C o a l A g e
A McGr a w- Hill Pu b l ic a t io n— Es t a b l is h e d 1911
D E V O T E D T O T H E O P E R A T IN G , T E C H N IC A L . A N D B U S IN E S S P R O B L E M S O F T H E C O A L M IN IN G IN D U S T R Y
Ne w Y o r k , June, 1 9 3 0
Vo l u m e 3 5 Nu m b e r 6
“The Coal Trade Blues ”
E N J O Y M E N T o f p o o r h e a lth has been so fa s h io n a b le in th e bitu m in o u s coal in d u s try t h a t it is n o t a lw a y s easy to distinguish b e tw e e n c h r o n ic in v alid ism a n d h y p o c h o n d ria . I n c e rta in d istricts, t h e economic s ituation a d m i t t e d l y is dep ressin g , w ith n e ith e r profits, w ages, n o r sales vo lu m e s u g g estin g early im p r o v e m e n t . D ia g n o s is o f th e real s ta te o f t h e in d u s try , h o w e v e r, m u s t be as b r o a d as t h e i n d u s t r y itself. I n such an ex am ination, m a n y o f t h e u n f a v o r a b l e s y m p to m s a r e can
celled o u t by th e m o r e f a v o r a b l e indicia.
T H I S cancelling-out process is a d m ira b ly d e m o n s t r a t e d in a review o f c o m p a r a tiv e p r o d u c ti o n figures. B itu m in o u s o u tp u t to M a y 17 w a s only 9.2 p e r cent u n d e r th e t o t a l f o r t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g p e r io d la st y e a r
— a n d 1929 w a s n o t a b a d y e a r f r o m th e t o n n a g e s t a n d p o i n t . M o r e o v e r , this d ecrease p r o b a b ly is inflated, because d r a f t s on con
s u m e r s ’ stocks th e first q u a r t e r o f 1930 w e re 2 , 3 0 0 ,0 0 0 to n s g r e a t e r t h a n a y e a r ago.
W H E N c o m p a r i s o n is m a d e w ith o t h e r basic m o v e m e n ts u s e d in t h e construction o f s t a tistical b a r o m e t e r s , t h e show ing is still m o re h e a r t e n i n g . D u r i n g th e first fo u r m o n th s o f 1930, f o r exam ple, T h e A n n a lis t com b ined index o f in d u s tria l activity was off 12.3 p e r cent w h e n c o m p a r e d w ith th e c o r re s p o n d
ing p e r io d la s t y e a r. B itu m in o u s coal, h o w ever, w a s off only 8.7 p e r cent— w it h th e exception o f electric p o w e r p ro d u c tio n , th e s m a lle st loss in a list in cluding pig iron, steel ingot, zinc a n d a u to m o b ile p ro d u c tio n , ca r loadings, an d c o tto n a n d w ool c o n su m p tio n . P i g iron w a s off 13.9; a u to m o b ile p ro d u c tio n , 3 0 .4 p e r cent.
T H A T business is b a d in s p o ts is no p h e n o m e n o n p e c u lia r to p e r io d s o f d e p re ss io n . B u t t h a t th e v o lu m e o f coal p r o d u c tio n sh o u ld be so well m a in t a i n e d in t h e face o f w id e s p r e a d c o m p la in t o f p o s t p o n e d r e t u r n to high-speed g e n e ra l i n d u s tria l a c tivity p o in ts to a d e g r e e o f s ta b i l iz a t i o n n o t c o m m o n ly a s so c ia te d w ith “ ex hibit A ” in t h e w o r l d ’s sick in dustries. T h e f a t- s lo u g h in g t o r t u r e s o f re cen t y e a r s h a v e n o t been w i t h o u t t h e ir benefits.
AS p re v io u sly indicated, this sta b iliz a tio n has
n o t been s h a r e d in equally. Som e o p e r a t o r s
w h o w on t e m p o r a r y a d v a n t a g e t h r o u g h
w age cuts n o w face ru in o u s re p risals . N o t h i n g
is m o r e u n s ta b le th a n vo lu m e so ac h ie v ed —
or, in th e lo n g run, m o r e d i s a s tro u s . T h e
com panies t h a t a r e m a k i n g o u t s t a n d i n g p r o g
ress in b u ild in g f o r p e r m a n e n t g ain s a r e d o
ing so by b a c k in g up sound m a n a g e m e n t w ith
t h e m o n ey to keep o p e r a t i o n s m o d e r n i z e d .
TIMBER TREATMENT
■ + ■ Opens W a y to Substantial Savings In M ine Operating Costs
I
N T I M E S g o n e by, m uch o f th e tim b e r u se d in th e m in e s could be o b ta in e d f ro m th e w oods on o r a d ja c e n t to th e m in e p ro p e rtie s . D u r in g th e p a s t few y e a rs, h o w e v e r, m a n y o p e r a to rs h a v e b ee n com pelled to bu y m o s t o f th e w o o d used f o r h o u ses, m in e tie s, a n d p o sts. S p lit m in e p o sts, f o rm e rly o b ta in a b le fro m o u r ow n p r o p e r ty a t a co st o f ab o u t 15c. apiece d e liv e re d a t th e m ine, m u s t now be b o u g h t f ro m o u tsid e a t an a v e rag e cost, in c lu d in g h a n d lin g , o f ab o u t 25c.P o s s ib ly 10 o r 15 p e r c e n t o f th is tim b e r is u se d in e n trie s w hich m u st be k e p t o p en a n d in go o d co n d itio n fo r a t le a st te n y e a rs. T h is 10 o r 15 p e r c e n t h a s to be rep laced , d u e to decay, se v e ra l tim e s d u r in g th e se te n y e a rs. F o u r y e a r s ago o u r com pany b u ilt a b o u t th r e e m iles o f o u tsid e tr a m ro a d , u s in g n e a rly 9,000 tie s— in c lu d in g sid e tra c k s . D u rin g th e p a s t y e a r, p ra c tic a lly all o f th e se tie s have been re p la c e d , a s w ell as m a n y r e p la c e m e n ts in sid e th e m in e. T h e se ties w e re 6 x 6 in. x 6 £ f t.— m ain ly o f oak
— c o s tin g a p p r o x im a te ly 50c. p e r tie.
D u e to th e sc a rc ity o f oak, ho w ev er, it h a s o f te n been n e c e s sa ry to ta k e s u b s titu te s w h ic h la s t so m etim es n o t o v e r a y e a r o r tw o . T h e co st o f r e p la c e m e n t in n e a rly all cases is h ig h e r th a n th e f irs t co st, d u e to ad d itio n a l la b o r in ta k in g o u t th e old w ood.
R e c e n tly o u r co m p a n y decided to re o p e n a n d r e c o n d itio n a m in e w hich h a d b ee n clo sed f o r a b o u t f o u r y ea rs.
M o s t o f th e tr a c k in th is m ine, w hich w a s a b o u t 15,000 ft. lon g , h a d been re tie d s h o r tly b e f o r e c lo sin g th e m ine.
U p o n in v e s tig a tio n , it w as fo u n d th a t p ra c tic a lly e v e ry tie in th e tra c k had d ec ay e d . B e c a u se o f a n e a rlie r u n
s a tis fa c to ry e x p e rie n c e w ith c re o so te d ip p in g , in q u iry w as m a d e in to p r e s e n t m e th o d s o f tr e a tin g tim b e r an d th e k in d o f chem icals u sed . W o lm a n sa lts im p re ssed u s f a v o ra b ly b ecau se th is chem ical is n o n -c o rro siv e , in so l
uble, an d h as no ir r ita tin g effec t o n th e skin. W o o d tr e a te d w ith it could rea d ily be p ain te d a n d , th e re fo re , it is possible to u se it on lu m b e r f o r u se in houses.
