C o a l A ge
Established 1911— McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, Inc.
DEVOTED TO THE OPERATING, TECHNICAL A N D BUSINESS PROBLEMS OF THE CO A L-M IN IN G INDUSTRY S Y D N E T A. H A L E , E d ito r
New York, October, 1934
CODE
w m m m m
1934
Too Fast
W i t h
the natural desire o f labor to im prove its p osition through higher w ages and shorter w orking hours, p rogressive m anage
m ent can h ave no just quarrel if the objective can be attained w ith ou t restrictive burdens on production costs. B ut the w isdom o f attem pt
ing to push to o fa st or to o far is open to serious question. T h is is particularly true in the bitum inous fields, w here organized labor has m ade such gigantic strides during the past year. R eadjustm ent to the new conditions thus created is by no m eans com plete, and the situation w ith respect to com petition from oth er fuels is still acute. U n d er these circum
stances, the renew ed dem ands o f labor leaders for the thirty-hour w eek seem ill-tim ed and out o f tune.
Massed Forces
B i t u m i n o u s c o a l
is bringing up its heavy artillery in the fight against federal hydro
electric projects which threaten to take away m illions o f tons and to rob thousands o f w orkers o f their norm al m eans o f livelih ood . T h e steady drum fire o f the N a tio n a l Coal A ssociation , the N a tio n a l Job Saving Bureau and oth er agencies which have been riddling the p roposals to use governm ent funds for de
velop in g new p ow er in areas already amply supplied has been follow ed up w ith a broad
side from the first-named organ ization assail
ing the entire w ater-pow er program o f the present national adm inistration and pointing out the effect th at program w ill have upon m ining, transportation and related industries.
E very m illion tons o f coal displaced m eans the
elim ination o f $ 2 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 in revenue freight, a loss o f $ 1 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 in m ine w ages and the perm anent closin g down o f hundreds o f mines, which w ill turn com m unities dependent upon them into g h o st settlem ents.
D efen d ers o f the N e w U to p ia may retort that the coal men have a very selfish interest in op posing hydro-electric expansion. T h e charge w ill be candidly, even cheerfully, ad
m itted. But hurling th at charge does n ot re
but the facts m arshaled by the coal industry and its allies. T h a t charge does n ot rebut the fact th at the taxpayers, at a tim e when there is the m ost urgent necessity for creating new em ploym ent, are being asked to dig dow n into thin purses to finance projects which w ill create m ore unem ploym ent. V ague prom ises that at som e future and unnamed date these projects w ill raise the p eop le to new plateaus o f living offer to o intangible recom pense fo r the cer
tainty o f im m ediate losses.
Which Road?
B u s i n e s s ,
drained o f much o f its earlier enthusiasm fo r N R A and p artially recov
ered from its bew ilderm ent at the kaleidoscopic changes in national adm inistration policies, is beginning to take earnest stock o f the N e w D e a l. Several groups representing influential industrial organ ization s already are can
vassing the situation to determ ine a course for future action. A cross-section o f opinion in the bitum inous industry is given in an article beginning on page 3 8 0 o f this issue, and operators w ill have an opportunity to declare their p osition when the subject is pre
sented fo r discussion at the convention o f the
N a tio n a l C oal A ssociation in W ash in gton later this m onth.
W h ile it is n ot im possible that these vari
ous studies w ill develop m ajor, and even irreconcilable, differences between the natural- resource industries and m anufacturing enter
prises on specific details o f future relationships o f governm ent and business, all industry should be able to unite in supporting broad, basic principles. Indeed, such agreem ent and com mon purpose are im perative if industry is to m aintain its righ tfu l place in the national eco
nom ic structure. W h a t is needed, th erefore, is not an alliance o f business interests engaged in a futile attem pt to turn the clock back but an alliance eager to hold fa st to all that works fo r the national good and equally determ ined to fight for the destruction o f th ose things which im pede sound recovery.
Two-Edged
D e f e n d e r s
o f the rights o f m inorities and individuals are up in arm s over the deci
sion o f the N a tio n a l L abor R elation s B oard in the H o u d e Engi neeri ng C or po r at i o n case, in which the board ruled that a representative chosen by a m ajority v ote o f the affected w ork
ers must be treated as “ the exclusive collective bargaining agency” o f all the em ployees in
volved . O rgan ized labor has greeted the de
cision w ith loud applause and denounced those w ho have threatened to challenge the ruling in court. But non-partisan realists, insensible to the p ligh t o f the m inorities, cannot over
look the fact th at this ruling, if sound, is equally applicable in the plant w here organ ized labor is num erically w eaker than a com pany union or non-affiliated individualists.
Goose Killing
R a i l r o a d p r o p o s a l s
fo r a general in
crease in freigh t rates w ill strike no responsive chord in the bosom s o f coal producers or coal consumers. W ith substitute fuels pressing for advantage, w ith the federal governm ent in open and direct com petition w ith both carriers and operators through its hydro-electric pro
gram and w ith trucking o f coal from the m ines, w idening in radius and grow in g in tonnage, im position o f higher freigh t rates w ould drive m ore traffic off the rails. B oth the carrier and the coal producer w ould lose. W h a t is needed,
as w as stressed by F ed eral C oordin ator o f T ran sp ortation E astm an several m onths ago in his com m ents on the In terstate Com m erce Com m ission report on railroad purchasing policies, is a reduction in coal rates th at w ould help the mines m eet the com petition o f other fuels and sources o f p ow er— and, incidentally, increase the tonnage m oving over the rails o f the steam carriers. • H ig h e r prices are a dan
gerous substitute for increased volum e.
Wrexham Explosion
A
d i s a s t e rin W a les, w ith its 271 fa ta l
ities, calls attention once m ore to the fa ct that disasters in coal m ines can be averted only by taking all necessary precautions. T o o many mines, it is to be feared, in G reat B ritain, as in this country, lack the needed conditions for sa fety , which perhaps is explained by the fact that a gassy, dusty mine does n ot su ggest h a z
ard. A v isito r to the mine, if he had not heard o f mine explosions, w ould fe el assured that the entry w as a sa fe place except fo r the risk o f a r o o f fall, o f which danger he prob
ably w ould be profou n dly and uncom fortably conscious. A nd, indeed, the m anager o f a mine w ho has not had any explosion obtains the sam e assurance from every visit to his w orkings. M in e w orkings do n ot seem likely scenes o f a holocaust. Only w ith an effort o f recollection and im agination can he foresee just w hat is likely to happen if he n eglects the precautions so m an ifestly proved by test, experim ent and experience as necessary for safety.
Our present immunity from m ajor accidents is phenom enal, and does not seem to be due solely to our precautions. W h en one notes som e m ines which have a coal-dust problem still n ot at all or inadequately rock-dusted, when one n otes gassy m ines op erated w ithout proper control o f the volum e and m ethane content o f the mine air, w hen one sees evi
dence o f leak age and recirculation o f the air current, one cannot but fe el that certain con
tingencies have not alw ays been adequately safeguarded. T h e excellent exam ples set by many enlightened com panies need m ore m ethodical and conscientious follo w in g by all m ines. T h e m ost dangerous season fo r bitu
minous coal m ining approaches w ith the advent o f w inter, and it is ob ligatory for all soft-coal operators to bear its dangers in mind.
3 72 C O A L A G E — Vol.39, No.10
TRAILER HAULAGE
+ Meets Efficiency and Capacity Demands A t Sincl air Strip Mines
By IV A N A . G IV E N
Assistant Editor, Coal A ye
F
R O M ,a sm all b e g in n in g w ith lig h t eq u ip m en t a b o u t fo u r y e a rs ag o , the use of tru c k s a n d tr a ile r s fo r h a u lin g coal a t s trip o p e ra tio n s h a s steadily in c re a se d in th e S o u th w est. W ith p io n e e rin g w o rk d e m o n s tra tin g th e fe a s i
b ility of th is m ethod of h au lag e , im pro v em en ts in au to m o tiv e equipm ent a n d tr a ile r d esig n h a v e in creased cap ac
ity a n d efficiency to a p o in t w h e re a n u m b er of S o u th w e ste rn s trip p lan ts h av e been p lan n ed a ro u n d th e u se of tr a ile r tra n s p o rta tio n . T h e M a rk T w a in m ine of th e H u n ts v ille -S in c la ir M in in g Co., H u n tsv ille , M o., is a case in point.
