Coal Age : devoted to the operating, technical and business problems of the coal-mining industry, Vol. 28, No. 27

E . J . M e h r e n , V ice-P resident

Problems of the Coal-Mining Industry

Volume 28 N E W YORK, D EC EM BE R 31, 1925 Number 27

Peace or War?

A

In th e w e a r y w ee k s o f a lte r n a tin g hope and d esp air w h ich h a v e in terven ed , h ow ever, th e r e h a s b een tim e f o r reflection , tim e to te s t th e tem p e r o f th e co n te sta n ts.

T h er e h a s been tim e, too, to stu d y th e d r if t o f p u b lic o p in io n an d to w e ig h th e s tr a te g y so f a r p u rsu ed in th e cold lig h t o f actu al r e su lts ach ieved . T h e id le m in e rs a lr ea d y h ave lo st in w a g e s m ore th a n th r e e tim e s th e a n n u al in cr ea se s w r itte n in to th e ir dem and s. T h e sp ir it o f h o lid a y ad ven tu re in w h ich th e y la id dow n t h e ir tools h a s v a n ish e d . A n em p ty C h ristm as, d ep leted s a v in g s an d in c r e a sin g a ctu al w a n t— th a t is th e p rice th e y have p aid fo r fo llo w in g lea d ers w h o elected to w a g e W ar w h e re h on orab le p eace w a s offered.

N o m ore su c c e ssfu l lead er th a n Joh n L. L e w is ever h a s g u id ed th e d e stin ie s o f th e U n ite d M ine W ork ers.

H e h a s w r u n g v ic to r y fro m s itu a tio n s in w h ich le ss bold c a p ta in s w ould h ave a ck n ow led ged d e fe a t. B u t h is s t r a t e g y in th e a n th r a c ite str ik e h a s ev e ry w h er e m e t w ith d isa ste r . H is a tte m p ts to sc a re th e p u b lic in to a b e lie f th a t th e h ou seh old er w ould fr e e z e to d eath if th e a n th r a c ite m in e s w er e closed l e f t th e p u b lic ap a­

th e tic — or h o stile. H is a tte m p ts to sta m p ed e th e fed er a l g o v er n m e n t in to in te r v e n tio n w ith th e th r e a t o f a g e n ­ era l b itu m in o u s str ik e re su lte d on ly in g o v er n m e n t a c tio n o p en in g up e a s te r n s ta te s to th e n on -u n ion coals o f W est V ir g in ia . T h e p ublic, to be su re, h a s been in con ven ien ced , b u t it is h is ow n fo llo w e r s in th e a n ­ th r a c ite r e g io n w ho h a v e been th e real v ic tim s o f M r. L e w is’ cam p aign .

I f h e so w ills , M r. L e w is can p erh ap s co n tin u e th e s t r u g g le m uch lo n g er . I t is in h is p ow er to in flict f u r th e r h ea v y finan cial lo ss e s upon th e op erators. B u t in th e e x e r c ise o f th a t powei% h e m u st b leed w h ite th e w o rk er s w h o h ave placed lo y a lty to th e u nion o r g a n iz a ­ tio n ab ove c o s t an d ab ove sacrifice. C onceivab ly such a co u rse m ig h t b e ju stifie d i f th e a lte r n a tiv e w er e ab ject su rren d er. N o su ch a lte r n a tiv e , h ow ever, c o n fr o n ts th e u nion . T h e p eace p rop osals o f th e o p era to rs are n ot, a s som e p eop le w ou ld lik e to b eliev e, on e-sid ed . In o ffe r in g a r b itr a tio n in p lace o f a w a r o f ex h a u stio n , o p era to rs r isk a s m uch a s th e m in e rs. T h e y r isk a d ecisio n w h ich m ig h t aw ard th e u n ion th e check-off a g a in s t w h ich th e o p erators h a v e ra iled as b itte r ly a s h a v e th e u nion le a d e rs a g a in s t a rb itra tio n . T h ey risk , too, th e p o s s ib ility o f a d ecisio n w h ich w ould in cr ea se w a g e s.

O bviously, i f m in e rs and o p era to rs can n ot a g re e am on g th e m se lv e s a s to th e f a c t s in volved and th e ir b ea rin g upon th e d em and s m ade, th e se n sib le th in g to do is to su b m it th e ca se to a th ir d p a r ty f o r d ecision . T h is is th e ru le o f en lig h te n e d c iv iliz a tio n . O f cou rse, it m ean s a r b it r a t io n ; an d a rb itr a tio n , once a c o n stitu ­ tio n a l a im o f th e U n ite d M in e W ork ers, is a n a th em a to th e u n ion lead ers. M r. L e w is h a s had h is flin g a t w ar.

H e w ill sh ow real lea d ersh ip i f he n ow in c lin e s to h o n o r­

ab le peace.

... ■" jfj! -.■■i; •

Our Rail P roblem

S

— are ta k in g a se r io u s v ie w o f th e tr a n sp o r ta tio n p rob lem s o f th e m in e, an d su b je c tin g m in e -h a u la g e q u e stio n s to th e lig h t g a in ed fro m a stu d y o f railroad o p eration . W h at ra ilro a d com p an y d eliv e rs ca r s w it h ­ o u t th o u g h t o f w h e th e r th e y can be used , or le ts th e e n g in e e r fe e l h is w a y a lo n g th e road w ith o u t s ig n a ls or d irectio n , or p erm its th e m a k in g up o f tr a in s w ith o u t r e g a rd to d efin ite sta n d a rd s d eterm in ed fo r th e h a u la g e eq u ip m en t su p p lied ? A nd w h a t coal m in e w ith a la r g e to n n a g e can afford to n e g le c t th e p r ec a u tio n s t h a t ev e ry railroad ta k e s?

In a m eta l-m in e, p erh ap s, w h e re th e r e is d iscip lin e and m en in v a r ia b ly com e to w ork u n le ss sic k n e ss su p e r­

v e n e s or p rio r n o tic e h a s b een g iv e n — w h e re also, as th e m en a re n o t d ep en d en t on each o th e r b u t do th e ir w ork w ith o u t a d iv isio n o f lab or in to c u ttin g , sc ra p in g , s h o o tin g and lo a d in g , an d a re n ev er ru led ou t o f th e ir p laces b eca u se o f th e p resen ce o f m eth an e, it m ig h t be p o ssib le to ro u te m in e ca r s to a n y g iv e n se c tio n o f a m in e w ith o u t a sc e r ta in in g h ow m an y m en a re ou t and h ow m a n y cars are n e c e ssa r y ; b u t in coal m in in g th a t is n ot so. E s p e c ia lly is th is tr u e in th e ev e n in g , w h en th e m otorm en ru n arou n d u n e x p e cta n tly lo o k in g fo r en ou gh ca r s to j u s t if y th e ir h a v in g sta r te d on a n oth er trip . T h u s th e y w a ste tim e w h en th e y sh ou ld be laid off, b ecau se all th e m en w h o se b e h e sts th e y se r v e h ave g o n e h om e lo n g b efore.

WTith a d isp a tc h in g sy ste m th e d isp a tc h e r k n ow s w h e re ca r s a re n eed ed and w h en . T h e tr ip s a re sw itch ed w h e re th e y are w a n ted , o fte n b e fo r e w o rd a r r iv e s a t th e office th a t th e m en in 10th l e f t a re a t a p icn ic, a c h r is te n in g or a s h e r iff’s sa le , or th a t th e c u tte r s in t h a t h e a d in g h ad a b u rn o u t an d fa ile d to cu t sev er a l p laces in th e p rec ed in g n ig h t, or a g a in th a t th e fireb oss m arked fo r d a n g er se v er a l o f th e room s in th a t h ea d in g .

