The age-herald., 1898-11-17
REPORT OF THE
 MINE INSPECTOR Products of AIabama's Many
 Ore Beds. GOES TO THE LEGISLATURE MT. Hooper Makes Some Reoommenda- fionc fo fha T.owrn akara- One in Re-
GOES TO THE LEGISLATURE
MT. Hooper Makes Some Reoommenda- tions to the Lawmakers-One in Re- gard to the Accidents Resulting
 From Gas Explosives.

issued his biennial report to be submitted
 through Governor Johnston te the legisla- ture.
 The assistant mine inspectors who have
 helped in getting out the report are John
 M. Duncan and Frank Culverhouse. The
 state board of examiners are Priestly
 Toulmin Fred M. Jackson. George Will
 liamson and Dave Kirkwood.
 The duties of the state mine inspectors
 are to see that the coal mines of the state
 order to protect the life and limb of the miners. The inspector must also keep a
 record of the output of coal and coke from
 all the mines and ovens In the state.
 Mir. Hoopers Recommendations
 The following are some of the recommen- dations which MT. Hooper makes to the governor:
 In regard to accidents, the report shows an increased number from gas or fire damp, and that this is a source from which
 we must apprehend increased danger in the future. With these accidents it is often
 hard to determine the dividing line between accidents proper and when they are caused by negligence and recslessness that is next to Suicidal. In this connection, will mention tamping dynamite, thawing dyna- mite, drawing previous charge, going to delayed shot, exploding powder can in showing the use of blasting barrel, by which two men in each case lost their lives. The avocation is dangerous and hazardous at best, but such recklessness as this Is liable to be widespread in its results, especially in mines generating gas. Such men should be promptly discharged and not allowed to endanger the lives of thir fellow men,"
 Another extract reads: "The past record of ore mining shows it to be as dangerous as coal mining, except for the danger from gas, and I recommend that all underground mines be put under the Jurisdiction of the inspector of mines.
 "The present year will show the largest output of coal ever made, which, with the extensive development in progress, gives bright promise for the future. "I would also recommend that the law be so changed that the holder of first-class certificates in charge of gaseous mines, be re-examined every two years, so that they will keep up with the progress in manage ment of dangerous mines, and also, that If, perchance, any have fraudulently obtained these certificates, they may be stopped from holding such important positions. There Is no record in this office of the ques- tions asked or answers given on which these certificates were issued
 Tt would be well, also, to simplify meth ods of procedure to enable the inspectors to enforce their orders. by making a proper penalty for failure to obey these instruc- tions, file maps, make reports, etc.
 'The board of examiners might be made a board of reference, and if, after being ap- proved by them. any person or corporation failed to obey the instructions of the chief mine inspector, he be authorized to pro- ceed directly against them A law so ar ranged would probably avoid the necessity of proceeding at all."
 Description of Mines
 The report goes into detail in the de- scription of every coal mine in the state, giving history, character of coal, output, etc.
 With reference to the new ore mines of the Sloss company, at Castleman, near Leeds which were opened only last sum- mer, the report says:
 Hydraulic power is being used at this ore mine to a great extent, being the first work of this nature done in the state of Alabama. The ore from Castleman has been found to be exceptionally low in phos- phorous and of very good quality in all other respects. Within short time one of the largest compressors in the state will be put in at these mines and new side- tracks to hasten the development of this property are now in course of construc- tion."
 Referring to the big coal trade of the Tennessee company, the report says:
 '"This company mines and markets about 50 per cent. of the entire production of coal
 in the state of Alabama. All of the coal comes from its own mines, opened on its own property, which, in Alabama, to say nothing of Tennessee, amounts to about 240,00 acres. It owns and operates mining properties in Tennessee, but as mines To- cated outside of this state do not come within the province of this report, no men, tion will be made of them
 ''The company also owns seventeen blast furnaces All being located in the Birming- ham district, with the exception of four in Tennessee. As an interesting comparison it may be stated that there is only one con- cern in the United States owning great a number of furnaces, this concern being the Illinois Steel company, and as further comparison it may not be-eut of place to state that no company south of the Ohio river mines as much coal or makes as much coke the Tennessee company, and it owns and operates more coke ovens C3.256
 beehive and 12O Semet-Solvay) than any other corporation or individual in the United States with one single exception namely the H. c. Prick Coal com pany, of Pennsylvania. The Semet-Solvay plant of 120 by-product coke ovens at Ems ley, Ala, is the largest plant of this type in the country, and upon its success a great deal depends, as 1t means cheaper coke for the iron and other industries. "The Tennessee company. through a col | lateral corporation, is now building at Ems | ley a steel plant of 1000 tons basic steel per day capacity, which, when completed will be the second largest basic steel plant | in the United States, the largest being the world renowned Homestead plant. of the | Carnegie Steel company. of Pittsburg. Pa. "It supplies either in whole in mart every railroad in the south with fuel While the railroads are the largest custom CTS. the growing manufacturing interests of the south. such as cotton mills oil mi's. rolling mills congresses, etc, make mar ket for large and increasing amount of output.
 'In addition to the home market. 1t han dles a large and growing business for ex- nort and for ship bunkers. Steamships at | Mobile Pensacola. New Orlears. Savan- nah and Port Royal are coaled. A fair coastwise trade is enjoyed, shipping by water to Galveston, Texas, 125 900 tons an- nually for railroad and local consumption The export trade is chiefly with Mexico | The cor,ranv is now surn'vinr 'arep nuar-