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H E N E W S P A P E R S in d e s c rib in g th e s t r i k e a g t e Q m e n t n e g o tia tio n s in N e w Y o rk , r e f e r r e d to “ th e m in e r s ’ m o s t i n s is te n t d e m a n d , th e check-off.” T h is i llu s tr a te s a n in e x a c tn e s s o f th o u g h t a n d c o n s e q u e n t' p h ra s e o lo g y w h ic h sh o u ld b e n o te d . T h e check-off is n o t th e in s is te n t d e m a n d o f th e m in e r s : i t is th e i n s i s t e n t d e m a n d o f th e o rg a n iz e d m in e r s ’ u n io n — t h a t is to sa y , o f th e le a d e rs th e r e o f . N o m in e r e v e r d e s ire d to m a k e a n a tio n a l is s u e to fo rc e h is e m p lo y e r to a b s t r a c t h is u n io n d u e s f r o m h is p a y en v elo p e b e fo re h a n d in g i t o v e r to h im , on th e p le a t h a t h e w a s to o in d if f e r e n t o r w e a k o r to o u n f a v o r a b le to th e u n io n , to p a y h is d u es, once h e g o t th e m o n e y in h is je a n s . T h e d e m a n d f o r th e check-off is n o t t h e d e m a n d o f th e m in e r a g a i n s t th e o p e ra to r, b u t th e d e m a n d o f th e u n io n officials a g a i n s t th e m in e r . I t is a n in d ic tm e n t o f th e m in e r a s u n in te llig e n t a n d in c a p a b le o f h a n d lin g h is o w n f u n d s ; a n d is a s u r v iv a l o f th e im p o r ta tio n o f c h e a p f o r e ig n la b o r in th e coal in d u s tr y , o f a ty p e t h a t n e e d e d to be b r o w b e a te n b y u n io n le a d e rs a n d em p lo y e rs a lik e , a n d f o r c ib ly a lig n e d in to a u n io n th e y d id n o t u n d e r s ta n d , a n d w h ic h th e y d id n o t h a v e th e in te llig e n c e a n d in d e p e n d e n c e to s u p p o rt, o r to d is a p p ro v e .In d e e d , th e r e h a s b e e n th r e e p a r tie s , n o t tw o , to th e w h o le a n t h r a c i t e s t r i k e — th e o p e r a to r s , th e u n io n , a n d th e m in e r s . T h e s t r i k e o r g a n iz e r s c a n h a v e h a d no illu s io n s t h a t th e y w e re to b r i n g a b o u t a n e t fin a n c ia l g a in to th e m in e r s a n y m o re t h a n to th e o p e r a to r s ; t h e y m u s t h a v e k n o w n t h a t th e m o n e y lo s t to b o th s id e s w o u ld n e v e r b e re c o v e re d in a n y r e a d ju s tm e n t.
W h a t t h e y h o p e d f o r w a s a g a in to th e u n io n a s th e p r ic e p a id b y th e ir r e t r i e v a b l e eco n o m ic lo ss to th e in d u s tr y , s u s ta in e d b y b o th th e r e a l la b o r in g f a c to r s in th e s t r a t e g y — th e o p e r a tin g m in e r a n d th e w o rk in g m in e r .
to c o m p e n sa te f o r th e in c r e a s e d s a f e t y o f t h e U n io n p a c ific C oal Co.’s m in e s.
B u t th e c o m p a n y d e s ir e s a f u r t h e r m e a s u r e o f s a f e ty .
“ C a n d o r,” s a y s E . C. M cA u liffe, th e p r e s id e n t o f th e co m p a n y , “ co m p els th e s ta te m e n t t h a t th e d e a th o f a t le a s t tw o m e n could h a v e b e e n fo re s e e n a n d a v o id ed . T h e y b o th d ie d b e c a u s e o f o u r f a i l u r e a s m a n a g e r s to see t h a t th e 3 0 -in . t r a c k c le a ra n c e re c e n tly a d o p te d in o u r B ook o f S ta n d a r d s w a s m a in ta in e d .”
S p e a k in g a b o u t r e s p o n s ib ility f o r a c c id e n ts , h e s a y s t h a t h e “h a s a d ee p a n d a b id in g b e lie f t h a t le ss t h a n te n p e r c e n t o f th e m in e f a t a l i t i e s w h ic h o c c u r c a n be c h a rg e d w h o lly to th e v ic tim .” T h e r e is m u c h to be s a id in r e g a r d to t h i s c o n tr ib u to r y n e g lig e n c e o f th e em p lo y er. T h e em p lo y ee is so m e tim e s on ly p a r t l y to b lam e, th o u g h t h a t p a r t m a y be 90 p e r c e n t o f th e w hole. T h e r e s t o f th e f a u l t is t h a t o f th e e m p lo y e r w ho h a s n o t m a d e i t su ffic ie n tly difficult f o r th e e m ployee to i n j u r e h im s e lf b y c a re le s s n e s s .
T h e a c c id e n ts d u e to la c k o f c le a ra n c e seem to b e o f t h a t c h a r a c te r . T h e tw o f r o m f a lls o f ro o f, a c c o rd in g to M r. M cA uliffe, w e re n o t, a n d th e o n e f r o m f a ilu r e to w a it tw e n ty m in u te s on a s h o t c a n o n ly be p la c e d on th e m a n a g e m e n t b y h o ld in g t h a t th e m e n w e re i n su ffic ie n tly in s tr u c te d .
I n th e in te r m in g lin g c a u s e s t h a t r e s u l t in a n a c c id e n t th e o p e r a to r does w ell to b e w a re le s t h e find h e h a s a p a r t, h o w e v e r sm a ll. I t o f te n ta k e s a h a lf dozen c o n t r i b u t i n g c a u s e s to m a k e a n a c c id e n t.
L e is u r e M o re F a ta l T h a n L a b o r
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N T H E J a n u a r y is s u e o f th e E m p lo y e e s ’ M a g a z in e , o f t h e U n io n P a c ific C oal Co., i t is s ta te d t h a t in th e y e a r j u s t p a s t t h e r e w e re f o u r f a t a l a c c id e n ts in th e c o m p a n y ’s W y o m in g m in e s a n d o n e in i ts m in e a t T o n o , W a sh . I n c o n t r a s t w i t h t h i s r e c o rd s ix e m p lo y ees o f th e W y o m in g m in e s o f th e c o m p a n y w e re k ille d in a u to m o b ile a c c id e n ts , on e em p lo y ee w a s m u r d e r e d a n d o n e c o m m itte d su ic id e . T w ic e a s m a n y m e t t h e i r d e a th s b y a c c id e n t, th e r e f o r e , in t h e i r n o n -w o rk - in g tim e a s lo s t t h e i r liv e s in th e m in e . F u r t h e r m o r e , in t h e “ w id e o p en s p a c e s ” o f s o u th e r n W y o m in g , w h e re , b y th e w a y , t h e ro a d s , th o u g h m o s tly o f d i r t , a r e e x c e lle n t, th e r e is le ss e x c u se f o r a c c id e n t t h a n in c ro w d e d c itie s . A p p a r e n tly b o o tle g liq u o r w a s a c a u s e o f som e, a t le a s t, o f th e s e f a t a l i t i e s .T h e r e w e r e t h i r t e e n f a t a l i t i e s in t h e c o m p a n y ’s m in e s in 1921, e ig h t in 1922, s ix te e n in 1923, n in e in 1924, a n d o n ly five in 1925. T h u s th e a u to m o b ile d id its p a r t
W e E x te n d O u r S e r v ic e
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H E W ID E R A N D C L O S E R a p u b lis h in g h o u se can m a k e i ts c o n ta c ts w ith th e i n d u s tr ie s i t s e rv e s , th e m o re v a lu a b le t h a t s e rv ic e b eco m es. T h is w a s a n a c t u a tin g in flu en ce m o v in g th e M c G ra w -H ill Co., In c . to p u r c h a s e th e K e y s to n e a n n u a l c a ta lo g s w h ic h h a v e b een s t a n d a r d r e f e r e n c e a n d d a ta b o o k s in th e coal a n d m e ta l m in in g i n d u s tr ie s f o r y e a r s . F u ll a n n o u n c e m e n t o f t h i s p u r c h a s e is m a d e in th e n e w s p a g e s a t t h e e n d o f t h i s issu e .Coal m in in g m e n on th e o ne h a n d a n d e q u ip m e n t m a n u f a c tu r e r s on th e o th e r w h o r e a d Coal A g e a r e w ell a w a r e o f t h e i r ow n c o m m u n ity o f i n te r e s t. E a c h one p ro fits m o s t w h o m a k e s b e s t u se o f th e o p p o r tu n itie s th e o th e r o ffe rs. E d u c a tio n a l w o rk c o r r e la tin g th e e ffo r ts o f b o th h a s a lw a y s b e e n c o n s id e re d b y t h i s m a g a z in e to be a n i m p o r ta n t p a r t o f its e d u c a tio n a l ta s k . T h e r e f o r e i t is e m in e n tly f ittin g t h a t t h e p u b lis h e r s o f C oal A g e sh o u ld e x te n d th e s e c o r r e la tin g a c tiv itie s , is s u in g n o t on ly th e m a g a z in e b u t a lso th e m o s t c o m p le te r e f e r e n c e b o o k s o f th e in d u s tr y .