W ith su ch a sy ste m m otorm en do n ot sto p and w a ste tim e tr y in g to a sc e r ta in i f th e road is clear. T h e d isp a tc h e r h a s a d efin ite k n o w led g e o f j u s t w h e re th e tr ip s are, and m o v es th e ca r s in accord w ith th a t in ­ fo rm a tio n . H e is ab le to te ll j u s t w h e re th e coal is c o m in g fro m and a c c o rd in g ly can d eta il to th e fo re m a n w h e re h e w ould do w ell to p roceed to c o r re ct a r y la g in to n n a g e. A s a ru le all ca r s look a lik e to th e w e ig h - m an. W ith o u t a te d io u s a n a ly sis, an e x a m in a tio n o f th e w e ig h s h e e t g iv e s no in fo r m a tio n a s to th e se c tio n

913

914 C O A L A G E Vol. 28, N o . 27

th a t is f a ilin g to m ea su re up to th e to n n a g e re q u ir e­

m e n ts. A d isp a tc h e r ’s record o f c a r s su p p lie s th a t d e fe c t and g iv e s to th e fo re m a n a q u a n tita tiv e s to r y o f th e s ta tu s o f each se ctio n .

W ith m in e s p ro d u cin g up to a b o u t 13,000 to n s d aily, w ith h a u ls up to five m ile s, an d w ith sm all ca r s ra rely ex c ee d in g five to n s c a p a c ity p er car, th e m in e s h a v e a b ig ra ilro a d problem . I t w ill be solved a cc o rd in g to ap proved tr a n sp o r ta tio n sta n d a rd s, an d n o t in t h e h a p ­ h azard m a n n er th a t m ark ed th e era o f th e m ule sk in n er .

An O utside Sum m ary and V iew point

I

T h ose w h o a re e n tir e ly o u tsid e th e in d u str y , b u t to w hom th e coal q u e stio n is one o f in te r e st, a s to u c h in g th e ir p riv a te a ffa ir s a t m a n y p o in ts, are le s s w ell in ­ form ed and le ss able to ju d g e ; n e v e r th e le ss , th e y do th e b e st th e y can, an d o f su ch p u b lic op in ion , th e m o st p oten t, p erh ap s, o f m odern in flu en ce is fo rm ed . A s an exam p le o f su ch tr e n d s o f o p in ion is an a r tic le by A r th u r E . S u ffern in th e D ecem b er is s u e o f A tla n tic M o n th ly , an a r tic le w h ic h en d ea v o rs to b e g u a rd ed and balanced, and to a b sta in so f a r a s p o ssib le fr o m j u d g ­ m en t, a f te r h a v in g sta te d th e h is to r y o f coal tr o u b le s and th e o p p o sin g c o n ten tio n s. W e q uote fr o m th is a r tic le w ith o u t com m en t or a p p r o v a l: T h e a r tic le sta te s in a p r e lim in a r y t h a t “th e fa ilu r e o f n in e te e n coal com ­ p a n ie s and a u n ion r e p r e s e n tin g over 160,000 a n th r a c ite m in e r s to com e to an a g r e e m e n t upon w a g e s, h ou rs, and w o r k in g c o n d itio n s fa c e s m illio n s o f p eop le w ith th e p rosp ect o f a sh o r ta g e o f fu e l, in a d eq u a te h e a tin g fa c ilitie s , and h ig h p r ic e s.” A n d th e w r it e r adds, “ In e v e r y co n tr o v e r sy th e r e a re tw o sid e s to b e h eard . B o th sid e s h a v e a s to r y to tell an d a ca u se to d efen d . T h e p eople w h o w a n t an u n in te rr u p ted su p p ly o f coal sh ou ld n o t b e an in te r e ste d p u b lic. O n e-sid ed co n d em n a tio n s o f e ith e r th e m in e r s or th e o p era to rs w ill n o t con trol th e c o n d itio n s t h a t ca u se s tr ik e s .” A ft e r s ta tin g a t le n g th th e ca se on b o th sid e s th e w r ite r o b se r v e s:

“ H ow ever, th e p la cin g o f m ere a b str a c t r ig h t s in o p p o sitio n w ill n o t so lv e th e p rob lem o f e q u ity in w a g e s, profits, an d p ric es to th e con su m e!-. N o r w ill i t curb th e a b u se o f p ow er th a t m a y b e p ra c tise d b y th e m in e rs, th e op era to rs, o r th e p u b lic. T h e m ore th e str ik e is p rolon ged , th e le s s lik e ly is th e p ro sp ec t th a t an eq u i­

ta b le a d ju stm e n t w ill be m ade, b eca u se p r e s s in g co n d i­

tio n s w ill p rob ab ly b r in g a fo rc ed s e ttle m e n t.” A n d in th e su m m a ry o f th e ca se, th e a u th o r fir st v e n tu r e s a p erson al o p in io n :

“W h eth er a se ttle m e n t is m ad e in j o in t c o n fer en ce or b y a co m m issio n , co m p re h e n siv e d a ta on c o sts, p ric es, an d p rofits is a p rim e n eed fo r th e coal in d u str y . O th er­

w is e th e r e is n o b a s is o f a r r iv in g a t eq u ity b etw e en th e m in e rs, t h e op era to rs, an d th e co n su m ers. S u ch d ata n eed to be collected fr o m y e a r to y e a r b y th e G overn ­ m en t u n d er c o n d itio n s th a t w ill m ak e th e d ata d ep en d ­ able. T h e y can th e n b e u sed w ith a u th o r ity b y th e m in e r s an d o p era to rs in jo in t c o n fer en ce in a r r iv in g a t v o lu n ta ry a g r e e m e n ts or b y co m m issio n s in a r b itr a tio n p ro ce ed in g s. I f th e o p era to rs an d m in e r s d e sir e to se ttle t h e ir a ffa ir s w ith o u t th e aid o f th e G overn m ent, th e y sta n d in t h e b e s t p o sitio n to do so w h e n all th e card s are on th e tab le.

“ To deal w it h th e p r e s e n t c r is is and to e s ta b lish m ore c o n str u c tiv e in d u str ia l r e la tio n s f o r th e fu t u r e re q u ir es a n ew ord er o f sta te sm a n sh ip . I f th e le a d e rs on b oth

s id e s h a v e th e sta te sm a n sh ip to in tr o d u ce a co -op eration b etw e en th e m a n a g e m e n t and th e u n ion , sim ila r to th a t w h ich is in o p eration on c e r ta in r a ilro a d s w ith th e ra ilro a d sh o p -c r a fts, th e fir st r e q u is ite f o r t h a t end w ill b e re lia b le d ata fro m y e a r to y e a r on a ctu a l co n d i­

tio n s in th e coal in d u str y .”

In Praise o f Partisanship

T

T h is is th e d a n g e r t h a t d o g s th e p r e s e n t a n th r a c ite situ a tio n . A P r e s id e n t r ig h tly con d em n s “th e p ere n n ia l con flict” in th e coal in d u str y , b u t n e g le c ts p la c in g th e b lam e fo r th e e x is tin g su sp e n sio n . A clo se stu d e n t o f lab or r e la tio n s in th e coal fields m a k e s a su c c in c t su m ­ m a ry o f th e h op es and a s p ir a tio n s o f em p lo y ers and em p loyees in th e h ard coal r e g io n an d th e n calls fo r m ore “f a c t s ” a s a b a s is o f se ttle m e n t. A g ro u p o f e m in en t e c o n o m ists an d e n g in e e r s w a r n s th e in d u str y t h a t th e r e can b e no a b id in g p ea ce u n til a j o in t a g e n c y a tta c k s th e te c h n ica l p rob lem s o f m a n a g e m e n t. A ll o f th e se u n p reju d iced c r itic s sh r in k fr o m a s k in g th e p u b lic to ta k e sid es.

