The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
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these mines by the superintendents and
the high scale of 57A cents per ton paid
for mining. together with attractive COM
fort to living afforded the men and
their families, makes certain u reten-
tion of an efficient and satisfied working
force. This mine is of the Pratt seam,
with an average thickness of three feet
and six inches and four feet and four
inches. IT is all pick work and the daily
capacity of the two mines is 400 tons.
Another valuable opening to be made
here calls for the construction of mar
row gauge road 1000 feet long; cars to
be propelled by a steam engine This
line is nearly completed, the engine on
track there and ready for steam. This
strike of enterprise was necessary to de-
velopment, because 1t was found imprac-
ticable to locate a standard gauge track
TO reach a large crop of Pratt coal. This
Improvement completed. and the output
of these mines will be greatly increased.
There are ~ company houses at the two
mines. The average miners home is
new, ceiled, painted and screened. Clean
liness and comfort are in evidence, and
strict sanitary supervision by the man
agement is applied diligently.
The Eldorado company also operate the
upper Goalburg mine, known as No. 8,
and Coalburg proper known as No. A.
two mines give employment to a work.
ing force of about $50 men.
Health of Community
1t is a matter of record that no malig-
nant case of fever or other diseases has
occurred at these mines in many months
The miners and operators of the district
are fast learning that dull resignation
to disease is a crime, and that the conf
bative power to the enemy is cleanliness
There is no better or more effectual
school of pathology than everyday obser-
walton of cause and effect. Where tho
sick and death rate is low, pure air
pure water and general cleanliness are
observed. When the sick and death rate
is high, foul air, polluted water, the
house fly, the mosquito and general filth
are in evidence
These matters of sanitation are now
under deep and diligent consideration by
the operators and the miners of the coal
district, and the cooperative effort is
producing excellent results, as is evil
denced by the changed p improved con-
ditions, which exist in NE mining camp,
as com&red with conditions of four
years ago.
In riding through the 14-mile stretch
from The Age-Herald building in Bir-
mingham to Walmore, and returning via
Sayreton and North Birmingham, sub
ject matter is presented for the thought
that in estimating increased values of
land, increased population and general
physical wealth of this district, brought
about by this development, one must not
overlook the increased productive value
of its citizenship. In the manner of liv-
ing. the social and educational environ
meNts, advancement is marked. The un-
kept log huts of the old time country
folks, the shoeless plow boy, the primi-
tive methods of the people have given
way, under the magic development, to
conditions brighter and better. The natu-
raj wealth was always here, but 1t re-
quired wisdom, foresight energy and
money to make attractive and useful the
once dormant possibilities that lay be-
meath the soil The benehcaries are not
only the men who invested brains and
money but the sons and daughters of
those who cast their lot years ago in
these hills and valleys.