Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Twenty-Sixth Annual Report Labor and Industrial Statistics, 1909 Notes On Inspection Bay County Mines [403-405] The Wenona Coal Company of Bay County, operates two mines, the Wenona and the What Cheer. E. B. Foss, manager; Alexander Jeffries, underground manager. THE WENONA MINE employs 185 men, and has worked steadily for the past year. It is a mine that has been well cared for, with a good sup- ply of timber always on hand, and men to place the same wherever it is needed. The ventilation of the mine is well looked after, having good doors and brattices wherever required. On my last inspection there was 23,100 cubic feet of air per minute entering the mine, but owing to the air being a continuous current (with exception of two entries where there is a split made), the main current of air having passed the eleventh and twelfth south entries becomes polluted with foul air from the abandoned works. Mr. Jeffries, the underground manager, has in view a plan to prevent this, which will soon be put in operation. John Spink, superintendent. WHAT CHEER MINE. William Williams, mine superintendent. The vol- ume of air at inlet to this mine at my last inspection, was 31,200 cubic feet per minute, which is well conducted throughout the various entries in the mine. Good doors. Stoppings between entries, are built with brick and mortar. This is the only mine in the State where this system is practiced. Employs 145 men. With the volume of air going into the mine every minute and the walls and break throughs between the entries constructed of brick and mortar it is needless to say that the condition of the mine regarding ventilation is of the best. The Robert Gage Coal Company has two mines in operation in Bay county, under the management of Charles Coryell, with Elias Mathews as under- ground superintendent. These mines are the Auburn No. 5 and No. 6. THE AUBURN NO. 5 MINE, while not the best equipped mine in the State for the gathering of coal and bringing it to the pit bottom, is the greatest coal producer in the State. The superintendent, Mr. Humphrey Lewis, is an old miner with a practical experience, knows how a mine should be run, and has put his experience into practice at this place, for it is one of the pest (sic) cared for in the State. At my last inspection there was going into the mine 33,400 cubic feet of air per minute. This air was being properly cared for, and conducted to the last break through between entries, in every entry in the mine. There are employed in and around the mine 309 men, producing from 18,000 to 20,000 tons of coal every month. This coal is gathered and hauled to the pit bottom by mules. THE GAGE COAL COMPANY'S NO. 6 MINE is located one-half mile north of No. 5. The depth of this shaft is only 130 feet, but at that depth they have a vein of coal seven feet in thickness. This shaft was sunk last July, but is now employing 60 men. The company is running the entries night and day in order to make room for more men. The intention is to make this a coal cutting machine mine, installing a compressor and cutting the coal with punching machines, producing more coal, and a better grade, as the coal will shoot down in better condition, when undermined than it will by shooting it off the solid. The company will also sink an escapement shaft soon, putting in a good ventilation fan. At my last inspection, November 28, found at outlet to mine 9,300 cubic feet of air per minute. The circulation of air was kept going by the exhaust from the water-pumps. There are good tight brattices in all the break throughs between entries and first class doors set in all entries for ventilating purposes. Mine superintendent, William Jones. The Consolidated Coal Company of Saginaw operate three mines in Bay county, the Central, Wolverine No. 2, and Wolverine No. 3. Manager, Robert M. Randall; underground manager, Alexander Liddle. THE CENTRAL MINE is located in Bay City. Mine superintendent William Dempster. On my last inspection of this mine, November 13, I found 46 men employed. The volume of air at inlet to mine was 10475 cube (sic) feet per minute, which was well taken care of, having good tight doors and brattices where required, the result being a good cirulation of air in the last break throughs in all the entries. This mine has been kept open the whole of the past year, but did very little work through the summer months. Mine orders being almost all domestic. WOLVERINE MINE NO. 2. - Alexander McElwain, superintendent. Inspected this mine, November 20. Found air at inlet was 27,300 cubic feet per minute. This air was well distributed through all the entries, with the exception of two, which I found, upon inquiring from the mine super- intendent, that he had given orders to have a door set in one of the entries, and a brattice put between the entries in the other, which gave relief, and put the circulation of air in good