Ja°meRsAH." M c G ^ T / p r e w S i ' D e v o te d to t h e O p e r a tin g , T e c h n ic a l a n d B u s in e s s
E . J . M e h r e n , Vice-President P r o b le m s o f t h e C o a l-M in in g I n d u s t r y R . D a w s o n H a l l Engineering E ditor
Volume 28 N EW YORK, D ECEM BER 17, 1925 N um ber 25
P in ch o t Prolon gs the Strike
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OR A M A N who p ro fesses to be so a rd e n t in h is d e s ire to effect a n im m ed iate re su m p tio n o f a n th r a c ite m in in g , th e G overnor of P e n n sy lv a n ia p u rsu e s s tr a n g e m e a n s to achieve h is ends. To th e ill-tim ed fo lly o f h is co n feren ce of Nov. 28 he now adds th e call f o r a sp ecial sessio n of th e s ta te le g isla tu re to consider, a m o n g o th e r th in g s , th e e n a ctm en t of m e a su re s to d ec lare a n th r a c ite m in in g a public u tility an d place th e in d u s tr y u n d e r s ta te control.In th e lig h t o f th e te rm s p re se n te d to a n e m issa ry o f th e u n io n by th e o p e ra to rs— te rm s of w hich M r.
P in c h o t m u s t hav e h ad full know ledge b e fo re m a k in g p u b lic h is “peace” p ro g ra m — th e p re s e n ta tio n of th a t p ro g ra m could hav e b u t one re su lt. T h a t re s u lt w as to d riv e o p e ra to rs a n d m in ers, w ho w e re n e a rin g a com m on g ro u n d , f a r t h e r a p a rt. T h is w ould pro b ab ly h a v e been tr u e even h ad th e G overnor’s p ro g ra m h ad re a l m e r it; a n y o u tsid e in te rfe re n c e a t such a sta g e
■would h a v e e n d a n g e re d n e g o tia tio n s : w ith P in c h o t’s
•eleven p o in ts w h a t th e y w ere, th e ir re je c tio n w as in e v ita b le .
T h e ch an ces o f a speedy ra p p ro c h e m en t— n o t overly b r i g h t a f t e r t h a t flare-up— a r e now s till f u r t h e r p o st
p o n ed b y th e G o v ern o r’s t h r e a t o f re g u la tio n . B y th a t a c tio n h e definitely a n d openly a lig n s h im se lf w ith M r.
L ew is a n d th e u n io n co h o rts. T he th in m ask o f im p a r
t i a lity w ith w hich he h a d covered h is e a r lie r unw elcom e p a rtic ip a tio n in th e s itu a tio n is dropped. U n d er a g u ise o f a c tin g in th e pu b lic in te re s t, M r. P in c h o t in effect sa y s to M r. L e w is: “ D on’t w o rry , J o h n ; if th e o p e ra to rs w on’t yield w illin g ly to o u r te rm s o f s u r re n d e r, I ’ll sw in g th e b ig s tic k over th e ir h eads and m ak e th e m w ish th e y h a d .”
U n d e r such a n im plied p ro m ise w ill i t be s tra n g e if th e s tr ik e r s ta k e new h e a r t an d resolve to t u r n a d e a f e a r to re a so n u n til th e success o r fa ilu r e o f th e th r e a t h a s been d e te rm in e d ? H a rd ly . M r. P in c h o t offers th e m ch im e ric a l hope w h e re th e re h a d been d a rk in g d e s p a ir. B u t w h a t o f th e public f o r w h ich th e Gov
e r n o r h a s e x p resse d such s y m p a th y ? W h a t o f th e b u si
n e ss in te r e s ts of th e a n th r a c ite re g io n w hose fu tu r e h a s been so d e a r to M r. P in c h o t’s h e a r t? H ow will th e s e in te re s ts , how w ill th e public a t la rg e be sei'ved b y s te e lin g th e m in e rs to re fu s e ho n o rab le te rm s of peace— te rm s w hich only a sk th e m to ju s tif y th e ir d e m an d s b e fo re a n im p a rtia l b o a rd o f a r b itr a tio n ?
T h is is th e q u e stio n of im m ed iate im p o rtan ce. The sequence o f events, th e b a c k g ro u n d a g a in s t w hich th e p ro p o sa ls f o r le g isla tiv e co n tro l hav e been p ro jected m ak e i t d is tre s s in g ly p la in t h a t th o se p roposals a re b r o u g h t fo rw a rd , n o t to be co n sid ered on th e ir dubious m e rits , b u t to bludgeon th e o p e ra to rs in to accep tin g th e G o v ern o r’s “ peace” p ro g ra m of Nov. 28. To accom plish t h a t M r. P in c h o t seem s w illin g to block a s e ttle m e n t f o r m o n th s since he ca n n o t expect t h a t th e re sp o n sib le le a d e rs o^f th e in d u s try a re so spineless o r so b lin d to th e b e st in te re s ts of th e public as to m eekly
sw allow h is “peace” p ro g ra m o r h is cam p a ig n o f leg islativ e re p ris a ls . T h e G overnor o f P e n n sy lv a n ia , th e re fo re , m u st now sh o u ld e r th e re s p o n s ib ility f o r p ro lo n g in g th e a n th r a c ite su sp en sio n .
Making Headway
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L A C IN G T H E M S E L V E S a t th e h ead of th e p ro cessio n a n d looking back a t th e t r a i n b eh in d , th e c ritic s of th e coal in d u s tr y q u e stio n w h y i t is t h a t som e of th e tra v e le rs a re ah ead a n d som e in th e r e a r. W e w ould s u g g e st th a t th e re a so n w h y th e r e a r e le a d e rs a n d s tr a g g le r s is b ecau se th e r e is p ro g re ss. S a n fo rd E . Thom pson in th e U n ite d S ta te s Coal C om m ission re p o r t an d in a le sse r d eg ree W alto n H . H a m ilto n a n d H elen It. W rig h t in t h e ir book j u s t p u b lish ed on “ T he Case of B itu m in o u s Coal” a re exam ples o f such c ritic s . T h ey have th e ir place in th e h u m a n econom y o f course.
T hey a re advocates of h ig h e r p u rp o ses, b u t i t m ig h t be well if th e y realize d th a t in e q u a lity in p ra c tic e is n o t so m uch a n evidence o f in e r tia a s a s ig n of p ro g ress. T h e re is no in e q u ality , f o r in sta n c e , in In d ia ’s n a tiv e in d u s trie s . So long a s th e re is a fo re an d a n a f t in th e p ro g re s s of th e coal in d u s try , w e m ay be su re t h a t i t is p ro g re ss an d n o t s ta g n a tio n we a r e view ing.
In w h a t in d u s tr y h av e re v o lu tio n a ry ch an g es com e in a n ig h t? A re all th e iso la te d po w er p la n ts, f o r in sta n ce, b u rn in g coal in th e m o st m o d ern of b o ile rs?
H a s n o t th e r e tu r n - tu b u la r b o iler p e rs is te d f o r t h i r t y o r f o r ty y e a rs d esp ite m a n y ra d ic a l ch an g es in b o iler p ra c tic e ? D id th e m ech an ical b lo w in g o f g la ss invade th e w indow -glass in d u s tr y in a fe w s h o r t y e a rs o r did i t ta k e a decade? D id flo tatio n com e in a y e a r in th e m etal in d u s try , o r w as i t a n a ff a ir of long co n tin u ed g ro w th ? In th e la te w a r w e sw e a t blood to g e t re a d y f o r b a ttle a n d w h en w e g o t o u r m en to th e f r o n t th e y h ad to fig h t w ith g u n s b o u g h t fro m th e A llies. S ecre
t a r y D av is h a s sa id t h a t w ith o u t su ch help o u r m en could n o t h a v e w ith sto o d th e enem y f o r a sin g le h o u r.
W h y ? B ecause in d u s try ca n n o t be m obilized in a y e a r o r so to m ake th e se m a rv elo u s ch an g es. T h e m a n u fa c t u r e r ca n n o t p ro v id e th e fa c ilitie s even i f th e co n su m er is re a d y to p u rc h a s e th e m — even w h en we h av e m a s te re d th e new tec h n iq u e a n d know j u s t w h a t we w a n t a n d j u s t w h a t to do w ith i t w h en we h av e it.
In no in d u s try is p ro g re s s a s ra p id as i t should be.
I t c e rta in ly is n o t as f a s t a s m ig h t be d e sire d in th e coal in d u s try , b u t w e h av e y e t to th in k t h a t th e b itu m in o u s-co al in d u s tr y should be h eld up to pu b lic re p ro b a tio n f o r ’ its d ila to rin e s s in th is re sp e c t, esp e
cially in th e m a tte r o f lo a d in g m ach in es.
T h e P a p e r s D e c l a r e t h a t th e m in e rs m ad e conces
sio n s in a c c e p tin g M r. P in c h o t’s offer, b u t th e t r u t h is th e y conceded n o th in g , th e y m e re ly re d u c ed som e o f th e ir dem ands. I t is th e o p e ra to r w ho is b e in g asked by M r. P in c h o t to m ake th e concessions.
