COAL AGE Established 1911— Mcgraw-Hill Publishing Company, Inc

COAL AGE Established 1911— McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, Inc.

DEYOTED TO THE OPERATING, TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS PROBLEMS OF THE COAL-MINING INDUSTRy

SYDNEY A. HALE, E ditor

New York, May, 1936 ♦

Geophysical Windows well above tide, geophysical methods may re- veal natural water channels by which the mines JuST what may we be privileged to see may be drained after drillholes have been sunk through the geophysical window? Thus far, to them. resistivity methods have been used successfully The geophysical window still is a little to find level beds of coal below glacial drift and murky. It is clearer with some coal and some to determine bed-rock outcrops of anthracite rock than others; it gives a Iow rangę of visi- where the seams do not come to the surface. bility except with seismic methods, which, In Spain, structure has been mapped seismically though they give distance, do not give defini- and coal beds have been discovered by drills tion, and which are effective only with the spotted where structure thus determined indi- harder rocks. But in so far as they are effec- cated probabilities. tive, geophysical methods should be used. Seams also have been found in this country Meanwhile, their techniąue should be devel- of which operating concerns theretofore had no oped. knowledge. Such discoveries might be multi- plied, for in the anthracite region seams near the surface often spoon out and spoon in, al- Silicosis Rackets ways covered, however, with a mantle of ob- scuring wash. Moreover, anthracite seams are I nterest in silicosis should be aroused in amazingly prone to split, and one or more of the mining industry, for whenever employees these splits may be entirely undiscovered. can recover damages for silicosis under the When other seams are being stripped, such common law there will be some day an enter- splits are likely to be covered with spoił, and prising attorney who will profit by that fact, when so burdened it is doubtful whether they urging on a host of persons who may or may ever will be found even by improved geophysi not be affected by that disease that they are cal methods. yictims of an insidious malady which, though But the greatest loss is where the coal seam it has not hurt them thus far, will eventually lies undiscovered in the profundities of the end their unhappy lives. Such cases will be mine. It would seem advisable to institute tried in the courts before juries that will be promptly underground geophysical surveys to sympathetic with men who have to spend their find such splits before mining has been aban- days in the dark mines. doned and approach is made impossible. Coal Diagnosis of silicosis is none too certain. also has been lost where breasts have caved or A conflict of evidence is almost inevitable, and loose coal has run down the chute so that no the jurymen unable to weigh the testimony will one now knows how far the breasts extended be disposed to give the plaintiff a verdict. If, or how far the coal above the face of the breast however, this occupational disease is made may have broken away. Geophysical sur- compensable at reasonable rates and the de- veys in lower or higher beds may enable these termination of the issue is allowed to rest with forgotten coal areas to be discovered and a medical board or commissioners, decisions worked and to determine where counters should are less likely to be rendered that will run be constructed to reach them. In level beds counter to the facts and bankrupt the companies chosen by the attorney as suitable de- open the door to recovery of some of the pre- fendants. vious losses to competitive fuels, check further Distressing cases of such action by “ ambu- encroachments and thereby ultimately increase lance chasers” warn industry to be on its guard the opportunities for additional mine employ- and get legislation passcd that will assure the ment. Can there be any doubt as to which is workman of proper compensation for damage the preferable road? done and will prevent the payment of blood money to those who have not been injured by the disease. Too often the workman who gets After You a common-law verdict loses all he makes by A LITTLE consideration should convince payments to lawyers, by court fees and pro- the public in the mining regions that it would longed idleness, for any man who wants to be poor policy to clean up mine pollution too prove total disability is well advised if he greatly until sewage pollution is removed, for ąuits work, at least from the time of com- it is acid water that keeps the sewage from mencing suit. Thereafter, also no one will putrefaction. The same is true of other indus- employ him underground, for, winner or loser trial wastes, though many of these are not in of his plea, he bas declared himself a silicotic. semi-urban regions, as is the coal industry, and therefore they are not so helpful as that of coal in abating urban nuisances. Facing Realities But let the coal man not overlook the neces- sities of the situation; some time he and all So MUCH EMPHASIS has been placed upon other industrialists will have to clean their the unemployment problem in the last five years sloppy water. It is perhaps too much to hope that blind attacks upon the machinę as a major that all will start cleaning together and do it or contributing factor in creating that problem in a quinquennium or even a decade, but it will too often have fallen upon sympathetic ears. be done doubtless concurrently and by degrees; As a result, mcntion of “ labor-saving devices” and if good judgment is shown by sanitary com- is almost taboo in polite society and some missioners and industry it may not be a stagger- manufacturers and users of modern eąuipment ing burden for anyone. which might be placed in that category seem Some mine effluents are not acid now but dis- reluctant to advertise their activities. Such charge alkaline waters into acid streams and an attitude, however, helps neither proper rivers. It might be well to study why their understanding of the situation nor a sound effluents are alkaline. Perhaps it is due to an approach to a distressing problem. operational policy not at all directed to that In the coal-mining industry, survival de- end— one successful without intention and not pends not upon abandonment of the machinę helped by a particularly sulphur-free coal. but upon its increasing use. Coal is primarily Some of the worst effluents come from mines in competition with the so-called “laborless” with coal of Iow sulphur content. fuels. Unless coal prices are on a fair competitive basis, coal will continue to lose busi ness to its rivals, and opportunities for employment in mining will be further and perma- "Narrow-Minded" nently curtailed. Lower production costs are A c c o r d in g to Senator Norris, father of imperative if coal is to maintain or improve TY A and apparently eager to sire a M V A its position. That is an inescapable fact. (Mississippi Valley Authority), coal men Costs may be reduced without the machinę opposing the competition of federal hydro- by the simple expedient of depressing wage electric power produced as a byproduct of levels so far that the advantage oil and gas grandiose schemes of flood and navigation now have in direct labor charges may be wiped control take “ a narrow-minded view of the out. Or management may lean more heavily matter.” But what, may it be asked, should on the machinę and so reduce costs while mak- the business man do when the government ing a higher wage scalę supportable. Admit- threatens the integrity of his investments, the tedly that may involve some temporary dis- employment of his workers and eventually asks placement of workers, but lower costs will him to pay the bill? Stand up and cheer?

170 COAL AGE — V olA l, No.5 LOW COST AND SAFETY

+ Keynote of lmprovement Program

A t Valley Camp*s Wheeling D ivision Mines

By IVAN A. GIVEN Associate Editor, Coal Age AS A R ESU LT of improvements r \ niade largely in the past two years, Wheeling division mines of the Valley Camp Coal Co. now take their place in the growing group of opera- main, face and butt, or room, entries, (Fig. 1), thus saving the expense of tions which have been revised for in- driven at riglit angles to each other. taking it to the outside for disposal. creased efficiency, lower cost and greater Main entries consist of four to six Developnient of new territory is re- safety. Included in the Wheeling divi- headings 10 ft. wide. Six headings, stricted largely to the winter season, sion are the Dartnell and Mobley mines driven in pairs on 35-ft. centers, is the when sufficient entries are driven to take of the Elm Grove Mining Co. of West practice where a long air travel is antici- care of the summer lake trade and other Virginia, Elm Grove, W . Va., and the pated. Distance between pairs of head business for the rest of the year. M in Alexander mine of the Glendale Gas ings is 70 ft., ineasured from the centers ing progress and other activities in a Coal Co., Moundsvilie, W . Va., each of adjacent headings. The resulting particular year are summarized in an- rated at 3,000 tons per day of Pitts- 60-ft. pillar is cut through every 300 nual operating reports, which give the burgh No. 8 seam coal. Ali three oper- ft. This results in relatively long un- history of the various mines for the ations have a long producing history broken pillars, with conseąuent reduction twelve-month period, including track behind tliem, and the improvement cam- in air loss. Face entries consist of three and d.c. distribution maps, and make paign initiated late in 1933 was designed headings 10 ft. wide on 40-ft. centers, recommendations for the conduct of to forestall a lapse into a condition of and are protected by 160-ft. barrier pil futurę operations. These reports, cov- inefficiency and high cost which, unless lars. Butt, or room, headings are driven ering each individual mine, are bound proper steps are taken, frequently results on 33-ft. centers and are widened to 16 for the use of the various officials and at mines where considerable territory ft. Originally these headings were driven departments and also as a permanent has been mined out, where openings the same width as the others, but in- record of progress. have been subject to the normal deterio- vestigation has shown that the top can Room entries are turned both ways ration of strata and supports for long be held as well as in rooms, and the from face entries, and room necks are periods of tinie, and where hauls, air width therefore has been increased to turned as the room entries advance. Six- travel and power-distribution systems 16 ft. to allow the stone to be gobbed teen rooms, 20 to 24 ft. wide and 255 have reached considerable lengths. on the side%opposite the room necks ft. deep on 30-ft. centers, are worked Thickness of the Pittsburgh No. 8 seam varies from 44 to 5 i- ft. at the Wide room entry, Alexander mine, with gob placed on side Wheeling division mines, and the coal opposite room necks generally is overlaid by the characteristic No. 8 “stone” stratum. Absent in sonie places, this stone thickens to a niasimum of 4 ft. in others. Average thickness is about 15 in. Over the stone and under the niain limestone roof is a layer of materiał of varying naturę which, depending on locality, is made up of coal, sliale, fireclay and other weak and unconsolidated materials. The stone and other loose materiał is taken down in mining until a reasonably firm top is reached, but even with this pre- caution the weakness of the remainder of the materiał up to the main limestone reąuires systematic timbering in rooms (p. 197) and frequentlv causes trouble m entries. The higher temperatures of the summer months are reflected in a materiał increase in falls due to slacking. Development is based on the use of

May, 1936 — COAL AGE 171 siniultaneously from each room entry machinę is fitted with a 125-gal. water Transportation, because of its vital in (Fig. 1). Under this system, miners, tank and a spray nozzle on the cutter fluence on all other underground oper service men and supervisors move out bar to keep down dust. This ąuantity ations, has received special attention at of a completed room entry and into the of water is ample for a day’s cutting. Wheeling division mines. Track, roll room necks in a new entry as a unit. In Drilling and shooting at each mine ing stock and power all have been over- some cases, howęyer, the inside eight are supervised by a preparation fore- hauled with an eye to bettering haulage rooms are started first to cut the number man, whose duty is primarily the con- performance. Seventy-five-pound Steel of men moved at one time. In the past, trol of blasting methods to insure the now is standard on all maili lines, some territories were mined by turning maximum yield of coarse coal. Clean against the weight of 60 lb. formerly rooms both ways from the room entries, ing of the coal, which starts at the face used. Face entries and other secondary but loss o£ coal due to caves before the in Valley Camp’s Wheeling division haulage roads are laid with 45-lb. track, rooms were fmished resulted in the mines, is under the direction of the and the old 20-lb. raił employed on adoption of the present system, which section foreman, whose only other re- room entries and in rooms is being re- has reduced such losses materially. Driv- sponsibility is safety. Under this sys placed with 30-lb., in anticipation of the ing all rooms abreast—a generał prac- tem of allocating responsibility, day men use of track-mounted cutters, as well as tice in the Pittsburgh No. 8 field— is and transportation men are directed by for its inherently better staying qualities necessitated by the character of the roof. labor and transportation bosses, re- in service. Room pillars are left in place, and the spectively. Keeping up sights is dele- An innovation in tracklaying methods stone taken down in mining is piled gated to two special sight men at each at Wheeling division mines is the use along each rib, leaving only a roadway mine. This move was dictated by the of 60-lb. cross rails on all new main-line in the center. fact tliat orderly development is a vital and certain secondary tracks with a rela- Operations at the face have been factor in forestalling roof trouble. tively long life. Two cross rails are based in the past on the use of shortwall In addition to removing impurities welded across the track at each joint machines with 6- or 6^-ft. cutter bars. and otherwise exercising care in prepa (Fig. 2), the contact surfaces first being Under this system undercutting the place ration, the miner is required to dis- cleaned with a portable grinder equipped was practically the only major operation tribute bug dust throughout five or six with a flexible-drive extension. These performed by the company, the miner cars, primarily to prevent undue con- cross rails hołd the track to gage, pre- assuming all other duties in connection centrations of fines in certain shipments vent the rails from turning over, and with breaking down, cleaning and load- of mine-run. Clean places underground also serve as bonds. Holding gage and ing the coal and caring for the place. and clean tipples on the surface are in- keeping rails upright fali to the spikes Present plans, however, cali for the insisted on as real incentives to careful in the conventional type of track, but stallation of track-mounted cutting and preparation at both places. As a means Yalley Camp operating officials take the shearing machines throughout, and as a of checking the efficiency of preparation position that ties are primarily a support starter a Sullivan 7AU cutter with an at the face, fifteen mine cars are selected and that spikes are designed not for the 8-ft. cutter bar making a 4-in. kerf has at random each day and put through purpose of holding the rails against the been placed in service at Mobley mine, the tipple separately to permit careful stress coniing upon them but rather for where it cuts for two room groups of examination for refuse, bug dust and holding the ties to the rails. Frogs and sixteen places each. Standard borod- other evidences of preparation or lack switches are equipped with cross rails tipped cutter bits are employed, and the of preparation. extending elear across the several rails

Fig. 1—General plan of mining for Wheeling division mines, showing method of installing partings on face entries and also timbering and gob-disposal methods in room entries and in rooms

172 COAL A G E — Vol.41, No.5 as a means of preventing repetitions. Wooden mine-car members are painted with Tennessee Eastman Corporation “Xo-D-K” to check decay. Particular attention is given to treating surfaces in contact with irons and other metal parts, and all bolt holes are swabbed with the treating liąuid. Mine-car trucks are now purchased as complete units, with cross members welded between the channels, thus facilitating installation of Spikes - trucks as a unit and assuring a more rigid So/ts - 7/8 x4'with lock washers running gear. Ti es - . Evidence of the effect of heavier, better-constructed track and improvements in rolling stock and power supply is afforded by the fact that main-line trip size has been doubled in all cases and the speed of movement greatly in Fig. 2—Method of applying cross rails in building 75-lb. main-line track creased. A t Alexander mine, as an example, trip size has been increased to 50 cars, against the old average of 23 cars. at intervals of approximately 3 ft. No sińce the adoption of the shoe, which One effect of the heavier track has been wrecks due to rails turning over have was supplemented by a regular trolley- a reduction in wave motion in the raił been experienced on track laid with wire lubricating program. The brush in front of the car, thus cutting down cross rails, and the electrical conductiv- system of applying lubricant has been resistance to trip movement. ity, tests have shown, is the same as that found most satisfactory under conditions Single-track main lines with passing of track eąuipped with the conventional at these three mines. W ith eąuipment tracks at convenient intervals are stan bond in good condition. in good condition, the next problem dard at the three-mines with which this Ali track, including main-line, sec- was adequate power. Steps taken to article deals. Movement of all trips is ondary and room-entry track installed in reach this objective are the subject of a controlled by dispatchers with the aid of the past two years, has been laid with separate section of this article. telephones and signals at sidetracks, creosoted ties, including creosoted switch Plain-bearing wood mine cars with an passing tracks and junctions. American sets for switches. Steel ties are used average capacity of 2 to 2J tons are used Mine Door Co. “Electri-Throw” switch exclusively in rooms. Main-line ties are in the Valley Camp Wheeling division throwers with either manuał or automatic 4x6 in.; room-entry ties, 3x5 in. The mines. To reduce maintenance expense Controls have been installed on major use of a relatively light tie on main lines and interruptions to service growing out main-line switches to facilitate operation is made possible by the adoption of cross of mine-car failures, a program of annual of trips without stops or attendants at rails. To date, creosoted ties have been inspection of cars has been adopted. switches. installed in approximately 50 per cent of Starting at the first of each year, each car Dispatchers are in sole charge of trip the track in the tliree Wheeling division — and particularly the running gear— is movement, and work primarily from mine mines, and a distinct decline in renewals given a thorough examination. All maps on the scalę of 800 ft. to the incli, already has been experienced. Life of wheels are removed and washed to elimi- on which haulage roads, passing tracks untreated ties was two to four years, nate grease and thus facilitate careful and sidetracks are shown in red. These and this typc was the cause of many inspection for defects before replacement. maps are mounted on wooden bases with wrecks. Tie plugs are driven in the spike No wrecks from broken wheels have been isinglass covers, and locomotive position holes of all creosoted ties taken up for reported sińce this system was inaugu and direction of travel are indicated by relaying to prevent premature destruc- rated. Incidentally, a fuli report on every £-in. Steel pins fitting in holes spotted at tion. wreck or derailment occurring on any the bottom, the entrance and exit to each Cast manganese-steel frogs have been but room entry or room tracks is reąuired passway or sidetrack, in both the main adopted because of greater resistance to wear and breakage. Nos. 4 and 5 frogs are employed on all main-line and side- Track-mounted cutter entering a room at Mobley track switches, and curve radius is held to a minimum of 125 ft. on main and secondary tracks, where possible. Track walkers are employed at each mine for the sole purpose of keeping bolts tight and joints tamped up. To insure reliable motive power, a program of rebuilding locomotives was inaugurated two years ago. This re building includes not only motors and Controls, as discussed more fully elsewhere in this article, but also frames, trucks and wheels. Shoes have entirely replaced trolley wheels on all Iocomo- tives, and in some instances have allowed trip sizes to be increased by ten cars as a result of the increased pulling power afforded by the greater contact area of ^ the shoe. Reduced controller and resistance maintenance are other benefits that have been experienced

May, 1936 — C O A L A GE 173 line and passing or sidetrack between entrances and exits, and at other points where trip movement is controlled. The head of each pin, which bears the num- bcr of the haulage unit it represents, is made in the shape of an arrow and is colored to designate the class of unit, as brown for main-line locomotives, silver for secóndary haulage units, and black for gathering units. As each loconiotive comes to a reporting station, its position and direction are telephoned to the dispatcher, who inscrts the corresponding pin in a lew hole with the arrow pointing in the direction of travel. The dispatcher also keeps a record of car niovement and distribution 011 the sheet shown in Fig. 3. To keep gathering travel within a maximum of 1,000 ft., and thereby promote efficiency in this department, a sys tem of “continuous” sidetracks has been Main-line junction, Alexander mine. Track is laid with 75-lb. Steel and cross rails. An electric switchthrower is installed (right) to adopted (Fig. 1). Under this system, operate the switch each pair of room entries is provided with a parting, and the arrangement of the various sidetracks is such that in case Ridgeway motor-generator set has been circ.mil bare stranded return wire, while it should be desirable for trip storage, built 16,000 ft. east of the tipple and the third 2-in. hole, which is kept in re- etc., the individual partings can be con- directly over the center of the present serve, is filled with liquid asphalt. The nected to form one long sidetrack. working territory. 1-in. holes were designed for signal and Regular movemetit of substations to Operating on purchased power, the telephone wires. One is now used to new locations close to the center of work- Dartnell substation supplies direct cur- carry a Bell telephone circuit into the ing areas, adequate positive and negative rent at 275 volts to the mine through a mine, while the other, also filled with circuits and regular inspection of wire 614-ft. borehole. This borehole is S in. licjuid asphalt, is in reserve. The sub and boncls are the major items in the in diameter and is fittcd with three 2-in. station is full-automatic on the d.c. side. electrification program at Valley Camp’s and two 1-in. pipes. One 2-in. hole ac- Both Mobley and Alexander are served Wheeling division mines. As a generał comniodates the positive circuit, which by two substations each. One in each rule, the rnain d.c. power source is kept consists of a 1,000,000-circ.tnil Parkway case is located at or close to the pit mouth not more than one mile from the working cable looped over an old small-diameter and serves main-haulage units primarily, face, and in line with this principle, sub sheave wheel and fastened by a clamp. while the other is moved from tinie to stations have been installed or moved to The cable fits snugly in the pipę and in- time to locations over the center of the new locations at all three operations stallation was facilitated by the use of working sections. At Mobley, the West- within recent years. At Dartnell, where liąuid asphalt, which also assists in main- inghouse 300-kw. full-automatic sub the original d.c. generating eąuipment taining insulation by elimiriating air station was recently located at the top of still is in service at the pit moutli, a new circulation, moisture, etc. Another of the a new air shaft. Underground ducts from 300-kw. substation equipped with a 2-in. holes accommodates a 1,000,000- the shaft supply a constant current of

Fig. 3—Dispatcher's daily production record sheet

CAR DISPATCHING SHEET THE YALLEY CAMP COAL CO______MINE ______SHIFT ______DATE ______DISPATCHER

ŁSW».XŁ

174 COAL A GE — V olA l, N o.5 cooling air to both motor and generator. Ventilation at Wheeling division mines the substation at the 4th St. air shaft four A similar move also was madę at Alex- is based on the use of iniproved-type force years ago. The fan is driven by a 20-hp. ander four years ago, involving location fans to supply air in adeąuate ąuantities motor and replaced a centrifugal unit of the 300-kw. niotor-generator set at the where and when needed, and reduction eąuipped with a 75-hp. motor. Volume new 4th St. air shaft. The Alexander in air travel to cut power reąuirements. and water gage were the same in both unit is similar to the Dartnell unit in In linę with these principles, yęntilation cases, as follows: volume, 60,000 c.f.m.; that it is automatic on the d.c. side only. at Mobley has been characterized by three water gage, U in. The 4th St. air shaft Ali motor-generator sets are eąuipped fan changes in six years. Eąuipment has a depth of 200 ft. and is a double- with synchronous motors for power- now consists of an 8-ft. Aerovane fan of compartment shaft with stairway. Plans factor correction, and as a result power the double-stage type operated at present cali for the installation of a hoist and factor seldom varies much from unity. with only one wheel to supply 77,000 man-and-matcrial cage at the shaft in the futurę. Systematic inspection and overhauling are the keystones of maintenance work at Wheeling division mines. The present program was started off two years ago by a rebuilding project cóyering locomotives, mining machines and other eąuip ment. In the case of locomotives, rebuild ing included building up motor cases and pole pieces; installation of new resist- ances, controllers, headlights, sideplates, etc.; building up and refinishing of worn axles and shafts; and replacement of plain journal armaturę bearings by Norma- Hoffman bali and roller bearings. Building up of motor cases furnished one of the most striking exampies of the possible benefits of painstaking mainte nance practices. Wear around the jour nal housings resulted in the past in a large number of armaturę rewinds growing out of scoring of armatures by pole pieces. Motor cases and pole pieces both Fan installation and substation after removaI to new Mobley air shaft near were built up by welding and turned to center of workings proper clearance and are maintained in this condition. As a result, the number Smaller trolley wire on main entries c.f.m. at a 1.55-in. water gage with a of armaturę winders to repair the arma is now being replaced with 6-0 wire, power consumption of 28 lip. The fan, tures from all the mines of the Yalley which, when worn appreciably, is trans- eąuipped with a 40-hp. motor, is con- Camp Coal Co. and subsidiaries has been ferred to room entries or other places nected to a new 14xl9-ft. timbered shaft. reduced from seven to two. where demands are not so severe. While with stairway, 248 ft. deep. Power sav- Axles and shafts, not only in locomo- feeder requirements are reduced niate- ings alone are expected to return the cost tives but also in other eąuipment, are rially by keeping substations close to the of the fan in six months and the cost of built up by welding when worn and then center of working areas, ample feeder the entire installation, including the shaft, turned to size. High-tensile-strength al- capacity is installed where load conditions in five to six years. loy steels have now largely superseded dictate. Return circuits on main lines, Alexander is ventilated with a 7-ft. other types on axle and shaft service. as indicated above, are completed through single-stage Aerovane fan installed with To preserve clearance, locomotire tires the use of cross rails. Cross rails also are employed on secondary haulage roads New underground repair shop, Mobley mine where the life warrants their use, but in generał stranded copper bonds welded to both rails, with cross bonds at freąuent intervals, are employed. Room entries are bonded along the continuous raił opposite the room necks. To insure adequate return at all times, the company follows the policy of installing auxiliarv return circuits in main, face and room entries. These return circuits are suspended from the rib, and standards cali for a minimum of 500,000 circ.-mils on main entries. Face and room-entry circuits consist of 4-0 solid copper wire. Return circuits are tied to the track every 200 to 400 ft. Mainte- nance of circuits, and particularly re- turns, is considered as eąual in importance to first-class installation, and con- seąuently a full-time power engineer, supplied with the necessary instruments, >3 employed for the sole purpose of checking the condition of bonds, overhead wire and voltage.

May, 1936 — COAL A GE 175 each day and report on their condition. Once each week, each machinę is given a more thorough-going inspection in the shop and tightened up. Then approxi- Stock room mately evcry six months, each machinę is brought into the shop for a detailed check, including dismantling when necessary for examination, and renewal of worn parts as required. Heavy repairs, overhauls and rebuilding generally are undertaken by the Elm Grove shops, where complete facilities ----f&r- - for such work are maintained. Recently, . Ught^A *1Cs, however, the operating company has un p eon c/u it5-ctoor steel '2-cfoor Steel p eon c/u it5-ctoor dertaken the construction of a complete tooHocker. toot locker underground shop capable of handling fairly heavy repairs at each of its mines. Steef cfoor. Such a shop already has been constructed \ Dryingroom at Mobley and Alexander mines near the ■ .... foot of the air shafts. * <-- JO'2"-—• Fig. 4 is a plan view of the Mobley shop, which includes a pit with side light- Fig. 4— Plan of underground shop, Mobley mine ing, drying room, stockroom, truck storage and Steel tool lockers. Major eąuip- ment includes a lathe, planer, drill press are turned once and then discarded, al- ments ceased when the slope was reduced and overhead traveling crane with 15,- though experiments with banding are to 15 deg., with the result that this limit 10- and 5-ton chain blocks. Maximum being carried out as a means of prolong- was adopted as the standard for new height of the shop is 14 ft. 7 in., and in ing tire life. Tire contour also has been tires. Overhauling of locomotives is set excavating prior to construction all loose changed to eliminate the derailments off with a coat of battleship-gray paint. materiał was removed up to the solid formerly experienced with new tires, In maintenance, as in other activities, limestone. Space between the ceiling which were purchased with a 30-deg. regular inspections are insisted upon as and the limestone was cribbed with creo- slope on the treads. As a preliminary, a means of reducing futurę cash outlays soted timbers resting on the ceiling the behavior of a set of 30-deg. slope tires and interference with production. Motor- I-beams. Materials of construction in- was observed as they were worn down. men and machinę runners, for example, cluded concrete footings, floors and This observation disclosed that derail are required to examine their machines pilasters and cinderblock walls.

