THE STATE OF INDIANA,

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

Received August 21, 1880, for the year ending October. 31, 1880, subject to sup plement. Transmitted to the Secretary of State to be filed and preserved in his office, and published as may be ordered by the Commissioners of the Public Printing. SAMUEL R. DOWNEY,

Filed in my office November 27, 1880.

Secretary.

J. G. SHANKLIN,
Secretary of State.

REPORT.

OFFICE OF STATE COAL MINE INSPECTOR,

ASCENSION, INDIANA.

To His Excellency, JAMES D. WILLIAMS,

Governor of Indiana:

SIR-In compliance with the act regulating the working of coal mines passed at the Fifty-first regular session of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, March 8, 1879, I herewith submit my first annual report for the years 1879-80.

Yours, Very Respectfully.

HERBERT H. RICHARDS,

State Coal Mine Inspector.

INTRODUCTION.

I commenced my duties as State Coal Mine Inspector as soon as possible after receiving my commission. I may state, generally, that I found the mines deficient in ventilation, and in other respects not meeting the requirements of the law.

On my first inspection, I carefully examined all the details connected with the working of the mines, and pointed out every case in which the law was being violated, as well as other matters not specially mentioned in the act, but, in my opinion, requiring attention, as being dangerous to the workmen employed, and as being provided for in the general duty of the Inspector.

As a rule, I found both operators and workmen willing to carry out the law, and in some instances I found some things had been done in that direction.

On my second visit I found, with few exceptions, things much better, but I found in some instances the operators had failed to provide separate outlets, in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. In these cases I gave positive instruction that this section should at once be complied with, viz: that where more than fifteen thousand square yards had been excavated, not more than ten persons. should be employed in said mine in every twenty-four hours. In some cases the operators pleaded they had not had sufficient time to provide these outlets, and asked for an extension, which, of course, I had no power to grant, and could only point them to the law as it stands. If I find, on my next visit, that any of them are employing more than the specified number of persons, I shall consider it my duty as Mine Inspector to at once take legal proceedings against them.

Without taking into consideration the question as to whether the time allowed, viz: six months, was sufficient in which to provide these outlets, I, as the Inspector, had no alternative but to insist on compliance with the law as I understand it.

My interpretation of the law on this point is, that where the operators have failed to provide the necessary outlets, they are bound to at once reduce the employes to the specified number.

Although I am not only anxious. but determined to carry out the law, I have not, as yet, taken legal proceedings against any one-the operators having expressed their willingness and intention to work their mines according to the act.

I regret that this, my first report, is not more complete, but the difficulties my report will indicate, together with others, which it, perhaps, might not be judicious to fully explain, absorbed a portion of the time which ought to have been devoted to collecting and tabulating facts for my report.

I may just mention, that the collecting of fees takes much of my time, in some cases, several applications have to be made before the money is paid, [I think it right to state that this remark does not apply to any of the large operators], and when it is taken into consideration that some of these mines are located at great distances from each other, it will at once appear that this interferes very materially with my official duties. Although a majority of the operators cheerfully paid the fee when called upon to do so, yet the feeling is pretty general that it would be more in accordance with justice, if the expense was borne by the State. The small operators especially consider the tax an unfair one.

As will be seen from my report, there are 177 mines in operation in the State; but a great many of them are small country banks, which only work in the fall of the year.

On my second visit I could only inspect fifty-six mines, the others not being in operation at the time.

It will be seen that the fees amount to eleven hundred and sixty-five dollars. From this must be deducted six hundred and twenty-three dollars for expenses, leaving me a salary of five hundred and forty-two dollars.

The expenses may appear large, but it must be remembered that the mines extend through seventeen counties, and that the extreme length from north to south of the coal field worked is about one hundred and sixty miles, and from east to west about sixty miles.

I have made during the year two hundred and thirty-three inspections. This, together with traveling and correspondence with the operators, and writing report, has absorbed all of my time. In giving the following report I think it best to take the counties in alphabetical order.

CLAY COUNTY.

On my first visit to the coal mines of this county I found ventilation very deficient, and as a matter of course, the other provisions of this act not in operation to any great extent.

On my second visit I found a great improvement and a general disposition to fully comply with the law.

The Brazil Block Coal Company had just erected a ventilating fan, and although, in my opinion, this machine was defective in construction, yet it was doing good work at the time of my visit. I did not ascertain the horse power in the air or the useful effect of the machine, but will take the trouble to do so on my next visit. I might just say that ten thousand feet per minute were circulating in the mine, being about one hundred and fifty feet per minute for each person employed. I hope in my next report to be able to mention other cases where ventilation by mechanical means has been adopted.

As a coal producing county this is by far the most important in the State. The two chief veins are known as block, or non-caking coal. The top vein is excellent for steam, domestic and manufacturing purposes; the lower vein is valuable for the smelting of iron. The coal is very hard and solid and free from impurities. There is also another vein which is a caking coal, good for steam and domestic use, but is mixed somewhat with sulphur.