Short, John E.

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 The Knowledge Bank at The Ohio State University Ohio Mining Journal   Title:  What I Witnessed While District Inspector of Mines Creators:  Short, John E.  Issue Date:  1895  Citation:  Ohio Mining Journal, no. 24 (1895), 47-49. URI:  http://hdl.handle.net/1811/32699  Appears in Collections: Ohio Mining Journal: Whole no. 24 (1895)       WHAT I WITNESSED WHILE DISTRICT INSPECTOR. 47WHAT I WITNESSED WHILE DISTRICTINSPECTOR OF MINES.MR. JOHN E. SHORT, CARBON HIIX, O.What I witnessed while district inspector of mines would re-quire too much time to relate if given in detail, therefore what Ihave to say must of necessity be briefly described.I knew before assuming the duties of the position that econo-my on the part of the mine owners was the watchword, but I didnot know that it had run mad, or to the extent of inducing minebosses and superintendents to disregard the plainest of naturallaws in order to get out the greatest amount of coal with the leastpossible expense. Too often the fitness of superintendents andbosses is fixed upon this basis. Mine owners have the cost perton always before them, but frequently do not know where thecost came in, or whether future returns will justify an increasedexpenditure for any certain month. I have heard of cases whereorders have been received from the general office hundreds ofmiles away from the mines, calling for a reduction of expenses,and I know of one case where this was carried out with disastrousresults.The mine in question was a machine mine, but a number ofpillars were being removed by pick-work, owing to a squeeze,which prevented the use of machines advantageously. When theorder was received the pick-work was stopped at once, from whichI infer that it is more expensive than machine mining. The pil-lars had been drawn just far enough to invite a fall, but not farenough to insure a good one. The result of it all was that therock failing to break, brought on a general squeeze or creepe,which extended across the manway, throwing it in, and rode overthe pillar to the main entry, which was saved at a very great ex-pense with cribs and heavy timber. For almost three months anight crew of six men was constantly engaged in keeping theroadway clear until another opening could be made, which wasonly accomplished at a very great expense. The gentleman incharge of the mine during this trouble informed me that the extraexpense incurred amounted to more than six thousand dollars.48 THE OHIO MINING JOURNAL.A few months later he was discharged, presumably for incompe-tency, but in reality for carrying out the instructions of his supe-riors. His successor made a record for himself by reducing ex-penses (after his predecessor had made all necessary improve-ments) and increasing the output of coal.I am personally acquainted with both men and have visitedthe mine while under the management of each and am of the opin-ion that the discharged one was the most competent of the two.Had he disregarded the orders of his superior he might have losthis position, but would have retained his reputation. As it is, heis deprived of both by circumstances over which he had no control.At another mine the cheap boss concluded it would be econo-my to "slab" the air course which paralleled the main entry, in-stead of putting in a track and cleaning out the falls of roof whichhad accumulated amost the entire length of it. By "slabbing" heexpected to get an air course without cost, figuring that the coalwould pay for all extra expense above mining. In this expecta-tion he was correct, but he failed to note the size of his pillar,which was weakened to such an extent that it cost several hun-dred dollars in timber and labor to keep up his main entry.In close proximity to this mine I found another in which themine boss had ordered the day hands to unload all refuse into themain air course and they had carried out the order and filled itup within eighteen inches of the roof. When asked why this hadbeen done, he replied that it was for the purpose of making theair stronger, for he had often noticed that the current was alwaysmuch swifter in a small air course than a larger one. It took anight shift about a week to rid the air course.A companion piece to this mine boss was found in the personof another one who had charge of a mine employing about onehundred men. He had occasion to drive about one hundred andfifty yards of entry to make a short haul and didn't wish to go tothe expense of an air course or brattice. While passing throughthis entry I observed the solid walls on both sides of the entryand asked the question, "What did you do for air while putting thisplace through?" "Oh," said he, "I'll show you when we get uphere a short distance." And he did—he showed me exactly how,he did it. Laying at one side was an ordinary blacksmith's bel-lows, to which he pointed and said, "That's what we used, andyou wouldn't believe how it helped us out." He told me how—after firing a shot—they would carry up the bellows and pumpa while to make a little air, or freshen it. In response to his ques-tion of what I thought of the proceeding, I regaled him with thestory of the man who attempted to lift himself over the fence byE. D. HASELTINE.WHAT I WITNESSED WHILE DISTRICT INSPECTOR. 49pulling on the straps of his boots, and then he looked thoughtfuland we went on our way. He still holds his position and the sameis true of the other gentleman who filled up the air course to im-prove the ventilation.At another mine I found a man in charge who didn't possessthe first rudiments of an education, in fact was unable to eitherread or write; but he knew how to manage and ventilate a mine,for I always found his mine in good condition with slight excep-tions.In marked contrast, I remember another gentleman whoknew his business, but always had his mine in bad order. Thereason I know he knew his business, is because he told me so him-self. I never would have known it if he had not volunteered theinformation. There certainly was nothing in the condition of hismine to indicate it.At the intake he had seventeen thousand six hundred cubicfeet of air per minute, and when it reached the first of his work, adistance of fifteen hundred feet, there was but six thousand fivehundred, or a loss of eleven thousand one hundred cubic feet. Atone brattice there was a loss of two thousand one hundred feet,and it was a fair sample of his doors.When complaint was made to the general superintendent anda request made for improvement, this man assured him that every-thing was all right, but he didn't think the inspector understoodhis business. What the general superintendent thought, I do notknow; but after taking a look through the mine himself, his mineboss resigned. (Applause.)PRESIDENT ORTON: We have all listened with pleasure toMr. Short's paper. Is there anybody here who can contributeexperiences in the same line in contradiction of his, or in sustain-ing them? It is a subject we can hardly afford to pass withoutsome further discussion. Mining inspection has certainly donea great deal of good for this State.(Calls for Mr. Roy.)MR. ROY: My paper deals some on this same subject, andI will just read what I have and close it up to-morrow.

What I Witnessed While District Inspector of Mines

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What I Witnessed While District Inspector of Mines

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