Room face at Dartnell mine, showing stone over the coal, posting and gob disposal

COAL AGE- Vol.41, No.5 Loading machincs at Goose Creek discharge into chain-and-flight conveyors which carry the coal to the main belt line extending to the tipple on the surface

CONVEYOR TRANSPORTATION

+ Supplements Mechanical Loading of Coal

A t New Goose Creek Mine

UILT around belt and chain-and- flight conveyors for transporting Bcoal from loading machines at the face to the tipple, the new Goose Creek 29; 5x2-in. egg, 25 per cent; and 2-in. Beaver Creek branch of the Chesapeake mine of the Goose Creek Mining Co., slack, 46 per cent. Thickness of the & Ohio Ry. The portal is directly over one mile east of Garrett, in Floyd seam ranges from 36 to 50 in., and the highway and is just far enough County, Kentucky, represents the trans- banded impurities of a regular naturę above it to give adeąuate traffic clear- lation into reality of proposals for com- are absent. The seam is rolling in naturę ance under the conveyor bridge. The bination loader-conveyor operations and has a strong sandstone top, except tipple is eąuipped to prepare and load niade as far back as 1924. W ith the for drawslate in local dips or swags, lump (over a loading boom), egg and system in force at Goose Creek, average where the grades may run up to 10 per slack. output per man-shift worked in Febru- cent. From the outcrop, thickness of The coal area embraced in the lease ary was 10.4 tons, including both under the cover, made up of sandstones and is roughly rectangular in shape, thus ground and surface employees and fore- shales, increases to 800 ft. simplifying the problem of projecting men. Natural conditions made for a com the main conveyorways for transporta- The Goose Creek mine was opened pact arrangement of the surface plant tion. The major portion of the tonnage in a lease of 500 acres on the Right with a minimum of construction. The will be brought out through the Main Fork of Beaver Creek, a tributary of seam occurs at approximateIv tipple North entry (Fig. 1), which connects ~e Sandy River, in November, 1935. height, and has been exposed for about with the Main entry at a point approxi- First coal was shipped on Dec. 1. The a mile along Beaver Creek by a newly mately 250 ft. inside the portal. The ^o. 1 Elkhorn seam, mined at this constructed highway. It was only neces- Main entry also serves as a room entry, point, produces a good grade of domes- sary to build a light steel bridge 100 ft. and operations at present consist of ad- tic coal with an excellent slack for long to carry the outer end of the main vancing the two headings making up the either steam or domestic purposes. As belt conveyor from the mine portal over entry and working rooms to the right. a result of the fairly hard structure of to a smali three-track shaker-screen When all of the coal to the right of the the coal, 5-in. lump percentage averages tipple located over the tracks of the Main entry is worked, either by long

May, 1936 — COAL AGE 177 manner as the rooms are worked out on the retreat. Present standards cali for a room width of 40 ft., a depth of 500 ft. and centers of 70 ft. Wider rooms and the use of face conveyors were contemplated when the mine was opened, but experience showed that adjusting the loaders to keep the discharge ends of the taił conveyors over the face conveyors involved too much jockeying for position, with conseąuent loss of time. W ith a width of 40 ft. and the conveyor in the center of the room, the loaders can easily reach either corner of a place and the problem of keeping the loader discharge over the room conveyor is greatly simplified. Rooms are necked approximately 15 f t wide, and opposite each room neck a crosscut is driven through the heading pillar to make an outlet for the corresponding room on the opposite side, which is driven in each case on the Loading coal in a room at Goose Creek same center line. Necks on the heading, or right. side of the entry are driven by the loading machinę on the advance to make them ready to receive the loading head and initial sections of the room conveyors. Crosscuts between rooms are driven from both sides. Rooms at present are worked in pairs, and the eąuipment for such a pair consists of one Joy. Jr., loading ma chinę, one shortwall mining machinę with 7-ft. cutter bar, one portable drill (kept with the cutting machinę), and two Joy chain-and-flight conveyors madę up of 6-ft. sections, or pans. Conreyors are laid in the centers of the rooms, and the loader, cutter and drill alternate between the two places, traveling through the crosscuts. W ith load ing completed in a place the cycle of Room comeyor discharging onto main bek operations begins with cleaning up Ioose coal. sąuaring up the face and rooms or a combination of subsidiary ★ ★ scrapping the bottom left by the cutter. entry and rooms. room conve_vors. load Two men take care of this work as well ers and other eąuipment will be trans- as conveyor extension and any other ferred to the Ieit side of the Main entry, "Corning events cist their shadows tasks which may require attention. Upon and rooms on this side worked out down before”— at least in the case of the completion of the clean-up and scrap new Goose Creek Ioader-conveyor to the Main North entry. Succeeding ping activities, the place is undercut mine. W ith the growth of interest in room entries will parallel the Main and drilled by the machinę crew, which the possibility of continuous trans- also loads and shoots the shotholes entry, and, as in the case of the Main. portation of coal from the working rooms will be worked out on the right face to the tipple by means of con- located at the top ot the cut and spaced on the advance to the eastem boundary veyors, engineers in the early days of 8 to 10 ft. apart. Pellet powder is em- and rooms on the left wili be mined on the mobile loader foresaw the even- ployed for btasting. W ith the coal shot the retreat. Coal from the loading units tual incorporation of machines of down, the place is ready for the loading will be carried on a bek down the room this type in the com eyor set-up. machinę. (or East) entries to another bek on the While the interval between proposal Substantially the same system is fol- Main North. which in turn will dis and adoption covered moce than a lowed in the headings, where crosscuts charge onto the Main entry belt leading decade, the principtes of a loader- and room necks, in addition to the head to the tipple. conveyor operation were outlined in ing faces, provide sufficient coal to keep The generał plan of driving headings the Jan 24, 1924, issue of C oal A g e the loading unit busy. Two chain-and- and working rooms at Goose Creek is by Walter M. Dake, then engineer flight units and a cross conveyor, also shown in Fig. 2. Headings are driven associated with Sanford E. Thompson of the chain-and-flight type. are em- 25 ft. wide on 60-ft. centers. The main in making a report on "Underground ptoyed to carry the coal back to the belt is laid in the center of the right- Management in Bituminous Mices” main belt, which is extended every 200 hand heading. and a track is projected for the U. S. Coal Commission. Op to 300 ft. W ith the roof conditions at erations at Goose Creek represent in the left-hand heading. or aircourse. Goose Creek. slabbing of room pillars to translation of these principles into for supplies and also as a return circuit increase recovery is possible and al- reality in substantially their original from the d.c. eąuipment in use. This form. ready has been done. On the basis of track will be extended from time to time preliminary experier.ce. plans have been as the headings advance and. contrari- laid for including this activity in the wise, will be shortened in a similar * regular mining routine, using hand

17S COAL AGE — YolAl.NoJ ]oaders for this work, although it is possible to do it with the loading ma chines. To reach the pillars, the room ■conyeyors are swung over to the side of the place. Otherwise, no charige is madę in conveyor position or operation. Main belt conveyors (Joy-M. & C.) consist of 26-in. Goodyear five-ply belts carried on stands 12 ft. long. Spacing of the loaded idlers is 4 ft., or three per .stand; return-idler spacing is 12 ft. Weight of a 12-ft. stand with idlers is ■377 lb. Over-all height of the conveyor is 19 in., and its rated capacity is 175 tons per hour. The main belt now in use is driven by a 20-hp. motor located at the tipple. Main chain-and-flight conyeyors in roonjs and headings, consisting of head, or drive sections, weighing 2,419 lb. each with motors; taił sections, 178 lb. each; and 6-ft. intermediate sections, 156 lb. each (with cliain and flights per section, 104 lb. each), are driven by 15-hp. motors. Chain-and-flight cross conyeyors are driven by 5-hp. motors. Cutting ma chines are driyen by 50-hp. motors and the loading machines by five 4-hp. motors. Fig. 1— Goose Creek property map, showing projected method of development Conyeyors operate on 440-volt alter- nating current. The main circuit to telephone system will permit coordina- In February of this year, an average these machines consists of a Trenchlay tion of conveyor operation. of 30 men were employed per day of cable made up of three No. 2 conduc- W ith the two loading units now in two shifts. In that month, when operators. Loaders, cutters, drills, gathering operation, the standard mine force per tions were hampered somewhat by car pumps, etc., are powered with direct shift is : two loader operators, two help- shortages and one loading unit went on current supplied by a 150-kw. motor- ers, four machinemen, four panmen, one a part-time basis, the mine loaded generator set feeding 275 volts to a electrician, two tipplemen and one fore- 5,000 tons of coal in sixteen days of 500,000-circ.mil rubber-coyered feeder. man. One blacksmith is employed on two shifts each, making the ayerage The supply track, which will be double- the day shift only, making the total output per man-shift 10.4 tons, includ- bonded, will serve as the return. Start- force for two shifts of operation 33 men. ing foremen and outside employees. ing and stopping of indiyidual chain- Panmen, in particular, are available for Power consumption was 12,600 kw.-hr., and-flight conyeyors is controlled by any other necessary work underground including consumption by tipple motors starters and pushbuttons mounted on the and any member of the mine force can rated at 11^ hp., or 2.52 kw.-hr. per ton driving units. The main conveyor is be shifted to other than his regular task of coal shipped. The demand peak in started and stopped at the tipple. A when required. February (15-minute basis) was 90 kw.

Fig- 2— Left, advancing entry and mining rooms on the heading side, with one loading unit in the entry and the other driving rooms; right, two loading units working rooms on the retreat on the aircourse side of the entry K_1 U Uc c

C : o Q T ]

S u p p ly SSSJ3 fjSSS \<60'-Ą

M ay,1936 — C O A L A G E »»»13th ANNUAL CO AL MINING THE AMERICAN MINING CONGRESS ------Program MUSIC HALL, CINCINNATI, OHIO M A Y 11-15/ 1936 MONDAY, MAY 11, 10 A.M.

Chairman: I, X . Bayless, assistant generał manager, Union Pacific Coal Co. Introducing—E. J. Newbaker, vice-presi- EFFECT OF WIDE PLACES ON James Hyslop, chief engineer, Walter dent, Berwind-White Coal Mining Co., ROOF Bledsoe & Co. and chairman, Coal Division. O. B. Pryor, generał superintendent, Elm D. D. Wilcox, generał superintendent, R. E. Salvati, generał manager, Island Grove Mining Co. Superior Coal Co. Creek Coal Co., and national chairman, A representative of the Pennsylvania POWER EFFICIENCIES program committee. Coal & Coke Co. E. J. Christy, Wheeling Township Coal C. B. Officer, vice-president, Sullivan Mining Co. Machinery Co., and chairman, Manufac- TUESDAY, MAY 12, 10 A.M. turers’ Section, Coal Division. Discussion: C. H. Matthews, electrical engineer, Susąuehanna Collieries Co. COAL - PRODUCTION METHODS — Chairman: Harry M. Moses, generał su TODAY AND TOMORROW perintendent, United States Coal & Coke THE ECONOM ICS OF A.C.-D.C. Paul Weir, vice-president, Bell & Zoller Co. CONVERSION Coal & Mining Co. OUR MODERN COAL INDUSTRY W. A. Buchanan, district manager, Ap- palachian Electric Power Co. PROGRESS OF MECHANICAL C. F. Hamilton, vice-president, Binkley LOADING AND CONVEYOR MINING Mining Co. COAL BUMPS UNDER HEAVY T. F. McCarthy, generał superintendent, COYER Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corporation. NEW THINGS IN COAL CLEANING John F. Daniel, chief, Department of John H. Richards, mining engineer, A. E. Roberts, chief engineer, Heisley Mines and Minerals of Kentucky Coal Co. Hanna Coal Co. of Ohio. AEROMECHANICS AS APPLIED TO Thomas Murphy, superintendent, North W . J. Skewes, mechanical engineer, Po- cahontas Fuel Co. MINE VENTILATION AND FANS western Improvement Co. A. Lee Barrett, Pittsburgh Coal Co. C. F. Hamilton. vice-president, Binkley R. H. Sherwood, president, Central In diana Coal Co., Inc. Mining Co. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 10 A.M. H. B. Husband, generał manager, fuel Joseph G. Saricks, president, Wolf Col mines, Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. lieries Co. Chairman: H. L. Griffin, diuision engineer, E. J. Weimer, generał manager, Snow Koppers Coal & Transportation Co. James White, superintendent, mine No. 4S, Peabody Coal Co. Hill Coal Corporation. PROGRESS IN RELATED FIELDS J. B. Morrow, preparation manager, OF INDUSTRY COAL-CLEANING PLANT. NORTH Pittsburgh Coal Co. L. E. Young, vice-president, Pittsburgh WESTERN IM PRO VEM EN T CO. W. E. Woltę, electrical and mechanical Coal Co. E. R. McMillan, mining engineer, North supervisor, Clinchfield Coal Corporation. western Improvement Co. T. C. Mullins, president, Northern Illi ACCIDENT RECORDS: COMPARI- nois Coal Corporation. SON AND CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS MONDAY, MAY 11, 2:30 P.M. OYER FIVE-YEAR PERIOD TRIP DISPATCHING AND CAR- W. W . Adams, superyising statistician, Chairman: J. D. Rogers. vice-president, MOYEMENT RECORDS Employment Statistics Section, U. S. Stonega Coke & Coal Co. R. G. Lazzell, Island Creek Coal Co. Bureau of Mines. MODERN PRODUCTION METHODS Discussion: Wm. J. Wolf, division man Discussion: N. P. Rhinehart, chief, De AND THE FUTURĘ OF COAL ager, Consolidation Coal Co. partment of Mines of West Virginia. Eugene McAuliffe, president, Union POWER-PLANT OPERATION James McSherry, director, Department Pacific Coal Co. of Mines and Minerals of Illinois. R. H. Sherwood, president. Central In M. J. Grogan, assistant manager. Lynch NEW THINGS IN MINE SAFETY diana Coal Co., Inc., and Antioch Power Co. Coal Operators’ Reciprocal Association. Locomotives Painted With Aluminum Wm. Richards, safetv engineer, Madeira. and Having Reflex Mirrors ROCK TUNNELING WITH SHAK- Hill & Co. —J. V. Berry, Industrial Collieries Cor ING CONYEYORS poration. Thomas P. Kearns, superintendent. Diyi- M. A. Sharp, foreman, Union Pacific sion of Safety and Hygiene, Industrial Broadcasting Safety Messages Under Coal Co. ground Commission of Ohio. —John Lyons, safety engineer, Bell & TREATMENT OF TU N NEL DR1V- J. F. Bryson. safety division, Harlar. Zoller Coal & Mining Co. ING, ANTHRACITE FIELD County Coal Operators Association. Safety With Mechanical Mining B. L. Lubelsky, explosives engineer and ROCK-DUSTING —A. J. Ruffini. Wheeling Township tunnel superintendent, Philadelphia & Coal Mining Co. Reading Coal & Iron Co. P. H. Burnell, superintendent. Owi Creek Coal Co. Bonus Systems —Eugene McAuliffe, president, Union TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2:30 P.M. INCREASING EFFICIENCY IN Pacific Coal Co. TRANSPORTATION —Ernest Todd, chief clerk, Bell & Zoller Chairman: H. C. Faust, generał manager, Joseph Anstead, electrical engineer. Tetn- Coal & Mining Co. United Poeahontas Coal Co. pleton Coal Co. HITCH-DRILL PRACTICE CUTTING-BIT TREATMENT Discussion: Lee Haskins, superintendent Zeigler No. 1 mine, Bell & Zoller Coal Frank Schull. generał superintendent, N, A. Emslie, division superintendent, Binkley Mining Co. Industrial Collieries Corporation. & Mining Co. PORTABLE MINE-CAR E. H. Jenks. chief mining engineer. EMPLOYEES’ SAFETY MEETINGS COMPRESSOR Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Co. —OPEN AND CLOSED F. C. Carothers, generał superintendent. H. E. Schweinsberg, production engineer, Charles W . Connor. superintendent ot Pond Creek Poeahontas Co. Yalley Camp Coal Co. mines, Nellis Coal Corporation.

ISO COAL A G E — Vol.41. No5 CONYENTION AND EXPOSITION

J. B. Benson, Koppers Coal & Transpor George F. Bayles, chief engineer, Ohio tation Co. & Pennsylvania Coal Co. G. A. Roos, assistant generał manager, Paul Halbersleben, generał superinten Nałional Exposition of Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co. dent, Sahara Coal Co. Coal Mining Equipment W. J. Stiteler, Jr., vice-president, Coal Operators’ Casualty Co. GENERAL USE OF POWER AND May 11-15 ENERGY AT THE MINE WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, C. C. Knipmeyer, consulting engineer and head, electrical engineering depart- A n EXHlB(T of tbe la test in cost-reduc- 2 :3 0 P .M . ment, Rose Połytechnic Institute. ing macfilnery for safe and efficientopera- Chairman: W . L. Affelder, vice-president, tion ( A corr.pietelistofe*hibitorsappears Hillman Coal & Coke Co. WELDING AS A MONEY SAVER on pate 211) , E. S. Wade, superintendent, Windsor METHODS OF CUTTING OUT Power House Coal Co. SLATE BANDS W. D. Northover, preparation engineer, Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Co. THURSDAY, MAY 14, 10 A.M. Chairman: Peter F. Lojtus, consulting PROSPECTING FOR COAL WITH CONYEYOR MINING DIAMOND DRILLS engineer. C. E. Swann, chief engineer, Union Pa H. E. Wilłson, Laurel Creek Coal Co. cific Coal Co. MODERN MINING METHODS AND COAL’S FUTURĘ Thomas F. Steele, generał manager, Peim Anthracite Colłieries Co. COAL CLEANING AT THE P. C. Thomas, vice-president, Koppers PEABODY COAL CO. Coal & Transportation Co. E. A. Siemon, division generał superin- tendenl, Hillman Coal & Coke Co. Jack Verhoeff, Peabody Coal Co. HIGH PRODUCTION IN CUTTING- NEW DESIGNS IN CAR RELATION BETWEEN LIFE OF MACHINE EFFICIENCIES CONSTRUCTION ENTRY AND TYPE OF TRACK David Ingle. Jr., superintendent, Buck- EQUIPMENT skin Coal Corporation. Derelopment of Mine Cars Over Eight- Year Period at Koppers Coal Sc Trans F. F. Jorgensen, manager of production, Thomas L. Garwood, Chicago, Wiłming- portation Co. Consolidation Coal Co. ton & Franklin Coal Co. —F. S. Follansbee. chief engineer, Kop pers Coal & Transportation Co. Redodng Costs With Modern Pit Car; —C. J. Sandoe, rice-presiderrt, Perrv Coal Co. In Lighter Vein —A. R. Long, superintendent, New River Co. MONDAY OCTET . . . famous group from Old Heidelberg Restau- —R. E. Hobart, mechanścal engineer, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. rant . . . nationałły known . . . an outstanding featnre. Lehigh Navigation Coal Co. “ICE-BREAKER” McCONNELL . . . a grand ńnmaker MODERN PRODUCTION METHODS . . . guaranteed to get crowd together. AT BELL & ZOLLER COAL & KELLY-BAHLKE DANCERS . . . in ensemble and spe- M IN IN G CO. cialty numbers . . . lovely girls . . . łovely costumes . . . A talking motion jńctere. exciting numbers. W O RLD FAMOUS ORCHESTRA . . . for dancing from THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2:30 P.M. 10 to 2 Chairman: K. AL Spencer, tice-president, TUESDAY MINERS’ NATIONAL AMATEUR CONTEST . . . Pittsbwg & Midisay Coal Mining Co. 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. sponsored by leading coal companks . . . to determine the best talent among our 400,000 miner; . . _ wtnaaer to receire IM PORT ANCE OF EFFI CIENI national air audition PRODUCTION METHODS KELLY-BAHLKE DANCERS R. E. Taggart. pcesident, Ph:la

1PJ<5 - •COAL A GE 181 HOISTING SHAFT

+ A t East Bear Ridge Colliery

Raised From Slope to Main Tunnel

By H. A . DIERKS James H. Piercc &r Co. Scranlon, Pa.

N L Y rarely in coal mines are Shenandoah basins of the Middle West O shafts driven upward, though the ern Anthracite Field. This particular practice is quite generał in metal association of coal beds is generally be termed more accurately a reverse workings, and wherever an approach is known as the Bear Ridge “overturn,” thrust fault than an overturn, as the available from below, a large saving can which designation was given it in 1884 north dip of the supposed overturn basin be effected by such procedurę, and the by the Second Geological Survey of seems definitely to be missing. On the work can be performed more rapidly Pennsylvania. It will be noted in the other hand, no definite thrust piane has than by sinking. No trouble is encoun- cross-section of the measures (Fig. 1) been found, but if there is one it would tered from the presence of water, and, that the Mammoth and Buck Mountain appear to be identified with a smali mud by drilling a hole and providing a fan, beds appear twice in passing from left to seam lying between the conglomerate the shaft can be kept entirely free of right, yet both series of beds slope in formation which constitutes the foot- fumes and deleterious gases. A shaft much the same direction and appear in wall of the Mahanoy basin and the sand- was upraised in this manner at the East the same seąuence, not in inverted se- stone which forms the hanging wali of Bear Ridge colliery, Mahanoy Piane, quence, as they would have done had an the Bear Ridge formation. Pa., in 1934 and 1935. overturn occurred. The Water Level tunnel driven into East Bear Ridge colliery operates on Ktiowledge gained from development, Bear Ridge Mountain, known as the the south dip of the East Bear Ridge therefore, raises the question if this un- old “Girard tunnel," was driven about anticline between the Mahanoy and usual geological phenomenon would not 1S50, and serves now as the main haul-

Fig. 1— Cross-section through East Bear Ridge colliery

C O A L A G E — Vol.41, N o5 age road for East Bear Ridge collicry. drurn electric hoist with a maximum ca- Its portal is just north of the crop line pacity of 170 mine cars per 8-hour shift. of the Mammoth south dip of the Any plan to open and develop a new Mahanoy basin, so that the tunnel pene- level had to be based on the replacement trates only the underlying Buck Moun- of these inadeąuate hoisting facilities by tain and Little Buck Mountain beds in methods more efficient and economical. this forniation. These beds, however, After due consideration was given to are not worked by East Bear Ridge col- all possible means of improving the liery but by Madeira, HiII & Co. Fig. 2— Inverted sequence resulting from existing facilities versus the substitu- About 400 ft. further the tunnel cuts oyerthrow tion of new and better methods, a verti- first the Mammoth Top Split, then in cal shaft was finally chosen as the most tum the Mammoth Bottom Split, Skid- fayorable solution. more, Sćven-Foot, Buck Mountain and As the existing Mammoth slope pro- Little Buck Mountain beds, which dip yided means for reaching the Slope south in the same seąuence and nearly Leyel tunnel, the opportunity for raising parallel with the same measures of the instead of sinking the shaft quite Mahanoy basin. These beds form the naturally presented itself. For the same coal reseryes for East Bear Ridge col- reason, the shaft needed only two com- liery from the anticlinal down to the partments; no proyision was necessary undetermined depth of the formation. for cables and pipę lines, for they could Developmcnt Plan— All the minerał Fig. 3—True sequence resulting from enter the workings, as heretofore, down coal in these beds above the Water Level faulting the old Mammoth Slope. Starting from tunnel has been exhausted for sonie the assumption that the cost of raising years. The reserves 011 the next lift, normal daily production, could be a shaft should be about 30 per cent less above what is known as the Slope Level handled efliciently. than that inyolyed in its construction by tunnel, are also nearly exhausted, only The Main or Water Level tunnel has sinking methods, satisfactory bids for smali areas remaining at the extrenie an elevation of — 1139, the Slope Level its raising were finally obtained. Not eastern and western limits of the tunnel an elevation of -4—900, and the much optiniism as to the speed or property. To develop new coal areas proposed new level would have an eleva- safety of this procedure was displayed it was necessary to provide a new level. tion of -(-680 ft. above tide water. Ap- by the contractors in bidding on the Before this could be done, however, an proached by a car slope driven on the proposed contract. This, of course, was analysis of the existing transportation bottom rock of the Mammoth bed on an due chiefly to the fact that local con and hoisting facilities had to be made, average dip of 60 deg., the Slope Level tractors lacked experience in this kind to determine whether 600 mine cars, the tunnel was serviced by a 250-hp. single- of work and to the scarcity in this part

Fig. '4— Details of shaft timbering

✓C. L. shaf-f-

D efonls Show jng w v H o»ng ing of Guides

4 l i

t Cenłer Bunfon 2%j j|ft n 9^x 9fx 4’-4" JO—Ł j t / f ś <-y-6“6^ cjage>- W a Pla+e punch błock Ploin \* 6 L4 Plan 2-H m i « a ■f- ci Shcnfł Sidc i S h a ft Sfde * g 8) Hnol Morł-ise in Wołl! Plc*+e for Ccn+er Bunton * X- i t u v h q m r r y ? f x 9 f Os *cm O' I o H r * A ll h o fes corecJ fo r S i o l e E n ol ^a] 7/q ” bo /łs Elevci+ions,Cenłer Bunłon Wołll-Side P l o t n Guide Brołckeł Ełcv«fion •for Ccnfer Bunfon Longi+ucJlnal Sec + ion En ol PI of+e

May, 1936 — COAL AGE 183: driring approaches for the top and the bottom of the shaft simultaneously. When the location of the shaft in the Water Level drift had been reached, an S-in. borehole was drilled vertically in side the planned shaft area. This hole had a twofold purpose: (1) to ascertain the exact rock formation through which the shaft was to be raised, so that the details of timbering in generał and the placing of shaft bearers in particular could be planned in advance; (2) to proride efficient yentilation for shaft raising. A smali suction fan was connected to the borehole by a wooden duet. This fan cleared the sbaft of powder smoke within a few minutes after blasting, maintaining ideał ventilating conditions at all times. Wood was chosen t S c c t io n t Nor+h~Sou+h tor shaft timbering, as no pressure was M anticipated from the solid rock strata. T Details conceming the framing of tim-

♦69f5 Słope ie*e/ Fig.6 — General plan of shafi-raisin.e XTT7^'i ^ • n r r r r m p procedure ZSZ

Fig. 5—Cross-section of completed sbaft of the country ot rock men familiar with the storage and passage of rock and to raising or stoping, be lined with 3-in. planks fumished by The contract finałly was awarded to the coli i ery. The east compartment to Hugh Dołan & Sons, of Pottsrille, Pa., be reserred for hoisting, ventilation and who were fumished detailed plans and the passage ot men. When the shaft specitications for the execution of the has been raised within the limits sp;ci- work by the engineering department of fied, the contractor shall empty the rock James H. Pierce & Co. In essence these compartment and remove the lining. specitications, ot which details follow, Subseąuently, all sbaft sets are to be PI or n covered the scope and seąuence of work sąuared and plumbed by the contractor to be executed by the contractor. and checked by the coliiery surreyors, App roach on Y/a+ęr hve/ Shaft to be Tectangular with dimen- after which the contractor will install sions 14 ft. 6 in. x IS ft. elear inside the sbaft guides. ] f~|I —7^ To b/ower Tan / rock cut. and to be raised in fuli width The contract rateto be paid per linear ’777^^^77777777777777777777777777777/= » + 1M!S______f- and completely timbered with exception foot of rertical shaft height actually of guides. Shaft to be raised In two raised and completely eąuipped with separate stages, The main portion is sbaft sets and guides. For all extra l « between the ełevations -{-891.5 and work performed and not covered by this I I -j-1141.5, or 250 ft.; the other section contract. but reąuested and approved by is between elevations -j-1141.5 and the coliiery management, the contractor -4-11S4.5, or 40 ft. to be reimbursed at cost or on a basis Shaft raising to be performed by shaft preriously arranged. Workmen's com- contractor. who iumishes labor, tools pensation corcring contract labor to be and explosives; coli i ery company to fur- carried by the coliiery. Blasting mate nish compressed air to the foot of the riał to be iurnished to contractor by shaft, to proridc the necessary ventila- coliiery at cost. tion by means of an S-in. horehole The location of the shaft was planned drilled in the center of one shaft com- with the object ot utilizing to the full- partment and to furnish at the shaft est extent the existing transportation bottom all shaft timber. permanent and facilities in the Water Lerel and Słope temporary, ready cut for installation. Level tunnels. For this reason the shaft Coliiery company also to remove all was placed about 300 ft. inside the portal rock from the shatt-raising operation of the tunnel and 50 It. to the west of when loaded into mine cars and when it. Separate approaches or drifts had dcl i vered at an agreed point by the con- to be made on both landings to obtain tractor. Shaft-raising contract to start an efficient layout. The shaft haist also when first bearer with the first perma had to be placed underground, because . łock J,co m port- 1 nent timber and the loading chute of Bear Ridge Mountain rises so steeply 'ment kep* the rock compartment have been in- that the installation of a hoist on the ■fil /ęd ciur / no > - *>rtT/re t o is~ ! stalled by the contractor outside the outside would have been difficult and - :nOj‘ ooeTafiort [ terms of his contract. costly. ■ M ir------1 The west compartment to be nsed for Exec.ution ot the plan was started bv £łev«fi©Tvon A~B

1S4 COAL A G E - T ol.41 .N o5 ber sets and the method of instaliing used as a manway and hoistway. It would ultimately weigh over 1,000 tons, shaft sets and guides are shown in Fig. was eąuipped with ladders resting on a rock ledge was Ieft at the bottom of 5. For ali permanent shaft timber, in- platforms every 20 ft. The platforms the compartment for support. The top cluding guides, the best grade of Gulf covered only one half of the compart of the ledge was given a pitch of 35 States long leaf yellow pine obtainable ment; the other half was kept open for jeg’. and, being covered with mine rails, was specified. hoisting shaft timber and supplies. A the rock slid readily down toward the Shaft bearers were installed at 50-ft. smali air hoist for handling shaft tim chutes at the lower end. centers or at shorter intervals, as rock ber was placed at the bottom of the When the shaft had been raised a suf- conditions dictated. They consisted of shaft where it could be operated by the ficient distance the first bearer set was a regular shaft set with three extra wali bottom man. By a wedge bolt, the installed and carefully surveyed and plates of increased length placed directly sheave, over which the J-in. rope was Ieveled. It formed virtually the foun- under the two end plates and the center carried, was fastened in the roof after dation stone for the shaft, all succeed- bunton. The length of the bearers was the making of each cut. ing- sets being plumbed to accord with such that they had a minimum bearing Raising was started by building a this bearer. Throughout the raising, surface inside the solid shaft wali of 18 loading battery at the bottom of the two plumb lines were carried comtantly in. After they had been carefully rock chute. This consisted of two in opposite comers or the hoist com- sąuared, plumbed and leveled, they were chutes, 24x48 in., through which shaft partment 2 in. from the two sides of the cemented into place for greater rock was drawn into mine cars which enclosing angle. permanency. were pushed through the shaft and then Shaft Raising— The working method gravitated to a point where they were Skooting methods, costs, shaft followed in shaft raising is shown in picked up by the generał transportatlon eąuipment stations and hoist, and Fig. 6. The compartment used as a system of the mine and hoisted to the futurę shaft development ttSI be rock chute was lined with 3-in. hemlock surface for dumping. As the Ioad of the discussed in the concluding article, planks. The other compartment was loose materiał in the rock compartment to appear next montk.

