tween Wheeling and Eureka, below Sistersville, where that great bridge crosses the Ohio river, I told him that he ought to be careful, that $5,000 while to many meant so much was not a great deal of money to him; and that while oil wells had reported coal near the line where he was taking the land up, they did not drill for coal, they were after oil, and hence it might be possible there was no coal there of value, so I advised him to put down a bore hole with diamond drill, and take out a core and see what there was there. The senator being a level-headed business man at once acted on the suggestion. He had a diamond drill hole put down near Pine Grove, within two miles of where the oil-well borings had reported five feet of coal. To his surprise, when they got down to where the Pittsburg bed should be, he found three feet of black slate and two feet of coal. He was not consulting me at the time, and thought it could not possibly be the Pittsburg coal, and went 200 feet lower and still no coal. The origin of the name "Pine Grove" is a ridge there, and it was thought possible that the coal had locally thinned away on the crest of that ridge, so he concluded to go a couple of miles below, near the mouth of Piney, where an oil well had reported six feet of coal, and to go so close to that boring that there could not be any question concerning the test. There they put down another hole, and there they got one foot 11 inches of coal and a little black slate. Of course he cancelled the leases. Subsequently the oil well people drilled all over that country, and I was enabled by taking advantage of the borings-hundred of them -to delimit the area of the Pittsburg coal. So much for the Pittsburg coal, which has been on my map ever since my map was constructed. It was supposed that the Alleghany coal and the Clarion coal would furnish the richest, or a very rich strata in this central portion of the Appalachian field. To my surprise, on examining the drillings, test holes of every description, where I have seen the sand pumping, the results have been that I find that over vast areas in this central part of the state of West Virginia, and also southwestern Pennsylvania, there are no Alleghany coals. They are gone. And I repeat here that there is no coal under Pittsburg. It was formerly supposed there was plenty of it. One of your great coal men, Captain Brown, who I presume at one time thought he would steal a march on the rest of you, came slyly on the Monongahela river-I do not know that he did it slyly, except that there was never any noise made about it-and sank a shaft to find the Freeport coals, and he told me himself that he did not find it. He went on lower, but did not find any coal. There have been several borings put down here right under Pittsburg, of which we have very accurate records, and there is practically no coal, or what you would call commercial coal here now. So this great barren zone begins north of your city; as you go under the surface it soon disappears, and I find that the same thing is true not only here in Pennsylvania but clear across West Virginia, as represented by the blue line on the map; so that be yond the point I now indicate the Allegheny coals are represented only by thin one or two-foot beds, and in insignificant layers. Again, the same thing happens to the Pocahontas series. You know the Pocahontas series of coal in its extent northward or along the river, is simply a wedge 20 or 30 miles wide that underlies all the coal measures. They are older even that the Northern Pottsville and lower part of the Pottsville series, and they fade away before they get into Pennsylvania, except in the anthracite region, as they dip down under the Allegheny series. Even the formation of rocks passes out. As the Kanawha series and the Allegheny series pass under water level, up in the mountains, up where we can see them, they are thick and valuable; when they pass down into this basin which I now indicate they disappear. The same thing happens when we come in from Ohio passing down over the Ohio side of the Appalachian field, they also disappear. Hence we are led to some philosophy concerning the accumulation of these coals. Many of you will ask, why is it that they disappear in toward the center of this place, where we should have the thickest coal, where on the old theory the older geologists, as to the central portion of this area -I have myself before I knew much about it-dilated on that great wealth of fuel that would be found in the center of this Appalachian valley. But it is not there, and you see what an immense hole it makes in this Northern Appalachian field. The reason and the philosophy of it I think is that our coal measures accumulated fringes around the great central basin covered with water; the water was too deep in this area for vegetation to get a foothold, and hence as we come successively toward it, first the lower formations, then higher and higher, as the distance increased toward the center, until they all disappeared, because this area appears to have been covered with water too deep for vegetation to secure a foothold. Now that is the matter that I felt it a duty to call your attention to because it is not generally known. Even Mr. Camden, probably the best posted man in the country generally on the amount of coal in the country, who made an estimate which was submitted at the White House conference in May, has not taken it into account in making up his estimates of the amount of coal in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and figures that that entire area, representing thousands of square miles, held as much coal as any other portion of the field. It have a paper here to every word of which I wish you to listen, because it affects not only Pittsburg, to which I have called especial attention, but Chicago; and Chicago, Cleveland, Buffalo, Erie and these great manufacturing cities which cluster around this northern end of the Appalachian basin, get their metallurgical coal and coke from this field, so it is very important. With this preliminary statement I will read you this paper so as to be brief. Dr. White's paper will be found on page 166, Part II., of this report. PRESIDENT RICHARDS: We have learned enough this afternoon to keep us thinking for a long time. This closes the program of which I have charge this afternoon, and the convention will stand adjourned until 8:00 o'clock. