The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-01

teresting article to the Engineering and
Mining Journal on the Consumption
of Coal for Steam at the Anthracite
Galleries" In part, it is ae follows
THE reports of the Pennsylvania
state mine inspectors, and especially
those of the Anthracite region, have
stored away in their pages much that
is valuable besides the statistics that
relate to the destruction of life ana
limb. The office of mine inspector was
primarily created for the protection Of
the miner, but the collection of gen.
eral statistics has been gradually add
ed to its duties, until they have as
sumed very useful proportions.
Although the items Of information
aimed to be covered by the inspectors
in their reports have been practically
the same for nearly twenty years, it
Is only those of recent date that show
a sufficient completeness and unlf) )rm-
ity in the minor features to permit
reliable conclusions, covering the whole
region, to be formed. The quantity of
coal used for steam is one of the items
which has only recently received care
ful attention from all the inspectors.
A little thought, even by those un.
that the consumption of coal for steam
has been, and will continue to be, an
increasing factor in the anthracite
problem.
AMOUNT GRADUALLY INCREASES
when a colliery is first established
comparatively small amount of power
is required, for preparation, haulage,
ventilation and pumping. AS mining
progresses the power for preparation
remains about constant; but the haul
age and ventilating plants will have
to be increased; and the pumping
plant, now that the coal above water
level is practically exhausted, is one
which will demand constant additions,
as the workings extend and the strata
become cracked and broken, tapping
the water contained in the states,
shales, sandstone and wash above ihc
coal, as well as the surface water in
the neighborhood of the outcrops.
The problem of mine drainage is
being met by the driving of long drain
age tunnels in the few localities that
it is practicable--the most notable Of
these being the Jeddo Tunnel, 15,l13
feet long-and by the establishment Of
and handle the water from two or
more collieries; the plants Of the Le-
high Valley Coal company's plant at
Hazleton and the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron company near
Girardville mark the commencement Of
the consolidation Of pumping plants.
Several collieries have been aban-
doned largely on account Of the amount
Of, 4 hn,
although the coal tributary to them
was by no means exhausted. The wat
er problem has grown to be so serious
that it seems conservative to assume
that decidedly more than half of the
1900 900 tons of coal which We're con-
sumed at the mines for steam in 1897
went to furnish the energy required by
the numerous drainage plants.
GRATIFYING IMPROVEMENTS.
with the increasing quantity of coal
consumed at the collierieS there have
been gratifying improvements in the
method of it's consumption, SO that to-
day buckwheat, rice, barley and even
culm have replaced the pea and chest
nut of twenty or thirty years ago, and
at a much less cost. Indeed, to the in
dividual operator whose product of rice
and barley coal is sufficient to keep
the colliery in steam, its cost, or more
properly it's loss, represents only about
Is cents per ton. The loss however,
to the carrying companies who receive
a profitable rate of freight for carry
ing this coal to market is probably
much more.
"The writer has recently had occas+
ion to look up the consumption of coal
at the collieries, and has tabulated the
results for the year 1897; for the pur-
poses of this paper. however, the sum-
maries of each field and of the region
will no doubt prove sufficient:
NORTHERN COAL FIELD.