W ere th e r e a n e c e s s ity fo r th e p u b lic to p a ss ju d g ­ m en t on th e c o n flic tin g s t a tis tic a l cla im s o f th e co n ­ t e s ta n ts , t h is scru p u lo u s r e g a r d fo r im p a r tia lity w ould b e u n d erstan d ab le. B u t n o su ch ta s k is im p osed upon th e p ublic. T h e is s u e is m u ch sim p ler . A ll t h e p u b lic is ask ed to do in it s ow n b e h a lf an d f o r it s ow n p ro tec­

t io n is to sin g le ou t th e c o n te sta n t th a t b lock s th e ap proach to a p ea c e fu l so lu tio n . T h a t q u e stio n d e­

ter m in ed , it b ecom es an e a sy m a tte r fo r th e p u b lic to r e g is te r it s d isap p roval o f su ch an a ttitu d e . T h is d eci­

sio n can n ot b e reach ed , h o w ev er, th r o u g h a n y in d is ­ cr im in a te d am n ation o f th e in d u str y a s a w h o le. O per­

a to r s and m in e rs m u st be co n sid er ed se p a r a te ly , an d th e b lam e a sse sse d w h e re it b elo n g s.

I f th a t d isc r im in a tio n is ex e rc ise d , th e r e w ill b e no d ifficulty in m a k in g th e a sse ssm e n t. F r o m th e s t a r t o f th e n e g o tia tio n s th e o p era to rs h a v e offered u n r e str ic te d a r b itr a tio n o f all is s u e s upon w h ic h th e y ca n n o t a g r e e w ith th e ir em p loyees. T h e ir p o sitio n is u n ch an ged . F ro m th e s ta r t th e u n io n le a d e rs o f th e m in e r s h a v e r e jected t h a t offer. I n s is t in g upon th e j u s t ic e o f t h e ir d em and s fo r h ig h e r w a g e s an d c h a n g e s in w o r k in g co n ­ d itio n s, th e y h a v e re p e a ted ly r e fu s e d to su b m it th e ir c a u se to a r b itr a tio n . T h e p ub lic, o f co u rse, can d raw it s ow n co n clu sio n s.

“A s tr ik e in m od ern in d u str y ,” sa id C alvin C oolid ge r e ce n tly , “ h a s m a n y o f th e a sp e c ts o f w a r in th e m o d e m w orld .” T h o se w ho love in d u str ia l p eace, w h o se com ­ f o r t an d w h o se p ock et-b ook s a re h it b y in d u str ia l w a r, h o w ev er, do n o t h elp th e ca u se o f p ea ce w h e n th e y con d em n b oth th e a g g r e s s o r an d th e a g g r ie v e d w ith equal veh em en ce or ev en w h e n th e y w ith h o ld ju d g m e n t.

W e n eed n o t alon e lip se r v ic e to th e p rin c ip le o f a r b itr a ­ tio n , b u t a c o u ra g e o u s d e c isio n in fa v o r o f in d u str ia l d isp u ta n ts w h o sta n d f o r th a t p rin cip le.

Jigging Conveyors Used On Long Walls

Make Output Sure

A labam a M ine W o rk s F iv e F a c e s for T w o Y ea rs w ith Shaker C h u tes— Gob H e lp s C ontrol R o o f S u b sid en ce

By J. H. Edwards

A s s o c ia te E d ito r, C oal A g e H u n tin g to n , W . V a.

A L L K IN D S O F M I N E S and m in in g s y ste m s m ay be fo u n d in A lab am a— str ip p its , d r ifts , slop es, s h a ft s ; in th ic k beds an d in th in bed s, a t all in c lin a tio n s fro m h o rizo n ta l to s te e p ly p itc h in g ; room - an d -p illar, lo n g fa c e and lon gw all, r u n n in g th e e n tire g a m u t o f m in in g co n d itio n s. B u t i f one w e r e to d esc rib e to th e a v er a g e o p er a tin g m an th e v a rio u s in te r e s t in g m in e s o f t h is s t a te an d th e n a sk h im w h ich o f th em h e w ould r a th er se e w ith h is ow n ey e s, th e ch an ces are s tr o n g th a t h e w ould r e p ly : “ T h a t A ld rich m in e o f th e M on tevallo Coal M in in g Co. w h e re th e y a re w o r k in g five 3 2 5 -ft. longvvalls b y m ea n s o f sh a k in g co n v ey o r s.”

T h e fa c t th a t so f e w A m e rica n m in e s op era te on a tru e lo n g w a ll sy ste m an d th a t f e w i f an y em p loy fa c e c on veyors eq u a lin g in le n g th th o se u sed a t A ld rich , m akes th is op era tio n sta n d ou t as b e in g u n iq u e am ong th o se o f th e c o u n tr y a t la rg e. A n d y e t, n e ith e r th e lo n g ­ w a ll s y s te m n or th e u se o f fa c e con veyors are n ew a t A ld ric h . T h e m in e w a s sw itch ed fro m th e room -and- p illa r s y ste m to lo n g w a ll in 1906 b y P . B . T h om as, f a th e r o f D . A . T h om as w h o is n o w p r e sid e n t an d m a n ­ a g e r o f th e com p any an d w h o, so to speak, h a s ironed T he illu str a tio n a t th e le f t in th e h ea d p ie c e a c c o m p a n y in g th is a r tic le sh o w s a lo n g w a ll m a ch in e u n d e r c u ttin g a fa c e . T h e bar o f th is m a c h in e is o n ly 4 f t lo n g , th is le n g th h a v in g b een foun d to be m o st a d v a n ta g e o u s . One su ch u n d ercu tter is u sed on ea ch fa c e . In th e u p p er illu str a tio n to th e r ig h t m a y be se en th e b ell- cra n k an d sid e o f th e c o n v e y o r a s w e ll a s th e Jack h o ld in g th e th e b ellcra n k in p o sitio n . T h e m o to r-o p era ted sh a k in g e n g in e is s ta tio n e d so m e d ista n c e to th e sid e o f th e co n v ey o r, w h ic h it d r iv e s th r o u g h th e m ed iu m o f a ca b le th a t m a y b e se e n a t the b ottom o f th e picture. T h e o v a l sh o w s th e co n v e y o r d isc h a r g in g to a m in e c a r on th e h ea d in g . T h is p a s s a g e is k ep t w e ll a h ea d o f th e a d v a n c in g fa c e a n d bottom is lifte d on It so a s to afford a m p le room fo r lo a d in g th e c a r s to fu ll c a p a c ity .

out th e k in k s and w rin k le s and h a s p u t th e m in e on a p a y in g b a sis. P r a c tic a lly 100- p er ce n t recovery, 67 p er cen t b ein g lum p, and a c o st su b sta n tia lly b elow th a t o f th e room -an d -p illar m eth od m ak es it ob viou s th a t th e “b ig th r e e ” h a v e been cornered a t A ld rich .