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1908. The Congress was called to order by President Richards. Resolution No. 18. (Introduced by W. F. R. Mills of Colorado.) Whereas, The Federal Government has established at Pittsburg, Pa., laboratories for the testing of the coal and structural materials of the United States, and for the study of explosives, of mine accidents and the conditions of safety in coal mining, and Whereas, The proper conclusion of these investigations is vital to the safety of the men employed in our mines and to the prosperity of the mineral industry, and Whereas, Similar and extended investigations are necessary to the proper development and the wise conservation of our metalliferous deposits as well, now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the American Mining Congress expresses its hearty approval of the steps so far taken and the work now under way, and extends its thanks to the Honorable Secretary of the Interior and to the officers of the U. S. Geological Survey for this auspicious beginning of the great national work in which it is peculiarly interested, and further, be it Resolved, That we pledge our support collectively and individually to these investigations and respectfully urge Congress to extend their scope to our other great mineral resources. Secretary Callbreath read resolution No. 19. Resolution No. 19. (Introduced by John G. Ross, of West Virginia.) Whereas, Certain mines in the coal mining states have been visited by severe explosions, and Whereas, The impression is abroad that it is impossible to decide as to the elements which have caused the disasters in the coal mines referred to; in our judgment there are but two elements found in these mines which cause these explosions, and these two elements are coal dust and gas, which singly or in conjunction have produced these violent explosions. We recognize the IMMEDIATE NECESSITY of stating clearly our opinion as to the remedies to be applied to prevent a recurrence of these terrible disasters, and Whereas, Many authorities recommend that the roof, sides and bottom of all dry and dusty sections of the mines be kept thoroughly wet by systematic watering; that a record shall be kept by the mine foreman or some competent person appointed by him of the amount of water used, the time expended, the sections watered and the dates on which such labors were performed; that this record shall at all times be kept open for examination by the inspector, and that at the end of each month a copy of the same be sent to the district inspector accompanied by a sworn statement as to its accuracy, and Whereas, We believe if a strict compliance be had with the present statutes of the state, many of the dangers arising from the liberation of explosive gas will be eliminated, and Whereas, We realize the danger of depending upon brattice in gassy mines to ventilate the working places at a distance in excess of 60 to 100 feet between break-throughs, which distance is already prescribed by many of the states. Our reasons for especially mentioning this precaution are that by the excessive use of brattice it is impossible to maintain adequate ventilation to dilute, render harmless, and carry away explosive gas or gases, and further, this practice endangers the loss of the air current entirely in the working place by falls of roof and by tearing down of the brattice by cars or mules or by careless miners, now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the practical details of mine operation, the violations of which cause these disasters, must be given serious attention IMMEDIATELY, and Resolved, That competent men, properly qualified, shall be placed in charge of our mines, as mine foremen, assistant mine foremen and fire bosses, and Resolved, That this can be best brought about by placing upon the statute books a law conferring authority upon the proper official to conduct examinations, as a basis for the issuance of certificates of competency to mine foremen, assistant mine foremen and fire bosses, in whose hands rest the safety of these miners and the preservation of property, and be it Resolved further, That we recommend authority be given to revoke these certificates for sufficient cause, which shall be fully set forth in the statute. DR. BUCKLEY: The Resolutions Committee reported back this afternoon resolution No. 6, by George J. Bancroft, which is a resolution regarding the United States Geological Survey. I would move that the report of the committee, which recommends its adoption, be accepted by the Congress. The motion was seconded. Secretary Callbreath read the resolution, and Dr. Buckley's motion was duly put and carried unanimously. DR. BUCKLEY: Resolution No. 8, introuced by David B. Rushmore, entitled "Regarding Co-operation With the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the Committee on Resolutions respectfully recommends that said resolution do pass. I would move you, Mr. President, the adoption of the report of the committee on this resolution. Secretary Callbreath read the resolution, and the motion prevailed unanimously. DR. BUCKLEY: Resolution No. 10, by George M. Esterly, entitled "Relating to the Title of Coal Lands in Alaska," the Committee on Resolutions do respectfully recommend that said resolution do pass. I would move you, Mr. President, that the report of the committee upon this resolution be adopted. Secretary Callbreath read the resolution, and the motion prevailed unanimously. DR. BUCKLEY: Resolution No. 4, introduced by Colonel A. G. Brownlee, entitled "Regarding Duty on Lead," the Committee on Resolutions do respectfully recommend that said resolution do pass. Mr. President, I move you that the report of the committee on this resolution be adopted. Secretary Callbreath read the resolution. PRESIDENT RICHARDS: You have heard the motion; are you ready for the question? If there is no objection, the recommendation of the