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By P. F. Patterson

It is a well established fact that 60 per cent of all accidents in coal mines occur from falls of roof and coal at or in the proximity of the working face. Notwithstanding that this is well known, and has been frequently discussed by mining men, this seems to be the irreducible minimum. It is even said by those in a position to know that the percentage stated is increasing. With this, information before us it would seem that not enough attention is being given to close supervision at the working face, and until this is done we may expect to continue experiencing an increase in the accidents in this area. No workman generally feels that it is more important to finish loading a car of coal than to set a timber for protection, and many accidents happen from this source, not from a lack of knowledge of the dangerous conditions existing, but negligence in taking remedies necessary to remove the danger. It is true that nearly all state laws require the mine foreman or his assistant to visit each working face every day, but with the constantly changing conditions on account of the advance of the working faces, these daily visits may be entirely inadequate to discover possible dangers and prevent accidents. The obvious remedy then is closer and more systematic inspection and supervision of the working faces. Many accidents are caused in mines on account of not enough clearance between the rib and track or between timber and track. On all main haulage ways. there should be a space of at least 30 inches between the rib and track, or timber and track, and on all rooms not less than two feet should be left between the track and upright timbers.. A great deal has been said and written with regard to systematic timbering. We doubt very much the feasibility of adopting any standard of timbering that would be suitable for all roof conditions, and any such system in our opinion would not tend to cause a decrease in the number of accidents. The proper place to put up a prop, regardless of whether it conforms to any established system, is under a piece of loose roof. No habit is becoming more prevalent among miners and other mine workers than wearing gloves, principally flimsy canvas gloves, which afford no protection to the wearers and are the direct cause of many hand injuries. If gloves must be worn, and no doubt they will be as the habit has become well established, then they should be made from some heavy material and should fit the hands fairly snug.

Jan 1, 1923

Jan 1, 1926

Jan 1, 1986

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Jan 1, 1995

[HORACE MOSES President Gamerco, New Mexico BENEDICT SHUBART Secretary-Treasurer 521 Boston Bldg., Denver, Colorado ROBT. L. HAIR Vice-President for Colorado VIRGIL R. McKNIGHT Vice-President for New Mexico A. E. GIBSON Vice-President for Utah THOS. FOSTER Vice-President for Wyoming EXECUTIVE BOARD COLORADO: J. B. DICK Walsenburg C. M: BILLINGTON Lafayette NEW MEXICO: W. C. HOLMAN Dawson ROBT. WYPER Gallup UTAH: R. R. KIRKPATRICK Sunnyside GEO. A. SCHULTZ Latuda WYOMING EDWARD BOTTOMLEY Kleenburn QUINCE RICE Superior]

Jan 1, 1926

Presiding: Herman Van Houten, Senior Marketing Counselor, Joy Mfg. Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., and John A. Reeves, Vice President, Mid-Continent Coal &Coke Co., Carbondale, Colorado. The Keynote Speaker, Senator Jennings Randolph from West Virginia, was unable to come due to pressing business in Washington. A film presentation on Surface Mining and Reclamation, "Energy Bridge," Courtesy of Pittsburgh & Midway Coal Mining Company, Denver, Colorado, was shown and was prefaced by comments from James V. Fisher. "Advantages of Longwall Mining in Western Coal Production" was a paper presented by David W. Wisecarver, Supervisory Mining Engineer, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Denver, Colorado. Mr. Wisecarver graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1949. After two years with International Harvester and two years in the U.S. Army, he joined the engineering staff on a Bureau of Mines underground mining operation in Virginia for eight years where he saw duties as mine surveyor, shift boss, and assistant maintenance superintendent.

Jan 1, 1977

By Kraig R. Naasz

Jan 1, 2008

By C. A. Allen

When the writers were asked to prepare a paper on this subject for this meeting of the Institute there was some question in our minds as to what to say that would be of interest to the members. You all know that Utah has some wonderful seams of good coal, on which have been opened some of the most modern mines in the United States, and that her coal operators have been putting forth many efforts to reduce losses due to accidents as well as disease. While I believe that the physical condition of Utah's mines is as good as in any other state we are not unaware of the fact that a great deal can still be done and we are always willing to frankly discuss the accident situation in the state. Dr. Murray has assembled some interesting figures showing the monetary loss due to accidents and disease which I will will proceed to give you to show the necessity of continued efforts in welfare work regardless of humane considerations.

