Coal Age : devoted to the operating, technical and business problems of the coal-mining industry, Vol. 29, No. 20

P r o b le m s o f t h e C o a l-M in in g I n d u s t r y

E n g i n e e r i n g E d i t o r

Volume 29 NEW YORK, MAY 20, 1926 Number 20

C in c in n a ti’s C oal-O perating O fficials’ C o n v en tio n A n d M ine M ach in ery E x p o sitio n

I

cu ssed “H ow th in g s are done” and even som etim es

“H ow th e y used to be done,” bu t today w e are m ore in terested to k now “H ow th e y can and w ill be done,”

for w e realize th a t th e y can n ot con tin u e as th ey are.

The old fo rm u la ries are g iv in g place to new . C hange is in th e air. E v e r y in d u str y w ea rs a n ew garb every tim e w e look a t it, and th e b u sin e ss o f g e ttin g out coal would be un lik e all o th ers i f it did not ch an ge w ith the rest. A nd th a t it does ch an ge everyon e w ill have to acknow ledge i f h e g la n c e s back a fe w b r ie f years.

N o lo n g er does th e in te r e st in p a st w a y s and m eans hold us back. N o one n ow v a lu es exp erien ce solely because it is o f lo n g sta n d in g . A practice is no lon ger cherished b eca u se it is m oldy w ith a ge. T he coal in ­ dustry rea lizes th a t a rev o lu tio n in m eth od s is on th e way. One fu n c tio n o f hum an han d s and m u scles a fte r another h as been ta k en over by m ach in ery. H aulage, h oistin g, and k e r f-c u ttin g are alm ost everyw h ere and en tirely m a ch in e-p erfo rm ed op eration s. A fe w m ules and horses rem a in and in som e m in es coal is still, at least n om in ally, u n d ercu t by hand. T h ese are alm ost the sole rem in d ers— o th er th an load in g and d rillin g — o f a b ygon e a ge, and th e y are ex cep tio n s to a rule o f p rogress th a t is a lm o st u n iv e rsa l in A m erica, nam ely to let e le c tr ic ity do th e w ork, m ore cheaply, m ore sp eed ­ ily, m ore clean ly and w ith le ss effo rt on th e part of the w orkm en.

The ch an ge th a t h a s com e to h o istin g , h au lage and k erf-c u ttin g m u st com e to lo a d in g and d rillin g along w ith th e r est. H and o p e ra tio n s are n ot m ore bu rd en ­ some th an th e y are c o stly .

* * *

T im e w a s w h en it w a s th e ra w -m a teria l in d u stries th at m ade th e b ig e n g in e e r in g ad van ces. It w a s m in ­ ing th a t fo ste r e d p u m p in g and v e n tila tio n , th a t g a v e us the steam en g in e, th e fa n , th e locom otive, th e cro ss-tie and th e m etal rail. T h a t w a s a day w h en m a n u fa ctu red articles w ere o f no g r e a t in tr ic a c y . T od ay m in in g finds a h ost o f riv a ls, i f th e y m a y be so ter m ed — m a n y o f them m ore e n te r p r isin g th a n its e lf. W hy does n ot m in ­ in g take counsel w ith th e se , ch o o sin g o u t m en w h o have had con tact w ith , and p erh a p s have o r ig in a lly com e from , th o se in d u str ie s. M ore o u tsid e r s sh ou ld be ab­

sorbed into th e sta ffs o f coal com p a n ies to devote th e ir peculiar ta le n ts to its sp e cia lized needs.

B ecau se o f th e se d iv e r s itie s o f m en and o f exp erien ce one is su re to find in a b ig c o n v en tio n w h a t can n ot be found at hom e— p ecu lia r g e n iu s e s w h o h ave u n u su al slan ts on certa in p roblem s, sla n ts d erived d o u b tless from th e ir sp ecialized exp er ien c e and th e ex cep tio n a l circu m ­

stan ces a t th e m a n u fa ctu rin g p lan ts a t w h ich th e y have w orked or a t the m in es w hich th ey have directed.

A t th e A m erican M in in g C on gress’ A nnual conven­

tion o f coal-operating officials in C in cin n ati M ay 24-28 w ill be p resented th e opinions o f th e m en w ho are fo r e ­ m ost in prom oting th e new p rin cip les o f m in in g . In th e exp osition w ill be seen th e n ew e st devices developed fo r the use o f m in in g m en, resu lts o f th e exp ert a b ility th a t th e m a n u fa ctu rers’ staffs ex h ib it.

* * *

And, be it noted, the m a n u fa ctu rer h as n ot been slow to g e t h is m en from all q u arters and to g e t id eas from all sectio n s and all in d u stries. H e has sum m oned sp ecia lists from every departm ent o f en g in e e r in g th a t could be h elpful to him in h is endeavor. The larger m an u fa ctu rers are in terested in n ea rly all in d u stries.

T h eir products spread th e cou n try over, and th ey w ould be slow indeed if th e y did not seek to include in th eir personnel th ose skilled in th e v a rio u s in d u str ie s in w h ich th e ir product en ters as w ell as th o se w ho are experienced in th e m ak in g o f th a t product.

In th ese days w hen th e m in in g m an a g er h a s to cover so m any lin es o f en g in e e r in g and cannot do it w ith any degree o f s a tis fa c tio n excep t b y ab sorb in g th e p re­

d ig ested know ledged o f oth er m en, a trip to a conven­

tio n like th a t to be held a t C in cin n ati is ab solu tely n ecessa ry to keep him in touch w ith n ew developm ents.

In h is iso la tio n in th e h ills o f th e E a s t and W est and in th e boundless p ra iries th a t lie b etw een , he is liab le to f a il to rea lize th e p r o g ress in oth er cen ters and to b elieve th a t w h a t problem s h e is d isc u ssin g day by day w ith h is a sso cia tes and cron ies and w h a t so lu tio n s he is finding in h is in tercou rse w ith h is fe llo w s are all th e problem s and all th e so lu tio n s he n eed s to recogn ize.

B u t w here he m eets th e fu ll stro n g cu rren t o f lif e am ong grou p s o f m in in g m en, he lea rn s th a t th ere are oth er problem s and oth er m ean s o f so lu tio n th a n th o se he has at a n y tim e considered.

* * *

M ost o f us b eliev e w e h ave problem s en ou gh w ith o u t tr a v elin g an yw h ere to find m ore. U n fo r tu n a te ly N a tu r e h a s a w a y o f w o rk in g h er w ill w ith us w ith o u t our r e a lizin g w h a t problem s really co n fro n t us. T h ere w as a coal-dust problem b efo re w e k n ew th a t coal d ust w ould explode. T h ere is now a lo a d in g -m a ch in e prob­

lem co n fro n tin g th e m an w ho h as no m ach in es, b u t w ho h as a cost-of-coal problem in to w h ich he sh ou ld look ca refu lly . H e can do it only by c o n sid erin g w h a t m a­

c h in es and con veyors can accom plish fo r h im . So ea sy it is, i f w e liv e hidden in th e h ills or iso la ted by fa rm s,

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29, No. 20

or im m ured in c itie s w here coal is sold, not m ined, to believe th a t w e are doing th e best. that[ °PPo r t™ f/ can' ford s m aking p etty d ecisions w hen la rg e i ones ca atone* save the situ a tio n , m eticulously co u n t,n g the pennies w h ile le ttin g th e double eagles slip by us. H ere, in C incinnati, is a chance to see th e in d u stry in a larg w ay and to turn loss into profit.