committee will stand adopted. Hearing none it is so ordered. DR. BUCKLEY: Resolution No. 17, introduced by Dr. A. H. Purdue, "Regarding State Mining Schools," the Committee on Resolutions do respectfully recommend that said resolution do pass. Mr. President, I would move you that the report of the committee on this resolution be adopted. Secretary Callbreath read the resolution. PRESIDENT RICHARDS: You have heard the motion on the resolution just read. Are you ready for the question? If there is no objection the recommendation of the committee will be adopted. Hearing none, it is so ordered. DR. BUCKLEY: Resolution No. 7, introduced by David B. Rushmore, entitled "Committee for Standardization of Electric Practice in Mines," the Committee on Resolutions do respectfully recommend that said resolution do pass. Mr. President, I would move you that the report of the committee on this resolution be adopted. Secretary Callbreath read the resolution. to the resolution just read. You have heard the motion in reference Are you ready for the question? If there is no objection, the recommendation of the committee will be adopted. Hearing none, it is so ordered. PRESIDENT RICHARDS: This brings us up to the program of the evening. The subject is "Arbitration as a Factor in the Mining Industry." The leader in this discussion is Thomas L. Lewis, President of the United Mine Workers of America, of Bridgeport, Ohio. Mr. Lewis address will be found on page 235, Part II., of this report. MR. JOHN H. WALKER, OF ILLINOIS: I would like to make a statement with reference to some remarks made by Mr. Traer, of the Illinois Coal Operators' Association, this afternoon. Some of our members wanted to leave on the train and they would like to have it before they leave. Mr. Chairman, it is in justice to our organization as well as for the benefit of some of the workers in our industry in other portions of the country who are trying to get legislation on the subjects that were mentioned, that we desire to have this statement made. Mr. Traer today made the statement that the miners in Illinois had by the U. M. W. of A. got the industry in that shape that so far as men going into the mines was concerned, they would be in the same position as a man who wanted to get into the oil business would be if the directors of the Standard Oil Company had the determining of those who went into that industry. Mr. Chairman, it may be some information to the members of this Congress to know that Mr. Traer, who is president of the Illinois Coal Operators' Association, along with Mr. Bent, who was secretary of that organization, agreed in sub-committee to that law itself, with myself and another member of our organization acting on that committee for our organization, before it was presented to the two boards, and that the entire executive board of the Illinois Coal Operators' Association agreed to that law as it stands on the books today before it was presented to the legislature of that state. According to his own figures as presented to this body, last year's statistics show an increase of $10,000,000.00 in the output of coal from the state of Illinois, and the miners only worked an average of 196 days during that year. I want to ask if that looks as if the law was hindering the coal operators from getting a sufficient supply of miners to work in their mines. And during the year just passed, or the time that estimate was made from, I believe if the actual figures were here we would find that we did not work one-half of the actual working days that we could have operated. During that time there has been an increase of 10,000 miners in the state of Illinois. I want to ask if that looks as if this law was restricting the supply of labor in that industry in our state. Mr. Chairman, I do not know of a man in the coal industry that I have more respect for or a higher regard for than I have for Glen Trear, but, as I told him today, I never heard him in my life make such an unfair statement as he did on that subject to this Congress today. With reference to the bonus placed on the miners because of the shooting of coal from the solid in that state and for the use of powder in a reckless manner, I want to say he had reference to the shot-firing law in the same statement, it is evident that as a result of that shotfiring law in the state of Illinois for the first year we were freer from accident than usual as compared with previous years. There was 50 per cent decrease in the loss of life in accidents in the industry in our state from accidents due to the careless or accidental misuse of powder. Since that time in the comparative statistics there is shown for somewhere in the neighborhood of four years, a reduction of 26 per cent of accidents and deaths from that source, notwithstanding that that percentage estimate is based without taking into consideration that there has been 15,000 more miners in the state since that time, so that the original estimate of 50 per cent reduction in accidents and loss of life from powder would apply all the way through, as the result of that law. When the shot-firing law was made the operators succeeded in getting a limitation placed upon the amount of powder that made necessary shot-firers, all under two pounds of powder can be shot by the miners themselves. Coal operators over an entire district where they have machines in the mines and use less than two pounds of powder, came to our joint executive meeting, asking that they be given shot-firers in their mines. Their coming of themselves is plain evidence that they realize the benefit which it has been in saving of life and limb. And in that way I want to say without desiring to reflect on those operators that the cost for liability damage suits was their main reason for coming in there and asking that they get shot-firers in that particular district. There were many reasons why coal has been shot and is being shot in the manner it is at the present time in our state. Prior to the establishment of our organization we had what is known as the screen coal system; the operators sold the powder and the coal that went through an inch and a quarter screen he got for nothing. He |