Jan 1, 1922

H. C. GLAZE: There is no question in my mind that the day of direct current distribution is practically ended so far as large coal properties are concerned. Another thing that Mr. Drennan touched on that is of the utmost importance, is that of voltage-voltage to the various pieces of equipment inside the mine. You all know how expensive it is to have motors in operation in important places where the voltage .is about half that which the motor should have. This is particularly true in the direct current system. It slows down production, causes burnouts and destruction to apparatus, and is a question that you men have got to go into. It costs a great deal of money, as Mr. Drennan pointed out, to take care of this. The wires are large and cumbersome, while; on the other hand, with an alternating current system you can use a minimum amount of wire. We have installed this class of equipment with so-called "pick-proof" cable of 2,200 volts down slopes, and I have never heard of any trouble whatsoever from this cause.

Jan 1, 1923

By D. C. McClure

MR. McCLURE: Mr. Chairman, you sprang a surprise on me; I really came over here for a good time. Gentlemen, I am not at all qualified to pose as an expert on pulverized fuel; I have merely been making some rather interesting observations, and unfortunately at the present time, a great deal of substantial data, the technical data, I don't happen to have with me; it is still in the process of being calculated, but I will be very glad to tell you some of the observations as I have made them, and in as truthful and complete a way as I can. The question of how we would handle fuel became a very pressing subject in this new Valmont electric plant, which is now under progress. We have studied the methods of burning fuel for a number of years on different types of stokers at the existing plants in Denver; we are burning it with a natural draft chain grate and with underfeed and with forced draft chain grates, and I am very frank to confess at the present time that I have no answer as far as stokers are concerned for a better solution of the problem of burning lignite. In other words, I could not tell you that this or that is a better type of stoker to use for that coal. However, to boil the thing down, after considerable trials, the underfed stoker was chosen as the one most adaptable for the utilizing of lignite fuel if stokers are to be used. In other words, the chain grate was put aside. I might say in support of the chain grate, the prime reason for which that type of stoker was condemned, as far as lignite goes, is the initial investment charge and the large maintenance which is involved.

Jan 1, 1923

[W. R. Abbott, 11o8 First National Bank Bldg., Denver, Colo. L. E. Adams, 817 Newhouse Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah. Herbert Addison, Big Horn Colliers Co., Denver, Colo. Richard V. Ageton, Brighton Mich. John Alexander, Dacona, Colo. C. A. Allen, 448 Capitol Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah. David Allen, Lafayette, Colo. John Allen, Ludlow, Colo. Thomas Allen, Mt. Harris, Colo. Gerald Alley, C. F. & I. Co., Pueblo, Colo. Archie Allison, Box 562, Walsenburg, Colo. D. S. Allison, 56 W. 6th South Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. Park Allison, Box 94.0, Rock Springs, Wyo. Howard R. Allonier, care Lunkenheimer Co., Cincinnatti, Ohio. J. B. Ambler, care Ambler & Riter, Engineers, Salt Lake City, Utah. A. F. Anderson, 403 Ideal Bldg., Denver, Colo. W. K. Anderson, 4.23 East Yampa Street, Colorado Springs, Colo. Sam Andrews, 503 Pike Avenue, Canon City, Colo. Jos. Angster, Farr, Colo. William Angus, Somerset, Colo. Joseph Appleton, Ironton Engine Co., Ironton, Ohio. Victor Arnoldi, Ideal, Colo. John Arnott, Crested Butte, Colo. R. M. Atmore, Swastika, N. M. W. H. Backman, 1601 Alcott Street, Denver, Colo. Edward E. Barrett, Roberts & Schaefer Co., Chicago, Ill. G. F. Bartlett, 311 Ernest & Cranmer Bldg., Denver,, Colo. C. S. Beach, Kemmerer, Wyo. Thos. Bertram, Box 134?, Oak Creek, Colo. Charles Beuchat, Pryor, Colo. John Bevan, 1625 North Corona Street, Colorado Springs, Colo. James L. Bisch, Van Houton, N. M. Jos. Bodner, Oak Creek, Colo. A. H. C. Boissier, 302 E. & C. Bldg., Denver, Colo. John M. Bopp, 1615 Walker Bank Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah. Edward Bottomley, Carneyville, Wyo. James V. Bowen, Union Coal and Coke Co., Denver, Colo. Alex R. Bowie, Bowie, Colo. John S. Bowie, Bowie, Colo. Wallace D. Bowie, Bowie, Colo. W. J. Bowns, Castle Gate, Utah. L. Brandenburger, 59 West Broadway, Salt Lake City, Utah. James Brennan, Primero, Colo. W. D. Brennan, Dawson, N. M. Burt B. Brewster, 704 Kearns Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah. A. L. Brockman, Sugarite, N. M. Alex. J. Brooks, Supt. Hastings No. 5 Mine, Hastings, Colo. Edward Brooks, Sweetwater, Wyo. E. S. Brooks, Rock Springs, Wyo. D. W. Brown, Rocky Mountain Fuel Co., Denver, Colo. L. E. Brown, 1212 Walker Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah. Mark Y. Brown, 629 East Main Street, Trinidad, Colo. H. H. Bubb, Carbon Coal and Coke Co., Cokedale, Colo. W. H. Bullock, 1052 Gas and Electric Bldg., Denver, Colo. Thomas B. Burnite, 523 Boston bldg., Denver, Colo.]

