and as their supply
Of coal gets smaller they are trying to recover
some that was left in the ribs and entry pillars
The PIttsburT cOaI seam should be carefully
worked ana every ton brought out if possible
/ am satisfied that much of the coal now left in
the mine could be taken out by a careful
system and II was time we were awakening to
this fact. The science of mining is making
great advances and Improvements within the
last few years have been wonderful, but it can
yet be improved and we must be awake.
" In the report of 1883 the inspectors of the
First and Third bitUminous districts wisely
urged some changes in The present mining law
1t Is becoming patent every day that such
change are needful The law is indefinite in
some places and ambiguous in others, and be-
cause OF its obScurity 1t is almost impossible to
get conviction, even when We think the law
has been wilfully violated. For instance, in
The fifth section of the act of June 80 1856 on
page II Of the pamphlet in which it is pub
lisHeG, we find the following: And bore-hoIes
shall be kept not less than L feet advance of
the lace. and when necessary on the sides of
he working places which are being driven to.
ward, and in dangerous proximity to, an aband-
Oncd mine. or part of a mine suspected of con-
tanning iUiamma5ie gases. or which is inundated
with wafer This is an important part of the
act, but the requirement for side. bore holes is
rendered Of little effect by the words when
necessary thus thrown in. These words
should he stricken out and the whole would be
improved.
think a commission should be appointed
10 revise The Law and submit the revised law to
the next session OF the Legislature for adop-
tiOn.'