A n in v e stig a tio n th e n w as m a d e to d e te rm in e if a sm all, econom ical p la n t to tr e a t tim b e r w ith th is chem ical could be b u ilt. T h e r e w e re se v eral an g les to th is p ro b lem . W h ile th e p la n t w ould h av e to be la rg e en o u g h to ta k e ca re o f all re q u ire m e n ts, it also w ould h av e to be sm all en o u g h to m ake o p e ra tio n econom ical. S in ce th e d e m a n d o n it p ro b a b ly w o u ld be m o re o r less in te rm itte n t, a p la n t w hich could be o p en e d a n d closed fro m tim e to tim e w ith o u t a d d itio n a l cost m u s t be had . S im p lic ity o f o p era tio n also is n ec essary , since in te r m itte n t d e m a n d s w o u ld m a k e it u n econom ical to em ploy a n e x p e r t fo r th is p a rtic u la r k in d o f w o rk . T h e problem o f upk eep also is im p o rta n t, as th e to ta l cost o f tr e a tin g w ood m u st be held w ith in c e rta in lim its, in o rd e r to m ak e th e tr e a tin g o f w ood ch e ap e r a t le ast th a n th e co st o f th e w ood. I f th is could be d one, th e n th e cost o f la b o r in re p la c e m e n ts w ould be saved. T h e p la n t a n d eq u ip m e n t finally d ecided u p o n as m e e tin g th e se specifications w as c o n s tru c te d by th e K a n a w h a M a n u fa c tu r in g Co.
an d includes a sm all steel b u ild in g
By L. N. THOMAS
Vice-President, Carbon Fuel Co.
Carbon, W . Va.
2 4 x 3 0 f t . ; a r e to r t 54 in. in sid e d ia m e te r by 21 ft. lo n g ; th r e e ta n k s — a m ix in g ta n k o f 1,500 g a llo n s ca p acity , a s to ra g e ta n k o f 3 .0 0 0 g a llo n s ca p a c ity, a n d a m e a s u rin g ta n k o f 4 0 0 g a l
lo n s c a p a c ity — a n a i r c o m p re s s o r ; a ir r e c e iv e r ; a n d a sm all b oiler.
T h e sa lt is b o u g h t in b a r r e ls o f 2 25 lb. each a n d is d isso lv ed in w a te r in th e m ix in g ta n k . T h e b o tto m o f th is ta n k c o n ta in s p e r f o r a te d p ip es w h ich allo w je ts o f h o t w a te r o r ste am , a t h ig h p re s s u re , to be fo rc ed u p th ro u g h th e so lu tio n , th u s c a u sin g th e s a lt to th o ro u g h ly disso lv e. T h e w ood is lo ad ed o n to sm all c a rs w h ich r u n on a tr a c k in to th e r e to r t, a f te r w h ich th e end g a te o f th e r e to r t is se cu rely b olted.
If th e lu m b e r is g re e n , a p ro c e ss o f ste a m se a so n in g th e n ta k e s place.
L o w -p re s s u re ste a m is in tro d u c e d in to th e r e to r t a n d h e a t also is a p p lie d by m e a n s o f ste a m coils w h ic h ra is e th e te m p e r a tu re to a b o u t 150 deg . F . A f t e r a p erio d o f ste a m in g , a v ac u u m o f a b o u t 25 in. is d r a w n in th e r e to r t.
T h is p ro ce ss is th e n re p e a te d tw o o r th r e e tim e s— th e tim e d e p e n d in g u p o n th e k in d a n d c o n d itio n o f w o o d to be tre a te d . B e tw e e n th e tim e o f s te a m in g a n d v ac u u m , v alv es a r e o p en e d w hich allow th e r e to r t to d ra in o ff sap a n d a n y c o n d e n se d ste am w h ich a r e c o n ta in e d in th e w ood. T h e la st v a c u u m is used to pull th e so lu tio n in to th e re to r t a n d , h a v in g filled it, in to th e m e a s u rin g ta n k . T h e m e a s u rin g
June, 1930 — C O A L A G E 343
Vol.35, No.6
ta n k h a s g la ss g a g e s w h ic h in d ic a te th e q u a n tity o f so lu tio n it c o n tain s.
P r e s s u r e o f 175 lb. p e r s q u a re in c h is th e n a p p lie d a n d th is p r e s s u r e is k e p t o n u n til a p r e d e te r m in e d a m o u n t o f so lu tio n is a b s o rb e d b y th e w ood.
T h is a m o u n t, o f c o u rse , is in d ic a te d on th e g a g e s o f th e m e a s u rin g ta n k . A f t e r th is p o in t h a s b ee n re a c h e d , th e p r e s s u r e is u se d to fo rc e th e u n a b so rb e d so lu tio n b ac k in to th e s to ra g e ta n k , w h e r e it is k e p t a t a te m p e r a tu r e o f a b o u t 100 to 120 deg. F . b y m e a n s o f a ste a m coil in th e b o tto m o f th e ta n k .
I f se a so n e d tim b e r is o b ta in a b le , th e ste a m in g is e lim in a te d , it b ein g n e c e s sa ry o n ly to pull a v a c u u m fo r a b o u t 3 0 m in u te s in c r d e r to o p e n w ell th e cells in th e w o o d . T h is w ill i n c re a se by th r e e o r f o u r tim e s th e q u a n tity o f w o o d w h ic h can be tre a te d in a 1 0 -h o u r s h ift. G e n e ra lly , it ta k e s th e fu ll s h if t to t r e a t o n e r e to r t o f g r e e n tim b e r, a n d f r o m th r e e to f o u r r e to r ts o f se a so n e d tim b e r ca n be tr e a te d in th e sa m e p e rio d o f tim e .
R e c o rd in g g a g e s f o r m e a s u rin g te m p e r a tu re , p re s s u re , a n d v a c u u m a r e used. T y p ic a l c h a rts f ro m th e s?
m e te rs sh o w in g th e tr e a tm e n t o f s e a so n e d tim b e r a r e re p ro d u c e d in F ig . 1.
I t w ill b e n o te d th a t th e re c o rd in g m e te r w as s ta rte d a t a b o u t 7 :30 a.m . w ith a te m p e r a tu re o f a b o u t 6 0 deg.
in th e r e to r t. T h is te m p e r a tu re can be seen in c re a s in g u n til it re a c h e s 170 deg. a t a b o u t 9 :3 0 . G o in g f ro m h e r e to th e sm a lle r c h a rt, th e v a c u u m is in d ic a te d , w h ic h v a c u u m re a c h e s 2 4 in. a t a b o u t 1 1 :1 5 , th e v a c u u m line d ro p p in g s h a rp ly to zero .
R e f e r r in g a g a in to th e la rg e r c h a rt, it can be se en th a t p r e s s u r e is ap p lied w h ich in c re a se s ra p id ly u n til, a t
l-'ig. 2— Four Retorts of Seasoned Timber W ere Treated Between 8:15 a.m. an.! 5
Fig. 1—Eleven-Hour Treatment of a Retort Full o f Green Timber
Storage Tank at L eft, Measuring Tank in and Steam Boiler at Extreme Right
Timber Appears to Be Plentiful at Carbon, W . Va., but the Cost of Renewals in the Mines W ar
rants a Treating Plant. M ixing of the Salts Is Pone in the Vat Under the Shed at This End
The Retort, W hich is 54 in. in Diameter and 2 1 Ft.
Long, Is Subjected to Steam Temperatures, to a 25-In.
Vacuum and to a Pressure of 185 Lb. Per Square Inch
Door Open Showing Car and Timber In Retort
June, 1930 — C O A L A G E 345
1 1 :3 0 , 185 lb. p e r s q u a re in c h is re a c h e d . T h is c u rv e fo llo w s a zig zag c o u rs e u n til a b o u t 7 :15 p.m . T h e i r r e g u la rity in th is c u rv e in d ic a te s a m in im u m p r e s s u r e o f 175 deg. a n d a m a x im u m p r e s s u r e o f 185 deg. d u r in g th is e n tire p e rio d o f tim e. T h is is b r o u g h t a b o u t by m e a n s o f a n u n lo a d in g d ev ice o n th e a ir c o m p re sso r.
T h e te m p e r a tu re h a v in g d ro p p e d o ff d u r in g th e p e rio d o f v a c u u m rise s d u r in g p r e s s u r e to 150 deg . m a x im u m a n d is h e ld n e a r th a t p o in t d u r in g th e e n tir e p r e s s u r e p e rio d . A t th e end o f th is p r e s s u r e p e rio d th e w o o d h a s a b s o rb e d th e re q u ir e d a m o u n t o f s o lu tio n a n d is re a d y f o r d is c h a rg e f ro m th e r e to r t. I t w ill be n o te d th a t a b o u t tw elv e h o u r s a n d a h a lf w e re re q u ire d f o r th e tr e a tm e n t o f th is o n e r e to r t o f g re e n tim b e r.