835
836 C O A L A G E Vol. 28, No. 25
P lan n in g P u b lic R elations
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N A L L I N D U S T R IE S th e c o n su m ers a r e m ore n u m e ro u s th a n th e p ro d u c e rs, a n d if th e r e is conflict th e c o n su m e rs h a v e th e p o w er a n d th e v o te to m old le g isla tio n to s u it t h e i r w ish es, s u b je c t only to c o n s titu tio n a l law. So i t is well f o r th e p ro d u c e rs to th in k firs t a n d co rrectly , le st th e a c tio n o f th e co n su m e r be u n f o r tu n a te f o r th e p ro d u cer.
M ost in d u s trie s a r e g iv in g th o u g h t to th is co n d itio n an d a s k in g th em selv es j u s t w h a t co u rse w ill s a tis f y th e co n su m er or, a s i t is m ore u su a lly p u t, th e “p u b lic.”
T h e p ro d u c e rs, w h o le sa le rs a n d re ta ile r s o f coal w ould do w ell to keep th is sam e q u e stio n o f p u b lic r e la tio n s c o n s ta n tly in view .
W h en a sev ere differen ce of opinion, a q u a rre l in fa c t, e x is ts b etw een tw o p e rso n s i t is a m a z in g how alm o st im p o ssib le i t is to avoid co n tro v e rsy , b ecau se ev ery e x p re ssio n is e ith e r m is in te rp re te d o r m isq u o ted . I f th e o p e ra to r d eclares, f o r in sta n c e , t h a t th e r e w ill be a coal sh o rta g e , h e is told t h a t h e is tr y in g to c re a te a p a n ic so th a t h e m ay sell m o re coal a n d sell i t a t an e x to rtio n a te fig u re. I f he sa y s n o th in g a n d a s h o r ta g e com es, he is accused o f lu llin g th e p u b lic to sleep so t h a t he can g e t th e pu b lic in to a tr a p a n d m a k e u n r e a sonable pro fits. T h e a c c u sa tio n w ill be even m o re b itte r i f h e d e cla res t h a t th e r e is no re a s o n to f e a r a sh o rta g e .
I f h e b u ild s a s to re o r a to w n h e is accused of fe u d a lism a n d a n a tte m p t to v ictim iz e h is em ployees and i f he decides h e w ill n e ith e r e n te r th e s to r e b u s i
n ess, n o r c o n s tru c t a to w n , he is re p ro a c h e d w ith a n in d ifferen c e to h is em ployees’ needs a n d w ith th e f a c t t h a t h is w o rk m e n a r e n o t liv in g in d e c e n t h o u ses o r a re b e in g v ic tim iz e d b y t h i r d p a r tie s w ith w h o m th e o p e ra to r is s a id to b e in collusion.
T h e tro u b le w ith su ch c ritic is m is t h a t i t is alw ays h a r d to re fu te . I t is alw ay s difficult to show th a t th e a c tio n o r n o n -a c tio n w a s n o t th e outcom e o f a n evil in te n tio n .
I t is im p o rta n t f o r a n in d u s tr y to be on p ro p e r te rm s w ith th e co n su m e r o f its p ro d u c ts. W h a t th e coal in d u s tr y n eed s is to h av e th e p u b lic a s s u re d t h a t i t is w o rk in g f o r s a fe ty , th e h a p p in e s s a n d h e a lth o f its em ployees, f o r ste a d y o p e ra tio n , f o r a s a tis f a c to r y su p p ly a t all tim e s o f th e n e c e ssa ry fu e l su p p lies an d f o r th e p ro d u c tio n of fu e l t h a t is clean, s u ita b ly sized a n d sold a t a f a i r p ric e . To th is end th e in d u s tr y should be w illin g to le t th e p u b lic know th e a c tu a l fa c ts.
To h id e th e m w ill only re s u lt in su sp icio n .
T h e p u b lic b ase s its ju d g m e n t on th e a c tio n s o f in d iv id u als. A n a tio n is condem ned f o r th e actio n o f one o f its n a tio n a ls , a ra c e f o r th e evil deeds of one of its m em b ers, a n in d u s tr y f o r th e b u sin e ss m eth o d s o f one o f its m e rc h a n ts . I t is, th e re fo re , n e c e ssa ry to c re a te a r i g h t s e n tim e n t in th e in d u s try , a c o rre c t s ta n d a r d by w h ich th e m a n y o p e ra to rs m ay ju d g e th e a c tio n s o f o th e rs a n d m a y th em selv es ju d g e o f t h e i r ow n a ctio n s.
T h e re m u s t be in s ta n t c o n d em n atio n o f v io la tio n s of th e s e s ta n d a rd s . In th e w o rd s of o u r B r itis h cou sin s th e r e m u s t be c e r ta in th in g s t h a t “ a re j u s t sim p ly n e v e r done, d o n ’t you know .”
W e c a n n o t show a le n ie n t ju d g m e n t to th e m a n w ho r u n s an u n s a fe , m in e, b u ild s o r m a in ta in s ro w s of sh ack s, h ire s e n o u g h m en to m ine tw ice a s m u ch coal as h e c a n sell, se n d s d irty , u n siz ed coal to m a r k e t o r sells coal a t u n re a so n a b le p ric e a t a tim e o f s c a rc ity . To condone su c h offenses is to m a k e “ coal m a n ” a by w o rd , to b r in g m e rite d c o n te m p t on th e in d u s try .
No one w ho is in a lin e o f b u s in e s s f o r life, w ho h as h is c a p ita l in v e ste d in it, can see in d iv id u a ls b r in g in g it in d is re p u te w ith o u t a fe e lin g o f in d ig n a tio n and .’-egret. T h e h e a lth o f in d u s tr y d epends on th e h o n e sty of its decisions, an d no m a n w ho h a s d evoted h is life a n d h is c a p ita l to an in d u s tr y can b e o th e r th a n s e n s i
tiv e a s to its h o n o r. To a good m an , h is in d u s tr y is o nly second to h is c o u n try a n d th e good n a m e o f h is p ro d u c t only second to th e h o n o r o f its flag.
Q uantity D esign in g
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N M O ST la rg e com p an ies e q u ip m e n t is in sta lle d in m a n y w a y s— som e good, som e b ad, a c c o rd in g to th e a b ility of th e m a n on th e jo b — a n d if i t is discovered t h a t th e d e sig n o f som e d e ta il is n o t o f th e b e s t it is p ro b a b ly n o t c o rre c ted , b ecau se i t w ould b e ex pensive to te a r i t dow n a n d re -e re c t it, th e re c o n s tru c tio n w ould reflect on som eone, delay o p e ra tio n a n d p e rh a p s m ig h t cau se a le n g th y d isp u te.A ll th e se q u e stio n s o f how a n y p iece of a p p a r a tu s should be in sta lle d sh o u ld be se ttle d once a n d f o r all b y s ta n d a rd s . T h e b e s t a n d s a f e s t w a y sh o u ld be d e te rm in e d a f t e r c a re fu l in q u iry a n d p e rh a p s a f t e r stu d y o f re c o rd s, e x h a u stiv e te s ts , c o rresp o n d en ce an d discu ssio n . M en in o th e r a n d k in d re d in d u s tr ie s m ay be co n su lted an d th e s ta n d a r d p ra c tic e s o f o th e r com p a n ie s exam ined.
T h e U n io n P acific Coal Co. h a s b y som e su ch m e a n s ad o p ted te n ta tiv e s ta n d a r d s f o r its m in es. O th e r m in es m a y need s lig h tly d iffe re n t r u le s a n d th e com p an y does n o t its e lf believe t h a t i t h a s m ad e s ta n d a r d s t h a t cover all e q u ip m en t, all c o n tin g e n c ie s o r t h a t a r e th e final w o rd even f o r its ow n c o n d itio n s.
To m ak e th e s e s ta n d a r d s a m in in g e n g in e e r w a s sp ecially a p p o in te d h a v in g no o th e r d u tie s to d i s t r a c t h is a tte n tio n . H e c o n su lted w ith th e o p e ra tin g and e n g in e e rin g sta ff a n d v is ite d th e m in e s to a s c e r ta in th e specific c o n d itio n s to be m et.
E v e ry w o rk in g copy o f th e s ta n d a r d s h a s been n u m b e re d s e ria lly a n d a re c e ip t re q u e s te d o f m in e s u p e r in te n d e n ts , m in e m a n a g e rs , fo re m e n a n d o th e rs, a n d th is re c e ip t is in te n d e d a s a re c o g n itio n on th e p a r t o f th e re c ip ie n t t h a t h a v in g g iv e n th e s ta n d a r d d ue c o n s id e ra tio n , he reco g n izes its d e s ira b ility a n d is p re p a re d to m ak e it a g u id e in h is f u t u r e w o rk . T im e w ill show w h a t ch an g es a re needed, a n d e v e ry s h e e t is a loose le a f t h a t can be rep lace d b y a n o th e r i f ex p erien ce, n ew e q u ip m en t, s tu d y o r a ch a n g e d c o n d itio n sh o u ld d ic ta te .
