20 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

The gases produced by explosions in the experimental mine at
Bruceton. are analyzed and studied at this laboratory.

A complete series of samples of mine air has been collected and
analyzed to show the composition of the air while a gasoline motor
is used under varying conditions.

A series of experiments has been completed demonstrating the
effect of carbon monoxide on canary birds, mice, pigeons, and men.
This work will be extended so as to include the effect of hydrogen
sulphide and the oxides of nitrogen.

Samples of gas have been obtained in connection with almost all
of the explosions and many of the mine fires during the last two
years. Some of the results are surprising, in that mines always con-
sidered nongaseous have been found to produce considerable methane.
Much information has been obtained in this way regarding the cause
of explosions.

This section also aims to help mining companies to install gas-
analysis laboratories. Analyses of the ventilating current are of
such aid in properly diluting methane in different parts of a mine
that this work is considered very important.

In this laboratory control is exercised over all the natural gas and
air mixtures used at the plant in testing explosives, safety lamps,
incandescent lamps, explosion-proof motors, etc.

One of the problems investigated by this section is the extraction
of gasoline from natural gas and the use of some of the residual
material as liquid gas. A study has been made of the natural gases
of southern California. The composition and properties of the Pitts-
burgh natural gas have been investigated.

The personnel is as follows?: G. A. Burrell, assistant chemist, in
charge; F. M. Seibert, junior chemist; and E. N, Weisberger, labora-
tory aid.

ELECTRICAL SECTION.

The electrical section (No. 12 on the program), building No. 10,
is particularly concerned with the problem of safeguarding life and
property from the dangers that attend the use of electricity under-
ground. It is the purpose of the section to attempt to discover the
causes of accidents resulting from the use of electricity in mines, to
suggest means for the prevention of such accidents, to make tests as
to the safety of electrical equipment when used under conditions
most conducive to disaster, and to make such general tests as bear
upon the safety of electricity in mines.

The electrical laboratory is supplied with direct-current power in
any voltage up to 750 volts and with alternating current up to 2,000
volts for power and up to 30,000 volts for high-potential tests. The

“The personnel of the Bureau of Mines, as given in this report, 1s that employed at the
time of the exhibit.


COAL-DUST EXPLOSION AT EXPERIMENTAL MINE. 35

To cause each shot to blow out, there was drilled in the face a hole
sufficiently large to receive a 14-inch iron pipe, about 3 feet long,
with an iron plug at the inner end. Some clay was tamped against
the plug, and common black blasting powder was next inserted, with
an electric detonator near the outer end. The charge was tamped
hard with 4 inches of clay. The charged pipes were then placed in
the respective holes so that the end of each pipe was flush with the
mouth of the hole. Each hole was bored straight into the face, at
2 feet 10 inches above the floor.

The electric wires and lights which enabled the visitors to inspect
the mine were removed, the shots prepared, and electric connections
made. Tests of the firing lines, earlier in the day, had shown the
lines intact. The lines, consisting of two separate circuits, in addi-
tion to a third circuit for velocity records, entered the mine in
pipes placed behind the concrete lining. Beyond the lining the
permanent arrangements had not been made, so the wires were laid
in one corner of the air course, thence through the last crosscut to
the face of the main entry.

On the first two trials the first shot, and later the second shot,
failed to go off, owing to short circuits. It seems probable that the
wires had been trampled upon and the insulation injured. Then an
entirely new set of firing wires was brought into the mine and
laid through the air course and last crosscut to the shots in the main
heading. In view of previous mishaps, all shots were connected in
parallel. When this arrangement was tried the ignition and the
explosion followed at about 6.15 p. m.

Tn all 9} pounds of black powder was discharged in the shots on
October 30. So far as the records showed, the effect on the inner
part of the mine was no greater than on October 24, when a similar
coal-dust explosion was started by a single shot with 2 pounds of
black powder, Subsequent examination showed that the shots had
all gone off, and each was essentially a blown-out shot; the pipe in
each case had ruptured and the center shot had broken out some coal,
making a crater about 18 inches deep (Pl. IV, A).

EFFECT OF THE EXPLOSION,

About one and one-half seconds after the circuit had been com-
pleted at the observatory, the explosion reached the open air. It
burst forth with a roaring sound and vivid flames almost simulta-
neously from the several openings. The evening was rainy and
dark, so that nothing but the sheets of flame could be observed. At
the main entry the flame rose above the forest trees to a height vari-
ously estimated from 200 to 500 feet. Observers at the town of
Library, 4 miles distant, saw the flames above the tops of the hills,


COAL-DUST EXPLOSION AT EXPERIMENTAL MINE. 33

(see fig. 3). This was essentially the arrangement on October 30,
except that the shelving had been merely wired to the bolts in the
concrete-lined area and in the unlined area had been fastened to
temporary props. At a few points, as in the first crosscut, where the
regular shelves had not been placed, some special cross shelves were
used. No dust was used in the air course inby this crosscut. The

‘Top coal and
ate 62
Draw slate WE
iy, Electr wiring and
‘Pitteburg bed | protected lighte.
Bil tick YY
Ly
"‘TIMBERED SECTION
Reinforcing archos
34"square irom §2'spart.
{ Boxand pipe for
wiring and lights.
onuitudnal reinforcement
‘round bers apart,
‘Bouniiation block to 18'deep Diten
sccording to hardness of Botton, je

3” shelves field by anchor bolts
im the concrete.

