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\2 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
NEW INSTRUCTIONS FOR MINE
INSPECTORS IN WEST VIRGINIA.
James W. Paul, chief mine inspector of West
Virginia, recently issued the following special
instructions to the district inspectors, requiring
them to give particular attention to the points
noted:
1. As provided by law, you will enforce the
provisions against taking into the mines any excessive
quantities of powder, and insist that all
powder be carried in metallic cans of a capacity
not to exceed 5 pounds. In no case allow an
original can of powder to be taken into the mine.
and if you find such within the mine, containing
powder, order it taken to the outside at once.
2. In all mines wdiere the breakthroughs in
the rooms are not closed as additional breakthroughs
are made, insist upon "checks" being
placed across the entry to divert the current of air
into the rooms, and if the ventilation is not sufficient,
insist upon the brattices being placed in the
breakthroughs between rooms.
3. Where dust is encountered within the mines,
insist upon its removal from the mine, and the
dry parts of the mine made wet by spraying systematically
and regularly with an apparatus which
meets with your approval. The pouring on and
scattering of water with a pail will not be ap
proved. The dust on the "ribs" must be made
damp.
4. Upon each inspection of a mine insist upon
seeing that a copy of the rules is posted, and that
stretchers and blankets are kept on hand, as is
required by law.
5. Tne provisions of the oil law must be enforced,
and where necessary the penalties of the
law shall be applied.
6. Beginning May 1, 1905, in your inspection
work, you will be required to see that all coal
operators have on hand a safety lamp, kept in
good order, which you shall inspect upon each visit
to the mine.
7. Encourage mine operators and bosses to
make use of the anemometer, and to take regular
measurements of the air.
8. In order that the injured employe may be
given immediate relief, it is recommended that
each operator be requested to have placed at each
mine a supply of bandages, absorbents, disinfectants,
linseed oil, soda and stimulants, properly enclosed
in a case, for emergency use.
Directions 7 and 8, above, are made in the nature
of suggestions, but are not required by law.
All reasonable effort shall be made by the inspectors
to have a compliance with the above, and
any failure shall be promptly reported to the chief
mine inspector.
PITTSBURGH COAL COMPANY.
Comptroller J. B. L. Hornberger of the Pittsburgh
Coal Co., announced July 1 that the company
had the day before made cash payment of
$1,100,000 to meet its interest charges on bonds,
sinking fund apportionment and rental of the
Wabash properties, formerly operated by the Pittsburgh
Terminal Railroad & Coal Co. This information
should be of special interest by reason of
the emphasis that recurrent reports in the past
month or two with attendant inferences have put
on the fact that these tremendous obligations
would have to be met.
The Monongahela River Consolidated Coal &
Coke Co., controlled by the Pittsburgh Coal Co.,
has made an exceptional record in production and
shipments. This is largely attributable to the
favorable conditions of the river, permitting of
southern shipments. The mines of the Rivetcompany
have been operating to approximately
their capacity, with the result that during April,
May and June, the company's earnings exceeded
any other three months in the past two years.
Prices at which this record shipment of coal has
been sold promise much to the advantage of the
company.
The announcement of the removal, on May 1, of
import duties on mining machinery and of the reduction
of the annual tax on each holding, has
stimulated American mining enterprise in Mexico.
While the loss of this source of revenue to the
Mexican government may be felt at the moment,
the deficit will surely be more than made up by
the augmented returns from new mining developments.
It is predicted that with the adoption
of this wise and liberal policy many rich mineral
districts hitherto dormant will become the centers
of new activity, and it is hoped that included in
these will be the almost unexplored mineral regions
of western Tamaulipas. from wdiich rich
specimens have been obtained from time to time,
but which, owing to lack of transportation facilities
and the high duties on mining machinery,
have remained undeveloped and practically unknown.
o o o
The Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Co. announces that
the demand for information regarding its "Little
Jap" hammer drill has been so great that it has
been necessary to issue another edition of the
company's pneumatic tool department bulletin describing
this drill. The new edition bears the
same title as the other, but contains considerable
additional information.