Coal A g e ta k e s p le a s u re in b e in g th e vehicle by w h ich th e s e s ta n d a r d s m a y b e a v a ilab le to its re a d e rs . I t is h oped t h a t i t w ill se rv e to fo rm u la te th e id e a s o f t h e in d u s tr y a s to d e ta ils of in s ta lla tio n .
A m in e does n o t m a n u f a c tu r e e q u ip m e n t b u t i t p u ts i t in to place, i t p r e p a r e s f o r its p la c in g , i t assem b les a n d i t o p e ra te s it. F o r th is p u rp o se i t sh o u ld have, in a d eg ree, q u a n tity d e sig n a n d q u a n tity m e th o d s a s th e m a n u f a c tu r e r h a s q u a n tity p ro d u c tio n . U n fo r
tu n a te ly , h ith e r to m o st in s ta lla tio n s h a v e b een placed a s i f th e y w e re th e firs t o f th e k in d e v e r p lan n ed . N o p a s t ex p e rie n c e h a s been invoked, no re co rd s, no s tu d y . T h e in s ta lle r, i f h e h a s tim e, se a rc h e s only h is ow n in te llig en ce and, o fte n b e in g ru sh e d , leaves th e m a tte r to a s u b o rd in a te . T h is w a y lie s fa ilu re .
T o avoid su ch u n to w a rd r e s u lts th e s ta n d a r d s w h ich w ill a p p e a r b e g in n in g w ith t h is n u m b e r w e re devised a n d issu ed , a n d th e U n io n P acific Coal Co. ta k e s p le a s
u re in p la c in g th e m a t th e serv ic e o f th e in d u s try .
Decem ber 17, 1925 C O A L A G E 83 7
T
H E A U D IT O R IU M in th e C ham ber o f Com m erce b u ild in g , P itts b u rg h , P a ., d id n o t q u ite accom m o d ate th e la rg e n u m b e r o f m en w ho flocked to th e th ir ty - n in th m e e tin g of th e Coal M in in g I n s titu te o f A m erica, Dec. 9, 10 and 11, to h e a r a b o u t a n d discuss th e ch a n g e s, t h a t a re being, an d o u g h t to be, m ad e in th e b itu m in o u s m in in g in d u s try — m echanical loading a n d conveying, un iq u e recovery m eth o d s o f old a b a n doned B ig V ein p illa rs, m odern pi’actice in u n d e rg ro u n d s u b s ta tio n s , tim b e r p re s e rv a tio n and r e fo re s ta tio n by coal com p an ies a n d o th e r su b je c ts w hich w ere slig h tly less fu lly covered by discussions o f q u estio n s fro m th e floor. T h e la s t day o f th e m e e tin g w as s e t a sid e fo r a n in sp e c tio n tr ip to th e B ru ceto n e x p e rim en tal m ine of th e B u re a u o f M ines w h ere v a rio u s te s ts w e re sta g e d to rem ove a n y d o u b ts of m em bers r e g a rd in g th e d an g e rs lu r k in g in coal m in es an d th e effectiveness of s a fe ty p ra c tic e s a s a m ean s to avoid them .F o llo w in g th e custom o f p a s t y e a rs th e I n s titu te opened w ith a b u sin ess session w hich la ste d a sc a n t one h o u r. S e c re ta ry H . D. (Jo e ) M ason quickly disposed of re p o r ts of a c tiv itie s d u rin g th e y e a r an d th e n tu rn e d to new s. T he a ss e ts of th e I n s titu te a t th e opening of th e m e e tin g am o u n ted to $2,128.45; seventeen m em bers d ied d u r in g th e y e a r; th e m e m b ersh ip w as increased b y 192, b rin g in g th e to ta l up to 3,021; Jo sep h W illiam s an d Jo se p h K n ap p er, tw o v e te ra n m in e in sp ecto rs, w ere p ro p o sed f o r h o n o ra ry m em b ersh ip . M r. M ason a n no unced t h a t S c o tt T u rn e r, th e new d ire c to r of th e B u re a u o f M ines, h a s been elected a u to m a tic a lly as an
W. C. Hood
N e w p r e s i d e n t o f t h e I n s t i t u t e a n d a s s i s t i t g e n e r a l s u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f t h e H . C. F r i c k C o ’ i C o.
h o n o ra ry m em b er in acco rd an ce w ith th e tr a d itio n of th e I n s titu te . T he r e p o r t of th e b o a rd o f te lle rs an -
A. C. Fieldner
C h i e f c h e m i s t o f t h e U . S . B u r e a u o f M i n e s a n d S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f t h e P i t t s b u r g h E x p e r i m e n t S t a t i o n .
J. J. Rutledge
E l e c t e d s e c o n d v i c e - p r e s i d e n t o f t h e I n s t i t u t e . H e i s c h i e f e n g i n e e r , M a r y l a n d S t a t e B u r e a u o f M in e s .
Nicholas Evans
R e t i r i n g p r e s i d e n t o f t h e I n s t i t u t e . H e is m i n e i n s p e c t o r o f t h e 2 4 t h b i t u m i n o u s d i s t r i c t o f P e n n s y l v a n i a .
Many Mining Men Discuss Today’s Coal Problem s In Coal Mining Institute o f America
U nd erground C on veyors and N e w M eth o d s of U sin g T h em P rove A bsorb in g S u b jects— L o a d in g M a ch in es A re M uch at th e F o re— In stitu te S e e s E x p lo s io n s in B ru ceton
B y R . D a w so n H a ll a n d A lp h o n s e F . B r o sk y
E n g i n e e r i n g E d i t o r a n d A s s i s t a n t E d i t o r o f C o a l A g e
838 C O A L A G E VOL. 2 8 , N o . 25 n o unced th e follow ing election o f officers P re s id e n t,
W . C. H ood,, a s s is ta n t g e n e ra l s u p e rin te n d e n t, H . C.
F r ic k Coke Co., U nio n to w n , P a .; fir s t v ic e-p resid en t, F r a n k R. L yons, v ic e -p re sid e n t in c h a rg e o f o p e ra tio n s, C o n so lid atio n Coal Co., F a ir m o n t, W. V a .; second vice- p re s id e n t, J . J . R u tled g e, c h ie f en g in e e r, M a ry la n d S ta te B u re a u o f M ines, B altim o re , Md., a n d th ir d vice- p re s id e n t, N . D. L evin, c h ie f e n g in e e r, J e ffre y M fg. Co., C olum bus, Ohio. M r. M ason w a s re-elected s e c r e ta ry an d tr e a s u r e r f o r th e e n su in g y e a r.
U nderground M echanical
M echanical lo ad in g w as d iscu ssed in th e firs t p a p e r o f th e d ay by W a lte r M. D ake, m in in g e n g in e e r, Jo y M achine Co., F ra n k lin , P a . H e s a id th e success o f m ech an ized m in in g in specific cases w ill d epend up o n th e a ttitu d e o f th e m in e ow ners a n d t h e ir officials. W ith o u t th e s u p p o rt o f th e e n tir e p erso n n el th e p ro je c t u n d o u b t
edly w ill fa il. P u rc h a s e o f th e n e c e ssa ry eq u ip m e n t should follow only a f t e r a th o ro u g h in v e s tig a tio n h a s been m ade a n d com plete e s tim a te s of cost hav e been com piled. H o u rly w ag e r a te s f o r m ech an ical lo ad in g h av e m ad e th e com panies p u t m o re fo rc e b e h in d all in n o v a tio n s. A n d b ecau se lo a d in g eq u ip m e n t m u s t o f n e c e ssity be m o re com plicated th a n c u tte rs , f o r in stan ce, in te n s e in s p e c tio n a n d c a re fu l m a in te n a n c e a r e re q u ire d to avoid b re ak d o w n s. A n tiq u a te d a u x ilia ry e q u ip m en t h a s cau sed m a n y fa ilu r e s a n d sh o u ld h a v e no place in m echanical^ m in in g . T h e re is even g r e a te r need f o r co -o p eratio n betw een p u rc h a s e r an d m a n u f a c tu r e r th a n h a s been d isplayed in th e p a s t. A b so lu te costs should a n d m u s t be k ep t.
In h is p a p e r he c ite d se v e ra l ex p erien ces o f com p a n ie s w ith m ech an ical lo ad ers. One firm in a h ig h w ag e r a te field s ta r te d a s e a rly a s 1922 a n d g ra d u a lly in sta lle d six m ach in es of a c e rta in m ake. T h e ir o p e ra tio n w as m ere ly e x p e rim e n ta l in t h a t th e m ach in es w e re
n o t e n tire ly su ccessfu l a n d t h e ir w eak n ess developed.