T h is m in e, ab ou t th e m o st so u th er n in A lab am a, is located on th e ed g e o f th e C ahaba field, 4 5 m ile s by r a il fro m B irm in g h a m . T h e coal is th a t o f th e M on te­

vallo bed, w h ich , g e n e r a lly sp ea k in g , lie s on a p itc h o f 12 to 15 d eg. A ty p ic a l se ctio n is sh ow n b esid e F ig . 2.

T h e w o r k in g h e ig h t is r o u g h ly 50 in . in w h ich is in clu d ed fro m 14 to 18 in . o f ra sh . T h e coal is a h ig h - g ra d e b itu m in o u s u sed ch iefly f o r d om estic p u rp oses.

Wo r k e d Th r o u g h Sl o pe fo r 2 1 Ye a r s

O pened in 1885, th e m in e w a s w ork ed th r o u g h a slo p e on th e room -an d -p illar s y ste m u n til 1906. L evels w er e tu rn ed off th e slo p e ev e ry 200 to 30 0 f t . an d room s w er e d riven up th e p itc h . A f t e r th e slop e had been ad vanced a p p r o x im a tely 2,500 f t., an d ab ou t th e tim e t h a t lo n gw all op era tio n w a s w ell sta r te d , i t w a s fo u n d t h a t th e slop e w a s r u n n in g in to a b a sin a fe w h u n dred f e e t w id e. A s M r. T h om as ex p re sse d it, “had o p era tio n s co n tin u ed a lo n g th e lin e s p ro jected th e y w ou ld soon h a v e m e t th e m se lv e s co m in g b ack .” A cc o rd in g ly , a ch a n g e w a s m ade and w a lls ad vanced to th e r ise . S in c e th e n th e y h a v e b een w ork ed a t v a r io u s a n g le s to t h e p itch .

A s th e scra p h eap on th e su r fa c e a t t h is m in e w ill t e s t if y , th e p r e se n t co n v ey o r w a s n o t th e fir st on e trie d on th e lo n g w a ll fa c e s. I t w a s p reced ed b y a se c tio n a l ch a in m a ch in é o f r a th er h e a v y an d e x p e n siv e d esig n . T h e sh a k in g c h u te n o w em p loyed w a s evolved uy a s e r ie s o f ch a n g es e x te n d in g over sev er a l y e a r s m ade in

916 C O A L A G E Vol. 28, N o. 27

'W afer 9 -/2 3

''G entry sp rin g -F a u lt

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^ T -L /n e o f f b ig fa u lt ) underground W h ifrtp i)

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XP oint where long w a / s ta r te d in 1906 P.P. W orked room a n d L W )) long mr/7j D utch p it?

illu str a tio n a t th e u pper r ig h t in th e h ea d p iece sh o w s a d riv e se ctio n w ith th e bell crank and its a n c h o rin g ro o f jack in place. In th e le ft fo r e g r o u n d is th e w ir e rop e w h ich ex te n d s fr o m th e bell crank to th e w a lk in g beam o f th e a c tu a tin g m o to r-d riv en sh a k in g en g in e.

D e ta ils o f t h is e n g in e are sh o w n in F ig . 6 w h ile F ig . 7 is an e n d -v ie w p h otograp h o f it. T h e d riv e is by m ean s o f a 27-hp. d ire c t-c u r r e n t m otor. A s th e con ­ veyor is m oved fo rw a rd a f te r each cu t th e 5-in . d rive rope is le n g th e n e d by r e a d ju s tin g in th e co n n ectin g -r o d clam p se en in th e fo re g ro u n d . B y th is a r r a n g e m en t th e e n g in e is le f t in one p lace w h ile th e w all is ad vanced 50 to 100 f t., or m ore, as c o n d itio n s m a y w a rr a n t.

T h e e n g in e lo ca tio n w ith re sp ec t to th e con v ey o r is in d ica ted in F ig . 2. H e r e th e c o n v ey o r is sh ow n in a p o sitio n ab ou t 5 ft. fro m th e fa c e , to w h ich lo ca tio n it h a s b een m oved p rep a ra to r y to lo a d in g ou t th e cu t.

On th e d ay b efo re , w h en lo a d in g ou t th e p rev io u s cut, it w a s in th e p o sitio n A in d ica ted b y th e d otted lin es.

Roof Co n t r o l Pr e s e n t s Pr o b l e m

F ig. 1— Map of the M ontevallo Coal Mine

T h is m in e o r ig in a lly w a s la id o u t fo r ro o m -a n d -p illa r op eration , b u t w h en it w a s fo u n d th a t th e main- slo p e w a s r u n n in g in to a b a sin o f sm a ll e x te n t the p lan w a s c h a n g e d an d th e lo n g w a ll s y s te m ad op ted . F a c e s h a v e sin c e b een w o rk ed a t p r a c tic a lly all a n g le s to the p itch. T he p o sitio n o f th e p r e se n t fa c e s a re in d ica ted b y W j, W * etc.

th e d e sig n o f an o r ig in a l M avor & C oulson ou tfit im ­ p orted fro m S cotlan d .

F ig . 3 sh o w s th e fo u r p rin cip le p a rts o f th e con veyor p roper. In th e fo r e g r o u n d is a floor crad le and roller, b ack o f w h ich is a d riv e se c tio n o f th e tr o u g h or pan, an d in th e b ack grou nd is a com m on, or p lain , se ctio n . T h is la tte r is one th a t h a s j u s t b een b ro u g h t to th e sh op fo r re p a irs. A h ole h a s been w o rn in th e b ottom an d th e sid e s a r e b en t ou t o f sh ap e. T h e riv eted sp lice in th e c e n te r in d ic a te s th a t th is se c tio n w a s, so m etim e b efo re , b u ilt in th e sh op fro m tw o p a r ts in f a ir ly good co n d itio n cu t fro m w orn or d am aged se c tio n s.

A ll se c tio n s o f t h is

c o n v ey o r a re 9 f t. lon g. \t~~Rope. from hoist O r ig in a lly J-in. stee l

p la te w a s u sed in th e ir co n stru ctio n , b u t b e ­ ca u se th e se soon fa ile d a ch a n g e w a s m ade to lV-in. p la te. T w o m en can e a s ily pick up and ca rry a se ctio n . T he d r iv e pan or se g m e n t is so m ew h a t h ea v ie r th a n th e o th e rs, due p a r t l y to it s m ore s t u r d y co n stru ctio n and p a r tly to th e p ro­

je c tio n or fittin g on its u nd er sid e in to th e h o les o f w h ich th e con ­ n e c tin g rod o f a bpll cran k is fa ste n e d . T h e

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R o o f co n d itio n s in th e A ld rich m in e, no d oubt, are fa v o ra b le to lo n g w a ll opei-ation b ut, n e v e r th e le ss, it req u ired y e a r s o f c o stly e x p er ie n c e to find an ad eq u ate m ethod o f con trol. O v erly in g th e coal th e r e is fro m 30 in. to 15 f t . o f d raw sla te , ab ove th a t 50 to 75 f t . o f sa n d sto n e, and th e n p erh ap s 100 to 125 f t . o f co n ­ g lo m er a te . T h e to ta l dep th o f cover r a n g e s fr o m 435 to 800 f t.

T h e a ctio n o f t h is ro o f is rem ark ab le. T h e w a lls, each 325 f t . in le n g th , a re w ork ed a d v a n c in g . C u ttin g is done in th e b ottom rash w ith a m a ch in e h a v in g a 4 -ft. cu tte rb a r. M ach in es w ith b a rs o f g r e a te r le n g th up to 6 f t . w e r e tr ie d b u t i t w a s fo u n d th a t a 4 -ft.

cu t is all th a t c o n sis te n tly can b e clean ed up each s h if t . T h e m a ch in e u sed is o f th e lo n g w a ll ty p e and is m ou n ted on a sled and a d ju ste d to th e p rop er h e ig h t to cu t th e p a r tin g . S ix to e ig h t s e ts o f b its are req u ired in c u ttin g each w all.

