Coal Age Magazine - For nearly 100 years, Coal Age has been the magazine that readers can trust for guidance and insight on this important industry.
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1920-1929 However, unlike those anthracite opera- tions, "Zeigler produced on its best day about 8.1 tons per man and during the whole month averaged 6.78 tons. The aver- age output per loader per day for the whole month was 11.7 tons and per machine man 95.9 tons…these records are exceptionally good." Besides glory, also propelling the men at each mine was an impending strike to commence "on or after April 1 [that] made every man paid by the ton anxious to do his utmost so as to obtain the largest possible cash reserve for the long period of idleness which was in view." However both mines were about to be overshadowed by the New Orient (Orient No. 2) mine that would go into full production in 1925 and quickly become the world's most productive bituminous mine. Under con- struction since May 1921, Coal Age first fea- tured the mine in the March 12, 1925, issue, would update readers about its massive new hoist for the April 9 edition and then devote nearly an entire magazine to the New Orient in the September 9, 1926, issue, stating that "for the present, New Orient is the last word in an industry in which constant improve- ment calls continuously for betterment." In 1925, its first year in operation, the mine increased average daily output from 6,211 tons in January to a whopping 9,757 tons per day. On December 15, New Orient's 1,377 men shattered the world record and hoisted 12,825 tons to the surface. Designed to pro- duce 3.6 million tons per year, CW&F; man- agement predicted the mine would be capable of producing 4.5 to 5.4 million tons per year if the market for Illinois coal was steady enough. Underground, each of New Orient's main entry groups had four headings "constituting a pair of pairs"—22 loading machines were used and the mine's aircourse was rock dust- ed, a practice new at the time. The loading machines are "chiefly used in heading driv- ing. To date, more than 125,000 Men who produced New Orient's big tonnage. *Coal Age, September 9, 1926 linear ft of entry have been driven mechani- cally. During the earlier stages of under- ground development, by an agreement with the United Mine Workers, the loading machines were operated three shifts per day. Consequently, the rate of development by machine loading methods was 50 percent greater than by hand loading." At the time of the author's visit, "six loading machines were put to work in a concentration plan for work- ing rooms. These machines were then load- ing an average of 125 tons per shift each." Revolutionary Rock Dusting: Coal AgeHelps Spread the New Safety Tool In 1926, rock dusting was new to the U.S. coal industry and was being rapidly adopt- ed by the most progressive operations. "New Orient of course, is thoroughly rock- dusted. By the careful maintaining of rock dust where needed, the danger of coal dust in this mine has been eliminated as proved by an unfortunate explosion last winter which was checked by rock dust within a short distance of its origin. Not only are all haulways coated with rock dust, but the stretches of aircourse from crosscut to crosscut are also being thus treated before track is torn up. The first application of dust is of 3 ½ lb. per linear ft. The quantity and the time for the application of addi- tional dust are determined by the analyses of samples which are taken systematical- ly." Though the explosion in discussion killed five men, "New Orient management is convinced that rock dust saved it from an explosion of great magnitude." In addi- tion to dusting, to prevent an explosion from spreading from panel to panel "a large rock-dust shelf is erected on each side of the stopping in the chain-pillar crosscut between." Rock dusting was a subject the maga- zine had been treating since May 1924, when, just weeks after the horrific Rock Dusting Introduced to Help Prevent Mine Explosions This small-like machine is rock-dusting roof, ribs and floor of the headings in an Old Ben mine. The new machine based on the same principle will have a double discharge and will completely dust the heading in one trip. The machine illistrated is operated by two men, treats a heading completely in two operations at the rate of 2,000 to 3,000 lin.ft. per hour distributing 2 to 3 lb per linear foot and mak- ing the ash content of the mine dust about 65 percent. *Coal Age, May 8, 1924 August 2012 100th Anniversary Special Issue www.coalage.com 55