and are 14×28 inches in cylinder, connected direct to a 7-foot drum, with two boilers to supply the power. The mine is ventilated by a 10foot fan, the same being set on top of the air chamber, which is partitioned off from one end of hoisting-shaft.

An inspection of the mine was made December 7, and deficiency in the ventilation was found in some parts of the mine, for the want of doors properly placed to conduct the air around the workings; but men were put to work at once, to remedy the evil.

Second inspection was made April 28, and the mine was found better ventilated than on former visits. The air is circulated around the workings in two currents-part going through the east, and part through the west side, meeting again on the east side, where it returns to the upcast; the mine is still making considerable water, coming from the roof as it does, causes the same to become friable and hard to keep up at such places. An underground traveling-way has been made during the past year, between mines 1 and 2, as an avenue of escape for the men in case of accident to either of the mines. The roadways are wet and low, and require considerable attention, making it a very costly mine at best, to keep in any kind of condition. There were 83 men at work at date of last visit, and the output of the mine had largely increased. The product is consumed by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pac. R. R. C. R. Aladize, foreman; N. Shaklin, manager.

GALT POSTOFFICE.

The Medicine Valley Coal Co. are sinking a shaft at Galt city, and the same was down about 50 feet at date of my visit in the latter part of April. Coal will likely be struck at the depth of about 135 feet, and the seam proved to be the same as that so extensively mined at Trenton. The shaft is being sunk by horse power, but as soon as the coal is developed, steam-power will be employed, and the mine operated on the long-wall plan. Shipping connection will be made with the Q. O. & K. C. R. R.

R. A. Brough, superintendent and manager.

HENRY COUNTY.

Production, 81,473 tons.

This county has shown a regular decrease in product from 1889 to the present; for the latter year the output was 210,3.6 tons, then 127,281 tons, 144,139 tons, 137,258 tons, 125,962 tons, and this year 84,473 tons, showing a total decrease since 1889 of 125,903 tons. The principal mines are located at Calhoun, Deepwater and Lewis station. But there are other small mines in the vicinity of Clinton, Brownington and Windsor.

The following is a description of the principal mines:

BROWNINGTON POSTOFFICE.

Blair Diamond Mine.-John Thompson, superintendent; mine located south of Brownington, and connected with the Bailey railroad by a switch; shaft 50 feet deep; steam-power used for hoisting; we made an inspection of this mine December 20, and found all the men drawing back pillars, and that the mine would soon be abandoned. In May, when inspecting mines in the same vicinity, we were informed that the mine had been abandoned, and the machinery moved to another mine.

D. C. Blanchard & Son.-Mine located four miles south of Brownington; shaft 40 feet deep; horse-power; ventilation is furnished by a fire basket, in the air-shaft, and was giving poor results at dates of inspections; canvas doors were also used in place of wooden ones, and the same were so poorly constructed that very little air was going round the workings. Instructions were given to this company to remedy the evil at once; coal 38 inches thick, and worked on the room and pillar plan; paying for mining about 85 cents per ton in winter, and 75 cents in summer. Coal is hauled in wagons and loaded on railroad cars at Eaton switch, and shipped over the K. C., Ft. S. & M. R. R., and consumed at local towns along the line of the road; but the most of the product of this mine, during the past year, was consumed at the tile and brick works at Deepwater.

Huey & Kerens. Mine located 4 miles south of Brownington. Slope opening, from the bottom of a strip-pit; 4 men are employed, and the coal is hauled in wagons and loaded on cars at Eaton switch, and shipped over the K. C., Ft. S. & M. R. R.

Dunlap operates a slope opened out from the bottom of a strippit near Brownington; about 3 men are employed, and the product is consumed in the immediate vicinity.

Henry Stevens operates a nine between Deepwater and Brown. ington, on the old Hobbs place. Slope opening, and ventilation is produced by a small furnace; coal 3 feet thick, and worked on the room and pillar plan; about 12 men employed. Nearly all the product of this mine is consumed by the brick works company at Brownington. Michaels & Sheardon.-Mine located 1 mile west of Brownington. Shaft 40 feet deep; horse-power used for hoisting, and ventilated by a furnace. This mine was opened last fall, and about 20 men were employed through the fall and winter. Coal 38 inches thick, and worked on the room and pillar plan, paying 85 cents per ton in winter and 75 cents in summer. The coal is shipped over the Bailey road and con. sumed at local towns along the line.

Kansas City Coal and Fuel Company, Wm. Simpson superintendent.-Mine located two miles south of Brownington, connected by a switch with the Bailey road; shaft 85 feet deep; steam power used for hoisting. This mine was opened in the fall of 1893 by a party from Colorado, and is known in this vicinity as the Colorado mine. The coal proved to be faulty and irregular, and the Colorado party quit operating the mine sometime in March, 1894. May 8th, while on my second tour of inspection in Henry county, I found Hurst, McFadden & Co. had taken charge and was operating the mine; the ventilation was found deficient: in fact there was no air in the mine nor any system of ventilation adopted; the company had an escapement-shaft going down at date of my visit, and the work at the mine was stopped until the same was completed. The machinery had been used at other mines and moved here, as had also the pit-head, which was poorly constructed. The hoisting-ropes were found unsafe and condemned, and the company instructed to put in new ropes at once. Coal 3 feet thick and worked on the room and pillar plan; the roof is soft and friable; the product of the mine is consumed by the railroad company.

