The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-27
REPORTS ON FLAT TOP
GOVERNOR HEARS FROM MINE iN-
 sPECTOR KUFFNER.
u..rv Prccaution is Taken to Protect fine Lives of Convicts and Other Miners by Op-
 orators.

Excellent conditions and precautlon- ary measures against loss of life were the assurances about Flat Top mines contained in a report 10 IoVeIhol Jelks yesterday by Assistant State Mine Inspector NJ. NJ. Kuffner. The report bears the date of September 21' but It was not made public until yesterday
 Flat Ton is where many of the Ala hama convicts are worked under con tract. Special attention is given to the safety of conditions In these mines Tor this reason, although, for that matter, the life of any miner, whether convict or free, Is valued by the State laws ana safety is enjoined in all mines.
 The air supply in Flat Top is not the best and fullest just now, but when the velocity of the air currents is in- creased by a new fan to be put in right away everything will be regarded as practically secure on this score. The drainage of the mine Is reported as good and when the inspection was made there was sufficient damp to pre- vent danger from dust explosions.
 No convicts are allowed. to handle explosives in Flat Top, according to the report, or at least the inspection of the mine inspector showed that they are not at present handling them. He tells also of improved methods in fir ing shots. all with the protection of miners in view.
 The report in full Is as follows:
 September 21, 1905.
 -"I inspected this mine on the above date and found very good ventilation throughout all the workings There were 84 900 cubic feet of air entering the mine per minute, and 1t was very well euualized in the Various working places, but owing to the large area of the air ways, the current has a low ve- locity but this will be increased when the new fan is put in operation, which will be very soon. I was told.
 The drainage of the mine is good. and under the present system of work ing. I consider the general security Of life and the mine good. :~. >
 The mine at this time is reasonably damp throughout. thereby eliminating all danger from dust. ..:... ...
 T was glad to find that no convicts were. handling explosives. This was move in the right direction and will give good results to all parties con cerned. Ore great feature in the pres ent system of having shot hrers is that there is some one who Is in close touch with the men at all times, and not only acts as shot firer, but as super visor, and timber boss as well. There is only enough powder and dynamite taken in the mine each day for that days supply. This is also an excellent precaution to the security of, life in the mine as we'll as the general security of the mine. | was told by the fore man that these shot firers were prac- tical miners, and were very careful in every way.
 MT. Wynn told me that the fire boss was well posted on gas, and made his examinations thorough.
 'I asked as to whether or not the present system of working cut down the output or made it harder on the convict to get his task, and was told that If anything 1t rather increased the output and made 1t lighter on the con vict. I asked this in view of the fact that 1t was not and is not the inten- ton of this department to either cut down the output of coal or make the burden heavier on the miner. but to protect life if possible.
 When heading is driven to the boundary, the last room Is cut through to the heading above, the air current passes through, this room and back through the old workings to the fan, that is. they are starting that system now. This will keep the old works free from any accumulation of either black damp or fire damp. told the mine foreman that the only suggestion I had to make at this time was to faithfully carry out the system now in vogue NJ M. Kutfner,
 Assistant Mine Inspector"
 Great interest is attached to the re- ports of the mine inspectors since the disastrous explosion in the Virginia mines near Bessemer a few months ago which resulted from a windy shot"