A word regarding a fe w of th ose who w ill tak e part in the d iscu ssion s w ill be o f in terest m sh ow in g th eir varied backgrounds and w ill explain w h y ^ e y h been chosen by th e com m ittee to d iscu ss th e sub ect assign ed . Some o f the ou tstan d in g m en are om itted as th eir affiliations and record are w ell known.

C. W. N E L S O N , of South B row nsville, Pa., w ho w ill d iscuss cushioned b lastin g, graduated from C arnegie In stitu te of Technology in 1923 in m in in g en g in eerin g and w as elected to a research fellow sh ip in m ining.

H e spent a year in research on efficiency in b la stin g coal.

A t the conclusion o f th ese stu d ies he received the degree o f M aster o f Science in M ining E n g in e erin g at C arnegie In stitu te of T echnology and then becam e exp losives en gin eer fo r -th e H illm an Coal & Coke Co.

E. H. JO H N S O N , w ho w ill discuss m achine-loading fa ilu res and th eir reasons, w as research fellow o f the C arnegie In stitu te of T echnology and jo in t author w ith F. E. Cash o f the bulletin “M echanical L oading in Coal M ines.” He graduated from th e C arnegie In stitu te of T echnology in 1922 and received h is m a ster’s degree in 1925. H e is now en gin eer and sales m anager of the Coloder Co., a t Columbus, Ohio.

JO H N T. R Y A N , who w ill speak on “se a lin g fires in gaseous m in es,” received th e degree o f bachelor o f science in m in in g en g in eerin g from P en n sy lv a n ia S tate College in 1908. From 1908 to 1910 he did m in in g e n g i­

n eerin g w ork in H u n tin gton , P a. In th e la tter yea r he becam e su p erin ten d en t o f th e Rocky R id ge Coal M in in g Co., a t D udley, P a., and su p erin ten d en t and en g in eer o f the Langdon Coal Co., at H opew ell, P a. From 1911 to 1913 Mr. R yan w as su ccessively rescue forem an, ju n ior m in in g en gin eer and a ssista n t m in in g en g in eer o f the U. S. Bureau o f M ines at P ittsb u rg h , P a. In 1913 he ac­

cepted a p osition as m in in g e n g in eer in charge o f field w ork fo r the navy in A laska. In 1914 h e becam e a s s is t­

ant m in in g en g in eer o f th e B ureau o f M ines a t U rbana, 111. In th e sam e y ea r he helped organize th e M ine S a fe ty A ppliances Co., of P ittsb u rg h , Pa., o f w hich firm he is now vice-p resid en t and general m anager.

JA M E S 0 . H A N D Y , of P ittsb u rg h , P a., w as the ex ­ pert retained in 1925 in th e w ater-p ollu tion case o f the M ountain W ater Supply Co. (P e n n sy lv a n ia R .R .).

H e w ill address th e convention on m in e-w ater purifica­

tion. A grad u ate o f the M assach u setts I n stitu te of Technology, 1886, he aided in the d esign o f th e w ater- so fte n in g plant a t W innipeg, Man., .Canada. H e is director o f th e chem ical and m etallu rgical in v e stig a tio n s o f th e P ittsb u r g h T e stin g L aboratory.

H. L. S T E V E N S O N , w ho w ill speak on “S tream P o l­

lu tio n ” is a m em ber o f th e A m erican S o ciety o f C ivil E n g in eer s and ch ief en g in eer of th e P en n sy lv a n ia D e­

partm ent o f H ealth as w ell as b ein g c h ief en g in eer and secreta ry o f the S a n ita ry W ater Board of P en n sylvan ia.

H e w as form erly san itary en g in eer and a ssista n t direc­

tor o f th e D epartm ent o f H ealth, E m ergen cy F leet Corporation, U. S. S h ip p in g Board. H e w as also at one tim e a ssista n t en gin eer in charge, S ew a g e D isp osal D iv isio n , C ity o f P hiladelphia.

B. L. L U B E L S K Y , who presen ts an article in th is

696

cal load in g at th e convention, g r a d u a ted m 1924 at th e U n iv e r sity o f Illin o is w ith th e d eg ree o f b ach elor o f science in m in in g . In 1924 and ’25 he w a s research fello w a t C arn egie I n s titu te o f T ech n o lo g y and a s s is te d in th e p rep aration o f B u lletin 19 on lum p-coal p io d u c- tion , b ein g g iv e n th e d egree o f m a ste r o f scie n c e b y Car­

n eg ie In stitu te o f T ech n ology. On Jan . 15 o f t h is y e a i he a ssociated h im se lf w ith th e P itts b u r g h Coal Co. a s ex p lo siv es en g in eer su p e r v isin g s a fe ty , econom y and efficiency in th e use o f ex p lo siv es

W T O’TO O LE, g ra d u a ted as b ach elor o f a i t s at th e C atholic U n iv e r sity o f A m erica, in 1915. F rom 1915 to 1917 h e w as se c reta ry and tr e a su r e r o f t h ie e coal com panies and from 1919 to 1922 sa le s m a n a g e r o f th e C entral P ocah on tas Coal Co. F rom 1922 to 1924, he w as A m erican M in ister to P a r a g u a y . In th e la tte r y e a i he becam e general m an a g er o f th e A m erica n Coal

C leaner C orporation. , . ,

R O B E R T S W A L L A C E , w ho sp eak s on m ech an ical loaders, is a n a tiv e o f Scotland, en tered th e m in es as a trapper boy a t th e ag e o f th ir te e n y e a r s. H e cam e to th e U n ited S ta te s in 1903 and accepted a p o sitio n as fireboss w ith th e N ew R iv er S m ok eless Coal Co., w h ere he w a s m ade m in e forem an and la ter su p erin ten d en t.

A fte r p a ssin g th e W e st V ir g in ia ex a m in a tio n fo r m ine inspector, he in 1909 accepted th e p o sitio n o f c h ie f m ine inspector w ith th e P o ca h o n ta s F u el Co., Inc., w ith head­

q uarters a t P ocah on tas. H e is still a t th e sam e place but now as su p erin ten d en t.

G L E N N B. S O U T H W A R D , c o n su ltin g m in in g e n g i­

neer, b egan h is p r o fessio n a l ex p erien ce b y in sp ectin g coke in th e sum m er o f 1906 fo r th e U . S. Coal and Coke Co., of G ary, W. V a. In 1907 he served a s tra n sitm a n fo r th e In te r sta te R ailroad Co., a t S to n e g a , V a. In 1908 he grad u ated from th e O hio S ta te U n iv e r s ity w ith the d egree o f e n g in eer o f m in es. H e w a s em p loyed by the S ton ega Coke and Coal Co., S to n e g a , V a ., u n til 1911 w hen he w e n t w ith th e L o g M ou n tain Coal Co., at Chenoa, K y. as m in in g en g in eer. In 1912 h e returned to th e S to n eg a Coke and Coal Co., a s a s s is ta n t c h ief en g in eer w ith h ead q u arters a t B ig S to n e Gap, \ a . F rom 1917 to 1925 he served as c h ie f e n g in e e r w ith the W est V ir g in ia Coal and Coke Co., a t E lk in s, W . Va.

H ere he developed th e V -sy ste m o f m in in g . From 1925 u n til th e p rese n t tim e he h a s b een a co n su ltin g m in in g en g in eer o f E lk in s, W. Va.