C o n t r o l o f R a i l r o a d s S u g g e s t s a n d , in a se n se , d e m a n d s c o n tro l o f m o to r tr u c k s , b u s e s a n d s im ila r c a r r i e r s . T h e r e g u la tio n o f co al m a k e s r e a s o n a b le th e c o n tr o l o f oil, coke a n d o th e r s u b s t i t u t e s . T h u s f r o m one s te p p in g s to n e to a n o t h e r w e a d v a n c e to s o c ia lis m .
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F T H E T E S T o f a n a c c e p ta b le s o lu tio n o f th e a n t h r a c ite la b o r d e a d lo c k is t o b e t h e p u b lic i n t e r e s t , th e p r o g r a m p ro p o s e d b y A lv a n M a rk le , c h a ir m a n o f th e jo i n t w a g e c o n fe re n c e , a t N e w Y o rk la s t w e e k m e r its e a r n e s t a n d s y m p a th e tic c o n s id e r a tio n . I n b r ie f , t h a t p r o g r a m w o u ld e n c o m p a s s : (1 ) A tr u c e p r o v id in g f o r a n im m e d ia te r e s u m p tio n o f m in in g a t th e 1923-25 sc a le w h ile th e m a c h in e r y f o r p e r m a n e n t p ea c e w a s b e in g g e a r e d f o r a c tio n ; (2 ) a lo n g -te rm a g r e e m e n t, w ith flex ib le w a g e s , a n d a b a r a g a i n s t s t r i k e s o r locko u ts ; a n d , ( 3 ) im p a r tia l d e te r m in a tio n o f th e eco n o m ic f a c t s u p o n w h ic h w a g e s sh o u ld b e b a s e d . I t w o u ld p r e s e r v e to b o th e m p lo y e r a n d em p lo y ee th e f u lle s t o p p o r tu n ity f o r s e lf - d e te r m in a ti o n o f all is s u e s a n d in v o k e o u ts id e a id o n ly a f t e r th e r e s o u r c e s o f c o n c ilia tio n a n d d ir e c t n e g o tia tio n h a d b e e n e x h a u s te d .
A n e a r ly r e s u m p tio n o f m in in g — i f i t c a r r i e s w ith i t th e a s s u r a n c e o f p e r m a n e n t p e a c e — is c le a rly in th e p u b lic i n t e r e s t . A lo n g -te rm a g r e e m e n t m e e ts th e e x p r e s s e d d e s ir e s o f b o th o p e r a to r s a n d m in e r s . W h e re t h e y d if f e r is on th e q u e s tio n o f r i g i d w a g e scales.
W ith n e i t h e r s id e d is p o s e d to r e s p e c t th e f a c tu a l s t a t e m e n ts o f th e o th e r , i m p a r tia l d e te r m in a tio n o f th e b a s ic d a t a se e m s th e p r o p e r c o u rs e . In d e e d , i f s u c h d e t e r m in a tio n d id n o th in g m o re t h a n d is s ip a te th e m u tu a l s u s p ic io n e n te r t a i n e d b y m in e r s a n d o p e r a to r s a n d th e p u b lic d i s t r u s t o f b o th sid e s, i t w o u ld be w ell w o r th th e c o st. T h a t a n a g r e e m e n t r e a c h e d w ith o u t th e i n t e r v e n tio n o f a n o u ts id e a g e n c y is p r e f e r a b le to th e p a r t i e s d ir e c tly c o n c e rn e d a n d p ro m o te s h a r m o n io u s la b o r r e l a tio n s h ip s is to o o b v io u s f o r c o m m e n t.
B u t f o u r m o n th s o f in a c t i v i t y h a v e d e m o n s tr a te d t h a t s u c h a n a g r e e m e n t w ith in r e a s o n a b le tim e lim its is n o t a lw a y s p o s s ib le . T h e M a rk le p r o g r a m a n d e v e ry o t h e r p la n s u g g e s te d s in c e th e f ir s t b r e a k in n e g o tia tio n s l a s t s u m m e r re c o g n iz e t h i s . I n m e e tin g t h i s c o n tin g e n c y , h o w e v e r, w e f e a r t h a t a la u d a b le s p i r i t o f c o m p ro m is e h a s led th e a u t h o r o f t h e M a r k le p la n to c o n c e d e to o m u c h to th e s e n s itiv e n e s s o f th e u n io n s p o k e s m e n . M r. M a rk le w o u ld c r e a te a f a c t- f in d in g c o m m is s io n o f n in e w ith m e m b e r s h ip e q u a lly d iv id e d b e tw e e n t h e m in e r s , th e o p e r a to r s a n d th e p u b lic . U p o n th e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e la s t- n a m e d g r o u p w o u ld d ev o lv e th e t a s k o f i n i t i a t i n g a r e p o r t a n d re c o m m e n d a tio n s , b u t t h i s g r o u p w o u ld v o te o n ly in th e e v e n t t h a t th e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e o p e r a to r s a n d t h e m in e r s f a ile d to a g r e e . I n t h a t e v e n t, th e p u b lic r e p r e s e n t a tiv e s w o u ld v o te on d is p u te d p o in ts w ith t h e o th e r s ix a n d a m a j o r i t y v o te o f th e n in e w o u ld d e c id e t h e is s u e s .
M r. M a rk le h a s s a id to th e m in e r s t h a t t h i s is n o t a r b i t r a t i o n , b u t a n e x te n s io n o f th e p la n o f o p e r a tio n o f th e A n t h r a c i t e B o a r d o f C o n c ilia tio n , w i t h t h r e e u m p ir e s i n s te a d o f o ne. I t is e a s y to u n d e r s ta n d t h e c h a i r m a n ’s r e lu c ta n c e to d a m n h is p r o je c t w ith a d e s c r ip tio n so h a t e f u l to th e m in e r s . N e v e rth e le s s , w e t h i n k t h a t M r. L e w is a n d h is a s s o c ia te s a r e c o r r e c t w h e n t h e y d e s c rib e i t a s a r b i t r a t i o n u n d e r a n o th e r n a m e . T h e p la n lo se s n o n e o f i t s f o r c e b y b o ld ly s t a t i n g w h a t i t is. S o o n e r o r l a t e r t h e u n io n w ill h a v e to r e v e r t to i t s e a r l i e r p o s itio n w h e n i t w a s a s ta u n c h a d v o c a te o f a r b i t r a t i o n . W e m ig h t j u s t a s w ell f a c e t h e f a c t s n o w a s l a te r . S u g a r - c o a tin g t h e p ill w ill d e c e iv e n o o n e : n e i t h e r w ill i t sp e e d a c c e p ta n c e .
