make such changes as the law demands, but from the beginning of the new year I expect all mine owners to strictly comply with the law without fear or favor.

THE EFFECTS OF THE NEW LAW.

All the mines are running in compliance with the same, the oper ators and men being benefitted thereby. The former knowing their men are satisfied, hence strikes are avoided; the latter knowing they are paid for all clean coal sent to the surface.

OTHER NEEDED LEGISLATION.

I hope the next legislature will pass a bill to make it compulsory for all coal companies and others working men to pay twice a month in the lawful money of the country. This would in a great measure do away with "pluck me" stores and the paper scrip that is paid to men by some operators in the county.

TAMPING RODS OR BARS.

I think a clause should be inserted in our mining laws requiring the heads of all tamping rods or bars to be made of copper. I have no accidents to record by premature discharges caused by the use of iron heads, yet I do know men are killed every year by premature dis charges caused by the use of the tamping rod now in use. It is the law in many of the Eastern States, also in many mining districts in Europe.

MINE INSPECTORS.

I am of the same opinion as your predecessor, Hon. Henry A. Newman, that the law should be so changed that instead of local inspectors there should be one mine inspector for the State, appointed by the State Commissioner of Labor. There should be two inspections a year. The inspector should be a practical miner, who should have been min ing coal ten years prior to his appointment and should be examined by the Commisioner as to his qualifications. As to his salary, I leave that to wiser heads to determine. I am of the opinion that the next legislature will do well to consider the subject. I believe it would result in much benefit to both operator and men employed.

MINERS AS A CLASS.

It has been said that the coal miners as a class were an ignorant class of men, dull of comprehension, and made very poor citizens, as a

1

rule. Such is not the case. They are well posted on all the general topics, and as a reading people they stand second to no class of workmen. The great dailies and weekly newspapers are found in every house, and no few in number have classical attainments that need no mention from me. They know that it is the cardinal principle of a free republican government to ennoble toil and honor the toiler. They know too well that most of the laws passed by our Congress and State legislatures are passed in the interest of foreign capital and bloodless. corporations. They watch our law-makers in both State and nation with an eye of criticism, and know by past experience that their interest is not so well guarded as the interest of capital. They know too well that if our flag was insulted and war declared that no other class of people would rush quicker to the defense of our flag and country than the so called ignorant coal miners. They know too well that in case. of an emergency this Government has the right to take them from. their happy homes and firesides and rush them into battle in defense of our flag, and they do know and feel too well that a Government that can deprive them of home and the happy surroundings of their families, and then not ptotect them in their interests, is not a Goyernment of the people and by the people, as Washington wrote; her name would be meaningless, her glory a dream and her institutions a mockery, and her proud flag, the stars and stripes, would contaminate the very air in which it floats.

Mr. Commissioner, let me say that the coal miners are looking for. ward to the dawn of better times for both operators and themselves. They know that capital and labor must go hand in hand as two brothers. No advantage should be taken by either party. The interests of one side should be guarded by the other, and when this view of the facts is considered by both parties then peace and quietness will reign throughout the mining camps of our country, and then Pinkerton's hirelings would have to make an honest living, as far as the coal miners. are concerned. Respectfully,

WILLIAM B. WATTS,

Mine Inspector Randolph Co., Mo.

BARTON COUNTY REPORT.

LAMAR, Mo., Dec. 26, 1885.

Zo the HON. O. KOCHTITZKY, Commissioner of Labor Statistics and Inspection, Jefferson City, Mo.:

DEAR SIR: I hereby inclose you my report as mine inspector of Barton county, Mo., hoping you will excuse me for being so late in getting it in, as I have been waiting for reports of those operating coal mines in the western part of the county.

I have requested them to furnish me with the full amount of coal up to date, but they have failed to give report as required.

I have written to Kansas City to parties there. They have failed also to make any returns.

I have endeavored to obtain all the information I could, and in order to do this I took with me G. E. Root, coal expert and prospector, as my assistant. Mr. Root has had five years experience as prospector in this field, and the information he has furnished is worthy of consid eration.

In my next report, however, I shall be able to give you a far more extensive one, as there are several coal banks that I did not deem worthy of reporting at this time that will appear in my next.

I have requested all parties operating mines in this county to furnish me with the actual amounts of coal taken out, so as to show full amount in my next report.

Yours, very respectfully,

F. M. BARRETT,

Inspector of Barton Co., Mo.

GENERAL STRATA.

Minden, the center of the Barton county coal field, is situated on the divide between the Missouri and Arkansas rivers. It is the highest point in the field. There are three coal veins to be reported from this district, but only one is being worked; therefore I will confine myself to that strata in my report. I give description of the other coal seams at the end of my report.