T h is o p e ra tio n serv ed as th e la b o ra to ry fo r th e d evelopm ent of tr a ile r h au la g e a t th e S in c la ir p ro p e rtie s, an d its n in e u n its n o w acc o u n t fo r a n a v e ra g e o u t
p u t of 1,600 to n s p e r sh ift of seven ho u rs. T h e ro u n d -trip h au l is 7^ m iles.
W ith ex p e rie n c e a t M a rk T w a in as a g u id e, tru c k s a n d tr a ile rs w ere installed
in th e N o. 2 p it of th e S en eca Coal &
Coke Co., B ro k en A rro w , O kla., w hen it w as opened in S eptem ber, 1933. T h e fo u r u n its in use h a u l fro m 1,000 to 1,100 to n s p e r sh ift o v er a ro u n d -trip d istan ce a v e ra g in g 2 m iles. T r a ile r s w ere in stalled also a t the N o. 2 p it, T ig e r m ine, H u m e -S in c la ir C oal M in in g Co., T ig e r, M o., in Ju n e , 1934. T ig e r N o. 2 w as opened in Ju ly , 1930, a n d five tr a ile r u n its (w ith a n a d d itio n al u n it te m p o ra rily b ein g held in re s e rv e ) w ent into o p e ra tio n in Ju n e , 1934, a n d w ill h au l a n a v e ra g e of 2,500 to n s p er sh ift o v er a ro u n d -trip d istan ce a v e ra g in g 2 m iles w h en n o rm a l o p e ra tio n on the p re s e n t shovel location is estab lish ed in the n e a r fu tu re . B ro k e n A rro w N o. 3 (900-1,000 to n s p e r s h if t; a v e ra g e ro u n d -trip h au l, l | m ile s) an d T ig e r N o. 1 (1,800 tons p e r s h if t; a v e ra g e ro u n d -trip h au l, 5£ m iles) a re o p erated w ith steam locom otives a n d cars.
C o n tra ry to co n d itio n s a t th e g e n e ra l ru n o f s trip p in g o p eratio n s, th e M ark T w a in tr a c t is c u t u p by a n u m b e r of sm all stream s, leav in g th e s trip p in g te r rito r y p ro p e r in th e fo rm of “ isla n d s.”
B o th th e M ulky (12-14 in .) a n d the B e v ie r (4 6 in .) seam s a re p re s e n t on th e tr a c t, a n d th e o v e rb u rd e n , fro m the top dow n, co n sists of clay, 5 ft. of lim e
stone a n d 4 ft. of black slate o v er the M ulky. B etw een th e M ulky a n d th e B e v ie r is 13 ft. of blue shale. D ev elo p m en t a t M a rk T w a in w as sta rte d on M a rc h 1, 1932, a n d the first coal w as loaded in Ju n e , tru c k s an d tr a ile rs b ein g used fro m th e s ta r t fo r h a u lin g .coal.
S tr ip p in g o p e ra tio n s o rig in a lly w ere b ased on m a k in g cu ts 60 to 70 ft. w ide dow n to th e B e v ie r seam w ith th e 10- cu.yd. strip p in g shovel, b e g in n in g a t the o u tcro p a n d w o rk in g back u ntil the o v er-
Fig. 1—View in the Pit at Mark Twain, Showing Cleaning Method and Loading Shovels at W ork in the M ulky Seam.
Fig. 2— Loading Coal W ith Skimmer-Type D ipper at Broken A rrow N o. 2.
Fig. 3—T railer H aulage at Broken A rrow , Showing Road Construction.
b u rd e n re a c h e d a m ax im u m depth of a p p ro x im a te ly 55 ft. S ix ty -fo o t holes w ere d rilled in to th e o v e rb u rd e n u n d e r th e M ulky seam in a d v an ce of th e s t r ip p in g u n it by a h o riz o n ta l drill, a n d d y n a m ite a n d black p o w d er w e re u sed to b reak it up. T h e M ulky coal w as d is
c a rd e d w ith th e re s t of the spoil, a n d th e B e v ie r coal w a s loaded, w ith o u t b la s t
ing, by a 2 J-cu .y d . elec tric lo ad in g shovel. A s the B e v ie r seam is divided in to tw o b enches by a 4-in. fireclay p a r t
in g 10 in. above th e bottom , a ctu a l lo a d in g o p eratio n s h av e been b ased on first rem o v in g th e u p p er 36-in. b ench d u r
in g th e d ay sh ift, th e n s trip p in g off th e fireclay a t n ig h t in p re p a ra tio n fo r lo a d ing th e b o tto m 10 in. th e n e x t day.
Recover M ulky Seam A lso T h e h ig h q u a lity of th e M ulky seam m akes its reco v ery desirable, h o w ev er, an d s trip p in g m ethods w e re rev ised w ith th is end in view . A t th e p re s e n t tim e, th e M ulky is first strip p e d an d loaded.
W h e n th e s trip p in g shovel reach es th e end of th e cu t, it is re v e rse d a n d digs dow n to th e B ev ier, re tu rn in g a lo n g th e line of th e u p p e r bench, th e blue shale b ein g deposited on top o f th e spoil bank fro m th e u p p e r b ench a n d allow ed to ru n d o w n th e slope opposite th e cut.
S pecial s p o il-tra n s p o rtin g equipm ent is n ew b ein g b u ilt to reliev e th e s tr ip p in g u n it of th e ta sk of rem o v in g th e blue shale. W h e n installed, th e strip p in g u n it w ill c o n tin u e to u n co v er th e M ulky a s a t p resen t, a n d th e coal w ill be loaded by a l} -c u .y d . g a s-e le c tric shovel. T h e strip p in g u n it w ill be follow ed up b y th e 2 |-c u .y d . shovel now b ein g used fo r lo ad in g coal, w h ich w ill rem ove th e blue shale an d d is c h a rg e it to th e tr a n s p o r t
in g u n it fo r elev a tio n to th e top of th e spoil b an k le f t by th e s trip p in g shovel.
T h e sm all shovel w ill th e n lo ad the B e v ie r coal, a d h e rin g su b s ta n tia lly to th e system o u tlin ed above. In F ig . 1, both th e sm all shovels a re sh o w n lo ad in g th e M u lk y seam . T h e se u n its a rc w o rk in g to g e th e r on ly u n til th e tr a n s p o rtin g eq u ip m en t is installed.
O rig in a l h au la g e eq u ip m en t a t M ark T w a in consisted of 2 -to n tru c k s w ith 6 -to n tr a ile rs of th e co m p an y ’s o w n de
sig n . T h re e o f th ese u n its a r e still in use, b u t w ill be d isco n tin u ed in th e n e a r fu tu re in fa v o r of 7 ^-to n tru c k s a n d 15-
to n tra ile rs , w h ich w e re ad o p ted as s ta n d a rd eq u ip m en t in M ay, 1933. T h e six la rg e a n d th re e sm all u n its, a s in d i
cated above a n d in T a b le I, h au l an a v e ra g e of 1,600 to n s p e r day. M a x i
m um to d a te h a s been 2,200 to n s in
T able I— Physical C onditions, M ajor Equipm ent and O utput at Sinclair Strip M ines
M ark Tw ain Seam s o p e ra te d ...
j
B etfe?Average thickness, inches... i * * 4 6 O verburden, average thickness, fe e t...
Stripping
Elec. shovels. B ucyrus-Erie, 16-cu.yd.. . M arion, 10-cu.yd...
M arion, 9-cu.yd...
Steam shovels, Bucyrus-Erie, 71-cu.yd.
Bucyrus-Erie, 6-cu.yd...
Loading
Elec. shovels, M arion, 5-cu.yd...
M arion, 2 |-c u .y d ...
B ucyrus-Erie, 2J-cu.yd..
Gas-elec. shovels. M arion, lj-o u .y d ...
Steam shovels, B ucyrus-Erie, 2 -y d ...
B ucyrus-Erie, I 1-cu.yd...
Drilling— Overburden
H orizontal drills, S ullivan ...
O ther horizontal d rills...
Cutting and Drilling— Coal C u tte rs ...
C om pressor u n its ...
Haulage
T rucks. A utocar, 7 }-ton ...
