LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

STATE OF MISSOURI, OFFICE OF STATE MINE INSPECTOR.

Hon. LEE MERIWETHER, Labor Commissioner, Jefferson City, Mo.:

}

SIR-I have the honor to submit herewith the ninth annual report on the coal

mines of Missouri, for the year ending June 30, 1895.

Respectfully,

CHAS. EVANS,

State Mine Inspector.

INTRODUCTION.

In all the reports that have been issued from this Department, an effort has been made by the Inspectors to furnish such information and suggestions in mining matters as would tend to make the report interesting and serviceable to miners, operators and mining men generally throughout the State, and to incorporate nothing therein but that which would have a tendency to stimulate the mining industry. During the year ending June 30, 1895, I have made 485 inspections with reference to the ventilation of mines and the safety of the miner, and I am pleased to state that with but a single exception I received the hearty co-operation of both miners and operators at all the mines in the furtherance of my duties as inspector. My visits to the mines have been made as often as the conditions seemed to require or my limited time would permit.

All of the larger mines were inspected three times during the year and the smaller ones twice, and they were generally found in a very fair condition.

Where defection in the ventilation was found, or the safety of the miner neglected, I had no trouble in having the defects remedied.

The good work of erecting over casts, and splitting the ventilative volume of air into two or more currents, is practiced at all the larger mines, and more attention is now being given to ventilation. I am safe in stating that the mines of this State will compare favorably with those of any other mining state in the country, so far as the sanitary condition of the mines and safety of the miner is concerned. A glance at the the table of improvements in each year's report will prove this. The results of my labor at these inspections, together with the instructions given and recommendations made to mine owners for the better and safer operation of the mines, are fully set forth in my notes on mines in this report.

REPORT.

The depression experienced the past year in all industries, together with the miners strike which continued well into our fiscal year, will fully account for the decreased production of coal for the year ending June 30, 1895.

The decrease, compared with the output of our mines for the previous years, was 4 2-10%. This decrease, however, is 3 2.10% less than the general average decrease of the country at large.

The coal trade of the State has improved wonderfully in the last six months, but this revival in business was experienced too late in our fiscal year, to add any appreciable amount to the volume of business accounted for in this report.

From a personal canvass of the entire coal producing sections of the State, made since the end of our fiscal year, I found a decided change for the better, embracing not only an increase in productions, but better prices for mining and better prices received from the sale of coal.

All mines of any importance were running to full capacity, and there was a general demand for miners throughout the mining districts. Prices paid to miners have been increased, and the demand for coal and its price has increased.

The prospects for the ensuing year are most flattering, and unless some unforeseen difficulty arises to disturb the business of the country, this year's product should equal our year of greatest production, and possibly overreach it.

During the year, 34 counties reported coal produced; reports were received from 402 mines; of this number, 177 are shaft openings, 77 are slope openings, 82 are drift openings, and 66 are strip pits.

The power employed, except in strip pits, is distributed as follows: Steam-power, 83; horse-power, 146; and hand-power at 107 mines.

Ventilation of the mines is produced by the use of 56 fans, 152 furnaces, and 128 mines are supplied with what is termed "natural ventilation."