C H A R L E S E N Z IA N , w h o w ill d isc u ss th e a d v a n ta g es o f rock d u stin g , has had a v a ried ex p erien ce. A grad ­ u ate o f L eh ig h U n iv e r sity , he w a s fo r n in e y ea r s a m in in g en g in eer w ith th e L eh ig h V a lley Coal Co., w ith th e U. S. B ureau o f M ines fo r s ix y ea rs, and w ith the P h ilad elp h ia & R ea d in g Coal & Iron Co., fo r five years.

H e w a s p resid en t and m a n a g er o f th e L ib e r ty Coal C orporation o f K en tu ck y fo r tw o y e a r s and fo r th e pas-t th ree and a h a lf y ea rs h e h a s b een m in in g e n g in e e r fo r th e B erw in d -W h ite Coal M in in g Co., o f W in d b er, P a.

J O S IA H K E E L Y , w ho w ill sp eak on ro o f control, w as born in a cab in n ear C h arleston , W . V a. H e w as educated fo r th e m in is tr y , g r a d u a tin g fr o m th e U n i­

v e r sity o f W est V ir g in ia in 1896. A fte r te a c h in g for several y ea rs he took h is m a s te r ’s d eg ree in E n g lis h at H arvard in 1904. H e th e n e n g a g e d in ed u ca tio n a l work but r e sig n ed as p rin cip al o f th e P r e p a r a to r y B ranch o f th e W est V ir g in ia U n iv e r s ity in 1907 to accept a p o sitio n in a m in e office. A f t e r th e o n ly fig h t o f h is life (w h erein he “lick ed ” th e local “b a d m a n ” ) , he w as

prom oted to th e su p erin ten d en cy o f th e m ine, h avin g m eanw hile ta k en a m in in g course in th e In tern ation al C orrespondence Schools. H e devoted h is a tten tio n to th e un d ergrou n d , and in a fe w m onths w as prom oted to a s s is ta n t g en era l su p erin ten d en t o f a com pany op­

e r a tin g 44 m in es. In 1913 he took ch arge o f th e Cabin Creek C onsolidated Coal Co., o f w h ich he is now the p resid en t.

A M O S A . C U L P, a c o n su ltin g en g in eer fo r railw ay and m ine tr a ck a g e o f B irm in g h a m , A la., w ho w as, from 1919 to 1924, c h ie f en g in ee r o f th e railroad departm ent of the W oodw ard Iron Co. and m ade th e stan d ard s for th at firm ’s u n d ergrou n d tra ck a g e w ill deliver an address on the im p ortan ce o f good track. H e h as been con­

nected w ith th e L o u isv ille & N a sh v ille, th e Southern, and th e P e n n sy lv a n ia railroad s as w ell as th e c ity of P hiladelphia.

N IX O N W. E L M E R , a c o n su ltin g m a teria l-h a n d lin g engineer o f Q uincy, M ass., w ill p resen t d iscu ssion on

in sid e m ine conveyors. H e received a d egree from Cornell in 1904. W ith a long experience in d esig n and con stru ction o f con veyin g sy stem s as a background, Mr. E lm er started , as a pioneer in th e p ro fessio n o f a c o n su ltin g m aterial-h an d lin g en gin eer. In th is cap acity he has served such o rgan ization s as th e B erw in d -W h ite Coal M ining Co. and the U n ited S ta tes S m eltin g & R e­

fining Co. (T he U n ited S ta te s F u el C o.).

C. H. N E S B IT who w ill d iscu ss th e volum e o f the air th a t should be sealed in w ith a m ine fire, w as a m in in g en g in eer in Indiana for s ix y ea rs and in A labam a fo r fifteen . For another fifteen years he has been c h ie f m ine in sp ector fo r th e S ta te o f A labam a w ith h ead ­ q uarters a t B irm ingham .

W IL L IA M J. G E R M A N , w ho w ill d iscu ss “M echan­

ical Loaders in P illa r W ork,” has sp en t several y ea rs in a stu d y of the best m ethods o f sh o o tin g down coal fo r loading out by m achine. D u rin g th e late w a r Mr. G er­

m an served as a captain o f en g in eers in France.

A. W. Dickinson

F. G. Wilcox

J. T. Ryan

C. W. N elson E. H. Johnson

Jam es Needham

S om e o f T h o se W ho W ill P r e se n t D iscu ssio n

A. A. Culp

J. O. Handy B. L. Lubelsky W. J. O Toole

I. N. Bayless Glenn Southward Charles Enzian

N. W. Elmer C. H. N esbitt

W. J. German

C O A L A G E

Josiah Keely

Som e o f th e E x p ert E n g in eers

W ho W ill D iscu ss C ertain P h a se s o f M ining

C on ven tion ’s D istin g u ish ed

C hairm en

H. N. Eavenson J. J. Rutledge

S. A. Taylor

W. L. Affelder

Eugene McAuIiffe J. E. Jones

R. L. Kingsland

L. E. Young

Vol. 29, N o. 20 700

O perating O fficials W ho W ill A ddress C in cin n ati C o n v e n tio n And th e Subjects T h ey W ill D iscu ss

T U E S D A Y , M a y 25, 10 a . m . t o 12 n o o n C H A I R M A N — S a m u e l A . T a y l o r

SUBJECT: MINE DRAINAGE

1. “Relation of Mine Drainage to Stream Pollution.”

B y A n d re w C rich to n , cons, en g r., J o t a s t o w n , Fii.

D i s c u s s i o n — H o w a r d N . E a v e n s o n , P i t t s b u r g h , P .

2. “Mine Water Purification.”

B y J a s . O. H a n d y , d ire c to r, P itts b u r g h T e s tin g L a b ­ o ra to ry , P itts b u r g h , P a .

3. “Restriction of Stream Pollution.”

B y W m . L . S t e v e n s o n , c h . e n g r . , S t a t e H e a l t h D e p ., H a r r i s b u r g , P a .

TU ESD A Y AFTERNOON, 1 : 30 to 3: 30 CHAIRMAN—W i l l i a m L. A f f e l d e r

SUBJECT: CUTTING AND BLASTING COAL 1. “Recent Experience in Shearing and Blasting.”

B y L . E . Y o u n g , g e n l . m g r . , U n i o n C o l l i e r i e s C o .,

S t . L o u i s , M o . . - An , . _ r r*n

D i s c u s s i o n — I . N . B a y l e s s , s u p t . , U n i o n C o l l i e r y C o . , D o w e l l , 111.

2. “Blasting Coal for Mechanical Loading.”

B y B . L . L u b e l s k y , e x p l o s i v e s e n g r . , P i t t s b u r g h C o a l C o ., P i t t s b u r g h , P a .

D i s c u s s i o n — D a v i d I n g l e , O a k l a n d C i t y , I n d .

3. “Results from Cushion Blasting.” ^ i ,

B y C . W . N e l s o n , e x p l o s i v e s e n g r . , H i l l m a n C o a l a n a C o k e C o ., P i t t s b u r g h , P a . .

D i s c u s s i o n — J o h n G . B a r t , U n i o n C o l l i e r i e s C o . , R e n ­ t o n , P a .

4. “Cutting in Fire Clay Bottoms.”

B y W . J.' F re e m a n , F a y e tte R e a lty & D e v elo p m en t Co., T e rre H a u te , In d .

D i s c u s s i o n — J o h n L . C l a r k s o n , C l a r k s o n C o a l M n g . C o ., N a s h v i l l e , 111.

W E D N E S D A Y , M a y 26, 10 a . m . to 12 noon

C H A I R M A N — E u g e n e M c A u l i f f e

SUBJECT: MECHANICAL LOADERS

1 “Mechanical Loaders That Have Operated Success­

fully at the Face and Their Operating Costs.”