T h e r e is, h o w e v e r, a r e a l o b je c tio n to t h e p la n a s p r o p o s e d . T h e m o d u s o p e r a n d i o u tlin e d p r o m is e s to b e m o r e p r o v o c a tiv e o f d is s e n s io n t h a n o f h a r m o n y . I n
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th e f ir s t in s ta n c e , th e p u b lic^ r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s s u b m it a r e p o r t to t h e i r fe llo w -c o m m is s io n e rs . I f i t co u ld be a s s u m e d t h a t t h i s r e p o r t w o u ld b e a p p ro v e d b y b o th o p e r a to r s a n d m in e r s , all w o u ld be w ell. T h e re a s o n a b le a s s u m p tio n , a la s , p o in ts to a c o n t r a r y c o n c lu sio n . I n th e en d , th e d e c id in g v o te r e s t s w ith th e p u b lic g r o u p , b u t t h a t v o te is c a s t o n ly a f t e r o p in io n o f th e c o n te n d in g p a r t i e s h a s becom e fro z e n . B itte r n e s s , d o u b t a n d s u s p ic io n a r e e n c o u ra g e d a n d th e d e f e a te d s id e is m o re c o n v in c e d o f th e j u s tic e o f i t s c a u s e t h a n i f i t h a d n e v e r g o n e on f o r m a l re c o rd .
F o r t u n a t e l y t h i s d e f e c t is n o t ir r e m e d ia b le . S in c e t h e p u b lic g r o u p m u s t c o n tro l, w h y n o t d iv o rc e i t e n tir e ly f r o m t h e p r e lim in a r y n e g o tia tio n s ? W h y co m m it i t in a d v a n c e to v ie w s o r c o n c lu s io n s i t m a y w is h to m o d ify in th e l i g h t o f f u r t h e r d is c u s s io n o r a r g u m e n t? L e t i t a p p o in t th e in v e s t i g a t i n g c o rp s i f m in e r s a n d o p e r a to r s c a n n o t a g r e e u p o n th e a g e n c y o r a g e n c ie s , a n d t h e n r e t i r e f r o m th e sc e n e u n til s u c h tim e a s o p e r a t o r s ’ a n d m in e r s ’ r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s a d m it t h e i r in a b ility to r e a c h a n a g r e e m e n t. T h e n le t th e o p e r a to r s a n d m in e r s s u b m it s ta te m e n ts s h o w in g th e f a c t s a n d th e r e c o m m e n d a tio n s u p o n w h ic h t h e y a g re e , w ith s u p p o r tin g d o c u m e n ts, a n d th e p o in ts in d is p u te . T h is d o n e, ex c lu d e th e r e p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f b o th s id e s f ro m p a r tic ip a tio n in th e d e lib e r a tio n s o f th e p u b lic g r o u p a n d le t th e p u b lic g r o u p a lo n e s i t in ju d g m e n t a n d d e c id e t h e q u e s tio n s b y a m a j o r i t y v o te o f i t s o w n m e m b e rs h ip .
I n t h i s w a y , th e p u b lic g r o u p w o u ld h a v e th e b e n e fit o f all th e te c h n ic a l k n o w le d g e a n d a d v ic e o f b o th o p e r a t o r s a n d m in e r s . B u t, a c tin g in d e p e n d e n tly in r e a c h in g i t s d e c isio n , i t s c o n c lu sio n s w o u ld b e m o re r e a d ily a c c e p te d b y b o th s id e s a n d w o u ld c a r r y m o re w e ig h t w ith th e p u b lic a t la r g e . A f t e r all, w h e n w e r e a c h th e a r b i t r a t i o n s ta g e , w e a r e a p p r o a c h in g s o m e th in g so a k in to a ju d ic ia l d e te r m in a tio n t h a t in c e r t a i n fields r e s o r t to a r b i t r a t i o n p re c lu d e s a n a p p e a l to th e c o u r ts . R e p r e s e n ta tiv e s o f th e m in e r s a n d th e o p e r a to r s h a v e a s m u c h r i g h t to be m e m b e rs o f th e a r b i t r a t i o n b o a r d a s p la in tif f a n d d e f e n d a n t w o u ld h a v e to m o u n t th e b e n c h a n d v o te w ith th e ju d g e in a c o u r t o f law .
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A R G E C O A L L A N D h o ld in g s in c r e a s e t h e e x p e n s e sj o f th e h o ld e rs a n d th e c o s t o f coal, b u t th e y h e lp to p a y th e ta x e s f o r m a i n t a i n i n g r o a d s a n d sch o o ls.
W ith o u t s u c h h e lp th e p u b lic r o a d s w o u ld e x h ib it slow im p ro v e m e n t. T h e p u b lic sh o u ld re m e m b e r t h a t su c h e x p e n se s, f ig u re d e i t h e r a s liq u id c h a r g e s o r a s a fixed v a lu e in th e la n d h eld , w h ile a d d in g f ir s t o r la s t to th e c o s t o f coal, b r i n g th e m o to r is t s p e e d y t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . B u t h e re , a g a in , th e m in e o w n e r is s o m e tim e s co n d e m n e d f o r c h a r g in g b a c k w h a t h e h a s b e e n o b lig e d to p a y . B u t s u r e ly th e p u b lic w o u ld n o t h a v e h im a s s e s s e d f o r th e b u ild in g o f r o a d s in p a r t s d i s t a n t f r o m h is to w n s a n d tip p le s a n d y e t p r e v e n t h im f r o m r e c o v e r in g th e e x p e n d itu r e , a s a c h a r g e on coal, in la n d s a le s o r in r o y a ltie s .
%
P i t i l e s s P u b l i c i t y— T h e M in e W o r k e r s a r e a s k in g t h a t in q u ir ie s be m a d e in to th e fin a n c ia l a f f a ir s o f th e coal c o m p a n ie s. A s W . W . I n g lis h a s p o in te d o u t, w e a lr e a d y h a v e th e C oal C o m m is s io n ’s th ic k r e p o r t. C o m p a n y b o o k s w e re r a n s a c k e d to o b ta in t h i s d a ta . T h e i m p o r t a n t o m is s io n is f a c t s a b o u t t h e ch eck -o ff. W ill th e u n io n f u r n i s h t h i s i n t e r e s t i n g in f o r m a t i o n ?
Ja n u a r y
7, 1926 C O A L A G E
3Anthracite Company Takes Another Big Step Toward True Modernization
Much L ess Fuel Is N eeded to Supply E lectrical E n ergy to M otors than Steam for D irect U sers— A d ditions to N anticoke P lan t Make Glen A lden Capacity 50,000 Kva.
By C. R. Seem
E l e c t r i c a l E n g in e e r , G le n A ld e n C o a l C o., S c r a n t o n , P a .
A L T H O U G H th e G len A ld en Coal Co., g e n e r a te s all i ts ow n p o w e r, i t b u r n e d u n d e r i ts b o ile rs in 1924 X J L f o r all s te a m r a i s i n g p u rp o s e s only 776,548 to n s o f a n th r a c ite , o r a q u a n tity eq u a l to b u t 7.8 p e r c e n t o f i t s to n n a g e s h ip p e d to m a r k e t.
T h e c o m p a n y is h ig h ly e le c trifie d b e c a u se re c o rd s c o m p a rin g th e r e la tiv e efficiency o f s te a m a n d e le c tric d r iv e s h a v e im p elled th e u se o f e le c tric ity . T h e q u a n t i t y o f s te a m r e q u ir e d to g e n e r a te e le c tric a l e n e rg y f o r m o to rs is, in m o s t in s ta n c e s , le ss t h a n one t h i r d t h a t n e c e s s a ry to d riv e s te a m -o p e ra te d e q u ip m e n t.
T h e fu e l u s e d in th e c o m p a n y ’s e le c tric p o w e r p la n ts a n d a u x ilia r y p la n ts a t s e v e ra l c o llie rie s w a s o f th e lo w e st g ra d e . T h e to ta l to n n a g e co n su m e d b y th e co m p a n y , b e s id e s g e n e r a tin g e le c tric a l e n e rg y , r a is e d s te a m to s u p p ly d ir e c t p o w e r a p p lic a tio n s n o t y e t e le c trifie d a n d h e a te d th e c o llie rie s.
A b o u t 31 p e r c e n t o f t h e coal w a s b a r le y N o. 1 a n d 69 p e r c e n t w a s b a r le y N o. 2. O f t h is to n n a g e 318,873 to n s , o r 3.2 p e r c e n t o f th e q u a n tity so ld w a s u s e d to g e n e r a te e le c tric a l e n e r g y a n d 457,675 to n s to r a is e s te a m f o r all o th e r p u rp o s e s . O n ly b a r le y N o. 2 w as u s e d in th e e le c tric p la n ts .