PORTABLE SUBSTATIONS

+ Assure Adequate Power Supply at Face

A t Union Colliery’s KatHI een M i ne

By C E. CAWVEY O W E R always has been a verv EUctricat Er.gbucr, Utuon CoilUrj Co. important subject at the Kathleen D so k S, IlL Pmine of the Union Colliery Co. All power for operation of the mine always has been purchased and hence the monthly bill presented by the Iocal Coal is mechanically prepared at the a:r-sG2 it engme room. wnere it is public utility is a constant and very face, loaded, transported. hoisted and metered and then safcdbided and me- effective reminder that power costs screened with electricaily operated tered to m a c arctńts- Power cna- always are present and power conser- eąuipment Empiy and loaded railroad smnptioo. and distriictic-c to the diSer- vation and proper utilization are of cars are handled by a 25-ton EroHey ent mtne operatfons are chedceć daiły, prime importance. Also the mine oper- locomotive on the surface and goh monthly and yeariy; also a amnlatfre atmg officials have always been aware disposal is by an electricaily Gperatai record has been kept sżzcs the Srst not only of the cost of power but also aerial tramway. power ccnstrmptioa and billing. Ac- of the importance of having adequate Power is receired and mełered at ctrrate anri detsSed ńenres for the cost power at the point of operations. the mine substation at 33,000 rolts. o£ power per kuavztt-hyzz and per The Kathleen mine, at Dowell, 111., Here it is stepped down by means ton of coal are arażlabie ćroes the źr-z was sunk in 1917, and, although a com- of two bartks of transfonner;,. rateć tan izńned ap to and bid.zrJ.zz the pres- pletely electrified mine at that time was at 1,000 kva. each, to 2,300 -rolts, at ent trfrrap- a comparatively new thing, power-plant which vo!tage power £s distribnted to In 1 9 2 . it was decideć za nastali ■ayout and eąuipment were designed to the major operations. One 2^00-rott operate adeąuately and efficiently the feeder goes to the main-shafr engine trsse power rtqnirenxnt3 were drxśł£e*L jnine from the beginning on a hand- room, where it is snhdiirided and snh- practfcaUy all of this iseresse takin % Joading basis and later on a mechanical- metered on two drcnits, one to the loading basis with only additions and 2,300-vo?t motor-generator set for the minor changes. Although the power coal hoist and the other to the tipęle. ttss increased h j adćńtg the seeoad consumption now is much greater than The tippfe ciraiit is stepped donn to bani of three sfnąóe-ęhase 333-krz. 'n the ęarly stages of operation, all 220 volts. Another 2J00-To!t feeder transfe-rmers. DjC. cotiTgsaob. eąoźp- original eąuipment still is in use. from the mine sobsteiiaa gees to the aneat was ineresseć b~ the aóStacc of

May> 1936 — COAL AGE 900 kw. of capacity 111 two synchronous bedplate, was eąuipped with removable No further additions are contempiated converters and three motor-generator wheels and axles to expedite its moving in the immediate futurę and the present sets. A t an early stage it was apparent from one location to a new location sets will be moved as the working that, with the concentration of work nearer the working face. This was one places advance. due to the use of loading machines plus of the first portable mine sets. These portable motor-generator sets the increased demand for d.c. power The next addition to the conversion can be disconnected, moved to a new and the necd for the best of voltage eąuipment was a 300-kw. converter location and reconnected in a very short regulation at the face, the old method placed one mile inside the mine. This time. I f a.c. and d.c. connections are of placing power-conversion sets in the set was not madę portable, it being the made available before shifting a set, it engine room on top and adding positive idea to make this set more permanent can be moved and reconnected for serv- and negative feeders was too inefficient and depend 011 it to furnish d.c. for the ice in less than one shift. Compactness and that, as the loading machines ad- main haulage locomotives and, as the is a major feature of the sets, which vanced and rapidly increased the dis- working faces moved away from this consist of two trucks, one truck mount- tance from the central power plant, the set, to add smaller and more easily ing a 275-volt d.c. generator driyen by transmission of d.c. would become in- portable sets at the inside workings to a 2,300-volt, 1,200-r.p.m., 80-per-cent creasingly diflicult. furnish power for loading operations. power-factor, 3-phase, 60-cycle syn First addition to the conversion ’ This plan has been followed and in the chronous motor and the other truck equipment was a 200-kw. rotary con- section where this 300-kw. converter is all the switching eąuipment. This verter with semi-automatic switching located one 100-kw. and one 150-kw. switching eąuipment protects the set eąuipment. The transformers and automatic portable motor-generator sets against phase reversal, phase failure, switching eąuipment were combined are now installed at the inside points a.c. Iow voltage, a.c. overload, field into a unit eąuipped with wheels to shown below. A third portable auto failure, overspeed, d.c. overload and adapt it to operation on the mine track matic motor-generator set is the latest short-circuit, 'reverse current, reverse and make it ready for moving when addition to the underground d.c. dis- polarity and bearing overheating. The it was necessary to chatige its location. tribution eąuipment and rounds out the switching eąuipment provides for auto The converter, with conventional east program started in 1925 and 1926. matic restarting after a.c. power failure

FE ET te r r ito r y 1.000 2,000 3,000 territory

Underground layout of the Kathleen mine, 2 Goodman shovels Union Collierj’ Co., showing territories in which loading units operate and the present location of conversion units

2 Gooc/mcm te r r iio r y . I$0-K\h. M&sei- shove/s

-J o y 1---- 1 f ę r r ił o r y

2,300-voft cabfe down. 200:Kw. ro; Act/rshcrffr Joy _ >-II 1 te r rito r y

3 0 0 - A\v. r o ł a r y c o n v e r łe r W ///7 independent 2,300 * vo/-f- cab/e

o n et DEM

186 COAL AGE — V o lA l,N o .5 and reclosing of the cl.c. breaker atter overload or short-circuit on the d.c. trolley and fceders, providcd the cause of the troable is removed. Otlier causes of trouble, such as overheated bearing, overspeed, overloads on a.c. incoming fecder, and incomplete start, reąuire the visit of an attendant to reset the relays causing the outage. The trucks on which the eąuipment is mounted are of the mine-car type and are eąuipped with bumpers and couplings for moving on the mine track with a locomotive. Ali these sets have been moved under ground and no trouble has been experienced in rounding curves.or traveling on uneven track. Incoming connections are made by plug-type receptacles which are easily and quickly connected and disconnected. This underground substation, containing a 300-kw. rotary converter, trans- Control cable connections between the formers and control equipment, supplies power primarily for main-haulage switching eąuipment and ithe motor- opera tions generator set are made by a multiple- plug connection. Power connections are by disconnecting pothcads with pług and receptacle. Power for cutting machines is furnished by transformer banks located in crosscuts between the main haulage entries and the aircourses. To serve the cutting machines 2,300-volt three- phase cables are installed in every section of the mine, and, as these cables are large enough to carry both the cut ting machinę load and the smaller conversion sets, the motor-generator sets are furnished with 2,300-volt three-phase power by connecting into these cables at the locations chosen for d.c. distribution. Cutting-machine motors are operated by 220-volt, squirrel-cage induction motors, which have a very poor power factor. By connecting the synchronous niotor-generator sets on the cables supplying the cutting-machine power the Where conditions are suitable, portable conversion units are mounted in tile lagging current is corrected at the substations with sanded floors source, thus making a considerable saving in cable losses as well as increasing the over-all power factor of the total mine load. The motor-generator sets have a drooping-voltage characteristic to prevent them from picking up more load than they are able to carry. In other words, when a heavy load is thrown on the trolley or feeders serred by a motor- generator set, the voltage drops as the load increases, causing the sets on top or the stationary converter a mile from the bottom to carry part of the load. When this load peak is passed the motor-generator voltage goes back to nornial. During periods of light d.c. load, the voltage on the motor-generator is high, which results in a high exci- tation current on the synchronous motor and gives a larger power-factor correction in periods of lightest d.c. demand. The power-factor billing for the mine is figured from a reactive kva. meter and a kilowatt-hour meter reading made on the first day of each month. A Portable conversion unit stationed in a crosscut opening out on the haulage bonus is granted for a power factor of road. The switching truck is in the foreground, m.g. set in the rear

May, 1936 — COAL AGE over 90 per cent and a penalty invoked load each will carry can be regulated so joints by wiping on a lead sleeve when for a power factor under 90 per cent. that d.c. circuit-breaker operations will it is necessary to splice the cable be Since the installation of the synchro- be cut to a minimum. tween the ends of these 500-ft. lengths. nous motor-generator sets, and with Operation of the load-redistribution This lead-covered cable is buried in the other minor changes madę, the power system at Kathleen is reflected in the ground and the open joints have ground factor has been raised from an average steps taken in a recent case where the wires between the lead sheaths on the of 85 per cent for a month to as high motor-generator sets in the 7th North and two sections of cable to maintain a cir as 98 per cent without the purchase of 9th North Main East were kicking out cuit for ground currents. Wherever any eąuipment purely for the purpose when the main-line haulage locomotives the lead cable comes near the bonded of power-factor correction. in these sections were starting out with track a substantial ground wire is at- The main purpose of the d.c. conver- heavy trips. This condition grew out tached to the lead sheath and the near sion sets is to furnish the proper voltage of the shifting of the partings from which est bond on the track. to machinery at the working faces. A the trips were moved to points farther More recently, cable with a non- minimum average of 220 volts is main- inside. A t the same time the loading metallic sheath has been installed in- tained for the Joy machines on develop- machines and their accompanying ecjuip- stead of the lead-covered cable. To date, ment work and a 240 to 250 average is ment were moved forward. After check- this cable has proved very satisfactory. maintained on the Goodman machines ing the inside substation voltages and Most of the trouble with the lead-cov- which load out the panels developed by loads it was evident that some of this ered cable has been due to electrolysis the Joys. When the voltage in any ter- load should be shifted to the 300-kw. and, sińce the non-metallic cable is not ritory drops below these figures the converter outside the 7th North. which subject to this difficulty, it should be condition immediately is corrected by investigation showed was carrying less possible to eliminate practically all the moving a portable set or increasing load than usual. A.c. voltage on the cable faults by the use of non-metallic feeder capacity. converter was raised 5 per cent, which sheathed cables. To date there has not One of the most important considera- relieved the inside trouble, but at the been a non-metallic sheath cable blow- tions in maintaining proper power to same time put too much load on this up in over 10,000 ft. now installed; part the loading machines is the division of substation. After increasing the a.c. of this cable has been in service over load between the various conversion voltage on the surface converters 2^ a period of more than three years. units. Due to the load centers shifting per cent, the load was again distributed Track bonding is maintained at all constantly, what is a perfect distribu- properly and each substation was carry times, although all tracks are paralleled tion at one time will be found faulty ing its share of the total load without with negative feeders. Main-haulage after a few machines have moved. It undue overload on any cor.version unit. tracks are paralleled with 1,000,000- is then necessary to raise and lower The 2,300-volt distribution system un circ.mil. stranded bare copper return yoltages until a new balance is obtained. derground supplies all the power for feeders. All panel entry tracks are If this balance is not maintained and mining operations except for the 275- bonded on one raił and paralleled with one station tries to carry more load than volt d.c. power which is furnished from a 4/0 copper wire which is connected its rating, the circuit breaker will kick the top by two converters and one to the main return feeder at the mouth out, thus throwing an overload on other motor-generator set which take care of of the panel. Cross bonds are placed stations, which also are likely to kick main-line haulage to the bottom and every 200 ft. and at all switches on out, and if the load happens to be heavy overloads of short duration on the main- main-line tracks, and every cross bond in two or more sections at the same line haulage farther inside. Most of is tied into the negative feeder. Loading time it is possible that all the stations this 2,300-volt distribution cable is lead- machines, drills and d.c. shearing ma will kick out before the orerload is fi- corered, paper-insulated cable which is chines use the return feeders in panel nally reliered. By taking into account laid in 500-ft. lengths with open joints entries for hooking on cable nips. Both the voltage characteristics of the vari- in concrete boxes with sheet-iroa covers. positive and return feeders are run into ous converters and generators, their lo- These open joints are used in testing every other room to the first crosscut cation, the load nearest them, and regu- to locate shorts and grounds in the to provide nip stations without running lating their voltage properly, the cable. It is standard practice to make the cables across the panel entry track.

2,300-volt distribution cables are laid in 500-ft. lengths with open Transformer sets serving a.c. cutting machines are mounted in joints in concrete boxes with sheet-iron covers. The open joints crosscuts and walled o ff with tile. Doors are swung up by hemp are used in testing to locate shorts and grounds in the cable ropes which burn through in case of fire and thus permit them installations to fali shut automatically

18S COAL A G E — VoL41, N o J Sunlight preparation plant from the empty side

MODERNIZATION PROGRAM

+ Puts Sunlight Stripping Organization

In Tune W ith Changing Market Demands

U BST A N T IA L improvement in its position in the Indiana stripping Sindustry has followed the recently preparation plant with five loading proximately 35 ft. In generał, the over- completed modernization program of tracks and a rated capacity of 500 tons burden is made up of the folłowing: the Sunlight Coal Co. Although Sun per hour. Thus, with 23 years of strip earth and clay, 10 to 15 ft.; shale, 5 to light had long been one of the outstand- ping history behind it, the Sunlight 15 ft.; sandstone, 5 to 10 ft.; slate, 1 to ing operations, during the years imme- oęganization embarks on a new cycle 3 ft., directly overlying the coal. Thick diately preceding this modernization of operations with plant and eąuipment ness of the rock and the total thickness program its relative importance in the redesigned for the shipment of a ąuality of the overburden decrease as the coal State picture had been declining, largely product at the lowest possible cost. The rises to hills or peaks. because of decreasing production from measure of success attained is reflected Stripping is done by two separate the pits then being worked and increas- in the fact that Sunlight has advanced units. Unit No. 1 at present is made up ing competition from plants with newer from an intermediate position to the of the folłowing eąuipment (pumps and preparation facilities. When it decided second largest strip producer in Indiana other auxiliaries excluded) : one Marion to concentrate operations at the new in the past several months. 350 track-mounted electric stripping No. 11 mine in the Parker Pelzer field Conditions in the Parker Pelzer field shovel with 10.8-cu.yd. aluminum-alloy north of Boonville, the company was were directly reflected in the method of dipper; one Marion 480 loading shovel faced with the problems of recovering transportation now in use. The Indiana with 2-cu.yd. dipper; one Caterpillar a very rugged seam of coal, utilizing No. 5 seam being stripped varies from tractor with bulldozer; one compressor existing eąuipment as far as possible, 3 to 7 ft. in thickness and averages 5 ft. with pneumatic jackhammer drill; and and improving preparation. This neces- 3 in. The generał dip is approximately one skid-mounted transformer unit sup- sitated modernizing and increasing the 1£ per cent to the north, but local plying 440-volt power to the loading capacity of stripping eąuipment; rede- grades, because of the unusually rolly shovel, compressor, pumps, etc. Unit signing haulage eąuipment to enable it character of the seam, vary up to 20 No. 2 is identical with No. 1 except that to operate over the rough seam of coal; per cent. These local pitches follow no a Marion 37 coal-loading shovel with and the installation of an up-to-date generał rule as to direction, and inspec- lf-cu.yd. dipper is employed and the preparation plant eąuipped to meet com tion of a relief map of the coal bed lends strip shovel is caterpillar-mounted. One petition in the present-day market. color to the theory that the seam was Sullivan side-wall “Stripborer” drills As the outcome of these considera- laid down over ground in which streams the overburden for both stripping unit;.. tions, the move from the old pits to the had cut shallow valleys. The irregu- Stripping shoveIs are eąuipped with new was characterized by the installa larity and sharpness of the pitches mili- 90-ft. booms and 60-ft. dipper sticks, tion of larger aluminum-alloy dippers on tated against either locomotive or and have an effective dumping height of stripping shovels; adoption of truck trailer haulage, and conseąuently led to 67 ft. When first installed in the old haulage, using eąuipment with specially the adoption of the four-wheeled truck. workings, these shovels were eąuipped designed 15-ton bodies; and the installa Cover over the field varies from 15 with 8-cu.yd. steel dippers. One of these tion of a combination wet-and-dry to 50 ft. in thickness and averages ap- dippers was replaced with the larger

May, 1936 — COAL AGE 189 General view of No. 2 pit, showing stripping, loading and other activities

Picking floor, Sunlight preparation plant, sho%ving lump, egg and nut tables. In the background is the lower section of the primary shaker

Two 15-ton trucks lined up beside the loading shovel in No. 1 pit

Latest-type truck over dump hopper at Sunlight preparation plant

Four air tables clean the minus j-in. faction

2xi-in. coal is washed in this 5-cell air-operated jig at Sunlight aluminum dipper in 1935; the other dipper was replaced in 1936. A manganese lip was installed on the first dipper received, but failed to stand up under the prevailing digging conditions, due to improper design. It was replaced with a redesigncd manganese lip which solved the problem. Teeth, made in ae- cordance with designs developed by the Sunlight organization, are manufactured by Finki of chrome-nickel-molybdenum alloy steel. Installation of the larger dippers, eąuipped with aluminum bails, hinges and doors, was largely responsible for an inerease of 16 to 17 per cent in shovel yardage. The remainder resulted from a decrease in gear ratio in the swing which lessened the swing motor load and actually speeded up the swing due to more rapid acceleration, with conseąuent improvement in the smoothness of the digging and dump 0 200 400 600 p°l‘' J i r & l --- a / ing cycle. 1_i__ i__ i Operation of the stripping shovels on Feet the steep grades encountered in the pits has presented no particular difficulty. Dump hopper Blocking is resorted to where the slant ■Preparatbn p/anf of the coal is so great that the deck cannot be kept level with the jack length Fig. 1— Sunlight No. 11 strip pit, showing status of excavation available, although in sonie cases, where as of March 14, 1936 deviation from level has not been excessive, operations have been continued Holes for shooting the coal are drilled hook-type latches. Mack-built bodies without appreciable effect on the units on 6- to 12-ft. centers, depending on were installed on the second four units except for some inerease in dolly wear. coal thickness, hardness, etc., and are purchased, and as a result of experi- In moving up on grades too steep for sliot with United States Powder Co. ence with the first four the design was the traction motors alone, the shovels pellet powder. This powder is pur- changed to lower the center of gravity are boosted along with the dipper sticks chased in both 2x10- and 2x4-in. by reducing the slope of the primary V. and crowd motors. paraffin-dipped sticks to permit easy Occasional trouble with the hook-type Pit width at Sunlight varies with the variation in size of charge. The 2x10- latch led to the substitution of the bar thickness of the overburden. In shal- in. sticks are fitted with electric sąuibs type on the new units, which also low overburden, a width of about 100 by the manufacturer before dipping. In included revisions necessary to pre- ft. is carried. As the depth of the over- 3^-ft. coal, the charge usually is one vent the trip ropes on the loading burden inereases, pit width is narrowed 2xl0-in. stick per hole; 4-ft. coal, one shovels from catching on the air to a minimum of approximately 75 ft. 2x10- and one 2x4-in. sticks per hole; cylinders mounted above the doors. with 50 ft. of cover. As a 35-ft. berm 4l-ft. coal, one 2x10- and two 2x4-in. Bodies are constructed of Republic is carried along the high wali, width of sticks per hole; proportionate charges Grade 2 10-gage double-strength copper- the coal cut ranges from 65 to 35 ft. are used for other coal thicknesses. molybdenum steel. The stripping units are followed up by Eight Mack “A C ” trucks are em W ith eight trucks in service, eąually the side-wall drill, which drills 6-in. ployed to haul the coal from the two divided between the two loading shovels, holes, usually on 16-ft. centers, to the loading shovels to the dumping station Sunlight shipped 78,698 tons of coal in depth reąuired for the width of the cut at the preparation plant. Each of the 26 days in January, 1936. Round trips to be made. Overburden is blasted eight units consists of a 7-J-ton truck made by the trucks in traveling 7,791 with L.O.X. prepared in the company’s with springs, rear axle and other parts miles totaled 5,557, or an average of own plant. Normal loading is one strengthened as necessary to accommo- 1.402 miles per trip. In 25 days in cartridge, or bag, per ft. of rock. date a body with a capacity of 15 tons. February, shipments totaled 74,023 tons; Actual explosive (oxygen) content of The unusual body design was developed truck mileage was 7,236; number of each bag is 14.3 lb. by the Sunlight organization to con- round trips was 5,195; and mileage per Preparation of the coal seam for centrate 85 per cent of the load over round trip was 1.392. Gasoline con- loading at Sunlight is based on the use the driving wheels. sumption was close to 1 gal. per 1J of a bulldozer for reriioving the heavier To facilitate dumping, the body is miles. materiał, followed by drilling and blast- divided into four compartments, or sec Extremely rapid dumping action mg. Hand shoveling and blowing with tions, by the use of an inverted V con- makes it unnecessary to bring the conipressed air were rendered unneces- struction. One V running along the trucks to a fuli stop over the dump hop sary by the installation of mechanical center line of the truck divides the body per. Loading and dispatching in the cleaning eąuipment in the tipple. Like- into two primary sections, each of pit are overseen by a checker with each wise, adoption of truck haulage elimi- which is further subdivided into two loading unit, who keeps a record of nated traekwork in the pit, also handled secondary sections by transverse V ’s truck movement and delays; oversees by the cleaning crews, with the result approximately over the rear wheels. the handling and turning of the units that the total saving by the use of Four air-operated doors, each with in to prevent interference with or datnage mechanical cleaning and trucks over dependent control, allow the contents of to other pit operations or eąuipment; manuał coal cleaning and locomotive the body to be discharged ąuickly to checks door position on incoming empty haulage was about four men per pit, or both sides of the units. Bodies for the trucks to prevent spillage while load eight for the two stripping units in first four units were of Heil manufac- ing, etc. Ability of the trucks to tum operation. ture and were eąuipped with doors with in front of the loading shovel ąuickly

May, 1936 — COAL A GE 191 and easily, thus making it unnecessary fraction for mechanical cleaning. Pro- aration of impurities. This crushed to maintain a elear road from one run vision also is made for loading this coal is recirculated with the raw feed way to the next, was a major advantage fraction raw, if desired. Of the 2x0-in. to the primary shaker. envisioned in the selection of this type materiał, the ^x0-in. size is cleaned on Three screening decks on the second- of equipment. Main roads consist of 9 four American air tables with a ary, or washed-coal, shakers permit to 12 in. of mixed 2x3-in. limestone and capacity of 100 tons per hour. Part of separation of 2x^-in. washed materiał chat laid on a prepared subgrade and the £xO-in. fraction is taken out of the into 2x1^-, lix f- and fxi-in. fractions, kept in condition by regular trips over 2x0-in. coal on the upper shaker sec which may be loaded separately, as a it with a grader. tion. Further separation takes place on group, or in yarious combinations, The pole-line system of supplying two Morrison vibrators. The 2x^-in. either with themselves, with the -jsx0-in. power is employed at the Sunlight size made on these vibrators is dis- size from the dry-cleaning plant or with operation. The power company’s volt- charged into one compartment of the lump, egg and nut, each or separately, age is 33,000, which is reduced to 4,400 lower strand of the mixing conveyor from the picking tables. Water through at the substation, from which power to for transportation to a 5-cell MeNally- the bottom deck of the washed-coal operate the tipple and pit eąuipment is Norton washer eąuipped with McNally- shakers, carrying fines and degradation, sent out over pole lines. Laterals lo- Norton automatic reject control. Washer runs to a sludge tank from which the cated at strategie intervals carry the capacity is 250 tons per hour. Both fines are removed by a conveyor and power from the main pole lines to the the air tables and the washer work pri- discharged either to the clean-coal or edges of the pit. From switch houses marily on refuse materiał left on the refuse streams from the air tables. at the end of each lateral, 750- or top of the seam in the pit, and on sul The No. 11 preparation plant was 1,000-ft. trailing cables carry current phur lenses, balls and grains in the coal. designed by the Sunlight engineering to the stripping units and to the skid- Except for the sulphur materiał, the Staff and fabricated by the Marion mounted transformer units serving the No. 5 coal on the Parker Pelzer tract Steam Shovel Co. Maximum output in 440-volt loading shovels, eompressors, is classed as a clean seam. any 7-hour shift to date was 3,778 tons. pumps, etc. Trailing cables to these The 2x9-in. materiał from the upper Due to the absence of banded impuri latter units are 500 ft. long. A second- section of the primary shaker is sep- ties in the coal, reject loss is Iow, run- ary transformer station at the prepara- arated into the following sizes on the ning 4 to 5 per cent of the plant input. tion plant reduces the main supply lower section: 6x9-in. lump, 6x3- or Three Allis-Chalmers A R and 23 Gen voltage of 4,400 to 440 for operating 6x4-in. egg, and 3x2- or 4x2-in. nut. eral Electric KG, MT, FK, KF, FT, K, motors in the plant. Each of these sizes is picked on shaking K R and FT R motors totaling 614 hp., Capacity of the dump hopper at the picking tables with center reject operate the plant. Starting and revers- preparation plant, also designed to re- troughs. Cleaned coal from the tables ing switches and other Controls were ceive coal in standard-gage cars, is 125 is discharged onto belt loading booms supplied by General Electric, and each tons. From the hopper the raw coal is or, if desired, onto the upper strand of motor is protected by a Trumbull Type fed onto a 42-in.-wide belt conveyor the mixing conveyor for mixing or for A inclosed safety switch. Controls are 270 ft. long between pulley centers. transportation to a Bradford breaker arranged for sequence operation of the Pitch of the conveyor is 18 deg. 24 min. with 2-in. perforations which serves as various plant units, and pushbutton sta- It discharges onto the upper section of a crusher. Reject and degradation tions at various strategie points, usually the primary shaker screen, which is from each table goes to a Bradford near the motors, are provided for fitted with bars and a side-discharge breaker for reduction in size and sep emergency stops. chute for taking off the plus 9-in. lump, which goes to a Bradford breaker for Ousf reduction to 2 in. and smaller. The breaker product is returned to the main Air łab/es belt by a Redler elevator, and the refuse, generally sulphur balls or lenses, is discharged from the breaker directly into !25~ ton the refuse bin. hopper The upper section of the primary screen also separates out the 2x0-in.

Fig. 2— Flowsheet, Sunlight preparation plant

Degrac/ation... screens

"breaker Redler e!evafor Loading Trach No.4 Track No. S -2" T Track No. 1 Track Ho.2 Track No. i

192 COAL AGE — Vol.41, No.5 WHAT THE CINCINNATI CONYENTION OFFERS

An Imitation From the National Chairman

O D A Y , l-nore than ever before, the industry must look forward to new things and, with this in mind, the program committee for the 1936 Cincinnati convention T of the Coal Division of the American Mining Con- gress has worked out papers which will bring a well-rounded program before the operating men. I, personally, do not see how any up-to-date operating company can fail to send its best men to this convention for at least two days.

When this year’s convention was first planned, officials of the American M ining Congress, with the help of operators throughout the industry, obtained the best State chairmen they possibly could to work I have not said anything in regard to the exhibits; up preliminary topics for discussion at the conven- however, sińce all the available space had already tion. These State chairmen, with the help of operat been taken prior to Jan. 1, it was necessary for the ing men within each State, met at the various management of the M ining Congress to open the localities and referred to the generał committee a third floor, and every indication at this time is that preliminary report as to topics which should be dis- all space on the latter floor also will be taken. Never cussed, with recommendations as to the operating in the history of this convention has as much interest men who should present these discussions. been shown or as much space taken. This in itself is an indication that this years convention will be the most successful one ever held. There is no doubt At a ineeting in Pittsburgh the generał committee that the manufacturers who are exhibiting their took the recommendations of the various State com- products are going to do so in a most able way, and mittees and eliminated some topics and added others there are many new things that will be shown. to a point where we felt it would be of interest to the industry today, and the program committee now feels, after doing this work, that we have prepared The program committee is doing everything pos a program that is the best that has ever been pre- sible and feels at this writing that at least 5,000 sented at any of these conventions. W e have brought operating men will attend this year’s convention. this about by selecting the best topics, as well as the Let me urge that all officials of the various com- best operating men to present them. panies see that some member or members of their force are sent to the convention, as it will niean dividends to each company represented. We have arranged that the discussions will not be of long duration and not too many in any one session. The convention will run four days, having two sessions per day; beginning on Monday and closing Thursday afternoon. Details of the program are shown on pp. 180-181.

