The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-04
Use OF Machinery
in The Coal Mines
From the Philadelphia Record.

one of the immediate effects of the le-
cent strike in the coal regions has been
TO create boom in orders for coal mining
machinery, and also to stimulate the in.
vention of Improvements in "underc Ss-
ting machines. 1t is probably not a haz-
ardous prediction to say that within the
next ten years nearly all of the coal
mines will be fully equipped with coal
cutting machinery in which each cutter
VIII do the work Of at least eight or ten
miners with the pick. The saving in
waste of coal, in time and in wages will
it is calculated, cradle producers to place
coal at tidewater at somewhat less cost
IMAM II is delivered at the mouth of the
mine under plesent methods. Mr.. T.. w
Parker is at present engaged in COMPILING.
for the United States geological survey
statistics showing the amount of coal
mined by machinery at the present time
Although the work is not yet completed
sufficient data have already been OBJ
talned to show that the introduction of
mining machinery has steadily been prog
lessing within the past five years. in
pennsylvania the rate Is the most rapid
OF all the coal producing states. In 1891
the amount of coal mined by machinery
IN this state was 4O2 tons in 1896 it
exceeded 6,OD,WO tons. The figures given
Tor ntteen states show an increase from
2,1S9 short tons in 1891 to Il, ,553, 522 tons in
1896. In 1891 there was no coal mined Dy
machinery in number of the states now
moulded IN the list of producers of ma
chine mined coal.
The lighting of coal mines by electric
ity, the mining by compressed air or cleo
trlc power, the introduction of improved
ventilation, Of smokeless blasting powder
etc, are all practicable modern inven-
ticns which VIII radically change the con-
uluoh OF ME in the mines and attract
thereto far superior class of operatives
The grand function which science will
perform in the coming years will be the
Tightening OF rough toll and the elevation
OF the most ignorant class of human be-
lnss' every new invention opens up a
new field of work, usually of a superior
KIND to that which formerly existed; and
SO iar from increasing the sum toIaI or
want in the laboring word, each new an
pllahce adds to the sum of comfort Yet
there are carpers high up in the coun-
CHS or the nations, of the universities
ana OF the church who in effect preach
the old medieval doctrine that man was
created to earn his bread in the sweat OF
his face, and that any amelioration of
toll py lhe aid OF machinery is a curse.
All modern facts prove the contrary: hut
some theories, like superstitions. cling
TO the minds of men with extraordinary
tenacity, and, like barnacles on a ship.
they greatly retard the rate of human
progress Now and then the barnacles
are swept away, and we are surprised to
see how the ship dances through the
water like thing of life. SO IL is with
progress IN human affairs 1t proceeds by
hts and starts. A new discovery OF over
whelming force gives a sudden impetus
to the worlds work. Soon tentacles be-
gin to grow upon the invention, reaching
out to grasp all neigLboring objects, thus
impeding progress. Then a fresh impulse
Is given by some newer discovery and so
on.
This Is, perhaps, broad view to take In
discussing subject of limited scope su,
as the mining of coal by machinery; but
the fact Is that there is an endless chain
linking together all modern industries.
and any Improvement in enc sooner or
later affects all. The tiny incandescent
electric light. invented by Edison, was
the precursor OF the more modern en-
gines, and is not only the Immediate
cause OF great improvement in all en-
gines, but to it is directly traceable the