T h e se aso n e d tim b e r c h a r ts a re sh o w n in F ig . 2. T h e re c o rd in g m e te r w as s ta r te d a t 6 :45 a.m . w ith a
te m p e r a tu re in th e r e to r t o f a b o u t 75 d eg . T h is sh o w s n o a p p lic a tio n o f h e a t, a s th e o u tsid e te m p e r a tu re is p ra c tic a lly th e sa m e. T r e a t in g s ta rte d a t 8 :1 5 , a s sh o w n by th e sm a lle r c h a rt, w h ich in d ic a te s a v a c u u m r is in g ra p id ly u n til 25 in. w a s re a c h e d a t a b o u t 8 :4 5 . T h is v a c u u m , a f te r b e in g h eld a b o u t tw e n ty m in u te s, d r o p s s h a rp ly , a s it is u se d to d ra w th e tr e a tin g so lu tio n in to th e re to r t.
P r e s s u r e is th e n ap p lied , as sh o w n on th e la rg e r c h a r t, w h ic h also in d ic a te s a rise in te m p e r a tu re to th e re q u ire d 150 deg. T h is p re s s u r e w as n e c e s sa ry f o r o n ly a n h o u r a n d a q u a r te r, a f t e r w h ic h tim e th e p r e s s u r e lin e d ro p p e d s h a rp ly a s th e so lu tio n w a s fo rc e d b a c k in to th e s to ra g e ta n k . T h e r e t o r t th e n b e in g o p e n e d to d is c h a rg e th e tim b e r, allo w s th e te m p e r a tu r e to d ro p , w h ic h is sh o w n o n th e te m p e r a tu r e c u rv e , b e tw e e n 1 0 :3 0 a n d 1 1 :45.
F o llo w in g th e s e tw o c h a r ts f u r th e r , it
ca n b e seen th a t f o u r r e to r ts o f tim b e r w e re tr e a te d b e f o r e 5 o ’clock, th e la s t b a tc h o f tim b e r b e in g allo w ed to r e m a in in th e r e to r t o v e r - n ig h t; a s in d ic a te d b y th e g ra d u a l d e c re a s e in te m p e r a tu re a n d p r e s s u r e . T h is la tte r o p e ra tio n w a s n o t n e c e ssa ry .
F o r m in e tim b e r, it is re c o m m e n d e d t h a t a b o u t lb. n e t re te n tio n o f sa lt p e r cu b ic f o o t o f w o o d tr e a te d b e o b ta in e d . T h e r e f o r e , th e so lu tio n is v a rie d a c c o rd in g to th e le n g th o f tim e n e c e s s a ry f o r tr e a tin g th e p a r tic u la r k in d o f w o o d in th e r e to r t. O r d i n a r ily , f o r se a so n e d m in e tie s an d p o sts , w e u se a 1.66 p e r c e n t so lu tio n
— th a t is, o n e p o u n d o f s a lt f o r 7 .0 8 g a llo n s, o r 59 lb. o f w a te r. T h e r e fo re , f o r e v e ry 6 0 lb. o f so lu tio n w h ic h is a b s o rb e d b y th e w o o d , w e w ill h a v e 1 lb. n e t r e te n tio n o f s a lt a f t e r th e w a te r h a s e v a p o r a te d o u t.
I n o r d e r to g e t -J- lb. n e t r e te n tio n p e r cu b ic f o o t o f w o o d , it is th e n n e c e s
s a ry to f o rc e in 12 lb. o f so lu tio n . B y c o m p u tin g th e to ta l n u m b e r o f cu b ic f e e t o f w o o d in th e r e t o r t a n d m u lti
p ly in g th is fig u re b y 12, w e k n o w th e q u a n tity o f so lu tio n w h ic h m u s t be a b s o rb e d b y th e w o o d w h ic h th e r e t o r t c o n ta in s . W h e n th is p o in t is re a c h e d , th e v a lv e s b e tw e e n th e r e to r t a n d s to r a g e ta n k a r e o p e n e d a n d th e p r e s s u r e fo rc e s th e so lu tio n o u t o f th e r e to r t.
F o r se a so n e d tim b e r it is g e n e ra lly fo u n d th a t a b o u t tw o h o u r s o f p r e s s u r e is r e q u ire d . F o r g re e n tim b e r, h o w e v e r, it m a y ta k e as m u c h a s s ix o r e ig h t h o u r s to fo rc e th is 12 lb. o f s o lu tio n in to each cu b ic f o o t o f w ood.
T h e r e f o r e , • th e la b o r c o s t w o u ld be m a te ria lly in c re a se d . I n o r d e r to av o id th is , th e so lu tio n m a y b e ric h - e n e d b y u s in g 4 .6 8 g al. o f w a te r to th e p o u n d o f sa lt, w h ic h w o u ld m a k e it n e c e s s a ry f o r th e w o o d to a b s o rb o n ly 8 lb. o f so lu tio n . T h is w o u ld th e n b r in g th e p r e s s u r e p e rio d b a c k to a p p r o x im a te ly tw o h o u rs .
D e p th o f p e n e tr a tio n a lso is a n im p o r ta n t c o n s id e ra tio n in th is p ro c e ss o f tr e a tin g . T h is is la rg e ly d e te r m in e d b y tr ia l. W o o d s su c h as r e d o ak , beech, s u g a r, a n d p in e re a d ily a b s o rb th e so lu tio n a n d a r e p e n e tr a t e d e n tir e ly th ro u g h , w h ile w h ite o a k is v e ry d ifficult to p e n e tr a te , th e s o lu tio n se ld o m p e n e tr a tin g th e h e a r t- w o o d . T h e r e f o r e , it is n o t w ise to r ic h e n th e s o lu tio n to th e p o in t w h e re th e p r e s s u r e p e rio d is m a d e to o sh o rt, f o r th e re a s o n th a t so m e w o o d s m ay ta k e th e a m o u n t o f a b s o rp tio n n e c e s
s a r y a r o u n d th e s u r f a c e o f th e w ood a n d th e c e n te r o f th e w o o d w o u ld be u n p ro te c te d . A re d ch e m ic al is p ro -
(T urn to page 361) Fig. 3— This Form Is Made Out in Full fo r Each Retort-load of
Wood. The Information W hich Can Be Gotten From This Form and the Recording M eters Which Correspond, Enables Anyone Familiar W ith Treating to Have an Exact Check on the Operations
o f the Plant W ithout Even Being at the Plant.
C harge No.
T H E C A R B O N F U E L C O M P A N Y R ecord of W olm anizing O p erations 1. K in d of W ood (H ardw ood, M ixed, Softw ood).
2. Species (Ties, P o st, C ollars, B uilding M aterial) .2
a) 4. T ram I S pecics...
CÎ 5. T ra m 2 Species...
6. T ra m 3 Species...
7. T o ta l V olum e: P ie c e s.. ...F t. B .M .:... . . . . C u .F t.
8. S ta rte d H o u r :... Vr.cuum S ta rted H o u r:...
c 9. S ta rte d H o u r : ... V acuum S ta rted H o u r:...
10. S ta rte d H o u r : ... V acuum S ta rte d H o u r:...
cS 11. S ta rte d H o u r :... V acuum S ta rte d H o u r:...
12. S ta rte d H o u r : ... V acuum S ta rte d H o u r:...
1 3. Steam P ressu re: S ta rt, L b ...
14. V acuum S ta r t e d ...
15. In tro d u c tio n of P rese rv a tiv e S ta rte d ...
16. V acuum E n d e d ...
17. V acuum M ax im u m ...
o 18. P ressure S ta rte d ...
■-C 19. Pressure E n d e d ...
c 20. P ressure M ax im u m ...
bC 21. Tem perature in Storage T an k ...
k. 22. Tem perature in R eto rt S ta rt...
F 23. T e m p e ra tu re in R e to rt F i n a l ...
24. Forcing B ack of S o lu tio n S ta rte d ..
25. F orcing B ack of S o lution E n d e d . . 26. F in a l V acuum S ta r t e d ...
27. F in a l V acuum E n d e d ...
28. F in a l V acu u m M ax im u m ...
o 29. H eights of S o lution in M easu rin g T a n k , S ta r t ... Inches 30. H eig h ts of S o lution in M easu rin g T a n k , F in a l ... Inches
« 31. A bsorption (29-30 X lb. p er inch T a n k V o lu m e)... Pou n d s t 32. A bsorption p e r C u .F t. of W ood (31 -5- V olum e of W o o d )... Po u n d s
% 33. D en sity of S o lu tio n ... G al. p er l b ... P e r cen t
£ 34. A m o u n t of D ry S alt R e te n tio n p er C harge (C u .F t. X p er cent D ensity) 35. A m o u n t of D ry S a lt R e te n tio n p e r C u .F t.
