New-York tribune., 1902-01-19
BURIAL PLACE OF ABRAHAM DAVENPORT.
MULES TO GO FROM COAL MINES
COMPRESSED AIR LOCOMOTIVES WILL
TAKE THEIR PLACES.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrHrNE.l


Wiikesbarre Penn, Jan. 1S.-During the coming
twelve months the picturesque driver boy and the
patient mine mule will be gradually superseded at
the anthracite mine by the unsentimental but use
full and efficient compressed air locomotive. The
machine which will displace the boy and the mule
has been sought for during many years. and the
operators have at last found IT, test has been
made by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal Com
pany. and has been satisfactory that the COM
pany is now preparing to place the compressed air
locomotives in all it's mines. and retire from service
the three thousand mules now used to pull the
cars In and out of the workings Other companies
are watching the experiment with great interest
and. IL promises prove economical and ef-
hcient the engines will doubtless be placed In all
the other mines within a short time. Some years
ago the electric motor promised TO GUST the mule
and the boy. but while they still in at some
OF the mines they are not successful as to be
generally adopted.
The passing of the mule and the boy will mark
a change In mining which has been anticipated
for years. with other big improvements but 1t
will deprive the mines OF OF their most inter-
esting features. The boys in a class by them
selves. differing from boys employed in any other
work. They daring. reckless lot. most OF
them between sixteen and twenty years old. In
constant danger. brave. leading a rough. strenuous
life. which makes them self-reaRt an unusually
early age.
The big mules which they control are as diff
ferent from the average mule as their drivers
G]lner ] rom the average boy; Kept in the mine for
aT or taste OF green grass. they live life apart
soHtary ana desolate, often developing a vicious
ness whlch makes them dangerous as the fall
mine workers -
Many hardy youngster has been brought out OF
the Tn.ns MANNED or dead. and the report has set
opposite his name the words. Kicked by a mule" ="
IN the course Of year the deaths from mule kicks
amount to about nifty, while the mules which are
k!lled IN revenge are unnumbered. The animals are
often severely Ill treated Their tongues have been
pulled out. cars have been allowed TO run into
them and crush them against the side OF a work
ing. and ground glass has been fed them in their
mash, and the mule thus treated dies quickly 1t IS
difficut for the companies discipline the boys,
because IL Is so hard to detect when they have will
FUZZY injured an animal vicious mule gets a
reputation which leads quickly to its being tanned
or killed and II Is usually In one process or an
other that the daring boy gets hurt.
The animals are capable Of a great amount Of
work. although the conditions do sour their tenn
pers, and. barring accidents and intentional In
turies. they live for many years. despite the fact
that they are confined under ground all the time.
Their sicknesses and their Injuries compel their
being brought TO the surface and treated i'm the
company hospital which Is a constant source OF
expense. and this is OF the why the
companies desire TO displace them The engines
700. will do the work faster, while the heavy
OF and the space taken by the stables will he
saved. and the driver boys and stable bosses Will