The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-07-01
NEW OPENINGS OF SMALLER VEINS
Annual Report Of hine Inspector Says
Many Were Made.

spector. has been submitted to Governor
Crothers. The report says there were
mined in the state of Maryland in 1858
4, l66, 443 short tons of coal as against
), 332, 62s short tons reported in 1907,
showing a decrease of !, 1866. 1875 short
tons. OF the output for the year 1903,
Allegany county produced 3,774, 1903
tons, of which 3,540. 897 tons were
mined by pick work and 233, 402 tons by
machine. Garrett county, which is be-
coming a factor in the Maryland coal
field, produced 1872, 1873 tons, all mined
by pick work. In Allegany county there
are 80 machines in operation, as against
43 in 1907, a decrease of four. The
total number of men employed in the
mining industry in the state in 1903
was 1896, of whom 4,372 were miners,
APO drivers, 523 inside laborers and $50
outside laborers.
The report says: This deposit of
bituminOus coal is the finest steam max
ing coal in the world and is geologically
known as the Pittsburg or Big Vein
seam, with many smaller seams of vari-
Gus names. For more than half cen
fury the Big Vein seam has been
worked and an enormous quantity of
coal has been mined and shipped from
the region to nearly all parts Of the
world.
''The general depression throughout
the country during the year 1903,
caused duller times in the Maryland
coal field than the people depending on
this industry experienced in many years.
During the past year the miners had
very poor work and this caused many
hardships to the miners and others de-
pending upon the coal industry. While
there was poor work during the year,
yet a great many new openings were
made in the smaller coal veins in the
region. Nearly all these veins are an
excellent quality of bituminous coal and
when the industrial conditions of the
country become normal the Maryland
coal held will be in condition to produce
as much coal as in the past. In conse-
quence of the dullness of the coal trade
for the past year, number of mines
hitherto reported will not appear in
this report as they were not working
during the year. -
inspector Donahue says he visited
number of mines and found them idle.
This caused him a loss of time that
could have been devoted to mines that
We're working.
The inspector adds: "In many places
! found that the law had not been com
piled with as to the distance between
the brake side of the mine cars and the
rib-tWo and one-half feet. In every
instance of this kind | called the atten-
ton Of the mine authorities to these
defects and in most cases my requests
We're complied with at once. | found
that the man-ways needed attention
and nearly all Of these are now in fair
condition. 1t seems to me that some
mine officials are not fully acquainted
with the mining laws, and for this rea-
son / will have printed with this report
a copy of the laws. In most cases |
found the managers making efforts to
comply with the law to provide good
air. Occasionally | found instances
where the law was being evaded. In
such crses ! insisted upon compliance
with the law and on my next visit found
satisfactory improvement.
During the year there were % acct
dents in Aliegany county and u in Gar
rett county. Nine were fatal in Ale
gany and three in Garrett. The most
distressing accident of the year, or |
may say in the history of mining in the
George Creek Valley, occurred on the
Franklin incline of the Piedmont &
Georges Creek Coal Company, result
ing in the death of five, and injuries to
nine others -
The inspector says he was called
number Of times to test scales where
there were strong suspicious of injustice
IN weighing coal, but he found the scales
accurate in every instance. The re-
port dwells on the hardshps of the
miner and the risks he takes. which
make the miner feel that he should
receive full measure for every pound Of
coal he loads, and to which he is Justly
entitled. "
The report concludes: Many tears
have been expressed and opinions Of
fered on the early exhaustion of the
Big Vein. OF this there need be no
alar 1t is true during the early years
Of mining the Big Vein there was al
ways rush to fill the daily orders
without regard to the economical re-
mOval Of the coal and much of the
seam was left behind. But in recent
years with the improved meth
DDS in removing the coal, in venti-
lation, drainage, haulage and in careful
management, there will be thousands
Of tons Of this seam mined in Maryland
for many wears to come.