36. S team ing...
- 37. In itia l V a cu u m ...
£ 38. In tro d u c tio n of P rese rv a tiv e g 39. Im p reg n a tio n ...
g 40. F orcing B ack of S o lu t io n ....
3 41. F in a l V acu u m ...
w 42. O pening R e t o r t...
43. T o ta l...
44. R em arks:
O perator.
M in u te s M in u tes M in u tes M in u tes M in u tes M in u tes M in u tes M in u tes
COAL MINING PROGRESS
+ Keynote of
Rocky Mountain Institute Meeting
P
R O G R E S S in all p h a s e s o f coal m in in g , w ith p a r tic u la r em p h asis on a c c id e n t p re v e n tio n a n d m e c h a n iz a tio n , w a s th e k e y n o te o f th e tw e n ty -n in th r e g u la r m e e tin g o f th e R o c k y M o u n ta in C oal M in in g I n s titu te , h e ld a t th e H o te l C o sm o p o lita n , D e n v e r, C olo., M a y 26-28. T r a n s p o r ta tio n a s ap p lie d b o th to m in e s w ith h a n d lo a d in g a n d th o se u s in g lo a d in g m a c h in e s, m e th o d s o f b r e a k in g d o w n th e coal fa c e to in c re a se th e p ro d u c tio n o f lu m p , m a rk e tin g o f c o a l a n d its in flu e n ce o n re a liz a tio n , p r e p a r a tio n m e th o d s a s ap p lie d to coal f o r th e d o m e stic m a rk e t, a n d v o c a tio n a l tr a in in g f o r m in e rs follow ed clo sely in in te r e s t c re a te d a n d d isc u s
s io n p ro v o k e d .
A t th e se ssio n o n m a rk e tin g , on M a y 26, p re s id e d o v e r b y B . B.
B r e w s te r , S a lt L a k e C ity , U ta h , C.
P ric e C r a w f o rd , fu e l en g in e e r, L ib e r ty F u e l C o., S a lt L a k e C ity, called u p o n th e coal in d u s try to rec o g n ize th e a d v e n t o f a n e w day . “ C o st o f p r o d u c tio n a lo n e is n o t a m e a su re o f p ro fit,” h e d e c la re d . “ I t is a n in te r e s tin g f a c t th a t th e p ro d u c tio n o f an a rtic le r e p r e s e n ts a d e fin ite loss u n til th a t a r tic le h a s b ee n so ld f o r a p ric e in e x c ess o f its to ta l co st, a n d th e m o n e y is in th e h a n d s o f th e p r o d u c e r. I f th a t is tr u e , th e n th e selling p ric e is m o re im p o r ta n t th a n th e p r o d u c tio n c o s t.”
U p - to - d a te m a c h in e ry a n d tra in e d m e n h a v e b r o u g h t c o a l-p ro d u c tio n co sts d o w n u n til o n ly th e in v e n tio n o f n ew m a c h in e ry o ffe rs m u c h p o ssib il
ity o f lo w e rin g th e m still f u r th e r .
“ I t n a tu ra lly fo llo w s th a t a n y im p r o v e m e n t in o u r fin a n c ia l c o n d itio n m u s t com e th r o u g h a n in c re a se in n e t re a liz a tio n o n coal sold. O u t-o f- d a te m e th o d s can, a n d a re , lo sin g d o lla rs
f a s te r th a n th e o p e ra tin g d e p a r tm e n ts can save p en n ies. T h e o n ly q u alifica
tio n n e c e ssa ry to b e a coal sa lesm an h a s been p e rs o n a lity a n d a n in c lin a tio n to ‘m e et c o m p e titio n .’ I n to o m a n y cases, ‘m e e tin g c o m p e titio n ’ h a s m e a n t d o in g as m a n y fo o lish th in g s as a c o m p e tito r d o es.”
H o w e v e r, “ if th e f u tu r e w e lf a re o f th e coal in d u s try is d e p e n d e n t u p o n
B . w . SNODGRASS
th e sellin g en d , o u r sales d e p a rtm e n ts m u s t in c lu d e m e n w ith th e sa m e m e a s
u r e o f tr a in in g a n d a b ility n ow d e m a n d e d o f th e o p e r a tin g p e rso n n e l.
S ales m a n a g e rs, in p a rtic u la r, sh o u ld be g ro u n d e d in co m b u stio n a t least, so th a t th e y m a y tr a i n a n d a s s is t th e salesm en o f th e ir o rg a n iz a tio n .”
A p ro g re ssiv e sales policy, M r . C r a w f o rd d e c la re d , ca n go f a r in r e d u c in g losses in co llec tio n s ; im p ro v in g service, a n d th e re b y re d u c in g c o m
p e titiv e in ro a d s , a n d in f u r th e r in g th e sa le o f sm all sizes. A s f o r th e la tte r,
“ th e p r e s e n t d iffe re n tia l in p ric e b e tw e e n lu m p a n d n u t is n o t ju s tifie d by a n y d iffe re n c e in v a lu e .” T r e a tin g coal to r e n d e r it d u s tle s s fu rn is h e s a still f u r th e r o p p o r tu n ity f o r th e sales d e p a r tm e n t to in c re a s e p ro fits.
H . C. M a rc h a n t, g e n e ra l m a n a g e r, P in n a c le K e m m e re r F u e l Co., D e n v e r, C olo., m a in ta in e d th a t C o lo ra d o w ill n o t be ab le to m a rk e t m o r e th a n 9 ,5 0 0 ,0 0 0 to 10,000,000 to n s o f coal a n n u a lly f o r th e n e x t th r e e to five y e a rs. W i th th e in c re a se d u se o f g as, oil, a n d o th e r s u b s titu te s f o r coal, th e n o rm a l in c re a se o f sa les in th e c o a l-b u rn in g te r r ito r y e a s t o f C o lo r a d o w ill be la rg e ly n u llified , u n le ss th e c o m p e titiv e s itu a tio n in th a t r e g io n is m o re n e a rly m e t,
“ T h is b rin g s u s to th e seco n d p h a s e , ‘th e m in e p ric e ,’ ” sa id M r.
M a rc h a n t, “ w h ic h d e p e n d s u p o n th e c o s t o f p ro d u c tio n , a n d th is in tu r n u p o n efficient o p e r a tio n .” W h e n th e r a ilro a d s w e re re le a se d f ro m fe d eral c o n tro l, s ta te d M r . M a rc h a n t,
th e y w e re g iv e n th e choice o f tw o a lte r n a tiv e s ; e ith e r to f u rn is h th e p u b lic w ith efficient, s a fe , a n d p u n c tu a l tra n s p o r ta tio n , a n d th e sh ip p e r w ith a d e q u a te su p p ly o f c a rs, o r g o back in to fe d e ra l c o n tro l. T h e y elected to m e et p u b lic d e m a n d s. T h e ra ilro a d s a c co m p lish e d th is n o t b y in c re a s in g th e n u m b e r o f em p lo y ees b u t by efficiency, sc h ed u lin g , a n d tim e s tu d y . T o d a y th e y a r e m o v in g m o re f re ig h t th a n a t a n y tim e in th e ir h is to r y , y e t th e n u m b e r o f em p lo y ees h a s b ee n re d u c e d by 175,000. T o h a v e alleg ed th e p o ssib ility o f w id^
im p ro v e m e n t in ra ilro a d in g w o u ld , in 1920, h a v e b r o u g h t th e r e to r t, “ I t c a n ’t b e d o n e .” T h a t it ca n b e d o n e is a tte s te d by th e b e tte re d fin an cial p o sitio n o f th e c a r rie rs to d a y .
C oal m in e s a r e fa c e d w ith th e
June, 1930 — C O A L A G E 347
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--- -Jsa m e p ro b le m a n d h a v e a s g o o d a c h a n ce fo r success a s th e ra ilro a d s . A tr a n s p o r ta tio n s y ste m a t th e m in e s is a m in ia tu r e ra ilro a d . T h e coal lo a d e r is th e sh ip p e r a n d sh o u ld be g iv e n a m p le c a r se rv ic e. T o a c c o m p lish th is en d , sc h e d u lin g o f all o p e r a tio n s is r e q u ire d , a n d sc h e d u lin g m e a n s d isp a tc h in g .