‘Temporary timbering during driving.
allowed 0 remain

GALLERY TUNNEL NEAR ENTRANCE

Frovre 3.—Cross-sectional views of mine gallery, showlng dust shelves,

air course outby the gallery junction was cut off by a heavy sand-bag
stopping. In the main entry, 627 pounds of dust, equal to 0.88 pound
per linear foot of entry, was placed on the shelving. The outby
erosscut from the main entry to the airway, thence on this to the
gallery entry and out the latter to and through the steel gallery, a
total distance of 481 feet, was loaded with dust to the amount of 0.46




14 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION,

[16] A long combustion chamber used to investigate combustion in boiler
furnaces, and the conditions necessary for complete combustion of coals of
various composition, when rate of firing and air supplied through grate and
above fuel bed varies.

[17] Building No. 17—Single and double gauze safety lamps in a current of
air of a known velocity containing 8 per cent of methane and ethane; a
demonstration of their relative safety.

[18] Men wearing various types of breathing apparatus training in noxious
atmosphere.

[19] Exhibition of apparatus for the physical testing of ewplosives—Ballis-
tie pendulum, pressure gage, calorimeter, flame-testing apparatus, rate of
detonation apparatus, large and small impact machines, cone and pendulum
friction devices, ‘Trauzl and small lead blocks.

[20] Building No. 82—Lignite and coal briquetting plant—Making briquets
from California lignite.

10.30 a. m. [21] Gas and dust explosion gallery No. 1—A “permissible ex-
plosive” equivalent in deflective force to 4 pound of 40 per cent nitroglycerin
dynamite tamped with 1 pound of dry fire clay, is fired into a mixture of gas
and air containing 7 per cent of methane and ethane.

Nore.—At Forbes Field, October 31, events [21] and [23] will be repeated in the
presence of coal dust instead of mine gas,

10.45 a. m. [22] Near gas and dust gallery No. 4.—Ignition of coal dust by
means of laboratory coal-dust ignition apparatus.

11.00 @ m. [23] Gas and dust explosion gallery No. 1—Black blasting
powder, FFF, equivalent in deflective force to 2 pound of 40 per cent nitro-
glycerin dynamite tamped with 2 pounds of dry fire clay, fired into a mixture
of gas and air containing 7 per cent of methane and ethane.

11.30 a. m. [24] Gas and dust gallery No. 2.—Klectrie mine motor, operating
in an explosive mixture of gas aud air, has explosion-proof protective devices
removed, causing an explosion.

MONDAY AFTERNOON, OCTOBER 30,

[25] Explosion at experimental mine, near Bruceton, Pa.—2.00 p. m., leave
Pittsburgh by special train from Baltimore & Ohio depot, Smithfield and Water
Streets; 2,30 p. m., arrive at experimental mine; 2.30 to 3.30 p. m., inspection
of experimental mine; 3.45 p. m., explosion in experimental mine; 4.00 to 4.45
p. m., inspection after explosion ; 5.00 p. m., return to Pittsburgh by special train,

TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 31, 1911.

FORBES FIELD, PITTSBURGH, PA., 9.00 A. M. TO 10.30 A. M.

[26] First-aid exhibition—Demonstration of first aid to the injured by teams
of trained miners representing mining companies from all sections of the United
States of America, who will perform alternately in two sections. Watch the
score board for the number of the event in progress.

ORDER OF EVENTS.

[Odd-numbered teams demonstrate odd-numbered problems; even-numbered teams demon-
strate even-numbered problems.)

1, Treat a lacerated wound of the right side of head (temple) and a lacerated wound
on top of the right shoulder; one-man event.

2. Treat a punctured wound over the left eye and lacerated wound of palm of right
hand; one-man event,


RESEARCH WORK AT PITTSBURGH EXPERIMENT STATION. 63

A great many samples of coal are gathered from mines in various
parts of the country for analysis and testing for the Navy, War, and
Treasury Departments. The work of this section is under the general
charge of George S. Rice.

COMPUTING, DRAFTING, AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTION.

The computing, drafting, and photographic section of the Bureau of
Mines may be termed a “ common-service ” section in that it is at the
call of all the investigating engineers and chemists of the bureau for
work in connection with the keeping of records and preparation of
data for reports of their investigations. The computing consists in
the reduction of test data—in connection with fuel-efficiency tests,
explosives tests, and special tests and analyses of fuels and gases—to
a final condition of completeness such that the testing engineer can
incorporate the results directly in his report.

The photographic laboratory in building No. 21 is arranged and
fully equipped to do work incident to the keeping of complete photo-
graphic records of equipment, methods of work, and results of tests.

