The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-02-25

stein received the reporter very COurteousy
in his cosy little sanctum and expressed a
willingness to furnish any information which
might be Of interest to the many readers of
the HERALD, but he regretted that he was
unable to make a satisfactory comparative
statement relative to the years 1912, as he
had not received all the returns of the coal
production for 1892.
In answer to a remark about the condition
Of the collieries in his district Mr.. Stein said
he considered those in the sixth district are
kept in very good condition.
81 see from some Of the advanced statistics
in connection with your report for 1892, ," said
the reporter, that you speak very highly of
Mr. James, inside foreman at Kohinoor col
liery"
Yes Tom James is a very vigilant, care
ful forman and is very strict in seeing that
his orders are carried out, so that his men
may be kept as safe as possible
"NIr. Stein, with regard to the qualifica-
tions of mine foreman, is it not fact that
colliery is safer in the hands of good,
practical miuer than with theoretical
mann"
well, would sooner have a good prac.
tical foreman with no theory than a theo.
retical man with no practice in charge of my
colliery if | were an operator. Theory is all
right and every mine foreman should edu.
cate himself in theory, but it is not, in my
opinion indispensable, because the man who
has the immediate charge of calling must
deal almost with practice. The theoretical
department is cared for by those whose duty
it is to do nothing else. A chemist can sit in
his laboratory and manufacture gas, and even
explode it, but we have a laboratory in our
mines giving off gas which we have no CON
troll as to its manufacture other than prac-
tically detect it with the safety lamp and
practically dilute it with plenty ventilation" "
"Mr, Stein" continued the reporter, "a
man was killed in your district this week, at
Boston Run colliery, by fall of coal, his
name was Henry Young?"
Yes l examined the place where Young
lost his life and was told he was first class
miner. He was robbing back the upper west
gangway Of the Holmes vein and was starting
narrow breast through the pillar called
No. 104, and had just made hitch or recess
in the rib to stand what we miners call a
juggler when an Overhanging piece of coal
fell from the face Of the breast and killed
Young instantly, From my examination of
the place found very prominent slip on
either side and also in the face of the breast,
which caused the piece of coal to fall Off"
ado you think an accident Of this kind
purely accidental ?"
'No, do not. Where coal is overhanging
it should be taken down by a blast or other.
wise and many valuable life is lost in
taking such risks. l feel sure that with
proper care and good judgement we should
have at least rs per cent less accidents"
Have you had many accidents this Year,"
''No, not as many so far this year as last.
In January, 1892, we had nine deaths and in
February we had eight In January, 1893,
we had two deaths and in February we had
two but Of course this month is not finished
yet, as you know
Mr.. Stein said that after all the returns are
in he would probably be able To give much
more to interest the public.