B u t so con v in cin g ly w ere th e p o ssib ilitie s o f m ech an ical lo a d in g b r o u g h t hom e to th is com pany d u r in g th e se e a r ly d ay s t h a t i t h a s sin ce in sta lle d seven ru g g e d m a c h in e s of th e sam e m ake. F o llo w in g th e la te r in s ta lla tio n s a v in g s w e re im m ed iate ly a p p a re n t an d a s th e v a rio u s o p e ra tio n s w ere sta b iliz e d a g ra d u a l re d u c tio n in co sts w as effected. In a re c e n t six -m o n th r u n d u rin g w h ich 120,670 to n s w as p ro d u ced m echanically, a s a v in g o v er h a n d lo a d in g o f 41.2c. p e r to n o r a to ta l of $49,716, w as effected. A t th a t, th is com pany re p o rts a low a v e ra g e r a t e o f 112 to n s p e r m a ch in e p e r s h i f t an d th e a v e ra g e lo a d in g tim e o f only 30 p e r c e n t o f each s h if t.
E . H . Coxe in q u ire d w h e th e r in te r e s t a n d d e p re c ia tio n w e re included in th e c o m p u ta tio n o f co sts by th is com p an y . H e w a s in fo rm e d t h a t th e s e ite m s w e re n o t included b u t t h a t m a in te n a n c e w as. M r. D ake a n sw e re d a q u e stio n re la tiv e to clearan ce, p u t b y D. J . P a r k e r , by s a y in g t h a t tim b e rs m u s t be k e p t 10 to 12 f t. fro m th e face. J . J . F o rb e s a sk ed w h a t is b e in g done to allay th e d u s t stirx-ed up by m ech an ic al lo a d e rs. T he re p ly w a s t h a t n o th in g h a d been done in th is d ire c tio n w ith c e rta in ty p e s o f m ac h in e. I n q u iry w as m ad e of th e use o f th e J o y m ac h in e in th e P itts b u r g h coal seam . M r. D ak e s a id t h a t tw o m ach in es o f th is k in d a t w o rk in th is bed a r e a v e ra g in g a b o u t 110 to n s p e r s h i f t ea ch ; d ra w s la te is gobbed by h a n d .
M oving p ic tu re s o f th e J o y m a c h in e in o p e ra tio n in
T h e o p en in g a d d re ss b y P r e s id e n t N ich o las E v a n s d e a lt w ith th e success of th e I n s titu te a n d p o in te d to th e th in g s w hich m u s t b e done in th e f u tu r e to in s u r e its ad v an cem en t. H e d eclared th e I n s titu te n o t s ta n d s till; i t m u s t ad v an ce a n d m ak e p ro g re s s i f i t is to live. I t h a s seen p ro g re ss, fro m m ule to rope, a n d fro m ro p e to e le c tric h a u la g e a n d m u s t m ak e f u r t h e r ch an g es f o r th e b e tte r by co -o p era tio n in re se a rc h . I t a lre a d y h a s g iv en its m o ra l s u p p o rt a n d ex p ects to c o n trib u te m o re a c tiv ely h e n c e fo rth .
Loading Makes P rogress
a m in e w e re th e n show n. T h e a u d ien ce w as a m u se d by th e speed w ith w hich c a rs w e re s h ifte d in th e p ic tu re an d w as to ld t h a t only in m ovies is th is b e in g so su c
ce ssfu lly accom plished.
Som e of th e ac co m p lish m en ts of th e M yers-W haley lo a d e r in coal m in e w o rk w ere rev iew ed in a n in te r e s t
in g p a p e r by C h arle s C. W haley of th e M yers-W haley Co., K noxville, T en n . H e d e scrib ed c o n d itio n s a n d re s u lts a tta in e d in one m in e p a y in g th e h ig h w ag e scale of th e C e n tra l C o m p etitiv e field. T h e bed a v e ra g e s 6 f t . th ic k a n d is o v e rlaid w ith 6 to 14 in. o f clod w h ich fa lls w ith th e coal. R oom s a re d riv e n 36 f t. w ide a n d th e coal is u n d e rc u t a n d sn ubbed, a n d is w ell sh o t. A crew of 13 o r 14 m en, d e p en d in g upon th e q u a n tity of clod w hich m u s t be han d led , a n d in c lu d in g one fo re m a n , p e rfo rm s all d u tie s in c id e n t to m in in g a n d lo ad in g . T h is c rew in a m o n th of 25 w o rk in g d ay s placed on th e p a r tin g a n a v e ra g e p e r s h if t o f 191 to n s a t a co st o f so m ew h at less th a n 82c. p e r to n , in c lu d in g all ite m s, a s a g a in s t a c o st of h a n d lo a d in g o f a b o u t $1.32, th u s m a k in g a s a v in g of 50c. p e r to n .
Ke e p Ai r w a y Cl e a n
H e n e x t called a tte n tio n to a n e d ito ria l in th e Oct. 15 issu e of Coal A g e re la tiv e to k e e p in g a irw a y s clean.
T he M y ers-W h aley shovel is b e in g u sed in a n u m b e r of m in es f o r th is w o rk a n d f o r ta k in g to p a n d b o tto m in o th e r e n tr ie s a s well. T h e firs t m a c h in e o f th is k in d u sed f o r lif tin g b o tto m w as in s ta lle d in 1922 in a c e n tra l P e n n sy lv a n ia m in e in th e M iller seam w hich a v e ra g e s a b o u t 36 in. th ic k . T h e m a c h in e lifte d 3 to 4 f t . o f b o tto m com posed o f b a s ta r d fire clay w hich b ro k e in la rg e pieces. D e sp ite th e f a c t t h a t th e w o rk o f th e m a c h in e w as confined to tw o d ip h e a d in g s w h ich w ere w e t a n d w h e re th e coal could b e m in e d only one c u t in ad v an ce o f b o tto m ta k in g , n o t to m e n tio n o th e r difficulties en co u n te red , th e m a ch in e succeeded in lo ad in g , ov er a w ide period, a n a v e ra g e o f fifty 14-ton c a rs p e r s h if t, a d v a n c in g each o f th e p a ir o f e n trie s 15 f t . p e r s h if t. T h e m a n a g e m e n t re p o r ts t h a t th e co st of dead w o rk w as m o re th a n c u t in h a lf a n d th e r a t e of e n try ad vance w as doubled. On th e m e r it of th e s e r e s u lts th is com pany h a s in sta lle d a d d itio n a l m ach in es.
In 1923 a n o th e r com pany in sta lle d a N o. 3 M yers- W h aley f o r ta k in g top a n d since h a s in s ta lle d five m ore.
H e re a g a in th e M iller bed is b e in g m in ed . T h is a v e ra g e s a b o u t 40 in. in th ic k n e ss a n d is o v erlaid b y a ro o f o f la m in a te d sh ale. E n tr ie s a r e d riv e n 11 f t . w ide a n d 3 to 4 f t. of to p ro ck is b ru s h e d on all th e m a in s.
Coal is loaded b y h a n d in a s tr e tc h o f a b o u t 100 f t.
in ad v an ce of to p ta k in g , th r o u g h o u t w h ich d ista n c e p e rm a n e n t tr a c k is la id . R oof to th e n e c e ssa ry c le a r
ance h e ig h t in th is e n tir e s tr e tc h is b r o u g h t dow n b e fo re th e m ach in e s t a r t s to load. H oles a re sh o t in tw os, one
Decem ber 17, 1925 C O A L A G E 839 n e a r each rib , p ro d u c in g clean b re a k s. Ja c k h a m m e rs
a r e used fo r d rillin g . B y th is m ean s, b a r r in g h au la g e delays, c o n tin u o u s lo a d in g is affo rd ed th e m ach in e an d th e cleanup ad v an ces re g u la rly a b o u t 65 f t. each s h ift, th e m a te ria l filling eighty-five 14-ton c a rs. T h e b e st re c o rd is 127 c a rs p e r s h if t. T h e crew c o n sists of one ru n n e r, one h e lp e r an d one m o to rm an .
. T h is com pany is u sin g th e sam e ty p e of m a ch in es fo r cle a n in g up fa lls in a irc o u rse s in th e L o w er F re e p o r t bed. H e re th e ro o f is of fire clay an d fa lls to a h e ig h t o f a b o u t 2 f t. above th e coal. T ra c k is e x ten d ed as re q u ire d in b u ilt-u p sections 74 f t. long. Such a sectio n ca n be add ed in ab o u t 10 m in . T h e crew co n sists of tw o m en w ho p e rfo rm all d u tie s connected w ith th is job.
T h e a v e ra g e lo ad in g r a te is a b o u t f o r ty 14-ton c a rs p e r s h if t.
A t s till a n o th e r o p e ra tio n d u rin g la s t J u ly th is com p a n y ad v an ced an e n tr y th r o u g h 14 f t . o f coal a n d 6 f t.
a id to th e d riv in g o f n a rro w w o rk th e s h o rtw a lo a d e r h a s been developed. T h is m ach in e b o th c u ts a n d loads.
T h e a v e ra g e advance b e in g m ade w ith i t is 30 f t. p e r s h ift.