B u g d u st, ra sh , and s la te fro m th e bed a re sh oveled over b eh in d th e con v ey o r in to th e gob. M ost p laces co n ta in j u s t ab ou t en ou gh o f t h is r e fu s e to fill th e gob to th e ro o f. W h ere th e q u a n tity is in a d eq u a te s o f t crib s (n o t filled w ith rock) are b u ilt on top o f it an d le f t in p lace to ea se th e ro o f dow n in it s s e tt lin g p roc­

ess. B r e a k s occur e v e r y 200 to 600 f t . u n le ss a r i f t in th e sa n d sto n e is en cou n tered . S uch a c o n tin g e n c y c a u se s a g r e a t deal o f trou b le and m uch e x tr a e x p en se fo r c r ib b in g and tim b e r in g .

T h e lo a d in g e n tr y or road a t th e lo w er end o f each

e n g in e

P ack.

•;M in e c a r s

F ig. 2— D etails of W oridng at a Face

T h is s h o w s th e r e sp e c tiv e lo c a tio n s o f th e fa c e , lo a d in g h e a d ­ ing, co n v ey o r, s h a k in g en g in e, cr ib s an d th e lik e. T h e co n v e y o r is m oved fo r w a r d a fte r e a ch cu t b u t th e tim b erin g Is n o t d is ­ turbed in th is o p era tio n . T h e s h a k in g e n g in e Is m o v ed u p o n ly p er io d ic a lly , th a t is, o n ly a fte r se v e r a l c u ts h a v e b een m ade, the le n g th o f th e o p e r a tin g ca b le b e in g a d ju ste d a fte r « a ch m o v e o f th e co n v ey o r.

F ig. 3— Four Main Parts of the Shaking Conveyor In th e foregrou n d m a y be se en tho cu rv ed a n g le -ir o n tr a c k and a p air o f th e r o llers th a t su p p o rt th e co n v e y o r p a n s. B hind th e se is a d riv e se c tio n th a t re c e iv e s re c ip r o c a tin g m otion from th e b ellcra n k an d tr a n sm its it to th e b a la n ce o f th e co n v ey o r. In th e b a ck g ro u n d Is an o rd in a ry pan se ctio n . T h e p a r tic u la r s e c ­ tio n h ere sh o w n h a s been se n t to th e sh o p fo r rep air. A s m ly be seen a h ole h a s been w orn c o m p letely th rou gh It a t its u p p2r end a n d it is b a d ly b en t and battered.

w all is k ep t ab ou t 100 ft. ahead o f th e fa ce . B ottom to th e e x te n t o f 4 i ft. is lifte d in ord er to b r in g th e top s o f th e ca r s w ell b elow th e d isch a rg e end o f th e con veyor. R ock-packed crib s, m ade o f 5- to 6-in. round tim b er s, a s sh ow n in F ig . 4, are b u ilt to p ro tec t th e en try . T h e a ir cou rse a t th e upper end o f th e w all is k ep t open by b r u sh in g top, th e m a te ria l th u s b ro u g h t dow n b e in g u sed to b uild a pack w all th a t se r v e s also a s a b ra ttic e. B eca u se th e m in e g e n e r a te s som e g a s, co n sid er a b le care is tak en to keep th e v e n tila tio n a t th e fa c e s up to stan d ard . Open lig h ts are used e x c lu siv e ly in th is m ine.

F ig . 9 sh o w s how , a t th e p o in t A on th e map, th e ro o f h a s su b sid ed d u r in g n in e y e a r s c o m p re ssin g the 50-in . gob to an 18-in. m a ss packed as hard as th e coal it s e lf. T h e h a u la g e w a y on w h ich th is p h otograp h w as tak en w a s d riven th r ee y ea r s ago th rou gh th e gob o f a lo n g w a ll fa c e th a t w a s w orked s ix y e a r s earlier.

Mu c h Tim b e r Us e d a t t h e Fac e

T im b e r in g a t th e fa c e is done w ith 5- to 6-in. p o sts s e t on 4 -ft. ce n te rs. N o n e o f th is m a te ria l is recov­

ered. W h ere ten d er ro o f is en cou n tered cro ss tim b ers or str a p s are em ployed. On th e w all (m ark ed W, on th e m ap ) w h ere th e p h o to g ra p h s a cc o m p a n y in g th is a rtic le w er e m ade, each n ew row o f tim b e r s is doubled, ah ead o f th e con veyor, a f t e r each s u c c e ssiv e fo rw a rd m ove.

A s th e coal is loaded ou t a row o f em erg en cy or te m ­ p orary prop s is se t a g a in s t th e rib. T h ese tim b er s are rem oved one a t a tim e ah ead o f th e m in in g m a ch in e and p erm a n en tly r e se t im m e d ia te ly b eh in d it, as th e cu t p ro g re sse s. In ju r ie s to m en and lo ss o f eq u ip m en t at th e fa c e p ra ctic a lly h ave b een elim in a ted by th e lib eral u se o f tim b er.

C u ttin g alo n g each w all p r o g r e sse s in one d ire ctio n on e n ig h t and in th e o p p o site d ire ctio n th e n ex t, th e m a ch in e b e in g le f t w h e re it fin ish e s th e cu t. T u rn in g th e m a ch in e arou n d b efo re b e g in n in g a cu t is accom ­ p lish ed in a sh o r t tim e c o n sid e r in g th e lim ited sp ace b etw een tim b e r s. T h e cu tte rb a r, o f cou rse, is sw u n g to th e o p p o site sid e a s th e m a ch in e is tu rn ed . F iv e m a ch in e s a re u sed , one a t each w a ll. A n o th e r is k ept a t th e u n d ergrou n d m otor p it as a sp are.

T h e seq u en ce o f o p era tio n s p erfo rm ed by th e n ig h t cr ew is a s fo llo w s: F ir s t th e d a ily su p p ly o f tim b ers is u nload ed fro m m in e ca r s and d istr ib u te d am on g th e 3 2 5 -ft. fa c e . A s th e m in in g m a ch in e b e g in s th e cu t tim b er m en s e t p erm an en t p o sts b eh ind it a g a in s t

th e fa ce , and double th e la s t row p rev io u sly se t. A t th e sa m e tim e a co n v ey o r-m o v in g g a n g b e g in s w ork.

W h ile one m an g o es a lo n g rem o v in g th e tw o Jx7-in . b olts th a t hold each se c tio n to th e n ex t, tw o m en b eg in m o v in g th e 32 p ans or se c tio n s, th u s d iscon n ected , to th e ir n ew p o sitio n .

W h ile t h is i s b ein g done o th e r m en are r e s e ttin g th e ro o f jack , bell crank, an d th e co n veyor d riv e se ctio n . N e x t th e p an s a re bolted to g e th e r , lin ed up and finally th e floor cra d les and rollers s e t in co rrect p o sitio n . T h e a lig n m e n t does n o t h ave to be p e r fe c t. One o f th e 3 2 5 -ft. con veyors h as been op erated w h en 3 f t . ou t o f lin e. A n y ten d en cy o f th e con veyor to buck b ecau se o f bad a lig n m e n t or u neven load in g, is co rrected by s e tt in g “ ru b b in g ” tim b er s to confine it s m ovem en t.