F r o m t h i s fu e l e n e r g y w a s o b ta in e d f o r a c o n n e c te d e le c tr ic m o to r lo a d o f 140,000 h p ., a s te a m p o w e r lo a d o f 38,500 i.h p . f o r s te a m e n g in e s , s te a m p u m p s, etc., a n d a n a d d itio n a l lo a d f o r h e a tin g p u rp o s e s .
E s tim a te d f r o m ste a m -flo w m e te r re c o rd s o b ta in e d on c e r t a i n m a c h in e s , in d ic a to r c a r d t e s t s m a d e on o th e r s a n d c o m p u te d fo o t-p o u n d s o f w o rk done b y s till o th e r s , su c h a s h o is tin g a n d p u m p in g u n its , 185,000,000 h p .- h r . o f w o rk w a s d o n e a t th e s h a f t s o f th e d riv e rs . T h e c o lle c tio n o f th e s e d a ta re v e a le d a s t a r t l i n g f a c t r e g a r d i n g th e c o m p a ra tiv e efficiency o f s te a m a n d elec
t r i c d r iv e s . I t w a s f o u n d t h a t f o r e v e ry h o rs e p o w e r-
h o u r o f w o rk done a t th e s h a f t o f a s te a m e n g in e a n a v e ra g e o f 76 lb. o f s te a m w a s r e q u ir e d a t t h e b o ile r h o u s e ; w h e re a s , f o r th e sa m e w o rk d one b y a n e le c tric m o to r only a 29-lb. a v e ra g e w a s n e c e s s a ry .
E x a m in a tio n o f th e flow c h a r t s on m a n y la r g e s te a m e n g in e s sh o w s q u ite c le a rly a re a s o n f o r t h i s i m p o r ta n t d iffe re n c e in s te a m r e q u ir e m e n ts . T h e s e re c o r d s r e v ea le d th e f a c t t h a t s t a t i o n a r y m in e s te a m e n g in e s ev en th o u g h o p e ra te d only 8 h r . a d ay , u se a s m u c h s te a m in th e o th e r 16 h r . a s in th e e i g h t w h ile r u n n in g . T h e re a s o n f o r th i s is t h a t h ig h lin e lo sse s d u e to c o n d e n s a tio n a n d le a k s in jo in ts , t r a p s , t h r o t t l e s , e tc ., g o on c o n tin u o u s ly a n d h a r d ly ca n b e a v o id e d e v e n on w ell k e p t s te a m s y s te m s . I t is d ifficu lt to k e e p e v e ry e n g in e a n d s te a m lin e le a k le ss. A lso, i t is o f te n n e c e s s a r y to leav e th e t h r o t t l e o f a s te a m e n g in e s lig h tly o p en to k e e p th e e n g in e w a rm a n d f r e e f r o m c o n d e n s a te . F o r tu n a te ly , s u c h leak s c a n n o t e x is t on e le c tric p o w e r lin e s a n d m o to rs .
F u r th e r m o r e , th e a v e r a g e s te a m h o i s t i n g e n g in e , w h en in o p e ra tio n , u s e s a b o u t 50 lb. o f s te a m p e r h o r s e p o w e r-h o u r, a n d m o s t p u m p s u se m o re t h a n 75 lb. T h e s e fig u re s a r e b a s e d u p o n r e c o rd s ta k e n a t th e m a c h in e a n d d is r e g a r d t h e lin e lo sse s w h ic h a r e a lw a y s c o n s id e r able. A s c o m p a re d w ith t h is , a m o d e rn tu r b o - e le c tr ic p la n t, su c h a s is r e a s o n a b ly p o s s ib le f o r a m in in g o p e r a tio n , p ro d u c e s a h o r s e p o w e r - h o u r o f e n e r g y f o r e a c h 10 to 15 lb. o f s te a m c o n su m e d . T h e s e d a ta a lo n e sh o w a d iffe re n c e in s te a m c o n s u m p tio n w ell w o r th c o n s id e r in g . O b v io u sly , w h e n th e lin e lo sse s o f a s te a m - o p e r a te d m in e a r e c o m p a re d w ith t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n lo sse s o f a n e le c trifie d p la n t t h i s d iffe re n c e in s te a m c o n s u m p tio n b ecom es m u c h g r e a t e r .
T o g e t a m o re a c c u r a te id e a o f th e s a v in g s e ffe c ted b y e le c trific a tio n , o th e r f a c to r s a lso m u s t b e c o n s id e re d .
Big P la n t U nder C o n stru ctio n
T h i s a d d i t i o n t o t h e N a n t i c o k e p o w e r p l a n t , w h i c h is a l r e a d y t h e l a r g e s t c o a l c o m p a n y - o w n e d e l e c t r i c g e n e r a t i n g s t a t i o n , w ill
a c c o m m o d a t e f o u r t e e n b o i l e r s f o r a b o u t 5 0 ,0 0 0 k v a . i n g e n e r a t o r c a p a c i t y . F i v e b o i l e r s a r e n o w b e i n g i n s t a l l e d f o r a n e w 1 5 ,0 0 0 - k v a . t u r b o g e n e r a t o r .
4 C O A L A G E
Vol. 29, No. 1A P ioneer E lectric P la n t in the U pper A n th ra c ite Field
T h e p r o b l e m o f s u p p l y i n g c o o lin g w a t e r a t t h e H a m p t o n p l a n t w a s s o lv e d b y u s i n g m in e w a t e r . N o w t h e p l a n t a n d o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e c o m p a n y h a v e g r o w n to t h e p o i n t w h e r e a d d i t i o n a l g e n e r a t in g c a p a c i t y c a n b e m o r e a d v a n t a g e o u s l y p l a c e d a t N a n t i c o k e .
T h e o r d in a r y m in e b o ile r p la n t Is n o t h a n d le d b y sk illed o p e r a to r s o r p ro v id e d w ith m o d e rn s te a m - r a is in g e q u ip m e n t. F u r th e r m o r e , i t is m e re ly a n o th e r d e ta il in th e m a n y d u tie s in c u m b e n t u p o n a m in a s u p e r in te n d e n t o r f o r e m a n a n d h e c a n n o t b e e x p e c te d to g iv e i t e x p e r t a tte n tio n . Is o la te d m in e b o ile r p la n ts a r e r a r e ly , if e v e r, e q u ip p e d to b u r n th e sm a ll-siz e f u e l w h ic h c a n b e u se d in m o d e rn iz e d p la n ts , t h e r e f o r e i t w ill b e fo u n d t h a t th e y u se la r g e q u a n titie s o f fu e l w h ic h co u ld be sold. O f te n t h e y u s e coal w h ic h is m u c h l a r g e r t h a n is g e n e r a lly b elie v ed . I n e m e rg e n c ie s — o c c a sio n s w h ic h a r i s e a n d p e r s i s t f o r lo n g p e rio d s in w i n t e r — i t is th e g e n e r a l p r a c tic e to ta k e f u e l t h a t w o u ld o th e r w is e go to m a r k e t a n d u s e i t a t th e m in e s.
P o w e r p la n t im p ro v e m e n ts w h ic h a r e c o n tin u a lly g o in g on h a v e a lr e a d y m a d e i t p o ssib le f o r th e econom ic u tiliz a tio n o f fu e l w h ic h is to o fine to b e s h ip p e d to m a r k e t b y th e o r d in a r y m e th o d s n o w u sed . In f a c t, i t h a s b e e n p ro v e d b o th p r a c tic a l a n d s u c c e s s fu l to g e n e r a te s te a m f r o m p u lv e riz e d a n th r a c ite .
T h e r e f o r e , f o r th e d o u b le p u r p o s e o f r e le a s in g f o r m a r k e t all p o s s ib le s a le a b le coal a n d to e lim in a te th e la r g e p o w e r lo sse s in c id e n t to is o la te d b o ile r p la n ts , th e G len A ld e n C oal Co. f o r y e a r s h a s c a r r ie d on a p la n o f e le c trific a tio n w h ic h is s till u n fin ish e d .
A t p r e s e n t th e c o m p a n y h a s f o u r t u r b i n e p la n ts , b rie fly d e s c rib e d a s fo llo w s :
T h e o ld e s t p l a n t is a 11,000-kw . s ta tio n lo c a te d a t H a m p to n . T h is p la n t h a s r e a c h e d i ts e co n o m ic lim it.