In one m in e in 34 f t . o f coal a p a ir o f e n trie s w as d riv e n 1,800 f t. in th r e e m o n th s b y tw o- s h o rtw a lo a d e rs w hich w orked sin g le s h if ts . B re a k th ro u g h s w e re c u t by th e se m a ch in es d u rin g th e advance. In a n o th e r m in e in a 3 4 -ft. seam one m ach in e c u t an d loaded 643 f t. in a m o n th of 254 w o rk in g days, a n a v e ra g e o f 25.2 f t. p e r day. S till a n o th e r m ach in e ad vanced a n e n try 726 f t.
in a m o n th of 25 w o rk in g d ay s a t a n a v e ra g e of 29 f t.
p e r day. T h is sam e m a ch in e m a in ta in e d a n a v e ra g e o f 33 f t. p e r s h if t d u rin g 14 co nsecutive days. T h e lo n g est ad vance m ade in a n y one d ay th u s f a r is 42 f t.
M r. A n d erso n sa id t h a t in tw o m in es w h e re th e e n tire o u tp u t is loaded w ith s h o rtw a lo a d e rs th e o u tp u t p e r m an in clu d in g everyone in th e m in e an d tip p le a m o u n ts S hort Face Loader
in E n try
T h i s m a c h i n e w ill l o a d o u t a p l a c e a s w i d e a s 35 f t . T h e r e a r c o n v e y o r r e a c h e s s i d e - w i s e 1 3 1 f t . f r o m t h e m a i n b o d y o f t h e m a c h i n e w h i c h c a n a l s o b e s w u n c a t a n a n g l e t o g iv e 4 f t . a d d i t i o n a l r e a c h f r o m t h e c e n t e r o f t h e p l a c e . B y u s i n g a f a c e c o n v e y o r t h e w o r k a b l e w i d t h c a n b e f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e d . T h i s u n i t c u t s a n d l o a d s c o a l i n a n a d v a n c e o f 5 c u t s o r 30 f t . In a p l a c e 15 f t . w i d e i n 8 h r . r e g u l a r l y a n d h a s m a d e a n a d v a n c e o f 42 f t . i n 8 h r .
o f rock, on a dip o f 74 p e r cent, w ith co n sid erab le w a te r, 214 lin .ft. in 26 w o rk in g days. Tw o c rew s o f 2 m en each, p e rfo rm e d all th e d u tie s in c lu d in g tra m m in g .
W . L. AfFelder, a s s is ta n t to th e p re s id e n t H illm an Coal & Coke Co., sees re a l value in th e use o f th e M yers- W h aley f o r ta k in g to p o r b o tto m in low beds a n d f o r c le a n in g up a i r c o u rses in h ig h ones. H e is confident its use w ill be w id en ed a f t e r i t is equ ip p ed w ith a n ex plosion-proof m o to r. T r o t D odson, v ic e -p re sid e n t in c h a r g e o f o p e ra tio n s, P itts b u r g h Coal Co., ask ed i f coal w a s s e p a ra te d fro m th e ro ck in th e la s t m en tio n ed a p p lic a tio n in M r. W h a ley ’s p a p e r, a n d w as to ld t h a t i t w as n o t. T h o m as S. L o w th er, m in e in sp ec to r, In d ia n a , P a ., s a id t h a t a t th e No. 45 m in e o f th e R ussell Coal M in in g Co. a t C lym er, P a ., to p ro ck is ta k e n w ith a M yers-W haley in s tre tc h e s o f 200 f t . T h e ro ck is b ro u g h t dow n 2 or 3 c u ts in ad vance o f th e m ach in e.
T h e ro o f is a b a s ta r d fire clay t h a t c a n n o t b e tim b e re d econom ically. T h e m a c h in e loads 70 to 110 one-ton c a rs p e r s h if t. W . B. W a rd ro p , m in e in sp e cto r, B arn esb o ro , P a ., p o in te d to th e a d v a n ta g e o f u n ifo rm h e a d c le a ra n ce w h ic h th e m a c h in e p ro v id es. H e s ta te d t h a t one com p a n y a s s e r ts t h a t th e y a rd a g e cost h a s been c u t in h a lf b y th is m ach in e.
C o n tin u in g th e tr e a tm e n t o f m ech an ical lo ad in g devices, A. R . A n d erso n , J e ffre y M fg. Co., o f C olum bus, Ohio, g a v e a n u m b e r o f re s u lts a tta in e d b y th e J e f f r e y sh o rtw a lo a d e r a n d conveyor, w h ich eq u ip m en t h a s been d e sig n ed w ith th e p u rp o se in m in d o f c o n c e n tra t
in g th e w o rk in g s. N o n e o f th is eq u ip m e n t is supposed to be m oved fro m place to place a f t e r each cu t. A s a n
to 10 tons, o r m ore th a n double th e a v e ra g e o f 4 to 5 to n s p e r m an a tta in e d by th e b itu m in o u s in d u s try .
H e n e x t in tro d u c e d th e Je ffre y 44-B conveyor lo ad er w hich is a t w o rk in sev eral m ines. T h is m a ch in e ex
te n d s along th e e n tire le n g th o f th e face. A s i t is only 28 in. w ide an d 17 in. h ig h , i t is ap plicable to low coal a s well a s h ig h a n d is well su ite d f o r long fa c e w o rk w h e re tim b e rs m u s t be m a in ta in e d close to th e coal.
In one m in e w h e re th is m a ch in e is b ein g u sed th e coal is 3 to 34 f t . th ic k . T h is m ach in e is ta k in g o u t tw o c u ts on a 100-ft. face p e r s h if t. H e d eclared t h a t in h ig h coal tw o c u ts p e r s h i f t can be ta k e n , y ie ld in g a co rresp o n d in g ly h ig h e r to n n a g e .
In one m in e th e J e ffre y 47-A se c tio n a l conveyor is b e in g used on a 300-ft. face. T h e coal is u n d e rc u t a n d sh o t dow n on th e n ig h t s h i f t a n d lc ;', ed b y 15 m en on th e d ay s h if t. T h is cre w a n d eqi, >ment h a s loaded 480 to n s in one s h if t, w h ich is a n 'a v e ra g e o f 32 to n s p e r lo a d er. M oving p ic tu re s o f th e e q u ip m e n t d escrib ed b y M r. A n d e rso n w e re show n p r io r to a d jo u rn m e n t f o r lunch.
T h e a fte rn o o n p ro g ra m o f th e f ir s t d ay w as opened b y th e sh o w in g o f a m o tio n p ic tu re w h ich p re se n te d th e com plete p ro cess o f m a n u fa c tu rin g w ire ro p e in th e p la n t o f J o h n A. R o eb lin g ’s Sons Co.
T h en R ic h a rd M aize, m in e in sp e c to r, co n ducted th e d iscu ssio n on a g ro u p o f q u e stio n s, th e firs t o f w h ich w as “ W h a t N ew W o rk H a s B een D one in R ecen t Y e a rs to P r e v e n t o r R educe M ine A c c id e n ts? ” W illiam G erm an fo cu sed a tte n tio n on th e p re v a ilin g d a n g e ro u s p ra c tic e o f h a n d lin g black p o w d er in m e ta l kegs. H e
840 C O A L A G E VOL. 28, NO. 25
Conveyor on 300-Ft. Face
H e r e t h e s e c t i o n a l t y p e c o n v e y o r is u s e d o n t h e f a c e . F i f t e e n m e n a r e s t a t i o n e d a t 2 0 -ft.- i n t e r v a l s a l o n g t h i s •
ir - ■ ''v' V: ■' ? y ’ ' l- * , ' '■>" V . ' • f a c e a n d h a v e
l o a d e d a s m u c h a s
■180 t o n s o f 51 f t . c o a l in 8 h r . A n i g h t c r e w d o e s t h e c u t t i n g . s h o o t i n g , e t c . H e r e a r o o m p i l l a r is b e i n g s l a b b e d . T h e p r a c t i c e i n " th is m i n e i s to d r i v e 1 2 - f t . r o o m s o n 9 5 - f t . c e n t e r s a n d t h e n t o t a k "
t h e p i l l a r b y s l a b c u t s u n t i l i t is o n l y 30 f t . w id e .
re m a rk e d th a t D u P o n t now offers a black pow d er in pellet fo rm w h ich is n o t exposed and, th e re fo re , is com p a ra tiv e ly s a fe to h andle.
E. J . Gleim, of th e B u re a u of M ines, re la te d th e w o rk w hich th e B u re a u h a s accom plished d u rin g th e la s t tw o y e a rs in te s tin g a n d a p p ro v in g c e rta in classes o f m ach in es a n d devices w h ich m e et th e p re sc rib e d m in i
m um s a fe ty re q u ire m e n ts. D u rin g th is tim e i t h a s issu ed 24 new ap p ro v als so t h a t now th e B u re a u ’s lis t of p e rm issib le e q u ip m e n t is w id e r an d f a r m o re com
plete th a n h e re to fo re . P r i o r to J a n . 1, 1924, th e r e w ere no p e rm issib le room h o ists, a i r co m p resso rs, m in e pum ps, pow er tru c k s a n d s to ra g e b a tte r y locom otives f o r m a in line h a u lag e , b u t now th is e q u ip m e n t is on th e lis t. F u r t h e r a d d itio n s co n sist o f f o u r ty p e s of m in in g m ach in es, one coal d rill, six s to r a g e - b a tte iy g a th e r in g locom otives, five s h o t-b la s tin g u n its , one Hash lig h t and one m e th a n e d ete cto r.