National Chairman, Program Committee American Mining Congress b y

r* w ^etofsm nt a;iu wsc at Espiosiyeg {ALL iłjłjBJWstrćią fiSce? Caa* _ ■

!::«scty ?•> drsU c :nj»ać '~4L.-.^',I •> ś&iii c^htaiss .... :•..•. ' ■■'iniiai : ' -» ..-.^c • ".-o' ;' ’i 'BSiiEiś; .:»*|J«Sśf> ..80} 4 .ił *i i- .,'; .:. w W iiS. -'-*•> :;> v 4 .-CiuJO.u S=iiWiiŁW :■. '•>«=> ..:\i :• ■<—; 5pssswasw-sswł >vkśt: ę . -. ^ .... . ^ . cv> - •. .. l i i i ' '.StUH-;.'■ C. A e g u id i . :> •tsitstuais l 2;..::c f-wfemg^r **»i '’■• .;?«u :v.vurf • r uitiug. . :-;u . ?uwk ''iaźśśtsr:. ^sekł S*.. ’'fvisX'-•• ’• ;i>fc-iaSŁ O l l i ^ ;«**»» 0J6*. SsJLtH»:. ::>.. '-Ui :;«t- H ^.C r H fevvooi. -iiśw w sast 5fc- ■ sw ; w . 'ttitiC. •'-•tiuiie- > i. ;4 ;eseesvr ITJBia; casajr «-'ć the - • - . >- ■ S r t ś - •■' — - v -cioag.. .viśjjei- ' /e>uut( : ■ >«» . (.pnisi*eC ęssae :-jxL -tLr- - . .-.i . U • >;. j. _ e«f*sij«SŁ ic s.;, •<:• Stsjaijraiueń; c ł «r IŚW t bas rm : '■w: > -. . .“ ‘.ęi- . S-.-O^ł,■V:^l.'V .'w '. oue-icteiur :iW .i£:5Ęi. .» ó^ p i* p ą Ł --* '".v, ■li.:'*- : v U ^ k ;v ^ * r?łfcdtS«. .4 .3jvU!'4..:;t:r' ~t=T- • -' ... — ' :Wń5?jfe '. 4 . •-' 4 .. V ' :. -JC 2 - •> *C;i .. .x.v . > .i ;;■ . . biiQ .'. pHas. ft4sa*s.ry«sa»; r«*Ł: .^srw^S: .. . :.-w .^.,v>v r«s»w®- SwmS^śwsiLawewik, >a9i; fTe«t:-5ti#6łftiKęi;3tt^. r-* rfytsw m c. X v .< '.^.^wossi • 4 ■ r'tó,l • 'ii-aiasseu âjfe-iaswśa^ :-3«k». 4 >x», ,4aa«. tiuwił; vafte._2is.tiie; Ssane: ..vv.«.,; ... .- — w. . \tCs, ~:.Hn «< vss- •ywMpttfga1; ketASsefc* wsk; ;•«. > V '.•*»«* :xtt •' ::Cie**~. ’Ł Ft5JjW$;;SJ5, . '. UtŁ . ' Cm ••;• SrjStSfc— ;T«tutóv nac ■i •-»«,«*•• Osr.tt«x- ’* t«nae6 ■ oaaf. .'iRa- tisfrCfjes^C- gujwriejt iatt.the:: ■ ,*i. r'-î-. .-. 't ^ , ...; .u‘-e >.:.*jv*, ’.n.i«.^ste- :••:«. j-Utisi®,, 4 .cr- ■i.tf.-siŁg*. :bf. .. .rg*?; c . iii .:'.i!-xt; Śle ?\U. •-' ^Sk'.- <5f4fc «K: ;.42Sfc îSłfc.-Oai-. , > ..• 4r :z'A . ■. *.t; , . V i. u v - ■:ti :;.ws-.oaśr4 .rssa*ttg-: ■.:■» -. . ;.'•■■> : -v - '■., '■ ■•.»«si,k “ - .....«: ii;*>iiKvi«si5fi«»3ł. • ,4t- gPWg^^^yT .•:»«•• d ,vst- >■ i. ^3B<*esitt^jCa*!«»sare ;>~. ,7-.<. W * ^ ^ ^ 'S P U W W < I W * I * * ’V s ; , v ż ^ ~.:v., '- ..,^ y ‘ ; ^-{KSEte jJCat 3CSŁ: .S» jniiT ';v*-- ;v*i as^.«-a»«Ba!t— JksCsUiHsaSs- - --;: .; -«x •-«»*: .‘. et«s . ; r ^ t . .'e*isi«eiaę- janfer- ;'=ss2*. ■ . . . . ' 4..^. . :< >. >;. ■ a’ijx«łis^.. ęaj-ó«a*«i ' lauisg:?^- !S‘.'f... -*fifN®?*S**Sr ^MStiBfWSSS^Wtesji- • ugK gc^c "~ia ••■ :rajste as»», ' ' ‘'a? >r*ii5i«stó 4r- .. i. . -^sa* aŚJf •*..> :■- . . ->« . . . ' JM': : .. ’> »Si5» '' **-. -«See CC- ::.'«sik - 3§fegSlfe'-' .. -. ,ęv>^ ■■.■A.t-ła-i--;.ust- :w.-.^tv •'« - . :.-it cSiSs:-:.. : garded ł « lir$s:y the T«Łr!;c-cńci •wcefckłgs. Jcamsd aihna: xhs 3»w fest. •tawśk-.ir. Isceeme Ctwi^y, B e m ^M u iik , categoiy. amS amiteaKł: :rr> ssE i ar A t tOnłtefi Tbc nradaat snaźe is tenwen-as '* 'SlsssiS When rc~iir rrst sei icc ~k- SsxrsŁ .Łskby tr_ 'j io k jcssrih '2aks irg wtwr,” Thk by x ing ft tatalh- -itłs kckted by :5 =ft=3 j: >i k s -k -Sł . bnth ss g e ft it ih e mattu- ąlam s i Si«sc 35S3&. a słwst -d«sanst «r one end cc 2, —kk ar 'trakk" i ' cc k s a s ., t p s -e san: T O b Hłarkic- ihc- Bsf ■’A',\nv.-aIlar>ar. OwwJ;. brk«c powder, nnjck Sks t h ii k i i by G=y ery kc kiŁt iinrnnst 3x 5.ŚR»hsjry. akjcr nosassionîtsKj* rov .v tvi>!}< Fawkes in 1635 -s-ken be bcęed to Sfew Bacom, kSakkc-k kklrs k C a . ssc up i w r ? afisBO W f t ir. the Siw ahm : S.r>.'hr;: ■ up the Bkksk ;: .c ^ > c i Pirlkrr..srt. istósry iz Esst nstc: Sms- ai-t? ksla. Odw^s w s t łwjJk *: In odier cłsss. sad k: w aar kr* iBisawafi kac kiarary łwufc, awa roiks. .frotc WiSwsârafe. ąuentiy, i: knfted by sęnibs =_ke B iccc k k k u aam niry. ntâch 3asnr by sSewssŁ *C8iwc * i I *or*S U«m, of powdsr ksetted k> the hdkrareid -<05 raac$3sik*d is kit 5onr mltes in a c W ia^- S sara, by łlst centers oi jsesred ą:ose enkk. s n - r ; or kard €k~ js k imatiar iaa-jiry tkbs łtmfc lajK rne ^flwsdis- Ca.> *nć X f.y . rushes, or i~ pspsr or waod ~ b s . Ir. ce H :ę Brccifc ky k e cangBcnyłitłfirfh as WSE- ac.ranfaa by afht ŚSaSual the modem tyte c i sęi£b. which L> sio — rj."f.- esai^nkajr k e hartór?-kh j.nr. K sinaiajjann? Ca^ >»rcr :;arr: and light, kie rrezr esd k tsristed by the sary c£ tk t kcajfcKSśaz: a: s si^y iresf a«saahTis}»£ -.v manufacturer into a kgkt spiral, abetr: 5 AT. bhis :ąakss ,*c :V raj>ig js e n ’ift a: 2 i in. long; this is ccatsa wita tkk k s i -.--is aasS by er*; mines ir. thr kte iSaaumfi iar aamiar sor ihe #jsht»> to form a sdpbnr ' which berta earfy dkys « kre crmgttcry 3s aat desr, asie Tnass, 'w.hiah sawr. ?a h&x>Ł Iw c without exploćirg, < k k g the nm t who Ankuri-kcs n a q c c it ksc km; v krą; jwrahaspaf X"ia?c '.jS". V.;»r.>- ignites it abest 30 seconds to escape to wus ccky I..™ .!?! tans aad k « t o u l atter jiIsirs kj.va b>aar. aarsrroCfaa siaaf: a place ot safety. T kk sqcib acts Itke birrrk y es jcadaskna w ts j S 1 5 ® t a t & . m tłMa jaethrtójt i,\i aibsr a^śass *$ a rocket; the emiskon of gas adres the Scnse krae aa k ji cŁrby 3S55s ?.r;:'nr> taak aaęia: aad s « c fer «ssą>!«śws «x» sąuib to the hed of the sqtrib hale, n-oc. rrc a sss at abamś rry. Naary. iłatsdak through an openisg in the tarnpkg- Fnn-ae. kvernss£ gnoratran i~,:. r.irra- akac; •a indasrrlk aa a. ' ax- made by the withdrawal of the miner s stŁrc a : : n;as.vas v w ashcaaa ir. r. *.SS^, 'a.-haf. needle. There the r.?.~e of the sekb Abkab 'A. Xabv' tsssKishwl a SiWh comes in contact with the powder dat;ca c i the tnaiem birb^-ornia^.' ssciaty bar traikr^ charge. "Gas scali};" have a match Tn 254k C. ?. Srkaatóa. a ôkth i. rr,ix-rarc a: a-'a*ia *ni sn> coated with a compositicm that does not ikc. kasanbed k i; mirra- abekc arf5&. ^CkSk kast Vha f,rs4 ra- inflame bat riews as k burns. ąaraad tba 'iipna aa- as -w ’.• aa:

~~Sj Ics of Eipiash-fs is t-y-c , r >K Stircs^ 1515-' ? i S~~

1925 192ó 1?U ^*5V'T Conaumed by Pounds Potmds Potn-d? Pccacs rVam£j Coal mining-...... 211,616,811 256.454.61S 2 0 7 . ^ 7 ^ ^ Metal m ining...... 109,602,301 113,439.237 !'i sG Lt^.W S Other purposesJ...... 52,444,740 50,541,573 47.339.41a ■ jv. n i f 5,-t ^ : < <

~~Grand to la l...... 501.751,846 535.890,178 499.0U.ł2S 47xSU !<2 5 ^T ,~~

~~lTotal salea reported b y manufacturera to U . S. Bureaa of '■£7^ ^ oc it> syp^ssrJę* for other miscełlaneous purpoees.~~

A major improvement was effected sorbent cottor.. 3 5 k :s dcae tak.y. with ss a a ir.^re s^s® chwc.k-Al łsst a s s » in 1831, when W illiam Bickford, of a mixture oi nirke akd and sr.ląhakc kasa-c. rkraąą-aokn v\.;s aljcb.t Tucking Mili, Cornwall, England, de- add, and Ascanio Sotffifr : k . ' a s i s ; v w c k k i a s w c sc - ' t veloped a safety fuse, which he made in industrial chemistry, Uk\'cr#ky a: tar weight. srjd k.-.ttacr. s-iracś as jwwr- 60-ft. lengths and which could be placed Turin, Italy, whife :nvesdgsknir :be ka fal, raJan>e tor In ISST n with its end immediately against the tion of nitric add or. w n « s crsar.ia tcvSk aat a ’.v,;aa,t for k>v':aa» powder to be exploded. In its manu- substances. discovered r.:rraą'yafkv.. ^lyceka *bsorb«cd by a ? w t « r a l a-Ataras^ facture, the powder was passed between A turning point :r. tb.e exą'as:\'0s k.- ceoos « r;h krjawn as s-:csa*s«ht, w ’kch twelve threads of cotton or hemp which dustry occurred on May 1°. lab ', w k n win re«?a - 'w tinłts ■:> wc-ęb,; at that were spun around so as to form a solid Lammot duPont was grar.Sfd a pater.: , \ - - e rodlike core of powder. Another cov- for a gunpowder which he nvsdc trata caąs, He a!sa patcsr.ad «-axt»rcs vM ering was wound around the first in the 72 parts of nitrate ci saki. 12 ątr:? as nitrates. coal or vxhcr csrboaawus opposing direction. The fuse was then sulphur and 16 parts ot diarcaal. all nwterials suci; as resk, saęsr a;u\ dipped into a bath of varnish to make it powdered, mixed, granalated and glared starch, usiać cesaparath-dy sr.ia’1 v;v.Ar, - waterproof. This done, it was coated with black lead. Neither the glaiincr at titics of nitnaglj-cerin w ::h these activc with “whiting, bran or other powdery the powder nor the t:se ot nitrate at bases. t.ater he addea, ^\rskti. stesrin substance,” to ąuote the patent, so that soda was new, but the eanihinatian of and napJtthaltne with nitrates. which the fingers of the man handling it would these two ^-as patented and powder now latter tendedi ta absorb water and dis- not adhere to it. A royal commission could be made with the less expensive sahe itv it. He relic\l on the waves reporting on the effect of the introduc- Chile saltpeter (nitrate of soda) ir.stead tnentioned to - koep the nitrates frv»m tion of safety fuse in the metal-mining of Indian saltpeter (nitrate of patas- ;«ssins' away in solntian. districts declared that its use had re- sium). Thereafter, the coal-mininc in- Spreti;cd exn!asives, which cansist ot duced “the number of killed and dustry became an important consunter an oxysvniiing substance snch as chlor- wounded from blasting accidents in of black blasting powder, ate or perchloratc of jnitash. nitrates or nest Cornwall by fully 90 per cent.” Plants began to be constructed and nitric acid and a combustible substance About this time, Richard Bacon, 2d, taken over by E. I. duPont de Nemours such as nitronaphthalene. nitroanilino, superintendent at the historie copper & Co., a firm dating back to 1802; the picric acid. benzol. t»itrobćn?ol, alcohol. mmes of the Phoenix M ining Co. at first of these soda powder plants was ether or oils. were patented in 1871. ^imsbury, Conn., visited the Cornish built in 1858 on Big Wapwallopen These were made by m iting the o\idk-

May, 1936 — COAL AGE 195 ing substance with the combustible im- and-dust ignition, were morę readily shot into fragments and where it has mediately before use. detonable and suffered less from the been laid alongside the charge in a bore- During these years safety fuse has effects of moisture. hole it detonates that charge at all points received rarious coatings, including one Liquid oxygen, first liąuefied by Cal- at the same time, and not from certain of gutta-percha for submarine work. A letet in 1SS7, was not combined with foci, as with electric blasting. lead or composition pipę filled with carbon to make explosive cartridges Ever sińce the introduction of ex- powder and rolled out was designed by until 1899. Although employed in the plosives, efforts have been made to find a Comish miner named Carbonis. In Simplon tunnel piercing the mountain some way of reducing the degradation 1S69, T. P. Shaffner patented a cap for ranges between Switzerland and Italy of the product. Early in the century safety fuse containing fulminate of mer- and by the Germans in Berlin subway — certainly before 1906— the hydraulic cury. W ith a elear sense of the dangers construction, liąuid oxygen was little mining cartridge of James Tonge had derived from igniting explosives with used commercially before the World been devised, with its pistons on one an open light, the Bickford safety lightfer W ar. In 1915 the dire need for some side of the main cylinder and its hand and nippers were devised and patented explosive that reąuired neither nitrates pump. Efforts were made by D. V. in 1S87 and were designated in the "per- nor glycerin led the Germans to apply Sickman to develop a modification about mitted’’ list by the British mining au- liąuid oxygen to the shooting of coal iń 1920, and later by R. J. Mayer, about thorities in 1904. In 1SS8, battery blast- three coal mines, but today it is recog- 1930. F. W . Whiteside, in the same ing caps first canie into use. nized that liąuid oxygen is unsuited to year, or earlier, endeavored to bring High explosives, howerer excellent such underground work. First demon- down coal by a wedge or expanding bar they raight be in hard rock, labored at strated in the United States in 1923 at actuated by machinery. first under a disadvantage in coal be- the Kelly Island Lime & Stone Co.’s Meantime the manufacturers suc- cause a minimum of disintegration was ąuarry, Martinsburg, Va., liąuid oxy- cessfully developed explosives of a mild desirable. For a while, accordingly, gen was already at that time blasting character using ammonium nitrate, they were not used for the shooting of rock in the Real del Monte y Pachuca which is slower in action than dyna coal. They were appreciated only when Co.’s mine, Pachuca, Mexico. Enos mite, and charcoals made of light ma it was realized that when they were ex- Coal Co. was the first to use liąuid oxy- teriał such as ground balsa wood, ba- ploded in restricted ąuantity they emit- gen as an explosive in coal stripping gasse pith, ground comstalks, ground ted a flame so short that it would not near Oakland City, Ind., April 15, 1926, oat hulls, dried beet pulp and ground ignite a methane mixture. being followed the next year by the popcorn. Compression and the coming Ammonium nitrate, the outstanding Norton Coal Mining Co., Nortonville, or graining of gunpowder slow its ac constiruent of modern coal-mining ex- Kw. and the Black Servant Coal Co., tion as an explosive, because the explo- plo$ives, as a powder ingredient dates EBcville, 111. sion depends on combustion, and com- back to May 31, 1S67, when J. V. Ohl- pressed or coarse-grained bodies bum Cordeau and Its Forbears sonn and J. H . Norbin, of Sweden, ap- slowly. W ith explosives that detonate, plied for a patent on a powder consisting In an endeavor to suit safety fuse to on the other hand, density makes for of SO per cent ammonium nitrate and the simultaneous explosion of several speed, and, by decreasing the coarse- 20 per cent charcoal. But they found charges at a considerable distance, ness and compaction of the ammonium that, with the weak caps then available, further improvements in such fuse had nitrate charge and the density of the it exploded with difficulty, so they cut been attempted. In 1S65, J. S. Bick charcoal, a mild explosive can be pro- the charcoal constituent to 6 per cent ford had patented guncotton fuse, and duced that pushes down the coal rather and added 14 per cent of nitroglycerin. in 1S76 W illiam Leonard, of Boston, than blows it out. Smaller cartridges ruaking ammonium nitrate dynamite. Mass., a ribbon of xylonite (celluloid) also were employed so as to cushion the However, a further difficulty was found provided with a friction-match compo blow of the explosion, but too smali a in that the powder absorbed water, so sition at one end. But eventually Louis cartridge may be insensitive, for speed they kept it in airtight boxes or in bags L ’Heure. Rouen, France, invented of detonation depends in part on the made air- and water-tight by a rubber what he termed a “cordeau detonant,” compression of the charge. varnish. Nobel later bought the Ohl- or detonating string, incorporating a Cushioned Shots Return sonn-Korbin patent, added parafSn, lead tube filled with trinitrotoluene stearin and naphthalene. and in 1S79 (T N T ) and drawn out to great length. Cushioned blasting was revived and patented his "extra dynamite;," which This was patented in the United States proved ąuite helpful in reducing the were gelatins containing this salt Al- in 1907 and first used in this country violence of shots. Revival of plugs, though the nitrate of ammonia dyna- at the Atlas Portland Cement Co.’s howerer, was delayed till 1935, one and mites were too prone to get wet and Northampton (Pa.) ąuarry in 1913. In a third centuries aiter their origination. too difficult to explode. they were tav- the following year a factory for its Perhaps with black blasting powder ored becaase ot their safety, for they manufacture was erected at Avon, near morę complete combustion is obtained were extremely insensitive. yet excellent Simsbury: it is known in America as as well as a milder action when plugs explosives when properly detonated. Cordeau Bickford. are used. for even with a balanced ex- Unlike safety fuse, the value of which plosive. having enough oxygen to meet Ammonium Ehnamites Arrive is derived largeły from the slow speed combustion needs, a little excess of Ammonium dynamites were first with which it acts, cordeau detonates at ox>-gen outside the explosive may help rr.anufactnred in this country in 1SS2 a speed ot 17,000 ft. (over 3 miles) per to make combustion morę complete. by R, S. Penniman and T. C. Schneider second. Thus all the charges to which W ith a Iowered temperature due to ex- at Kenvi’. N. J„ but were not used for it is connected explode almost at the pansion within the hole. the fumes aris- genera! blasting purposes until ten years same instant However. if there were ing from the distillation of the coal later. They had a somewhat favorab!e two rows of holes, and the cordeau were around the hole will be reduced, and recepiion at that time, for operatora ran along and down holes in the front this condition has been noted with were looking for a Sameless exp!osive row and then along and down the second piugged shots, but whether it comes that w'oa!d not ignite gas and some were row, the charges in the front row would from better combustion of the powder asserting that it shocld not ignite coal be exploded a few seconds before those or decreased distillation of coal or from dsst. which already was being thought in the back row, and the load on the both is not elear. bv sertte to be a hazard in coal mining. back row wotsld be partly reliered be Black blasting powder put up in cart However, weak dynamites received even fore the charges exp!oded. Thus the ridges has for many years had a place tr.ore farcrable consiaeration becanse back row of holes would do as good in European blasting practice. The they also gave protection against gas- work as the front row. The cordeau is French type of pellets made by com-

196 COAL A G E — V o U l • -V«3 pression alone without the use of paraf- ignition will burst into flame and ignite the second shots are fired. Another— fin, was introduced into America in the fulminate or fulminate mixture, thus and older— way is by inserting a sub- 1926. Pellets have many advantages forming what is known as a “match- stance in the cap which burns like a over the old loose blasting powder. The head.” In generał, fulminate is not used fuse and delays the expIosion, the time miner 110 longer has to make his own alone in blasting caps but mixed with being dependent on the length of this cartridges; he can now gage his powder 20 per cent of potassium chlorate, and fuselike materiał. Some difficulty has with perfect assurance, for all the pel a booster is provided that may be tetryl arisen from the gas which the delay lets are of the same weight. Moreover, or trinitrotoluene. materiał emits when burning. This is pellet powder “pulls the end of the hole” For extremely wet work gelatin dy- corrected by arranging for the escape better than loose powder. But the chief namites are used which contain a col- and cooling of the gases or by the advantage is greater safety in handling, loidal solution of nitrocotton in nitro- choice of a substance that will burn though such cartridges, of course, are glycerin; this is absorbed by sodium without the formation of gas. not as safe as permissibles, for they will nitrate and wood meal. Being plastic, Delay shooting is not recommended ignite gas and dust. Pellet powder is they can be extruded through a nipple for use in coal mines because the de- sometimes made in cartridges without into paraffin shells. No type of explo- layed shots might emit flame which division into pellets, but the cartridge is sive gives so little deleterious gas. would ignite the gas and dust liberated so grooved that it can be readily broken Blasting gelatin is nitroglycerin gela- by the shots which exploded earlier. at 2-in. intervals by hand pressure. tinized by the addition of nitrocotton. For safety all the shots should be fired In 1926 the first trials were made A little chalk is added to keep the mix- singly after examination or be simul- with liąuid carbon dioxide in a Steel ture free of acid. taneous, and the current should remain shell containing a heater element— usu- To fire shots at intervals electrically on the line as short a time as will per- ally potassium chlorate— to create the many plans have been devised. One mit the ignition and detonation of the warmth necessary to convert the diox- method used on the surface is to have charges. ide suddenly to a gas. It was first used two electric circuits both connected with Recent improvements have been to at a mine of the Harrisburg Coal & one blasting machinę which has three put the blasting cap and the leads to it Mining Co. in Salinę County, Illinois. points of attachment. As the Iever of in a paper cartridge with the leads so Shooting by compressed air was first the machinę is pushed down, one of the folded that they will not snarl on being introduced in the latter part of 1931 at circuits is energized, exploding the shot drawn out. All the explosive manufac- the Royalton mines, Royalton, 111. connected with that circuit. As it is turers provide their blasting caps with In recent years electric sąuibs have pushed further forward, the other cir a short-circuit, or shunt, and stray cir been devised for the shooting of black cuit becomes energized and the shots cuits will not fire them until the shunt blasting powder, and, instead of bury- connected with the second circuit are has been removed. Pulling off the shunt ing the bridge wires in loose fulminate fired. The difference in time is ex- scrapes the leg wires and leaves them or other explosive, they may be dipped tremely short, but the load on the second straight and clean for connection to the in a flammable composition, which on shots has been lifted as desired before main leads.

~~SAFETY MEASURES~~

~~+ Prove Worth at Wheeling Mines~~

~~Of the Yalley Camp Coal Co.~~

A R A L L E L IN G and in fact ante- ley record in 1934 was nearly eąual to dating the modernization measures that of Alexander, and even in the case Pinitiated two years ago at the of Dartnell mine, where earlier improve- ” heeling division mines of the Valley ments limited the possible magnitude of Carrying out the safety theme, this indi- Camp Coal Co. (p. 171 of this issue) is savings, money costs were cut to 42 per cator board at Dartnell gives a visual rec a comprehensive program for the cent. In the announcement of the 1935 ord of progress each month ehmination of personal injuries. While honors, the Dartnell mine was awarded the ultimate is yet to be reached, in the a certificate of honor of the Joseph A. ing companies in Pennsylvania and °P‘n.10n of operating and compensation Holmes Safety Association, along with West Virginia but also for other in- cials, results indicate substantial the Maiden mine of the company, in terests of the company, was established Sams from both the humanitarian and northern West Virginia, and the Ward at Wheeling, W . Va., and the fuli °Hars-and-cents standpoints. Fatalities mines, in the Kanawha field. weight of the organization thrown be- and personal injuries have dropped Reversal of the accident trend at hind a safety campaign. Since that time, s !arP1rv in number, while the money cost Wheeling division mines took place in the accident loss per $100 of payrołl at 0 ®CCl(tent3 in 1934 in the case of Alex- 1932. In the preceding year, a com West Yirginia mines has been cut to an er mine (Table I ) declined to only pensation department, functioning not approximately one-fifth the former U Per ce"t of the 1931 total. The Mob- only for the various Yalley Camp min- figurę and the premium rate on com-

May, 1936 — COAL AGE 197 pensation has dropped from the maxi- Tablc I— Five-Year Safety Rccord at Wheeling Division Mines mum to the minimum. Conduct of the safety program is pri- M obley 19^1 1932 1933 1934 1935 marily the responsibility of the operat Fatalities...... 2 I 0 0 0 *Non-fatal injuries...... 151 62 62 49 34 ing department in the Wheeling divi- Production, tons...... 369,142 239,705 412,584 375,415 366,660 Man-hours of exposure...... t t t 763,019 652,032 sion, which consists of the Dartnell and JRelative cost of accidents...... 100 37 20 14 Mobley mines, Elm Grove Mining Co.

