Annual report of the chief inspector of mines for the year ending Dec 31, 1910

Issue 36

By Ohio. Inspector of Mines

THIRD DISTRICT.

John L. Mcdonald.

Composed Of Athens County.

Hon.. Geo. Harrison6, Chief Inspector of Mines. Columbus, Ohio.

Dear Sir:—I herewith submit the annual report of the Third Mining District of Ohio, for the year beginning January 1, 1910, and ending December 31, 1910.

The district is composed of Athens County, the mines are operated in the number 6, 7 and 8 seams of coal, the number 6 varying from 4 to 6} ft. in thickness, consisting in the main of shaft mining, at a depth of from 80 to 450 ft., has formerly been overlayed with a splint coal top, but has been gradually developing into a very bad white slate top, which is full of slips and joints, rendering the occupation of the miner more hazardous, and great vigilance will have to be exercised on the part of both miner and the management, and with an increased cost of mining, to be mined with any reasonable degree of safety. The No. 7 seam is about 4 ft. in thickness, and is being developed mainly in Trimble township, on the Hocking Valley side, where it is mined in the hill tops. Two new mines have been opened in the No. 7 seam during the year, operations being comparatively small as compared with the No. 6 seam. The No. 8 seam is not very extensively worked, on account of poor transportation and a large amount of refuse found in the vein. This seam is from 5 to 9 ft. in thickness, separated with a natural strata of 15 inches of slate in the middle, and a large amount of other impurities. The mines, with the exception of a few small ones, are equipped with electric mining machinery. Rope and motor haulage, with large steam driven fans, are installed at most of the mines, with sufficient capacity to produce the required amount of ventilation, and is well distributed into the inner sections, when brick or substantial material is used for that purpose, except in mines which are rapidly being exhausted.