T h e firs t im p re ssio n is th a t s c h e d u l
in g w o u ld ta k e a n a rm y o f co m p a n y m e n ; th a t if a lo a d e r d o es n o t load coal d u r in g all e ig h t h o u r s o f a s h if t, a m a n c a n n o t be s ta tio n e d in h is p la ce to se e th a t h e does. S c h e d u lin g ac tu a lly r e q u ire s f e w e r m en . T h e c o m p a n y se t a m in im u m a n d a n a v e r ag e to n n a g e th a t a lo a d e r is e x p e c te d to p ro d u c e in e ig h t h o u rs . I f , a t th e e n d o f a s h if t, ch e ck n u m b e rs sh o w th a t c e r ta in m e n h a v e fa lle n below th e s ta n d a r d , a n in v e s tig a tio n is m a d e to d e te rm in e th e ca u se . I f th e c o m
p a n y h a s fa ile d in its se rv ic e, th e fa u lt i s c o rre c te d . I f th e lo a d e r h a p p e n s t o b e o n e o f th o se w h o e n te r th e m in e f o r th e w in te r w ith th e id e a o f lo a d in g ju s t e n o u g h coal to p a y th e ir b o a rd a n d g e t a little sp e n d in g m o n ey , h e is g iv e n h is tim e. A n o p e ra to r c a n n o t a ffo rd to k e e p a lo a d e r w h o p ro d u c e s 4 o r 5 to n s f ro m a w o rk in g p la ce th a t sh o u ld yield 8 o r 10 to n s p e r s h ift.
T h e d is p a tc h e r is lo c ate d a t th e m a in p a r ti n g a n d e v e ry o n e e n te r in g o r le a v in g it m u s t p a s s h is s ta tio n . A s th e r o p e r id e r s a n d d r iv e rs p a ss th e d is p a tc h e r ’s s ta tio n a t th e e n d o f th e s h if t, th e y le av e a m e m o ra n d u m re c o rd in g th e lo c a tio n o f all lo a d s a n d em p tie s. T h e m a c h in e r u n n e r s sim ila rly g iv e th e lo c atio n o f th e ir m a ch in e s. T im b e rm e n a n d tr a c k la y e rs le av e a r e c o rd o f m a te ria l n ee d ed , w h e re th e y a r e n ee d e d a n d also th e lo c a tio n o f p o o r tr a c k o r places n e e d in g tim b e rin g . A b lu e p r in t o f th e m in e is m o u n te d o n a b o a rd a n d c o lo re d ta c k s a r e u se d to d e s ig n a te th e lo c a tio n o f in d iv id u a l lo a d e d a n d e m p ty c a rs , tr ip s , a n d fa c e s b e in g w o rk e d .
A
T Y P I C A L r e p o r t o f a ro p e r id e r f o llo w s : “ R o p e R id e r B p a n e l—e m p tie s in ro o m s 1 -2 -8 -1 1 ; lo a d s in 2 - 4 -9 - 1 0 ; 2 lo a d e d tr ip s a n d one em p ty tr ip o n N o . 8 p a r tin g .” T a c k s a r e im m e d ia te ly p la c e d on th e m a p to v isu a liz e th is in fo rm a tio n , a n d it . is
a m a tte r o f o n ly a few m in u te s u n til all c a rs a r e th u s lo c ate d . O n a r r iv in g a t N o . 8 p a r tin g w ith 5 c a rs, th e r o p e -rid e r im m e d ia te ly r e p o r ts to th e d is p a tc h e r th e a r r iv a l o f th e tr ip c o n s is tin g o f lo a d s fro m N o s. 6. 7, 8, 10 a n d 12 ro o m s a n d h is in te n tio n o f r e tu r n in g w ith 3 em p tie s. I f th e d is p a tc h e r w a n ts a n y special d is trib u tio n o f th e s e 3 e m p tie s, h e so in s tru c ts th e r o p e - r i d e r ; if n o t, th e la tte r is a l
low ed to u se h is o w n in itia tiv e . W h ile th e f u n d a m e n ta ls o f a d a y ’s o p e ra tio n a r e so m e w h a t sim ila r, th e d e ta ils a r e s u b je c t to q u ic k a n d ra d ic a l c h a n g e , w h ich a c c o u n ts f o r th e n e e d o f a c o n tro l s ta tio n to h a n d le each s itu a tio n . T h is d o es n o t p e r ta in solely to th e m o v e m e n t o f p it c a r s b u t is eq u a lly im p o r ta n t in th e h a n d lin g o f m a te ria l, tr a c k lay in g , tim b e rin g , w re c k s, p u m p in g , a n d s im ila r w o rk . O u ts id e o p e ra tio n s a r e k e p t in a s close to u c h w ith th e c o n tro l s ta tio n as th o s e on th e in sid e.
A m in e a u to m a tic a lly d iv id e s its e lf in to d is tric ts , g e n e ra lly in to e n trie s o r p an e ls, a s each d is tric t is o p e ra te d w ith specific m o to rs , h o ists, d riv e rs , m in in g m a c h in e s, tim b e r a n d tr a c k c re w s. T h e r e f o r e , it is m e re ly a m a tte r o f d e ta il to a r r a n g e a n o p e r a tio n s tu d y f o r d e te rm in in g w h a t im p ro v e m e n ts sh o u ld be m a d e in each d is tric t.
A to n n a g e m a p is n e e d e d f o r th is stu d y . T a k e a b lu e p rin t o f th e m in e , m o u n t it o n a su ita b le b o a rd , a n d s p o t th e fa c e s b e in g w o rk e d . A t th e en d o f th e s h if t, p o s t th e to n n a g e th a t each p lace p ro d u c e d th a t d ay . I f th is seem s to o b ig a ta s k , p o s t th e to n n a g e w ee k ly o r se m i-m o n th ly . In a fe w d a y s th e w e a k d is tric t w ill s ta n d o u t lik e a so re th u m b a n d call f o r in v e s tig a tio n s to find o u t w h e th e r th e c o m p a n y o r th e m in e r is a t fa u lt.
P o s t th is m a p w h e re m e n re sp o n sib le f o r th e p ro d u c tio n c a n se e a n d s tu d y it. T h is sch em e w ill b r in g s u r p r is in g c o -o p e ra tio n f ro m th e s e m en . I t w ill so o n be d isc o v e re d , a f t e r th e s tu d y is s ta rte d , th a t a v o id a b le d e la y s a r e s u s ce p tib le to m a rk e d im p ro v e m e n t, also th a t th e n e c e s sa ry c h a n g e s in v o lv e th e o u tla y o f little o r n o m o n ey .
“ C o n s o lid a tio n o f in d iv id u a ls ,” in ste a d o f th e ir a s se ts , w a s p ro p o se d b y M r. M a r c h a n t as a m e a n s o f e ffe c tin g c o -o p e ra tio n a n d c u rin g m a n y o f th e ills o f th e in d u s try .
O p e r a to rs m u s t le a r n to, b ro a d e n th e ir v iew a n d look a t th e s itu a tio n n o t fro m th e ir o w n s ta n d p o in t b u t f ro m th a t o f th e in d u s tr y a s a w hole.
S y s te m a tic tim b e rin g as a m e a n s o f p re v e n tin g a c c id e n ts f ro m fa lls o f r o o f a n d coal w a s th e m a jo r th e m e o f th e s a fe ty se ssio n in th e m o rn in g o f M a y 27, w ith P r e s id e n t B . W . S n o d g ra s s p re s id in g . “ T h e f a c t th a t in a lm o st e v e ry lo c ality a p p ro x im a te ly 50 p e r c e n t o f th e a c c id e n ts a r e c a u se d fr o m ‘fa lls o f r o o f ’ sh o w s th e y h a v e th is p o in t in c o m m o n ,” d e c la re d S. H . A sh , m in in g e n g in e e r, U . S.
B u re a u o f M in e s, B e rk e le y , C a lif.,
“ a n d it is n a tu r a l to c o n c lu d e th a t th e re m e d y also is a c o m b in a tio n o f fa c to r s th a t c a n be su m m e d u p a n d a p p lie d in all in sta n c e s to c o v e r th e s itu a tio n as a w h o le .” . S y s te m a tic tim b e rin g , h e a s s e rte d , o ffe rs th e s o lu tio n f o r th e p ro b le m .