Two o f th e above ap p ro v a ls— th e s to ra g e -b a tte ry po w er tr u c k an d th e s to r a g e - b a tte ry locom otive—
pro v id e co n sid erab le p o ssib ilitie s f o r th e re d u c tio n a n d p re v e n tio n of a c c id en ts by e n a b lin g o p e ra tio n o f a m in e w ith o u t th e u se of fe e d e r c irc u its.
D is c u s s Sa fety Devices
H . H . H am ilto n p o in te d to a s a fe ty b la s tin g cap offered b y D u P o n t, th e tw o en d s o f w hich a re s h o rt- c irc u ite d to g u a rd a g a in s t s t r a y c u r r e n ts a n d co n ducted c u r r e n ts up to 550 volts. H. D. M ason s a id th e m o st a v a ilab le m e an s o f b e tte r in g s a fe ty is b y liv in g up to th e co m p en satio n law s. A new s a fe ty device w hich a u to m a tic a lly keeps sa n d d ry a n d f r e e - r u n n in g w as d e scrib ed b y G. M. C ra w fo rd . I t is offered b y th e S a fe ty E le c tric C orp., o f P h ila d e lp h ia , P a .
T h a t codes o f s ta n d a r d iz a tio n go a long w ay to w a rd e lim in a tin g h a z a rd s a n d b e tte r in g o p e ra tio n s w as th e view p re se n te d b y R. D. H all, e n g in e e rin g ed ito r, Coal A g e . A fe w re m a rk s w ere add ed by S. W . B lakslee, d iv isio n s u p e rin te n d e n t, P e n n sy lv a n ia Coal & Coke Co., E h re n fe ld , P a ., on th e tw o -p o in te d m e r it of m echanical lo a d in g w h ich a ffo rd s c o n c e n tra tio n and, th e re fo re , b e tte r su p e rv isio n and in c re a se s th e o u tp u t p e r m an w h ich is n o t accom panied by a n y in c re a se in accid en ts.
A. N . Y oung, s u p e rin te n d e n t, H illm an Coal & Coke Co., m en tio n ed a p ra c tic e w hich h a s been e sta b lish e d in a n u m b e r o f m in es of in s e r tin g a w ooden w edge betw een th e b ra k e .lev er a n d th e r a tc h e t of a m in e c a r to avoid in o p p o rtu n e re le a s in g of th e b ra k e a f t e r i t is set.
W. L. A ffelder believes th e colored m a n is s a f e r th a n th e w h ite b ec au se h e is tim id a n d c a u tio u s an d , th e r e
fo re, is c a re fu l. W h ite m en h a v e been th e v ictim s of ev ery f a ta l a c c id e n t th is y e a r in one of h is m in e s in w hich o n e -fo u rth to o n e -th ird o f th e m en a re colored.
A n issu e a ro se a s to th e a d v is a b ility of fo rc in g m en to sou n d ro o f fre q u e n tly . M r. Y o u n g ex p lain ed a ru le w hich one com pany h a s ad o p ted re q u irin g officials to com pel m in e rs to sou n d th e ro o f ev ery tim e a n official v is its th e ir w o rk in g place to g e t th e m in to th e h a b it.
M r. A ffelder believes th is ru le a tta c k s s a fe ty fro m th e w ro n g end, m a k in g ro o f so u n d in g m ech an ical a n d com p u lso ry in s te a d o f p re m e d ita te d .
A cco rd in g to E . E . G irod, m in e in sp ecto r, a n u m b e r o f d u sty m in es in th e s o u th w e s te rn p a r t o f th e s ta te p ro v id e w a te r hose f o r ev ery w o rk in g place. H e w a n ts to see coal d u s t s e ttle d a t th e p o in t of o rig in . S ix m in e s h av e pro v id ed hose f o r each o f t h e ir 1,500 w o rk e rs a n d tw o o th e r m in es a re fo llo w in g th e su g g e stio n . In five m in es in h is d is tr ic t w a te r is ap p lied to th e in g o in g b its of m in in g m ach in es. In one o f th e l a tte r m in e s coal d u s t w as scarcely n o ticeab le a n y w h e re five w eeks a f t e r th e m in e h a d been ro ck du sted .
T- G. F e a r, g e n e ra l s u p e rin te n d e n t, In la n d C o llieries Co., In d ian o la, P a ., re la te d one of h is ex p erien ces a t an A lab am a m ine. H e re o u t o f five f a ta l a c cid en ts only one v ictim w as a n e g ro d e sp ite th e f a c t t h a t 60 p e r c e n t of th e m in e rs w e re colored. H e claim s t h a t s u p e r
in te n d e n ts a n d fo re m e n should be held resp o n sib le f o r a cc id e n ts to a g r e a te r d eg ree th a n th e y a re . M any a cc id e n ts occur b ecause of a lack o f know ledge o f con- d itio M on th e p a r t of th e m a n a g e m e n t. O ne c o m p an y in P e n n sy lv a n ia h a v in g 14 m in es p ro v id es its u n d e r
g ro u n d officials w ith p r in te d fo rm s in a book in w hich m u s t be e n te re d th e co n d itio n s o f each w o rk in g p lace a t each v isit. E v e ry tw o w eeks th e se d a ta a re t r a n s f e r r e d to a m a s te r sh e e t f o r co m p ariso n stu d ie s, w h en v a rio u s c h a rg e s a r e counted. Tw o c h a rg e s to a n y one m an calls a w a rn in g a n d th r e e b rin g s d ism issal.
T h e n e x t q u e stio n asked w as w h e th e r o r n o t i t is a n econom y to leave a 100-ft. w a te r b a r r ie r in m in es a d jo in in g w o rk ed o u t m in es a s in th e coke re g io n o f P e n n sy lv a n ia w h e re th e coal a c re a g e is h ig h -p ric e d . II. S. H a rro k , c o n su ltin g e n g in e er, of P itts b u r g h , P a ., opened th e d iscu ssio n . H e is o f th e op in io n t h a t th e- leav in g o f such a b a r r ie r , w hich is fo llo w in g p re c e d e n t only, is a needless w a ste . H e w ould leave only a 15-ft.
p illa r to p ro te c t v e n tila tio n a n d w ould p um p th e w a te r.
In a fa ir-s iz e d m in e th e loss a p p o rtio n e d over th e life o f th e m in e m ig h t be as m uch a s 7c. p e r to n , w h e re a s h a n d lin g a b o u t 3 to n s of w a te r f o r ev ery to n o f coal m ined (th e coke re g io n r a tio ) w ould cost only a b o u t 2Jc.
Decem ber 17, 1925 C O A L A G E 841 G eorge S te in n e ise r, o f P u n x su ta w n e y , P a ., declared
t h a t a 15-ft. p illa r w ould n o t be sufficiently la rg e to hold in th e v e n tila tin g c u r r e n ts as i t w ould u n d o u b ted ly c ru s h . G eorge S. R ice seconded t h a t re m a rk a n d called a tte n tio n to th e d a n g e r o f e n c o u n te rin g u nexpected bodies o f g a s in th e old w o rk in g s. M r. H a r r o k th in k s th a t even a 100-ft. b a r r i e r is u n s a fe as th e e x a c t cou rses o f th e b o u n d a ry of old w o rk in g s a re g e n e ra lly n o t know n, f o r w h ich re a so n th e re is d a n g e r o f p u n c tu rin g th e m . C. P . B ry n e , m in e in sp ecto r, ad v ised d rillin g as a m e an s of d e te rm in in g th e e x te n t of th e b a r r ie r .
T h e v ic issitu d e s o f th e w a te r problem in th e a n th r a c ite re g io n h av e in som e eases been due to p u n c tu re d b a r r ie r s , ac c o rd in g to T. M. C hance, c o n su ltin g e n g i
n eer, o f P h ila d e lp h ia . H e fa v o rs th e leav in g o f a n a d e q u a te b a r r ie r o f a w id th fixed b y co nditions, h a lf of w hich should lie on each sid e of th e b o u n d a ry line.
H e add ed t h a t th e d a n g e r of p u n c tu rin g is rem oved by a c c u ra te m ap p in g . M r. H all w ould d o n ate a recov
erab le b a r r ie r to th e m in e t h a t h a n d les th e w a te r.
Wood Ties for St e e l?