M ack , 71-ton ...
W hite, 71-ton ...
In d ian a. 71-ton...
A utocar, 31-ton...
Indiana, 2 -ton...
F ord, 2-ton...
T railers, U nited. 20-ton...
United, 18-ton...
Sanford-D ay. 15 -ton ...
F ruehauf. l> -ton...
Sanford-D ay, 10-ton...
Own m a k t, 6 -ton...
Steam locom otives, 42-ton...
20-ton...
18-ton...
C ars, S anford-D ay, 40-ton...
Sanford-D ay, 15-ton...
A verage haul, round trip , m iles.
Average o u tp u t. 7 hours, t o n s ...
40*
71
1,600
—B roken A rro w - No. 2 N o. 3
Broken Arrow 24 22-23
1,050
, Tigor ^
No. I N o. 2 M ulberry
30 35
1
3
1
1 3» 6
11 51
8 5 0 1,80010 4*
I1
1»1
4*
2 2,500
*Maximum d ep th to Bevier, which is th e b ottom seam ; in terv al between M ulky and Bevier, 13 ft.
»W ith counterbalance. »Aluminum dipper, replacing original 31-yd- steel dipper. 4Used only when de
m and for lum p is good, usually in w inter. »Includes
one spare. »Experim ental diesel-engine u n it. 7T o be replaced w ith 71-ton tru ck s an d 15-ton trailers. »Ex
perim ental alum inum u n it. »Including th re e spares.
'OThis p it operated on second sh ift; N o. 2 operated on first shift.
374 C O A L A G E — Vol.39, No.10
seven h o u rs o v er a ro u n d -trip d istan ce o f 7^ m iles. O v e r th is d istan ce, a v e r
ag e cost p e r to n of coal shipped (in c lu d in g d ep reciatio n in th re e y e a r s ; in te re s t on in v estm en t a t 6 p er c e n t; tire , g a s o line a n d oil c o s t; m a in te n a n c e ; o p e ra t
in g la b o r ; a n d o th e r c h a rg e s ) is 14c.
B o th th e N o. 2 a n d N o. 3 p its a t the B ro k en A rro w m ine o rig in a lly w ere o p erated w ith steam locom otives an d cars, N o. 2 c h a n g in g to tru c k s an d tr a ile rs in S ep tem b er, 1933. T h e B ro k en A rro w seam , a v e ra g in g 24 in. in th ic k ness, is o p erated , a n d th e a v e ra g e th ic k n ess of the o v e rb u rd e n is 22-23 ft., v a r y in g fro m a m in im u m of 16 ft. to a m ax im u m of 30 ft. S u rfa c e soil a g g re g a te s 2 to 16 ft., a n d is u n d e rla id by
6 to 30 in. of lim estone. B etw een the lim esto n e a n d th e coal is a s tra tu m of shale.
S trip p in g eq u ip m en t a t th e N o. 2 pit co n sists o f a steam shovel w ith a 7^- cu.yd. d ip p er, a n d th e coal is loaded by a second steam shovel w ith a 2 -cu.yd.
“ sk im m e r-ty p e ” bu ck et ( F ig . 2 ) . T h is type of d ip p er w a s ad o p ted b ecause of the th in n e ss of th e coal. A 6 -cu.yd.
steam shovel is em ployed in th e N o. 3 p it fo r strip p in g , a n d a second steam u n it w ith a li- c u .y d . d ip p er, also of th e sk im m er type, fo r lo ad in g . O p e ra tion o f b o th p its is based on m a k in g a s trip p in g c u t 65 ft. w ide, th e o v e rb u rd e n b ein g d rilled 50 ft. in a d v an ce of the strip p in g u n its by h o riz o n ta l d rills a n d blasted w ith black o r pellet pow d er—
also used fo r b re a k in g u p th e coal.
S h o rtw a ll m ach in es co n v e rte d fo r v e r tic a l se rv ic e a r e em ployed to c u t the coal, w h ich is d rilled w ith p n eu m atic d rills. A ir fo r th e la tte r is supplied by e lec trically d riv e n p o rta b le co m p resso r u n its.
H a u la g e eq u ip m en t a t B ro k en A rro w N o. 2 consists of tw o 3^-to n tru c k s, each w ith 10-ton tra ile r, a n d tw o 2-to n tru c k s w ith 6 -ton tra ile rs . E a c h u n it m akes a n a v e ra g e o f 33 ro u n d tr ip s p e r sh ift of seven h o u rs. M in im u m ro u n d -trip h au l is 1 m i le ; m ax im u m , 3 m ile s ; a v e ra g e , 2 m iles. N o rm a l p ro d u c tio n of th e p it is 1,000-1,100 to n s in seven h o u rs. P r io r to th e in tro d u c tio n of tru c k s an d tra ile rs , h au la g e eq u ip m en t co n sisted of th re e 18-ton steam locom otives an d 108 4 4 -ton end-dum p p it cars. T h e a v e ra g e tr ip w as 20 c a r s ; m axim um , 30 c a rs. B ro k en A rro w N o. 3 is o p erated w ith tw o steam locom otives (o n e 18- an d one 20-to n ) an d six 15-ton bo tto m -d u m p cars. A v e r ag e ro u n d -trip h au l is m iles, an d
a v e ra g e p ro d u c tio n in seven h o u rs is 800-900 tons. C a rs a re h an d led in tr ip s of th ree.
W ith th e la rg e s t o u tp u t, th e N o . 2 p it a t th e T ig e r o p e ra tio n also h as th e la r g e s t s trip p in g u n it— a n e le c tric shovel w ith a 16-cu.yd. co u n te rb a la n c e d d ip p er.
T h is u n it m akes 70-ft. cu ts in th e o v e r
b u rd e n o v er th e M u lb e rry seam , w hich a v e ra g e s 30 in. in th ick n ess an d is th e h ig h e s t seam , geologically, in M isso u ri.
A v e ra g e th ick n ess of th e o v e rb u rd e n o v er bo th th e N o. 2 a n d N o. 1 p its is 35 ft., and, fro m the top dow n, i t co n sists of su rfa c e soil an d shale, th e la tte r p a rta k in g s tro n g ly of th e c h a ra c te ris tic s of a blue shale. D rillin g in th e o v e r
b u rd en is p e rfo rm e d by h o riz o n ta l d rills, w hich m ake 60-ft. holes 6 in. in d iam eter in f r o n t of th e s trip p in g u n its, a n d th e b u rd en is sh o t w ith 4 0 -p e r ce n t g elatin . T h e strip p in g u n it a t th e N o . 1 p it is a 9-cu.yd. e le c tric shovel. T h e w id th of the s trip p in g c u t in th is p it av e ra g e s 60 ft.
B la stin g to b re a k up th e coal is a sea
so n al a c tiv ity a t th e T ig e r o p eratio n , be
in g done u su ally only in th e w in te r, w h e n th e d em an d fo r lum p is good. A s a t the o th e r tw o S in c la ir o p eratio n s, the coal is first c u t w ith a p p ro p ria te c u ttin g m ach in es a n d is th e n d rilled w ith p n e u m a tic d rills w h ich a re supplied w ith a ir by elec trically d riv e n co m p resso rs. T h e e le c tric co al-lo ad in g shovel in th e N o . 2 p it is equipped w ith a 5-cu.yd. alum inum d ip p e r w ith h y d ra u lic p itch c h a n g e r to p e rm it th e p itch to be accom m odated to v a ria tio n s in th e th ick n ess of th e coal.
O rig in a l equipm ent on th e lo a d in g u n it co n sisted o f a 3^-cu.yd. all-steel dipper.
T h e alu m in u m d ip p e r is equipped w ith m ang an e se-steel teeth an d also w ith m an g an e se-steel w e a rin g s trip s on the bottom . D u rin g th e s ix m o n th s th is d ip p e r h a s b een in o p eratio n , no ex p en se fo r re p a irs h a s been in c u rre d . T h e lo ad in g u n it a t th e N o . 1 p it is a 2 J-cu.yd.
elec tric shovel w ith h o riz o n ta l boom s.