The following is the personnel of the division: L. M. Stone, engi-
neer in charge; R. A. Wood and L. Griffin, junior mining engineers;
E. Skilling and T. F. Perry, draftsmen; O. A. Morrow, photogra-
pher; L. L. A. Moran, aide.

LIBRARY.

The library receives (by exchange or purchase) many of the tech-
nical journals and periodicals published in this country or abroad.
Books and other publications pertaining to the bureau’s work are
being added as rapidly as is practicable. The librarian, O. L.
Schwarz, acts as translator. Through him the engineers and chemists
are kept in touch with the latest foreign experiments.

INSTRUMENT MAKER’S SHOP.

The instrument maker’s shop is provided with all tools, apparatus,
and appliances necessary to the design, improvement, and repair of
mine-safety lamps and apparatus and metal or glass physical and
chemical instruments.

41264°—Bull. 44—12——_5


FORBES FIELD EXHIBIT. 45
COMPANIES REPRESENTED,

The following list gives the names of the companies that sent teams
to participate in the demonstration of first aid to the injured, with
personnel of the teams and team numbers:

Berwind White Coal Mining Co., W. R. Calverley, general superintendent,
Windber, Pa—1. Squad No. 1: Captain, William Brownlee; John Swanson,
Ralph Gibson, Nelson Smith, and H. E. Good; 2. Squad No. 2: Captain, George
Grove; H. E. Fivecoat, Jue Bosco, J. Kreger, E. H. Seurfield, and Griff Llewellyn
(subject) ; 8. Squad No. 8: Captain, J. C. Nedrow; J. L. Swanson, Willie F.
Ream, Edmond Williams, Bert Sprague, and Lewis Berkey (subject) ; 4. Junior
Squad: Captain, Ed, Greyback; Stewart Lape, Pierson Lewis, J. W. Walker,
James Down, and James Jones.

Cabin Creck Y, M. C. A. Team, C. A. Cabell, president, Decota, W. Va.—b.
Captain, H. B. Pierce; John Knight, William Smith, Ben Jones, and W. A. Gil-
christ (subject).

Consolidation Coal, Co., George ‘I. Watson, vice president and general man-
ager. Fairmont, W. Va.—6, Squad No. 1: Captain A. W. Hesse; Frank K. Day,
L. A. Riggs, G. J. Altstetter, Homer Bell, and E. S. Bonnett (subject); 7.
Squad No. 2: Captain, David Morgan; Dante] Porter, William Hendley, Arthur
Jenkins, Alex. Neal, T. Price (subject).

Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Co., R. A. Phillips, superinten-
dent, coal-mining department, Scranton, Pa.—8. Brisbin Colliery Squad: Cap-
tain, John Pierce; James Higgin, Frank Jones, John Schroeder, George Bennett,
and Arthur Bennett (subject). 9. Woodward Colliery Squad; Captain, Benja-
min Lewis; Neil MeCole, John Smith, David Phillips, Edwin William, and W.
Martin, jr. (subject).

Dunbar Furnace Co., Stuart B. Marshall, general superintendent; John 'T.
Greaves, sr., superintendent, Dunbar, Pa.—10. Captain, John T. Bradley; Harry
Bradley, John Stannis, George Greaves, and John W. Greaves, jr. (subject).

Ellsworth Collieries Co., W. A. Luce, general manager, Ellsworth, Pa.
11. Squad No. 1: Captain, E. ©. Roberts; Peter Playfair, T. C. Coughlin, R. D,
Maize, Fred Shilling, and James Kinsey (subject). 12. Squad No. 2: Captain,
Fred Gulick ; John North, Charles Davis, John Blytheway, Edward Ammon, and
Daniel Leahy (subject). 13. Squad No. 8: Captain, George Lindsay; John
Lindsay, Frank Feeney, Dave Roach, John Hughes, and Joe Lindsay (subject).

Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Co., C. F. Huber, vice president and general
manager; Dr. F. 1. MeKee, surgeon In charge, Wilkes-Barre, Pa,—14, Captain,
W. H. Evans; N. J. Connolly, Daniel Lewis, Raymond Lewis, William Craig,
and Neil V. Gallagher (subject).

Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co., Baird Snyder, jr., general superintendent, Lans-
ford, Pa—15. Captain, Joseph Sweeney ; John Boyle, Robert Sinyard, Alexander
Jones, Bernard Cunning, John Priestly, Alexander Gibson (subject).

Lehigh Valley Coal Co., 8. D. Warriner, vice president and general manager,
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.—16. Squad No. 1: Centralia Mines: J. M. Humphries, super-
intendent. Captain, Harper G. Minnich; William Burke, John Wilson, Thomas
Lamb, Alfred Ledicote, and Anthony Garvey (subject). 17. Squad No. 2:
Deringer Colliery: W. H. Davies, superintendent. Captain, Ernest Crabtree;
Simon Fellin, Joseph Fellin, Henry Bankeri, Oscar Brobst, and Isaac Morgan
(subject).

Miller Coal Co., J. H. Buckwalter, superintendent, Portage, Pa.—18. Captain.
E. G. Miles; G. W. Buckwalter, Harry McQuillen, Raymond Swanson, and Felix
Boura (subject).



[BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 44 PLATE VI

A, RUPTURE IN ROOF OF MAIN GALLERY, EXPERIMENTAL MINE.

B, COAL-DUST EXPLOSION IN STEEL GALLERY, FORBES FIELD.


FORBES FIELD EXHIBIT. 49

forearm near wrist. Treated by W. A. Raudenbush and William
Burke, foremen miners.

Accident 3.—Miner overcome by afterdamp and suffering from
simple fracture of right collar bone and simple fracture of the left
arm. Treated by J. T. Ryan, junior engineer, and G. T. Powell, first-
aid miner.

While the first-aid treatment of the three hypothetical accidents
enumerated above was being exhibited an ambulance drove across the
field and appeared at the scene of the supposed disaster, where it fur-
nished bandages, stretchers, and first-aid supplies. The stretchers
used for the first three accidents were improvised by the use of gas
pipe and miners’ blouses, and of boards and brattice cloth. The sub-
jects were then placed on the improvised stretchers and carried to the
ambulance as soon as it arrived.

The second rescue party in the meantime entered the gallery,
brought out two supposedly injured miners and placed them in care
of the first-aid squad, which, with the first-aid supplies furnished by
the ambulance, exhibited the proper treatment of the following acci-
dents:

Accident 4,—Miner overcome by afterdamp and burned about face,
neck, ears, and hands. Treated by W. A. Raudenbush and William
Burke, foremen miners.

Accident 5.—Miner overcome by afterdamp and burned from waist
line up. Treated by J. T. Ryan, junior engineer; G. T. Powell and
C. O. Roberts, first-aid miners.

The ambulance used was gratuitously furnished by Mr. M. A.
Hanlon, funeral director, through the joint courtesy of himself and
the Pittsburgh Hospital.

PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES.

Following the demonstration of rescue and first-aid work just
described, formal presentation of trophies was made. Hon. John K.
Tener, governor of Pennsylvania, acted as chairman and master of
seremonies during this part of the program. In opening the exer-
cises, Gov. Tener spoke as follows:

Mr. Preswent, Lapirs, AND GENTLEMEN: This day, date, and occasion will
ever be a memorable one, and to you who participated in it it will prove a pleas-
ant reflection—all except the weather. It is fitting and proper that these tests
should be made in Pittsburgh, the center of the soft-coal industry of the United
States. It is proper that you should assemble for an affair of this kind in the
center of the greatest coul-producing area in the entire world.

You have witnessed these great tests, and I find special pleasure in intro-
ducing to you at this time the man who is at the head of that department of
our National Government which includes the Bureau of Mines, one of the
branches of the National Government which is doing so much for Pennsylvania
at this time. I present to you Walter L. Fisher, Secretary of the Department
of the Interior,


FORBES FIELD EXHIBIT. 53

black tube [indicating the explosion gallery at the other end of the field in
which a coal-dust explosion had just occurred]. It is an inspiring sight to
see them bring out their fellows, who have been unfortunate, and revive them
and bring them back to useful lives again.

And now it becomes my happy fortunate function to present to the repre-
sentatives of the miners who have been engaged in this exhibition, and who
on previous trials demonstrated their skill, the evidence presented by the
association in the form of medals and by the Red Cross in the form of first-aid
packages,

The President then handed the Red Cross medals and the first-aid
packages to the captains of each of the first-aid and mine-rescue
teams* as they marched by, each team stopping for a moment to
receive its tokens.

# See list on pp. 45-47.


FORBES FIELD EXHIBIT. 43

4, All entries shall close one month prior to date finally selected for the meet
(Sept. 30, midnight).

5. Coal companies entering teams shall be invited to present, not later than
one month in advance of the meet, viz, September 30, a list of five events as
their choice, these to be submitted to the managers who will select five for adop-
tion from the various events suggested, each entering team to exhibit in the
events suggested by them, and such others of the five as they may elect.

6. Souvenir badges of the American National Red Cross, souvenir buttons of
the Bureau of Mines, and souvenir programs will be presented to individual
entrants; a souventr first-ald box to each team entering; a souvenir pennant,
with the name of the company sending entrant, to be presented to the company
represented, and to be used on the field as a marker.

7. Each team will select {ts own subject in addition to the five operating
members thereof, or will have a miner present, selected for them.

8. In this exhibition the correct use of the roller bandage or of the triangular
bandage will be given the same credit. In dressing wounds, the first-aid packet
only will be used. There will be no restrictions as to the make of the first-aid
packet, Teams shall bring their own material, consisting of splints, cotton,
bandages, first-ald packets, picric-acid gauze, tourniquets, stretchers, and at
least two woolen blankets.

FIELD RULES AND EVENTS.

The following rules are those which governed the first-aid per-
formancees on the field:

1, The officers shall be as follows: A manager of events, a secretary and
assistants, a field marshal and assistants, and a chief usher and assistants.

2, Each team may be identified by the number worn by the captain, the
same corresponding to the number on the printed list of teams on the final
program.

8. Each team shall perform according to the numbers assigned, all holding
odd numbers performing together; subsequently, those holding even numbers
together.