Thompson Bros.-Mine located 1 mile west of Brownington; shaft 50 feet deep, and the product hoisted at present by horse-power; but the company will soon put in machinery. This is a new mine, opened in the fall of 1893. The ventilation is produced by a furnace. Coal 38 inches thick and worked on the room and pillar method. Mining is paid for at the rate of 85 cents per ton in winter, and 75 cents in sumThe roof is a hard shale which stands well in all parts of the mine. About 25 men employed, and the coal is hauled over the K. C., O. & S. railroad, and consumed at local towns along the line.

mer.

George Thompson operates a mine near Brownington, to supply the home demand.

James York and Alex Wagoner are operating a strip-pit 4 miles south of Brownington, and the product is shipped to market over the K. C., Ft. S. & M. railroad.

CALHOUN POSTOFFICE.

Calhoun Coal company.-Mine located two miles southwest of Calhoun and connected with the M., K. & T. railroad. Shaft 35 feet deep: steam-power. Ventilation is produced by an 8-foot fan, and the mine fairly ventilated. Coal 30 inches thick and worked on the long-wall plan, using the movable face track. Price of mining 70 cents per ton. The product is consumed mostly by the railroad company.

CLINTON POSTOFFICE.

There are no mines in the immediate vicinity of Clinton, but several mines are located on the east and southeast, and the coal from these mines is hauled in wagons to supply the demand of the Clinton market.

McBeth & Shorter operate a mine 4 miles southeast of Clinton. Shaft 40 feet deep; horse-power; coal from 24 to 26 inches in thickness, and worked on the room and pillar plan. Mine is only operated in fall and winter, to supply the home market. From 6 to 8 men are employed.

Leon Owens.-Mine located 3 miles east of Clinton.

Slope open

ing, operating in fall and winter, and employing 4 men to supply the local trade.

Andrew McCloud is operating the mine formerly operated by J. Robinson. Shaft 20 feet deep, and hoisting by a horse. Thickness of the coal, and mode of working, and price paid for mining, the same as that of other mines in this locality. Coal consumed in the vicinity.

Hay & Wollworth sunk a shaft on the Kurks farm, and struck 26 inches of coal at a depth of 38 feet. Machinery was put up to hoist the product, and a side track graded to connect the mine with the Bailey road, but for some cause the mine has been abandoned, as on second visit to the mine on the 9th of May, the place was deserted and the shaft full of water.

Henderson & Allison operate a strip-pit and a shaft 3 miles southeast of Clinton, hauling the coal in wagons and selling it to the home market.

Herring & Hess.-Mine located south of Clinton and east of North station. The mine is near the banks of Grand river. It is a slope opening. The coal is hauled in wagons and loaded on cars at North switch. Three men employed. Mine only running during the winter months.

Wm. England operates a mine about 4 miles southeast of Clinton, near the banks of Grand river. Coal about 3 feet thick, worked on room and pillar plan. The coal is consumed in the neighborhood.

Stockton Bros. have opened a mine on the Avery farm, 4 miles south of Clinton. Shaft 45 feet deep; horse power; coal 26 inches thick and worked on the room and pillar plan. The coal is hauled in wagons to Clinton, where it is consumed.

John Daniels operates a strip-pit on the Carlyle farm to supply the home market.

DEEPWATER POSTOFFICE.

Brann Coal Company.-Ed. Brann, foreman. Mine located 4 miles south of Deepwater; shaft 50 feet deep; horse-power. Coal 3 feet thick; worked on the room and pillar plan. About 4 men employed. The coal is hauled from the mine in wagons, and loaded on cars at Eaton switch, and shipped over the K. C., Ft. S. & M. railroad, and consumed at local towns along the line.

Joe Hurst operates a mine 4 miles south of Deepwater. Slope opening. Coal 3 feet thick, and worked on the room and pillar method; from 6 to 8 men employed in fall and winter. The product is shipped over the K. C., Ft. S. & M. railroad.

Will. Hurst operates a mine in the same vicinity. Drift opening, from the bottom of strip-pit.

John Hurst is operating a mine 4 miles south of Deepwater. Shaft 35 feet deep; horse-power. Coal 3 feet thick, and worked on the room and pillar plan, and paying a dollar per ton in winter and 80 cents per ton in summer for mining. The coal from this mine is bauled in wagons and loaded on cars on Eaton switch, and shipped over the K. C., Ft S. & M. railroad to points north and south.

John McCardell operates a strip-pit 3 miles south of Deepwater to supply the home trade.

Wm. Thompson operated a mine in the vicinity of Deepwater, but sold out to John Hurst, who operates it at present. Slope opening; thickness of coal, mode of working, and price paid for mining are the same as that of other mines in this locality.

McFadden & Son operate a mine 4 miles south of Deepwater. Slope opening; coal 3 feet thick, and worked on the room and pillar plan. This mine, like all the other mines in this vicinity, is ventilated by a small furnace. The product is hauled in wagons and loaded on cars at Eaton switch and shipped over the K. C., Ft. S. & M. R. R., and consumed at towns along the line.

Rees & Son operate a drift mine in the same locality as the lastnamed mine, working the same seam, and loading on same switch, and shipping over the same railroad. There are several other parties in this same neighborhood operating mines on a small scale, which I had no time to visit.

Central Coal and Coke Co., John Perry, general manager, Robert Barr, superintendent.

The mine is located one mile northeast of Deepwater, and connected with the K. C. Ft. S. & M. R. R.; shaft 60 feet deep; equipped with good machinery; ropes, gates, cages and safety-catches are kept