Trucks Replace Locom otives I n J u n e of th is y e a r, th e th re e 42-ton steam locom otives a n d th irte e n 40-ton sta n d a rd -g a g e bo tto m -d u m p c a rs w ere tr a n s fe r re d to th e N o. 1 p it, a n d six tru c k s a n d tr a ile r s w e re in stalled a t N o. 2. A s p o in ted o u t above, five of the com bined u n its a r e in o p e ra tio n , w ith one sp a re . T ru c k s a r e ra te d a t 7■£ tons, an d th e tr a ije r eq u ip m en t co n sists of fo u r 15-ton u n its, o n e 18-ton u n it an d one 20-ton ex p e rim e n ta l a lu m in u m unit.
T h e e x tr a cap acity of th e la tte r w as ob
ta in e d w ith n o in crease in w e ig h t o v er th e 15-ton u n its. W ith all s ix tru c k s w o rk in g , p ro d u ctio n fro m N o. 2 p it w ill a v e ra g e 2,500 to n s per sh ift of seven h o u rs. P re s e n t h a u la g e d ista n c e is 1^ m ile, ro u n d trip , b u t soon w ill a v e r a g e 2 m iles on the te r r ito r y now being developed by th e strip p in g shovel.
T h e steam locom otives a t the N o. 1 p it also h au l to th e N o. 2 p re p a ra tio n p lan t, w hich o p e ra te s tw o sh ifts, th e second s h ift b ein g d evoted to h a n d lin g th e to n n a g e front N o . 1. T e n of th e th irte e n 40-to n c a rs a r e in Use, w ith th re e in reserv e, a n d trip s c o n sist of five c a rs each. A v e ra g e ro u n d -trip haul is 5£ m iles, an d p ro d u c tio n a v e ra g e s 1,800 to n s in seven h o u rs. U se of th e tru c k s on th e second sh ift to h au l fro m N o . 1 is a p o ssibility n ow b ein g c o n sid ered by th e m an ag e m en t.
C lean in g in th e p it a t S in c la ir o p e ra tio n s follow s w ell-estab lish ed p rin ciples. W ir e b ru sh e s, supplem ented by h an d sh o v elin g w h en n e cessary , a re em ployed a t th e M a rk T w a in p lan t, w h ile bulld o zers a n d h a n d sh o v elin g a r e sta n d a r d eq u ip m en t a t B ro k en A rro w a n d T ig e r.
M a rk T w a in is serv ed by a M cN ally - P itts b u rg tipple equipped w ith sh a k e r screen s, p ic k in g tables, lo ad in g boom s and a one-cell P itts b u rg -M o n tg o m e ry j i g fo r w a sh in g th e 1^-in. slack. A co n tr a c t h as been le t fo r a N o rto n w a sh e r to rep lace th e la tte r. T h is w a sh e r, w ith a cap acity of 175 to n s p er h o u r, w ill Fig. 4— Stripping U nit W ith 16-Cu.Yd. Counterbalanced D ipper at
W ork in Tiger N o. 2 Pit.
clean th e m in u s 3-in. coal a n d w ill e n able the p la n t to sh ip l |- i n . ra w a n d w ash ed sc reen in g s, ix l-J - in . ra w an d w ash ed pea, l | x 2 -in. ra w a n d w ash ed n u t, 2x 3 -in . ra w a n d w ash ed n u t, 3x8-in.
ra w egg, 3-in. ra w dom estic lum p, an d m ix tu re s as req u ired . A ll sizes above 1| in. a r e boom loaded.
B o th th e N o. 2 an d N o. 3 p its a t B ro k en A rro w a r e se rv e d by se p a ra te p lan ts, th e fo rm e r w ith a fiv e-track tip ple equipped w ith M a rc u s screen s, p ic k in g tables a n d lo a d in g boom s o v e r th re e tra c k s, as w ell a s a re s c re e n in g p la n t fo r th e p ro d u c tio n o f n u t a n d ch estn u t.
S ta n d a rd sizes a r e : f- in . slack, l ^ x j- i n . ch estn u t, 2 ^ x 1 £ |in . n u t, an d 6x 2V in . eg g an d 6-in. lu m p ; also com binations.
T h e second B ro k en A rro w p re p a ra tio n u n it, fo r th e N o. 3 pit, is a th re e -tra c k a ll-steel M cN ally - P itts b u r g tip p le equipped to load 1^ -in . slack, l J x 2V in . n u t an d 2^ -in . lum p.
A s noted above, bo th T ig e r N o. 1 an d N o. 2 a r e se rv e d by th e sam e p re p a r a tion p lan t, w h ich w o rk s tw o sh ifts. T h is plant, supplied by the U n ite d Ir o n W o rk s Co., is a rr a n g e d to sh ip l j- in . slack, 2 x l i - i n . a n d 3x 2 -in . n u t, a n d 10x3-in. fu rn a c e , as w ell as an y o th e r size d esired . A n o rd e r h a s been placed fo r a N o rto n w a sh e r, w ith a c a p a c ity of 150 to n s p er h o u r, w h ich w ill be em ployed to clean th e l i x 6 -in. size. I t is expected th a t o th e r u n its w ill be added la te r to clean e v e ry th in g .
P r e p a r a tio n p ra c tic e a t th e th re e o p e ra tio n s describ ed in th is a rtic le is d is tin g u ish ed by th e fa c t th a t a t all th e p lan ts the ra w feed is first ru n th ro u g h a c ru s h e r to red u ce excessively la rg e m asses to a reaso n ab le m ax im u m m eas
u rem en t— 12 in. a t M a rk T w a in an d B ro k en A rro w a n d 10 in. a t T ig e r. A d d itio n a l c ru s h in g eq u ip m en t h as been in stalled a t all p lan ts ex c e p t B ro k en A rro w N o. 3 fo r b re a k in g dow n th e la r g e r sizes in tim es of slack dem and.
T r a ile r s re m a in p erm an en tly coupled to the tru ck s, w h ich a re of th e tr a c to r ty p e w ith dual re a r w heels. D u m p in g is s u b sta n tia lly sim ila r in p rin cip le to the fa m ilia r b o tto m -d u m p in g pit ca r, the
bo tto m g a te s b ein g opened w h e n the u n it is o v er th e dum p th ro u g h th e tr ip p in g of latch es p ro je c tin g o u t fro m one side o f th e tr a ile r body. T h e se latch es n o rm ally re s t in th e bottom of s tirr u p s a tta c h e d to th e tr a ile r body ( F i g . 6 ), b u t w h en th e tr a ile r s ta rts o v er the dum p th ey s trik e a n in clin ed trip p in g ra il, w h ich ra ise s th em a n d in tu r n u n latch es th e d oors. A s th e tr a ile r leaves th e dum p, th e d o o rs rid e o v e r a ro lle r w h ich ra ise s them in to la tc h in g p o si
tion, w h e re th e y au to m a tic a lly lock.
C ost o f a com plete u n it, c o n sistin g of a 7 ¿ -to n tru c k a n d a 15-ton tra ile r, is a p p ro x im a te ly $7,200.
R oads, of course, a r e the b ackbone of tr a ile r h au lag e , an d a s such h a v e been th e su b je c t of c a re fu l stu d y a t th e S in c la ir p ro p e rtie s. T h e first step is g r a d in g a n d d ra in in g . W h e re possible, g ra d ie n ts on m ain ro a d s a re held to a m ax im u m of 5 p e r cent, a lth o u g h in c e r ta in cases s h o rt g ra d e s up to 8 p e r cent a re allow ed. A 30-ft. c ro w n is sta n d a rd . A fte r g ra d in g , th e .r o a d is su rfa c e d w ith p ick in g s o r b u rn t sh ale fro m old deep- m in c du m p s to a d ep th of 6 in., fo l
low ed in tu r n by 2 to 3 in. of riv e r g ra v e l. R e g u la r m ain te n a n c e w ith a p o w er m a in ta in e r is th en begun, an d th e ro a d is ru n o v e r u su ally fo r a few m o n th s to sm ooth o u t a n y ir re g u la ritie s.