4, All patients must be placed on stretcher after each treatment. All arti-
ficial respiration must be given for one minute.

5. No practicing shall be permitted on the day of the demonstration, nor
shall the patient assist in any treatment.

6, As soon as an event has been completed the team shall stand at position
and the captain shall raise his hand.

7. The number of each event will be displayed, as performed, upon the
bulletin board.

8. The beginning and closing of each event will be designated by the sound-
ing of a gong. Two signals will be given for removal of bandages.

The demonstration of first aid to the injured was participated in
by 40 teams, each consisting of five men and a patient, and represent-
ing mining companies from all sections of the United States, as listed
in the following pages. In order that all the participants might
benefit from the exhibit by their fellows, the teams performed alter-
nately in two sections; the teams having even numbers performed
together, and those having odd numbers together, The even-num-


24 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

photographic film that moves rapidly and always in focus. The
photograph of the flame indicates both the height of the flame in
inches and its duration in thousandths of a second.

RATE OF DETONATION APPARATUS.

The rate of detonation apparatus consists of a pit in which charges
of explosives may be safely fired, and a very accurate chronometer—
Mettegang’s recorder—which measures the time required for the ex-
plosive wave to proceed from one point to another point in a column
of the explosive. When run at its usual speed the recorder measures
increments of time to zso4yay second.

UARGE AND SMALL IMPACT MACHINES.

These machines are similar, differing in size only, the :arge machine
being 100 times as large as the small machine. Each has a weight
which may be dropped a known distance on to a steel plunger which
fits squarely on a horizontal steel anvil. The explosive is placed be-
tween the plunger and the anvil. The falling weight for the large
machine is 440 pounds, for the small machine 4.4 pounds.

CONE AND PENDULUM FRICTION DEVICES.

The cone friction device is for determining the sensitiveness of
explosives to friction only. The salient feature of this device is a
cone revolving on a vertical axis within a conical depression.

The pendulum friction device is an apparatus for determining the
sensitiveness of explosives to frictional impact. It consists of a shoe
that falls in the arc of a circle (radius of 7 feet) and strikes a glanc-
ing blow on a corrugated, horizontal base.

TRAUZL AND SMALL LEAD BLOCKS.

The Trauzl lead blocks are desilverized lead cylinders 8 by 8 inches,
having an axial bore 1 inch in diameter and 5 inches deep, within
which 10 grams of explosive is tamped and fired. This device was
recommended by the Fifth International Congress of Applied Chem-
istry for determining the strength of “high” explosives. The small
lead blocks are cylinders 14 inches in diameter and 24 inches long on
which a charge of 100 grams of “ high ” explosive is placed. The com-
pression of the lead cylinder indicates the quickness of the explosive.

GAS AND DUST GALLERY NO. 1.

The gas and dust gallery No, 1 (No. 21 and No, 23 on the program)
is cylindrical, 100 feet long and 6 feet 4 inches in internal diameter.
One end is closed by a steel plate. The gallery is arranged for ac-


36 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

A limb of a tree was set on fire 153 feet from the mouth of the mine,
and 46 feet above the level of the entry.

The sound of the explosion, while not sharp, carried a long distance.
At Library windows were rattled. The explosion was heard at Car-
rick, 5 miles to the north, and at Monongahela City, 12 miles to the
south.

A mine car containing several hundred pounds of gravel stood on
a switch outside of the mine in line with the main entry and 40 feet
from the mouth. Twenty-five fect beyond it there was a car loaded
with 14 tons of coal. The gravel car, weighing about 2,000 pounds,
was thrown over the top of the coal car, and landed 184 feet away on
the opposite slope of the ravine that passes the foot of the dirt dump.
It then bounded four times and landed 45 feet from where it first
struck, making the total distance moved 229 feet (see Pl. II, B, and
A-A’, fig. 2).

The loaded car, with the brakes set, was thrown along the track
and derailed at the end of the dirt dump, 70 feet from where it had
been standing (see B-B’, fig. 2). Pieces of timber were scattered over
the hillside opposite, some of them higher than the level of the mine
and nearly to the top of the hill. A 3 by 4 inch timber was thrown 413
feet from the mouth of the mine and landed on ground 18 feet higher.
The flame that issued from the main entry was sustained for several
seconds, so long that at distant points many persons whose attention
was attracted by the sound were able to turn around and see the flame.

Sheets of flame burst out of all the doors in the steel gallery. The
20-foot relief valve at the mouth of the gallery entrance was thrown
high in the air. It consisted of boards weighted with sand bags.
The timber stopping closing the outer end of the gallery was blown
out and broken into small fragments. The wooden casing and the
connection to the fan, in spite of the relief valves and doors, were
blown apart. Two windows in a near-by tool house were blown
outward toward the gallery, presumably from the suction following
the explosion, The heavy sandbag stopping, 6 to 8 feet thick, across
the air course at the junction with the slant, was blown outward and
the sandbags scattered to a point 50 feet outside the mine. Some of
the bags of this stopping, by the inward reflex wave, were thrown 5
to 10 feet inby from their original position,

Owing to the wreckage of the fan casing and connection, ventila-
tion could not be immediately restored, although a natural ventilation
was established through the air shaft acting as an upcast. The re-
pairs on the fan were made during the night and brattices erected
in the crosscuts so that an inspection of the mine could be made on the
following day,


62 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

of the fuel is lost by radiation from the walls of the furnace. In
an endeavor to reduce the amount of heat by radiation, experi-
ments are being conducted in the physical laboratory to determine the
thermal conductivity of various refractory materials with reference to
their use in the construction of furnace walls.

