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52 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
SUGGESTIONS FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF
AN EX-PRIVATE MINE INSPECTOR—PRE­
PARATIONS, PUMPS, TIMBERING, AND
COAL MINING. *
(CONTINUED FROM NOVEMBER 1).
There is no determined line of procedure
laid down before the mine foremen when given
charge of an operation. The requirements of the
office as regards coal are generally imparted to
him in a vague and indefinite manner because he
is a mine foreman and it is a coal mine. He is
supposed to know, even though he has not previously
been within a hundred miles of it. He
is dropped into the middle of things and is compelled
to work both ways to find what is required
of him and the possibilities of the place. The
superintendent has very probably not been in the
mine more than once a month.
Start the foreman out right, give him a target
to shoot at, something well defined, upon which
he can concentrate his whole mind and effort.
Impress him with your ideas of handling men, of
the necessity of being sober, honest, civil, steady
and energetic, etc. Then continue somewhat in
this manner: "After careful experimenting we
have demonstrated that our tipple can take care
of 600 pit wagons of coal, say 9t>0 tons of run-ofmine
in a day of 8 hours, the screening of which
is done satisfactorily. Now, we also have proven
that each room, when at the regulation width and
mined as it should, yields 14 cars of coal, therefore,
practically the product of 50 rooms is required
for each day's run. Now you must not
lose sight of the fact that this is a machine mine
and that only half of your available places are
supposed to be giving coal when the mine is working
steadily and of course that is what we are
presupposing. The cutters are preparing coal in
50 more for the following day's needs. This
means 100 machine rooms but on account of many
spaces, etc.. in that territory always maintain an
excess of 25 per cent, which makes a total of 125
rooms you will be expected to have at all times.
As we expect to mine 70 per cent, of all coal by
machine, losing 10 per cent, of the total, there
remains 20 per cent, as pick work, or 120 pit
wagons per day, as we excavate a space practically
equal to a room each 8 hours, and as the
average of a single shift entry is about 5 feet,
it will necessitate the driving of 4 pairs of butt
entries besides the main, for some time to come,
be sure and have a generous amount of butt entry
ahead. The demand for coal may some time
justify a night turn, independent territory for
it is a great boon both to men and management
precluding the possibility of the innumerable
causes of complaint, loading each other's coal.
stealing powder, oil and squibs, failing to do
their space of posting, slate cleaning, etc., and.
furthermore, our main entries may develop some
serious trouble such as a swamp, a aislocating
fault, etc., which will take time to overcome, your
extra developed territory will act as a flywheel,
it will put us over this dead point without feeling
its effect on our output and help us to foot the
bill. You will need say 100 to 120 loaders, and
about 40 pick men, 12 drivers, 14 to 16 mules,
and ultimately about 250 to 275 cars; don't depend
on your entry or ribs for any portion of the
output, take only the machine rooms into consideration,
this will give you a healthy margin to
tide you over holidays, Hungarian weddings,
shortage of cutters, broken machines, etc.; you
will need for the maximum quantity—machines
(number depending upon whether they are electric
or compressed air). Hire men with the understanding
that when called upon they will drive,
work coinpany work or anything else in reason,
so that temporary gaps can be filled at once. At
present we are only shipping 250 tons per day and
the proportion of men, etc., to the final output is
holding good. See that the machinery is well
taken care of. that the mules are not abused;
that a fair turn be kept, boiler and engine rooms
neat and clean and the mines, yards and surroundings
in keeping with the best practice.
"I expect and must have without fail a daily
report of the mine operation, amounts of rooms.
ribs and entries, etc. As quickly as possible obtain
the development desired; in the meantime as
the necessity arises for machines, mules, etc.,
send in your requisitions for same, giving us sufficient
time to look around so as to purchase to the
best advantage."
Now he understands pretty thoroughly what is
required of him and no effort or time will be lost;
he sets himself straight for the mark "and goes
for it." Every report he makes out is finding
him nearer the. goal, how satisfying the thought
that his superiors and he understand each other
and are striving hand in hand as it were. Neglect
of the above matter has slain the energy and
ability of many a promising mine foreman and
made a careless, spiritless, nonentity out of him.
This policy was pursued in the cases specified by
the chief official, producing the results desired
in the shortest time possible.
Another subject has been observed by the mine
inspector. The general superintendent who is
extremely wide-awake and ever on the qui vive
for "the little leaks" that contain within them­
*This article, which has attraoted much attention, was written selves the elements of "sinking big ships," says
by Mr. Charlton Dixon, Superintendent of the Fair Haven mines
of the Pittsburgh Coal Co. We cannot supply back numbers.
that some of our mines have an excess of com-