D artnell of West Virginia, Elm Grove, W . Va., Fatalities...... 1 I 0 1 0 and the Alexander mine, Glendale Gas *Non-fatal injuries...... 39 39 34 48 18 Production. tons...... 120,423 172,790 308,073 373,189 311,395 Coal Co., Moundsville, W . Va. The Man-hours of exposure...... t t t 655,019 530,065 compensation department directs its tRelative cost of accidents...... 100 69 23 42 efforts largely to care of the injured, to Alexander compensation matters and to origina- Fatalities...... 5 1 1 0 1 *Non-fatal injuries...... 119 71 75 46 63 tion of suggestions and recomnieiida- Production, to ns...... 380,020 325,855 470.253 423,482 435,855 tions for the attention of the operating Man-hours of exposure...... *...... t t t 653,029 740,650 tH elative cost of accidents...... 100 40 41 12 department. This department also makes ♦Includes all non-fatal injuries for which a raedical cost is incurred, whether or not resulting in lost time. tN o an independent check on safety progress caiwass made. JOn the basis of 1931 cost as 100. through the medium of a safety inspector who regularly inspects mines and surface plants and checks conipli- Tablc II— Fatal and Non-fatal Injuries, Wheeling Division Mines, by Causcs ance with working rules and regula- -Mobley Mine- -Dartnell Mine- -Alexander M ine- tions. Recommendations for improve- Fatalities 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1931 19 2 1933 1934 1935 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 ments are a part of the report of the F a li of roof or stone 1 2 1 I M in e cars...... 3 ...... safety inspector, and in addition engi- Electricity...... neering crews are expected to file re- Fali in shaft...... Infection (blood poi- ports on unsafe conditions observed, to- so n in g )...... gether with recommendations for ini- Non-fatal injuries* provements. All this is, of course, in H a n d tools...... 6 4 3 3 3 4 2 7 3 8 9 3 Falls of stone, Blate, addition to the activities of the operat 21 18 14 10 8 4 8 5 5 5 30 11 10 6 13 ing personnel, on which the primary re Track...... 10 1 2 4 10 2 2 Falling objects...... 2 3 4 3 1 sponsibility for carrying on the safety Flying particles...... 2 9 4 9 4 8 2 4 C able...... 2 1 1 1 1 work rests. Trippcd, fell...... 4 3 2 2 4 4 4 Locomotives...... 1 1 2 ; 2 1 3 3 25 2 1 2 i> Care and Rehabilitation Trolley pole...... 1 1 2 2 M in e cars...... 35 16 18 14 i 6 6 ) 5 3 4 i 12 145 6 A n im als...... 2 2 3 5 While promotion of safe operation is Electricity...... 10 2 2 i 2 4 Mining machines.... 1 4 4 2 i» 3 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 i 2 one of the functions of the compensation Explosives...... 5 1 1 1 1 department, its primary task is seeing Handling stone, slate, coal, e tc ...... 33 4 5 13 6 7 3 7 10 6 17 19 15 9 11 that injured employees receive immedi- Poets and supports... 6 3 2 5 5 l 2 1 ately the best of medical attention and Shaft and slope...... 1 1 ^ 1 3 3 T ipp le...... 1 1 1 1 1 • • j that such attention is rendered as long Railroad cars...... 2 *6 1 I>amp fluid ...... 1 1 as necessary, but 110 longer— an impor- O ther causes...... 5 2 4 "2 2 1 i i 6 4 tant point in keeping down cost of in Total non-fatals... 151 62 62 49 34 39 39 34 48 18 124 71 75 46 63 juries. Scarcely less important is re Total fatalities.... 2 1 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 habilitation, which includes, as neces All injuries and sary or the case may be, temporary em- fatalities...... 153 63 62 49 34 40 40 34 49 18 129 72 76 46 64 ♦Includes all non-fatal injuries for which a medical cost is incurred, whether or not resulting in lost time. ployment at light work as a means to fuli recovery, recommendations for a change in duties if warranted by disability or the past record of the injured Tablc III— Fatal and Non-Fata! Injuries, Wheeling Division Mines, employee, etc. A third task is conduct by Parts of the Body Affectcd of compensation cases before boards and -Mobley Mine- -Dartnell Mine- -Alexander Mine commissions to protect the company Fatalities 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935* 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935* 19 against unwarranted awards or penal- H e a d ...... 1 Inte rnal injuries— ties. E lb o w ...... As a means of keeping all parties in Pelvis...... Chest a nd pehris... touch with the results of safety work, Thigh and leg...... Electrocution...... nionthly meetings of foremen and supervisors, operating ofiicials, the safety in Non-fatal injuriesf spector and the director of compensa H e a d ...... 12 6 3 3 1 2 1 1 2 11 6 9 5 2 18 5 10 II 11 6 10 3 10 7 / 6 11 2 22 tion or other representative of that de Shoulder...... 5 1 1 2 2 2 2 6 3 2 1 A rm ...... 3 4 1 1 4 1 1 4 3 partment are held, at which accidents Wrist, hand, fingers 40 18 18 10 7 13 II 8 5 25 15 18 12 6 are analyzed and methods of prerenting Spine, back...... 6 2 2 3 1 3 1 5 3 ** 1 9 5 3 Ribs, chest...... 10 3 2 3 3 4 •• repetitions adopted. In addition to thęir Pel vis...... 5 2 1 3 2 1 1 2 1 5 1 2 1 R upture...... 5 1 1 1 1 9 8 / 3 2 individual efforts, employees function in Hip and thigh ...... 1 1 a substantially similar manner through Knee and le g ...... 22 5 8 3 1 6 2 2 i 2 13 6 l(J 5 5 Ankle, foot, toes. .. 28 18 13 11 3 5 9 4 8 1 25 15 i 13 4 Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association chapters at each mine, which hołd Total non-fatal m ju n e s ...... 151 62 62 49 25* 39 39 34 48 16* 124 ; i ;5 46 47* nionthly meetings 011 injuries and their Total fatalities... 2 1 I 1 1 5 1 1 1 prevention. All injuries and Discipline for violations of safety fatalities...... 153 63 62 49 25* 40 40 34 49 16* 129 n 76 46 48* *July to August inclusive. flncludes all non-fatal injuries for which a medical ccst is incurred, whether or not regulations revolves around the use of a resulting in lost time. penalty book at each mine. Foremen are furnished with violation blanks, and

198 COAL A GE — V o lA l, N o5 mechanical and physical condition— one of the foundations of any safety pro -20’to 24'- New cut gram— has been assured at Wheeling division mines by the modernization program inaugurated two years ago (p. 171). Guards are reąuired on all stationary machinery and must be maintained in working condition. As a corol- lary to this rule, loose clothing which might be caught in moving machinery o or parts is prohibited. All frogs and switches are blocked; insulated platforms are installed at all starters and trolley guards at all crossings; headlights and FIC. I FIG. 7 '/////////////////////////Z//////////////////, y/////////////y//^zz/y/y///////////////////A gongs in working condition are reąuired on all locomotives; inclosed switches and starters are installed at all hazard- ous locations; and car stops, furnished by the company, are used by all loaders. Maintenance of haulageways, manways, working places and surface plants in the cleanest possible condition is constantly stressed, and the rules cali for the storage of materials and supplies in an orderly fashion in places where they will not endanger men or eąuipment. Closed lights (Edison, Model K ) are used exclusively, and the mines are rock- FIG.3 FIG.4 dusted regularly with limestone dust. Dusting is carried into the room necks. Systematic timbering is relied on to prevent injuries from falls of roof at When a room entry is driven up, a dust W heeling division mines ing machinę is sent in and dusts not Figr. 1— Room cleaned up ready to cut. Roof has been made safe. Figr. 2— Room only the entry but also the room necks, after cutting: and before shootingr. Four permanent posts are set as shown. Fig1. 3 which have been turned in anticipation — Method of postingr stone when tiffht: if loose, it must be taken down. Two rows of posts 4 ft. apart (posts on not over 4-ft. centers) are set as shown until load- of later operation. By the start of each ingr is completed, whereupon the stone i9 taken down. More posts are set, if re- new year the entire mine is freshly rock- ąuired. Figr. 4— Room cleaned up and ready for cuttinę. Two additional road dusted and all rock-dusting is inspected posts have been set. Road posts are li cuts back from the face: grob and gob posts, two cuts. Cap pieces at least 3 ft. longr, 3 in. thick and the width of the periodically and such work as may be prop must be used with all posts. Wedgres must be driven between post and cap necessary for a safely dusted mine is piece, and all posts must be set tigrht. All orerhanęingr slate in corners must be done. taken down and the rib squared up. Drillingr holes into the top is forbidden. Sand-filled dummies are standard for tamping ■ shotholes, and all holes are when an eniployee is observed breaking the lamphouse each day, and the motor fired electrically. Explosives and de- the mine law or flouting- company regu- man is made responsible for its proper tonators are kept separate, regulations lations, a record is made on a penalty care. reąuiring that each be stored by itself blank and later recorded in the penalty Eąuipment and properties in good in holes cut 10 ft. apart in the rib on the book, which is open to all interested parties for inspection. Penalties are left to the discretion of the foremen, and Safety at the face is assured by care in timbering and blocking the coal and the use of car stops, safety headgear and shoes, and goggles may vary from one day to two weeks or dismissal, depending upon the serious- ness of the offense. To insure complete understanding and observance of the special rules established by the company as a supplement to the mine law, and thus prevent controversy and working at cross purposes, these rules are com- piled in the form of a manuał ( “Safety Rules and Practices” ) and distributed to every employee. As evidence that the rules will be studied and observed, the signature of each employee, with wit- ness, is obtained on a receipt included in the pamphlet. Befitting its importance, Rule 1 in the manual’s generał list is : “Report im- niediately to the forenian in cliarge all injuries regardless of how slight they may be." To make this rule really effective, every motorman, brakeman and foreman is reąuired to have first-aid instruction, and each mine locomotive is cquipped with an approved first-aid This kit is checked in and out of side farthest away from the track. In mission from the dispatcher. Absoluteiy corporated in Table III. This table also case of misfires, the foreman must be no one except the locomotive crew— not supports, in different form, the conclu- notified and is reąuired to supervłse even officials— is permitted to ride on sions cited in the reference above to im- personally the drilling and shooting of the locomotives. provements made in handling stone, a new hole at least 2 ft. away from the Handling stone, coal, slate, etc., fur- coal, slate, etc. Safety headgear (M S A unexploded hole. nishes one of the best measures of the “Skullgards” and “Comfo-Caps,” and W ith a very bad roof to contend with, way in which the safety idea has taken “Cool-Caps”) and shoes (Craddock- Mobley, Dartnell and Alexander mines hofd. Here it is difficult to lay down Terry) are sold at cost plus shipping have been able to show a substantial de- rules— although miners are reąuired^to charges. Screen-type goggles are sup- crease in injuries and fatalities from examine large pieces of coal for cracks plied to employees free. falls of roof materiał or coal (Table II) . before lifting them— or provide effective To stimulate interest in safety, a prize Credit for this advance goes to a sys- guards or other means of more or less contest was inaugurated in 1935 at the tematic plan of timbering, coupled with automatically insuring safety without Wheeling division mines. The contest unremitting pressure for care in dealing conscious effort on the part of the em- covered the eleven months February- with the roof conditions encountered and ployee. Conseąuently, progress almost December inclusive, and for purposes the use of safety headgear. The tim directly reflects increased regard for of awarding the prizes employees were bering plan (Fig. 1) provides for the safety principles by the miner, and, divided into underground and surface minimum of timbering consonant with judging from results in this class of in classifications. A third classification in safe operation. If, in the opinion of the juries (Table I I ) , the program has cluded section foremen underground. foreman or the miner, conditions war- gone over in the Wheeling division. Awards to underground employees con rant additional posts, it is expected that Protective clothing has been accepted sisted of a five-passenger automobile they will be set without hesitation. as an essential factor in the prevention and cash prizes of $200, $100, $50 and An even niore striking iinprovement of injuries, and regulations concerning $25. Surface employees competed for prizes of $50 and $25, and section fore men for prizes of $100 and $50. As a basis for competition, employees were divided into groups, as follows: coal loaders on each face entry, under ground day men at each mine and outside employees at each mine. To take care of transfers, however, only em ployees working in a particular group on the last day of the contest period were permitted to compete for any prizes for which the group might be eligible. If a group in the underground classifica tion had suffered no lost-time injuries, by which is meant injuries preventing a return to work on the next working day, each employee in that group who had not sustained a lost-time injury received a ticket enabling him to compete in the drawing for underground prizes. A separate drawing was held for sur face employees who had not had a lost- Safety in working places is assured by systematic timbering, car stops at the time accident. end of the room track and careful operation Only underground employees work ing the fuli eleven months with a group were eligible to draw for the automobile. has been made in the injury record its use are included in the generał rules, Tickets held by other employees with a growing out of transportation and as follows: shorter record, if drawn first, were re- transportation eąuipment in generał, “Rule 13— Goggles M UST be worn turned to the box, as these employees and mine cars in particular, as a result by A L L employees when spiking, cut- still were eligible for the cash prizes. of pressure on both miners and trans ting rails, picking, drilling, using lathe, Upon the award of the automobile, all portation and other day men. Care in emery wheel, cutting chisels or acety- other employees in that particular group blockitig cars at the face and in board- lene torch. were eliminated from competition for ing, riding or leaving man-trips is “Rule 14— All employees working in the four cash prizes, which otherwise stressed continuously. Turning the pole and around the mine shall be reąuired to were awarded as drawn, except that while the locomotive is in motion; wear the approved safety hat. No visi- where an employee had worked less than jumping on or off moving trips to throw tor, inspector or any otlier person shall eleven months with a particular group switches; operating trips large enough enter the mine without wearing the ap- he received only the proportional amount or at such speed as to make loss of con- proved safety hat. of the prize in ąuestion, the remainder trol or danger of injury a possibility; “Rule 15—All employees working in going to make up additional $25 prizes. guiding sand onto the raił by hand while and around the mine shall wear ap- Section foremen in charge of the groups the trip is in motion and coupling or un- proved safety shoes. winning the automobile and the $200 coupling cars from the inside of a curve "Rule 16—All employees working in cash prize were awarded the two fore or while standing on the bumper or in and around the mine shall wear ap- men^ prizes, except that in case more side the raił are forbidden. Brakemen proved safety goggles when using hand than one foreman had been in charge of are reąuired to ride inside a car on tools, except when in the act of shovel- the section, the prize was divided among empty trips and on the rear bumper on ing coal or drilling holes.” (This rule them in proportion to time served. The loaded trips. Gathering locomotives are applies specitically to miners.) plan is being continued in substantially not permitted to enter another section Results of the protective-clothing pro the same form this year, except that or go out on the main line without per- gram are reflected in the statistics in- prizes are now awarded each month.

~~200 COAL AGE — Vol.41, N o ś MINERS' WELFARE FUND~~

~~+ Provides Many Facilities~~

~~For British Colliery Workers~~

By R. DAWSON HALL A N Y C O M FO R T S and benefits Engitteering Editor, Coal Age Bathgate swimming pool in Lanarkshire have resulted from the opera M tions of the Miners’ Welfare Fund of Great Britain, which is fi- basketball and a large number of games nanced by taxation on coal production it was his feeling that altogether too too numerous to mention. That such and royalties. Of the $71,499,002 al- much money was cheerfully devoted to facilities are greatly appreciated is evi- locations approved up to Jan. 31, 1936, “specialists,” as he termed them, who denced by the fact that at Lydbrook, in according to an interim report of the made a contest out of what should be the Forest of Dean, a 100-year old Mines Department, 35.05 per cent has a sport. In the arrangement of these dump containing 32,000 tons of refuse been spent on recreation, 23.11 on recreation grounds, the various pieces rock, covering 1-J acres, was removed health, 8.02 on education, 6.07 on re- of eąuipment are not grouped but set by voluntary labor of young and old in search, 24.95 on mine welfare and 2.79 apart, usually in grass plots. order to elear the way for a playground. per cent on administrative expenses. Shelters built by the British Fund To this area, two acres of unoccupied Allocations for the bathhouse program usually have brick walls and tile roofs, land has been added. outlined in the preceding issue (April, much like the shelters in the parks of W ith such recreation grounds, the 1936, p. 145) are included in the al- our larger cities, but usually without tendency has been to established a lotment for mine welfare. expensive trimmings. In some instances building that approaches an “institute," In planning recreation, consideration these are enlarged to serve as pavilions with reading room and library, a room is given to three classes of persons: so as also to accommodate old folk. for parlor games, rooms for committee children under ten years, young people Some have a ladies’ room with lava- meetings and evening classes, a swim and adults. For the first groups play- tories, a large central room for refresh- ming pool, floored over in winter to grounds are provided. It was the opin- ments and a changing room with lava- form a gymnasium, theater or hall; a ion of the late Yiscount Chelmsford, tories for men going and returning from room for billiards or bagatelle, and a chairman of the fund for its first lO j tennis courts and the bowling green. As buffet for light refreshments, even work- years, that for every 300 children an a rule they are protected by a “sur- shops and hobby rooms with carpenter- acre of ground should be provided, and round,” a fence or wali to keep out older ing, cobbling and basket making for that if the ground was not level, that boys and girls. Many are under the boys and dressmaking, laundry work fact was in its favor, as it could be made care of an old-age pensioner, chosen for and cooking for girls. Dances, lectures, morę attractive. his patience and cheerfulness. plays, exhibitions and sales of the prod- Moreover, the playground should con- Recreation grounds for young people uct of the workshops and hobby rooms tain a shelter to which the children between 10 and 16 years of age give are opportunities such places offer. could repair in case of sudden rain, with opportunity for football, hockey, cricket, Such provision has been made on the a lavatory, and a fountain, without, of course, the unsanitary cups and chains of earlier years. Sometimes these foun- tains are made of more than one height so as to accommodate children of difFer- ent ages. A pond and a sand pit, he thought, are desirable if they can be provided with clumps of bushes to add beauty, to hide apparatus and create mystery. He also suggested a smug- gler’s cave. A somewhat plainer play ground than that described could be provided for $5 per child. Viscount Chelmsford declared that to spend $20,000 to $25,000 on a four-acre plot for 22 persons to play cricket or football, perhaps once a week, gave much less benefit for the money expended than a much smaller fund providing amusement for children. In fact,

May, 1936 — COAL AGE Ocean Colliery Co.’s property at Tre- to pay for upkeep and increase interest. ticularly for endowing beds on which harris, Ton Pentre and Nantymoel, The liąuor ąuestion arises as regards district or local committees will have South Wales, the first two for boys canteens, but the fund yiews it as a lo some claim should cases reąuiring spe- only and the last for both sexes. That cal issue and is disposed to leave it to cial attention come under their notice. company also has a seaside camp at St. the discretion of the local committees. But some cottage hospitals have been Athans that will accommodate 120 In South Wales, shops, offices, banks, provided for the sole use of miners and young people from the coal field at one etc., have rented space, the rent paying their families, as at the Holmside and time and can thus provide over 2,000 some maintenance expense, but this also South Moor area, in Durham, where a annually with a \veek’s holiday at the involves construction expenditures by building was erected at a cost of about seaside. This camp cost about $100,000 the fund that the committee of inąuiry $150,000 to accommodate 26 patients, to erect and reąuires some $10,000 per believes are unwarranted. and as at Treherbert, South Wales, annum for administration and mainte- Under health provisions are induded where $34,067 was provided for a hos- nance. It is strongly supported by the ambulance services, nursing, hospitals pital to care for 12 patients. A grant district wdfare committee. Such proj- and convalescent projects. The first has been made in the South Derbyshire ects closely parallel, it would seem, the usually provide a motor ambulance, district to supply spectacles for miners work of the Y.M .C.A.’s in this country. often with a garage and accommodation suffering from nystagmus or from the Adult recreation is not overlooked. for the driver. Allocations have been after-effects of accidents and for miners’ Places for games such as croąuet, five- made also to provide motor tricycles for children. ten, teniąuoit, lawn skittles, clock golf, the transportation of invalids. Funds Higher Education Aided etc.; grounds for hockey, lacrosse, foot have been granted to provide first-aid No provision from the Miners’ Wel ball and cricket; stands for spectators. eąuipment and ambulance classes and to fare Fund has been made for elementary band stands, places for outside dancing, purchase shields and challenge cups for instruction, because this is regarded as an obligation of the local authorities, but much has been done to promote senior, advanced and university instruc tion for miners and their families. Grants have been made to schools of mines and colleges, notably the Trefor- est School of Mines in Glamorgan- shire, Durham, Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Edinburgh and Glasgow uni- versities and Nottingham Universitv College. Large grants have been made to the Mining and Technical College at Wigan, Lancashire, England; toward providing and eąuipping the new Tech nical School at Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland; to the senior centers at Bish- op Auckland, Blaydon and Houghton- le-Spring in Durham; and to similar Ashington Mining School, Ashington, Northumherland, England schools at West Staniej", Horden and Durham, Durham, England. Owners of mines have objected to kitchen and flower gardens with seats fisst-aid competitions. The fadlities are money bdng expended for non-voca- taks care of the actrre and those ot de- managed by a local wdfare committee tional education, holding that all the dining years, Some of the recreation and serve the miners of one colliery taxes collected from the mine output groands have pavilions and dubhouses or of a group of adjacent collieries, but should be devoted to strictly mine uses. with lockers and are so broadly planned sometimes the needs of a whole district O n the other hand, the majority report they tend also to combine their main are corered, as in South Derbyshire. of the Departmental Committee of In fncctioas with those of the “institute.” by a single organization or, as in South ąuiry dedared that in the face of the Several "institotes,” halls and covered Wales, where grants are made to the fact that there were many idle miners swimming poołs have been erected ot Sfc Tohn Ambulance Association, which who put a burden on the localities m ■raricius stres and designs. The U ay In deals with the whole area. These grants which the mines were located. and as si: r_::e of North Wales is one of the are arranged. howerer, so as not to re- this burden fell largdy on the industry, largest of these. costing SI o1,396, of lieve the coal companies from thd r legał it would benefit much by anything that which $77.SÓ4 was for construction and obligation nnder the Coal Mines Acts. would induce some of the mining popu- $Sv273 for famishiag and eąuipment. Xursing facilities provide accommo lation to seek work in other fo rm s of Howerer, soch insfctutes are of many dation or eąuipment for a nurse or the employment, and non-vocational trainmg types. some being mendy army huts inrestment of a Capital sum to provide would promote such a shift to more ac- converted to a new purpose. Among income to maintain the sernice. In tive fidds. grants for unusual purposes. one to the many instances. houses have been pro- As here, so also in Great Britain, Sirhowy Angling Sodety, aboct 90 per vided to serve as nurses' residences. miners are asking more pay per stint or cent of the membership being mine One of the largest endowments for nurs per day to compensate for irregular or w.-rkers, for a shelrer at Ysfcngorwyn, ing serrioe is one that serres the Roth- shortened time, hence it would seem de- Wales. and an other jo the Tredegar An- well and Stanley area. in West York sirable to adopt measures that would gHng Sodety for a fish trap to pre- shire, where a capital of SS2./32 has cause at least the younger men to loos veni kss of fish during fioods may be been invested for the purpose. elsewhere for work. though not enough rsesiiooed. Capital grants freąuently are made to to make the labor force inadeąuate.^ The Moden-pictare instaHations were con- esisting hospitals where the greater part committee of inąuiry also urged that a óamr.ed by the commitree ot inęatry in of the patients are miners or their fami broader view of life induced by non- 1931 as being eo~petffive with prirate lies. These grants are used for struc- yocational study would make better er.terrr.se. bot they have been made in tural additions, purchase of eąuipment miners. Whether an orermanned in s c c k rund institntirns. where they help or increase of endowroent funds. par- dustry like coal mining should bear al has also been afforded out of the W el fare Fund, and this is supplemented by instruction given by the Safety in Mines Research Board, this expenditure being met by that board with funds which mainly are also derived from the M in ers’ Welfare Fund. Grants have been made to this board for researches into matters affecting safety and health of mine workers and for the dissemination of facts linking research with mining practice. In 1934, $54,792 was granted for the study of roof falls, $16,546 to study of haulage accidents, $40,484 for research on ex- plosions of coal dust and firedamp, $26,- Steam Engineering Laboratory, Lee College, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland 702 for explosives research, $13,388 for wire-rope research, $10,755 for health the expense of training men for Indus ditional grants the sum of $121,663 has research, $10,414 for electrical research, tries for which they leave or may leave been laid aside as an endowment pro-. $9,986 for spontaneous-combustion re the mine aroused ąuestion, and it seemed viding an income of about $4,258. These search and $15,354 for safety instruc to the committee that if men were scholarships are given to persona show- tion. trained in agriculture, their training ing a lower degree of proficiency than Up to Dec. 31, 1934, $262,610 had been might at least in part be a charge on have those who received the scholar expended for the construction of homes that industry. ships already described. Sometimes the for aged miners, some for endowment In conseąuence of the belief that the grant enables the student to take a uni- and some for the building of four cot- purpose of the legislation was to assist versity-degree course, but often it is for tages at Stanley, West Yorkshire, Eng- the mine worker, whether in or out of much less advanced work and not in- land. A grant of $1,338 was made to the industry, a very Iimited number of freąuentiy rt is training for a particular supply drinking water in a coal mine, grants have been made from the fund occupation, though seldom mining. In Baggeridge colliery, South Stafford- to give the children of miners, who 1934, grants totaled $108,620 and the shire, England, through 11,808 ft. of show exceptionaI ability, the opportu- students 430, so the average amount of 1-in. roadway piping, and 2,100 ft. of nity of cultivating that ability and mak- each grant was $252.60. O f these, stu shaft piping. A 500-gal. tanie with water ing use of it in careers that would other- dents of mining numbered only 34 and continuously overflowing and thus kept wise be unattainable. W ith this in received in all $10,010. fresh is connected to the shaft pipes mind, the Miners’ Welfare Scholarship An endowment grant of $364,997 has with a reducing valve lowering the pres- Scheme was established in 1926, with an been made for part-time education sure from 750 to 60 Ib. per sąuare inch endowment later increased to $847,049, which probably will provide only one in a single stage at the foot of the shaft to provide annnally a number of scholar- day^s study a week. It is heped from To this grant the company added a con- ships for university-degree courses to this endowment to provide 30 scholar tribution of $487. This same company miners or their children, which in prac ships a year of an average value of also received a grant of $3,017 to con- tice have varied from eleven to nineteen. $100, which should suffice to cover fees, struci a covered way from the bathhouse The character of the appointees for books, instrument? and travel:ng ex- to the shaft, adding thereto SI ,460 of honor degree university courses could penses and perhaps some compensation its funds to complete the construction. be made plain only by recording their for loss of wages. The illumination in this covered way past records at tedious Iength, but the Non-vocationaI lectures were insti- was so arranged as to enable the miners first appointee in the table, E. Jones, tuted by several of the districts out of to adjust their vision to the fuli light of had attended evening classes in mining the district funds o£ the Miners’ Wel day, hoping that thereby the nystagmus from 1926-1933 and had passed the Lon fare Fund, but endowment for these now which affiicted many of the men of that don matrfculation examination in 1933. has been provided. Safety instruction colliery would be ameiiorated. Evening classes at SL Helens Munici- pal Technical School, 1923-1934, a first class manager^ certificate ra 1931, and matriculation at the Northern Unnrersi- Candidates Awarded Seitolarships in 1934 ' ties examination in 1933 were ąualifica- tions of P.- Pimblett, the second narrte on N am e Age Employment ConreetofleTaken Educational Body the hst. It is well known that these ex- Workers In or About Min*z E , Jones...... 22 M in e r E w iw ra ra Aberystwyth U.C. aminations testify to a hfgher degree of P. Pimblett...... 27 Foreman Mining Bheffiełd TJ. scholarship than will serve to admit J . R o w b o tto m ...... 28 Pipefitter Eeonomira TJ. C. of South Walea and Monmonthnhire studenta to an American university or D . Russell...... 25 Repairer Pbiloeopby TJ. C» L o ndo n will permit a mining man to become F ^argeant...... 24 Surface engine Electrtcal C ity & G u ild a C . foreman o£ a mine in this country; In- attendant Engineering (L o nd o n ) W . S ta tku...... 23 Aaswtant surreyor M in in g Durtwwn U . come from the endowment fund in 1934 A -T hom a*...... 25 Surfaee laborer Arta Cardiff U. C. amounted to about $40,000 and approxi- Children of M ine Worker* mately 97 per cent was disbursed in M . Bailey...... 20 D . of 3urface worker Hiatory Klngs Co. (London) scholarships. S. B a u ld ...... 20 3. of foreman Cheznistry S t. A n d r e w s U . H. Blifwett!...... 21 3. of surface worker Geography Sheffield U . Bot other scholarships are provided, I Bow cn...... 1$ & of p um p a ttendant Geoap-apby Manchester XX. now also ffnanced entirdy from the Gen R. £vanf*...... 23 3, of hoi*ting engineer Medtóne London II. J . Gronow ...... 22 3. of underground German and Aberyetwyth ET’CU eral Ftmd, which is handled by the main h aulageraan Pbilosophy committee as its own without reference Jf. >teasham...... 22 3. of miner Hi*tory U . C . L o n d o n f. T aviner...... 1® D. of surface worker MAtbem&tio* Hoyał Holloway C. to the district committees. This fund L o n d o n 0 . pro-rided 24 grants in 1934 of an a g ' TT ~ T faW etdty, C - College, D daugbter, 3 - son. gregate value of $4,842. For these ad- ♦Theae were cho«en o u t of 692 eandidates.