M in e w a t e r is u s e d f o r c o o lin g p u rp o s e s . T h e to ta l a v a ila b le flow is b a r e ly e n o u g h . P h y s ic a lly th e p la n t c a n n o t b e re d e s ig n e d o r e n la r g e d w ith o u t e x p e n se t h a t is n o w u n w a r r a n te d .
A t th e W o o d w a rd m in e n e a r W ilk e s - B a r r e a 1,000- k w . lo w -p re s s u re t u r b i n e is o p e ra te d . T h is m a c h in e u s e s e x h a u s t s te a m f r o m th e v a r io u s h o is ts a n d f a n s a t t h i s c o llie ry .
A t S to r r s , in th e P ro v id e n c e s e c tio n o f S c ra n to n , a 2 ,5 0 0 -k v a . m a c h in e w a s in s ta lle d a fe w y e a r s a g o to u se t h e s u r p lu s s te a m a v a ila b le f r o m a good b o ile r p la n t w h ic h h a d f o r m e r ly s u p p lie d th e b r e a k e r a n d m in e p u m p s w ith s te a m b e f o r e th e c o llie ry w a s e le c trifie d .
T h e f o u r t h e le c tric p la n t is n e a r N a n tic o k e , P a . T h is s t a t i o n is p r o b a b ly th e l a r g e s t a n d m o s t m o d e rn in d u s t r i a l p la n t w h o lly d e v o te d to s u p p ly in g a n in d u s t r i a l lo ad . T h e f ir s t m a c h in e s in s ta lle d t h e r e a n d p u t in s e r v ic e in 1902, w e r e th r e e 5 0 0 -k w . v e r tic a l t u r b in e s s u p p lie d b y t h r e e 3 0 3 -h p ., h a n d -fire d b o ile rs . T h e s te a m p r e s s u r e w a s 150 lb. g a g e , 150 to 200 d eg. s u p e r h e a t.
B a rle y N o. 1 coal w a s b u rn e d . T h e w a te r r a t e o f th e s e m a c h in e s w a s 27 lb. p e r k ilo w a tt-h o u r.
B y 1905 five o f th e s e m a c h in e s h a d b e e n in s ta lle d . In 1911 i t w a s d ec id ed to in s ta ll tw o 5,0 0 0 -k v a. t u r b o a lte r n a to r s , a n u p -to -d a te t u r b in e ro o m in c lu d in g s w itc h in g c o m p a r tm e n ts a n d a n e w b o ile r p la n t c f tw e n ty 303 -h p . b o ile rs . T h e la s t o f th e s e b o ile rs w a s in s ta lle d in 1918. In 1916 all th e h a n d -fire d b o ile rs th e n in s e rv ic e w e re c h a n g e d to s to k e r-fire d u n its , th e s ta c k h e ig h t w a s in c re a s e d fr o m 100 f t . to 125 f t . a n d th e p la n t re d e s ig n e d to a c c o m m o d a te th e s e c h a n g e s .
In 1918 a 10,000-kva., 13,000-volt, 150-lb. g a g e , 150- d eg. s u p e r h e a t m a c h in e w a s in s ta lle d in a d d itio n to th e tw o 5,0 0 0 -k v a. u n its . N o a d d itio n a l b o ile rs w e re p u t in th e n b e c a u se i t w a s im p r a c tic a b le to e n la r g e th e b o ile r p la n t.
In 1921 th e five 500-kw . v e r tic a l tu r b o - g e n e r a to r s w e re sc ra p p e d . A t t h a t tim e su ffic ie n t in f o r m a tio n w a s a v a ila b le to e s tim a te th e c o n tin u e d d e m a n d f o r e le c tric a l e n e rg y . B y s tu d y in g th e g r o w th c u rv e re p ro d u c e d w ith th is a r tic le i t co u ld be seen t h a t b y 1926 th e c o m p a n y w o u ld be in u r g e n t n e e d o f a n o th e r la r g e g e n e r a to r .
A f t e r th e 10,000-kva. t u r b i n e w a s in s ta lle d in 1918 i t w a s f e lt t h a t a n y f u t u r e a d d itio n s w o u ld h a v e to be m a d e w ith a v ie w to w a r d ta k i n g a d v a n ta g e o f e v e ry th in g t h a t w ell e s ta b lis h e d p r a c tic e s d ic ta te d . H o w e v e r, in a s m u c h a s th e c o m p a n y d id n o t c a r e to do a n y p io n e e r in g w o rk in t h i s d ir e c tio n , i t d ecid ed to u se 275 lb. s te a m p r e s s u r e a t 150 d eg . s u p e r h e a t w ith t h e n e x t u n it. C o n se q u e n tly , a b o u t a y e a r ago, a 15,000-kva.
tu r b o - g e n e r a to r w ith tw o p o in ts o f s ta g e b le e d in g w a s p u rc h a s e d to o p e r a te u n d e r th e s e c o n d itio n s . To s u p -
Y e a r b y y e a r t h e lo a d c u r v e o f t h e N a n t i c o k e p l a n t h a s s h o w n a s t e a d y i n lc r e a s e ; so a l s o h a s t h e t o t a l l o a d c u r v e o f t h e c o m p a n y . D u r i n g t h e p a s t d e c a d e t h e y e a r l y lo a d h a s i n c r e a s e d 8 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 f c w .-h r ., a t a n a v e r a g e r a t e o f 8 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 k w . - h r . p e r y e a r . I n tfrn s s a m e p e r i o d t h e t o t a l k i l o w a t t d e m a n d h a s n e a r l y r e a c h e d 3 6 J 0 0 0 k w .
Ja n u a r y
7, 1926 C O A L A G E
5B alances F eed W a te r T em p era tu re
T h e g o v e r n o r o f t h i s 5 0 0 - k v a . h o u s e t u r b i n e i s in f lu e n c e d b y t h e lo a d o n t h e l a r g e t u r b i n e s in s u c h a m a n n e r t h a t s u f f ic ie n t e x h a u s t is a l w a y s a v a i l a b l e to m a i n t a i n t h e b o i l e r - f e e d w a t e r a t 210 d e g .
ply s te a m f o r t h i s t u r b in e five 6,675 sq f t., S t ir lin g b o ile rs e q u ip p e d w ith 3,237 s q .ft. o f e co n o m izer s u r f a c e w e re p u rc h a s e d .
T o h o u se th i s e q u ip m e n t a n a d d itio n is b e in g b u ilt to th e p o w e r h o u se s u ita b le f o r f o u r te e n b o ile rs a lth o u g h on ly five w ill be in s ta lle d now f o r th e n ew tu r b in e . A n e w tu n n e l 44 f t . below g r o u n d level h a s b e e n b u ilt to th e r i v e r to c a r r y in ta k e a n d d is c h a r g e p ip e s t o in s u r e f u ll w a te r su p p ly a t m in im u m r iv e r e le v a tio n s. T h e in ta k e w a te r e n te r s th r o u g h a s c re e n h o u se in w h ic h a r e lo c a te d th r e e m o to r-d riv e n tr a v e lin g c h a in s c r e e n s of th e v e r tic a l ty p e . T r a s h is re m o v e d b y h ig h - p r e s s u r e nozzles s q u i r t i n g w a rm w a t e r th r o u g h th e sc re e n , th u s in cold w e a th e r b u t little d ifficulty w ill b e e x p e rie n c ed . T h is r e f u s e m a te r ia l is th e n c a r r ie d a w a y in tr o u g h s . T h e c o n d e n s in g w a te r flow s in to a su m p a n d p ro v is io n is m a d e f o r p u m p in g in to th e old se c tio n o f th e p la n t in e m e rg e n c ie s a s w ell a s to th e n e w 15,000-kva. m a c h in e a n d f o r tw o o th e r tu r b i n e s w h ic h m a y b e in s ta lle d la te r .
F o r th e p r e s e n t e q u ip m e n t in th e p la n t th e f e e d w a te r is h e a te d in a n o p e n -ty p e h e a te r , su fficien t e x h a u s t b e in g t a k e n f r o m v a r io u s a u x ilia r ie s to r a is e th e t e m p e r a tu r e o f th e w a te r to 200 d eg. T o m a k e up th e d iffe re n c e b e tw e e n 200 a n d 210 d eg. a n d to ta k e c a r e o f v a r ia tio n s in d e m a n d , a n o n -c o n d e n s in g , 500-kw . h o u se t u r b i n e is flo a te d on th e h o u se b u s. I t s g o v e rn o r is c o n n e c te d to a re la y , w h ic h in t u r n is c o n n e c te d to a th e rm o c o u p le in th e s ta c k e x h a u s t o f th e h e a te r . In t h i s m a n n e r th e h o u s e t u r b i n e s u p p lie s j u s t e n o u g h s te a m to r a is e th e fe e d w a te r to 210 d eg.