T h e n e x t step is to w in d ro w th e g ra v e l to one side w ith th e .m a in ta in e r a n d oil w ith “60 a s p h a lt” oil to m ake an
“ o il-m ix ” ro a d . T h e oil m u st be a p plied d u rin g su m m er, w h e n th e h e a t w ill a ss u re p ro p e r p e n e tra tio n . A p p ro x i
m ately 1 g al. p e r sq u a re y a rd is re q u ire d in tw o ap p licatio n s in th e c e n te r of the crow n. A fte r each ap p licatio n , th e p o w er m a in ta in e r is used to m ix th e oil in to th e g ra v e l. A fte r th e second a p p li
catio n , th e ro ad is allo w ed to lie idle fo r five o r six d ays, a n d is th en read y fo r service. N o fu r th e r a tte n tio n is th en n ecessary, ex cep t fo r p a tc h in g such holes as m ay a p p ear, fo r a b o u t a year, w h ereu p o n th e ro a d is g o n e o v e r w ith a sc a rifie r to sm ooth it, a n d th e re a fte r is tr e a te d w ith 1 qt. of oil p er sq u a re y a rd o f su rface. I t is th en good fo r a n
o th e r y e a r of service. C ost of a v e ra g e ro ad of th is type is $2,500 p er m ile, e x clusive of b rid g es. P n e u m a tic tire s a re used to p re v e n t cu p p in g of the su rface.
T h e sp re a d of tr a ile r o p e ra tio n a t S o u th w e ste rn s trip m ines reflects a n u m b er of a d v a n ta g e s w h ich h av e been p ro v ed o u t a t th e S in c la ir p ro p e rtie s h ere described. A m a jo r one is the e lim in a tio n of tra c k la y in g . T h is takes o n added im p o rta n c e as th e coal b e com es th in n e r, as a red u c tio n of h a lf in th e seam th ick n ess, fo r exam ple, doubles the quantity' of tra c k n e cessary fo r a g iv en tonnage. In c re a se d shovel o p e ra t
in g tim e is a n o th e r im p o rta n t benefit, w hich g ro w s o u t of th e fa c t th a t th e re is no delay in tu r n in g th e s trip p in g u n it w hen it reach es th e en d of th e c u t to allow tra c k to be re m o v e d ; in te rfe re n c e betw een h au la g e u n its is e lim in a te d ; an d the presen ce of a go o d a ll-w e a th e r h ig h w ay fa c ilita te s su p e rv isio n by red u c in g
the tim e re q u ire d fo r tra v e lin g an d enables m ain te n a n c e o r re p a ir crew s to re a c h m a c h in e ry in th e p it a n d also b rin g in h eav y p a rts w ith o u t difficulty.
S u p e rv isio n a t S in c la ir p its, it is calc u lated, h as been m ade fo u r tim es as effec
tive by th e in tro d u c tio n of tra ile r equipm ent.
T h e presen ce of a good h ig h w a y also is a help in case of accid en t, as a n in ju r e d m an m ay be b ro u g h t o u t o r m edical a ss ista n c e ta k e n to h im w ith o u t delay. F u r th e r o p e ra tin g a d v a n ta g e s r e s u lt fro m th e fa c t th a t su b s ta n d a rd t e r rito ry can be left w ith o u t in te rfe rin g w ith ro u tin e o p e ra tio n . A lso, it is pos
sible to s trip isolated a re a s th a t o th e r
w ise w ould h a v e to be left, b ecause th e expense of b u ild in g a tra c k to th em w ould be p ro h ib itiv e.
R o u tin e m a in te n a n c e o f tru c k s an d tr a ile rs o ffers n o p a rtic u la r difficulty.
T ru c k s a re w ash ed often en ough to keep them fa irly clean a t all tim es, an d both tru c k s an d tr a ile rs a re oiled an d g re a se d e v ery n ig h t by h o stle rs, w ho also check them fo r m ech an ical defects. O il is ch an g ed e v ery 500 m iles o r so o n er, if req u ired , the in te rv a l d e p en d in g upon th e q u a n tity of d u st en co u n te red .
Fig. 5—-Loading Coal at T iger N o. 2. This Loading U nit Is Equipped W ith a 50-Cu.Yd. Aluminum D ipper.
Fig. 6—T railer Over the D ump at the Tiger T ipple, Showing T ripping Rail and Position of Latch Levers.
i
376 C O A L A G E — Vol.39. No.10
HOW NAOMI REBUILT
+ Its Tipple, A dding a W asher
A n d Replacing Its Incline W ith a Belt
W
H E N , on J u ly 27, 1930, the tipple of N ao m i m ine of the H illm a n Coal & Coke Co., w h ich is located on the M o n o n g ah ela R iv e r a t F a y e tte C ity, P a ., w as b u rn ed to th e g ro u n d , an o p p o rtu n ity w as a ffo rd ed to rep lace it by a s tru c tu r e of m o re m o d ern d esig n th a t w ould reduce lab o r costs, im p ro v e p re p a ra tio n , p r o vide th e re q u ire d m ix in g fa c ilitie s an d la te r p e rm it of coal w ash in g . A coal a re a c o m p risin g a b o u t 250 a c re s of P itts b u rg h seam 80 in. thick, in clu d in g in th a t m e a su re m e n t on ly m inable coal, still rem ain ed u n e x tra c te d .
T h is coal w as b ein g conveyed by elec
tr ic locom otives to th e foot of th e m ine slope a n d lifted to th e su rfa c e by en d less w ire -ro p e h au lag e . T h e n c e it w as conveyed a m ile o v e rla n d by a n e le c tri
cally d riv e n h e a d -a n d -ta il-ro p e system . A lth o u g h th e h ead h o u se h ad n o t been inv o lv ed in th e fire, a new one w as c o n stru c te d a t th e h e a d of the old plane dow n w hich, up to th a t tim e, th e loads h ad been lo w ered to th e tipple and em pties re tu rn e d in tr ip s of five m ine c a rs each. A F a irb a n k s scale now w eig h s th e c a rs in th is h ead h o u se be
fo re th e y a r e d isc h a rg e d by a P h illip s c ro sso v e r dum p in to a feed h o p p er, from w h ich th e ir coal flows on to a 6 -ply belt by w h ich it is c a rr ie d dow n to th e tipple.
B y re p la c in g th e old p lan e w ith th e belt th e d ire c t la b o r of seven m en w as elim in ated , to say n o th in g of th o se e m ployed in th e re p a ir of c a rs an d track , fo r w re c k in g o f c a rs is in ev itab le w ith th e p lan e m ethod of tra n s p o rta tio n . O p e ra tin g co n tin u o u sly , th e re a re no delays w ith a belt such a s a r e inevitable w ith p lanes. W id th of b elt is 36 i n . ; len g th , 960 ft. betw een c e n te rs of head an d ta il p u lle y s; fall betw een h ead h o u se a n d p o in t of d is c h a rg e is 126 ft.;
cap acity of b elt 250 to n s p e r h o u r, all ru n -o f-m in e coal. I t is m ostly laid dow n o n th e su rfa c e of th e old plane a n d is co v ered b y a g a lv a n iz e d -iro n hood in s h o rt sections, secu red on one side by g a l
v an ized b o lts a n d on th e o th e r by hinges.
E ach section can be lifted on the r e m oval of th e bolts, e n ab lin g th e idlers to be lu b ricated by A lem ite p re ssu re - g re a s in g fittings, one of w hich is p ro vided fo r each idler. T h is lu b ric a tio n need be renew ed only once in th re e to s ix m onths. T h e b elt is a c tu a te d by a T e x ro p e d riv e a n d c o n tro lled by a G en e ra l E le c tric solenoid b rak e. A n y e x cess p o w er goes in to th e line.
A r r iv in g a t th e tipple, th e coal is d is c h a rg e d by th e b elt o n to a p rim a ry screen, 6 ft. w ide an d 38 ft. long, 12 ft.
of the u p p er p a r t of th e screen b ein g devoted to th e rem o v al o f n u t a n d slack, an d 8 ft. of th e lo w er end to th e s e p a ra tio n of eg g -size coal. L u m p a n d eg g coal fro m th e p rim a ry screen g o d ire c t to th e ir resp ectiv e p ic k in g tables, w h ich d is c h a rg e them , a fte r h an d -p ick in g , over sh a k e r re s c re e n lo ad ers on to a p ro n -ty p e lo ad in g boom s. H o w ev er, th ey m ay go to th e ir resp ectiv e riv e r a p ro n -ty p e p ick in g tables, fro m w h ich th ey a re d is c h a rg e d s e p a ra te ly on to 36- an d 30-in.
riv e r belts.