May, 1936 _ C o A L \ G E 203 rials or flannnable materiał may be allowed to enter. They must not be carried into the mines in excess of daily needs, but an exception is made to the generał reąuire- ment that cartridges unused at the end of NOTES a shift be brought out of the mine. They may be stored in a safe place accessible only to shotfirers or authorized persons. From Across the Sea Stemming is reąuired unless the cartridge protrudes from the shothole, and in every case a wood prop, sprag or other suitable obstruction must be used to prevent the ejection of the shell by the force of the EOPH YSICAL exploration for mine pitching measures and outerops on drifb expłosion. Should the shot fail, no one water from points ąbovc ground liave Thickening of sandstone also seems likely, may enter the face for at least 10 minutes been made in South Wales by A. H. Cox, to my mind, to create additional difficul- thereafter. D. A. B. Davics and T. G. Williams, ac- ties. cording to a report made by them "ter tlie The authors, however, suggest that the (British) Department of Scientific and attempt to ascertain how this method can Y SHEATHING or jacketing, said Industrial Research. In many parts of be adapted to the finding of waterlogged B Mr. Hancock,- the ąuantity of a "per England and Wales trouble has arisen from workings should be renewed and urged that mitted” explosive can be tripled without incursions of water, and if such water could a method be devised of integrating the re igniting gas or coal dust.' Sheathing has be located geophysically, greater safety sults giyen by a deep-current penetration little effect on the power, sensitiveness, would be assured, though usually the pres- method with those given by an instrument storageability or yelocity of detonation of ence of water is known; all that is not designed to give a shallow penetration only, an explosive. Most of the permitted explo- known is where narrow workings or so that a quantitative allowance could be sives are best clad in a coat of sodium carbonate, but, for some explosives, other creyices are located that may be found to made for effects which arise from shallow sheathing materials such as borax would lead to the main pool. conditions only. be better. This geophysical study was made in a field where something was known as to the M ODIFICATION of Cardox and Sodium salts in the sheathing, said Mr. prcsence of water. That part of the seam A Airdox recently developed in Great Hancock, so fili the return air from the to the rise had been mined with roonis Britain uses the shell designed for liąuid shot that a lemon-yellow cap will form in which were still standing and dry. Below carbon dioxide but replaces that liąuefied place of, and of the same size as, the these workings was a large coal pillar to gas with an explosive. In place of the normal blue cap, but this is ąuite easily prevent the water of the higher part of the heater also is used an igniter. The explo- distinguished from the yellow flame ob mine from traveling down the pitch to the sive powder is made by milling together, tained when the wiek is turned up for pur- rooms below; below this were room work declared J. Hancock, addressing the Man poses of illumination. In fact, the test can ings fuli of water, and beyond these again chester Geological and Mining Socicty, of be made more readily because of the clearer were longwall operations from which water sodium nitrate and ammonium chloride, definition of the lemon-yellow cap. was more or less excluded by top caving giying as end products roughly 47 per cent and bottom heaying. by weight of common salt, 30 per cent of TINKS inserted into compressed-air Tests were made by a.c. potential-ratio water yapor and 23 per cent of nitiogen. S lines have been used in metal mines in (ratiometer) and megger earth-resistivitv If this is always so, the escaping products the United States to warn workers of a methods. To a depth of 100 ft. the earth- must be harmless. Of the products men- mine fire and to notify them to travel to- resistiyity methods gave fairly reliable in- tioned, two, salt and water yapor, suppress ward the shaft or to safety chambers. Coal dications, locating accurately the positions flame; all the products are non-toxic and mines in this country apparently have not at which changes in the naturę of the strata none of them has an objectionable taste. so far adopted this method of warning occurred, defining especially the junctions The fuli pressure in the tube after the miners, thougli metal mines have been actiye between drift and solid rock. But the cor- powder has exploded is 12 tor.s per sąuare in this regard. At the Nundydroog mine. reetness of the deductions drawn from such inch, though it is less on the walls of the says the Colliery Guardian, an alarm of determinations necessarily depended some- borehole. According to Mr. Hancock, fire is conyeyed to the workers underground what on the relative uniformity of the Hydrox is somewhat sharper in action by inserting eucalyptus oil in the com- superficial deposits and on the homogeneity than Cardox. It appears, he says, to do pressed air mains. This oil not only trayels of the outeropping strata. Steeply in- more work at the back of the hole and in the pipes but on reaching the atmosphere clined measures and variable surface de therefore it is not necessary to drill the of the mine is carried wherever the air posits introduced complications. Shale and hole as deep as with that blasting agent. current trayels. Refuge chambers, with sandstone outerops could be ascertained The claim is made that at a Lancashire doors and compressed-air-pipe outłets, a with precision by electric trayerse methods, colliery the following results were obtained central rescue station and gas masks also but these differences interfered with deter- as compared with another explosive: are provided. minations of the presence of water. With the a.c. potential-ratio method the Former DitFer- HETHER the use of explosi\es can current penetration was great enough theo- Explosive Hydro* ence W be ruled out entirely by the intro- retically to reach down to the water- Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent duction of compressed-air picks aroused a logged workings, but in nearly all the ex- -f 3-in. lu m p ...... -łl. 27 46.40 + 5.13 lively discussion at meetings of the Scot- periments the effects recorded by the 2x3-in. n u t ...... 9.67 8.30 — 1.37 tish Branch of the National Association of ratiometer were indicated by the megger 2x1 J-m* gas...... 6.65 5.30 — 1.35 Colliery Managers. Stringent regulations 1 iV-in* slack...... 29.20 26.75 —2.45 in regard to shooting haye lowered the also, although its electrodes were so spaced — 0.64 AxO-m. dusi...... 9.84 9.20 number of shotholes that can be drilled, that this current could not penetrate down Pickings (mferior coal> 0.85 0.85 to the water. The megger presumably was Pickmgs (slack out of loaded and fired per shift. Exhaustive recording yariations in the reslstmty of the nut washer)...... 0.85 0.60 — 0 .25 trials, asserted A. V. Reis, had been made surface deposits and of strata down to a 1.65 2.75 by the Fife Coal Co. in the use of pneu- shallow depth. Conseąuently, it would ap- matic picks, but the coal was so woody in pear that the ratiometer also. in the main, Incidentally it may be added that Hydrox texture that they were abandoned as im- was recording resistivity yariations in sur steel-tube cartridges haye been approyed practicable. Character of cleat and other face deposits and outeropping strata. "tor blasting in all mines to which the lines of fracture were important in deter- It would seem, therefore, that where British Coal Mines Act, 1911, applies and mining where the pneumatic pick was a there is a thin cover of drifted materiał or in all circumstances in which permitted desirable tool for breaking down coal. where the thickness of that cover is uni explosives are reąuired to be used by the In hard seams, declared R. A. West- form, where conditions in generał are regu- Explosiyes in Coal Mines Order, 1934.” water, use of pneumatic picks reduced the lar and the measures nearły level, water or Under the rules established for their use, production per man and inereased the per- other seam changes might be detected satis- cartridges must be charged and primed in centage of smali coal. Stating that in his faetorily. The authors lay stress on the suitabłe building or buildings on the sur Cardowan mine, Lanarkshire, Scotland, importance of the absence of rails, steeply face into which no matches, smoking mate- with about 100 pneumatic picks in serrice

204 COAL AGE — V ol.41,N 65 —probably more than in any other Scot- ally have to move away from the area suitable for walling only 4.8 tons per sąuare tish operation—John Williamson observed where the shots are being fired, which is foot, equivalent to the weight of 67 ft. of that they could be economically used only certainly not a comfortable proceeding in a strata was supported by a pack 5 ft. high under suitable circumstances. At Car- 30- or 36-in. seam, for the worker has to with 10 per cent compression, from which dowan, with seam thicknesses varying from pass over the unloaded coal thrown into it is evident that such a pack resistance 20 to 33 in., a shot had to be fired every the traveling lane in front of the face by would not prevent a stratum 67 ft. thick 4 or 5 ft. along the face line. Even then, shots already fired. On the other hand, if from separating from the strata above it. he added, it became almost imperative to the shooting is done off-shift, the place Control can be exercised, therefore, only sąuare down the top coal between the shot- will be filled with fallen coal, and some on the underroof. holes by hand picks. Pneumatic picks gave roof may have to stand unpropped for three (15) Load oscillations increased consid- good results at Cardowan and explosives or four hours before the face is cleared. crably at a certain part of the road when did not, but it must be remembcrcd that his Moreover, some props may have been dis- trips were hauled up a slope by a two- coal was hard and brittle and had a short lodged by shooting; as a result the roof cylinder steam hoist directly coupled to the cleat which made it break with a short is far from safe. Shotfirers might be re- haulage drutn. These oscillations decreased cubical fracture. ąuircd to place temporary supports, but as the length of free rope decreased. Evi- Urging that pneumatic picks did not how could they do that if the way were dence seemed to point to the fact that varia- make excessive noise, William Duncan not cleared? tions in torąue synchronized with the time came to their defense. Cleat is not impor- of yibration of a rope having a length eąual tant, he said, if the coal be undercut. Where to that between hoist and trip, suggesting shots are fired on a longwall face while either a resetting of the engine valves or, the loaders are working, the men continu- m. ł i a J U L ^ as may be added, the use of an electric hoist with an even torąue. (16) With a hoist unwinding without use of its gears, the oscillations in load on a slope were greater than when running in gear, ap- On the parently because the gears retarded the movement of the trip more uniformly than the brakes alone. The stress with the ENGINEER’S BOOK SHELF engine running without gears was 124 per cent greater than the static load. (17) When a rope wire is subjected Reąuests fo r U. S. B ureau of Afinea publicatlona should be sent to simultaneously to corrosion and repeated Superintendent of Documents, Govemment Printing Office, Washing stresses its deterioration is much more ton, D. C., accompanied by cash or money order; stamps and personal checks not accepted. Where no price is appended in the notice of a rapid for some reason than if corrosion and publication of the U. 8. Bureau of Mines, application should be directed fatigue act separately, as shown by tests to that Bureau. Orders for other booJcs and pamphlets revieioed in this made under dry conditions and with a department should be addressed to the individual publishers, as shown, spray of tap water. The ąuantity of metal whose name and address in each case is in the revieio notice. rcmoved by corrosion may be very smali, and the surface show no signs of rusting, but the effect of the spray is marked never- Tliirleenth Annual Report of the Safety in Where longwall faces in the Barnsley seam theless. Mines Research Board, 1934. Britisli at a depth of 1,680 ft. belo w the surface Library of Information, New York, were 99 ft. long, the sides, after an advance iV. Y. 134 pp., 6x9\ in.; paper. Price, of 195 ft., approached each other 12§ in. 62c. at a point 300 ft. from the face. Where Accident Experience and Direct Costs in these longwall faces were 300 ft. long, the Some Colorado Coal Mines, 1929-33, by Outstanding ascertainments of fact re- sides approached only 7 in., showing that E. H. Denny and F. R. Jennings. U. S. lating to mining recorded in this bulletin the coal sąueezed out more into the road Bureau of Mines, I. C. 6860; 22 pp., may be summarized as follows: (1) Coal way when the longwall face was short than 8x10i in. Mimeograplt. dust can be wetted more effectively by a when it was long. A similar measurement water solution of a suitable wetting agent at a depth of 2,475 ft. showed similar con- Many tabulations show respectively for than by pure water, and when so wetted ditions. Thus a long face gave better 1929-33: (1) compensable accidents and the application of water will wet effectu- working conditions than a short one, for medical cases, their number, days lost, med ally any newly deposited dust so as to the breaks in the sides and parallel to ical and compensation costs; (2) similar provide a dustless roadway with no pools the roadways were less marked the longer data for non-compensable injuries and of water. (2) From a deposit of weath- the working face. medical cases; (3) accident causes of com ered shale dust six times as much dust (11) When, in the North of England, a pensable and non-compensable accidents, will be lifted by a blast of air as from room is driven at an angle to the cleat, the their number with days lost and compensa a deposit of weathered gypsum dust, both roof develops fractures on the end of the tion in totals and ayerages; (4) all acci when otherwise undisturbed. (3) Fire working face which strikes the lines of dents by parts of body injured; (5) fatal damp will travel up a slope of 1 in 10 cleat first—that is, in what is known as the and permanent partial and total disabilities, against an air current. (4) Any obstruc- “tight corner,” though the authors do not their compensation cost in total and per tions near the roof, or objects traveling thus describe it. Safety is increased by case; (6) fatalities by cause; (7) com along the slope, will cause diffusion and having the road on the opposite side of the pensable temporary disabilities, their num retard or prevent methane from traveling room. If the center of the face strikes the ber, days lost, compensation total and per up the inclination. (5) Methane released cleat fractures first, the breaks occur at day ; and (8) the scalę of time losses on near the floor is less readily carried up the that point. If the order of cutting the cleat which industrial accident disabilities are slope. (6) Inert dust can be made to extin- is reversed from one side of the face to the based by the Association of Industrial guish a firedamp explosion. (7) A dust- other, a diagonal break occurs from side Accident Boards and Commissions. Proxi- projecting appliance, operated by Bourdon to side and operation is endangered. Such mate causes for accidents are not used for tubes which are flexed by the neat of com- conditions were obtained with rooms 6, 12, classification but are listed as “condition of bustion, can be devised. This device will ex- 18 and 24 ft. wide in several seams and surroundings or eąuipment, system of min tinguish a firedamp explosion. (8) Shock collieries and at differing depths. (12) ing, illumination, pitch of seam, mine waves even without the heat of a blow-out Rate of gas evolution is roughly propor- practices, discipline, supervision, state of shot or that of its incandescent particles tional to rate of face advance. (13) In mind of injured at time of accident, fatigue, will ignite mixtures of ethylene or methane North Staffordshire it has been established ill health, lack of mental alertness, poor with oxygen, but success has not yet been that the loads imposed by the descending eyesight, carelessness, recklessness, loose obtained in the ignition of firedamp by roof on face props are not determined by clothing—any or several of these may be these means though pressures of 1,500 lb. depth, and that where seams are highly in- more important in causing accidents than per sąuare inch have been applied. clined and floors are soft, the floor at faces the immediate cause ascribed.” In this (9) The faster a load is applied to coal- advancing along the strike moves further listing nothing is said as to lack of train- nieasure strata the greater appears to be downhill than the roof. hence underset props ing or inexperience—two prolific causes of the load needed to cause failure. (10) are displaced. (14) Even with fiat stones, accident.

~~May, 1936 — COAL A G E 205 OPERATING IDEAS From Productiotij Electrical and NLechanical M.en~~

Use Herringbonc Wire Catchers In Coaldale Breaker To remove shooting wire from coal be- r fore shipment, herringbone catchers are suspended in chutes in Coaldale breaker ot the Lehigh Nayigation Coal Co. These D e a d e n d consist essentially of strips of metal with

~~L i g h t 4 /o w s to right with smąll Ham mer raise and tic/hten wire~~

~~Details of trolley installation with angle straps~~

end to allow the hanger to be attached. Evans, chief inspector of mines for Tennes With the trolley wire in place, tapping the see, \'ashville. The incline in ąuestion was hangers lightly sufficed to raise it nearer to designed by Mr. Evans 35 years ago. Op- the roof and also to tighten it. Tapping erated partly by power and partly by grav- the hangers in the opposite direction, of ity. the incline is approximately two miles course, lowers the wire. On curves, Mr. long and has a total curvature of 210 deg. Iman points out, the holes must be drilled to the right looking down from the top. farther away from the track. the distance Design was based on the use of a single depending upon roof height and desired track with central passing point, and the height of wire. Also, it may be necessary lower half is on practically a 4-per-cent to increase strap thickness to i or 3 in. on grade. turns. Mine-car capacity is l i tons, and 50 loaded cars are lowered at a time. Much trouble was encountered in the early days of the operation of this incline. which led to Three catchers and a load of wire Rope Held on Incline Sheaves the development of the devil-head to hołd both edges divided into a number ot seg- By “ Devil-Head” the rope down on the sheaves while the trip ments by slanting cuts. Alternate segments was taking the curves. Installation elim- are then bent in opposite directions, giving Successful operation of the incline at inated the rope trouble previouslv en a herringbone effect. The catchers are in- Soddy, Tenn., has been made possible by countered. The devil-head, a gray-iron stalled so that the natural hook action of the the use of the “devil-head" shown in the forging which can be made in any mine segments will trap the wire. accompanying illustration, wnieś A. W. blacksmith shop, is inserted in the loaded

"Devil-head” in place ahead of the last loaded car Angle Straps Permit Raising Trolley Wire Use of straps fastened at an angle to the roof allows trolley wire to be raised after installation, and at the same time tightened, reports Walter Iman, Kitzmiller, Md. Use of this type of suspension was the outgrowth of conditions encountered in the mine where it was originated. The roof was hard sand rock, and therefore could not be drilled with tlie usual roof auger. Conseąuently, it was necessary to employ a Fort Wayne drill. and as the height after shooting was limited. the holes for the expansk>n bolts had to be put in at an angle, C /evis 'I Ź i rope as in the accompanying illustration. Straps were made of }x2-in. flat iron, bent at one

206 COAL AGE — Vol.41, No.5 OPERATING IDEAS . . . from PRODUCTION, ELECTRICAL and MECHANICAL MEN trip just ahead of the last car. It is not The bits, after being heated in a Diamond used in hoisting empty trips, but instead furnace fitted with foot-treadle feed maga- ★ is thrown in the first car for the trip zine, and then rolled to shape, were dipped back to the top. in water by hand. After a moment of point immersion the whole bit was ini- Always Here mersed for about one second and then thrown onto an accumulating pile. Lack of Swivel Bin Aids Bit Charging uniformity was the principal difficulty. Even Each month and every month Coal though the finał temperature had been cor Incident to New Method Age’s invitation to operating, elec- rect and the operator timed the immersions Reduced maintenance of setscrews, fewer properly. variations were caused by some trical, mechanical and safety men to lost bits, increased cutting speed, lower bits landing in the center of the pile, where send in cost-cutting, time-saving or power cost and less wear on machinę parts accumulated heat from the other bits re- safety-promoting ideas appears in are the advantages obtained by a recent tarded cooling, and by others landing at this department. We are always change in bit hardening at the Adena the edge by themselves, where rapid cooling here to receive and pass along new (Ohio) mine of the Wheeling Township took place. Often the shanks were too hard Coal Mining Co. No change has been for proper seating of the setscrews, the ideas developed by men at the mines made in the quality of the steel (0.80 car- tips too soft, or the point necks too hard. to meet the difficulties they con- bon) nor in the sharpening (Sullivan Air-cooling of the forged bit, reheating stantly are called upon to face. Our roller) that have been used for sereral only the point, and then dropping the whole aim is to collect and present tried years. bit into Houghton Xo. 2 ąuenching oil is and tested solutions to the problems encountered by others with the thought they also may be, at one time or another, your own problems. At the same time we stand ready to publish your own answer to a knotty question in the operating, mainte nance or safety iields, so send it in, together with a sketch or photo if it will help to make it clearer. Ac- ceptable ideas are paid for at the rate of S5 or more each.

~~★ ★~~

the new method. To perform this harden ing without additional labor, an auxiliary reheating magazine was purchased and added to the furnace. An adjustable hearth facilitates localizing the heat to the point (back as far as the shank) and securing the proper temperature. Each time the operator presses the treadle to release a bit to the roller, the action autoinatically The bin is turned for filling with duli bits and with bits ready to harden drops a reheated bit into the oil. The quenching tank holds 52 gal. and is water-cooled to maintain uniform tempera ture. For convenience in charging the bits into the magazines, a two-compartment ball-bearing swivel bin was built and mounted in the corner of the shop room adjacent to the furnace. After the dulled bits and the bits to be hardened are shov- eled into the respective compartments, the bin is turned 90 deg. to face the magazines, thus making it most convenient for a man to reach them when engaged in doing the charging. Tested with a file, the bits appear to be uniform in character. The shank is soft, but from there on the hardness increases to maximum at the tip. The bits are changed in the mining .machines just as often as was the previous practice; but the dullness at the finish is considerably less marked than rormerly. The mining machine's duty is undercutting in the Pittsburgh Xo. 8 seam. This improvement in bit practice is but one of the many refinements that have been inaugurated from time to time in connection with the proper tuning of all equipment to the 100-per-cent mechanization in The bin is turned facing the heater magazines the mine.

~~May, 1936 — COAL AGE 207 OPERATING IDEAS . . . from PRODUCTION, ELECTRICAL and MECHANICAL MEN~~

includes but one of the two duplicate equip- ments in the box, a beli with gong removed closes the knife switch and lights the lamp when a hoisting signal comes from a level in the mine. When the cage is standing at a level it is possible for the jerk of the beli tapper to close the knife switch because the outer cord is slack, due to a disk pin being adjusted so that with the cage stand ing at the level the piece of wood is held in a raised position. A second disk pin with proper adjustment in the disk slot prevents the stick from dropping to a Iow position and thus pulling open the knife switch until the drum makes about three-quarters of a revolution. Two units are reąuired at this shaft because the hoisting is from two levels. The depths of these levels are 960 ft. and 1,185 ft.

~~W ith the pipę screwed into the flange the car is ready to carry water instead Curved-Pipe Trolley Supports of coal Proved Efficient and Neat~~

Flanged Drain and Calking which is operated by adjustable pins Excellent appearance of the trolley wire mounted on a disk, which in turn is fas- on curves is an item that commands atten- Make Dual-Purpose Car tened to a pin attached to the end of the tion at the Mary Helen mine of the Mary Helen Coal Corporation, Coalgood, Harlan By an inexpensive alteration a new County, Kentucky. Because this trolley- mine car at the H. E. Harman Coal Cor wire construction has been in service nine poration mine, Harman, Va„ was changed years there is reason for taking a second to make it suitable for service either as a look. The wire appears to have retained water car or coal car. The accompanying a uniformly smooth curve exactly parallel- illustration shows the fitting which adapts ing the raił. the car for carrying water, which as yet is The illustration, made from a recent encountered in the new tuine only in quan- K n ife photograph, shows the curve at the portal tities that permit removal by bailing. s w ffc h of the main haulway. Pipę mounted par- A hole was cut in the bottom of the car allel to the raił forms the support for and a 4-in. pipę flange was bolted on with the trolley-wire hangers, which are spaced a suitable gasket. The pług fitted into the 2 to 4 ft. apart, depending on the radius flange is a 4-in. pipę cut to a length slightly of the curve. This pipę in turn is supported greater than the inside depth of the car by locust posts and braced arms made of and fitted with a welded cap and crossbar Fig. 1— Cords close and open the pipe. Posts are spaced 6 to 12 ft. apart. handle for screwing by hand. Calking with knife switch Although lł-in. pipe was used for the tarred oakum around the drawbar heads trolley-hanger support, officials at the mine and at two or three other points was the drum shaft. The function of the pieces point to certain places where it has bent only work necessary to render the car sufti- of wood which ride on these pins is to slightly at points where it was weakened ciently watertight. Unscrewing and re- open knife switches attached to cords inside by the bolt holes. They say they would moving the pipę effects rapid emptying of of the box. use 2-in. pipe if they were doing the job the water from the car. However, experi- Referring to Fig. 1, which for simplicity again. The construction method pursued ence indicates that a 6-in. drain would liave been preferable. When the car is to be used for coal the Rotation of the drum shaft clears the visual hoisting signal pipę is left out and at the start of loading a stronę lump of coal is laid over the hole to prevent spillage of fines. The car (En terprise) is of the four-axle type with a level-full capacity of 122 cu.ft.. hence will hołd 400 to 50Ó gal. of water with the lewi only about half way to the top.

Simple Device Put on Hoist Controls Visual Signals Chance for ąuestion as to who erred in case of a premature start of the hoist upoti apparcnt signal from a level has been eliminated at Alliance Xo. 2 shaft of the I.ehigh Navigation Coal Co. by a signal lamp and home-tnade automatic control de- yice installed in the hoist house. Now the lighting of a lamp confirms to the hoistman his hearing of a signal and the lamp stays lighted until the cage has traveled approximately 25 ft. The halftone shows the mechanism,

~~208 COAL AGE — Vol.41, No.5 OPERATING IDEAS . . . from PRODUCTION, ELECTRICAL and MECHANICAL MEN~~

~~Details of derail błock~~

panying illustration. To the bottom of the błock is nailed a piece of 2-in. plank 8 in. wide. The extra width on the bottom af forded by the plank makes the błock less In trolley construction neatness and utility usually go hand in hand easy to upset, in addition to increasing the height 2 in. To facilitate moving and placing of the błock by the triprider, a strap- was to bend the pipę to proper curvature ing of the Poeahontas Mechanical and iron handle is fastened on as indicated. by repeatedly checking it by laying it on Electrical Institute, Bluefield, W. Va. The The method of using the błock is as fol- top of the raił. practice is an outgrowth of the generał lows: When the last empty in a trip is move toward operating motors in series placed, the derail błock is set between the and adding a chain between axles to pro- rails immediately outbye the last empty Idle Reverse Parts Find Use vide positive four-wheel drive. placed, with the sloping side facing the As Headlight Control cars. In case a car gets loose, the bumper strikes the sloping surface of the błock and rolls it over. In rolling over, the błock Fingers and segments made idle by con- Derail Błock necting motors permanently in series to raises the front end of the car and lifts the reduce speed of a two-motor locomotive Mines of the Reid Coal Co., Inc., Timb- front wheels off the rails, thus derailing eąuipped with series-and-parallel controller lin, Pa., have standardized on the derail it. To be successful, the height of the can be utilized as headlight Controls. Burn- błock shown in the accompanying illustra- błock must be somewhat greater than the ing one headlight at a time is generally tions, reports James Thompson, forcman, bumper. At the Reid mines, the distance considered safer for the coupler and this Distant, Pa. It has been found adyantage- from the top of the ties to the bottom of is accomplished by the new connection. ous to drive producing, or room, entries to the bumper is approxiniately 10 in., as com- In the accompanying wiring diagram the rise as far as possible, and the miners pared with an ovcr-al! błock height of showing the revised controller, the lower generally push the loaded cars from the face 14$ in. set of reverse drum fingers and segments of the room out on to the entry. As the Successful use over a period of seven are adapted to the headlight control. Mov- grade on the entry ranges from 2 to S or years has proved the positive action of the ing the reverse handle to a given direction 6 per cent in favor of the loads, runaway blocks, Mr. Thompson states. One man of locomotive travel automatically turns on cars were freąuent, and after trying out can make several in a day, and an out- the headlight facing that direction. Mov- different derailing devices the błock de- standing advantage is the fact that as ing the reverse handle to the other position scribed herein was developed at the mine working places are abandoned in advanc- turns out the first headlight and lights the to stop cars before they could get out of ing up the entry the safety błock can be one at the other end. the room entry. moved up accordingly, thereby reducing the This utilization of idle parts of the re- The błock is made of scrap mine timber, distance the car can run before striking verse drum was mentioned by B. F. Grimm, such as 4x6’s or 6x8’s, sawed to the proper the derail błock. consulting electrical engineer, Koppers Coal shape and assembled into an almost un- & Transportation Co., in a paper. “Trans breakabłe błock with 40D nails. The stand portation in Coal Mines,” read at a meet- ard size of błock is shown in an accom

~~Reet resistance L e a v e o f f t h e s e t h r e e fin c /e rs C a b le - r e e l o to r o h m s~~

~~S - a m p . f u s e M a in fu s e~~

~~_u • uj. [Controller end-' Headlights Reel end -" Showing three steps in the deraiłment Controller turns on the leading headlight of a runaway car~~

~~May, 1936 — COAL A GE OPERATING IDEAS . . . from PRODUCTION, ELECTRICAL and MECHANICAL MEN~~

RemovingStud Bolts Made Easy 15 in. long cut with No. 4ł USS threads. All-Welded Inspection Car A keyway i in. wide and 12 in. long was Is Pulled by Motor To save time, tempers and stud bolts, cut in one end of each screw. These screws fit in bushings 6 in. long bored out Oxy-Acetylene Tips recommends the use Ample capacity for a large party coupled of the stud-bolt remover shown in the ac to allow the screws to slip freely. Each with ahility to negotiate all types of mine companying illustration. The major itern is bushing is made with a smali shoulder on tracks with a minimum of difliculty are a nut with a sąuare head that has the same one end to hołd it in the axle housing, to features of the all-welded inspection car threads as the stud and screws on easily. which it is brazed. Four inches down The nut is then cut in two with a hack- from the tops of the bushings, 13/32-in. adopted for use at the Wheeling Division saw or, if the operator is skillful, with a holes were drilled in each axle housing mines of the Valley Camp Coal Co. These cutting blowpipe. The two halves are then and tapped with ł-in. No. 13 USS threads are the Dartnell and Mobley mines of the lined up slightly farther apart than when to accommodate setscrews with locknuts. Elm Grove Mining Co. of West Virginia a part of the original nut. Then a thin These setscrews are run in just far enough and the Alexander mine of the Glendale piece of sheet Steel is bronze-welded across to engage the keyways in the adjusting Gas Coal Co. The car is designed to be the cut on one end, leaving the opposite end screws and tlius keep them from turning pulled from place to place by a locomothe. open. This nut is then screwed on the while moving up or down, and then are and consists of an all-welded “bathtub" locked in place with the locknuts. The body suspended on two four-wheeled trucks. Bui/o/ up w ith s+eel or bronze 2ł-in. adjusting screws shown in the illus This suspension makes it possible for the roci, if c/reater leverao/e is tration were each fitted with T-irons 10 in. car to negotiate the shortest of curves with long and 4 in. across the face, which were re!ative ease. welded in slots cut in the tops of the The body of the car (Fig. 1) consists e screws. Nuts used for adjusting the screws of a 7-in. channel to which are welded ła can be made by sawing one large nut in ni. side and bottom plates and suspension half. A number of different styles of tops members. Angles welded across under the can be fitted to adjusting screws śo that seats stifTen the bottom, and the wooden when a change is necessary one set can cross seats are bolted to short angles be slipped out of the stands and the other welded to the side plates. All wooden inserted. members are given a coat of creosote paint.

Details of stud-bolt remover I8"x/3"x stud bolt. A crescent or pipę wrench is then placed across the open end so that the jaws grip only the front portion of the split nut. When pressure is applied, the wrench jaws tighten and force the two halves of the nut together on the screw threads. The stud can then be removed easily without damaging the threads.

Axle Housings Make Stands Rear axle housing from old Ford trucks, Walter Baum, master mechanic, Perry Coal Co., 0 ’Fallon, 111., has found, can easily be converted into verv handy adjustable stands. Screws in the two stands shown in the accompanying illustra- bumper tion were made from two pieces of shaft

~~Fig. 1— Details of inspection car for 36-in. gage track~~

Ready for a trip inside. On the front seat of the inspection car are (left to right) W . W . Dartnell, manager of mines, and H. E. Schweinsberg, produc- Completed stands, showing details of tion engineer. In the rear are Joseph Kayuha, power engineer, and William construction Carroll, mine foreman J. F. McGlone, electrician, is on the motor.