C oal h a n d lin g a t t h i s p la n t is q u ite sim p le . A ll fu e l is s h ip p e d f r o m t h e v a r io u s c o llie rie s o v e r th e D ., L . &
W . R .R . T h e b o ile r h o u se is so s itu a te d t h a t th e su p p ly tr a c k e n te r s th e p la n t o v e r th e b u n k e r s on a g r a d e o f l i p e r c e n t. I n w a r m w e a th e r c a r s a r e r u n d ire c tly o v e r th e b u n k e r s a n d e m p tie d in to th e h o p p e r s th r o u g h c a s t- ir o n g r a t i n g s w h ic h p r e v e n t n o t o n ly f o r e ig n m a te r i a l e n te r in g th e h o p p e rs b u t s e rv e a s a s a f e g u a r d f o r th e m en .
I n w i n t e r th e coal is f r o z e n w h e n i t a r r iv e s a n d th e c a r s m u s t s ta n d o v e r th e h o p p e rs a w h ile b e f o r e th e y a r e u n lo a d e d . A s th e c a r s a r e in a n u p p e r s e c tio n o f th e b o ile r p la n t t h i s m a k e s a n id e a l th a w in g h o u se . T h e h e a t o f th e b o ile r s c o m b in e d w ith liv e s te a m , w h ic h is u s e d u n d e r o r d in a r y w in te r c o n d itio n s , is su ffic ie n t to
loosen th e coal. In s e v e re w e a th e r i t is n e c e s s a r y to u se a u x ilia r y th a w in g lin e s on th e c a r s b e fo re th e y a r e p laced o v e r th e h o p p e rs . S om e o f th e c a r s a r e o f te n so b a d ly fro z e n t h a t 3 to 4 h r . o f h e a tin g a r e n e c e s s a ry to loosen th e coal.
T h e n ew p la n t w ill a c c o m m o d a te five c a r s a t o n e tim e a s does th e old p la n t. T h e b u n k e r s w ill h o ld five to n s p e r f o o t o f le n g th o r a to ta l o f 1,000 to n s . T h e co m p a n y ex p e c ts to b u r n 340 to n s in 24 h r ., b u t th e u l t i m a te c o n su m p tio n in th e n e w p la n t alo n e w ill be b e tw e e n 800 a n d 1,000 to n s p e r d ay . A ll c a r s a r e m o v ed b y m e a n s of a lo co m o tiv e, b u t in e m e rg e n c ie s a m o to r- d riv e n w in c h can p u ll th e c a r s in o r o u t o f th e p la n t.
T h e re w ill b e tw o s o m e w h a t s im ila r m e th o d s o f a s h d isp o sa l a t th i s p la n t. I n th e old p la n t th e b o ile rs a r e s e t a t g r o u n d level a n d th e a s h p o c k e ts a r e o f su fficien t c a p a c ity to h o ld th e a s h p ro d u c e d in a b o u t 6 h r . o f n o r m a l r u n . T h is , h o w e v e r, is n o t a s e r io u s f a c t o r f o r th e g a te s on th e a s h h o p p e rs o p e n d ir e c tly in to a f lu s h in g tr o u g h , w h ic h e m p tie s in to a d ee p c o n c re te t a n k o u ts id e th e p la n t.
Wa t e r Aid s i n Mo v in g As h e s
I n th e s e h o p p e rs s p r a y w a t e r c o n tin u o u s ly cools th e a s h so a s to k eep d o w n t h e d u s t a n d q u e n c h all h o t m a t e r i a l t h a t m a y com e o v e r th e e n d s o f th e s to k e r s . O ne m a n e m p tie s th e h o p p e rs f o r t h e tw e n ty b o ile rs . D u r in g th e p ro c e ss o f e m p ty in g th e h o p p e rs , h ig h - p r e s s u r e w a te r is u s e d to a s s i s t th e m o v e m e n t o f a s h e s in to th e t r o u g h . T h is is n e c e s s a r y a s t h e r e is v e r y l i t t l e p itc h to th e b o tto m o f t h e h o p p e rs . A f t e r le a v in g th e h o p p e rs th e a s h e s tr a v e l to th e c e n te r o f th e p l a n t t h r o u g h th e flu s h in g t r o u g h a n d , t u r n i n g a t r i g h t a n g le s , flow o u t sid e in to th e m a in a s h ta n k . T h is t a n k h a s su ffic ie n t s to r a g e f o r 24 h r . T h e w a t e r level is h e ld c o n s ta n t b y m e a n s o f a n o v erflo w p ip e .
T h e a s h its e lf is ta k e n o u t o f th e t a n k w i t h a l i - y d . g r a b b u c k e t b y m e a n s o f a re v o lv in g , s tiff-le g d e r r ic k . I t is d u m p e d in to 3 -y d ., s id e -d u m p in g , 3 6 -in . g a g e c a r s a n d h a u le d to t h e a s h b a n k b y m e a n s o f a 7 -to n e le c tric lo co m o tiv e.
In th e n e w p la n t th e b o ile rs w ill b e s e t 15 f t . f r o m th e g r o u n d . U n d e r n e a th e a c h b o ile r d o u b le -g a te , oil- o p e r a te d h o p p e rs a r e a lr e a d y in s ta lle d . T h e lo c o m o tiv e a n d a s h c a r s w ill b e r u n d ir e c tly b e n e a th th e a s h g a te s a n d th e cooled a s h e s w ill be d u m p e d in to t h e c a r s a n d
C O A L A G E
VOL. 29, NO. 1Old T ypes A re R eplaced
T h e G le n A ld e n C o a l C o. g e n e r a t e d i t s o w n p o w e r w h e n v e r t i c a l t u r b i n e s w e r e t h e m o s t m o d e r n u n i t s o f t h e d a y . O n t h e l e f t - h a n d s i d e o f t h e p i c t u r e s t a n d s o n e o f t h e o ld v e r t i c a l t u r b o - g e n e r a t o r s o r i g i n a l l y i n s t a l l e d a t t h e H a m p t o n p o w e r h o u s e . A l
w a y s k e e p i n g p a c e w i t h n e w d e v e l o p m e n t s , t h e c o m p a n y is n o w i n s t a l l i n g a 1 5 ,0 0 0 - k v a . u n i t w h i c h h a s tw o s t a g e s o f b le e d in g .
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re m o v e d to th e b a n k . U n d e r th e t r a c k s a n d le a d in g to th e m a in a s h p it o f th e old p la n t, is a c a s t- ir o n lin e d , c o n c re te , f lu s h in g tr o u g h . O v e r t h is a n d u n d e r th e t r a c k s is a c a s t- ir o n g r a t i n g . A ll o f th e s p illa g e a n d s p la s h f r o m th e c a r s f a lls in to th e tr o u g h a n d is w a sh e d to th e m a in p it. L ik e w ise , i f f o r a n y re a s o n th e a s h c a n n o t b e d u m p e d in to th e c a r s i t w ill be p o ssib le to d ro p i t d ir e c tly on th e g r a t i n g f r o m w h ic h i t w ill fa ll in to th e s lo p in g s id e s o f th e tr o u g h a n d th e n be w a s h e d t o th e m a in p it.
T h e g a te s on th e s e h o p p e rs a r e w a te r - tig h t, m e a s u r e 5 x 4 f t . a n d a r e o p e r a te d b y oil c y lin d e rs . O il p r e s s u r e s a r e m a in ta in e d by a sp e c ia l p u m p a n d a d u p lic a te u n it is p r o v id e d f o r e m e rg e n c ie s . T h e u se o f oil u n d e r h ig h p r e s s u r e in s u r e s a p o s itiv e m o v e m e n t o f th e g a te a n d w h ile t h e g a te s m ove q u ic k ly th e r e is no s la m m in g o r re b o u n d . W ith th e u s e o f oil th e r e is n o f e a r o f w in te r f r e e z i n g a n d h i g h e r p r e s s u r e s ca n be u se d m o re su c c e ss
f u lly t h a n w ith w a t e r s y s te m s . T h is is i m p o r ta n t a s th e d o o rs to th e a s h tu n n e l m u s t be o pen to p e r m it th e loco
m o tiv e to p la c e t h e c a r s .