condition, all through the mine. The hopper was burned down in the month of May, throwing 125 men out of employment all summer, as it took that time to clear away the debris and erect a new one. Would say that it is now the most com- plete hopper in the State in every respect. WOLVERINE MINE NO. 3, superintendent, Thomas Thompson. Last date of inspection, November 24. Number of men employed, 138. Volume of air at inlet was 33,250 cubic feet per minute. This air is split at the pit bottom, each side of the shaft getting its proportionate share. With the exception of two new entries that required a door set between them, the volume of air at the last break throughs in every entry in the mine was good, and beyond the law's requirements. The vein of coal will average six and one-half feet, making the ventilation of the mine much easier than in the mines which may have only a vein of less thickness, as the resistance is measured by the reduction in the size of the air courses. For the past two years the company has been at considerable expense fighting gas fires, but after a careful inspection would say they have the fire well under control, and by care being exercised, there will be no further trouble from that source. THE BAY COAL MINING COMPANY has had one mine in operation in Bay county for the past nine years under the management of L. M. Davis; superintendent, John Dous. This mine was abandoned July, 1908, on account of the vein of coal being worked out, which is much regretted by the miners, for this company always found steady employment for their men, besides providing good dwelling houses for their employes and their families. It is to be hoped that Mr. Davies will be able to pursuade this company to sink another shaft in Bay county, thereby helping the mining industry as well as the growth and wealth of Bay City. When this mine was in operation the company paid out to the employes between seven and eight thousand dollars each month, or between eighty and ninety thousand dollars each year, which is a loss felt by very many. THE BLACK DIAMOND COAL COMPANY is a new company in Bay county. In the past year this company has sunk and opened up their No. 1 mine. Is located one-half mile south of the Midland road and eight miles west of Bay City. Depth of shaft is 150 feet. The average thickness of the vein of coal is 36 inches. It is of an excellent quality, has a black slate roof and a fire clay bottom. Volume of air at outlet on my last inspection was 9,300 cubic feet per minute. Number of men employed in the month of November was 54. The company contemplates sinking an escape shaft soon and installing a good ventilating fan. It is also the intention to sink another shaft in the spring, as the company owns a large area of coal adjoining the No. 1 property. Man- ager, William A. Knapp; superintendent, Alfred Watkins. The Handy Bros. of Bay county, have two mines in operation, one in Bay county and one in Tuscola county. Manager, Thomas L. Handy; underground manager, Charles Handy. THE MONITOR MINE in Bay county, John Morris, superintendent. The ventilation of this mine is fair, as I have always found more air at the last break through in every entry in the mine than the law calls for. On my last visit I found an inlet 32,700 cubic feet of air enter- ing the shaft per minute. There have been no changes made in the past year. Employs 190 men. Coal is hauled to the pit bottom by mules. THE MICHIGAN COAL COMPANY operates one mine in Bay county, F. P. Young is manager. This mine was shut down in the spring and remained idle all summer. It is now employing 85 men and has been working nearly every day lately. Nineteen thousand eight hundred cubic feet of air per minute at inlet was the largest volume found entering at any time in the past six years, but on my last visit there was an inlet 23,900. This increase of air was brought about by a change made in the fan. Joseph Brown is superintendent, and has of late been making every effort to have the ventilation good. One of the evils of this mine regarding ventilation, is that the men will insist on shooting twice a day. Every practical miner knows what that means. THE UNITED CITY COAL COMPANY operates one mine in Bay City. Manager, John Walsh; mine superintendent, Isaac Jane. This mine is now giving employment to 45 men. The mine worked but very little through the sum- mer months, but is now working nearly every day. The ventilation is fair. I have always found from 14,000 to 15,000 cubic feet of air per minute entering the mine. In the past year some gas has been discovered in one of the entries, but the care taken by the superintendent in con- ducting the air up to the face of the entry and examining the working places before permitting the men to enter, has no doubt prevented any accidents from happening. This mine and the Pittsburg mine are the only two mines in the State in which I have found any gas. In the past six years only