T
H E m o s t im p o r ta n t c a u se s o f a c c id e n ts fro m fa lls o f ro c k a n d coal, sa id S . S. T e m p le , s u p e rin te n d e n t, C a m e ro n M in e , C o lo ra d o F u e l & I r o n C o., F a r r , C olo., a r e : lack o f d e fin ite s y s te m a tic tim b e r in g ; in a d e q u a te s u p e rv isio n a n d la x n e s s o n th e p a r t o f officials c h a rg e d w ith th is w o r k ; f a il
u r e to in s tr u c t th e w o rk e rs in r e g a rd to ru le s m a d e f o r th e ir s a f e t y ; n eg lec t in fo llo w in g u p a c c id e n ts to d e fin ite ly d e te rm in e th e ir c a u se as a m e a n s o f a v o id in g r e p e titio n , a n d p o o r d isc i
p lin e a n d f a ilu r e to p o s t d e fin ite p e n a ltie s f o r v io la tio n o f ru le s. S y s te m a tic tim b e rin g , h e d e c la re d , w ill c o r re c t th e te n d e n c y o f m in e r s to be la x in r e g a rd to th e ir p e rs o n a l s a fe ty .
“ T h e r e is n o q u e s tio n a b o u t a s a fe ty p r o g ra m b e in g e x p e n s iv e ,” s ta te d a p a p e r b y V . O . M u r ra y , s a f e ty e n g i
n e e r, U n io n P a c ific C oal C o., R o c k S p rin g s , W y o ., a n d re a d b y G . A . B ro w n , s u p e rin te n d e n t o f th a t c o m p a n y . “ I t is, as it p ro d u c e s n o c o m m o d ity , b u t w h e n p ro p e rly o rg a n iz e d a n d w ith a d e fin ite g o al, it w ill pay a d iv id e n d b y in c re a s in g th e efficiency o f th e h u m a n w o rk e r.” H is p r e s e n ta tio n , a n d o th e r p a p e rs re a d a t th is se ssio n a r e tr e a te d m o re fu lly b e g in n in g o n p a g e 3 6 8 o f th is iss u e o f C oal A g e .
M e th o d s o f b re a k in g d o w n th e coal fac e w e re d isc u sse d a t th e a f te r n o o n s e ssio n , p re s id e d o v e r b y F . C . M il
ler, c h ie f c h e m is t, fu el d e p a r tm e n t,
348 C O A L A G E — Vol.35, No.6
C o lo ra d o F u e l & I r o n C o., T rin id a d , C olo. F o llo w in g a p a p e r o n C a rd o x b la s tin g w r itte n b y F r a n k A . M a n ley , e n g in e e r, S a f e ty M in in g Co., C h i
cago, a n d re a d b y L . R . D o u g las, s u p e rin te n d e n t, F r a k e r C oal Co., D e n v e r, C olo., S e n a to r F . R . W o o d , p re s id e n t, T e m p le F u e l Co., T rin id a d , C olo., su m m e d u p th e re s u lts o b ta in ed fro m th e u se o f C a rd o x a t th e B ro a d - h e a d ( C o lo .) m in e o f h is com p an y . T h e sy ste m h a s been in u se th e re sin c e A u g u s t, 1929, S e n a to r W o o d sta te d , in v e r y f ria b le coal 3 ^ -4 ft.
th ic k . W ith b lack p o w d e r, th e lu m p p e rc e n ta g e , o v e r a 3 -in . sc re en , w a s 35. T o c u t th e co st o f p ro d u c tio n a n d g e t th e m in e o u t o f th e re d , it w as d ec id e d to in sta ll co n v ey o rs. B u t th e s e w e re fo u n d to be u n p ro fita b le w h e n o n ly o n e c u t a d a y w as lo ad ed o u t, a n d th e co m p a n y tu r n e d to C a r d o x , w h ic h w o u ld allo w b la stin g w h ile th e m e n w e re in th e m ine.
T
H E in itia l e x p e n s e to in stall th e sy ste m w a s $7,0 0 0 . A t first, th e o ld e r, 4 -in . c a r tr id g e w a s u sed , a n d it w a s f o u n d th a t th e co st o f d rillin g w a s a s m u c h a s th e co st o f u n d e r c u ttin g . A f t e r th r e e m o n th s , th e n ew sm all c a r trid g e s w e re o b ta in e d , w ith th e r e s u lt th a t d rillin g co sts a r e now n o h ig h e r th a n w ith p e rm issib le e x p lo siv es. A sp ecial d rill w as b o u g h t, w h ic h p u ts in a h o le in 3 m in u tes.
S h o o tin g c o sts a r e n o w th e sam e as w ith ex p lo siv e s, e x c e p t f o r th e co st o f th e m a te ria l, a n d th e to ta l c o st is a b o u t 100 p e r c e n t g re a te r, o r 12c.
p e r to n . T h e g r e a t a d v a n ta g e o f th e C a rd o x sy ste m , S e n a to r W o o d sa id , is th a t it allo w s e n trie s to be d o u b le
s h ifte d , w ith a n a d v a n c e o f 2 4 ft. p e r d ay . T o ta l co st o f d riv in g e n trie s w ith c o n v e y o rs a n d C a rd o x is 75c.
p e r to n o f co al in th e p it cars.
C a rd o x -b la s te d coal d o es n o t d e te r io r a te in sh ip m e n t, h e a s se rte d , an d th e c o m p a n y n o w fee ls th a t it w ill be ab le to m a rk e t a 3 -in. lu m p in ste a d o f th e 6 -in . lu m p a n d 6 x 3 -in . eg g p r e v io u sly sold. U n d e r p re s e n t m in in g co n d itio n s, o n e c o n v e y o r c re w in tw o ro o m s is e x p e c te d to load 100 to n s p e r d ay . D u r in g th e s h if t, a to ta l o f e ig h t h o le s is sh o t, w ith a p ro d u c tio n o f 12-| to n s p e r hole. L u m p in c re a se . is e x p e c te d to be b e tw e e n 10 a n d 15
p e r cent.
U s e o f th e e x p a n d in g b a r f o r b r e a k in g coal fa c e s d o w n m e c h a n ic a lly in th e m in e s o f th e V ic to r A m e ric a n F u e l Co. w a s d e s c rib e d by F . W . W h ite s id e , c h ie f e n g in e e r, D e n v e r, C olo. H is p r e s e n ta tio n is a b s tra c te d b e g in n in g on p a g e 35 7 o f th is issu e o f C oal A g e . F o llo w in g th e re a d in g
12, 17, 24, A v er
1930 1930 1930 age
41,100 45,300 47,700 64.2 60.9* 63.1 i i ' j
9.0 10. S 9.S 9.9
26.S 28.3 27.1 27.4
Benedict Shubart
o f th e p a p e r, J a m e s C a m e ro n , s u p e r in te n d e n t, C h a n d le r m in e , C h a n d le r, C olo., g av e th e re s u lts o f th r e e
“ s h o ts ” m a d e w ith th e device. T h e s e a r e se t f o r th in th e fo llo w in g t a b l e :
M ay M ay M ay
Q u a n tity broken down, lb <■' L um p, per c en t..
N u t per c e n t . . .
Slack, p er c e n t.. *u.o «o...
*Coal broken up a f te r "sh o o tin g .”
P re s e n ta tio n o f th e J o s e p h A . H o lm e s S a fe ty A sso c ia tio n a w a rd to th e S h a m ro c k C oal C o., E r ie , C olo., f o r its ex c e p tio n a l re c o rd in s a fe ty follo w ed th e te c h n ic a l se ssio n T u e s d ay a fte rn o o n . E . H . D e n n y , d is tric t en g in e e r, U . S . B u re a u o f M in e s, D e n v e r, Colo., a w a rd e d th e ce rtifica te, w hich w as acce p te d fo r th e co m p an y by P . H . P o w e rs , p re sid e n t. T h e S h a m ro c k m in e o f th e co m p a n y o p e ra te d fro m 1914 to 1929 a n d p r o d u ce d 8 7 0 ,0 0 0 to n s o f coal w ith o u t a fa ta lity o r se rio u s in ju r y to a n y e m ployee. In ac c e p tin g th e a w a rd , M r . P o w e rs a sc rib e d h is re c o rd to g o o d n a tu ra l c o n d itio n s a n d th e u n f a ilin g e ffo rts o f th e m a n a g e m e n t.