T h e c o m p a n y e x p e c ts th i s sy s te m to w o rk c h e a p ly a n d efficie n tly . O ne m a n is em p lo y ed f o r d u m p in g th e h o p p e r s in b o th p la n ts . O ne m a n h a n d le s t h e a s h b u c k e t d e r r ic k a n d o n e m a n t h e lo co m o tiv e a n d a s h c a rs . On th e a s h b a n k tw o m e n a r e r e q u ir e d to d u m p c a r s ; th e y a lso m ove tr a c k a n d k e e p th in g s in o p e r a tio n th e r e . O ne e x t r a m a n w ill b e em p lo y ed on th e eleven o’clock s h i f t to e m p ty th e p o c k e ts a n d to r e n d e r a n y n e c e s s a r y h elp . T h is m a k e s a to ta l o f s ix a s h m e n f o r th e w h o le b o ile r p la n t w h ic h w ill h a v e a to ta l c a p a c ity o f a b o u t 11,000 h p . A ll a s h w ill b e h a n d le d d u r in g th e d a y s h if t.
E l e c t r i c i t y is g e n e r a te d a t f o u r d if f e r e n t v o lta g e s.
T h e l a r g e r a n d n e w e r tu r b in e s , th e 15,000 a n d 10,000- k v a . u n its , g e n e r a te e n e r g y a t 1 3 ,2 00-volt p r e s s u r e ; th e tw o old 5 ,0 0 0 -k v a. m a c h in e s g e n e r a te a t 4,150 v o lts.
T h e lo n g e r a n d h e a v ie r f e e d e r s go d ir e c tly f r o m th e 13 ,2 0 0 -v o lt b u s to t h e i r v a r io u s t r a n s f o r m e r s o r d ire c tly t o th e c o llie rie s . F o r so m e o f th e c o llie rie s , p a r tic u la r ly th o s e w h ic h a r e s i t u a t e d n e a r t h e g e n e r a tin g p la n t, th e d i s t r i b u t i o n lin e s le a d d ir e c tly f r o m th e 4 ,1 5 0 -v o lt m a c h in e b u s. T h e p la n t o r ig in a lly g e n e r a te d all e n e r g y a t 4,1 5 0 v o lts p r e s s u r e . T h e 5 0 0 -k v a. h o u se t u r b i n e g e n e r a t e s 4 4 0 -v o lt e n e rg y . T h is g o es d ir e c tly in to t h e 440- v o lt h o u s e b u s e s . D ir e c t c u r r e n t f o r e x c ita tio n , a lso f o r c h a r g i n g s to r a g e b a t t e r i e s a n d e m e rg e n c y l i g h t i n g s e r v ice is m a d e a t 125 v o lts.
T h e 4 ,1 5 0 -v o lt b u s a n d th e 1 3 ,2 0 0 -v o lt b u s a r e c o n
n e c te d to g e th e r th r o u g h th r e e 2,5 0 0 -k v a. t r a n s f o r m e r s s e p a r a te d by m e a n s of d is c o n n e c tin g s w itc h e s a n d a n oil c ir c u it b re a k e r.
To su p p ly c u r r e n t f o r th e p o w e r h o u s e s y s te m th e r e a r e tw o 4 4 0 -v o lt b u se s, one b e in g s u p p lie d th r o u g h a t r a n s f o r m e r b a n k c o n n e c te d to th e 1 3 ,2 0 0 -v o lt b u s a n d th e o th e r b y a s im ila r b a n k c o n n e c te d to th e 4 ,1 5 0 -v o lt b u s. T h e h o u se t u r b in e c a n fe e d d ir e c tly in to e i t h e r of th e s e 4 40-volt b u se s, w h ic h m a y also b e tie d to g e t h e r b y o p e ra tio n o f in te r c o n n e c tin g s w itc h e s . T h is g iv e s a flexible a n d re lia b le m e a n s o f s u p p ly in g c u r r e n t to th e p la n t a u x ilia r ie s .
T h e c ir c u it b r e a k e r s f o r th e 13,200-volt m a c h in e s a r e b e in g lo c a te d close to th e m a c h in e s j u s t b elo w t h e m a in floor. L e a d s a r e r u n f ro m th e s e s w itc h e s to t h e b u s e s in th e s w itc h g a lle r y ; f e e d e r s w itc h e s a r e a lso lo c a te d n e a rb y . P la n s a r e b e in g m a d e to r e a r r a n g e th e b u s e s so t h a t in c ase o f a c c id e n t o r in s p e c tio n a r e g u l a r s e rv ic e s w itc h c a n be d isc o n n e c te d a n d w o rk e d u p o n . P o w e r f o r th e o p e r a tio n o f th e s e s w itc h e s a n d th e m a in b o a r d w ill be su p p lie d b y a s to r a g e b a t t e r y . In c a s e o f f a i l u r e o f th e b a t t e r y c ir c u it, e m e rg e n c y s e rv ic e c a n b e o b ta in e d f ro m th e e x c ita tio n s y s te m . T h e c o n tro l b o a r d is lo c a te d on th e m a in t u r b in e ro o m floor a n d is h a n d le d b y th e e n g in e e r in c h a rg e o f th i s s e c tio n o f th e p la n t.
Pow er fo r Two M ines G enerated H ere
T h is P l a n t s u p p l i e s t h e l a r g e r p a r t o f t h e e n e r g y c o n s u m e d b y J e r o m e M in e s N o s . 1 a n d 2 o p e r a t e d b y t h e H i l l m a n C o a l & C o k e jfV . J e .r o m e , P a . T h e c a p a c i t y o f t h e p l a n t , w h i c h b u r n s c r u s h e d p i c k i n g - t a b l e r e f u s e f r o m t h e C - P r i m e s e a m , is 800 k w . I n a d d i t i o n , a n o r m a l lo a d o f 600 k w . o f p u r c h a s e d p o w e r a t 2 ,2 0 0 v o l t s is c o n d u c t e d to u n d e r g r o u n d s u b s t a t i o n s w h e r e i t is c o n v e r t e d i n t o d i r e c t c u r r e n t . W h e n t h i s p l a n t w a s b u i l t i n 1904 a p l e n t i f u l s u p p l y o f s t o n e w a s a v a i l a b l e f o r i t s c o n s t r u c t i o n .
JANUARY 7, 1926
C O A L A G E
7Poor Drainage Ruins Concrete Shaft Linings
Survey in P en n sylvan ia Sh ow s 30 of 106 F ailed T h ou gh Cem ent W a s Good— F reezin g and T h aw in g of L eakage D estroy W a lls— R em ed ies Are S u g g ested
By N ew ell G. A lford
P i t t s b u r g h , P a .
T
H E N E E D f o r a d e q u a te d r a in a g e b e h in d c o n c re te lin in g s o f coal m in e s h a f t s se e m s a p p a r e n t fro m a s u rv e y o f in s ta lla tio n s in w e s te r n a n d c e n tr a l P e n n s y lv a n ia . T h i r t y o f th e 106 c o n c re te s h a f t lin in g s s tu d ie d w e re d is tin c t f a ilu r e s a n d in e v e ry ca se i n s u f fic ie n t d r a in a g e w a s th e o u ts ta n d in g difficulty. T h e r e s u lts o f th e s u r v e y s u g g e s t im p ro v e m e n ts in c o n c re te lin in g p ra c tic e .T w e n ty -tw o y e a r s h a v e n o w e la p se d sin c e th e f ir s t m in e s h a f t in A m e ric a to b e lin e d th r o u g h o u t w ith co n c r e te w a s co m p le te d a t G a ry , W . V a., in 1903. T h e p r a c tic e o f t h u s lin in g s h a f t s r a p id ly s p r e a d u n til by 1915 i t h a d becom e p r a c tic a lly u n iv e r s a l n o t o n ly f o r coal m in e s b u t iro n m in e s a s w ell.
