The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-25
STATEMENT OF TONNAGE.


one man was killed by falling under
q car. one by blast, one standing in
cage PIT when the cage came down
on him, one by fall of roof, ana hVe
by explosions ot gas. Ibis statement
shows the average number of tons Of
coal produced per life lost to be ne
O69 while the average number of tons
oi coal produced per life lost through
cut the eight anthracite districts for
the year 1895 is l23,591.
The method of mining throughout til,
entire underground workings of tn"
| Twin shaft col!iery has been by the
pillar and chamber system, with no
sectional reservation blocks of coal left
To- arrest a squeeze and cOnine it 10
the particular group of chambers from
which it may have begun. The Twin
shaft mine, however, compares favor
| ably with others in this vicinity with
respect to width of chambers, headings
| and size of pillars, for, from what we
| could hear of now other CnllierieS were
olclated in the neighborhuod of Pitts
| ton. and from our own observation. as
| wen as from the ps we w""e permit
| tel to see, we found the same method
| g Uerally adopted as at the Twin
shalt. The Twin shaft ccllierv hac AL
| ways been very gaseous ami required
very large intake and outlet airways
| y
'ity of air for all purposes. vet We
| think some of the Sangways in this
| mine were driven too wide and the
| chambers We're opened too wide from
them. No fixed rule can be laid down
| for a uniform width of TRANSFORMATION
and ventilation avenues In all collier
| les. because the requirements vary
| with each mine. The cars used in col
| lierieS are not all of the same dimen-
| ( ,nA Ia, 4
! in that sufficient width shall be al
lowed IN passageways for persons to
| pass the cars. no matter what their
| dimensions may be. (See Article ~
kule 43O With regard to air passages.
| the amount of air necessary to be in
| circulation in one colliery may not be
| adequate properly to ventilate anoth-
! er, ana in proportion to the amount Ct
air rtcessaiy to ventilate a colliery so
must the area be to comply with the
| mine Nentla ton law. (See Section /
Article 10D Some testimony was given
! before the commission that the head
| inSs were driven too wide in order to
save paying yardage If we are to be-
! iieNe this evidence, 1t must have been
false economy, for. from what we
found to be the conditions Of the strata
everything the coal seam. the expense
In maintaining these headings must
nave been more than the amount usu-
ally paid for yardage.
OPINIONS AS TO PILLAR SIP
PORTS.
| The percentage of coal that should
be left as pillar supports is a matter
about which opinions differ for it is
, subordinate to unquestionable condi-
| tons which may exist on the surface
or from the surface down to the top of
the coal seam and Immediately under
| II. One mine superintendent NAV de-
termine to leave go per cent. of un-
mined coal as pillar supports, while an
other would consider 40 per cent. suf-
ficient for all purposes. In either case.
however, the mine Superintendent ha q
the absolute right to decide and TO
dictate what the dimensions of the
mine openings and pillars shall be.
| There Is no state law that gives to the
mine inspector a discretionary mower
In this matter except in cases where
he sees indications of danger to the
lives of the workrhen. 1t then would
be his duty to advise with the coliery
officials as to the proper means to be
taken to remove the danger and If
forced to do so, appeal to the court for
an injunction to restrain the operator
from further mining until the colliery.
or section thereof has been made per-
manently safe. In connection with the
Twin shaft workings, Mr.. Mcdonald
considered the pillars large enough and
did not expect squeeze to take place
on account of weak supports. He did
not see any Indications of q squeeze
on any Of his inspections visits to the