B y A. W . D ick in so n , g en . s u p t., U n io n P a c ific C oal Co., R ock S p rin g s, W yo.

D isc u ssio n — W m . J . O’T oole, W elc h , W . V a.

2 “Machine Loading Failures and Reasons Therefor.”

B y H . F . M cC ullough, en g r., H . C. F r ic k C oke Co., S co ttd a ie, P a .

D isc u ssio n — E d w in H . J o h n s o n , C o lu m b u s, Ohio.

3. “B est Methods of Adapting Present Mining System s to Mechanical Loading.”

B y W . L. M cCoy, m in e in sp e c to r, B e r th a C o n su m e rs Co., R a ch e l, W . V a.

D i s c u s s i o n .

4. “Getting Cars to and from Mechanical Loaders.”

B y C h as. G o ttsc h a lk , cons, e n g r., E v a n s v ille , In d . D isc u ssio n — F . F . J o rg e n s e n , cons, e n g r., S u p e rio r

C oal Co., G illespie, 111.

W ED N ESD A Y AFTERNOON, 1: 30 to 3: 30 CHAIRM AN—J a m e s E l w o o d J o n e s

SUBJECT: MECHANICAL LOADERS

1. “Methods for Mining Thin, Flat Seams with Mechan­

ical Equipment.”

B y J. F . K . B ro w n , c h ie f e n g r., H u d s o n C o a l Co., S c ra n to n , P a .

D isc u ssio n — F r e d G. W ilco x , W e s t E n d C o al Co., S c ra n to n , P a .

2. “Mechanical Loaders in Pillar Work.”

B y R o b t. W a lla c e , su p t., P o c a h o n ta s F u e l Co., P o c a ­ h o n ta s , V a.

D isc u ssio n — W . J . G e rm an , E . I. D u P o n t de N e m o u rs

& Co., H u n tin g to n , W . V a.

3. “Mechanical Loading in Rooms and Entries.”

B y I. N. B a y le ss , su p t., U n io n C o llie ry Co., D ow ell, 111.

D isc u ssio n — J a s . N e e d h a m , gen. s u p t., S t. P a u l C o al Co., C hicago, 111.

4. “Mechanical Loading of Top and Bottom Rock in Entries.”

B y A. C. H o h n k e , su p t., R u ss e ll C oal M ng. Co., C ly m er, P a .

D isc u ssio n — F . M. F r itc h m a n , gen. m g r., B . R . & P . C oal Co., In d ia n a , P a .

THURSDAY, May 27, 10 a.m. to 12 noon CHAIRM AN—H o w a r d N. E a v e n s o n SUBJECT: UNDERGROUND CONVEYORS 1 “Inside Mine Conveyors.”

Bv N ixon W . E lm er, cons, en g r., Q uincy, M ass.

D iscussion— Glenn S outhw ard, C oal Service Corp., 2 R ector St., New Y ork City.

2 “Room and Pillar Mining with Conveyors.”

By R. A. Suppes, gen. supt., K n ick erb o ck er Sm okeless Dis°us*sion— S°hW.t(B lakeslee, supt., P e n n Coal & Coke

Corp., E h ren feld , P a.

3 “Mining Plans for Different Types o f Conveyors.”

By H eber D enm an, pres., P a r is P u r ity Coal Co., D iscussion— C ltre n c e R. C laghorn, 715 C o n t i n e n t a l

Bldg., B altim ore, Md.

TH U R SD A Y A FTER N O O N , 1: 30 to 3: 45 CHAIRM AN—J . J. R u t l e d g e

SUBJECT: ACCIDENT PREVENTION 1. “Proven Advantages of Rock D usting.”

B y Geo. B. H a rrin g to n , pres., C. W . & F . C oal Co.,

Chicago, 111. .

Com m ents— J. E. Jones, s a f e ty engr., Old B en Coal Corp., W e st F ra n k f o rt, 111. ; C has. E n z ia n , chief engr., B erw in d -W h ite Coal Mng. Co., W in d b e r, P a .;

T E. Je n k in s, v.-p., W e st K e n tu c k y C oal Co., S turgis, K y .; G eorge F. O sier, v.-p., P itts b u rg h , T erm in al Coal Co., P itts b u rg h .

2. “Sealing Fires in Gaseous Mines.”

a. "C u rren t P ra c tic e ,” by Jo h n T. R y a n , P itts b u rg h , b. “T e rrito ry R eq u ired ,’’ by C has. H . N e sb itt, Chief P a

In sp ecto r of M ines, B irm in g h am , A la.

3. “Fire Protection Underground.”

By W m . Z. P rice, ass t, supt., B uckeye Coal Co., N e- m acolin, P a.

FR ID A Y , May 28, 10 a.m. to 12 noon CHAIRM AN— L. E. Y o u n g SUBJECT: ROOF CONTROL AND MINING

METHODS

1. “Elements of Roof Control.”

By H. F . M cCullough, engr., H. C. F ric k Coke Co., Scottdaie, P a.

D iscussion— R. Y. W illiam s, cons, en g r., B ethlehem , Pa.

2. “Roof Control on Long Faces.”

By E. F. W oodson, gen. supt., C row e C oal Co., H e n ­ rie tta , Okla.

D iscussion— W . D. B ren n an , gen. m gr., P helps-D odge Corp., D aw son, N. Mex.

3. “Control of Roof in the Eagle Seam .”

By Jo s ia h K eely, pres., C abin C reek Cons. C oal Co., K ay fo rd , W . V a.

D iscussion— A. A. G allagher, gen. m g r M ilburn B y- P ro d u c ts Coal Co., M ilburn, W . V a.

4. “Recent Developments in Roof Control.”

B y W m . C. S tra tto n , chief engr., U. S. Coal & Coke Co., G ary, W . V a.

D iscussion— Thos. H . C lag ett, B luefleld, W . V a.

FR ID A Y A FTER N O O N , 1: 30 to 3: 30 CHAIRM AN—R. L . K i n g s l a n d

SUBJECT: UNDERGROUND TRANSPORTATION 1 “Importance of Good Track for Safe, Efficient and

Low Cost H aulage.”

B y A. A. Culp, cons, engr., B irm in g h am , A la.

D i s c u s s i o n — T . B . D r y e r , a s s t . g e n l . s u p t . , S l o s s - S h e f - f i e l d S t e e l & I r o n C o . , B i r m i n g h a m , A l a .

2. “Track Work, Details and Maintenance.”

B y F re d C. H ohn, cons, engr., 1429 W y o m in g Ave., S cranton, P a.

D iscussion— T hom as D eV enny, P o rts m o u th B y -P ro d - u c t Coke Co., E d g a rto n , W . V a.

3. “Selecting a Mine Car D esign.”

B y C larence E. W a tts , m ech. en g r., B erw in d -W h ite Coal M ining Co., W in d b er, P a.

D iscussion—W . D. H o ck en sm ith , P en n , P a . 4. “Dispatching for Long H aulage.”

B. H icks, Elec. E n g r., C o n so lid atio n C oal Co., F a irm o n t, W . Va.

D iscussion—Thos. G. F e a r , genl. m gr., In la n d C ol­

lieries Co., In d ia n o la , P a .

R e m o v e s P ittsb u r g h Coal B y A id o f C o n vey o rs

L on g-F ace O peration— Seven Men D aily Take One Cut W h ich Y ield s 100 to 120 T on s— No D ifficulty Y et E xp erienced in C ontrolling the R oof and H old ing T yp ical D raw slate

B y A lp h o n s e F . B r o s k y A ssista n t E d ito r, C o a l A g e ,

P itts b u rg h , P a.

