The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-03

in oinees that cover an aere q floor
spaee are the working ollees Of ne
whole combIuadoh-the operating de-
pertinent the engineering department
me aadltlns department the purchas.
ing department The power and me-
chanicat department ne eonstFuc'.
don department the legal department
From these oiises every detali Of ops
fsticn h every mine Is outlined and
3difected; me general manage e. ana
general supeFhte dent being constant;
Is IN direct touch with the local 3sil'
pterfntendents throughout the entire
field. From here the closest watch
is kept upon an the mechanical appii:
:ances in all the mines. and 9 keen
lookout as wen for anything new n.
the way Of mechanical equipment -.
the end that the company may obtain
the benefit Of all the latest improve,
ments in the way Of economical pro
auction. From here the chief ensss
.neeFs eye Is kept upon all the under
ground work, which is kept going all
the time in the most scientific manner
Not an entry is driven, not a room cnt
out, not a pillar pulled, not an air
cours laid, not a brattice built but at
the direction Of the engineering de.
partment, where more than 50 engi,
.ners, draughtsmen and field men are
constantly employed in giving intellt.
gent direction to the work. At stated
periods each mine is surveyed and
the work plated, and the superin,
tendent furnished with a blueprint pre-.
senting a perfect picture Of the inside
Of his mine, showing wha, has been
worked out and what course the work
must now take. All this adds to the
eficiency Of the working force, the
economy Of collecting and delivering
the coal to the mouth Of the mine. II
a new tippie is to be constructed or a
new building erected the plans are
made ia the construction department
here and the new structure put up in
accordance with them. At the com.
pany's New England mine, lying Just
outside the city limits, is maintained
a large and wellequipped electrical
repair shop, to which comes from ey.
cry mine in the combination and piece
Of electrical machinery that needs re.
pair. In this way work Of such char
acter is done in the most thorough
and at the same time economical man.
ner. These things are mentioned here
simply to illustrate the system that
obtains throughout the whole organi.
cation, and as a hint at the economies
that have been introduced.
"A strong feature Of the management
Of the Fairmont Coal Co.'S business,
and one that has enabled it to keep
its mines going when other sections
were suffering from strikes and other
labor troubles, is the. consideration It
gives It's employees. In addition to pay
ing wages that make it possible for
the Industrious and saving workman
to accumulate money, this company
has always taken an interest in the
physical welfare Of the miners and
their families, an interest that finds
expression in the building of excellent
houses for their residence, and in fur.
nishfng all the comforts and conyen,
fences possible for their enjoyment
The mining town Of Enterprise, while
not the model, may be taken as an IL,
IlustratIon of this point. 1t is system
atically laid off, compactly built, and
contains every element contributing
to the welfare of the inhabitants. The
houses are of two Minds, double and
single. They have stone or brick
foundations, and each col.ains three
or four rooms conveniently arranged
and finished with hard plaster. They
lire fitted with inside closets, bath
rooms with hot and cold WATER sewer
connections and electric lights. The
fences and foundations are frequently
whitewashed, unhealthful garbage is
not allowed to accumulate, the streets
are Kept clean, and everything posi-.
be is done to preserve the most SAM.
tary conditions. A large store Is
maintaBned here by the company, from
while employees may buy at reasona-
BILE pr.ces the necessities and even the
Injuries of life, for the wages earned
by the men who work for the Fair
mont Coal Co. enable them to indulge
in many Of the Injuries. There are
churches and schools, halls for the
meetings of lodges and amusement
places for young and old. While not
regarded by the company as Its mod.
Ell town-Monongah and perhaps 9th.
ers, being of still higher grade
yet this serves as type Of the whole