A seco n d ary screen , 5 ft. w ide an d 28 ft. lo n g w ith 20 ft. of screen a re a , sep a ra te s stove, n u t an d slack. T h e stove an d n u t can go fro m th ese to stove an d n u t p ick in g tables, a n d th en ce to the b elt-type ra ilro a d lo a d in g boom s. T h ese also h av e a resc re e n w hich loads u n d e r
size on th e sc ra p e r conveyor fo r re m ix in g w ith slack. T h u s, fo u r sizes m ay be picked, rescreen ed an d se p a ra te ly loaded on fo u r se p a ra te ra ilro a d tra c k s, an d in ad d itio n a ch u te d eliv ers slack to a fifth tra c k . C o m b in atio n s of sizes also can be loaded on these track s.
T h e tw o lo ad in g boom s on th e riv e r tipple a re of th e a p ro n ty p e an d a re ra ise d an d low ered by J e ffre y hoists.
T h e ra ilro a d lo a d in g boom s a re lifted a n d d ep ressed to th e ra ilro a d c a rs by P a w lin g & H a rn is c h fe g e r h o ists. T w o B ro w n -F a y ro a n d th re e F a ir m o n t c a r re ta rd e rs place c a rs on the five ra ilro a d tra c k s, a n d fo r m a n e u v e rin g riv e r b arg es up an d dow n stre a m u n d er boom s a M e a d -M o rriso n elec trically o p erated fo u r-d ru m h o ist is provided.
O n e u n u su al fe a tu re is th e m eans of re g u la tin g th e speed a t w hich th e belts ru n w h ich d eliv er coal to th e riv e r tip ple. E a c h is o p erated by a R eeves v a ri- able-speed tran sm issio n . T h e m otor sh a ft h as on it a pulley w ith tw o w edged disks, one on each face of th e pulley, a n d th ese w edges can be m ade by a lev er to a p p ro ach o r recede from each o th er. T h u s, a belt of g iv en w id th w ill re s t on th ese w edges, as th ey revolve a t d iffe re n t d istan ces, d ep en d en t on w h e th e r th e w edges a re close to g e th e r o r f a r a p a rt, p ro v id ed th e belt is s tif
fened a c ro ss its face w h ile flexible a lo n g its len g th . W h e n th e w edges a re close to g e th e r, th e effective pulley d ia m e te r Fig. 1— Five-Truck Rail-and-River Tipple and
Cleaning Plant, N aom i Mine.
October, 1934 — C O A L A G E 377
w ill be la rg e , an d w hen th ey a rc fu r th e r a p a rt, th a t d ia m e te r w ill be sm all.
T o m ake the b elt stiff in th e d ire c tio n d esired , w ood slats, o r cleats, a re placed a c ro ss it on each face of th e belt a t such s h o rt d istan ces fro m each o th e r as w ill n o t d estro y th e flexibility o f th e belt lo n g itu d in ally , a n d these cleats a r e bolted securely. T h e y w ill be seen in F ig . 2 ( a ) . T h e ends of th e sla ts a r e faced w ith le a th e r, an d it is th ese leath er tip s, an d n o t th e b elt itself o r th e slats, w h ich com e in c o n ta c t w ith th e w edged disks on th e pulleys. T h u s , th e d iam e te r ra tio s o f th e pulleys a re m ade to v a ry an d , w ith a c o n sta n t speed of m o to r d riv e, th e pulley a c tu a tin g th e b elt is m ade to m ove a t th e d esired speed. T h e q u a n tity of coal to be d eliv ered v aries, an d consequently it is w ell to h ave the speed of o p e ra tio n v ariab le, fo r d e g ra d a tio n is th u s p rev en ted .
S h a k e r boom lo ad ers d eliv er coal from the tw o belts to th e riv e r boom s, and th ese s h a k e rs also a re o p e ra te d by- R eev es tra n sm issio n s. In cid en tally , th ese belts a re hooded w h e re exposed, like th e lo n g belt fro m h ead h o u se to tipple. T h a t b elt ru n s a t c o n sta n t speed.
B y the use of rescrcen s in fr o n t of all p ick in g tables, a p ro d u c t void of all d e g ra d a tio n p a rtic le s is obtained, and th is h as been found helpful in m a rk e t
in g the coal. R ecen tly a w a sh in g p lan t h a s been added to clean all coal betw een 4-in. an d 1-in. H o w e v e r, th e p re p a r a tio n p la n t is so a rr a n g e d th a t coal may
o r m ay not be p assed th ro u g h th e w a sh e r, ac c o rd in g to m a rk e t dem ands.
A sc ra p e r-ty p e co n v ey o r tak es the 4x1- in. coal fro m th e p rim a ry screen to a 75-to n sto ra g e bin, w hence it is r e m oved by a n a p ro n -ty p e conveyor w hich d is c h a rg e s into a th re e -c o m p a rtm e n t J e ffre y a ir-o p e ra te d jig . A n illu s tra tio n of th is j i g a p p e a re d in th e Ju ly issu e of C oal A g e , p. 295.
A G e n e ra l E le c tric c e n trifu g a l b lo w er d eliv ers th e a ir to a re c e iv e r e x te n d in g a lo n g th e top of the ji g . T h is com p ressed a ir is a d m itte d by s ix valves, tw o fo r each co m p artm en t, w hich p resses dow n on th e w a te r, liftin g it in a tan k , o r “ h u tc h ,” w ith a se m ic irc u la r bottom a g a in s t th e u n d ersid e of th re e p la te screen s of v a ria b le in clin atio n . V alv es a d m it o r release th e a ir so as to cause a p u lsatio n , c a u sin g th e w a te r to rise a n d fall respectively, th u s m ak in g th e coal w h ich re s ts on th e screen plates o f th e th re e co m p a rtm e n ts in to w h ich it is fed to rise a n d fall in u n i
son. T h e h e a v ie r a n d d ir ty coal an d refu se fall to th e bottom o f th e bed an d re s t o n th e screen plate, w ith th e refu se a s th e lo w erm o st s tra tu m . A float, w h ich c a n be a d ju s te d fo r a n y d ep th of refu se su ited to th a t co m p artm en t, floats on th e refu se bed a n d re g u la te s th e speed a t w h ic h a s ta r release, o r
"re fu se d ra w ,” p e rm its th e re fu se to escape, th u s k e ep in g a bed o f re fu se on th e sc re e n of d ep th su ited to th e p a r
tic u la r k in d of coal b ein g w ash ed an d
Fig. 2— (a ) Belt, Laterally Stiffened; (b ) Pulley M ade of Tw o Coned Disks on W hich
Belt Runs.
p re v e n tin g an y good coal fro m being d ra w n off w ith th e refuse.
T h is bed thickness, o r r a th e r th e a d ju s tm e n t of th e float, is a m a tte r fo r te st an d ex p e rie n c e w ith an y kind and q u ality of coal feed. T h e coal en te rs a t one end of th e c o m p a rtm e n t and p asses to th e n e x t an d on to th e th ird ,
b ein g stra tifie d in each by th e a ctio n of the w a te r, an d finally p a ssin g o v e r a w eir. T h e first c o m p a rtm e n t rem oves the h e a v ie r refu se a n d succeed in g com p a rtm e n ts less a n d less h e av y refu se u n til all is rem oved. R efuse fro n t each c o m p a rtm e n t of th e w a sh e r falls to the b ottom of th e se m ic irc u la r ta n k th ro u g h th re e re c ta n g u la r ch am b ers, o r w ells, one fo r each co m p artm en t, an d on re a c h ing th e bottom is lifted by a d ra in in g b u ck et elev a to r a n d d ro p p ed o n to a 24-in. d ra g -ty p e refu se conveyor, w hich, in tu rn , d isc h a rg e s onto th e refu se co n v ey o r of the ra il tipple, w h ich c a rrie s han d -p ick ed m a te ria l fro m th e ra ilro a d tip p le to a refu se bin a d ja c e n t to th e tw o -co m p artm en t dom estic coal bin in th e im m ediate v ic in ity of th e slack tra c k . H e re is a co n v en ie n t a u to m o bile ro a d on w hich a F o rd tru c k can be o p erated an d re fu se taken ab o u t 200 ft.
to th e refu se dum p.