1

su res on th e fa ce, crib s and p o sts. Can th ese diffi­

cu lties be m et su c c e ssfu lly ?

T he C on n ellsville B y -P ro d u c t Coal Co., w h ich operates its N o. 1 m in e on S c o tts R un, about th ree m iles north o f M organtow n, W. V a., h op es it h as solved the prob­

lem but h e s ita te s to d eclare th a t it has been su ccessfu l till it h a s had m ore ex p erien ce. It has ex tra cted the coal over a la r g e area w ith a su b sta n tia l d ecrease in the labor fo r c e and it h as o b tain ed a la rg e proportion o f m inable coal in th e seam — p ractically all o f it but th ere is s till th e problem o f its control o f th e roof.

Is it solved ? T h e com pany officials ad m it th a t th ey are not sure.

T h is, how ever, is c e r ta in : E v e r y day seven men take one cu t fro m a lo n g fa c e and th ere b y produce 100 to 120 to n s, o n e-th ird o f w h ich is sh o t down onto the face conveyor.

A s sh ow n b y F ig . 1, th e 8 5 -ft. fa c e s are laid out in 30 0 -ft. blocks, w h ich are sep a ra te d by p a ir s o f 10-ft.

rooms on 2 5 -ft. c e n te r s. F a c e s are developed on the inby end o f th e se blocks b y a cr o ssc u t w h ich is driven from one p a ir o f room s to th e n ex t. T he fa c e p illars and in te r v e n in g room p illa r s th u s developed m ay be said to be m in ed a d v a n c in g ; b u t in resp ect to th e b u tt en tr ies fro m w h ich th e y a re developed th e y m ay be said

T h e l o n g f a c e i l l u s t r a t e d i n t h e h e a d p i e c e i s s n u b b e d s o a s t o a c c o m m o d a t e a c o n v e y o r w h i c h i s p l a c e d u n d e r t h e c u t A s i n g l e r o w o f c r i b s i s e r e c t e d 7 f t . f r o m t h e p r e p a r e d f a c e a n d 1 3 ft . f r o m t h e b a c k o f t h e c u t . F o u r m e n a n d a c o n v e y o r r u n n e r c o m p r i s e t h e d a y s h i f t . T h e n i g h t s h i f t i s c o m p o s e d o f t w o m e n . T h e s e s e v e n m e n p r o d u c e a s m u c h a s 1 2 0 t o n s a d a y f r o m o n e 8 5 - f t . c u t .

to be recovered retrea tin g . T he sm all p illars b etw een p airs o f room s are recovered by pick w ork and th e coal is loaded into m ine cars by hand. A c u ttin g m ach in e is used w h erever con d ition s favor.

The P ittsb u r g h seam , w h ich is th a t w orked in th i3 m ine, has in th is section an avera g e th ic k n ess o f about 8 ft., o f w hich only 6 ft . is tak en . A bed o f im pure coal 6 in. th ick is le ft in the bottom and th a t coal w h ich lie s above th e 6 -ft. b reast o f clean coal is le f t in th e roof. The roof coal, h ig h in ash and sulphur, is sep ­ arated from th e clean b rea st coal by a p a r tin g o f bony shale. A bove th e seam are th e cu stom ary d raw slate and a cover 300 to 400 f t . th ick . T h is ro o f coal, a s ­ siste d by props and cribs, keeps in place th e d raw slate, w hich o th erw ise w ould require h an d lin g and g o b b in g , th u s m ak in g it p ossib le to m in e th e coal w ith econom y on a lon g fa ce, provided, as sa id b efo re, th e o v erly in g cover can be controlled.

Two M e n b y N i g h t a n d F i v e b y D a y

A n ig h t crew o f tw o m en and a day crew o f five m en jo in tly com plete th e m in in g o f one cu t a day, p erfo rm in g all op eration s b etw een and in clu d in g th o se o f c u ttin g and loading. T he only ad d ition al labor required is th a t em ployed at in terv a ls in m ovin g th e con veyors from one fa ce block to an oth er. A plan is con tem p lated w hich, i f adopted, w ould reduce by m ore th an o n e-h a lf th e labor involved in m o v in g th e con veyors. In th e proposed la y o u t tw o row s o f blocks w ould be developed end to end b etw een dou b le-h ead in g b u tt e n tr ie s. T h ese row s w ould be sep a ra ted by a sin g le -h e a d in g b u tt en try w h ich w ould serve as a h au la g e road w h ile th e first of the pair o f end-to-end blocks w ou ld be m in ed .

W hen th e tw o n ig h t m en a r riv e a t th e place a t th e b eg in n in g o f th e ir s h if t th e y find th e fa c e clean ed up.

B etw een th e fa c e and a row o f crib s is a 7 -ft. span o f unsupp orted roof. T he fa c e con veyor, w h ich is 28 in.

w ide, lie s 1 to 11 ft . in th e clea r o f th e lin e o f crib s and about 3 f t . clear o f th e fa ce.

T he c h ie f d u ties o f th e n ig h t crew are th o se o f c u t­

tin g and d rillin g . W h atever tim e rem a in s a fte r th e fa ce is cu t is sp en t by th ese m en in p r ep a rin g th e cu t by load in g out b u g d u st and m o v in g th e con veyor to a p o sitio n a b rea st o f th e fa c e. W h en ever th e fa c e sh o w s

702 C O A L A G E V ol . 29, No. 20

'10-ff. rooms on IS-ft. centers

Fig. 1— Long-Face Layout Connellsville By-Product Coal Co.’s Mine

T h e f a c e s a r e d e v e l o p e d 8 5 f t . l o n g o n b l o c k s w h i c h a r e 3 0 0 f t . l o n g . T h e s e b l o c k s a r e s e p a r a t e d b y p a i r s o f 1 0 - f t . r o o m s

o n 2 5 - f t . c e n t e r s . P a n e l s t h u s c o n s t i t u t e d a r e m i n e d a d v a n c i n g .

sig n s o f ta k in g m ore than ordinary w eig h t, th e sh ot- holes are drilled b efore the fa c e is undercut. G enerally th e d rillin g is le ft u n til th e end o f th e n ig h t s h if t or, if sufficient tim e is not available, u n til th e b eg in n in g o f the day sh ift. More w ill be said about th e d rillin g later.

The fa c e is undercut to a depth of 6 ft. by a longw all m achine. A shortw all cu tter o f course, w ould require m ore clearance betw een th e conveyor and th e fa ce th an conditions w ould allow. The cut is started at th e goaf end o f th e face so as to finish at th e open end, outby o f w hich poin t it is stored betw een cu ttin g cycles.

A s show n in F ig . 3, a sm all rib, about 12 in. w id e, is le ft on th e g o a f end of the fa ce to hold back th e loose m aterial in th e goaf, w hich o th erw ise w ould roll out beyond th is end o f the face. The c u ttin g cycle o f the 8 4-ft. k e rf on th e 8 5 -ft. fa ce requires 4 to 6 hours, of w hich only about 1 hour is consum ed in actual cu ttin g . A s the coal is hard, b its m u st be changed freq u en tly and th e m achine m u st as m any tim es be pulled out and sum ped in, w h ich accounts fo r m uch o f th e lo st tim e.

Som e tim e also is lo st in m ovin g th e m achine to th e g o a f end o f th e cut so th a t c u ttin g m ay com m ence. The tim e required fo r th is operation no doubt w ill be m uch reduced a fte r th e crew becom es m ore accustom ed to longw all cu ttin g.

