The plan upon which 148 mines are worked is on the long-wall system, and at 188 mines the pillar-and-room system is in practice. There were 42,975 kegs of powder consumed in the mines last year, and the aggregate cost of which, to the miners, amounted to $78,223.08. The total number of employes in and about the mines during the winter season was 8856; in the summer season 5634, or an average for the year of 7245 men and boys. The actual number of miners in winter was 7431; in summer, 4598, or an average during the year of 6014. The other employes, such as day, month and outside men, numbered during the winter 1425, and in summer 1036, with an average for the year of 1230. Owing to the small demand for coal and the large number of miners unemployed and seeking work, prices paid for mining during the past year were lower than ever known in this State. The total product of the coal mines of the State for the year was 2,283,081 tons, a decrease compared with previous year of 4.2%. The average price per ton received at the mines was $1.17, and the receipts from the sale of the output was $2,675,690. Accidents in the coal mines during the year furnish gratifying evidence of better management generally, and the good resulting from a compliance with the laws requiring the proper safe guards around, in and about the mines. The fatal accidents number 13, a decrease of 32%. Non-fatal accidents numbered 15, a decrease of 45% compared with the previous year. The number of wives made widows are 9, compared with 15 the year before, and the number of children made fatherless are 17, compared with 24 for preceding year. The number of tons of coal mined for each life lost was 175,621, compared 125,438 tons, a difference in favor of this year of 50,183 tons. Number of tons mined for each non-fatal accident was 152,205 tons, as against 82,271 tons last year, or 69,934 tons in favor of this year. During the year 15 new mines have been opened and 8 mines worked out and abandoned. The report furnishes under the head of the several coal producing counties a statement as to the nature and character of all the more important mines and the condition in which they were found at various inspections. The tables furnish the fullest information, in detail, of each and every mine in the State operated during the year: TABLE II. This table is a record of new mines opened and old mines abandoned during the past year, with the name of the company or operator opening a new mine or abandoning an old one: TABLE III. This table is a recapitulation of improvements at all mines, grouped in totals under the respective kinds of improvements. Air courses 66 Boilers Classified improvements at the mines for year ending June 30, 1895. enlarged 66 retimbered 66 air Side-tracks. Slope opening.. Stairways in escape-shafts. Weigh-houses... 19 6 5 1 5 4 5 TABLE IV. At all mines in the State where an improvement has been made during the past year, the nature and character of such improvement is shown in this table, together with the name of the operator of the respective mine and the county wherein it is located. It will be noticed that the improvements and number of new mines opened have kept well up with the improvements made in the previous years, in spite of a depressed market and the serious difficulties contended with by the trade during the year. |