M e ch a n ica l lo a d in g held th e c e n te r o f th e sta g e a t th e m o rn in g session on M a y 28, p re sid e d o v e r b y M r . B re w ste r. “ F e w m in e s o p e r a tin g to d a y h a v e been o p en e d w ith th e in te n tio n o f m e c h a n iz in g th r o u g h o u t,” d e c la re d W illia m H . W o o d h e a d , s u p e rin te n d e n t, In d e p e n d e n t C oal & C o k e C o., K e n ilw o rth , U ta h , w h o se p a p e r w as re a d a n d su p p le m e n te d b y C. J . S c h a fe r, e n g in e e r, G o o d m a n M fg . Co., S a lt L a k e C ity , U ta h . “ T h e p ro b lem o f m e c h a n iz a tio n is to ch a n g e o v e r a m in e h e r e to fo re o p e ra te d b y h a n d m e th o d s, a n d select m a c h in e ry th a t w ill fit th e old sy ste m w ith th e le ast n u m b e r o f ch a n g e s.”
F u n d a m e n ta ls o f th e cho ice a n d o p e ra tio n o f lo a d e rs w e re d isc u sse d by M r. W o o d h e a d a n d th e ir a p p lic a tio n a t th e A b e rd e e n a n d K e n ilw o r th
( U t a h ) m in e s o f th e c o m p a n y d e sc rib e d . A t th e ab o v e m in e s, w ith a 1 6 -ft. se am , th e lo w e r 8 f t. o f w h ich is e x tra c te d o n firs t m in in g , a n d 2 4 - ft.
ro o m s, th e a v e ra g e o f e a ch c re w o n th e p o w e r sh o v e ls is 215 to n s p e r n in e -h o u r s h if t, w ith a n a v e ra g e d elay o f 10 p e r c e n t, M r . W o o d h e a d d e c la re d .
T ra n s p o r ta tio n p ro b le m s in m a c h in e lo a d in g a n d h o w th e y h av e been m e t a t th e A c m e a n d M o n a rc h m in e s o f th e S h e rid a n W y o m in g C oal C o., w e re d isc u sse d in a p a p e r b y R . E . M ille r, a s s is ta n t g e n e ra l s u p e rin te n d e n t, K le e n b u rn , W y o . T h e se a m m in e d is th e M o n a rc h , w h ic h is 18 to 50 ft. th ic k . I t does n o t d ip e x c essiv ely a n d r e q u ir e s no tim b e rin g . C o n d itio n s g e n e ra lly b e in g fa v o ra b le , th e b ig p ro b le m o f m e c h a n iz a tio n a t th e s e m in e s w a s o n e o f tr a n s p o r ta tio n . O n ly slig h tly sec
o n d a ry w as th a t o f p o w e r su p p ly .
T
H E R O L E o f p o w e r in m a c h in e lo a d in g is reflec te d in p e rio d ic a d d itio n s m a d e to th e m o to r-g e n e r- a to r c a p a c ity in th e la s t five y e a rs a t th e A c m e m in e. T h is m in e o rig in a lly w as eq u ip p e d w ith tw o 150-kw . m o to r- g e n e ra to r se ts. W ith th e in tro d u c tio n o f lo a d in g m a ch in e s, 4 5 0 kw . w as ad d e d to th e m o to r - g e n e r a to r ca p a c ity . L a te r , it w as fo u n d th a t th e a d d itio n o f 150 kw . to th a t a lre a d y in sta lle d w a s n e c e ss a ry to in s u re a n a m p le su p p ly o f p o w e r f o r m a c h in e o p e ra tio n .
E n tr ie s a r e d ev elo p ed b y th e J o y m a c h in e s a c c o rd in g to a sy ste m w h ic h em p lo y s lo c o m o tiv e s f o r s h if tin g c a rs. I n th e m in in g o f ro o m s, G o o d m a n p o w e r sh o v els a r e u se d , th e s h if tin g o f c a rs b e h in d each m a c h in e b e in g d o n e b y tw o h o rs e s o v e r a d o u b le -tra c k la y o u t. A th ir d h o rs e h a n d le s em p tie s b etw e en ro o m s a n d p a r tin g s . S h if tin g c a rs b y h o rs e s is a h e rita g e o f h a n d -lo a d in g d a y s , b u t th e c o n tin u a n c e o f th is p ra c tic e is ju stifie d , M r . M ille r a s s e rte d , as re p la c in g h o rs e s w ith b attery ' loco
m o tiv e s “ w o u ld r e q u ir e q u ite a n in v e stm e n t, a n d th e co st o f o p e r a tio n w o u ld n o t be m u c h c h e a p e r.”
M a in -lin e tra c k s a r e la id w ith 60-lb. ste el on 6 x 8 -in . w o o d tie s on 2 - f t. c e n te rs . W h e r e th e r e is a p o s sib ility o f th e tr a c k sp re a d in g , a s on cu rv e s in m a in h a u la g e w a y s, steel tie s a r e u se d . T e m p o r a r y e n try tra c k s a n d th o s e in ro o m s a r e la id w ith 2 0-lb. ra il o n steel tie s. C ro s s -e n trie s
June, 1930 — C O A L A G E 349
a r e tra c k e d w ith 30-lb. ra il o n 5 x 5 -in . w o o d tie s. A ll ro o m tr a c k s a r e fish- p la te d a n d b o lte d . T h e u se o f steel tie s f o r th e p u rp o s e s o u tlin e d ab o v e is v ir tu a lly a n e c e s sity a n d loss o f tie s by b re a k a g e is n eg lig ib le.
M in e c a rs o f 3 ,400-lb. ca p ac ity , e q u ip p e d w ith r o lle r- b e a rin g w h ee ls, w e re f o rm e r ly u se d w ith h a n d -lo a d - ing. T h e s e w e re r e b u ilt to a c a p a c ity o f 6 ,0 0 0 lb. f o r m a c h in e lo a d in g . T w o y e a r s ag o , c o m p o site c a rs w ith a c a p a c ity o f 6 ,3 0 0 lb., w h e n lo a d e d by m a c h in e , a n d e q u ip p e d w ith ro lle r b e a rin g s w e re in sta lle d . T h e m o n e y in v e ste d in th e n ew c a r s w a s h eld to be w ell sp e n t a n d th e ty p e a d o p te d a s a s ta n d a r d . B e c a u se th e steel sid e s in th e c o m p o site c a rs a r e m u c h th in n e r th a n th e o a k sid e s o f th e w o o d en c a rs, th e f o r m e r ty p e is lig h te r a n d h o ld s m o re coal. T h e co m p o site ty p e a lso re q u ir e s less m a in te n a n c e . I n o v e r tw o y e a r s n o t o n e o f th e co m p o site c a rs h a s h a d to be se n t to th e sh o p f o r r e p a irs . F u r t h e r d e ta ils o f th e S h e r id a n W y o m in g c o m p a n y ’s m a c h in e -lo a d in g p r a c tic e w e re g iv e n in C oal A g e , V o l. 29, pp. 151-154.
P r o g r e s s o f th e V ic to r A m e ric a n F u e l Co. in m e c h a n ic a l lo a d in g w ith J o y lo a d e rs a n d c o n v e y o rs w a s d e ta ile d b y F . B . T h o m a s , s u p e rin te n d e n t o f m a c h in e ry , D e n v e r, C olo.
F o u r J o y lo a d e rs w e re p u rc h a s e d in 1923 fo r u se in a R o u tt C o u n ty ( C o lo .) m in e o f th e co m p a n y , a n d w e re o p e ra te d su c c e ssfu lly u n til th e se ctio n in w h ic h th e y w e re placed w a s w o rk e d o u t. B a d r o o f a n d o th e r u n f a v o r a b le c o n d itio n s p ro h ib ite d th e ir u se in o th e r se c tio n s o f th e sa m e m in e, so th e y w e re re m o v e d to a n o th e r m in e a n d used in d r iv in g e n trie s. M o r e d e v e lo p m e n t w as a tta in e d a n d th e co st c o n s id e ra b ly lo w e re d . T h e m a c h in e s a r e still in u se , th o u g h to a tta in b e st r e s u lts th e coal h a s to be b ro k e n u p m o re th a n in h a n d lo a d in g , th u s in c re a s in g th e fines.
E x p e r ie n c e d e m o n s tra te d th a t lo a d in g m a ch in e s w e re n o t g e n e ra lly a p p lica b le to th e m in in g re q u ire m e n ts o f th e co m p a n y , la rg e ly b ec au se o f th e in c re a se d p ro d u c tio n o f fines.
