EIGHTH BITUMINOUS DISTRICT.

(CLEARFIELD, CENTRE AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.)

Philipsburg, Centre county, Pa., February 21, 1896. Hon. James W. Latta, Secretary of Internal Affairs, Harrisburg, Pa.: Sir: I have the honor of herewith presenting to you my first an nual report, as Inspector of Mines for the Eighth Bituminous District for the year ending December 31, 1895. The report contains a general description of each mine, and the improvements made during the year, also mention of what improvement is considered necessary for the life, health, safety and welfare of persons employed therein. The improvements that have been made are creditable to the operators, when they are for the personal safety of the men employed in and about the mines. These improvements consist of five fans. three of which replace furnaces, one as an addition to the ventilation where exhaust steam was previously used, and one 12 foot Stine fan to replace a 12 foot Brazil fan, and which gives double the volume of air. Two new furnaces have been built, three new traveling ways opened, and one new hoisting cage put in, with latest improved safety devices; replacing an old one which had none. Three complete electric haulage plants have been installed, representing a total of 600 horse power electric generators and steam boilers. Two new hoisting shafts have been sunk, with well equipped hoisting cages to hoist coal for steam plant. One shaft to receive pumps and to convey steam to pumps, the other to convey compressed air to Harrison mining machines. Also a complete plant of boilers and compressors to run the pumps and 20 Harrison mining machines; 6 being at present in operation. The report also contains statements of accidents that have occurred in and about the mines, both fatal and non-fatal, together with their causes, and suggestions for future safety of employes; number of widows and orphans from such casualties; number of tons of coal of 2,000 pounds mined and number of tons produced per fatal and non-fatal accident, together with number of persons employed in and about the mines. There have been eleven new mines opened, seven abandoned, and five were not in operation; however, 89 mines have come under the provisions of the law during some part of the year. At this time eighty-one mines

are under inspection which had in general been running very irregularly during the summer months, but throughout the year have exceeded the total tonnage produced for the year 1894, by 1,255,853

net tons.

I remain, yours respectfully,

JOSEPH KNAPPER,

Inspector.

TABLE "A."

Fatal Accidents with Causes and Percentage of Each, Number of Wives Made Widows and Children Orphans.

In the reports of accidents, both fatal and non-fatal, there are shown several cases of gross carelessness whereby the victims exposed themselves to falls of coal and roof when they knew that danger existed. The largest percentage of fatal and non-fatal cases are shown to be from falls of roof which can only be reduced by men properly and systematically timbering their working places before the roof becomes unsafe, and not under any conditions to work or stand under said loose strata after knowing it to be in a dangerous

condition, except for the purpose of securing it by timbering, or by removing it at once. Several cases show that the injured or deceased had used good judgment in undercutting coal, yet after preparing the coal to the point of falling, they exposed themselves in front of or under it, which act is suicidal and has resulted in one fatal and several non-fatal accidents. The parties found doing such careless work before such accidents occur, should be severely punished.

Report of Cottage State Hospital for the Year. Miners and members of miners families admitted, Persons of other occupations,

Total number of patients admitted,

Number of fatal cases,

Number of patients discharged,

Fatal cases-Compound fracture of skull,

Powder burns,

Spine injured,

Crushed leg,

1

Causes not reported,

Total,

Superintendent Miss M. A. Fisher.

The above shows that the State Hospital is still doing good work for the unfortunates who are injured, and that a large percentage of the cases are successfully treated. The fatal cases were of very serious nature before having been admitted.

TABLE "B."

Showing quantity of coal mined, number of days worked, persons employed inside and outside of mines, including foreman, together with quantity of powder consumed, to which one-third more may be added for powder bought outside of the company's supplies; number of tons of coal shipped, also number of tons of coal mined of 2,000 pounds per each fatal and non-fatal accident, etc.