Jan 1, 1921

PRESIDENT LITTLEJOHN: The paper of Mr. Emrick will now be open for discussion for about twenty minutes. The meeting is now open for discussion. MR. EMRICK: There is some question that may have occurred to you at different times, that is how are you going to tell when the bits are properly made? A fairly good rule to go by is when the used bits come out of the mine, if half of them are bent and half of them are broken, the average is pretty good MR. GEO. B. PRYDE (Union Pacific Coal Company): I would like to ask Mr. Emrick if he has any figures as to the saving of Dower with the different styles of its. MR. EMRICK: I suppose you mean chisel point bits and pick point bits? MR. PRYDE: Yes. MR. EMRICK: So far as I have been able to learn, the only reason why chisel point bits are used is to prevent coring that might be done by the cutter chain. The pick point bit, of course, is the proper thing to use. It can be used when the position of the cutter links in the cutter chain is right. I do not know of any figures which give power consumption ratings on the use of pick point and chisel point bits, but there are tests and ratings, etc., which have been taken- which have been tested as against different bits, which have been given proper clearances against bits not having been given proper clearances, and they will run,-in their saving in power, they will run 20 to 25 per cent. MR. A. C. WATTS (Chief Engineer, Utah Fuel Company) : I would like to ask Mr. Emrick if he has any record showing the saving in power on using the alloy steel chisel bits. I know that several experiments have been made; I do not recall the figures now, but we had a very decided saving in power. MR. EMRICK: I haven't any of the records. Do you think that is because of the steel that has been used? MR. WATTS: Well, they were all sharpened by the same man and used in the same machine, and at the same shop. I do not know the composition. It is "Red Star" Vanadium that I had in mind. MR. EMRICK: I have not seen any records. Some companies are using the tool steel bits because they stand up a little bit better. MR. BENEDICT SHUBART (Secretary) : I was going to ask Mr. Emrick about that question. There is one company that does not recommend tempering the bits. They recommend using not exactly self-hardening steel, but one that is bard enough without quenching-they use 80-90-point car- bon but about a 70-point manganese, not exactly self-hardening steel, but they do not temper this at all. Will Mr. Emrick state if a steel of that kind could be worked in the bit sharpening machine that his company makes, as it