O n th is b asis, th e c o m p a n y b e g a n e x p e rim e n tin g w ith co n v e y o rs. T h o u g h b e liev in g th a t th is ty p e o f m a c h in e is m o re a d a p te d to lo n g -fa c e m in in g , th e co m p a n y d e v o te d its e n e rg ie s to th e d ev e lo p m e n t o f th is e q u ip m e n t f o r ro o m a n d p illa r w o rk b ec au se o f th e p re v io u s tr a in in g o f th e m e n in th is s y ste m a n d m in in g c o n d itio n s p e c u lia r to th e R o c k y M o u n ta in d is tr ic t.
T w o ty p e s o f c o n v e y o rs h a v e been d ev e lo p e d b y th e c o m p a n y , o n e o f w h ich is o f th e u n it ty p e d e s ig n e d to lo a d tr ip s o f five c a rs w ith o u t u n c o u p lin g . I t is a b o u t 6 0 ft. lon g , h a s a c a p a c ity o f 50 to n s p e r h o u r, a n d is d r iv e n b y a 7 ^ -h p . m o to r. T h is c o n v e y o r re m a in s in a sin g le place a n d a d v a n c e s sim u lta n e o u sly w ith th e fac e. I t se ts a lo n g sid e o f a n d p a r allel w ith th e tr a c k a n d d is c h a rg e s a t r ig h t a n g le s in to th e c a rs, th e p o in t of.
d is c h a rg e b e in g 41 to 61 in. ab o v e th e rail.
T w e n ty fe e t o f th e 6 0 ft. n e x t to th e fac e is p iv o te d to th e re s t a n d th e f r o n t en d lies on th e floor. T h e f r o n t en d , w h ic h is 6 in. h ig h , can be sw u n g f ro m o n e sid e to a n o th e r o v e r a w id th o f 2 4 ft. A c a r p u lle r is su p p lie d f o r h a n d lin g tr ip s , a n d th e m a c h in e is p o rta b le b a c k a n d f o rth p a ra lle l to th e tra c k . B e ca u se o f th e e x p e n s e o f s e ttin g u p a n d d is m a n tlin g , it c a n n o t be eco n o m ic ally u se d in p laces h a v in g less th a n 1,000
R ocky Mountain Leaders
G . A . K asem an , p re sid en t, A l
b u q u e rq u e 8C C errillo s C o al C o., A lb u q u e rq u e , N . M ., was clected p re sid e n t o f th e R o ck y M o u n ta in C o al M in in g In s titu te fo r 1930- 31 at th e tw e n ty -n in th re g u la r m ee tin g in D e n v er, C olo., th e last o f M ay, su cceed in g B. W . S n o d grass, p re sid en t, V ic to r A m erican F u el C o., D e n v er. B en ed ict S h u - b a rt, D e n v er, w as re-elected sec- re ta ry -tre as u rer. V ice-p resid en ts were chosen as follow s: C o lo rad o
— F ra n k R. W o o d , p re sid en t, T e m p le F u el C o., T rin id a d , C olo.; W y o m in g — R . E. M iller, assistant g e n era l s u p e rin te n d e n t, S h e rid a n W y o m in g C oal C o., K le en b u rn , Wyo.; U ta h — G. A . S ch u ltz, g e n era l s u p e rin te n d e n t, L ib erty F uel C o., L atu d a, U ta h ; N ew M exico — S h a rp H a n s o n , p re sid en t, G a llu p S o u th w e ste rn C o al C o., G a llu p , N . M .
M em b ers o f th e executive b o a rd fo r th e co m in g y e a r arc:
C o lo rad o — G . A . F ru th , p re si
d e n t, A ztec C o al M in in g C o., D e n v er, a n d R o b e rt M . M ed ill, su p e rin te n d e n t, M o ifa tt C o al C o., O a k H ill, C olo.; W y o m in g — J. E.
E d g ew o rth , s u p e rin te n d e n t, L ion C o al C o., R ock S p rin g s, W yo., a n d G . A . B row n, su p e rin te n d en t, U n io n Pacific C o al C o., S u p e rio r, W y o .; U ta h — D a v id Brow n, su p e rin te n d e n t, S p rin g C a n y o n C oal C o., S p rin g C a n y o n , U ta h , a n d W . N . W etzel, su p e rin te n d en t, U n ite d S ta te s F uel C o., M o h rla n d , U ta h ; N ew M exico— G . C. D avis, g e n era l m an a g er, P h e lp s D o d g e C o rp o ra tio n , S ta g C a n o n B ran ch , D a w son, N . M ., a n d H . F. M ills, su p e rin te n d e n t, M u tu a l C o al C o., G a llu p , N . M .
f t. ad v a n c e . R e d u c e d lo a d in g a n d h a u la g e c o sts h a v e been o b ta in e d th r o u g h th e u se o f th e s e c o n v e y o rs a n d th e p r o d u c tio n o f fines w a s d e c re a se d 4 p e r ce n t.
T h e J o n e s flex ib le c o n v e y o r ( C oal A g e , V o l. 33, p. 1 5 6 ) also w a s d e v e l
o p ed b y th e co m p a n y , a n d o p e ra tio n s o v e r th r e e y e a rs w ith th is m a c h in e in p itc h in g se am s in R o u t t C o u n ty h av e been g o o d . R e s u lts f ro m a n o th e r in s ta lla tio n in o p e ra tio n tw o y e a r s a t D e la g u a , C olo., h a v e n o t bee n so s a tis f a c to ry , d u e to m e c h a n ical difficulties.
“ M e c h a n ic a l m in in g re q u ire s r a d ical c h a n g e s in p ra c tic e s th a t h a v e bee n c a rrie d on f o r y e a r s ,” M r.
T h o m a s a s s e rte d , “ e sp ec ially w ith re s p e c t to p a y in g la b o r. I t w ill be a lm o st n e c e s sa ry th a t all la b o r be p a id by th e d a y ; th e to n n a g e a n d y a r d a g e m e th o d o f p a y in g w ill n o t w o rk o u t s a tis f a c to r ily . I n o u r o w n s h o r t e x p e rie n c e , w e h a v e p a id all m e n by th e d a y , a n d th e re s u lts o b ta in e d a r e e n c o u ra g in g . I n th e b e g in n in g , it seem e d h a rd to g e t th e m e n to do a re a so n a b le a m o u n t o f w o rk f o r a d a y ’s p ay , b u t w e a r e fin d in g th a t th e m e n a r e b ec o m in g rec o n c ile d to th e sc h e m e o f th in g s a n d , in m o s t cases, w e a r e e x p e r i
e n c in g g o o d re s u lts . W e a n tic ip a te less difficu lty in th a t re s p e c t a s tim e g o es on a n d a s m o re m e n becom e a c c u s to m e d to th e p ra c tic e .
“ D iffic u lty is e x p e rie n c e d in t r a i n in g m e n , a n d p a r tic u la rly f o re m e n , in cycle o p e r a t i o n ; th a t is to say , in p la n n in g to h a v e c e r ta in w o rk d o n e a t c e rta in tim e s a n d b y c e r ta in m en . B u t th a t difficu lty is ra p id ly b e in g o v e rc o m e a n d w e a n tic ip a te th a t m e c h a n ic a l m in in g w ill be as sy s te m a tic a s a lo t o f o th e r in d u s tria l a c tiv itie s w h ic h a r e c a rrie d on in a s y s te m a tic m a n n e r .”
D is c u s s io n fo llo w in g th e p r e s e n ta tio n o f th e p a p e r s o n m e ch a n ica l lo a d in g w a s m a in ly 0 11 th e p o in t o f w a g e p a y m e n ts b r o u g h t u p by M r. T h o m a s . P r e s id e n t S n o d g ra s s d e c la re d th a t th e c u s to m o f p a y in g b y to n n a g e r a te s sh o u ld be d is c o u r a g e d , a s d a y r a te s w ill g e t a s g o o d re s u lts a n d p u t all m en o n th e sa m e b asis. U n if o r m i ty is th e d e s id e ra tu m . I f th e sy ste m w e re u n iv e rs a l, th e to n n a g e p e r m a n w o u ld be a s h ig h as u n d e r c o n tra c t w o rk . H e a d m itte d th a t it w ill ta k e so m e tim e to b r in g a b o u t th is ch a n g e .
B e n e d ic t S h u b a r t, D e n v e r, C olo., s e c re ta ry o f th e in s titu te , sa id th a t on e o f th e coal in d u s tr y ’s tro u b le s is th e c o n tra c t sy ste m . B y its u se , he
( T u r n to p age 3 5 3 )
