The above table has been compiled from the U. S census of 1880, in lieu of direct reports from the manufacturers themselves, who, through unwillingness or neglect, have failed to respond to the requests of this Bureau, STATISTICS OF MANUFACTURES IN MISSOURI-CONTINUED. MINES AND MINING. · Prominent and careful consideration is given by this Bureau to the mining interests of the State. No other industry offers so great an opportunity to observe the relations between employer and employe, and, considering the extensive and inexhaustible mineral deposits within the State, it may well be said that the mining interest will soon attain the most significant position among all our industries. It is much to be regretted that our present mining laws only refer to coal mines, and while they provide for annual reports to be made to this Bureau by the Mine Inspectors, the appointment of mine inspectors is entirely subject to the voluntary action of the various county courts, and the consequence is, that very few mine Inspectors are appointed. Mine inspectors ought to be appointed in every county in which any class of mining is carried on, and the appointment should only be made after a careful examination before a board of examiners, and the appointees should be subject to removal for malfeasance in office or neglect of duty. In order to guard more effectually against premature explosions, the use of iron needles or iron tamping bars used for tamping blasts should be declared unlawful, and only copper needles, and coppertipped tamping bars permitted to be used. The owners or operators of every mine should be required to report annually to this Bureau the condition of their mine.or mines, number of men employed, amount of wages paid, sanitary condition of employes, total amount of product of mine, amount of capital invested, and accidents and their cause, and such other matters as may aid in developing the mining interests of the State. To the many letters asking for information on the above subjects only a few replies have been received, all of which will be included in this report. If our mining laws were amended, as above suggested, very valuable information regarding the mineral resources of the State could be presented. Following are the reports of the mine inspectors of Randolph, Macon, Ray, Bates and Barton counties, the only counties from which reports have been received. The total output of coal in Missouri during the year 1885, reported and estimated, will amount to fully 1,500,000 tons. RANDOLPH COUNTY REPORT. MOBERLY, MISSOURI, DEC. 31, 1885. HON. OSCAR KOCHTITZKY, Commissioner of Labor Statistics: SIR-As required by "section 11 of the mining laws," I have the honor to submit to you my annual report as mine inspector of Randolph county, ending December 31, 1885. I was appointed Inspector for this county the fourth Monday in July last, but did not enter in discharge of duty until a month later. acres. It would be a hard matter for me to state the number of acres of workable coal land in this county even approximately, but from the best information I can obtain on the question, there are about 160,000 And from personal observations of the coal fields of this county I would say that the future and rising generations will find plenty of coal in this county. The amount of capital employed in mining in this county is not far from $100,000. The amount paid to employes about $230,000. The number of mines in operation thirty-seven; a large majority of them are operated in cold weather only, and a few of them only get out coal enough for their own use. The Huntsville Coal and Mining Co. is the principal company doing business in the county. They employ in and about the mines 100 hands and have hoisted about 51,000 tons of coal. The capital of this company is $50,000. The amount paid to employes is $10,000. These mines are situated on the St. Louis, Wabash and Pacific railroad about four miles west of Moberly, and are furnished with all the modern improvements including railroad scales and screens, and is the only shaft in the county that has bonnets and safety catches on their cages. The underground connection with old "No. 1" renders means of escape in case of danger. The mines are free from water and are aired by means of a furnace. There is the amount of air required by law passing in the downcast but is not well distributed to the working faces, but this will be all right in a few days as the company is making improvements in that direction. The principal office of the company is at Huntsville. Wm. T. Rutherford is president, H. T. Rutherford is |