The times., 1899-09-30

Much interesting information concerning
coal mining is embodied in the annual re-
port of the inspector Of Western mines,
which has been published by the Sec
retsry Of the Interior. in this report it
is stated that in New Mexico during the
past twelve months operations in nine
mines were suspended. while two were
abandoned. There we're five new mines
opened. The prices paid for labor and the
various costs OF mining as reported by the
inspector are as follws;
Mining coal per ton OF 1900 pounds,
screened. 20 cents; driving entry, per yard,
50: room turning. 81; crosscut. per yard,
Sl5u: timbers. per set, so cents; company
men under ground, per day. So; boys at
tending to doors, per day, 81; engineers,
per month, $50: boiler men. per day, s2-25;
tipple men, per day, So; blaeksmiths, per
day. So; bIacksmiths' helpers, per day,
$3.50; carpenters, 50; powder, per keg, 81;
lamp oil per gallon, SIPS; lamp cotton,
per ball, cents; squihs, per box % cents.
In continuing his report the inspector
describes the methods employed, taking the
largest mine at Madrid, Santa Fe county,
as an example He says:
AT Madrid Sante Fe county, y. Mex,
is one Of the most attractive and interest
ing coal mining camps in the West. The
coal fields offer much that rs interesting TO
the eeologist as well as TO those interested
in coal mining. Here, only few hundred
feet apart are two mines; the one produc-
ing a first-ciass article of anthracite coal,
rivaling the Pennsylvania anthracite; the
other one is a bituminous coal, unsurpassed
for domestic or steam purposes. More IN
teresting the bituminous vein lies directly
under the anthracite that the whole
field that has been worked out in the an
thraeite vein has also been worked out N
the bituminous vein $50 feet beneath. More
interesting yet, the northern end Of the an
thracite seam was bituminous coal. This
has all been worked out and was known as
the famous white-ash coal The white ash
field comprised about 200 acres.
The coal collected On the entries al the
different planes is hauled by mules TO the
main parting for that entry, at the main
slope where it is attached TO the main
cable and hoisued TO the surface. The coal
is then quickly dumped from the mine cars
into the railroad cars and is soon on It's
way to the consumer. The coal is screened
into three different grades, namely: The
lump used for domestic purposes; the nut,
also used for domestic purposes, and the
slack used for steam purposes Some OF
the coal is disposed Of unscreened, OF as
run of mine" and is used in this condition
for heavy steaming purposes where the
boiler capacity is limited, as in the case or
railway locomotives. The mine is yentilat-
ed by means OF two exhaust fans, one To-
Gated at either side Of the mine.
The most interesting part OF the out
side plart al this mine is the breaker,
which name is usually applied TO the huge
building containing the machinery Tor
crushing and asserting the coal This
building is 25e feet long. 50 feet wide. and
Ito feet high. The top of the breaker Is
on a lexel with the mouth OF the mine.
As the coal is hoisted from the mine in pit
cars. il Is run into the breaker and dump
ed On its descent TO the storage BINS. the
coal first passes between two large. rough.
iron cylinders, revolving rapidly, and at
such a distance apart that the coal Is
broken up 50 that the largest pieces weigh
from 10 pounds. This size is known as
-gTare-' The coal then passes through long,
cylindrical screens, which are kept slowly
revolving. The mesh Of the screens vary
from one-uuarter inch 10 four inches. They
are set with one end higher than the 9TH
er the coai entering the screen at the
r higher END and as the screens revolve the
pieces Of coal work from the higher to the
lower end OF the screens, falling through
the screen as soon as the part is reached
where the mesh is large enough TO permit
The different sized pieces Of coal fall into
different troughs which lead on down TO
the storage bins.
There are fifteen or twenty boys en-
pioyed on the breakers as slate pickers.
whose duty IS 10 pick all slate out OF the
coal as the coal passes through the break
er. They receive 10 cents Per hour for
their labor The boys employed on the
breakers are from twelve TO sixteen years
Of age The coal is thus graded in the
gE
pea. The storage bins which ho,d seven
ty-fiYe tons each are filed with the above
mentioned grades Of coal. From the stoT-
age bins the coal is easily loaded on the
railroad cars and shipped TO Colorado.
Kansas. California, and Mexico. Owing
10 the nature Of the roof in the mines. q
greater portion Of il has 10 be supported
By umbers where the coal has been taken
out II would doubtless surprise one moi
acquainted with tie workings OF a coal
mine to see how many cars OF timbers are
used IN the mine each month.
These mines are wei equipped for the
rapid ana safe handling OF coal Electric
bell signals are used throughout the work
ings Compressed air furnishes the power
inside of the mines. and steam outside
The classes Of occupation here are nu-ner-
Gus there being work for the coal miner,
timbermen. track layers, rope rider driver
engineer. machinist, and blacksmith The
camp IS nicely situated Lt-lE iAree t14iE-
from Los Cerrlll0s. fifteen miles from the
gold and copper fields OF Ortiz and San
Pedro, thirty-lye miles from the Cochil
mining district, and about twenty-five
miles from the city OF Santa Fe. which j.
the capital OF the Territory. The CON
pany owns and operates large store
where is kept in stock large assortment
Of general merchandise. in fact everything
that is needed for the wants OF the miner
The miners all dress and live well, buYi1i
the best the market affords. The house
are all owned by the company and Tentet
70 the employees. The houses are vel
built End kept IN good repair. and are vel
suited 20 the needs of the coal miner an'
his family Several hundred shade tree
have been set cut in the town OF Madri,
within the last three years, which are al
growing ricely.
The town supports city hail, excellen
school, and two churches. The creates
disadvantage TO work against so far hal
been the water supply. So far all the wa
ter for the town has 10 be shipped in tank
by railway. The company is nov sinkin'
a well IN the hope OF striking an aTtesIaI
1Ow OF water and the indications are tha
tie town viii soon have an abundant an,
uEfailing supply Of pure water"
HOSPITAL CHANGES