H o w t h e Co n v e y o r Wo r k s

B e fo r e d e sc r ib in g th e e x p er ie n c es a t A ld rich in op er­

a tin g on v a r io u s p itch es, th e m ech an ical a ctio n o f th e con veyor sh ould be exp lain ed . T h e co n veyor is n o th in g m ore th an a p lain sh ee t-m e ta l tro u g h or ch u te o f a le n g th equal to th a t o f th e w all b ein g w ork ed . T h e e n tir e tro u g h recip r o ca tes w ith a d iffer en tia l m otion , th e stro k e b e in g 7, 8 or 9 in. lo n g a s d esired , and th e sp eed b ein g ab out 65 cy c le s per m in u te.

T he rope from th e d r iv in g e n g in e, th r o u g h th e m edium o f th e bell crank, m oves th e tr o u g h quickly, on th e back w ard strok e. B e ca u se o f th e sh ap e o f th e cradles th is m ovem en t e lev a tes th e tro u g h and its load to a h e ig h t o f an inch or m ore. F rom th is p o sitio n it r o lls , back g e n tly by g r a v ity c a r r y in g th e coal alon g w ith it. A bou t th e tim e th a t th e tro u g h reach es th e lo w est p o in t o f th e crad le th e rope je r k s it back w ard a g a in and th e coal b eca u se o f its in e r tia slid e s fo rw a rd alo n g th e tro u g h . T h e m a te ria l con veyod th u s shuffles alon g, a fe w in ch es a t a tim e w ith a so r t o f w a v e m otion.

W ith proper a lig n m e n t and th e crad les fr e e o f d irt, th e co n veyor w ill w ork on th e level, i f it is n ot too long, but w ith th e c o n d itio n s a t A ld rich op era tio n w a s not p ractical on \ per ce n t g ra d es, so th e w a lls w ere sw u n g to o b tain an in clin a tio n o f not le ss th an 1.25 per ce n t in fa v o r o f th e load. T h e co n v ey o rs h a v e been op erated s a t is f a c to r ily on g ra d e s o f from l i to 15 deg., th e a v er a g e u se b e in g on ab ou t 8 deg.

T h is r a n g e o f a ctio n afford s an o p p o r tu n ity to sw in g th e w a lls so as to ad van ce them a t an a n g le to th e p itch . T h is is in d ica ted on th e m ap by th e v a rio u s d ire ctio n s in w h ich th e w a lls have been ad vanced , e sp e cia lly in

F ig. 4— Rock-Packed Cribs on the Main Entr>

N a tu r a lly , th e ro o f o v er th e en tr y m u st be c a r e fu lly su p p orted T h is is done b y th e u s e o f both cr ib s an d props. In th is p icture m a y be se en th e ca b le b y m ea n s o f w h ic h th e ca r s a r e h a n d le d on th is p a ssa g e .

918 C O A L A G E Vol. 28, N o . 27

F ig. 5— Lump Coal in the Stockpile

B. C. M oore, m a ste r m e c h a n ic a n d o u tsid e su p e r in te n d e n t, is here se e n show ing: b y co m p a riso n th e siz e o f th e lu m p s in the sto ck p ile. S ix ty -fiv e p er c e n t o f th e coal p rod u ced in th is m ine is of lum p siz e , u sed fo r d o m e stic p u rp o ses. I t ca n be so ld p r a c ­ tic a lly a lw a y s a t a profit.

th e v ic in ity o f fa u lts . T h e five 3 2 5 -ft. w a lls w h ich are n ow b e in g w ork ed a re in d ica ted b y W v W „ etc ., on th e m ap. T h e g en er a l co n d itio n s an d m eth od s v a r y b u t little fr o m w a ll to w a ll. T h e in s id e p h o to g ra p h s accom ­ p a n y in g t h is a r tic le , e x c ep t F ig . 9, w e r e ta k e n a t W

E x p e r ie n c e h a s d em o n stra ted t h a t a d ja c e n t w a lls sh ould be m a in ta in e d e ith e r w ith in 50 f t . o f each oth er in ord er to k eep th e w e ig h t eq u alized , or sh o u ld be k ep t over 250 f t . a p a r t so th a t a f a ll on th e le a d in g w all w ill n o t a ffe c t th e on e fo llo w in g .

H a u la g e fr o m th e w a lls to th e b a sin is h and led by tw e lv e sin g le -r o p e h o is t s each d riv en b y a 27-hp . d ire ct- cu rr en t m otor. E le c tr ic lo c o m o tiv e s a sse m b le th e tr ip s and d istr ib u te em p tie s in th e b a sin a t th e f o o t o f th e m ain slop e. T h e a v e r a g e w e ig h t o f coal p er ca r is.

2,650 lb., and th e p ro d u ctio n p er w a ll o v e r a g e s ab ou t 120 to n s p er day.

T h e lab or n e c e ssa r y f o r each w a ll is as fo llo w s:

E ach d a y -s h ift c o n s is ts o f ten load ers, on e co n veyor m an, one tim b erm a n , one co n v ey o r o p erator, tw o gob - bers and one crib m an, m a k in g a to ta l o f s ix te e n in all. T h e n ig h t s h if t c o n s is ts o f th r e e tim b ei'm en , tw o co n v ey o r m o v ers, on e m a ch in e ru n n er, one sc ra p er and one ja ck s e tte r , m a k in g a to ta l o f e ig h t m en. Coal is sh o t dow n on ly a s need ed w ith 4 -in . p e r m issib le pow der, w ith no sp ecified d ista n c e b etw e en h oles. A w all does n ot o r d in a r ily co n su m e m ore th a n 25 s tic k s per day, in clu d in g th e ex tr a n um b er n e c e ssa r y fo r s h o o tin g t ig h t corn ers.

F ig. 6— D etails of the Shaker Engine

A lth o u g h the ro ta tio n a l sp ee d o f th e c r a n k s h a ft is u n ifo rm , the w a lk in g b eam h a s an u n eq u a l o sc illa tio n . T h is, aid ed b y th e b ellcra n k an d b y g r a v it y im p a r ts a jig g in g o r je r k in g m o tio n to th e co n v e y o r ch u te.

D u r in g th e la s t tw o y e a r s a rem a rk a b le record h a s been m ad e a t th e A ld rich m in e . T h ro u g h o u t t h is e n tir e p eriod , on ly five tim e s h a s i t p roved im p o ssib le to m ake th e r e g u la r d a ily ad v a n ce on each o f th e five w a lls w ork ed . T h e s e f a ilu r e s to load out, or to cu t th e fa c e , w e r e due e ith e r to fa lls on th e e n tr ie s or b reak s on th e w a lls. A n d t h is m in e w o rk s 31 0 d a y s p er y e a r ! A ll in sid e lab or is su p p lie d and su p e r v ise d b y th e sta te . C o n v icts o p era te lo co m o tiv es, h o is ts , an d c u ttin g m a ch in e s, a s w ell a s d o in g th e tim b e r in g an d lo a d in g a t th e fa ce .