two men and one boy have been burned with gas, and they were not seriously injured. THE HECLA CEMENT & COAL COMPANY owns one mine in Bay county. The company has not been doing anything in the past year, only keeping the water pumped out as it gathers at the pit bottom. What its future will be I am at a loss to say. THE VITRIFIED BRICK COMPANY own and run one mine in connection with the brick plant. The mine provides clay and shale, which makes the best paving brick in the State. When in operation they also mine suf- ficient coal to run the brick plant, but it has only been in operation a few months in the past year. Manager, F. Downer; mine superintendent, Joseph Watten. THE SALZBURG COAL COMPANY of Bay county owned one mine, which was kept in operation for the past six years, but was abandoned February 18, 1908, on account of the vein or pocket of coal being worked out. The closing of this mine was a loss to Bay City, but it is said that the company contemplates sinking a new shaft in the near future. It is to be hoped they may. The mine when abandoned was under the manage- ment of Alexander Zagelmeyer, with Alphonse Van Dressick as superinten- dent. TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT Record of accidents given by counties, reported to the mine inspector as occurring the past year, giving mine at which employed, date of accident, name, age, etc., of injured person. ================================================================================================================================================ Date of At What Name of Married/ Fatal/Serious #Days Benefits Employee Company Accident Mine Employed Person Injured Age Nationality Single Severe/Slight Disabled Received Carelessness Diligent (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) ================================================================================================================================================ Dec. 9, '07 Central Coal Co. Mine Charles Fox 25 Irish M Severe 30 Yes No Yes Dec. 10, '07 Michigan Mine James Waton 22 Am. S Slight 16 No No Yes Dec. 31, '07 Wenona Beach Peter Sergant 55 Fr. M Slight 14 No No Yes Jan. 11, '08 Auburn Mine Sherman Sayer 34 Am. M Severe . Yes No Yes Jan. 15, '08 Wenona Beach Charles Cammare 26 Fr. M Slight 28 No No Yes Jan. 25, '08 Wenona Beach Thomas Spinks 55 Eng. M Slight 21 No No Yes Jan. 27, '08 Auburn Mine Andrew Anderson 29 Sw. S Severe . Yes . Yes Jan. 27, '08 Auburn Mine Myron L. Vannocker 29 Am. M Serious . Yes . Yes Jan. 28, '08 Auburn Mine Edwin Kent 21 Am. S Serious . Yes . Yes Jan. 31, '08 Central Mine Frank Somatz 26 Pol. M Slight . No . Yes Feb. 3, '08 Auburn Mine Robert Dick 45 Scot. M Slight 30 No No Yes Feb. 10, '08 Monitor Mine William Holnry 41 Am. M Slight 14 No Yes Yes Feb. 14, '08 Wenona Mine Julius Bilery 19 Fr. S Severe . No Yes Yes Mar. 2, '08 Monitor Mine Henry Stevens 23 Am. G. S Serious 30 . Yes Yes Mar. 18, '08 Robert Gage Coal Co. Mine No. 5 Martin Chambers 40 Eng. M Slight 10 . No Yes Mar. 20, '08 Robert Gage Coal Co. Mine No. 5 Gust. Whittrodt 30 Pol. S Slight 15 . No Yes Mar. 27, '08 United City Mine William Walters 21 Am. S Slight 21 Yes No Yes Mar. 30, '08 What Cheer Coal Mining Co. Joseph Pushu 32 Slav. S Fatal . . . Yes Mar. 30, '08 Wenona Mine Geo. Rich 45 Am. M Fatal . . Yes Yes April 7, '08 Bay Mine No. 2 Ferdinand Dans 60 Ger. M Serious . . No Yes May 7, '08 Auburn Mine Harry Dusley 23 . S Slight . . No Yes June 2, '08 Auburn Mine Jos. Platte 23 . S Serious . . No Yes July 3, '08 Monitor Mine Julius Borosch 32 . M Serious 10 . Yes Yes July 3, '08 Monitor Mine Julius Baroch 38 Ger. M Slight 28 Yes No Yes July 20, '08 Wolverine Mine No. 3 Walter Molyski 22 Pol. S Slight 22 . No Yes Aug. 8, '08 Auburn Mine Peter Carrier 25 . S Slight . . Yes Yes Aug. 17, '08 Auburn Mine No. 5 B. Powell 30 . S Slight . . Yes Yes Aug. 19, '08 Auburn Mine Peter Ebel 29 . M Serious . . No Yes Sept. 7, '08 What Cheer Mine Daniel Galbraith 51 Scot. M Severe . No . . Sept. 26, '08 Wenona Mine Otto Gillespi 30 Am. M Serious . . No Yes Sept. 30, '08 Wenona Mine Richard McClatchy 30 Scot. M Severe . . No Yes Oct. 3, '08 Black Diamond Coal Co. Peter Shido 25 Fr. M Slight 60 . Yes Yes Oct. 5, '08 Monitor Mine Mike Schultz 45 . M Slight 10 . Yes Yes Oct. 13, '08 Wolverine Mine No. 3 John Wallace 29 Am. M . . . No Yes Oct. 22, '08 Wolverine Mine No. 3 Jud Rothley 35 Am. M Severe . . No Yes Oct. 30, '08 Wolverine Mine No. 3 Milton Christian 24 Am. S Slight . . No Yes Nov. 7, '08 Robert Gage Coal Co. Mine No. 6 John Simmons 22 . M Severe . . No Yes Nov. 10, '08 Robert Gage Coal Co. Mine No. 6 A. Lempke 27 . M Severe . . . Yes Nov. 10, '08 Robert Gage Coal Co. Mine No. 6 Edward Charles 16 . S Severe . . . Yes Nov. 23, '08 Wenona Mine John Patterson 28 Scot. M Severe . Yes Yes Yes ================================================================================================================================================