Bugdust Loaded Before Shooting

H a v in g com pleted th e cut th e m en th en load th e bu gd u st onto th e conveyor, w h ich is kept ru n n in g d uring th is operation. T he c u t y ield s about 9 to n s o f dust, w h ich is loaded in about 24 m in u tes. N e x t th e con­

v eyor is m oved forw ard to a p o sitio n about 1 ft . from th e face. T h is operation requires about 14 hours

O f th e m en w ho com prise th e day s h ift, fo u r w ork a t th e fa c e and one w orks on th e en try a tte n d in g th e conveyors and sp o ttin g th e m in e cars. T he first job o f th e fa c e m en is th a t o f sn u b b in g th e coal and lo a d in g w h a t is loosened th ereb y onto th e conveyor. T h is ta sk i s com pleted in 1 to 14 hours. T he appearance o f th e coal a fte r sn u b b in g is illu stra ted in th e h eadpiece, and th e fa c e a fte r th e coal h a s been snubbed is show n in F ig . 2.

T h e snub cut is sta rted from a p oin t on th e face 2 to 3 ft . above th e floor and is slan ted dow nw ard to th e back o f th e k er f. It m u st be o f such prop ortion s

as to accom m odate th e fa c e con veyor, w h ich is m oved under it to a p o sitio n sh ow n in F ig . 6. T h e sn u b b in g o f th is fa c e is a sim p le o p eration , th e r o o f p ressu re te n d in g to loosen th e coal a lo n g slip s in th e lo w er region of the cut. In fa c t th e bar o f th e c u ttin g m a ­ chine so m etim es is ca u g h t by th e se ttle m e n t o f th e roof. Snu b b in g, th erefo re, c o n s is ts o f little m ore th an sh o v elin g out th a t coal w h ich lie s below th e m o st pro­

nounced slip s in th e seam and w h ich is relea sed a f t e r

th e b u gd u st is loaded out. . . .

Should th e n ig h t m en h ave difficulty in m a k in g th e ir cut and th ere fo re n ot find tim e to m ove th e con veyor ahead to an advance p o sitio n n ear th e fa c e , th e d a y m en leave th e conveyor in th e p o sitio n sh o w n in F ig . 2 w h ile load in g out th e snub coal and a fte r w a r d m ove it in one step from th is p o sitio n to th a t under th e cu t as show n in F ig . 6. In F ig . 4 are sh o w n tw o daym en in th e act o f m o v in g th e con veyor fo rw a rd and tw o other daym en d rillin g th e coal.

T he conveyor used on th e fa c e is th e J effr e y 44-B conveyor loader, and th a t la id to th e e n tr y is a 47-A portable conveyor, also o f J effrey m a n u fa c tu r e . T h e form er is provided w ith h in g ed flig h ts w h ich tu rn up on end in th e retu rn run o f th e co n veyor ch a in . T h is run is covered by hoods w h ich in se ctio n are shaped lik e an in verted V . T he con veyor bar is flex ib le so th a t any sectio n m ay be m ade to a ssu m e a v e r tic a l or h orizon tal in clin a tio n w ith resp ect to an a d jo in in g section.

Un e v e n Floor Is No Obstacle

T h is fle x ib ility in a v e r tic a l plane a llo w s th e con­

veyor to adapt it s e lf to an uneven floor and p erm its th e fr e e u se o f lif t in g ja ck s in r a is in g a p o rtio n o f th e conveyor at a tim e over a n y o ffset in th e floor w h ich m ay have been m ade by th e c u ttin g m ach in e. The fle x ib ility of th e conveyor in th e h o r izo n ta l p lan e, o f course, en ab les one or tw o m en to m ove s e g m e n ts o f th e con veyor fo rw a rd p r o g r e ssiv e ly w ith o u t d isco n n ect­

in g an y part. Som e o f th e se d eta ils also are sh o w n in F ig . 4. T he d rive head o f th e con veyor is m oved fo r ­ w ard by m ean s o f th e fe e d ch ain o f th e c u ttin g m a ch in e, w h ich fo r th is purpose is held r ig id b y a ja ck a s in d i­

cated in F ig . 7.

B y m ean s o f a rope w h ich is d raw n b y a r a tc h e t

F ig. 2— Long Face A fter Face H as Been Snubbed

B e f o r e t h i s s n u b b e d f a c e i s s h o t , t h e c o n v e y o r i s a d v a n c e d t o a p o s i t i o n u n d e r t h e c u t , a f t e r w h i c h t h e l i n e o f c r i b s i s r e - e r e c t e d a s c l o s e t o t h e f a c e a s p o s s i b l e . N o t e t h e o f f s e t s i n t h e f l o o r d u e t o t h e o p e r a t i o n o f t h e c u t t e r .

FIG . 3 Face Layout

T h e m o v i n g o f c r i b s s t a r t s a t t h e m i d d l e o f t h e c u t , w h e r e f o u r c r i b s a r e e r e c t e d n e a r t h e f a c e , a f t e r w h i c h t h o s e b e h i n d t h e m a r e r e m o v e d . T h i s o p e r a t i o n i s e x t e n d e d t o e i t h e r s i d e o f t h e s e f o u r c r i b s u n t i l t h e f a c e l i m i t s a r e r e a c h e d , o n l y o n e c r i b a t a t i m e b e i n g e r e c t e d , h o w e v e r .

*'S lig h t rib, about /2 in. thick, le ft to ho ld back, temporari/y, g o a f m a teria l which otherwise would ro/t o u t beyond end o f face

\ : 1 1 1

'Cribs a n d posts

on S-ft centers G o a f ^Sectionalconveyor

device th e se g m e n ts o f th e conveyor are pulled pro­

g r e ssiv e ly fo rw a rd on sk id s. In F ig . 6 can be seen the end o f a sk id p la te in se rted under th e conveyor and a block w h ich w h en tig h te n e d by a ratch et w in d s up a w ire rope a tta ch ed to th e fr o n t end o f th e skid. A s the rope is w ou n d th e block and con veyor are draw n tow ard th e fr o n t end o f th e skid, w h ich is held in p osition by p la c in g a sm all w ed g e o f w ood or a lum p o f coal under it s rear end. B e fo r e th e conveyor is moved it is lif te d b y a jack, so th a t th e sk id s can be extended in fr o n t o f it.

Co n v e y o r Is La i d Un d e r t h e Cu t

The con veyor is placed under th e snub cut b efore the coal is sh o t ch iefly b ecau se th is arra n g em en t allow s the crib s to be m oved to an advance p o sitio n close to th e fa c e b e fo re th e coal is sh o t. D u r in g th e earlier w ork a tte m p ts w ere m ade to sh oot th e coal w h ile th e conveyor w a s s till clear o f th e cut. W hen th is w a s th e practice th e co n veyor w a s g ra d u a lly fed in to th e coal pile. T h is sch em e did n ot g iv e e n tir e s a tis fa c tio n at th is m ine. T h e ste p s in th e b ottom m ade by th e c u ttin g m achine m ade it difficult to m ove th e conveyor and th e la tter also ten d ed to clim b over, in stea d o f w ork in g under, th e sm a ller lu m p s o f coal. T h ou gh th e se w ere all good reason s fo r m o v in g th e con veyor close to the face b efo re sh o o tin g so th a t th e coal could be sh o t down onto it th e y w e re none o f th em so im p o rta n t as the need to ob tain sp ace fo r th e erectio n o f crib s, th u s sh o rten in g th e tim e d u r in g w h ich th e span o f insuffi­

cien tly su p p orted r o o f is allow ed to sta n d . W ith th e conveyor m oved fo r w a r d th e cr ib s could be advanced b efore th e coal w a s sh o t.