EXPLOSIBILITY OF MINE GASES.

An investigation that has just been completed in this laboratory
had for its object the determination of the explosibility of mine
gases, and especially of the influence of carbon dioxide on the ex-
plosibility of mixtures of methane and air. The mixtures were sub-
jected to an arc produced by breaking a 220-volt circuit. The
experiment showed that explosive mixtures of methane and air may
be rendered nonexplosive by the addition of a sufficient quantity of
carbon dioxide.

The work of the physical laboratory is carried on by J. K. Clement,
physicist in charge, and W. L. Egy, assistant physicist.

MINING-ENGINEERING INVESTIGATIONS.

Mining-engineering investigations may be summarized under two
heads: Those for lessening accidents and those for lessening mine
waste. Under the first head come investigations of explosions in
coal mines, both of gas and coal dust (in charge of G. S. Rice) ;
investigations of mine fires, both in coal and metal mines (in charge
of R. Y. Williams) ; investigation of the use of mine explosives, as
concerns safety and efficiency (in charge of J. J. Rutledge) ; investi-
gations of falls of roof and of miscellaneous mine accidents (in
charge of J. J. Rutledge).

An important subdivision of the investigation of mine explosions,
looking toward lessening or preventing them, are the experiments
conducted at the experimental mine near Bruceton, Pa. These
experiments are in general charge of George S. Rice, chief mining
engineer, L. M. Jones, engineer, assisting; the testing of instruments
is in charge of J. K. Clement, physicist, W. L. Egy, assisting.

Under the second general head, lessening mining wastes, come
problems of efficiency—mining methods, affecting both waste and
safety or damage to surface property. Such a problem is the one of
surface subsidence and mine caves in the anthracite fields of Penn-
sylvania. This work is in charge of Charles Enzian, engineer.

The foregoing investigations are all well started. Other problems,
more especially in mining methods, are being touched upon as oppor-
tunity offers. Meantime, the scenes of all important mine fires and
explosions are visited by one or more members of the force,


ILLUSTRATIONS.

Prare I. A, Interlor of Bureau of Mines mine-safety car; B, Mouth of the
main entry, November 1, 1911, and party of investigators___

II. A, View of side hill showing gallery entrance in center and main
entrance in background ; 8, Side hill opposite mine, showing

car and other débris thrown by the explosion_--.

111. 4, Interior of an instrument station, showing manometer and
pressure circuit breaker; B, Junction of gallery entry and

air course, showing broken reinforced concrete corner with

curtain and wood in the crevices... -

IV. A, Shot holes, at face of main entry, which caused explosion;
wood fragments drawn into central crater; B, Blistered coal

in main gallery; C, Bent §-inch steel bar, showing lift of

Y. A, Filaments of soot near the face of the main entry; B, Coke
crusts at the inby corner of the crosscut and air course;
©, Reinforeing rod pulled out of conerete in main gallery

VI. A, Rupture in roof of main gallery, experimental mine; B, Coal-
dust explosion in steel gallery, Forbes Field _..

VII. A, A competing team in first-aid work; B, Rescue men entering
gallery immediately after dust explosion.

Frourr 1. General plan of grounds and buildings, Pittsburg experiment
station of the Bureau of Mines.

2. Plan of experimental mine.

8. Cross-sectional views of mine gallery, showing dust shelves__._

4. Pressure curves obtained in coal- plosion on October 24,

1911, in experimental miue_.

Page.

28

19
SL
33

40


CLASSIFIED LIST OF VISITORS. 65

UNITED STATES CONGRESS,

Senator George T. Oliver, Pennsylvania.
Representative A. J. Barchfeld, Pennsylvania.
Representative James Francis Burke, Pennsylvania.
Representative John Dalzell, Pennsylvania.
Representative C. H. Gregg, Pennsylvania.
Representative Stephen A. Porter, Pennsylvania.
Representative D. J. Lewis, West Virginia.
Representative Martin W. Littleton, New York.
Representative Nicholas Longworth, Ohio.
Representative George P, White, Ohio.

FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES.

Canada.—J, G. $, Hudson, department of mines, Ottawa, Ontario; E. T, Cork-
hill, chief inspector of mines, Toronto, Ontario; R. F. Tolmie, department of
mines, Victoria, British Columbia; R. Strachan, inspector of mines, Hosmer,
British Columbia; J. C. Murray, editor in chief, Canadian Mining Journal,
Toronto, Ontario; James McMahon, superintendent of reseue work, Dominion
Coal Co., Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.

