AN ELEMENTARY COURSE OF

INSTRUCTION

...FOR...

Mine Foremen and Pit Bosses.

...BY...

FLOYD DAVIS, E. M., PH. D.,

President of the Board of Examiners for State Mine Inspectors

PREFACE

The law of several states requiring mine foremen and pit bosses to be examined in order to continue in their work has created a demand for instruction in the practical lines upon which the various examining boards make their tests. It has also stimulated a desire in many men to make the best of the opportunities that are afforded for personal advancement. The mechanical drudgery that surrounds every miner who works only with his hands cannot be eliminated until he educates his brain to direct the labor and thus draw success from its intellectual fountains. Every miner should be ambitious to advance to the position of foreman; every foreman should strive to become a superintendent; every superintendent should aim for a managership; and every manager should hope to become a mine owner. Such advancement has been realized thousands of times by those who have worked and studied for the promotion, and it is hoped that these lessons may be of some service in preparing men to accomplish these results.

This book is written to meet the demands for such instruction, and especially for the laboring man who is ambitious to advance to something better than his hands alone can afford. It is not filled with theories of untried processes, but the material it contains is the result of the best practice, and just what every man engaged in coal mining should be familiar with. It is thoroughly up-to-date and adapted to practical mining as conducted in the central west. It is made brief in order that it may be read by those whose time is limited, and its language is intended to be clear, forcible and easily understood. The course is made sufficiently technical to furnish an introduction to the professional knowledge required for actual work, and it is believed that mining men can derive much benefit by a careful study of its pages. It is not, however, intended to take the place of a course in a technical or correspondence school, because thorough instruction in such an institution cannot be equaled in any other way, on account of the advantages there offered in criticising the student's work.

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This course is well-arranged for those who wish to prepare for examinations, and it covers the essential topics required by the various examining boards. The work begins at the very threshold of the profession where assistance is most needed by miners, and all who can read, write and have begun the study of mathematics are prepared for it. The greatest deficiency with miners is their lack of knowledge of mathematics as applied to mining problems, and in the preparation of this book every effort has been made to present the most essential subjects in the least difficult manner. It begins with the elements of arithmetic, and anyone who will apply himself can understand and succeed with the work. The instructional part consists of 252 questions and answers, and each lesson is of such length that an average person can easily master it in a few hours conscientious study. The time required, however, depends on the reader's ability, his previous knowledge of the subject, his habits of study and the manner in which he concentrates his thoughts on the work. Every question is answered in a concise and clear manner, and for the purpose of giving practice, a series of 260 questions are added of a somewhat different nature from those discussed, but which can be answered from the information given in the lessons.

In preparing this book, the principal works on coal mining have been freely consulted, including the writings of Pameley, Wardle, Mauchline, Farley, Tate, Atkinson, Hopton and others. The questions given by various state examining boards have been carefully consulted, and the mining reports and geological bulletins of the various coal mining states have been of much service in furnishing information of local methods of work. The author has compiled the best material from these various sources in accordance with his own experience and observation in the field, and believes that it will fully meet the demands of all miners for an elementary course of instruction.

Des Moines, Iowa, July, 1901.