Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-03-27
COUNTY NEWS.
Annual Report.

Inc inspector CT Mines mas made
the following report for 1896 to Gov.
Lowndes
mines as often as the circumstances required
and found that the provisions of the law were
being observed. In connection with the list
of fatalities have to say that in every in
stance found the places well supplied with
timber
The six fatal accidents which have oc-
Cured during my term of office are without
exception due either to conditions unavoid-
able, or the failure on the part of the I'M
fortunate men to take proper precautions
when danger was manifest. 1t is gratifying
to note the decrease of mortality from this
cause this year as compared with last. The
number last year was nine; this year Ska
decrease of thirty three and one third per cent.
this with an increased output ola quarter of
a million tons.
The year has been the most prosperous in
the history Of the region.
The semi-monthly pay law, enacted at the
last session of the General Assembly, went
into effect in the month of April. My OBJ
servation of the results of the system convince
me that on the whole, while entaling con-
sderably more work on the clerical forces of
the companies. it has effected little change in
the welfare of the men. TO some it has
probably been an advantage while to others
the smaller amounts received have been of
less benefit.
In April, 1886, the companies advanced
the wages of mining from forty to forty-five
cents per ton, and mining labor in the same
ratio, an increase of twelve and one half per
cent. in both cases. Notwithstanding re-
greet on the part of many that the advance
was not greater, it was accepted eventually as
the best the companies could do considering
the widespread depression of business and
the competition from other regions. 1t was
generally apparent at the close of the year
that the two increases of wages and produc-
ton had placed the miners in much better
condition than these conditions warranted
in the spring.
The relations that exist between the oper-
ators and the men have been, and are now
of a most satisfactory chara cter.
believe that in all the elements that con-
tribute to the general welfare of those en-
gagged in mining the Georges Creek coal re-
gion is the banner district of the United
States, if not in the world. The men pursue
their work in peace, get their pay promptly,
and are subjected only to the rgors INSOFAR
able from their calling. The fact that the
operators are continually besieged for work
by miners from other regions seems to show
beyond question that employment here is
attractive and desirable This is further at
tested by the corresponding fact that of the
number who go from here to other regions
for work, large majority return after
short experience.
In this connection feel that ought to say
that in the employment of additional force
the companies should give uniform prefer
ence to old residents and men born and reared
in the region. believes policy carried out
in this line will do much to preserve the good
relations which exist between the companies
and the working people of the region.
The only unpleasantness that has come to
my notice during the year was at the Manor
mine, in Garrett county. where the men came
out on strike, alleging short weight. l went
to the mine and took the weight of car as
recorded by the cOmpanys scales, and had
the men re-weigh the contents on small
scales in my presence, which resulted in a
complete verltication of the company's
weight. The men returned to work and eX.
tended me vote of thanks for my services
Afterwards the company discharged ten or a
dozen men for reasons unknown to me. This
occasioned strike fora few days, after which
the men returned to their work Everything
seems to be moving along satisfactorily now
A few improvements have been made at
several mines in the region, the most extern
sive being the establishment of an electric
light plant at Ocean mines of Consolidation
Coal company for Illuminating the shops,
stables and yards. This addition improves
the facilities for work as we'll as insures thu
safety Of the plant and operations at that
point
The Barton Mining company, the only
company working what is known as the
Tyson Vein," everything the big Ven," is
producing coal free of slate and other inn
purities said to exist in some of the undevel-
oped veins. This is good coal and its quality
as such affords promise of satisfactory results
when more general yield Of the smaller
veins is forced npon our producers.
The American Borden and several other
companies are engaged in prospecting and
testing these smaller veins with excellent
prospects of developing new and plentiful re-
sources.
The shipments of coal pia the water outlet
the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, aggregated
for the year 1854 ,474 tons, an increase of 81 700
tons, comparison which shows the crafty
ing fact that the canal is still a useful and
valuable institution In much degree the
large amount named represents coal which
the railroads were unable to carry to MANY
destinations.
The ventilation has been uniformly good
and few complaints have come to me from
any cause. My only observation with refer
ence to ventilation and the causes that have
contributed to its injury has been that it is in
the exceedingly inferior quality of oil gener.
ally used. If the miners will use iirstcass
oil much good will be accomplished, and, in
my Judgment, eliminate the most serious
cause of bad air. Lard oil can now be obtain
ed for very reasonable price, and this is the
proper oil to use. In former years lard was
sold at such high price that mixture of
kerosene and cotton seed oils was introduced
at much lower price and on that account