Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-30
AFRAID OF THE GAS.
Miners Want the State to Supervise
All Oil and Gas Wells.
THE LAW THEY WANT PASSED.
Inspector Blick Eas q Plan to Reduce the
Cost of Mining.
PRESENT METHODS ARE VERY CRUDE

The Western Pennsylvania Mining In
stitute concluded its two days session yes
terday and adjourned until December.
They propose, if possible, to put a stop to
the boring for oil and gas wells in territory
occupied by coal mines in this part of the
country, and yesterday strong resolutions
were adopted in the form of proposed act
of Assembly, which will be presented at
the next Legislature. The paper was re-
ported by a committee. consisting of 7. K.
Adams, James Blick, William Jenkins,
William Duncan and William Seldom, to
whom the matter had been referred.
As adopted, the resolution reco mmends
that all wells shall be located by State en-
gineers, and they shall be notified when any
we'll is abandoned. Coal companies having
prior claim in territory can shut out
oil or gas companies, but should well be
bored through coal vein the coal company
must leave block of coal around it, under
approval of the State engineer.
Must Build Walls Around Wells.
Where we'll is drilled through an aban-
doned part of q mine, the company doing
the drilling must surround the hole with
cemented wall, and all abandoned wells
must be filled up at State or county ex-
pense. Each deed of property must have
the well located on it described. Oil and
not underground. All gas and oil CON-
panies shall be placed under bonds to obey
the provisions of the act
The Committee on the Revision of the
Mining Laws of PENNSYLVANIA was ap-
pointed, composed of the following gentle
men: operators, Rodger Hartley, Thomas
Lynch and Charles Hugh; miners, August
Stiner, Thomas Donaldson and John
Walters.
The committee will meet on July 10 so as
to have the revision ready before the next
meeting of the Legislature. o.
One of the most interesting features, to
miners, of the session, was Inspector Blick's
paper, read yesterday, on the Longwall
system of mining and how it could be ap-
piled in the Pittsburg district
Present Methods Are Very Crude.
He said the method now in vogue in this
district was crude in the extreme, only a
method of by-gone DAYS. While other dis
tricts have advanced this district has been
at standstill in this respect. The pillar
system he described as crude because it
consumes more timber, labor and costs more
than the Longwall working and gives the
least results. The only reason, said he.
why the Longwall system is not practical
bic in this district is that there is reason
able market for slack, but not for the guam
tity that is produced. In the Longwall
system but little slack is produced. Mr..
Blick submitted rough sketch illustrating
a system that is modification of the Long
wall, and perfectly adapted to this district. |
On this system he claimed coal could be |
mined for eight-thirteenths of the present |
cost, and more coal could be taken from an |
acre than by the present system. Also, |
that without cost to the operator, the wages |
of the miner would be increased 35 cents |
per day.
The plan was well received by all present,
especially by the operators. Little oppo-
sition was shown to it, and what little there |
was Mr.. Blick explained away.