The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-23
Neill's Report

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 The report of Inspector Neil says:
 Birmingham, Ala, April 20, 1911. Hon. Emmet O'Neal, Governor State
 of Alabama, Montgomery, Ala:
 Dear Sir-In compliance with sec ton 2e of the state mining laws made a thorough examination of Ban ner mine after the explosion, which occurred April 8, and beg to make the following report:
 This mine is operated by the Pratt Consolidated Coal company and is sit uated in the extreme western part of Jefferson county about 20 miles from Birmingham and on the Cane Creek division of the Louisville and Nashville railroad.
 This mine is operating on the big seam,' and is 40 feet deep. It gives employment to 2s5 men, of this 25o men are inside miners and 35 men work on the outside. It has a ca pacity of approximately HOO tons of coal daily. The mine has three open
 ngs known respectively as the slope No l shaft and No. shaft.
 The ventilating apparatus at Ban ner mine consisted of two Crawford McCrimmon centrifugal fans one be- ing 20 feet in diameter and the other IT feet in diameter. The 17-foot fan, which is located at No. 1 shaft, is used only in case of emergency. The 20-foot fan is located at No 2 shaft and furn- ished a quantity of air throughout the workings, ranging from 1S0,000 to 200,- 900 cubic feet of air per minute, thus minute.
 "The headings in this mine are driven feet high by IS feet wide, carrying with them a gob feet by feet, which leaves sectional area of 75 to s5 feet for haulage and venti- lation. Heading air courses have the same sectional area as headings. The split system of ventilation is used throughout All overcasts were built of concrete; the sidewalks being ? feet in thickness and the arch from to 8 inches in thickness. All brat tices were built of stone and cement IS inches in thickness.
 Tn this mine ail coal was undercut by electric machines before blasting was to have under his charge three or four convicts. This man had control of two working places. This was done in order to allow him to load in one place. while the machines were undercutting in the other. The blasting was done by shot hoe ha Spnqrate shot frer and such work being done during the day while the miners were in the mine. Explosives used was bitumnite No l. a permissible explosive passed by the United States bureau of mines. This explosive was carried into the mine daily in quantities to do that days work. This was not kept together, but each entry ap- portioned the amount necessary for that days work and stored therein.
 "This mine generates explosive gas, which necessitates the employment of fire bosses. The duties of these men were to enter the mine at 2 a., m. make a thor ough inspection for gas, and if any Is found for such places to be freed from gas before the men enter for work, or if In1S CdHIlot De dCcOiupiionSu to io'iiS miners and others not to enter such places until gas Is removed. This in- spection has been done, as the reports of fire bosses hereto attached confirm.
 "The fire boss for this section, Bill Sparks, reported on this date that there was no gas In any of the headings ex- cept the ninth left, and that was in such a small quantity that 1t would not make a cap of gas on bis safety lamp. Nor has he found any gas for 12 months previous to this date which will be shown on the fire boss daily report.
 "As is the case in all machine mines, more dust is made than by the old meth cd of hand mining. While these machines are in operation the atmosphere is dense with coal dust in the immediate neighbor- hood. and to meet this condition it is necessary that steps be taken to keer this dust moist or to send it out of the mine. All the dust made by the machines, which is not in suspension, is then loaded into cars and sent out of the mine be- fore any blasting Is done in the partic- ular place where the machine Is at work The moistening method adopted by the Pratt Consolidated Coal company in theil Banner mine consists of 96 sprays which are distributed throughout the mine al intervals of 10o fket apart. and each de oo r~uft~~e oS' u,o ter p>~ tr,,~ h