France.—M. de Puligny, chief engineer of bridges and highways, head of the
Mission of French Engineers in the United States, personally representing
Ambassador Jusserand.

Mewico—Sefor Abram Ferriz, inspector of explosives, Torreon, Coahuila,
Mexico.

STATE AND CITY OFFICIALS (OTHER THAN MINE INSPECTORS).

Mlinois.—Mine Rescue Station Commission of the State of Ilinois: Dr. J. A.
Holmes, chairman; Prof. H. H. Stoek, secretary; Heetor McAllister, vice chai
man; Richard Newsam, manager; J. L. Schmidgall; Charles Krallman; Charles
Bennett ; Harriett Reid, clerk; M. F. Cummings, J. C. Duncan, Thomas English,
Alexander Jones, Thomas Lawless, ‘Thomas Rogers, James Towal, helmetmen.

Yew Jersey.—H, B, Kiimmel, State geologist, ‘Trenton.

New York.—J. 8, Whalen, first deputy commissioner of labor, Albany.

North Carolina.—J. Hyde Pratt, State geologist, Charles Hill.

Ohio—C. E, Adams, president chamber of commerce, and G. W. Kinney, ex-
president chamber of commerce, Cleveland.

Pennsylvania.—Gov. John K, Tener, Harrisburg; R. R. Hice, State geologist,
Beaver. Allegheny County: J. Denny O'Neil, Irving K. Campbell, and 8. J.
Toole, commissioners; George W. Foster, treasurer, R, J. Cunningham, con-
troller, City of Pittsburgh: Hon, W. A. Magee, mayor; E. V, Babcock, J. M.
Goehring, J. P. Kerr, W. A. Hoeveler, Robert Garland, William ©, Wilkins, Dr.
8. S. Woodburn, and J. P. MeGargle, councilmen; Wm. H, Davis, postmaster ;
F. R. Babcock, president chamber of commerce.

West Virginia —Gov. William EF, Glasscock, Morgantown; D. B. Regen,
assistant field geologist, Morgantown; C. E. Krebbs, assistant geologist,
Charleston.

STATE MINE INSPECTORS.

Alabama.—Chas. H. Nesbitt, Birmingham.
Colorado.—James H. Dalryniple, New Castle.
Idaho.—F, Cushing Moore, Boise.


CLASSIFIED LIST OF VISITORS.

The following pages give the names of as many of the visitors as
it is possible to obtain. An attempt has been made to include the
names of all those who were in attendance in an official capacity as
representatives of the Federal, State, or foreign governments, of
mining and manufacturing companics, of labor organizations, and
others interested in first-aid work and safety devices in mining and
industrial plants. If the name of any visitor does not appear, the
omission is the result of his failure to register. Registration cards
were distributed to all, with the request that each person register in
order that the list be complete.

In addition to those named there were several thousand persons in
attendance at Forbes Field, including many miners. Although their
names do not swell the published list, yet their presence at the dem-
onstration indicated their interest in this work. It is hoped that
each one returned to his regular work in mine, mill, or factory as a
missionary bearing the gospel of safety.

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

The President, William H. Taft.
Charles D. Hilles, Secretary to the President.
Maj. Archibald Butt, United States Army, Aide to the President.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

Hon. Walter L. Fisher, Secretary of the Interior.

Clement S, Ucker, chief clerk.

Dr. J. A. Holmes. Director, Bureau of Mines.

Van. H. Manning, chief clerk, Bureau of Mines.

George Otis Smith, Director, United States Geological Survey,

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
Hon. W. N. Hays, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.
UNITED STATES ARMY AND NAVY.

Rear Admiral Austin Knight, United States Navy, Bureau of Ordnance.
Col. H. CG. Newcomer, United States Army, Corps of Engineers.
Col. BE. B. Babbitt, United States Army, Ordnance Department.
Col. W. L. Langfitt, United States Army, Corps of Engineers.
Capt. R. C. Moore, United States Army, Corps of Engineers.
Ensign George W. Struble, United States Navy.
64


CLASSIFIED LIST OF VISITORS, 67

Allegheny River Mining Co., Kittanning, Pa.: D. C. Morgan, president; 'T. J.
Williams, superintendent, Tidal mines; Arthur White, superintendent, Oakland
mines; Arnold Hirst, superintendent, Conifer mines; Fred Norman, chief engi-
neer; John Chilcott, superintendent of development; Dr. B. J. Longwell, chief
surgeon,

Argyle Coal Co., Greensburg, Pa.: J. A. Dunsmore, superintendent; Ralph
Pratt, foreman.

Bear Rock Coal Co., Lilly, Pa.: John Muldoon, foreman.

Beaver Valley Coal Co., Baltimore, Md.: Jno. T. Evans, superintendent.

Belle Valley Coal Mining Co., Cambridge, Ohio: J. H. Opperman, president.