S tre a m lin in g p re v e n ts th e float in th e j i g by w h ich th e refu se d ra w is o p e r
ate d fro m in te rfe rin g m easu rab ly w ith th e flow of coal b ein g w ashed. A screw w ith fo rce-feed lu b ric a tio n w ith d ra w s fine m a te ria l, w hich falls th ro u g h the sc re e n plate in each c o m p a rtm e n t to th e bottom o f th e h u tc h an d d eliv ers it to each of th e th re e bu ck et elev a to rs. B y a ir co n tro l, a u to m a tic refu se co n tro l
Fig. 3— Belt Conveyors From Rail Tipple to Barge Loading Booms.
Fig. 4— Speed Regulation of Belts D elivering Coal to R iver Tipple.
378 C O A L A G E — Vol.39,No.l0
a n d a d ju s tm e n t of scre e n -p la te in c lin a tions, co n d itio n s a r e o b tain ed fav o rab le to e x a c t s tra tific a tio n by g ra v itie s an d co n seq u en tly e x a c titu d e in clea n in g .
B ecau se o f th e ex tre m e ly ir re g u la r o p e ra tio n a n d th e s h o rt tim e th e p lan t h as been in serv ice, d etails as to a n a ly sis of th e w ash ed coal an d as to coal in re fu se w ould n o t be of suffi
c ien tly lo n g d u ra tio n to a tte s t th e value of th e p rocess, b u t a noticeable im p ro v e
m en t in th e coal is q u ite a p p a re n t.
C oal fro m the th re e -c o m p a rtm e n t u n it co m p risin g 150 to n s p e r h o u r g oes to d e w a te rin g screens, an d th en ce to a s c ra p e r-ty p e conveyor, w h ich d isc h a rg e s o n to th e seco n d ary screen s in th e ra il
ro a d tipple, w h ere th e coal is sized, and d e g ra d a tio n p ro d u c ts la r g e r th a n those tra p p e d on th e d e w a te rin g screen s a re rem oved. I t flows th en ce as a lre a d y d escrib ed . S lu d g e fro m th e d e w a te rin g process, sm all in q u a n tity a n d solely fro m d e g ra d a tio n , is rem oved fro m the sludge tan k , in w h ich it h as collected, by a d ra g -ty p e conveyor, w ith c ro s s
b a rs ab o u t 18 ft. long, w hich m ove slow ly ov er th e bottom of th e tank.
T h is slu d g e is dep o sited on a sm all belt c o n v ey o r 16 in. w ide, w h ich d ro p s it on to th e slack co n v ey o r in th e ra ilro a d tipple. I t m u st be rem em b ered th a t no coal goes to th e jig s of less th a n 1-in.
diam eter. C onsequently, th e re is such a little slu d g e as n o t to ra ise p e r
cep tib ly th e p e rc e n ta g e of w a te r in the slack w ith w h ic h it is m ixed.
A le m ite fittin g s a re u sed on th e ru n - of-m ine belt, as stated , an d on th e tw o riv e r belts. B osch a u to m a tic g re a s e lu b ric a tio n is used fo r th e jig . A ll o th e r lu b ric a tio n is by co m p ressio n -ty p e g re a s e cups. B y e rs w ro u g h t-iro n g a l
v a n iz e d sh eets a re placed on th e bottom of th e riv e r-b e lt c o n v ey o r g a lle ry be
tw een it an d the tra c k s of the P it ts b u rg h & L a k e E r ie R .R . to p ro te c t the s tru c tu r e a g a in s t th e c o rro siv e gases fro m th e stack s of th e ra ilro a d locom o
tives. T h e e n tire im p ro v em en t, in clu d in g bo th tipples, th e w a sh e ry a n d the belt fro m th e h eadhouse, w as designed a n d c o n stru cte d by th e J e f fre y M a n u fa c tu rin g Co., w ith th e e x c ep tio n of the fo u n d atio n s fo r th ese b u ild in g s and the p ilin g in th e riv e r.
A t p resen t, r iv e r w a te r is b e in g used fo r w ash in g . A co n n ectio n w ith the local w a te r supply is b ein g co n stru cte d . W h e n it is finished, a filtered w a te r su p ply w ill be affo rd ed w hich w ill be a v a il
able also fo r fire p ro tectio n . T o red u ce th e dust, th e coal as it is d isc h a rg e d fro m th e ru n -o f-m in e belt a t th e foot of th e hill is dam pened by th re e h ig h - p re s su re sp ra y s. I t is a h ig h -v o latile coal, a n d th e d u st fro m it is h ig h ly e x plosive a n d m ig h t be ig n ite d if it reach ed the needed co n c e n tra tio n . T h re e such sp ra y s also a re u sed on th e end of th e d e w a te rin g screen s in th e w a sh e r to rem o v e fine coal a n d keep the coal lu stro u s. F o r th e m o st p a rt, T e x ro p e s . a re u sed fo r th e tra n sm issio n of p ow er from m o to rs to o p e ra tin g u n its, th e full connected load of all m o to rs b ein g 300 hp. T h e r e a re , h o w ev er, som e ch ain d riv e s a n d th e R eeves d riv e s a lread y described. P o w e r com es to th e p la n t as 2 ,200-volt, 60-cycle, a lte rn a tin g c u rre n t fro m th e lin es of th e W e s t P e n n P o w e r Co. a n d is stepped dow n on th e p o w er co m p an y ’s tra n s fo rm e rs to 440 volts.
T h e e n tire system is in terlo ck ed so th a t no u n it can p ass coal on to eq u ip m en t o p erated by a n o th e r m o to r unless th a t eq u ip m en t is ru n n in g an d can tak e c a re of it.
A ll elec trical co n tro l eq u ip m en t is m ounted in fo u r g ro u p s c o n sistin g of
d u s t-tig h t steel cabinets, each c o n ta in in g W e stin g h o u se D e -Io n c irc u it b reak ers, m a g n e tic s ta rte r s , p u sh b u tto n co n tro l sw itch es an d selecto r sw itches re q u ire d fo r all m o to rs located a t the re sp e c tiv e locations. O ne g ro u p lo c a te d in th e ra il tipple betw een th e lum p an d e g g p ic k in g tab les co n tro ls tw en ty m o to rs u sed in o r a d ja c e n t to th e ra il tipple. O ne g ro u p located in th e riv e r tipple c o n tro ls six m o to rs used a t th is p o in t. A th ird g ro u p , located in the c le a n in g p lan t, co n tro ls the n in e m o to rs used in th a t p lan t. A fo u rth g ro u p is located in the h eadhouse fo r c o n tro llin g th e feed er a n d ru n -o f-m in e belt.
A ll d riv e s a re in terlo ck ed in a co n tin u o u s sequence c o rre sp o n d in g to the flow of coal. A n y u n it can be c u t out of sequence by m ean s of selector sw itch es used in c o n ju n c tio n w ith each
“ s t a r t” b u tto n . A ll co n tro l g ro u p s w ere com pletely assem bled, w ire d an d tested a t th e fa c to ry , read y fo r co n n ect
in g th e m o to r feed lines. T h e cab in ets w ere b u ilt a n d w ired by th e P e n n E le c tric a l Co. T h e use of th ese cab in ets h as enabled th e co n tro l to be p u t in g re a tly red u ced space an d h a s elim i
n a te d m an y of th e fa ilu re s to w h ich an exposed panel w ould be su b ject. A D e L a v a l low -head, h ig h -c a p a c ity , screw - p ro p e lle r pum p supplies w a te r fo r the jig -
B o th tipple a n d w a sh e r a re of all- steel co n stru c tio n , in clu d in g th e tre stle on w hich th e ru n -o f-m in e b elt m akes its a p p ro ach to th e tipple. T h e only e x cep tio n s a re th e w ood floors. C o r
ru g a te d steel is used fo r ro o f an d w alls.
A ll w indow fra m e s a re of steel, an d the la rg e sk y lig h ts a re of w ire -m e sh glass.
U n it h e a te rs a n d steam coils w ill be p ro v id ed in the w a sh e r a n d steam coils in th e tipple a n d a t lo ad in g points.
Fig. 5— Showing Belt-Conveyor H ousing From Head H ouse to Rail Tipple.
