REPORT. This is the fifth annual report of this character made for the State. It contains statistics of the coal, zinc, lead and iron industry, with a general description and location of each mine. In compiling these statistics every precaution was taken to make the information as complete as possible and in such form as to be easily understood. A great deal of time was spent in collecting statistics from mine operators, and in some cases it was necessary to write several letters to a single company, and in a few instances have had to visit mines in person before getting the information desired. But as a rule, mine operators and superintendents have shown a disposition to give us all the information desired. To such operators and managers I desire to return thanks. A glance at the following table shows a healthy condition of the mining industries of the State as compared with the preceding year. The report of that year shows the value of the mineral output to have been $8,165,865, while this report shows the value of output to be $8,896,995, an increase of nearly 9 per cent. It also shows that in producing this amount of wealth 30 lives were lost, 16 wives made widows, 53 children made fatherless, and one life lost for every 413 persons employed, based only on the average number of men at work. Another interesting feature of the table is the number of employes at Missouri mines. The total number of 12,392 employes shows that a population of no less than 49,568 people is directly dependent on the mines for support, for a ratio of four to one is a very moderate one. Table 1.-Showing Summary of General Results of Investigations in Coal, Lead, Zinc and Iron Mines, For year ending June 30, 1891, as compared with the year ending June 30, 1890. Table 11.-Comparison of Product of Coal, Lead, Zinc and Iron Mines for the past three The coal trade opened up earlier last fall than usual, and by the middle of September miners were in demand in nearly every coal-producing county in the State; most of the coal companies were running their mines every day, and many of them behind with their orders. In some localities, however, the railroad facilities were inadequate, which somewhat hindered the progress of mining in such localities. This extra demand continued until about the first of December, at which time the trade began to slacken, since which time the mine operators have had no trouble in supplying the demand. Notwithstanding the mild winter, the coal output shows an increase of 8 2-3 per cent over the preceding year, but the price per ton at the mines has decreased from $1.32 in 1890 to $1.31 1-3 in 1891. The following table shows that 2,650,018 tons of coal were produced during the past year by 385 mines (including 81 "strip-pits"), located in 37 counties. These mines furnished employment to 8,104 persons in winter and 5,654 in summer, or an average for the year of 6,879 an increase, as compared with the report of 1890, of 406 in winter and 749 in summer. In producing this amount of coal, 55,356 kegs of powder were used, giving an average of 47.87 tons to the keg, against 54.4 tons per keg for the preceding year. The use of powder varies in each county, owing to the nature of the coal, character of overlying roof and the method of mining. For instance, no powder is used by the miners in getting the coal in Lafayette and Ray counties, yet these two counties produce nearly 24 per cent of the State's output. Bates and Macon counties, on the other hand, use 43,816 kegs in producing 1,180,302 tons of coal. The aggregate number of accidents reported during the past year was 18 fatal and 32 non-fatal, against 10 fatal and 20 non-fatal for the report of 1890. This shows one life lost for every 147,223 tons of coal produced, and one non-fatal for every 82,813 tons. Table III.-Summary of the General Results of Investigations in Coal Mines For year ending June 30, 1891, compared with the year ending June 30, 1890. NEW COAL MINES OPENED AND OLD ONES ABANDONED OR WORKED OUT. During the year ending June 30, 1891, there have been seventeen new mines opened, while only five have been worked out or abandoned. The mines opened are located in Audrain, Bates, Caldwell, Callaway, Grundy, Henry, Macon, Randolph, Ray, Sullivan and Vernon counties, and the abandoned mines are located in Audrain, Bates, Henry and Macon counties. The report of 1890 shows twenty-one new mines to have been opened and twelve abandoned. While this report shows four mines less opened, it shows that only five have been abandoned. By a glance at the following table, it will be seen that four out of the five companies worked out and abandoned a mine only to open another : IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN COAL MINES. Considerable improvements have been made in and about many of the mines during the past year. The good work of erecting fans to take the place of furnaces has continued, as will be seen by a glance. at the following table. Three of the shafts sunk during the past year were equipped with fans; these, in addition to those erected at the old mines, show eleven fans to have been put in during the year. IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN COAL MINES IN STATE DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1891. Detailed Statement, by Counties, of Improvements made in Coal Mines during the Year ending June 30, 1891. County. Name of Company. Improvement made. Penn. Coal Co.. & Wear Coal Co......... Put in cylinder, boiler and 10-foot fan. New air-shaft sunk and furnace erected Revolving screen, 10-foot fan and new safety catches. Air split into four currents and 32 new houses built. Stairs erected in Mine No. 14; escapement shaft; air compressor erected and 14 mining machines put in. J. M. Wise Coal Co. .. Tram road built to switch and air-shaft sunk. Columbia Coal Co..... Caldwell Coal Co..... Co-operative Coal Co.. Missouri River Coal & Kansas & Texas Coal Kansas & Texas Coal Watson Coal & M. Co. Mendota Coal & M. Co. Interstate M. Co.... Co New cages, ropes and safety catches. Shaft sunk to second seam. Tip-house burned and rebuilt, and 14- Railroad switch put in. New furnace at Graddy mine and 10- Escapement shaft sunk; ladders put up in same, and 10 houses built. 12-foot fan erected at Mine 43, and revolving screen put in; also 21 houses built; an air-shaft sunk at 27; about 200 new mining cars have been built, nearly 2 miles of switches laid and about 50 new houses built at Ardmore mines. Roadway around shaft. Switch put in; hoisting engine erected Escapement shaft sunk at Mine No. 4; also new air-shaft sunk and furnace erected. Air and escapement shaft sunk. Escapement shaft sunk at Mine No. 3. Bovard Brown Coal Co Escapement shaft sunk. Kansas & Texas Coal Co...... J. Pickering Coal Co.. Escapement road completed and new |