Jan 1, 1925

By S. R. DeBoer

A study of Western cities reveals the fact that a city where people make their homes for permanent residence is always a city with, well-shaded avenues, with parks and playgrounds; in other words, a beautiful city. On the other hand, the average city that lacks these qualifications is usually a city of transient population. Many of our Western cities must be classified as such. Their inhabitants live in such a city only to the time that they will be able financially to retire from business and go to one of the other types of cities to live; or until opportunity offers itself for a position or a job in such a city. I believe that our Western coal camps could benefit by this truth. If conditions can be created in the camps that will encourage the workers to settle permanently or for a long time at least in the town, it would greatly aid in stabilizing employment. By the term "workers" I do not mean the pick and shovel men alone, but everybody from the superintendent or the manager down; for the educated part of the population suffers probably greater from a desire for better surroundings than the less educated part. Modern City Planning tries to show the way for more attractive towns; for more practical towns also, and at less expense. The grid-iron system of street planning is slowly being replaced by one that fits the contours of the site. Instead of streets that are cut through the hills and built over the valleys to get practical grades, it tries to show how these streets can be made to fit the ground and produce better traffic lines; greatly more attractive streets; better building sites and lots, and all of this at less expense. A well-planned town of this character should have as its nucleus, a central square around which the main stores and business houses are grouped. The main building of this group should be the church, the community meeting place, city hall or such other buildings of a public or semi-public character, that are imposing enough to add interest to the square. From this central square, streets should be built to radiate out in all directions, more or less like a spider-web. The main lines of these streets should be reserved for traffic purposes and they should be wide, for the town may grow into a city, and they should be direct, connecting the town center with outlying points at the shortest and easiest possible line. Between these radiating streets should be residential streets of narrower width and arranged in such a way that fast through traffic cannot pass over them and make them unsafe and unsanitary for family life. Following up the comparison with the spider-web, the town should have circular streets, encircling the whole town with rings at various distances out, along which circular lines parks should be located. In the West, where the need for shade is so great, the town should surround itself with a belt of forest trees. Such a forest belt would break the winds and shelter the town, and also make the whole town a cozier, nicer place to build a home in. A forest belt of this kind does not necessarily mean a great layout of money. Trees can be planted small and at little cost and a carefully studied irrigation system will make the maintenance cost small. If the town has any places of natural beauty they should be carefully preserved and made accessible. Natural parks of this type will often take the place of the artificial parks of large cities, and at no expense to the community. Playgrounds, a swimming pool, either of concrete or a sanded beach on a lake; a place for all to go skating in winter; a hill for sledding in

Jan 1, 1924

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Jan 1, 1993

Jan 1, 1983

[Participating Scholarship Colleges and Universities 148 Andalex Resources, Inc 99 Big Sky Coal Company 118 Canyon Fuel Company, LLC 100 Coal Age 141 Commercial Testing & Engineering Company 103 Continental Conveyor & Equipment Co 104 Copper Mountain Resort 139 Cove Shoe Co., Inc 116, 117 Dakota Coal Company 105]

Jan 1, 2000

Jan 1, 1923

[Participating Scholarship Colleges and Universities 144 Andalex Resources, Inc 91 Behre Dolbear & Company, Inc 93 Canyon Fuel Company, LLC 92 Big Sky Coal Company 114 Commercial Testing & Engineering Company 96 Continental Conveyor & Equipment Co 97 Copper Mountain Resort 108 Cove Shoe Co., Inc 110, 111]

Jan 1, 1999

This session was devoted to Surface Mining. Presiding was Virgil W. Carmichael, Vice President- Exploration, North American Coal Corporation, Bismarck, North Dakota, and John (Jack) F. Ratchye, Manager of Marketing and Resources, Peter Kiewit Sons' Co. Mining District, Sheridan, Wyoming. Subject-The new Federal Surface Mining Regulations-a thorough briefing as to content of law and how it will affect western mining. Introductory Speaker: William Hynan, Senior Vice President, National Coal Association, Washington, D.C. (See index for printed text of Mr. Hynan's paper.) Panel Members: The first speaker was George M. L. Robinson, Senior Hydrologist, Peabody Coal Company, Denver, Colorado. Mr. Robinson has a B.S. Degree from New Mexico University, Portales; Masters in Hydrology, Kent State, Ohio.

Jan 1, 1978

Presiding-Thomas R. Young, President, Wyoming Fuel Company, Lakewood, Colorado. Mark Gillaspie, Vice President, San Marco Pipeline Company, Houston Natural Gas Company, Houston, Texas, presented a very interesting film-"Invocation in Coal Transportation-Black Mesa Coal Slurry Pipeline." (See index for printed text of Mark Gillaspie's remarks) * * * Kaye Kuhlmann, President of Citizens for Total Energy, San Jose, California, presented a paper-"Grass Roots Support for Energy Policy." (See index for printed text of Mrs. Kuhlmann's paper.) Mrs. Kuhlmann is President of Citizens for Total Energy, an International volunteer grassroots organization with the purpose of educating the public on energy alternatives. CITE strongly advocates responsible citizen participation in the establishment of energy policy.

Jan 1, 1980