~~210 COAL AGE — Vol.41,No.5 WORD FROM THE FIELD~~

Coal to Get Broad Coverage Equipment Display Tops Record At Power Conference For Cincinnati Show American industrialists listed to present A new record for interest and display of equipment is forecast for the exposition papers at the World Power Conference, to be held in Washington, D. C., Sept. 7-12, features of the 13th Annual Coal Conven- indicate discussion of the economics of tion and Exposition to be held under the auspices of the Coal Division of the Ameri power, the theme of the meeting, will be authoritative and representative of all points can Mining Congress at Musie Hall, Cin but does not include kerosene, gasoline, cinnati, Ohio, May 11-15. Demands for of view on controversial topics. Formal ac- benzol, benzene, naphtha, or gas oil. The space have been so great that it lias been ceptances of invitations to participate in the measure also provides for the imposition necessary to provide additional space for conference have already been received from of a tax of l^c. per galion on imports of exhibits on another floor of the convention 21 countries, and definite promise to take crude petroleum and fuel oil derived from hall. The list of exhibitors as of April 18 part has been made, though official action is petroleum, instead of the present impost of included: yet to be taken, by 17 other nations. \c. per galion. The bill was referred to the Among papers already scheduled are the House Committee on Ways and Means. Ahlberg Bearing Co. following: “Power Resources, Development Allen-Sherman-Hoff Co. and Utilization,” Central Statistical Board; Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. “Trends in the Utilization of Power Re American Brattice Cloth Co. sources/' Dr. Harlow S. Person, president, American Cable Co. Taylor Society; “Internal Use of Statis- Mine Fatality Rate Wanes American Car & Foundry Co. ties,” Central Statistical Board; “Produc American Cyanamid & Chemical Corpo tion and Distribution of Coal and Coal Coal-mine accidents caused the deaths ration—General Explosives Division Products,” Isador Lubin, Commissioner of of 59 bituminous and 17 anthracite miners Anaconda Wire & Cable Co. Labor Statistics, in collaboration with the in March, according to reports furmshed Atlas Powder Co. National Coal Association; “Planning for the U. S. Bureau of Mines by State nnne Austin Western Road Machinery Co. the Conservation of Natural Resources,” inspectors. With a production of 30,692,000 Automatic Reclosing Circuit Breaker Co. Stuart Chase, economist, and W. S. Fin- tons, the bituminous death rate in March Bethlehem Steel Co. lay, Jr.. president, West Penn Electric last was 1.92 per million tons, which is Broderick & Bascom Rope Co. Co.; “Conservation of Coal Resources.’ the lowest rate sińce April, 1933, when Brown-Fayro Co. U. S. Bureau of Mines; “National Power the figurę was 1.86. The anthracite fatal- Bowdil Co. and Resources Policies," George Soule, edi- i ty rate in March last was 6.20, based on tor, and Floyd L. Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co. The New Rcpitblic, an output of 2,741,000 tons, as against 5.73 Cincinnati Minc Machinery Co. Carlisle, chairman, Niagara Hudson Power in the preceding month, when 6,461,000 Coal Mine Eąupiment Sales Co. Corporation. tons" was produced, and 6.49 in March, Columbia Alkali Corporation Other subjects to be covered include pro 1935, when production w*as 3,082,000 tons. duction and distribution of gas and Petro For the two industries combined, the death Deister Concentrator Co. leum and its products: organization and rate in March last was 2.27, compared with Dorr Co. Duff-Norton Manufacturing Co. public regulation of private electric and gas 2.37 in the preceding month and 2.63 in Duncan Foundry & Machinę Works Utilities; organization of publicly owned March, 1935. Utilities; conservation of petroleum and E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. natural gas; planned utilization of water Thomas A. Edison, Inc. resources: utilization of smali water ★ ★ Electric Railway Eąuipment Co. powers; regional integration of electric and Electric Railway Improvement Co. gas utility facilities: rationalization of dis STOKER SALES SHOW UPTREND Electric Storage Battery Co. tribution of electrical energy and gas; and Enterprise Wheel & Car Co. S ales of mechanical stokers in rural electrification. February last totaled 2,706, of which Fafnir Bearing Co. Particular interest in the series of “study 2,342 were smali residential-size Fairbanks, Morse & Co. tours” to be conducted both before and after Flood City Brass & Electric Co. the meetings has been evinced by European units, according to statistics fur- delegates, according to Dr. Harlow S. Per nished the U. S. Bureau of the Cen- General Electric Co. sus by 108 manufacturers. This com- son. managing director of the Taylor Goodman Manufacturing Co. Grasselli Chemical Co. Society, who has just returned from a pares' with sales of 2,497 units in Gulf Refining Co. European trip in the interest of the power the preceding month and 1,373 ni February, 1935. Figures for the first conference. Hendrick Manufacturing Co. two months of this year show that Hercules Powder Co. 5,203 units of all types and sizes Hockensmith Wheel & Mine Car Co. were sold, compared with 2,961 m Hullnirt Oil & Grease Co. the corresponding period of 1933. Bill Would Tax Fuel Oil Sales by classes in the first two Irwin Foundry & Mine Car Co. months of this year were as follows: A tax of lc. per galion would be im- Jetfrey Manufacturing Co. residential (under 100 lb. of coal per posed on the sale of fuel oil for “the gen- Joyce Cridland Co. hour), 4,407; apartment-house and Joy Manufacturine Co. eration of heat or power” under the terms smali commercial heating jobs (1UU °f a bill adding a new section to the Kanawha Manufacturing Co. to 200 lb. per hour), 354: generał Keystone Lubricating Co. Revenue Act of 1932, presented April 3 in heating and smali high-pressure the House of Representatives by Repre- Koppel Industrial Car Co. steam plants (200 to 300 lb per sentative Patrick J. Boland, of Pennsyl- Koppers-Rheolaveur Co. hour), 155; large commercial and vania. As used in the new section, the term high-pressure steam plants (over 300 La Bour Co. >uel oil” includes crude petroleum and any La-Del Conveyor & Manufacturing Co. derivative thereof suitable for usc as a fuel lb. per hour), 287. 211 Mav. 1916 — r O A T A f , F Lehigh Safety Shoe Co. RFC TO AID IN DEWATERINC W. Reed, vice-president, Peabody Coal Co., Leschen & Sons Rope Co. FLOODED COLL1ERIES and chairman, Bituminous Coal Producers Link-Belt Co. Board, District 10, outlined the strife and Macwhyte Co. Governor Earle of Pennsylvania trouble of the last two decades in the coal Marion Steam Shovel Co. received conditional approval on industry as a proof of the necessity for some Marlin Rockwell Corporation April 6 of his request for a loan of type of government regulation. T. J. Thomas, McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. $600,000 from the RFC to help pump president, Valier Coal Co., was reelected McNally-Pittsburg Manufacturing out the water from flooded anthra- chairman of the Illinois Minerał Industries Corporation cite mines in the Wyoming Yalley. Committee, and C. C. Whittier, president, W. H. Miner, Inc. The floods in nine collieries in the Standard Chemical & Minerał Corporation, Mine Safety Appliances Co. Pittston-Duryea area, according to was again chosen secretary. A fuli report Morris Machinę Works the Keystone executive, had thrown of the Urbana meeting will appear in the Morrow Manufacturing Co. 6,000 men out of work, and unless June issue of Coal Age. Mosebach Electric & Supply Co. the situation was remedied, he said, Myers-Whaley Co. it would add $6,000.000 annually to National Carbon Co. the State’s expenditures for relief. Short-Course Program Ready National Electric Coil Co. Jesse Jones, chairman of RFC, National Malleable & Steel Castings Co. acceded tentatively to Governor The third annual short course in coal New Departure Manufacturing Co. Earle’s appeal after a similar reąuest utilization at the University of Illinois, Norma-Hoffman Bearings Corporation had been rejected by W PA on the Urbana, will be held on June 9-11. A. C. Nordberg Manufacturing Co. ground that under the work-relief Callen, head of the department of mining Ohio Brass Co. law funds could not be advanced for and metallurgical engineering, and D. R. such a project. Mitchell, professor in the same department, Penn Machinę Co. will be in charge of the course. Pennsylvania Electrical Repair Co. In addition to featuring a question box, Phillips Mine & Mili Supply Co. ★ ★ Portable Lamp & Equipment Co. the program will include the following Post-Glover Electric Co. topics: “New Developments in Stokers,” Princeton Foundry & Supply Co. have been under the direction of R. A. B. M. Guthrie, Fairbanks, Morse & Co.; Frank Prox Co. Salvati, generał manager, Island Creek “B.T.U. Determinations,” Prof. Callen; Pure Carbon Co. Coal Co., and national chairman of the “Preparation and Utilization of Coal: For Pure Oil Co. 1936 program committee. He has been Domestic Fuel,” Prof. Mitchell; “For assisted in this work by a committee of Smali Steam Plants,” L. A. Shipman, com- Roberts & Schaefer Co. 77 coal men in different parts of the bustion engineer, Southern Coal & Coke Robins Conveying Belt Co. Co.; “For Large Steam Plants,” J. G. Robinson Ventilating Co. country. A special invitation from Mr. Salvati urging the industry to send a large Worker, American Engineering Co.; “For John A. Roebling’s Sons Co. Railroads,” Prof. E. G. Young, department Republic Steel Corporation dclegation to Cincinnati next month ap- Jos. T. Ryerson & Son, Inc. pears on page 193 of this issue of Coal of railway engineering, University of Il Age; the program for the technical ses linois ; “Problems of Retail Fuel Market Safety First Supply Co. sions is published on pages 180-181. ing,” Norvin H. Vaughan, assistant gen Safety Mining Co. erał sales agent, Consolidation Coal Co.; Sanford-Day Iron Works, Inc. ♦ “Selling Heat vs. Selling Coal,” Paul Hess, Simn!ex Wire & Cable Co. Heat Service, Inc.; “Sampling Coal Ship- SKF Industries, Inc. ments,” Prof. Mitchell; “Types of Solid Soconv-Vacuum Oil Co. Advances in Research Stressed Solvay Sales Corporation At Illinois Conference Fuel,” Prof. Callen; “What’s What in Air- Standard Oil Co. Conditioning,” Prof. M. K. Fahnestock, Stenhens-Adamson Manufacturing Co. Urbana, 111., April 25.—Illinois research department of mechanical engineering, Sullivan Machinery Co. agencies and industry were each “pqt on University of Illinois; “A Year-Round Hot- Sun Oil Co. the spot” at separate sessions of the coal Water Supply,” R. E. Moore, vice-president, Bell & Gossett Co.; “Trouble-Shoot- Templeton, Kenly & Co. division of the Fourth Annual Minerał In dustries Conference, held here yesterday ing in Large Heating Plants,” Osborne Texas Co. Monnett, Commercial Testing & Engineer Tide Water Oil Co. and today. Reporting to industry on the ing Co.; “Changing Trends in Heating,” Timken Roller Bearing Co. findings and progress of the research pro Tool Steel Gear & Pinion Co. gram started fivc years ago, representatives W . B. Hughes, American Radiator Co. Bertrand P. Tracv Co. of the State Geological Survey indicated W. S. Tyler Co. that telling strides have been made in the Tyson Roller Bearing Co. fields of coal classification, study of the con- New Preparation Facilities United States Steel Corporation and stitution of coal in relation to its use, manu- subsidiaries facture of briquets, carbonization and other A laba m a B y -Products Corporation, Universal Lubricating Co. scientific factors bearing on economic Praco, Ala.; contract closed with the Utility Mine Eąuipment Co. problems. Deister Concentrator Co. for Deister- Representatives of the coal industry fol- Overstrom “Diagonal-Deck” coal-washing Yiking Manufacturing Co. lowed with a series of papers and dis- tables to handle a total feed of 28 tons of Watt Car & Wheel Co. cussions indicating which fields of research minus l-in. materiał per hour. Weir Kilby Corporation hołd promise for bettering the economic Westinghouse Electric & Manufactur A lston Coal Co., Minden (Mo.) mine: position of Illinois coals. That concentra- contract closed with McNally-Pittsburg ing Co. tion of vitrain, the 2-per-cent or less ash Mfg. Corporation for MćNally-Norton auto- West Virginia Raił Co. constituent of Illinois coals, which are of a Williamsport Wire Rope Co. matic washer to clean 3x0-in. coal and distinctly banded naturę, is responsible for Wood Preserving Corporation classify into 3x1}-, llx|- and fx0-in.; the fine coals being of a smaller ash content capacity, 225 tons per hour; to be com- than was otherwise explainable considering The exposition is under the direction of pleted about Aug. 1. the board of governors of the Manufac- the normally dusty character of the high- turers’ Section. headed by C. B. Officer, ash fusain, was made evident from a paper E l k h o r n C oai. Co., Kona, Ky.: contract vice-president, Sullivan Machinery Co., as by G. H. McCable, assistant geologist of closed with the Morrow Mfg. Co. for re- chairman. L. W . Shugg, General Electric the State survey. Results of quantitative screening equipment consisting of high- Co., will again act as honorary dircctor of determinations and coking-characteristic speed shaking screens, yibrator screens, exhibits. Responsibility for the details in tests on the several banded constituents loading boom and scraper conveyors; ca connection with the convention and expo- were outlined in his paper. pacity, 125 tons per hour of 2-in. down. sition are in the hands of Mrs. Edith R. Investigations to determine the most ef- Coombes, assistant to the secretary, Ameri fective sizes and combinations for domestic H ig h -Splint C oal Co., H ilo, Ky.; con can Mining Congress. stokers with a view of standardization on a tract closed with the American Coal Clean- Arrangements for the program for the reasonable number of sizes was urged by ing Corporation for two American pneu- eight technical sessions of the convention the producing and sales interests. George matic separators, American air filters for

212 COAL AGE — Vol.41, No.5 dust collection and other auxiliary eąuip ment for cleaning 100 tons of minus 2-in. Department of Labor Launches Committees coal per hour; plant to be completed in May. L andingville C oal Co., Landingville, Pa.: contract closed with the Deister Con- For Study of Silicosis Legislation centrator Co. for Deister-Overstrom “Diagonal-Deck” coal-washing tables with ASHINGTON, D. C., April 14— men were grouped in a single class. They the following feed capacities: barie)', 10 Ą-t a meeting of representatives of might or might not have had exposure tons per hour; rice, 12 tons per hour. W employers, employees, insurance companies, to silica dust while employed around the M ontevallo C oai. M in in g Co., Monte- medical and safety men, held here today coal mines. Much statistical information vallo, Ala.: contract closed with the Jeffrey under the sponsorship of the U. S. De is rendered useless in just that way. To Mfg. Co. for combined washing plant and partment of Labor, tacit recognition was get a basis for conclusions the past ex- tipple with a mine-run capacity of 200 tons given to the appointment, subject to re- posure must be known and, what is more, per hour. The washery, with a capacity of vision and to the approval of Secretary the past respiratory disease record of the 90 tons per hour, will be eąuipped with Perkins, of four committees that are to worker. Judging from the literaturo of surge bin, dewatering eąuipment, clarifying lay down correct medical and engineering the disease, it is prevalent in some 26 tank, storage bin for washed nut and slack, procedure for the prevention and control countrics. It seems that everyone is sus- vibrating screens and refuse-handling fa- of silicosis and to outline the economic, ceptible to its ravages. But some say cilities. Tipple eąuipment includes shaker legał, insurance, regulatory and adminis- the robust are the most likely to suffer screens, picking tables and loading booms trative phases of the silicosis problem. —ves, and some the anemie. It is said for preparing and loading lump, egg, nut Fully a half million workers are engaged that, even when removed to jobs without and slack. in industries which render them subject the silicosis hazard, 20 per cent of those P ittsbuugii Coal C o., Pittsburgh, P a .: to silicosis, declared Secretary Perkins on who reach the first stage of silicosis and contract closed with Roberts & Schaefer opening the hearing, and, she added, 4,- 40 per cent of those who reach the second Co. for complete Hydro-Separator coal 500,000 are subject to one or more occupa- stage will suffer from a progressive de- washery; capacity, 100 tons per hour, tional diseases. Damage suits have shown velopment of the disease. For practically 4xl-in. coal; to be completed June 1. that these diseases may cause the employer all those who reach the third stage the R aven R ed A sh Coal C o., I nc., Red much expense. The insurance companies disease is progressive. Ash, Va.: installation of Stump Air-Flow in 1920 declared that the expectation of Among the suggestions made by Alfred cleaning machinery and accessories, com life of those confronted with occupational C. Hirth, Air Hygiene Foundation of pleted by Roberts & Schaefer Co. Capacity disease is five years shorter than that of America, was that by physical examina- is 50 tons per hour of 3x0-in. coal. those working where no such occupational tion the employer should guard himself W ill County Coal Co., Braidwood, 111.: disease exists. against employing men whom he may have contract closed with the Robins Conveying Thirty-six industries have silicosis haz- to compensate for silicosis, though the Belt Co. for coal-handling and loading ards, declared Dr. R. R. Sayers, Public disease has been created in some other eąuipment with capacity of 150 tons per Health Service, on being introduced by man’s employ. He sympathized, however, hour, including 30-in. mine-run belt con- the chairman, V. A. Zimmer, director, Di- with the employees’ objection to physical veyor, transfer chute with lip screen and a vision of Labor Statistics, Department of examination when such examination re 30-in.x28-ft. belt-type loading boom with Labor. Not one-half million but 1,200,000 sults in their being cast out of employment a 150-tons per hour capacity. persons are working in industries which or placed at other work at a reduced in- expose them to silicosis. Lanza and Vane come. conservatively estimate over a half million persons as exposed to a harmful degree Juries Unable to Evaluate Evidence Hope to End Deadlock on Wages of silica dust. Formerly, it was believed that Some legislation, declared Mr. Hirth, Before May 1 Deadline the injury arose from the cutting of the has been passed without due consideration. lung by silica dust and from irritation In some instances no medical boards have Faced with an ultimatum from the min resulting thereform. Today it is believed been created to determine the existence ers that no further extension of the old wage that the action may be chemical. The hy- and extent of the alleged silicotic’s disabil- agreement beyond April 30 would be granted, drated non-crystalline forms seem more ac- ity. It is essential that jurors should not the anthracite wage conference several days tive than dehydrated crystalline forms in be reąuired to sift such evidence, for they ago put negotiations into the hands of a the irritation of the lungs. lack knowledge of the techniąue of silicosis and find the testimony unintelligible; in new joint subcommittee in an effort to beat Fine Dust More Harmful the deadline. Members of the new sub fact, even the court may not be able to committee are: J. B. Warriner, president, The finer the dust the more detriinental understand and evaluate it, so far is it Lehigh Nayigation Coal Co.; A. B. Jessup, it appears to be. The heavier dust falls to from its regular line of duties. Should vice-president, Jeddo-Highland Coal Co.; the ground largely outside the human body. a juror, on being ąuestioned, show a com- Philip Murray, international vice-president, Dust falls as follows: One-micron dust, petence to understand the testimony, that and Thomas Kennedy, international secre- 1 to 3 ft. per hour, depending on the may be the very reason for which he is tary-treasurer, United Mine Workers. specific gravity; 5-micron dust of a spe- excused. On the other hand, commissions While no details of the proposed agreement cific gravity of seven, 60 ft. per hour; 10- and medical boards have, or acąuire, abil- have been made public, hope was expressed micron dust, with such speed that it would ity to understand and weigh the evidence in a statement April 23 that terms acceptable seldom enter the lungs. Working a while as submitted. to both operators and miners could be in dust, and working a while where there Whether silicosis should be compensable worked out before May 1. is none, the worker may be benefited by or remain the subject of common-law ac- Prior to this optimistic announcement the the time of his absence from the endanger- tions in those States recognizing a com only news which had leaked out from the ing dust, but he suffers the fuli effect mon-law cause of action for occupational conference was that the two parties were of the summation of his exposures. So. disease, asserted Mr. Hirth, is sąuarely be deadlocked on every major issue. Oper intermittence in employment is not of any fore us. In Great Britain, and many of ators at the outset of the negotiations, which real value. High concentrations of dust her dominions, silicosis and kindred dis began in New York late in February, re- are most effective in promoting silicosis. eases have been made compensable under jected the miners’ demands for a 30-hour Coal dust when mixed with silica dust, Occumtional Disease Acts. thus avoiding week, higher wages and eąualization of Dr. J. S. Haldane had declared, lessens the filing of thousands of actions for dam- running time. The union turned a deaf the danger of silicosis, but this declara- ages by ambulance-chasing lawyers. Their ear to the operators’ counter-proposals for tion cannot be regarded as proved. At fees are limited, fortunately, under many a reduction in basie rates. When the old Picher, Okla., Dr. Sayers and his as- of the better-drawn compensation acts. agreement was extended to April 30 ( Coal sociates had found that coal miners hired Medical experts should try to give the Agc, April, 1936, p. 158), it was stated that to work in the lead and zinc mines de- public some usable information as to the a further extension would be made if the veloped silicosis after an average of only relationship between silicosis and disabil- conference was unable to reach an agree years of labor, whereas other men ity. That may be asking the impossible, ment within the month. Later, however, averaged 13i years in arriving at the same and expensive research may be necessary the miners served notice such an extension stage. This actually proved nothing, he only in the end to prove unfortunately that would not be granted. declared, for in making their study all coal it is impossible, but both time and money

May, 1936 — COAL AGE 213 wvukl U' vwU spcnt, U. said Mr. (tirth, his most recent employnietit. In Illinois, and experienced workers were eliminated, we talked more of tlisability and less of employees having lost their common-law not only because of silicosis but because of silicosis, it would «H>rę m ttly etepress defensc. the cmploycrs fratued laws making other physical defeets. A bill drastically om idea One old darky, 84 years old. sued proeision for compensation. hedgiug it limiting compensation is now before the a counmny for whom he had not worked a round so as to preeent abuse by designing Legislature. Neither the Labor Depart ior years, elaiuiiug bis e.\(>eetation of lawyers. ment nor the workmen are proud of it. lite had lw u shortened by silicosis. Mr. The followiug chairmen were appointed said Mr. Andrews, but the workers want Uifth had scen tew men of his age iu such by the Divis1ou of Labor Statistics: Dr. their jobs back. liue physieat condition. Sayers. conuuittee on preeentiou of silicosis The employees' first contact with silico- throtigh medical control: \\‘. A. Cook. sis, dedated Mi. Hirth. is not ordiuarily State Department of Health. Connecticut, Peterson Mine Fire Flooded oecasioned by illuess or disability, but by cominittee on prevention of silicosis througn an inten iew with some "num er” drummiug eugineering control: V. P. Aheani, Xa- Practical extinguishment of the fire in »1‘ business for his lawy er boss. Speaking tional Sand and Gravel Association. com- the Peterson mine. Creighton. Pa., is re- Ken-i'a".y, w i h a tittle peesuading. able- mittee on economic. legał and insurance ported by W. P. Morris, ioreman in charge bodied men with goOil jobs are cominced phases ot the silicosis problem; L. M. Wal- of fire-fighting operations under W PA that they are atllicted with an insidious ling. Labor Conunissioner. Rhode Island. project Xo. 5101. Originally operated by hukiitg disease and that their present em- committee on regulatory and administratiee the West Tarentum Fuel Co., which ceased S-loyiueiit means a preinature death. So phases ot the silicosis problem. Mining work in 1928. the mine was run as a truck the employee sigus a contract authorwing a men have no part iu any of the committees. operation in 1929. Adjoming the mine, so-eatled lawyer he has never seeu to file a The trend just now seetus toward coucen- in the Thick Freeport seam. are the Aeenue suit iu his behalt. agreeing to pay him hali tration on the abrasives and construction Xo. 2 mine. Allegheny Coal & Coke Co.: ot what he may tecocer and troni the r » industries. Xatrona Xo. 1 mine. Penn Salt Co.; maming sh.ue to pay alt ęosts iueident to In a eotnmunicatiou that arrived too late Creighton Mine. Creighton Fuel Co.: Mc- the litijSSŁtion. The etuployee sigus the ren- tor presentation at the conference. E. F. Fetridge mine. McFetridge Bros.: Cornell traet and has to nuit the job. Many years Andrews. Industrial Conunissioner. New Xo. 1 mine. Crucible Fuel Co.; ar.d the a,rv consumed in Hiijtatioit durtag which he \\>rk State, said that the depression had Harwick mine. H ar wiek Coal & Coke Co. .md his tarnik are without support. In “thrown many older workers out of em- The btaze in the Peterson mine started many cases he loses. his iob and recetees no ploymeut atKl prompted many of them to Jan. 1 in the timber tramework and basket Contpetis-ttion. Sih-Coties are rare as com- lite either common-law suits or compensa used in mushroom cultivation in the old pared w ith men driYen trom their iohs by tion claims. In Xew York State an epi workings. W. J. McGregor. inspector for shyster lawyers. demie of comiuon-law suits startin^ about the 14th Bituminous District. was placed is it just, asked John V, Frey, American tw > years ago c-.'nvi-ced etnoloye-s that some in charge of extinguishmer.t operations by Federation of l abor. to discharge a man solution et the long standing problem of Secretary ot Mines M. J. Hartneady. and or tower his wagę tor silicotic damage? silicosis was necessary . . Abrupdy. siii- tu secure the necessary tunds a W PA grant Kvideiive ot silicosis justities not dischar-e costs was made a compensable disease. at was obtained through the influence of the or demotion but ettgineermg measures to hrsi under a bili providing Hmited com- Freeport operators. To bring the fire. cov- wmove the otfetKłiit.e cause. When typhoid nensation and then. when insurance rates ering a broken area of approximately 6 attacks the ęitiaeus ot' a wnnnunity, men were to be ąuadrupled and cash deposits acres. under control. dams and floodmg are not vemoved from their homes; iusiead ■i as much as per employee reûired. were resorted to. supplemented by air seals the water is purified. under the all-inclusiYe occupatioua! disease and a pipę line tor ext:nguistiing exterior b'veryone wants to e\terntinate silicosis. amendmeut enacted last year. Lt can be blazes. AJbout seven-eighths ot the tire is Why. then, not do it' sald Klłis Searles. seen that our present problem was. caused believed to have been put out already and editor. i Mi/at '/:*i0 1! ' ker-ę Journal* Xo by the fact that employers ran for coeer complete extinguishment is expected in the one wants to eutploy a man wh > will be- to the \V>>rk!uen's Compensation Law '“hen uear futurę. ęome a hazard. Medical examhiations to threatetted with damage suits tor millions e\c!ude such a man are fair. but not esani- of dollars. tna'->-n> ' ■ ou d'schii"'ie or dem»>te a man “When employers in dust-hazard i'idu-' Persorial S ot es wrecked tn sQOseone's employ. Then. also. tries came utsder the present Workmett s too otteu are medical e\amin.ttious used to Compensation Law. they tound they were W a l t e r L. B. v x t a , formerly Xew Eng- set rkl o; men otherwrse uudesirublę—too not. much better off than betore because of iand represeutatis-e of the Lehigh Xaviga- ac«ve nerhaps in anion maUers or even -.» t''eir phuits ratlier than tace these increased R. B. Battsy iias been appointed assistant c-'sts. Satesmen fr-.nu other States, in sell- It :s easy. said Dr. A, j. Laiua. assist.t1 t treight tramc manager of the Chicago. Bur h«c their goods. etnphasiied the htgher medkal uttector. Metropolitan Life lnsnr- lington! & Quincy R.R.. with contintteJ wsss u' operafion in Xew York due tu aitce Co„ to state that no one wants silico- jurisuicćon over the coal tramc depart cost of iXcupat:onal-disease competłsaHott. sss: thereu«?i do away with it. But têre ment. effective April 1. The position ci Fxaminati«n >t empiovees was detnanded >s oulj tw tnueh i^noraitee as to the means. ejal tranie manager has been abolished. of combuinsg it. as to the causes- ot it and by the insurance carr-ers, and mam w>Ut as to the medical cou-aitkms surrouisding it. L. C- Buucs. tranie manager. Stearns Standartis tor \-ray riims arst C.-ai i Lumber Co.. Stearns. Ky_ .ras oem !Ksdery ijoard. succeeding Lee (junter. Kceo men troui- baiarti and kee;> liacarti Kjioxville. Term. * \:uer can Mumie. Cougress: annuai eon* trv-m men are the two w tys u avot<.iiu$t ^c- C harles- F. DkB.\kbelsbex !ias eom- eentioi.i and e„\position. May li-l?. Cin- cidem. deeiare^l L. B. Raiycrott. Pennsyi- nleted 2J years’ serei-ce as prestdent of: the ctmiati. Ohio. % Selt ' s. \ .• •••.•• catt be u'«ie Alabama. Fuel & Iron Co., and in coin- ©łttręij, but L'er'i>a;is vi.» cos anproacit cine. * Big: Sauuy-Etk.horrt Coal Operators As- metnoratiou of the anuiversary the boarrt ot des^deratttin 50-5*!. sKratiou: annual meeting. June i Ash- dtrectors. o f the company presenteń a S;'e.:k !!x tor huuseit. nvt industry. O. c. land. Ky. handsotue engrave*l piatinum watch to rum. American Steel Koutisirie-s. O '•. cas;.'. sjate-i that in :ti> tow:t a lawyer :n~ * Illinois Mining Iitstiiute: liśth annuai El K. E\-.\.\s. was elected secretary- treas- serten a ”Heh> \V;intttv* a:ve hi ’>iłt tńp and summer nteettng, June $-T. urer ot the Southern Coal. Coke & Manu- the newspa^rs. \\Tix'n j, tuait ai’ptie*.i tor u >?"■ 'Gjiuen ca;iie ‘ . Łving Ss. Louis, tacturu!^. Co.. St. Louis. M- - - the annuai s Mo.v at LI june S. atsd; cejarmeg to ■.neeting ot the boaru ot directors. rte sac- St. Louis at 10 a.tn.^ juue 71 vfłv intormsłt the applicaist thai he !tad att ceeus H . K. Xieters. resigjied. J.v M B S Ł M.uies. tortnec sales manager, was e&sted ■nsauous Jise-a^ ti'at wouid deswoy hts 'jse~ * Mnst inspeetors ;i Amertea. : tuitiess and. sberten his lite. He was -7>h atmuiii ojnventio«.. jtwe and v-ce-presidet>.t. tvł -ue tłre osatpaiły w i’ -cit uiti :îveit. him juty i. Stiriey-Saeoy Hotel. DeXiCś liasbeeit appointed ctriei