T h e th ir d q u e stio n o f th e d ay w a s : “ Is th e A rc in g o f E le c tric ity B etw een Stfeel R ails an d S teel T ies L ikely to C ause a M ine F i r e ? ” M r. A ffelder opened a n d led th e d iscu ssio n . E v id en ce a n d su b se q u e n t te s ts fo l
low ing a fire in one o f th e m in es o f th e H illm an Coal &
Coke Co., lead s h im to believe t h a t a fire can be s ta r te d in th is w a y an d cau sed h im to rep lace stee l tie s w ith th o se o f w ood in th is m ine. T h e fire r e f e r r e d to o c c u rred a t th e end o f a r e tr e a tin g b u tt e n try , a b o u t 200 f t. fro m th e fa c e e n tr y on w h ich h a d been sh ifte d , b e fo re th e fire w as detected, a la rg e t r ip of c a rs by a tro lle y locom otive w h ich pulled a w a y a t a p o in t a b re a s t o f th e b u tt e n try . H e th in k s t h a t b ro k en c ro ss bonds o u tb y o f th e locom otive cau sed th e r e tu r n c irc u it to tra v e l only to th e end o f th e te m p o ra ry tr a c k w h ere i t a rc ed betw een th e ra il a n d a steel tie , a s th e b u tt e n tr y tr a c k w as bonded on one sid e only, th u s ig n itin g fine coal on th e bottom .
H e d escrib ed a co n d itio n w hich m ig h t hav e s ig n if icance in th e case, nam ely, a cannel coal ro o f over th e coal w h ich is so vo latile th a t i t ca n be lit to a glow w ith a m atch an d w h ich flakes a n d fa lls to th e floor.
A n in v e s tig a tio n disclosed no o th e r possible fa c to rs in th e fire. A s e rie s o f te s ts w e re s ta g e d in w hich a rc in g w as cau sed in th e m a n n e r described. M r. R ice know s o f fires w hich a re assu m ed to h av e been s ta r te d by such a rc in g in m in es w h e re w ooden tie s w ere in sta lle d . G ra h a m B r ig h t su g g e ste d th e use o f a double-conductor cable w h e re a reel locom otive is used, o r a s to ra g e -b a tte ry locom otive as a m e an s to avoid th e a rc in g . M r. A ffelder sa id t h a t su c h p ro v isio n s w ould n o t serv e th e specific p u rp o se in t h a t no w ire ex ten d ed w ith in 200 f t . o f th e o rig in o f th e fire. M r.
R ice believed th e cau se w a s obviously t h a t chosen by M r. A ffelder.
E d w in H . Jo h n so n , m in in g e n g in e e r, Coloder Co., C olum bus, Ohio, ad d ed a p a p e r to th e m e e tin g ’s sy m p o siu m on m ec h an ic al lo a d in g ach iev em en ts. H e sees th e g r e a te s t f u tu r e g ro w th in m ech an ical lo ad in g m a ch in es in o rg a n iz e d fields w h e re i t w ould be u tilized a s a w eapon to red u ce th e co st d iffe re n tia l betw een h ig h a n d low w ag es. H e looks f o r little o p p o sitio n fro m th e m in e r s ’ o rg a n iz a tio n w hose le a d e rs a re re a d y to s u p p o rt g ra d u a l ch an g e s w hich w ill im p ro v e th e w o rk in g con
d itio n s o f th e m in e r. T he s u r e ty o f econom ies in m ech an ical lo a d in g a t th is e a rly d a te is evidenced by
re m a rk s com ing fro m o p e ra to rs in fields w h ere la b o r is scarce, to th e effect t h a t w ith o u t m ech an ical lo a d e rs th e y w ould be u n ab le to m a in ta in t h e ir p re s e n t level o f p ro d u ctio n .
H e r e f e r r e d to a new f a c to r in m ech an ical lo ad in g , nam ely, m ach in e acc o u n tin g c h a ra c te ris tic s , w hich can be d e te rm in e d only a f t e r a long p e rio d o f observation.- T h is fa c to r includes definite know ledge o f “ th e capac
ity o f a m a ch in e u n d e r know n co n d itio n s, th e d e g re e o f d ep en d ab ility f o r u n in te r r u p te d o p e ra tio n , th e m a in te n an ce cost in r e p a ir p a r ts a n d r e p a ir lab o r, th e oil an d pow er co n su m p tio n p e r to n a n d th e r a te o f d e p re cia tio n .” In th is connection M r. J o h n so n ’s p a p e r b rie fe d a s ta te m e n t by Ja m e s E lw ood Jo n es, g e n eral m a n a g e r o f th e P o c a h o n ta s F u e l Co., w h ich th is y e a r w ill produce by m ach in e lo ad in g m o re th a n 1,500,000 to n s of coal, t h a t h e can fo re te ll a m o n th o r a y e a r in advance, w h a t to n n a g e can be p roduced a t alm o st ex actly w h a t cost a t a n y o f h is m ines, som e of w hich a re b ein g o p e ra te d exclusively w ith lo ad in g m achines.
H e b ro u g h t o u t th e p o in t t h a t th e lo ad in g m ach in e is n o t so m uch needed a s th e e n g in e e rin g v iew p o in t in ap p ro a c h in g th e so lu tio n o f p h y sical a n d econom ic p ro b lem s c o n fro n tin g th e m in e ow ner. H e c h a ra c te riz e d th e ro o m -an d -p illar sy stem o f m in in g a s tra d itio n a l, in s ti
tu tio n a l, “fro m w hich a n y d e v ia tio n is fro w n e d upon b y older heads'.” D e p a rtu re s fro m th e old m ethods involve new problem s w hich m u s t be solved. L o ad in g m ach in es h av e s tir r e d up re v o lu tio n a ry p ra c tic e so t h a t to d a y o p e ra to rs e v ery w h e re a r e im p ro v in g t h e ir h a u l
ag e a n d tip p les, e x p e rim e n tin g w ith new sh o o tin g m ethods, s tu d y in g ro o f actio n a n d developing long faces, h o p in g to o b ta in m ore efficient o p e ra tio n th ro u g h th e use o f m ech an ical loaders.
Banquet Program Includes M ovies and M usic
T he o u ts ta n ^ ;~~ Ma tu r e o f th e b a n q u e t w as th e s to ry o f th e “ E xp lo raH o n o f th e G ran d C anyon,” delivered by Col. C. H . B ird sey e, of th e U. S. Geological S u rv ey . I t w as accom panied by p h o to g ra p h ic slides an d m oving p ic tu re s of th e e x p lo re rs’ b o a ts sh o o tin g th e ra p id s an d o f th e to p o g ra p h e rs m a k in g th e ir o b se rv a tio n s, th e p u r pose of th e su rv e y a n d level, w hich w as c a rrie d th ro u g h th e canyon, b e in g to a s c e rta in w h e re s ite s f o r d am s could be e sta b lish e d ad v a n ta g e o u sly . To th is end ex
p lo ra tio n s w e re m ade of canyons e n te rin g on bo th b an k s of th e r iv e r to a level such as w ould be in v ad ed by th e w a te r if th e proposed d am s w e re erected . One o f th e proposed dam s w ill, i f erected , be 566 f t. h ig h , an d th e w a te r b eh in d one dam w ill back up in ev ery in sta n c e to th e b o tto m of th e n e x t above it.
Je sse K. Jo h n so n , p re sid e n t, R id g ev iew Coal Co., Bol- iver, P a ., a d d re sse d th e in s titu te on th e p ro b lem s o f th e coal in d u s try . H e d eclared th e o p e ra to rs w ere each e n gaged in seek in g h is own in d iv id u a l in d u s tria l a d v a n ta g e a n d view ed each q u estio n a s a p e rso n al m a tte r an d n o t as one a ffe c tin g th e g ro u p . I f th e y follow ed a p r in ciple of g ro u p actio n like th e m in e w o rk e rs, th e y w ould g a in f o r all w h a t th e y could n o t o b ta in i f each w o rk ed fo r h im self.
M r. Jo h n so n sa id th a t n o t only h ad th e m in e rs in Illin o is a n d In d ia n a penalized th e o p e ra to rs by m aking- a x-ate o f $12 p e r d ay f o r th e lo ad in g m ach in e operatives;, b u t th e y h a d added to th e h a n d ic a p by p ro d u c in g only
842 C O A L A G E Vol. 28, No. 25 125 to n s p e r d ay p e r m achine. T h e no n -u n io n m in es
in W est V irg in ia p a id $5.67 p e r d ay a n d th e m a c h in e ry p ro d u ced BOO to n s daily. Y et th e co n d itio n s in b o th re g io n s w ere e sse n tia lly th e sam e. T h e “co st o f op
e r a tin g th e m ech an ical lo a d er in u n io n Illin o is is 33.5c.
p e r to n a s a g a in s t 7.08c. p e r to n in n o n -u n io n W est V ir g in ia .”
M r. Jo h n so n d eclared th a t th e r e p re s e n ta tiv e s o f th e U . S. G eological S u rv ey h a d a s c e rta in e d t h a t a t one la rg e u n ion m in e w h e re a c a re fu l check sy ste m is k e p t th e m in e r only w orked 27 p e r c e n t o f th e tim e . B u t th is w ag e difficulty is n o t all. M r. Jo h n so n c ite d th e f r e ig h t- r a te problem s, s a y in g t h a t “ T h e P e n n sy lv a n ia R.R . h a s a r a te to tid e of $2.50 p e r n e t to n f o r a n a v e ra g e of 227 m iles a n d a r a te fro m c e n tra l P e n n s y l
v a n ia to E a s t S t. L ouis o f $3.82 f o r a h a u l o f 700 m iles.
