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all of the district inspectors and the chief, terminate
at the same time, one month previous to
the closing of the fiscal year for which all public
records of the chief mine inspector, and the dis
trict inspectors, are made. This feature of the
law should be modified so it would permit the
terms of service to expire not later than after
the expiration of any fiscal year.
The efficiency of the work of this department
could be made more satisfactory if the chief of
the department were clothed with the authority
to designate the force which works under his
direction, and for which he is held responsible.
The inspection force should be remunerated with
a salary befitting the importance of his office, his
duties and risks taken. The present compensation
is. not sufficient to meet decent requirements.
District inspectors in Pennsylvania receive a salary
of $3,000.00 and the chief $4,000.00, consequently
do not have to hunt cheap boarding
houses.
A provision should be made whereby an additional
district inspector could be appointed while
the legislature is in vacation and when the number
of mines to be inspected justify it. This
authority could be made subject to the order
of some state tribunal, such as the supreme court
of appeals, or the Board of Public Works. The
importance of this provision is apparent, since the
mines for the past seven years have increased at
the rate of nearly 63 per year, and the indications
point to a continuous increase.
No condition has arisen at any of the many
mines in the state wherein the present mining
statutes have been unequal to the requirements.
The only additional legislation for the conduct
of the affairs at the mines, which is recommended
for enactment, is a provision requiring mine
bosses to make a record of the currents of air
within the mines. This provision was presented
in a bill at the session of the state legislature in
1903, and was given favorable consideration and
passed in one branch of the legislature, but was
indefinitely postponed in the other branch by
reason of the representatives of labor claiming
that such a simple operation on the part of the
mine boss, would require a technical knowledg?
and some education.
It is the profound belief of the inspection force
that such a law would result in raising the standard
of competency among mine bosses, and great
benefits would result to the mine employes in having
better ventilation.
Bills, providing for the legislation suggested
above, have been prepared, and may be seen in
the appendix to this report.
CONCLUSION.—Acknowledgment is made of courtesies
extended me by the auditors and general
freight agents of the different railroads for fur­
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. "'
nishing the coal and other tonnage handled by
their respective roads, and to the office force of
the United States engineer's office in this city for
river tonnage data.
Without mention in this report of the clerical
work performed in this office by Miss Frances
Truslow would be depriving her of credit for a
proficiency which has been well earned.
I desire to express my appreciation of the diligence
which has characterized the work of the
district inspectors, and to return thanks to th3
governor of the state for the confidence he has
reposed in me in the conduct of the affairs of this
important office.
Very respectfully,
JAMES W. PAUL, Chief Mine Inspector.
MARCH COAL AND COKE MOVEMENT.
The bureau of statistics of the department of
labor and commerce reports that shipments of
anthracite coal from the mines for March amounted
to 5,258,567 tons, as compared with 4,375,033 tons
for a corresponding period in 1904, and 5,211,450
tons in 1903. Similar shipments for the first
three months of the current year aggregated 13,-
5S9.746 tons, in contrast with 12,835,547 tons for
a corresponding period in 1904, 16,247,008 tons in
1903, 12,098,158 tons in 1902, 14,271,347 tons in
1901, and 10,804,717 tons in 1900. The estimated
production of coke at Connellsville, Pa., during the
present year, up to and including April 1, reached
a total of 3,350,660 tons, which was over a million
tons greater than the amount produced during a
similar period in 1904, and approximately 200,000
tons greater than that manufactured in 1903, this
increase illustrating the prosperous condition of
this industry at the present time. The production
during the last three weeks of the quarter was
especially noteworthy, each week totaling over
265,000 tons, a greater amount than for any other
week during the current year. Of the ovens employed,
but 1,347 were idle out of a total of 22,655
for the week ending April 1. The number of cars
required to handle the shipments from Connellsville
during the present year to April 1 numbered
173,059, in contrast with 115,254 cars in 1904, and
134,549 cars in 1903.
That Morning Appointment
In- Wheeling Easily Kept by Going over Pennsyl­
vania Lines.
Only short ride. Parlor car trains leave Pittsburgh
Union Station 6.50 a. m., and 8.20 a. m.
Central time. Allows the day in Wheeling for
business. Return to Pittsburgh on afternoon or
evening trains. mjl5