T h e f a c t t h a t p riso n lab or is u sed , o f c o u rse sim p lifies th e p rob lem o f c le a n in g up th e w a lls each day. T h e m in in g com p an y is ob lig ed , h o w ev er, to u se th e m en e v e r y d ay o f th e y e a r an d c o n se q u en tly a t tim e s is com ­ p elled to sto ck co a l a t th e m in e . T r a n s fe r r in g coal to th e sto ck p ile is d one b y p la c in g a n u m b er o f 4-ton , s e lf-d u m p in g b o x e s on r a ilw a y ca rs, lo a d in g th e s e a t th e tip p le an d th e n u n lo a d in g th em b y m ea n s o f a se m i-

F ig. 7— End View of Shaker Engine

T h e a d ju s tin g clam p , b y m e a n s o f w h ich th e le n g th o f th e cab le le a d in g to the b ell cra n k is b ro u g h t to proper len g th , m a y be se e n on th e end o f th e c o n n e c tin g rod in th e foreg ro u n d . L o o se n ­ in g a fe w b o lts, le n g th e n in g or sh o r te n in g th e c a b le a n d tig h te n in g th e b o lts ! ; a in e ffe c ts a ll th e a d ju s tm e n t th a t is n e c e ssa r y .

p ortab le, s tiff-le g d errick . Coal is reload ed fro m th e p ile b y fillin g b oxes by h an d an d d u m p in g in th e r a il­

w a y ca r s b y m ea n s o f th e sam e a p p aratu s.

A n in te r e s t in g b it o f h is to r y co n n ected w ith th e A ld ric h m in e w a s d isclo sed la s t y e a r w h en M r. T h om as clean ed up an old o p en in g to th e le f t o f th e p r e se n t op era tio n . T h is old m in e is d e sig n a te d on th e m ap as th e W oods P it . In it w er e fo u n d w e ll-p re ser v ed relics o f r a th e r p r im itiv e m in in g m eth o d s. A m o n g th e se w er e a lm o st m in ia tu r e w ooden ca r s fitted w ith w ooden w h e e ls w h ich ran on w ood en r a ils p rovid ed w ith w ooden f r o g s . M r. T h o m a s s ta te s th a t h e is f a ir ly ce rta in t h a t th e W oods P i t w a s opened in 1835. A g e o lo g ica l rep ort o f ab ou t 1850 m e n tio n s t h is m in e an d e x p la in s th a t it w a s ab and oned b eca u se o f th e d a n g ero u s ro o f.

In c o n tr a st to th is rep ort, h o w ev er, M r. T h om as fou n d th e o p en in g to h ave, w h a t h e w ould con sid er, a ra th er good roof.

T h e su c c e ss o f th e la st f e w y e a r s in o p e r a tin g th e A l­

d rich m in e on th e lo n g w a ll and fa ce -c o n v e y o r sy stem

F ig. 9— Roof Subsidence of Three Feet

T h is sh o w s J. L . D o lla r, in sid e su p e rin ten d en t, d e m o n str a tin g h ow th e gob h a s p ack ed to a m a s s a s hard a s th e co a l it d is ­ placed . A t th is poin t th e roof h a s been su b sid in g fo r 9 yr.

d u rin g w h ic h tim e It h a s se ttle d a p p r o x im a te ly 3 ft. T h e h a u l­

a g e w a y w h ere th is p h o to g ra p h w a s ta k e n w a s d riv en 3 yr. a g o th r o u g h a gob a r e a th a t h ad b een w o rk ed o u t fo r 6 yr.

o u tsid e. T h u s th e ste a m h o is t is b e in g replaced by an 800-hp. ele c tr ic m a ch in e an d o th e r eq u ip m en t in c lu d in g th e w a sh e r y d riv e s and p um ps are b e in g electrified .

Nit r o s it e s a n d Sil v e r De t o n a t o r s— T h e n itr o s ite s h a v e b een p a te n ted a s in itia to r s o f exp losion . L ittle is k now n o f th e ir str u c tu r e and p ro p ertie s. A s a m ylen e n itr o s it e is sta b le and r e p r e se n ta tiv e o f th e grou p , it h a s b een ch osen b y th e U . S. B u re a u o f M in es f o r a stu d y o f it s str u c tu r e and p ro p ertie s. T h e m eth od o f it s p rep a ra tio n w a s stu d ied , its str u c tu r e d eterm in ed , an d a m eth od d eveloped th a t g a v e a y ie ld o f ab ou t 50 p er ce n t th e o re tic a l.

In co n n ectio n w ith th e g en er a l stu d y in ten d ed to d evelop n ew u ses fo r silv er, resea rch w ork on d e to n a tin g silv e r com pounds h a s been u n d ertak en . T h e silv e r sa lts th a t are co n sid ered to h a v e ex p lo siv e p ro p ertie s h ave been m ad e and tested . T h eir s e n s itiv e n e s s to h e a t and im p a ct and ex p lo siv e str e n g th w e r e d eterm in ed . E x ­ p erim en ta l w ork h a s been con d ucted w ith silv e r azide, silv e r fu lm in a te , th e s ilv e r s a lts o f som e o f th e n itro - a ro m a tic com pounds and s ilv e r o x a la te. W ork h a s been

com p leted on silv e r a ce ty lid e and th e s ilv e r s a lt o f trin itro h y d r o x y a m in o b en ze n e . O ther silv e r com pounds w er e te ste d b u t did n o t h a v e an y o f th e e s se n tia l p rop ­ e r tie s o f an ex p lo siv e.

Ox y g e n Oil Ex p l o s io n s— A n in v e s tig a tio n in ten d ed to d eter m in e th e c o n d itio n s u nd er w h ich com p ressed a ir or o x y g en in co n ta ct w ith h ydrocarb on and oth er o ils m a y be su b je c t to exp losion h azard s, and to d ev ise m ean s o f s a fe g u a r d in g a g a in s t su ch h azard s, is b e in g con d ucted a t th e P itts b u r g h , P a ., e x p er im en t s ta tio n o f th e U . S. B u reau o f M in es. S in c e th e p u b lica tio n o f p rev io u s re su lts, th e e x p lo sib ility te m p e ra tu r es fo r elev en a d d itio n a l su b sta n c e s h a v e been d eterm in ed in th e 4-cc. t e s t bomb u s in g h ig h -p r e ssu r e o x y g en . A n um ber o f ex p e r im e n ts w a s also m ade u s in g lo w -p r es­

su re o x y g en , h ig h -p r e ssu r e air, and a m ix tu r e o f ox y g en and heliu m .

In the Hazard Field T h is sc h o o l b u ild ­ in g a n d m in e o f th e S a p p h ire C oal Co.

a r e lo c a te d on F ir st C reek in th e H a z ­ a rd F ie ld o f K e n ­ tu c k y . F o r m e r ly th e F ir s t C reek M in in g Co. u n d er th e m a n a g e m e n t o f J e w e tt, B ig e lo w &

B rook , it Is n ow o p era ted b y th e B lu e D ia m o n d Coal Co. o f w h ic h W . H . S ie n k n e c h t re c e n tly w a s m a d e g e n e r a l m a n a g e r.