A nybody in a k in d e r g a r te n w ould see t h a t th e s e r a te s a r e n o t e q u ita b le .”
To th e sp e a k e r i t seem ed t h a t m e rg e rs w ere th e only so lu tio n f o r th e difficulties s u rro u n d in g th e o p e ra tio n of coal m ines. “ T h e o p e ra to r,” sa id he, “ w ho th in k s th a t o v e rp ro d u ctio n w ill a d ju s t its e lf is liv in g in a fo o l’s p a ra d is e and is due f o r a fool’s a w a k e n in g .” M r. J o h n
son called a tte n tio n to th e f a c t t h a t a f r e ig h t locom otive th a t in 1915 used 160 lb. o f coal w ould do th e sam e w o rk in 1925 w ith only 55 lb., “ L. F . L oree, p re s id e n t o f th e D e la w are & H u d so n R y .,” h e s ta te d , “ s a id re c e n tly th a t in th e p re s e n t y e a r $200,000,000 m a y be saved in th e o p e ra tio n o f th e tr a i n s of th is co u n try , an d t h a t th e 90,000,000 to n s o f coal now used in f r e ig h t serv ice can be red u ce d to 27,000,000 to n s .” “ C a rs,” ad d ed Mi'.
Jo h n so n , “d riv e n w ith e n g in es o f th e D iesel ty p e r u n n in g b etw een O tta w a a n d M o n tre a l on th e C a n a d ia n N a tio n a l R ys., consum ed fu e l o f th e v alu e o f $5.87, w hile coal f o r a n equal t r i p w ould hav e cost $35 o r m ore.
W illiam C. H ood, th e in co m in g p re s id e n t, m ad e a s h o r t a d d re ss an d excellent m u sic w as f u rn is h e d by th e Jo h n sto w n Glee Club, w h ich is com posed of m em b ers of th e S a fe ty a n d W e lfa re A sso ciatio n of th e B eth leh em M ines C o rp o ra tio n . T h e Club w as re p re s e n te d by 22 m ale m em b ers a n d tw o la d y p ia n is ts . T h ey c o n sisted w holly o f em ployees o f th e B eth leh em com p an y ’s m in es a t Jo h n sto w n , w h ich com pany p ro v id es f o r t h e i r e n te r ta in m e n t a n d tr a n s p o r ta tio n . D re sse d in tu x ed o s th e club m ade a n “ im m ense h i t ” w ith th e audience, th e ir tec h n ic a l ta le n t b e in g re m a rk a b le.
P illar R ecovery and U nderground Substations
In th e ex p e c ta tio n th a t som e of th e m in e s t h a t h a v e been o p e ra te d a t a low r a te of e x tra c tio n m ig h t av ail th em se lv es o f m e an s by w hich t h e ir ab an d o n ed coal m a y be recovered, D r. J . J . R u tle d g e d escrib ed th e w o rk o f re c o v e rin g p illa rs a t th e fo rm e r D etm old, S av ag e a n d Ja c k so n m in e s in L onaco n in g , Md. T h ese m in es a r e som e o f th e re a l old o p e ra tio n s of th e b itu m in o u s fields. D etm old, f o r in sta n c e , w as opened in 1853 an d S a v a g e in 1861. T h e th r e e m in es h a v e caved e x te n siv ely b u t now a r e b e in g w orked, D etm old an d S av ag e b y th e M a ry la n d Coal Co., a n d Ja c k so n b y th e G eorges C re e k Coal Co. T h e fir s t concern is u s in g less tim b e r th a n th e second b u t is fa ilin g to re co v er th e bo tto m coal an d ro o f coal in th e room s. T h is coal is b ein g re trie v e d , how ever, in th e m in es o f th e G eorges C reek Coal Co. T h e re th e old w o rk in g s a r e com pletely opened u p a n d th e m a te ria l t h a t h a s fa lle n is c a s t over in to th e gob except w h a t is clean coal, t h a t m a te ria l b e in g loaded o u t in to m in e c a rs f o r th e m a rk e t.
M r. R u tle d g e d eclared t h a t in a re a s w h e re th e o rig in a l o p e ra tin g co n cern s h a d rem oved only 5,000 to n s p e r acre, th e M a ry la n d Coal Co. w a s now lo ad in g o u t a f u r t h e r 10,000 to n s p e r acre, f o r th e r e is a s m u ch b r e a s t coal in th e p illa rs a s th e r e w as in th e room s a n d th e r e is also b o tto m coal a n d to p coal in th o se p illa rs 3 f t . of th e one an d fro m 2 to 3 f t. o f th e o th e r, and, m oreover, b o th b o tto m a n d to p coal a re re trie v e d fro m old room s as th e y d riv e t h e ir new e n trie s a n d as th e y c ro ssc u t fro m t h e ir new room s to s ta n d in g p illa rs. T h e m e th o d s of w o rk in g w ere d escrib ed in Coal A g e , J u n e 20, 1925.
D r. R u tled g e ex p lain ed t h a t th e M a ry la n d law an d t h a t o f K e n tu ck y p ro v id ed t h a t ju r ie s could be ta k e n on th e g ro u n d to v iew th e d am ag e m ade by m in in g an d t h a t in consequence th e a w a rd s w e re te m p e re d in th o se s ta te s w ith b e tte r ju d g m e n t th a n in In d ia n a an d Illin o is. I t would be well if th o se m id -w est s ta te s h a d su c h law s. I t m ig h t be possible th e n to rem ove th e g r e a te r p a r t of th e coal.
T h e m in e s in M a ry la n d w h e re th e reco v ery o f coal is g o in g on h av e su ch a h ig h d e g ree o f co n c e n tra tio n ,
especially a s th e y a re w ork ed double s h if t, t h a t a n in sp e c to r can m ake a th o ro u g h in v e s tig a tio n o f such a m in e in f o u r h o u rs w h e re a s a s im ila r e x a m in a tio n of th e th in T yso n -b ed M ines above w ould ta k e days, even th o u g h t h e i r o u tp u ts a r e no la rg e r. •
E lk in s R ead, o f th e M a ry la n d Coal Co., in d iscu ssio n s a id t h a t in o p en in g up th e old room s e v e ry a lte r n a te p illa r m ig h t be sk ip p ed . I f t h a t w e re done i t w ould be n e c e ssa ry to cro ss only one room w hen d r iv in g fo re - poling w o rk th ro u g h to reco v er th e p illa rs. H ow ever, th e s k ip p in g o f ev ery a lte r n a te p illa r w as fo u n d to w eak en th e ro o f so it w a s n e c e ssa ry to m ak e th e sk ip p in g only in one p illa r o f ev ery th re e . In consequence tw o room s h av e to be cro sse d b y fo rep o lin g .
T h e cover b ein g a b o u t 500 f t., th e p re s s u re is con
sid e ra b le . M r. R ead s a id t h a t th e m in e rs, in clu d in g th o se w ho w e re d o in g th e fo re p o lin g w ork, a v e ra g e d s ix to n s p e r m an . So f a r 350,000 to n s h a d been rem oved b y th e se m e th o d s w ith o u t a sin g le f a ta l o r se rio u s accid en t, th o u g h th e w o rk w as d a n g e ro u s. T h e m en k n o w in g th e d a n g e r u sed due p re c a u tio n s, an d co n seq u en tly th e excellent s a fe ty re c o rd d e ta ile d w as a tta in e d d e sp ite th e n a tu r a l difficulties.
I t w as resolved a f t e r d iscu ssio n t h a t th e Coal M in in g I n s titu te o f A m e ric a should becom e sp o n so r f o r G eorge H . A sh ley ’s coal c lassificatio n , p re s e n tin g i t to th e M ine S ta n d a rd s C o rre la tin g C o m m ittee f o r a d m issio n to th e s ta n d a r d s o f th e A m e ric a n E n g in e e r
in g S ta n d a r d s C om m ittee. T h e s ta n d a rd s w e re su b m itte d to th e I n s titu te tw o y e a rs ago a n d w e re th e n s tu d ie d by a co m m ittee w h ich r e p o rte d b ack to th e I n s titu te , g iv in g th e m t h e ir ap p ro v al.
C. H . M a tth e w s r e a d a p a p e r on “M odern P ra c tic e in U n d e rg ro u n d S u b s ta tio n s ,” s a y in g t h a t i t w as p re fe ra b le to p u t s u b s ta tio n s u n d e rg ro u n d w h e re such s ta tio n s w ere placed f o r th e p u rp o se o f p ro v id in g p o w er a t th e w o rk in g face. I t w a s b e tte r to ru n th e a lte r n a tin g - c u r r e n t cable dow n th e b o rehole th a n to co n v e rt th e c u r r e n t on th e s u rfa c e to d ire c t c u r r e n t a n d p u t a d ire c t-c u r re n t fe e d e r dow n th e borehole.
H e su g g e ste d t h a t “p e rm a n e n t p um proom s g e n e ra lly
