Water in Anthracite Mines

Progress, Volume III, Issue 4, 1 February 1908, Page 130

Water in Anthracite Mines

The quantity of water delivered to the sutface per minute is of interest as an evidence of the great expense entailed upon the anthracite companies in connection with the mining and preparation of anthracite for market. An average of the amount of water pumped per minute during the last six years is about 445,000 gallons, which amounts to 233,892,000,000 gallons per year, or 870,000,000 tons. In addition to the pumps used for unwatering the mines, there are many bailing plants used, and while the Department of Mines has not gathered the data for these bailing plants, such data as have been published show that probably 50,000,000 tons of water per year is bailed from the anthracite mines. During this period there has therefore been raised about 15 tons of water through the year for every ton of coal brought to the surface, the average production during the year in question having been 60,721,590 tons per year. In order to take care of the water during times of excessive rainfall, it is necessary to have a pumping capacity of practically double the average amount pumped. As is well known, in certain regions at certain times of the year even this capacity is not sufficient tvo keep the mines unwatered, hence it is fair to assume that at certain times at least 30 to 50 tons of water are being brought to the surface for every ton of coal raised. — Mines and Minerals.

There are now 150,000 acres devoted to rubber in Ceylon, an increase of 47,000 acres in one year. ****** In the Baltic Sea more wrecks occur than in any other part of the world, the 'average being one wreck a day all the year round.