The sh o v e lin g o f coal onto th is con veyor is no g rea t task, fo r th e con veyor flig h ts, and th e pan under them , lie p ractically on th e bottom . T h e fa c e m en in sh o v e lin g lif t th e coal b u t little . T h e k e r f is e a s ily cu t; it sa v es exp losive and prod u ces m ore lu m p y coal th a n could be obtained by so lid sh o o tin g . A t th e sam e tim e it p ro­

vides a m ean s by w h ich a b o u t o n e-th ird o f th e coal is sh ot onto and m oved by th e co n veyor. W h at coal re­

m ain s a fte r sh o o tin g , a g a in ab ou t o n e-th ird , is cleaned up in about 1 hour, in c lu d in g th e tim e req u ired fo r pick in g w h a tev er coal, i f a n y, h a s n o t been d islo d g ed by th e sh o ts. A lto g e th e r , th e se m en sp en d m uch le ss

th an h a lf th e ir tim e in actual sh o v elin g and in th a t tim e is included th e en tir e op eration of sn u b b in g, w hich, as has been stated , chiefly co n sists o f rem ovin g w ith sh ovels an y coal th a t th e p ressu re o f th e roof h as b rou gh t down.

A s indicated in F ig . 3, th e roof is supported by 30-in . square cribs s e t on 5 -ft. cen ters in a sin g le row and so located th a t th ey stan d b efore th e fa c e is cut about 7 ft.

clear o f th e solid coal. T h is d istan ce is in creased to about 13 ft. a fte r th e fa c e is cu t to a depth o f 6 ft.

The span o f unsupported ro o f is m a in ta in ed a t 13 ft.

only d u rin g th e tim e required to p repare a cu t fo r sh o o tin g . A fte r th e fa c e is undercut, drilled and snubbed and th e conveyor m oved to an advance p o sitio n under th e cut, th e cribs are m oved to w ith in 1 ft . o f th e fa ce. B etw een ad jacen t crib s 6-in. round s a fe ty props are placed. T h ese help to hold up th e ro o f coal

F ig. 4— Moving Conveyor and Drilling Face

T hough th e n ig h t sh ift of tw o m en u su a lly d rill the shotholes, occasionally th ey a re u n ab le to do so, in w hich case tw o of the face m en d rill w hile th e tw o o th e r face m en of the d ay s h ift move th e conveyor a s show n. T he coal is drilled by elec tricity .

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C O A L A G E ^Vol. 29, N o . 20 704

and to hold back gob rock w hich oth erw ise w ould creep out betw een, and in fro n t of, the cribs. T h ey also fa c ilita te the rem oval of th e cribbing.

T he crib lin e is advanced in sta g e s— th a t is, b efore each crib is torn down another is erected betw een it and the face. B efore the old lin e o f cribs is dism antled a row of s a fe ty props on 5 -ft. centers is se t at a d is­

tan ce of about 27 in. from the fa ce and b etw een th ese are b u ilt th e advance cribs. The re-b u ild in g of cribs is started from th e m idpoint of th e fa ce and p ro g resses tow ard the tw o ends. T h is job is accom plished by four m en who w ork in pairs, one b u ild in g and one te a r in g down cribs. A s indicated in F ig . 3, fo u r crib s are erected close to and in th e m iddle o f th e fa c e b efore th e rear row is touched. T h erea fter, crib a fte r crib is to rn down and re-erected in th e sequence in d icated in F ig . 3. B y fo llo w in g th is schedule the w ork is accom ­ plished m ore sp eed ily th an it could be o th erw ise. The cribs are pulled down and re-erected in about 1J hour.

T hey are built o f 6x6x30-in. oak blocks on a bed o f w a ste m aterial and in th e m anner illu stra ted in F ig . 5.

One m an w ill build such a crib in about 9 m in u tes.

B y loosen in g w ith a shovel th e r e fu se bed under the

crib th e tr ig g e r block A can be pulled out, a fte r w h ich th e crib fa lls forw ard . T he m a jo r ity o f th e crib blocks are recovered, but w hen th e s a fe ty props on e ith e r sid e do not support th e ro o f su fficien tly a fe w are lo st Occa­

sion ally th e m en find it ex p ed ien t to s e t an e x tr a p ost or tw o w h ere th e roof sh ow s w ea k n ess, so as to enable them th e m ore rea d ily to recover th e crib s. T h e s a fe ty props, o f course, are not recovered. T h ey crack and fall soon a fte r th e crib s on e ith e r sid e o f th em are rem oved, as sh ow n in F ig . 9.

T h is com pany h as fou n d by actu al e x p e n e n c e th a t one row o f crib s alon g th e fa c e is b e tte r th a n tw o.

W hen tw o row s w ere used, m ore m a ter ia l and labor w ere involved and and th e roof m a n ife ste d a g r e a te r ten d en cy to bend over th e fa ce and to b rin g an undue p ressu re on th e coal. A sin g le row o f crib s, to g e th e r w ith the top coal w h ich is le ft, ad eq u ately h olds th e ro o f m e a s­

ures, and little or no g o b b in g o f w a s te m a te r ia l is required. W ith each advance o f one c u t th e la m in a ted sla tes and coals in th e ro o f are sh ea red over th e rea i ends o f th e cribs.

A s already m en tion ed , th e tim e ch osen fo r p u ttin g in the drillholes depends en tir e ly upon th e co n d itio n of the face. W hen th e fa c e coal is m ore or le s s crushed

R efuse.

F ig . 5—Cross-Sectional View of Face

T h e l o c a t i o n s o f t h e c o n v e y o r , o f t h e d r a w i n g 01" B o a r d s s h o o t i n g a n d o f t h e s h o t h o l e s a jf® h o o ( j Gf t h e c o n v e y o r a n d t h e rc erfb L n E p ? e v S t 0SScP " a i e i' f ^ W l i n i W i n d t h e c o n v e y o r w h e n s h o o t i n g .

P arting

Long sh'othole

,'Profile i I

o f pile o f\

coal | m u st ,

F ig. 6— Conveyor Under Cut Receives Falling Coal

T h e c o n v e y o r h a s h i n g e d f l i g h t s w h i c h t u r n u p o n e n d u n d e r t h e h o o d i n t h e r e t u r n r u n o f t h e c o n v e y o r c h a i n . T h e c o n v e y o r b a r i s f l e x i b l e a n d i s m o v e d o v e r s k i d s t h r o u g h t h e a g e n c y o f a w i r e r o p e w o u n d o n a r a t c h e t d e v i c e .

Fig. 7— Sectional Conveyor Into Which Coal Is Discharged by Face Conveyor

T h i s s e c t i o n a l c o n v e y o r c a r r i e s c o a l f r o m t h e f a c e t o a t r i p o f m i n e c a r s o n t h e e n t r y . W h e n n o t i n u s e t h e l o n g w a l l c u t t e r i s s t o r e d c l e a r o f t h e f a c e i n t h e p o s i t i o n s h o w n o n t h e l e f t o f t h e i l l u s t r a t i o n . A p i p e j a c k h a s b e e n e r e c t e d t o h o l d t h e m a ­ c h i n e i n p l a c e w h i l e i t s f e e d c h a i n i s b e i n g u t i l i z e d t o p u l l t h e d r i v e s e c t i o n o f t h e f a c e c o n v e y o r t o w a r d t h e f a c e .

th e n ig h t m en drill th e coal b e fo re th e y cu t it. W hen th e fa ce coal sh ow s no s ig n s o f c r u sh in g , th e n ig h t m en cu t th e coal first. If, a ft e r th e cu t is clean ed out tim e y e t rem ain s, th ey also m ove th e co n v ey o r to w ith in about 1 f t . o f th e fa c e and la s tly p u t in th e d rillh oles.

