The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-03
MINING COAL BY MACHINERY.
Probability that This Will Be Done
Extensively Before Long.
PHILADELPHIA Record.

One Of the Immediate effects of the re-
cent strike in the coal regions has been to
create a boom in orders for coal mining
machinery, and also 10 stimulate the IN
machines. 1t is probably not hazardous
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 will 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, enable produc-
ers to place coal at tidewater at somewhat
less cost than 1T is delivered at the mouth
of the mine under present methods Mr. s..
W. Parker is at present engaged in COM
piling for the United States Geological Sur
vey 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 obtained
to show that the introduction of mining
machinery has steadily been progressing
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
2l3, 402 tons; in 1856 it exceeded 100000 tons
The figures given for fifteen States show
an increase from 2, 739, 743 short tons in 1891
to II. 553 522 tons in 1856. In 1891 there was
no coal mined by machinery in a number
of the State now included in the list of pro-
ducerS of machine mined coal.
The lighting of coal mines by electricity
the mining by compressed air or electric
power the mt, cd cti. n of improved vent la
are all practicable modern inventions which
will radically change the condition of life
in the mines and attract thereto a far su-
perior class of operatives. The grand func-
ton which science will perform in the COM
ing years wi lbe the tightening of rough
toll and the elevation of the most ignorant
class of human beings. Every new inven-
ton opens up O. new field of work usually
of a superior kind to that which formerly
existed; and so far from increasing the
sum total of want in the laborng world,
each new appliance adds to the sum of
comfort Yet there are carpers high UP
in the councils of the nations of the univer-
stiles and 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 by the aid of machinery is curse. All
modern facts prove the contrary; but some
theories like superstitions, cling to the
minds of men with extraordinary tenacity
and, like barnacie6 on ship. they greatly
retard the rate of human progress Nov
and then the barnacles are swept away.
and we are surprised to see how the ship
dances through the water like a thing OF
life. So ii is with progress in human af-
fairs 1t proceeds by fits and starts. A
new discovery of overwhelming force gives
a sudden impetus to the worlds work
Soon tentacles begin to grow upon the in
vention, reaching out to grasp all neigh
boring objects, thus impeding progress.
Hhen a fresh impulse is given by some
r wer discovery, and so on.
This is. perhaps. broad view to take