F ig . 8— Looking Along the Conveyor Pan

T h is sh o w s the c o n v ey o r e m p ty or re a d y to rece iv e coal. T im ­ b e r in g a lo n g th e fa c e is h e a v y and In so m e p la c e s it is n e c e s­

s a r y to u se str a p s or b ea m s from prop to prop fo r m in g v ir tu a lly th r e e -p ie c e s e ts o v e r th e cen v ey o r. In c a se a s so m e tim e s h a p ­ pens, th e c o n v e y o r sh o w s a te n d e n c y to b uckle sid e w ise , it b e­

co m e s n e c e s s a r y to s e t “ru b b in g p ro p s’’ to hold it in lin e.

h a s co n vin ced th e m a n a g e m e n t th a t it is “ on th e r ig h t tr a c k .” A s ix th w a ll is n ow u nd er d evelopm en t and co n sid er a b le n e w eq u ip m en t is b e in g in sta lled on th e

920 C O A L A G E Vol. 28, No. 27

Labor History o f Appalachian Coal R egion Records U n ionism ’s Utter Failure

B y Sydney A. H ale

S p ecia l C on tribu tor, C o a l A g e , N e w Y ork C ity

T

lelism in th e h isto ry of u nion a c tiv itie s in the fou r states d iscu ssed in th is article. In each case organ ized labor gain ed a foo th o ld in its salad days and in som e in stan ces it w as able to m aintain that fo o th o ld for sev ­

eral years. B u t in each case the U n ited M in e W ork ers w as d is­

lo d g ed and, a fter a period of g u erilla ta ctics, ceased to be a factor. T h e W o rld W ar revived th e h op es o f th e labor leaders and m ade th e operators less d e­

term in ed in th eir resistan ce to

th e u n ion program . T h e U n ited M in e W o rk ers m ade gains, tr e­

m endous gain s in th o se days.

B u t n ot a s in g le v ic to r y w as per­

m anent. In th ese fou r states, as elsew h ere, th ere has been a chal­

len g e to union lead ersh ip w h ich has n ot been m et.

T

C en tral P e n n sy lv a n ia , f o r y e a r s a f e r tile field fo r u n ion p rop agan d a, h a s, w ith th e ex c ep tio n o f a f e w op erators, ab and oned th e lab or o r g a n iz a tio n h ead ed by Joh n L. L e w is. S tr o n g u n ion co u n tie s in th a t coal field h a v e fo llo w ed S o m e r se t in to th e n on -u n ion fold . A s w a s rela ted in an e a r lie r a r tic le in t h is s e r ie s, th e b an n er o f re v o lt h a s been ra ised in so u th er n O hio and in w e ste r n P e n n sy lv a n ia . In th e moi-e n o rth e rly B u tler - M ercer se c to r o f th e te r r ito r y o f D is t r ic t N o . 5 o f th e U n ite d M in e W ork ers th e u n io n is no lo n g er recogn ized a s su p rem e. O nly in th e B road Top and B lo ssb u r g d is tr ic ts h a s th e U n ite d M ine W ork ers been ab le to re ta in a t ig h t grip .

U n i o n M a k e s N o G a i n s

T o th is c a ta lo g o f lo ss e s th e r e are no o ffs e ttin g g a in s to be ch alk ed up fo r th e u n ion . W estm orelan d C ounty, a g g r e s s iv e ly n on -u n ion fo r m a n y y e a r s, s t ill rem a in s h o stile to o rg a n ized laobr. T h e C on n ellsville d istr ic t, in w h ich M r. L e w is ’ o rg a n iz a tio n g a v e an u n exp ected d em o n stra tio n o f p ow er in th e g en er a l str ik e o f 1922, h a s been r e stiv e in re c e n t m o n th s as a r e su lt o f a g it a ­ tio n fo r in crea sed w a g e s by th e in d e p e n d en t op erators, and th e r e h ave been som e lab or d istu r b a n ce s, b u t no g en er a l m ovem en t to dem and u nion affiliation or r e c o g n i­

tion . T h e W in d b er secto r, a n o th er q u a rter in w h ich th e union, had a b r ie f su c c e ss th r e e y e a r s ago, is q u iet. T h e

S ix th o f a s e r ie s o f a r tic le s d e sc r ib in g th e c h a n g e s in th e labor s ta tu s o f th e d ifferen t b itu m in o u s co a l p ro d u cin g d is tr ic ts o f the U n ited S ta te s in r ece n t y e a r s. P r e c e d in g a r tic le s a p p ea red in C o a l A g e , S ep t. 2o, O ct. 1, 8, 29 an d N ov. 19. A n o th e r a r tic le w ill ap p ea r m a n e a r ly issu e.

a ctio n o f th e la r g e s t op era to r in th a t se c tio n in re d u cin g w a g e s se v er a l m o n th s a g o provok ed no u n p h eavals, n o t­

w ith s ta n d in g th e fa c t th a t t h is p a rticu la r p rod u cer had n orm a lly m a in ta in e d it s r a te s on lev els as h ig h as th o se p r e v a ilin g in th e u n ion fields. D e sp ite ru m ors so m e tim e a g o th a t th e u n ion w ould m ak e a ren ew ed d riv e on so u th er n W est V ir g in ia , th e s u r fa c e o f labor r e la tio n s th e r e is unruffled.

T h e m ea su re o f d is in te g r a tio n w h ich h a s ta k e n place can b e st be u n d erstood w h e n i t is rem em b ered th a t a t one tim e or a n o th er th e p ow er o f th e U n ite d M ine W ork ers— or one o f it s p red ec esso rs in in te r e s t— h as b een f e lt in ev e ry s ta te and in ev e ry d is tr ic t in th e A p ­ p alach ian R eg io n . T h e p ro cess, a s su c c e e d in g p a ra ­ g ra p h s w ill d isclo se, h a s n o t b een u n ifo rm . N e ith e r h a s i t been co n sta n t. In som e c a s e s th e tid e o f u nion p ow er h a s ebbed and flow ed. T h e u nion h a s s ta g e d som e s t r ik in g “com e-b ack s” in fields w h e re it w a s g e n e r a lly b elieved th a t it s in flu en ce had b een ir r e tr ie v a b ly s h a t ­ tered . In c e r ta in o th e r se c tio n s, in flu en ce p a in fu lly an d g ra d u a lly b u ilt up ov er a lo n g p eriod o f y e a r s has v a n ish e d a lm o st over n ig h t. T h e m o st s ig n ific a n t d ev el­

op m ent sin c e th e clo se o f th e W orld W ar, h o w ev er, h as been th e a cc eler a tio n in th e ra te o f d isin te g r a tio n .

Di s in t e g r a t io n Sh a r p l y Ac c e l e r a t e d

T h e r a b id ity w ith w h ic h th e tid e h a s s e t in a g a in s t u n io n ism in th e g r e a t coal b elt e x te n d in g fro m P e n n ­ s y lv a n ia th r o u g h Ohio, M arylan d, th e V ir g in ia s , ea ste rn K en tu ck y and T e n n e s se e to A lab am a th r e a te n s to blot out, in th e p op u lar m ind, reco llectio n o f j u s t h ow p ow ­ e r fu l th e U n ite d M ine W ork ers h a s been in th is region in d ays g o n e by.

V ig o r o u s e ffo rts to o rg a n iz e A lab am a w er e m ade ea rly in th e h is to r y o f th e U n ite d M ine W ork ers, b u t th e ca p tiv e m in e s o f th e ste e l com p an ies proved a stu m b lin g block in th e p ath o f th e u nion . T h o se m in e s in 1904.

u p se t an a r b itr a tio n aw ard o f th e p rec ed in g y ea r, cla im ­ in g th e sc a le fixed too h ig h — and th en offered co n ce s­

sio n s to avoid a str ik e . T h e se c o n ce ssio n s w ere rejected . A b itte r str u g g le en su ed , te r m in a tin g in th e d isru p tio n o f th e jo in t a g r e e m e n t w h ich had b een n e g o tia te d b e­

tw e en th e u nion and th e com m ercial m in e s and th e collap se o f th e u n ion o r g a n iz a tio n in th a t s t a te in S ep tem b er, 1908. F rom th a t tim e u n til 1917 th e r ig h t o f th e A lab am a o p era to rs to run th e ir m in e s on an open- sh op b a sis w a s u n co n tested . U n io n m em b ersh ip d w in -