This coal is found in the lower or productive measures, and is known as the Cherokee coal. I ranges in thickness from twenty-nine to forty-three inches. Its sou hera outcrop is on Sec. 31, T. 31, R. 33. It dips from the crop to a depth of seventy feet below the surface. The

deepest point is on Sec. 31, T. 32, R. 33, on the Kansas State line. There are 7,000 acres of continuous, workable coal in this field, averaging thirty-three inches in thickness. The coal is of ordinary good quality and when taken from a depth where the disintegrating forces have not acted upon it, it is very compact and lustrous, and when mined from the clay a very small per cent. is wasted.

The coal lying north of the Minden field belongs to the same deposit, but crops high up in the hills. From the dip of the coal-bearing strata to the northwest would indicate that this coal lies at least 100 feet below the coal being mined on the Maries des Cygne at Rich Hill. The northern crop of the coal in this part of the field is on Sec. 7, T. 32, R. 33. To the north and southeast of this point the Cherokee coal is wanting, it being a low point. Its first appearance on the north is on Sec. 30, T. 33, R. 33. At this place it does not crop but cuts out within twelve feet of the surface, with a heavy dip to the northwest. On section 20, the same township and range, the coal rises and gets thin, five inches being the thickness at this point.

The land to the east of section 30 is owned by Hon. C. H. Morgan, situated on Sec. 29, T. 33, R. 33. This coal is about twenty-eight inches in thickness and covers about one-half of the section and comes to light on the east. There are about 2.000 acres in this part of the field.

Going east from this point we again get coal on Sec. 3, T. 32, R. 33, at the bank of E. Gilkey. This is the western out crop of the Mound coal. It follows this range of hills to sections 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23 and 24, all in township 32, range 33. Its eastern crop is on the land of Capt. R. J. Tucker, in the west half of sections 19, townships 32 and 33.

North of Liberal the coal again appears in the mounds. At Barton City the coal is thirty inches in thickness and of a very superior quality. This is the southern crop of the coal in Long Mound. This is located in sections 28, 29, townships 32 and 33.

In going west from this point, in section 16 of the same township and range, the coal comes to light and crops out high up in the hills, and is twenty-four inches in thickness. This point is known as Round Mound. The extent of this coal, as nearly as can be ascertained, is 1,000 acres. This is the northern crop of the Mound coal, or as far as it has been developed by the prospect drill. At this point I will close on this strata.

Overlying the Cherokee coal we find a small seam of coal, known in the field as the Williams' coal seam. This seam locally attains the thickness of from six to ten inches and is mined extensively for local purposes. This coal covers part of four sections. Its eastern crop is on Sec. 29, T. 32, R. 33.

The coal seam lying below the Cherokee strata (known as No. 17 of general section) is fifty feet below the coal mentioned above. This attains a thickness of sixteen inches of ordinary quality. This coal is being worked at Nashville in township 31, range 32.

With these few notes I will close my present report, hoping to have more extensive ones in my next.

Yours most respectully,

F. M. BARRETT,

Inspector Barton county, Mo.

APPENDIX.

THE W. M. SHARP SHAFT, BARTON COUNTY, MISSOURI.

This shaft is located on the N. E. qr., Sec. 7, T. 31, R. 33; opened August 1, 1882; thickness of vein from thirty-two to forty inches. The roof is composed of blue clay shale with two feet of hard shale immeately above the coal. There is one air shaft; at the time of inspec tion there was no stack, and the air shaft was the downcast and the main shaft the upcast. Orders were given to put up the stack at once. As soon as this is done the air will be all that is required. The main shaft is twenty-seven feet deep; the coal is hoisted by a gin power. Six miners is the greatest number that were employed in these works at one time. These works are operated at the present time by Mr. Sharp and his four sons. The output of this mine since opening has been 40,000 bushels, as near as can be ascertained.

MINDEN SHAFT.

This shaft is located on the S. E. qr. Sec. 6, T 31, R. 33; was opened September, 1883, by Capt. R. J. Tucker, and operated by Frank Orr for the space of five months. There were 15,000 bushels of coal taken from this mine during that time. The shaft is forty feet deep, hoisted by gin; the vein is three feet thick; roof good; mine is not being operated at the present time. During the time of operation of this mine one accident occurred by an explosion of powder through carelessness of the miners. There were five men slightly burned; no one was crippled and but one disfigured. This accident occurred March 4, 1884. No blame was attached to the operator of the mine for the same.