CODE-CONTROL PLAN
+ Still W id e ly Favored by Operators W h o Score Weaknesses in Enforcement
H
O W D O E S th e b itu m in o u s co alm in in g in d u s try re g a r d its N R A code of fa ir co m p etitio n a fte r w o rk in g u n d e r its p ro v isio n s fo r one y e a r? D esp ite th e d isap p o in tm en ts a n d d isillu sio n m en ts w h ich h av e been cro w d ed in to th e tw elv e m o n th s since th e code w en t in to effect on O ct. 2, 1933, m a jo rity sen tim en t a m o n g coal- cotnpany e x ecu tiv es w ith m ines e a s t of th e M ississip p i R iv e r still in d o rses th e code as a d is tin c t benefit to th e in d u s
tr y a n d w ish es to see th e co de-control idea co n tin u ed in som e fo rm a fte r the e x p ira tio n of N IR A . E n th u sia sm is less g e n e ra l, h o w ev er, in th e R ocky M o u n tain S ta te s an d m a jo rity o pinion in th e S o u th w e st is h o stile to e x te n d in g code co n tro l beyond its p resen t s ta tu to ry lim itatio n s.
B u t even in th o se sections of the c o u n try w h e re sen tim en t la rg e ly fa v o rs th e code plan, c ritic ism of a c tu a l e n fo rcem en t— o r lack of en fo rcem en t— is w idespread. T h is c ritic ism is d irected n o t on ly a g a in s t N R A officials and o th e r g o v e rn m e n ta l ag en cies upon w hich final resp o n sib ility fo r se c u rin g com pliance fro m th e re c a lc itra n ts de
volves, b u t also is tu rn e d a g a in s t th e code a u th o ritie s se t u p by th e in d u s try itself. C oal m en w ho do n o t s it in code a d m in is tra tio n councils a re n o t th e only o nes w ho find fa u lt w ith e x is tin g w e a k n esses in e n fo rc e m e n t; som e o p e ra to rs w ho a re m em bers of d iv isio n al an d sub- d iv isio n al code a u th o ritie s a re equally c ritic a l in re v ie w in g th e sh o rtco m in g s of code a d m in is tra tio n . N o sm all p a rt of th e resp o n sib ility fo r th e fa ilu re to secu re m o re effective com pliance, in th e o pinion of one spokesm an fo r th is la tte r g ro u p , can be tra c e d to n eg lec t upon th e p a r t o f code a u th o ritie s in se ttin g up th e n e c e ssa ry m a c h in e ry a n d to th e ir
"u n w illin g n e ss to ‘t u r n i n ’ th e c h is e le rs.”
C ode Support U nderm ined A lth o u g h m ost of th e cotie v io latio n s a r e asc rib e d to sm all w a g o n m ines, fa ilu re to ta k e p u n itiv e a c tio n a g a in s t th em h a s been u n d e rm in in g th e su p
p o rt the code h as received fro m o p er
a to rs in g e n e ra l sy m p ath y w ith th e co n tro l p ro g ra m . T h e se c o n tin u ed in fra c tio n s an d th e c o n sta n t n ib b lin g aw ay a t th e m a rk e ts of p ro d u c e rs w ho h av e been ob ey in g th e code, d ecla res an ex ecu tiv e close to code a d m in is tra tio n w o rk in th e R o ck y M o u n ta in S ta te s, h as re su lte d in a c o n d itio n w h e re c e r
ta in of th e la r g e r o p e ra to rs a re e ith e r openly v io la tin g the p rice a n d fa ir- tra d e -p ra c tic e p ro v isio n s of the code o r c o n tem p latin g such actio n . If th is m ovem ent sp read s, d e stru c tio n of the la b o r p ro v isio n s ev en tu a lly w ill follow .
“ O n ly the p ro m p t a ctio n of N R A officials c h a rg e d w ith code en fo rcem en t an d th e litig a tio n of e n fo rcem en t p ro b lem s u n d e r th e code can successfully sav e th e situ atio n . A c tio n s a g a in s t v io la to rs o f th e code m u st be p ro m p tly b ro u g h t in th e c o u rts a n d c a rrie d to a successful te rm in a tio n if th e code is to be saved. T h e th r e a t of possible litig a tio n is no lo n g e r effective.”
Stabilization Stressed
In a ssa y in g th e benefits of th e code, p ric e an d w age sta b iliz a tio n loom la rg e . T h e g e n e ra l consensus of o p in io n is th a t one c a n n o t su rv iv e w ith o u t th e o th e r. B ecau se th e re h a v e been so m any ch an g es in N R A policy on p rice-fix in g ; h o w ev er, fe a r is e x p ressed by som e o p e ra to rs th a t th e p ric e p ro te c tio n now affo rd ed by th e code m ay be w ith d ra w n a t a n y tim e by a d m in is tra tiv e o rd e r.
S u ch a w ith d ra w a l, it is contended, w ould e n c o u ra g e a re tu rn to th e ch ao tic co n d itio n s w h ich p rev ailed in m a n y p ro d u c in g fields p rio r to th e o rg a n iz a tio n o f d is tric t sales ag en cies an d th e es
ta b lish m en t of N R A . F o r these reaso n s, w hile th e ac tu a l p ric e s tru c tu r e s an d p ric e -fix in g m ethods n ow in effect do n o t m eet w ith u n iv e rsa l ap p ro b a tio n , m o st p ro d u c e rs a r e firm ly convinced th a t som e fo rm o f c o n tin u in g p ric e re g u la tio n an d c o rre la tio n is n ecessary to p re v e n t a re v iv a l o f c u tth ro a t com p e titio n th a t ro b s bo th cap ital an d lab o r of th e ir ju s t re w a rd s.
T h e se g e n e ra l co n clu sio n s a re based upon a re c e n t su rv ey in w h ich th e e d i
to r s of Coal A g e so u g h t a re p re s e n ta tiv e cro ss-sectio n of th e th in k in g of e x ecu tiv es in th e b itu m in o u s-m in in g in d u s try on th e effects of N R A on th e y e a r's o p e ra tio n an d w h e th e r som e fo rm of code co n tro l should be in v o k ed a fte r N IR A had e x p ire d by s ta tu to ry lim ita tio n n e x t Ju n e . T h e se ex ecu tiv es fro m all th e m a jo r p ro d u c in g fields th r o u g h o u t th e c o u n try w ere a sk e d :
( 1 ) W h e re h as th e b itu m in o u s code helped— an d w h y ?
( 2 ) W h e re h as th e code h u r t— and w hy ?
( 3 ) W h a t a re th e stro n g p o in ts of the co d e?
( 4 ) W h e re in do its w eak n esses lie?
( 5 ) I io w h as th e code been a d m in iste re d an d en fo rced ?
( 6 ) W h a t h av e been its effects on coal-com pany p ro fits o r e a rn in g s ?
( 7 ) H o w h as th e code affected the a c tu a l e a rn in g s of la b o r?
( 8 ) H a s it added m o re m en to the p a y ro ll ?
( 9 ) W o u ld you like to see th e code idea co n tin u ed a fte r th e e x p ira tio n of N I R A and, if so, in w h a t fo rm ?
W est Less Enthusiastic
A s in d icated in th e o p en in g p a r a g ra p h , th e resp o n ses show ed th e g r e a t
est su p p o rt fo r th e code in th e p ro d u c in g S ta te s e a st of th e M ississip p i R iv er.
In th e S o u th w est, th e im p o sitio n o f the sev e n -h o u r d a y b y th e “ em e rg e n c y ” o rd e r o f M a rc h 31, 1934, an d th e sim u l
tan eo u s attem jpt to ju m p th e basic day ra te fo r skilled inside la b o r fro m a m in i
m um of $3.75 fo r e ig h t h o u rs to $4.60 fo r sev en h o u rs still ra n k le s d esp ite th e la te r N R A com prom ise o rd e rs on $4 an d
$4.35. T h e fa ilu re o f th e code to p ro vide fo r a n y flex ib ility o f h o u rs w h ich w ould p e rm it th e m ines d ep en d in g upon seasonal d om estic dem ands to a b so rb th e bulk of th e ir o u tp u t to w o rk in e x cess of 35 h o u rs fo r lim ited p erio d s of th e y e a r also co n tin u es to be a so re point.
T h is in flex ib ility also is re s e n te d in