O th erw ise th e y leave one or both th e s e tw o d u tie s to th e day s h ift. It m u st be u n d ersto o d th a t th e all- im p ortan t job o f th e m en on th e n ig h t s h if t is th a t of cu ttin g . Only o cca sio n a lly do th e y m e e t w ith such difficulties as to preclude th em fro m m o v in g th e con­

v eyor or d rillin g th e fa ce.

In an y even t, w h e th e r th e d r illin g is p erfo rm ed at

F ig. 8— Shortening Sectional Conveyor

T h i s m a n i s e n g a g e d i n s h o r t e n i n g t h e s e c t i o n a l c o n v e y o r w h i c h c a r r i e s c o a l f r o m t h e f a c e t o m i n e c a r s o n t h e e n t r y T h i s is d o n e a s o f t e n a s t w o c u t s a r e c o m p l e t e d . T h e e n d o f t h i s c o n ­ v e y o r m e a n w h i l e e x t e n d s a s m u c h a s 1 2 f t . i n t o t h e g o a f a n d is p r o t e c t e d b y c r i b s a s s h o w n .

the b e g in n in g or a t th e end o f th e n ig h t s h if t or at the b e g in n in g o f th e day s h if t, th e holes are spaced at in tervals o f 4 ft., a lte r n a te ly 2 i and 6 ft . long, b ein g put in e le ctrica lly b y tw o d rills o f th e a fo r esa id len g th s.

The sh o rt h oles a re sta r te d about 8 in. and the long holes ab ou t 14 in. fro m th e roof, both b ein g slanted upward so as b arely to reach th e ro o f coal, w h ich , as has been sta te d , is n ot rem oved. A lth ou gh th e long holes are each d rilled in about 1 m in u te and th e sh ort holes in ab ou t 30 secon d s, th e d r illin g cycle som etim es requires about 2 hou rs, m o st o f w h ich tim e is consum ed in sh a rp en in g th e d rills.

Short Holes Shot w it h On e Stick

T he sh o rt h oles are ch a rg ed w ith one stick o f p er­

m issib le pow der and th e lo n g w ith tw o. T h is is done by th e con veyor a tte n d a n t w h ile th e fa ce m en are m ov­

ing th e conveyor. T h e sh o ts are fired by a b attery, one at a tim e, b e g in n in g fro m th e open end o f th e face. O f th e coal b r o u g h t dow n by each sh ot, th a t w hich fa lls onto th e co n veyor is tra n sp o rted aw ay from the fa ce b efo re th e fo llo w in g sh o t is fired. A s illu s­

trated in F ig . 5, boards are placed under each shot, supported by c r o ssp ie ces b etw een th e crib s and th e top of th e con veyor hood, so a s to catch any coal w hich o th erw ise w ould fa ll over th e con veyor. W hat coal lodges on th is cover is e a sily sh oveled onto th e conveyor before th e boards are advanced to a p o sitio n under th e next shot. T he coal th a t rem a in s is pulled fo rw a rd by picks onto th e con veyor. T h ere is s till a little coal th a t has to be shoveled. A s th is coal is e a s ily loaded by hand and requires p r a ctica lly no lif t in g , no attem p t is m ade to feed th e con veyor fo r w a r d under it. W ere th is done, the conveyor w ould h ave to be m oved back a g a in in a s ­ much as a clea ra n ce o f a t le a s t 30 in. b etw een th e conveyor and th e fa c e is req u ired fo r th e lon gw all cutter.

The m a n agem en t o f th e m in e fe e ls sa tisfied th a t it has succeeded in p ro d u cin g a m a jo r fa ll e x te n d in g fo r a considerable d ista n ce above th e sea m . O ther fa lls o f large p rop ortion s have occu rred a t in te r v a ls. W h eth er

th ese fa lls have penetrated a bed o f lim eston e 30 to 40 ft. th ick w hich lies about 150 ft. above th e P it t s ­ burgh seam , b ein g worked, and b etw een it and th e S ew ick ley seam above it, is not definitely know n, but it seem s lik ely th a t th is stratu m has been broken.

Though the com pany has not y e t d em onstrated th e m erits o f th is sy ste m to its en tire sa tisfa c tio n , because it qu estion s w h eth er th e roof has been properly con­

trolled, y et th e degree o f su ccess th u s fa r a tta in ed dem on strates th a t the system is based on p rin cip les w hich g iv e p rom ise.' A lready fo u r 8 5 -ft. fa c e s on as m any p illars o f th a t w id th have been draw n fo r a d is­

tance of 250 ft. w ith o u t loss o f equipm ent o f a m inable coal. A t tim es th e fa c e s have show n sig n s o f heavy pressure, but never such as w ould com pel th e abandon­

m ent o f a place. In m ost cases the fa ce has been under m ore or less w e ig h t, but in th is sy ste m th is is con­

sid ered a help rather th an a d eterren t to m in in g , as the coal th ereb y is recovered w ith g re a ter f a c ility and w ith less labor and explosive.

The success th u s fa r a tta in ed is due to th e efforts made to keep th e len g th o f th e unsupp orted span o f roof in fr o n t o f th e fa c e at a m inim um . The aid w h ich th e roof coal lends the crib s in h old in g th e ro o f im ­ m ediately over th e seam no doubt is o f con sid erab le im portance. The rem oval or b reak in g o f p ractically

Fig. 9— Safety Prop A fter Removal of Cribs

T h e s e p r o p s , w h i c h a r e o f a b o u t 6 - i n . d i a m e t e r , a r e e r e c t e d b e t w e e n a d j a c e n t c r i b s . T h e y h o l d t h e r o o f l o n g - e n o u g h f o r t h e m e n t o r e m o v e t h e c r i b s , b u t c a l l a p s e s o o n a f t e r w a r d . T h e o n e l a p c e n t e r > b e i n g b e h i n d t h e c r i b l i n e , i s a b o u t r e a d y t o c o l -

all supports in th e g o a f, w h eth er o f coal or o f tim ber, a s s is ts th e op eration by a llo w in g ro o f breaks to occur freq u en tly. T here is reason to exp ect th a t a la y o u t o f th is kind, in w h ich a new break m u st be esta b lish e d in every panel, w ill w ork a t lea st as w ell as th e p resen t typ ical room -and-pillar la y o u t and at th e sam e tim e b rin g about such econom ies as w ill reduce th e co st o f m in in g . B y in c r e a sin g th e r e tr e a tin g d ista n ce o f th e lon g fa c e s in a panel or by w o rk in g sim u lta n eo u sly tw o or m ore a d jo in in g panels, a lo n g fa c e la y o u t sim ila r to th a t described should hold g r e a te r p o s s ib ilitie s th a n la y o u ts o f room s and p illa rs, a t le a st in th e th in n e r seam s.

I w ish to acknow ledge th e a ssista n c e ren d ered m e by S tep h en A rk w rig h t, g en eral m a n a g er, and W allace D a r t- nell, m in in g en g in eer, o f th e C on n ellsville B y -P ro d u ct Coal Co. in th e p rep aration o f th is article.