I n 1921 f a i l u r e o f tw o c o n c re te lin in g s a t w e s te r n P e n n s y lv a n ia m in e s led to th e s u r v e y c o v e re d in th i s p a p e r. T h is s tu d y w a s co nfined to th e c e n tr a l a n d w e s te r n d i s t r i c t s w ith n o o r g a n iz e d e ffo rt to e x te n d i t b e y o n d th e s t a t e b o u n d a ry . N o d e c id e d lin in g f a ilu r e s h a v e y e t b e e n r e p o r te d o u ts id e o f t h i s r e g io n .
I n all b u t s ix c a se s o f th e 30 f a ilu r e s s tu d ie d th e s e lin in g s g a v e tr o u b le w ith in tw o y e a r s a f t e r in s ta lla tio n . N o f a u l t c a n be f o u n d w ith th e c e m e n t b e c a u se good g r a d e s w e re u se d in all in s ta n c e s . I n 17 o f th e f a ilu r e s th e a g g r e g a te s w e re a p p ro v e d s a n d a n d g r a v e l; in th e r e m a in d e r th e y w e re e i t h e r g r a v e l a n d c r u s h e d s a n d s to n e , g r a v e l a n d c r u s h e d lim e s to n e a n d s a n d ro c k , s la g a n d s a n d , o r s im p ly c r u s h e d s a n d s to n e .
I n n in e c a s e s th e w o r k m a n s h ip w a s r e p o r te d a s b e in g e i t h e r “ f a i r ” o r “b a d .” T h e s e te r m s , h o w e v e r, a r e so r e la tiv e in t h e i r sig n ific a n c e t h a t th e y m e a n little . I f th e w o rk w a s n o t o f th e b e s t th e b la m e sh o u ld , d o u b tle ss, b e s h a r e d b y th e coal c o m p a n y a n d sh o u ld n o t b e b o rn e e n tir e ly b y th e c o n tr a c to r . L in in g a s h a f t in v o lv es th e c h u tin g o f t h e w e t c o n c r e te in to th e f o r m s th r o u g h c o n v e y o r p ip e s o f e i t h e r r i g i d o r flex ib le d e s ig n w ith a c o n s e q u e n t d o u b t a s to w h e th e r t h e c e m e n t is th o r o u g h ly m ix e d w ith t h e o th e r in g r e d ie n ts w h e n th e m a te r ia l fin a lly co m es to r e s t. N o t in f r e q u e n tly d is p r o p o r tio n a te q u a n t i t i e s o f th e c e m e n t a r e flo a te d to th e s u r f a c e o f th e b a tc h . T h is u n c e r ta in ty w ith n u m e r o u s o th e r s ca n e a s ily r e s u l t in c o n tr o v e r s y t h a t sh o u ld b e a n tic ip a te d b y p r o p e r ly d r a w n sp e c ific a tio n s.
I n a ll o f t h e f a ilu r e s , la c k o f su ffic ie n t d r a in a g e w a s a p r in c ip a l c a u se . L e a k a g e w a s e s tim a te d a t a n y w h e re f r o m a m e re s e e p a g e to 50 g a l. p e r m in u te . S e v e re t e m p e r a t u r e c h a n g e s w ith a l t e r n a t e f r e e z in g a n d t h a w in g o f th e w a t e r t h a t p e n e t r a t e d th e c o n c r e te d e s tr o y e d t h e s u r f a c e o f th e lin in g . A f t e r th e f a c e h a d sc aled off, a d i s i n t e g r a t e d m a s s w a s in v a r ia b ly f o u n d b e n e a th .
U n d o u b te d ly th e g r e a t e s t p ro b le m in v o lv e d in su c c e s s f u lly lin in g a s h a f t is th e d e te r m in a tio n o f th e d r a in a g e r e q u ir e d . O n e o r tw o h o le s w e re d rille d o u ts id e a fe w
‘ A b s t r a c t o f p a p e r e n t i t l e d “ F a i l u r e o f C o n c r e t e S h a f t L i n i n g s a t P e n n s y l v a n i a B i t u m i n o u s C o a l M in e s ,” p r e s e n t e d b e f o r e a m e e t i n g o f t h e E n g i n e e r s S o c i e t y o f W e s t e r n P e n n s y l v a n i a , N o v . 24, 1 925.
o f th e lin in g s t h a t f a ile d w ith o u t c a r r y i n g a w a y th e w a te r . T h e se lin in g s , h o w e v e r, w e re n o t s u p p lie d e i t h e r w ith b le e d e r p ip e s o r w a t e r r in g s , w h ic h e x p e rie n c e sh o w s a r e e s s e n tia l to th e s u c c e s s fu l h a n d lin g o f w a t e r w h e re its p r e s s u r e is g r e a t e n o u g h to e ffe c t p e n e tr a tio n o f th e lin in g . W h e re g r o u t w a s u s e d to p e r m a n e n tly seal off w a t e r i t w a s n o w h e re r e p o r te d a s s u c c e s s fu l.
T h is in d ic a te s t h a t i t sh o u ld o n ly b e u s e d a s a n a id to s in k in g .
In m a n y o f th e s u c c e s s fu l lin in g s n o d r a in a g e o f a n y k in d w a s s u p p lie d a n d th e su c c e ss o f th e s e lin in g s to d a te ca n o n ly be a t t r i b u t e d to th e d ry n e s s o f th e s t r a t a w h ic h th e y p e n e tr a te .
O ne c o m p a n y w ith 18 c o n c re te lin in g s h a s , w ith in th e p a s t y e a r, d rille d f r o m o ne to th r e e h o le s o u ts id e th e s h a f ts to c a r r y w a t e r to th e b o tto m a n d to s to p p e n e t r a tio n o f th e c o n c re te . A f t e r th e s e lin in g s h a d t h u s b e e n r e n d e re d d ry , t h e i r f a u l t y s e c tio n s w e re r e p a ir e d . So f a r th e r e s u lt h a s b e e n s a t i s f a c t o r y b u t th e w o rk h a s y e t to p a s s th r o u g h th e se a so n o f g r e a t e s t te m p e r a t u r e v a r ia tio n , w h ic h , a t th e sa m e tim e , f u r n i s h e s th e la r g e s t q u a n titie s o f w a te r . T h is c o m p a n y h a s o n e s h a f t in w h ic h th r e e s u c h lin in g s w e re b u ilt w i t h i n n in e y e a rs .
G ood c o n c r e tin g p r a c tic e d e m a n d s t h a t th e m ix tu r e sh o u ld be a s d e n se a s p o ssib le . U n if o r m d e n s ity c a n b e s t be m a in ta in e d b y c h e c k in g th e m ix v o lu m e w ith a c tu a l w e ig h ts a t su fficien t i n te r v a ls to a v o id e r r o n e o u s vo lu m e m e a s u r e m e n t c a u s e d b y th e s w e llin g o f d a m p sa n d .
D u r in g a t le a s t th e f ir s t 48 h r . o f s e ttin g , th e c o n c re te sh o u ld be p r o te c te d e n tir e ly f r o m c o n ta c t w ith s h a f t w a te r . T h e c o s t o f t h i s p r o te c tio n in so m e c a s e s w ill b e h ig h , d e p e n d in g ch iefly on th e q u a n t i t y o f w a t e r in th e s t r a t a p e n e tr a te d a n d to a m u c h l e s s e r 'd e g r e e on th e in g e n u ity o f b o th th e d e s ig n in g e n g in e e r a n d th e c o n tr a c to r .
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T h is r e c t a n g u l a r s h a f t c o n t a i n s f o u r c o m p a r t m e n t s , y e t i t is c r o s s e d b y o n l y o n e c u r t a i n w a l l , o f r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e 4 - in . t h i c k . U n q u e s t i o n a b l y d i s i n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e l i n i n g r e s u l t e d f r o m a l t e r n a t e f r e e z i n g a n d t h a w i n g o f g r o u n d w a t e r p e n e t r a t i n g t h e s h a f t w a l l s . S t r a n g e l y e n o u g h , t h e c u r t a i n w a l l , n o t s u b j e c t t o d i r e c t c o n t a c t w i t h t h i s w a t e r , i n p l a c e s s u f f e r e d c o m p l e t e d i s i n t e g r a t i o n f r o m A t o B , o n l y t h e r e i n f o r c i n g b e i n g l e f t .