COAL AG It' — V d J :. S a ś miEng engineer by the Nationa] Coal k Sfady W ide Rangę of Problem* Cofce Co. f.ffecteee A pril 1, succeeding W . D. Aemstsojcc.. who resigned to enter A t insfitufe Sessions the serrice oi the government. M r. Eyrićk fcsrmerly was generał manager of the Sal: lakę CE}:. Elah, AjiriJ —A v i Je rangę of optsstttrtK. saiey- ant! «ę<> Soathera Cksal & Cofce Co.. BocnEton, A la. atómic prênis iftaturefl s&r iecłttfesll »*:v- M. Hłm 3> łias heen app:>mted superfn- .-.itias ihe K«skj- ilwmitaiii C«a! Miniuj/ łendent ci the Gamma tnine of the Ala losthirtt whicii aidefi a .t»ssrlii»p bama By-Products Corporation, sncceeEng iit"tr li»dav, A iheur;. w{ tł» <>: C J. Hager, deceased. Mr. Heard was ' -u: r » «r iwariti,” sś3*tiiijg uu1 !!>■- - generał iropermtendent of mines for the in '.losa! żzziiuisj; in i b e Wasat-Ai Piaitau Woodward Ircm Co. for a snmber of years.. .fiśld hT Utah -Ktas ł>y H- E, EitJtlt> B rrr? J. Ibelaot, J ł . AmfirriBe, JE Y _ inatm, engme E-titteŁ1 .&Ktlci Pltói farma v assistant to the presideut, PEtmirij? jjb -niitH:.-. -far ssfetj- and cułłsersra- decteS president .off the Owi Creel; Coa] 1 iuT’ pf '.-even 'łw»rt ba ł»«r»: nade at fe t has been £Befl by the tnrpEnrmen: m 1V_ Ł E u a h CK. E>.) tiitas- .jw -fee .Kivsr The25& amanersary pj M r. Jiickanhot: z Suuac. Eirmerty fuel agent at S-narwlłe. :Mmk^ Co,, v.-itt> .ład^satumieg liaśte;- E trift .lentu tomteedm Ihr W ist JZjttttucłry Ct/a- a 2 2 *. liguilt js k . s»f v.-i«cł: M t> C n .. rr? mnich hc ńs frssident. ttttr uf" -narkesaiat. deiiaresi .A. C . Orew;, :Gi:'4KJa!- L ee L ose. -!-i=e-pres3dent, Om cESeit śemeŚ tm Marsh 20 taft c 'b m q u e i s ‘ ;3fenatagfaring Co, ,A socali Statkr drwńjg Cosi Ctcporaticm, was efectrf president cc Siurpis. S y . M c ram i io -the aćmpatty jrim r, ettt-ie- Ei a E fe «a n . ia : i«er -awi»- to ~ww> the TirgiEa -CdbI Operat orf' Assodafior ikr RaA jslm d K IL . netfk itmisk ht nać a :csj»t .« S4.&- -per tut: s/f ssai t*s rfee at the antena] anssdnĘ on Aprt! 3Ł Other basu tBsstttmti to ih r [leucrai sit-pc-intendcnt tsrrtaę. si-E V/aiter Ej . Isfet:. Jo; cttacers chosen a re : agcs-jjaróSent. J . Ł .p j -mnih.1 -power. ;fectjrii^ Co., ssaśłst .* -soirnatatw: ŁawiS' Osoer, reseEer. Blaiłwoofl Coal k Om:; ioadk® o’ 74uEt.; E a8t>feer -»•*:. osra' Co.: secretaty-trtastirer. O k ik e H . jE sse ł s. Etrj",- ToaEiiae, -cos^ssatwff -,-W; - w z Ł S. 5Jrxs3C. iormern- -nrate stgKsśn- m sast& r m fhe Sstnśtrć .Cea.1 C u ., Sah 413 assf 7 IE t. wrr ' r E fc •tłcSsa*.:: tendetc a t r-arfinr mine. lE est Targana E a ia ’Cit_v. E*tati. v.a; eitm-ec presickir- of .iwTagsr. SMŚergraaać Ccal & -Gake Ctcjwca&iu. fas accejnefi a liłe runnanę- on Apri! t. 5ewwdjtę ŁŁ JeJrre-. M jiiniŁ>fftufe|g -C'.. e rrp ań«; »e*> sEEiar pBĆnaE tutifit -Sie Ciaróc-Jicie:— lirutmrr. -fiłe tate Erejisrhi: A. Sweet. *rśif t-r*: iSScKK- -ryjMSlK- Jur - fe s « » 5 * ^ « tł sS H taSasnac Gbbj C l-, te P-saofa CreeE T C 3»ec E Mscth. Eńe .aew prsMdni; win iwie Kasi-- wrśfe ,*os«g;i«Ł. Ya_ -nEere 5te snsasfe 5Sśaę*Era P ieew G- has wen; 3n -fet -aa! nidastę.- in 'utaf. Sar Estreatne? Car Tunwr**? ,who resicneć tt ai~^nr. a p-jsmuc -wrS "the -natri- y ta ^ . -'ii stttstsskc .as sits-jsBBB&tt: MaE^fet iaEagr i»ą»wsJiBSii aać 'fi-- A*ns3achiaE S s c iric fffewsr Co. 5b Eotrati. % EiEieKiEE A- ?v.-eł-. Jfe., iacać (i? iiie W . T a. ŚatiotsC Coa’: Cl-_ ai*u u: 5ar. Eake Cirs’, aatfeEg t»sfet«E a' -fet. EwEpeufje»* -Cca' E Cdissr O' ,., -.-sfttó -ssas&sr Gs w s e xi'.®EKt?. ęenera' -E-perf.r. lis- and ł «a? ic -fe :śate- .rw K sńti A SwesŁ 'ś&ggĘ&eć, dasc&Z CoUsriss 'Carj«»raśi'jc. .ias wass ap- E tan-, to Easc j-uawr; ł«r feir. E-.tj: 2 pcanSaB oriEior. srritermteMłeiit tć fee c . 3Ł "W att . ^KHsaal ttssasaer' *r -iw- H.. -4 -wsre dasstSłsśi ję. Scwist J- Ja iE .x Jdbcstotm ffisSśbn te &e tamgatrr. stne- EtjsC Eaasa utai fe Cofe- ;S ł. -ag»mBfeag jKoswinfe. ISaś. EsśsE.E- ptmssjEwśE ,-kss* ftedpę Jaani: ossaset. Eôtra i lemra’ Eenny-rranE. ia łesc -śisesattŁ saowwŁ. -pri.Tj>err- '5-asgkś'.. E3-- ®rist EwsijM Ł G i t o ł Jsfenstt>wn iSwsion nnpeewr, ■io -fe ppKssjósnęr «c -fes .Tfjataany. Efe 'iKpa. E sjsaSt-- aae t®ss5Ji%' 6*r. *&- snccEsaf Ser. Et»aens. as ęsnssal inspjKKc: a a & a a e :u- lam. fe t ?*.« t» jsaassa- ■sEats; Ems: 2 :.— efejff s»«a; -E stasifeaim: Scbest SŁ JcesŁ asósgr engfieer. .'-jims- .•naaasss’ aać wit jefitt Ei.s iśjaa&SBtnEsr:- ••*r;łfia&ag.&5ł»fis.aai6ai®^>«dar,‘t ?' -at^rt t®*B ^ffiróótBł. sasres®. M r. -Cawfe. smt ac EnEaaetjKĆa.. -erssatsaSaflEjE fenasrr: V- 7. 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216 COAL AGE — Vol.41, No.5 the Morse Chain Co.’s New York office and Indiana, who spoke for his company Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Okla as Connecticut representative. E. H. J es- and the Indiana Coal Trade Association, homa, George F. Klein, assistant to the sop, formerly with the Morse Chain Co. said the coal industry does not fear fair president, Mackie-Clemens Fuel Co., which at Ithaca, N. Y., is now in charge of and honest competition. “We believe that markets coal in South Dakota, western Morse Chain sales for the T ranter M fg. on a fair basis of comparison,” he asserted, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, Co., 105 Water St., Pittsburgh, Pa. “electricity can be generated with coal more testified on April 11 that he subscribed to cheaply than by water power, and making all that had been presented by other repre- the electricity with coal will continue great sentatives of the coal industry in opposition Norris MVA Bill Attacked numbers of men in employment who will be to the MVA project. "There is no escape permanently unemployed should the elec By Coal Producers from the conclusion,” he asserted, “that tricity be made with water power.” such a hydro power program means large- Senator Norris’ Missisśippi Valley Au- Secretary Dern, of the War Department, scale displacement of coal and immense thority bill, which proposes to set up a in a letter to the committee on April 6, damage to a great industry, with resulting super TVA in sixteen States between the said that the bill gave too much authority permanent contraction of employment. The AUeghanies and the Rockies, was vigor- to a single independent agency over widely addition of immense hydro-electric power ously attacked by spokesmen for the bitu- different activities and would result in schemes to flood control and navigation, minous-coal industry at a hearing on April waste and loss of efficiency. The Agricul and letting the latter bear the lion’s share 1 before a subcommittee of the Senate Com- ture Department and Federal Power Corti- of the total inyestment, may make for mittee on Agriculture. John D. Battle, mission asserted that the bill would dupli- 'cheap’ electricity, but only because huti- executive secretary, National Coal Asso- cate and conflict with activities of their dreds of millions of dollars from the gov- ciation, conceded that no one could ąuarrel own. ernment treasury have been charged up to with the ostensible objectives of the bill Senator Norris characterized the oper other purposes in the combination. That to carry out flood control, aid navigation ators’ opinions as narrow minded. Reiter- is why the coal industry regards goyern- and promote irrigation, but added that “if ating that the bill was designed primarily ment hydro-electric power as in reality MVA followed the same course as TVA to protect the soil, control floods and make subsidized out of the public treasury; why lias followed, then we are likely to find rivers nayigable, he said that water power we regard it as unfair competition; why that hydro-electric power and its trans- is a byproduct, and that it would be an we object to it, as embodied in this bill, mission and sale are dominant functions. economic sin to throw it away. and in TVA, and in many of the projects “Every new kilowatt of water power,” Appearing in behalf of coal operators in launched or financed by PW A.” lie contended, “either displaces existing coal-generated power or preempts new power markets which otherwise might be supplied by new steam power plants with new outlets for coal.” Coal-burning steam- Chemists Consider Composition of Coal generating electric plants in the Mississippi Valley area, he said, now represent an annual coal consumption of more than Relative to Age, Analysis and Uses 17,000,000 tons, and to displace this tonnage would mean a permanent annual loss OAL RANK and constitution were the the two, a complete analysis reąuiring less of $50,000,000, to say nothing of the fact C subjects of a number of papers at the than two hours. It ascertains only the oxy- that for every ton of coal displaced some- 91st meeting of the American Chemicalgen content of the sample, and with it, it one either directly or indirectly loses a day’s Society, held April 15 at Kansas City, Mo. is not necessary to determine the nitrogen, work. “If this bill is in good faith a To assist in the determination of coal rank, sulphur or other elements, as is reąuired flood-control and navigation and soil-fer- Prof. H. L. Olin, Iowa State University, where oxygen is found by difference. tility proposition,” Mr. Battle concluded, recommended the Heathcoat method of Discussing the exhaustive chlorination of “and not a gigantic electric-power promo- measuring oxygen absorption, which, he a bituminous coal, J. F. Weiler, Carnegie tion clothed in the mantle of flood-control stated, had been applied to a great number Institute of Technology, pointed out that and soil-erosion prevention, then there of coals. Potassium permanganate was used in regulation of coal-distillation processes ought not to be any sound objection to as oxidizing solution and a rangę of values to obtain the greatest yield of the more confining the major premises of tHe bill in decreasing order was obtained for a yaluable products and in determination of to flood control, irrigation and navigation.” number of coals from the lignites of North what other chemical processes might be West Virginia operators believe that Dakota to the semi-smokeless coals of West employed to obtain desirable derivatives, it flood control, navigation, irrigation and soil Virginia. The values obtained with the is necessary to know whether the carbon fertility are only incident to the grant of yarious coals corresponded closely to the compounds in the coal are of the straight- authority for the generation and distribu- order of the rank of the coals as deter- chain or cyclic groups. Exhaustive chlori tion of electric power, said Carl Scholż, mined by other criteria. The method, it nation of the coal at a high temperature appearing as representative of the West was asserted, employs chemical techniąue offers a method of determining the relative Virginia Coal Association. “Investment of only and, therefore, should be more precise, proportions of the two groups, as the public funds in gigantic darns for the pur- in generał, than methods depending upon straight-chain compounds, being more vola- pose of deyeloping water power,” he said, the measurement of physical properties. It tile, are driven off, while the cyclic carbon "the ultimate cost of which is projected in should prove useful, said Prof. Olin, in es- compounds remain. A Pittsburgh coal billions, means that we are on the thresh- tablishing an official coal classification. chlorinated at 200 deg. C. for six days was old of hydro-electric development in this As an alternatiye to determination of the thus found to have about 75 per cent of country that will further depress the coal oxygen content of organie substances by cyclic and 15 per cent of straight-chain industry of my State and the nation. Coal difference, W. R. Kirner, coal research lab- skeletons. Much of the former being in- mines will lose their markets, they will oratory, Carnegie Institute of Technology, soluble in yarious solvents, the coal must suspend operations and thousands of miners proposed hydrogenation as a means of mak have contained many hexagonal structures will be automatically forced on the unem ing direct microdeterminations. Two meth —that is, phenolic bodies. ployment rolls. ods are available for direct oxygen analysis, Treatment of Pittsburgh seam coal with To relieve unemployment is the major said Mr. Kirner. The first involves burn- the solyents anilinę, tetralin and phenol at problem of the nation,” said Mr. Scholz, ing the sample in an atmosphere of oxygen temperatures up to 400 deg. C. was de- 1 and here we have the Congress proposing and then determining the oxygen content tailed by Dr. Robert S. Asbury, Carnegie to expend millions to create unemployment. of the products, as well as the quantitv of Institute of Technology. High-pressure If the Federal Congress would expend the oxygen used in the combustion. With this stainless-steel apparatus was necessary, for same billions on the expansion of markets method, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are the solyents boil, under normal conditions, Jor coal, and employ the same concern it determined simultaneously. The second at temperatures below those used in the ex- has exhibited for agriculture, upon the method invoIves burning the sample in hy periments. With anilinę at 225 deg. C., coal operators and the coal miners, the coal drogen and determining the water formed tetralin up to 400 deg. C. and phenol up to industry would be the most prosperous of by the union of the latter with oxygen. In 300 deg. C., 47, 85 and 67 per cent of the any industry in the nation.” both cases, microsamples of 3 to 10 milli- coal, respectiyely, was made soluble. The George J. Leahy, yice-president, Repub- grams were used in the investigations. The products ranged from reddish sticky liąuids hc Coal & Coke Co., with mines in Illinois hydrogenation method is the more rapid of to dark brown powders, all being extremely

May, 1936 — COAL AGE 217 complcx organie chcmfcals. Though the PERMISSIBLE PLATES ISSUED tendent, becoming division superintendent ttltra-microscope magnified tlic products 980 in 1923. iinie>i, no particles could l>c scen. It is Two additions were made to the possible, Dr. Asbttry stated, to conccntrate list of permissiblc equipment by the J ohn B. Corgax, 69, State mine inspec- most of the ash of the coal in the products U. S. Bureau of Mines in March, tor in charge of the Tenth anthracite dis- not erintcndent at operations of the Sloss- ctir at temperatures above 130 dcc. C. This ferred from Nos. 9 and 10 mines. Sheffield Steel & Iron Co., Yolande Coal & Information may be usefut should latcr ex- Coke Co., Alabama Consolidated Coal & periments show that hmnic acid nuist K' Coke Co. and the Central Iron & Coal Co., added or rcmoyod pdor to the briquettiug in the Alabama field, died late in March of lignite. Slicht yariations in the cliar- Exempt From Holding Act following a short illness. aeter of the humie acid from the two proeesses were noted. The Westmoreland Coal Co.. Pennsyl- vania Coal & Coke Corporation, Stearns Coal & Lumber Co.. Berwind-White Coal Carbondale Property Sold Mining Co., and Clearfield Bituminous To Opcn New Lignite Mine Coal Corporation havc been granted oxemp- Physical properties of the Carbondale tion from the provisions of the Public Coal Co. in Athens County, Ohio, were A new mine near Lafayette. Colo., in Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 in sold to the Sunday Creek Coal Co., accord- what is known as the "Lignite" field, is orders issued by the Securities and Ex- ing to an announcement on April 10 by to l>c opened hy the Boulder Vallev Cóa.1 change Conuuission. In the case of the E. W. Strong, of Cincinnati, representa- Co., with headqtsarters in Demer. The four first-named Companies the Commission tive of the William T. McClintock estate. ivtmv»ny plasss to spend about $300.000 in found that they are only incidentally hold Settlement of heirships necessitated the developnrcnt work. ing companies, being pritnarily engaged in sale. The Carbondale company has been o-her business than that of a gublic utility, associated with the Sunday Creek com .. n'- - and do not derive a materia) part of their pany for some time. Ben Franklin Propcrty Sold ineome from subsidiary utility companies. The last-named company, haring leased its Sak' ot the Ben Franklin Coal Co. p«»p- utility subsidiaries to the Pennsvlvania Coal crty at MouihIsyiUc. W. Ya„ to C- D. -V Coke Corporation, was declared esempt Gas Lines Get Under Way front the prwisions of the act provided Terry, ot Kewstw. li!., for $13.100 has The Michigan Public Ltilities Comniis- that it refrained from exercise of voting Kwi confirmed hy Judge W. E„ Baker in sion issued an order on April 14 authoriz- U. S. Distric; Conrt at Wheeline. W. Va. riihts, contro! of proxies with respect to ing the Grand Rapids Gas Light Co. to in- The >a*e was tl» result os" tederal tw iw r- subsidiaries' stock and from designating stall a 60-mile pipę line to serve Grand ship prwwlntgs. The new owr.er is otScers and directors of the companies. 3. Rapids with a 50-50 mixture of natural son-in-law ot M. I. \lcęhva>h\ head of and artificial gas. Ground was broken the the Ben Ftai-Uis company. Reorgtmiis- same day by the company to pipę gas from tion ot the o.\n-pany •> contcntplated. O bitu itry Sotes the Milbrook-Hinton-Beividere Townships held in Mecosta and Montcalm counties within 60 days. H arry H . \V.vsFtF.u>. o5. treasurer of the Cost-Finding for Convcyor Belts Cottsolidstion Coal Co. and a native of The Northern Natural Gas Co.. Omaha. Marj umi. diod April 4 at his home in Xeb„ has let the installation contract for To assist h- k«pń\c an acccra:e PJainSeJd. N. J. a new 20-in. welded-steel pipę line from reOOrd ot heh-<\>«veyor c*>s;x, the R F. the natural-gas fields at Hugoton, Kan.. to Gowirkh Ca , Afcmv Ohk\ « S m the. F u k k H,'ktox. superintendent of the a }x>int near MulUnsrille. K an .. ahout 100 '\'ost~Fńvo*. t the Bethlehem Steel Corpi^ration, died supply for municipalities in Nebraska and oferatk'.;-. and K»inwt»?>c«. indtaSr^r April 4 a heart attack at his home Minnesota. M t .v,v. conreyor vX'śoriprk' began in the Broad Top field, bot eompletion in July. reached an important \km. f.nal wrfiHoR o: be';. a«d reoces- s.:ve IW l he had bet” oonnefted with mines stage in its devc!opmem with tlie Iettmg of r.łe-.N.iatłor.s fer iwtnro ŁnsitaBatksts. Ssęple- in the „iohr.stown óistrkt. lotnńtg the Beth* a contract on March 17 tor 44.000 tons of :v>e-n;irsg the tvvorv.s. h’ank-s are sectSoess or. feher.i ir.;erests a< a miner, he was pro- 22-in. seamless Steel pipc tor a 2.'-'-mile co-.vetvr-V:; óata a-.v, twethods ot pro- :-.vrce j'.!ccessiveh to tirchws, assistant \\xided pipę line from Zionsville. IrstL to Jo«Vtv,Ttp be.t hte. n-.ine toreinan, n-ine forenian. and superin- the city limits of Detroit.

~~COAL A G E — J 'ol.4I. -Yo-5 WHAFS NEW Coal-Mining Eąuipment~~

UTILITY JACK; PRESS brush yoke and bearing pedes- creased rope wear; even dis tal; the "W ” type for mount- tribution, thorough penetration The “Acco” utility jack No. ing Ideał grinders on larger ex- and immediate drying of lacąuer 35 is offered by the Welded citers, motors and generators, or lubricant, regardless of Chain Division of the American using the main frame; the "L’ni- weather conditions; reduced Chain Co., Inc., Bridgeport, yersal” type for attachment to cost; and greater safety. Conn., for applications involving the main housing and bearing stretching, pulling, binding or support; and the “Platę" type lifting. It is suitable, according for attachment to the end beli to the company', for working of the smaller classes of units. loads up to 4,000 lb. The com BUCKET CONYEYOR ing. thus tending to reduce air- plete unit consists of the frame speed through the valve l*orts. The improved McCaslin with operating parts, 10 -ft. The only moving parts of the stretcher chain and 5-ft. anchor piyoted bucket convevor is now new valve are a number of ROPE 0ILER offered by the Mead-Morrison "valve channels” within each of John J. Colombel, 200 Broad Division, Robins Conveving which 15 a fiat spring, When way, New York City, as agent Belt Co., New York City, the valves lift, the spruigs for Otto Adolphs, Dortmund, which stresses conformation to straighten and a smali ąuantity Germany,, offers the "System modern ideas of accessibility, of air is trapped between Bocher'’ rope-cleaning and lubri- demountability, adjustability springs and channels, forming, cating machinę, stated to be and dependability. The im- cushions whose functions are used by 150 European mining prored comeyor is offered in to decelerate the valve channels operations. With this eąuip three standard widths of buckets after opening and bring them ment, the hoisting rope to be — 18. 24 and 30 in.—with a to a stop softly and ąuietly treated first passes through a chain pitch of 24 in. Speed without impact. Advantages chain. Weight is 34 lb. without nozzle where it is cleaned by a varies from 40 to 48 fp-in.. noted by the company include: chains. jet of heated compressed air. handling 40 to 80 tons of coal practically silent operation; Wright Mfg. Diyision of the Another compressed-air nozzle per hour and reąuiring 7}- to total elimination of impact; company offers a new line of dries the rope, which then passes 25-hp. motors. light weight of valve channels. hydraulic and screw presses, in- through a lubricating or var- which lift straight off the *eat cluding 25-, 40- and 60-ton hy nishing nozzle, where the lubri without fiexing and return to draulic presses and 25- and 35- cant is evenly applied by com- the same position; inereased efficiency: and loiurer life. ton screw presses. pressed air, also heated. Finally, CHANNEL VALVE the rope passes through a drying nozzle to complete the treating Ing er soli-Rand Co., Phillips- operation. burg, X. announces the To facilitate placing or re- "Channel Valve” for compres- OIL-RESISTING HOSE CRINDER SUPPORTS nrjying the apparatus. provision sors. which it states alkiws is made for disassembling it into utilization of a greater-than- Ideał Commutator Dresser two parts by loosening a few usual parlion of the valve open- Co., 1013 Park Ave., Sycamore, setscrews. Treatment of a 2.500- rating effects of bot oil from 111., offers a new line of sup- ft. rope, it is stated, reąuires comoressors 3S aiK>o?233ced dy ports to supplement the regu 25 to 30 minutes: assembling the Reptiblic Rubber Ox, le *yP?s 'urnished with Ideał and dismantling the apparatus Yotrigstcwrs*, Ohio- The t&bc, Precision" commutator and reąuires approximately l i baur-. xt is staied. 25 made from a slip-ring grinders. The “O.E.” Advantages cited for the ap conjpound siirnlar to that ased support, according to the com paratus include: eliminatioo of in oil-corkducting" hose asd caa pany, is attached to the motor brushes or scrapers. with <łe- be saterated irttb oil for lora? so that the grinding tool with penods yeitbout affectln;? bose its resurfacing element is serńceaińBtr- Other features mounted on a rigid and in- crted by the cosnpaijy incl&dt: nexible base. is in the right mgh resłstance to heat position and is high enough for non-obstructed and easy opera tkm and expoeare to stm ar/d tion with the work in the fuli weafbcr: and great strenzth. 'ueW« 01 l^e °Perat°r. With the ‘ O.E.” support the grinder pay be mounted between the brush _ holders. permitting re PYROM ETER surfacing without dismantling brushes or rigging and with Prrometer JnstrsnK the motor operating at normal speed_ in its own bearings, thus assuring a superior surface on 3t describes as a totat;/ a true-running commutator. at^aed direct-readśiz: The “T.O.” support is designed for attachment to the

May, 1936 —C O AL A GE 219 VARIABLE DRIVE 60 in, per minutę. Current source is regularly 110 volts, al- The new Reeves “Vari-Speed though special machines can be Motodriye” is offered by the proyided for 220 volts. Over- Reeves Pulley Co., Columbus, all height is 54 in.; width, 61 Ind., to meet the need for a in.; floor space, 32x61 in. variable-speed drive which com- bines in a compact, self-contained inclosure any standard make of constant-speed motor, a variable-speed control mech- of service from a single cutting VIBRATOR anism and, where reąuired, wheel with faster cutting—8 Ajax Flexible Coupling Co., speed-reduction gears. Any seconds for 2-in. pipe—practi Westfield, N. Y., offers the new make of foot-type constant- cal elimination of upkeep cost; Ajax mechanical yibrator based speed motor within standard and adaptability to cutting steel, on the principle of double ro- NEM A dimensions may be wrought-iron, brass, copper or tating weights. Two weights used, it is said. Speed yaria- cast-iron pipe. instead of one, the company tion is secured by turning a states, permit directional con handwheel and is infinite be- trol of the inipulses, or yibra- tween predetermined limits, the tion, and the amplitudę of company states. PULLER yibration is controlled by the The drive is available in horizontal and vertical designs, Chisholm-Moore Hoist Cor each built in four sizes to take poration, Tonawanda, N. Y., motors from ł- to 7^-hp. and offers the “CM” puller, which providing speed ratios from 2:1 it describes as a general-utility through to 6:1. Reduction units tool with capacities of 3 and l i tons for pulling vertically, horizontally or at any desired angle. An efficient gear reduc tion in both sizes is said to reduce operating effort to a minimum—43 lb. for the 5-ton unit, which weighs 17 lb. Mini mum distance between hooks curyes, no accessories and no or. the f-ton size is 9 in. and amount of offset weight. Bear- upkeep. Compactness and ease the handle is collapsible to ings, housing, size and speed o £ manipulation, it is said, en- facilitate storage in tool boxes. characteristics are engineered able the operator, by means of Operation is controlled by two to suit each application, and a new concentrated test niark, buttons, which permit ąuick the units are designed for con- to measure ąuickly (2 seconds) chain adjustment. Mechanism veying, screening and separat- and accurately the tempera- and automatic friction brake ing, in addition to special ap- tures of minutę spots, fast-mov- are fully irclosed and are plications. ing objects and the smallest of the helical-gear type in ra packed in grease to obviate fu streams. A master lamp, in tios up to and including 189:1 turę lubrication. addition to two service lamps, may be incorporated in the drive. In different combina- is furnished with each instru DUST COLLECTOR ment for calibration. Various tions of sizes, ratios and reduc tion gears, output speeds rang- scalę ranges are available to BLUEPRINTER American Foundry Eąuip meet laboratory and plant re- ing from 1.35 to 3,480 r.p.m. ment Co., Mishawaka, Ind., of ąuirements. may be obtained. Units may, C. F. Pease Co., Chicago, fers the “American Dustube” within certain limitations, be announces the Pease “7” Model dust collector, for which maxi- mounted on the wali, floor or mercury-vapor-tube blueprinting mum simplicity and practicality ceiling, or on the driven ma machinę for exposing blue, of design are claimed. Collec- chinę. brown, a n d direct - process TRACTOR prints. Designed primarily for Cleveland Tractor Co., Cleve- continuous printing of moder- land, Ohio, offers the new Mod ate volume, the machinę offers el "30” Cletrac tractor, which PIPE MACHINĘ —with good tracings and a fast blueprint or direct-process pa- deve!ops 33 hp. at the drawbar As a companion unit to its and 38 hp. on a belt. The per—a printing speed of 2 lin. Model-A “Standard” pipe ma ft. per minutę with three tubes power unit is a 6-cylinder chinę, Beaver Pipe Tools, Inc., 3Jx4ł-in. engine with forced- and 2J ft. with four tubes. Warren, Ohio, offers the new Speed rangę yaries from 4 to feed lubrication to the crank- Model-A “Special” unit, which shaft connecting rods and tim it states will cut, thread, ream ing gears. Six-volt starting and chamfer all sizes of pipe and ignition units are standard from 4 to 2 in.; will operate eąuipment. Three forward geared tools to cut and thread speeds are available: 1.75, 2.75 2J- to 12-in. pipe; will cut off and 4.25 m.p.h. Steering is by solid round bars or stayrods tion, it is stated, takes place in the Cletrac controlled differ- from i to 1 in.; and will thread easily remoyable woven-fabric ential. bolts and stayrods from i to tubes and the type of fabric 2 in. Features cited by the can be yaried to suit the specific company include: wheel-and- application. Each tube works roller cutoff; manuał feed; independently, and can be taken fixed work head which does out of seryice when damaged not tilt back; practical elimi- without interfering with the op nation of burr; swinging cone- eration of the remainder. New type reamer which instantly re- tubes, it is declared, can be moves all traces of any burr inserted in 5 minutes. Applica that may remain; standard tion to many old or worn-out wheels and rollers obtainable arresters is another feature any place in the world; weeks stressed by the company.

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