Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-22
Some Talks on Endless and Tail Rope
Haulage by Mining Engineers
and Mine Inspectors.
WILLIAM WEST ON MINE FIRES.
Prevention Regarded as of Mere Practical
Value Than Cure by Most Insti-
tute Members.
WHISKY AND FIREDAMPA BAD MIXTURE
b,lysnnes On Topics Of Interest at the Last Miners
Session.


another wrangle over the Endorsement
Of Mr. Shaw'S analyzing or inspector
machine. Some of the members feared
the impression would get out that the
signal machine had been indorsed as we'll as
the testing apparatus, and August Steinert
rhered discriminating resolution. Mr..
Shaw got another whack at his opponents,
in consequence of the discussion, and Mr..
DeArmitt tried to have the Institute con-
denim Mr.. Shaw's signaling apparatus, but
failed, ami the result was that the Institute
stands just as it did on Friday, iudorsing
the testing machine, without any utterance
regarding the signal machine.
Elijah Dainby, of Coal Bluff. spoke on
Underground Haulage." He favored the
endless rope system.
Mr.. Foster said the cost of hauling coal
out of one of the anthracite mines was 81
cents by mule power and but cents by
cable.
Secretary Sedden thought the endless rope
a good thing in the river mines, and partic-
ularly well adapted to mines where there
are different levels.
A Dispute Over Relative Merits
There was dispute as to the respective
merits of tail and endless rope haulage,
and August Steiner objected to the endless
cable on account of its cost and held that
it did not wear well, especially when the
cars hanled were 60 feet apart
Mr.. Dainby said the cars could be placed
as close together as desired, and he had
6nown an endless cable to last six years
lie promised to write another paper on the
slhiect.
Mine Inspector Evans thought the matter
subject to conditions, but endless cable re-
guired double tracks.
Reuben Street said it cost twice as much to
haul coal in some mines as in others, where
the general situation was the same; in one
machinery was taken care of and discipline
enforced.
. Mr.. Foster thought it difficult to enforce
discipline in some cases. If the whole
cOlliery force took'it into its multitudinous
head 10 support refractory man, he could
not always be discharged. Mine Inspector
Duncan thought that as nine-tenths of the
applications were for the tail rope system,
it WAS evidence in favor of tailrope haulage
William West, of United, wants maps OF
all mines hung in the rooms of foremen and
then there would he less trouble in case Of
accident.
Work of the Final Session.
what are we to do with the disused gas
wells in the future?" was the question on
which the ball was opened in the afternoon. |
i was sprung bv Mr.. Blick. Mr.. Street, |
of No. ? Bridgeville, was in favor of having |
the holes plugged below the coal measures
He offered a resolution to appoint a COM
mittee TO investigate and report at the next
meeting the best way to preserve located |
and abandoned gas wells and remove danger |
from the coal fields.
A recess of 10 minutes was taken to allow |
Mr.. Shaw to test the contents OF a rubber |
sack, which had been given. him with the |
REQ ueSt that he do so. This was matter of |
bur a few moments, requiring but one or
two Of the $50 tests his machine is capable |
of making. He stated that he would first |
show whether it was fire or choke damp. |
Instead Of an extiugulshment of the lamp |
hIme there was an explosion, showing that |
1T was not choke but fire damp. The next |
thing was to test the richness OF the fire |
damp aud the gauge was moved $40 OF per
cent The gong rang at this point, show
ing tine fluid to be natural gas. The e1-
pertinent showed that bv the use of the
machine anyone of ordinary intelligence
could knock chemist silly in determining /
questions of interest to miners. That is, in
point of time, and at the same time the |
operator need not know the first principles |
Of chemistry.
William West was next called on for a
paper On Mine Fires" but as ne was out
huving seed potatoes, Mr.. Shaw gave his
views. His plan is TO pump carbonic acid
gas into the rooms after they are bratticed |
of He also showed how fires might be ex-
tinguished by the use of z steam injector at
s.Gall cost; also by use of a vacuum pump. i
When Mr.. West got in be began at
tack on MIR. Shaw. but Mr.. Steiner switched
him eff and the institute expressed a desire
10 have peace so he got down to his NUT
ton. He extolled the mining laws of Penn
sylvania; told of the means taken to save
life in the AvOndale mine 20 odd wears ago,
etc. He made several suggestions as to how
fires might be suppressed.
Prominent in Work of Rescue.
Mr. West is the man who took promi-
nent part in the rescue of :he men at the
United mine at the time of the fire.
Mr.. Blick said it was more necessary to
take precautions against fire than to provide
for its suppression.
Atthis iuncture Mr.. Shaw took his leave
Of the institute and it gave him a vote of
thanks. He also expressed his thanks that
half of his safety device had been indorsed
0y the institute.
Mine Inspector Jenkins, while agreeing
that all possible apparatus for fire ex-
and precautions against the
same should be taken, held further that
prevention of drunkenness among miners
WAS AS important as anything else He
would not allow a drunken man to be about
a mine at all.
Mr.. Street urged that all precautions
should be constantly in working shape and
urged that adjustable fans, so as to be either
exhaust or force, should be arranged, and
that miners should be disciplined.
h. j. Foster made an address, in which
he dWelt upon the educational advantages
possessed by mining institutes, they being
not only to mining engineers, but
10 operators and operatives. He cited what
mining institutes had done for England, |
aud SAID that while at present it was neces-
iary to throw open the doors to all men of |
Intelligence IN the ranks, the time will come
when close communion will rule, and only
men OF technical training will be admitted.
A vote OF thanks was given Mr. Foster.
Carried Over to Next Session.
The discussion of mine fires filled out the
Whole session and the subject was continued
Until the next meeting of the institute !
Fhich was fixed for the third Thursday and !
Friday of June next in the Court House, if
convenient.
At Mr. Steiner's suggestion a vote of
hanks was given Mr.. West for his heroic
york in saving life at the mine fire at
United, Westmoreland county. The ses-