Berwind-White Coal Mining Co., Windber, Pa.: Walter R. Calverley, general
superintendent ; James Wood, superintendent, Horatio, Pa.; Robert S. Baylor,
superintendent, Windber; M. Robertson, foreman, Eureka No. 37, Scalp level;
Albert Phillips, foreman, Eureka No. 30, Scalp level; John Fyfe, foreman,
Eureka No. 31, Windber; James Sharp, foreman, Eureka No, 32, Windber; E.
E. Higgins, foreman, Eureka No. 34, Scalp level; Smith Hawxby, foreman,
Eureka No, 35, Windber; Benj. Davis, foreman, Eureka No. 36, Windber;
Frank Boyd, foreman, Eureka No. 89, Seanor; J. S. Gill, foreman, Bureka No.
40, Scalp level; Wm. Fleming, foreman, Eureka No. 42, Windber; Clyde Mac-
donald, foreman, Eureka No. 35}, Windber.

Bessemer Coal & Coke Co., Russellton, Pa.; F. 8. Love, general superiptend-
ent; W. P. Clark, mining engineer; T. A. Jackson, foreman; N. 8. Beal, fore-
man; E. Mills, assistant foreman; James Thompson, fire boss.

Bessemer Coal Co., Masontown, Pa.; P. Lowther, foreman.

Blaine Coal Co., Elizabeth, Pa.; J. Clark, superintendent ; A. O. Draper, fore-
man; J. F. Suffolek, fire boss.

Borderland Coal Co., Borderland, W. Va.: L. E, Armentrout, manager.

Brier Hill Coke Co., Brier Hill, Pa.: Thomas McCaffrey, general manager.

Buffalo & Susquehanna Coal & Coke Co., Dubois, Pa.: J. R. Caseley, general
agent; J. Harvey, general superintendent; A. R. Darlow, mining engineer; H.
A, Moulder, superintendent; Wm. Chick, superintendent; Jos, Boglé, fire boss;
D. Ewing, fire boss; James Ewing, fire boss;.R. K. Mead, M. D.; 8. M. Daven-
port, M. D.

Bush Button Coal Co., Wellsburg, W. Va.: J. 8. Braddock, president.

Cambria Fuel Co., Cambria, Wyo.: Lewis T. Wolle, vice president.

Cambria Steel Co., mining department, Johustown, Pa.: H. C. Wolle, general
superintendent; M. G. Moore, superintendent; G. T, Robinson, superintendent ;
J. M. Cook, assistant superintendent; J. J. Stoker, inspector; A. J. Dillenbeck,
assistant engineer; C. E. Davies, foreman.

Cambridge Collieries Co.: W. H. Davis, electrical engineer; W. M. Bomes-
berger, electrical engineer.

Carbon Coal & Coke Co., Dudley, Pa.: Daniel Ryan, general superintendent ;
E, Donaldson, foreman.

Cardiff Coal Co., Greensburg, Pa.: James Walker, superintendent.

Carnegie Coal Co., Carnegie, Pa.; R, B. Burgan, president; J. T. M. Stone-
road, treasurer; T, D. Cribbs, superintendent; T. 8. Smith, foreman; Joseph
Linden, foreman; Archie Robison, foreman; George Smith, assistant foreman.

Carrolton Coal Co., St. Benedict, Pa.: J. W. Haddick, foreman; G. Lennox,
foreman.

Cascade Coal & Coke Co., Sykesville, Pa.: C. C, Gadd, general superintendent.

Century Coke Co., Brownsville, Pa.: C. E. Lenhart, president; D. C. Sheets,
superintendent; T. H. Harris, foreman.

Cherokee & Pittsburg Coal & Mining Co., Frontenac, Kans.; Joseph Fletcher,
general superintendent.



COAL-DUST EXPLOSION AT EXPERIMENTAL MINE. 81

lined. At the junction the reinforcement, of 3-inch square-rdd arches
and }-inch longitudinal rods, is supplemented by steel rails, Ordi-
nary mine-car tracks are in each of the entries.

nopoydee Sanwa 0

‘SOUT MONE
ert,

orto

Air course 8.98'52"W.

Tide engine home

CHARACTER OF COAL BED.

The Pittsburg coal bed in this mine is 5 to 6 feet thick, above
which there is a “draw slate” 6 inches to 2 feet thick. In places
this “draw slate” contains many slips and has to be taken down.

41264°—Bull, 44—12——3

Frevre 2.—Plan of experimental mine.


MINE-SAFETY EXHIBITS AT THE ARSENAL PLANT, 21

laboratory is provided with a six-panel switchboard for the control
of transformers, generators, and circuits; a complete equipment of
alternating-current and direct-current instruments; a very delicate
equipment for measuring insulation resistance up to 80,000 megohms;
a high-potential testing transformer, and other miscellaneous equip-
ment. In this laboratory is a small gas gallery for testing inclosed
fuses, incandescent lamps, and other small pieces of electrical equip-
ment. There is also an apparatus for testing the effect of electric
flashes upon coal dust suspended in the atmosphere.

Tn the small gas gallery mentioned above, the following tests were
conducted on October 30: Three 16-candle power, 50-volt, carbon-
filament incandescent lamps and three 16-candle power, 220-volt, car-
bon-filament incandescent lamps were broken in a highly explosive
mixture of natural gas and air. Each of the first three, but none of
the last three, lamps exploded the gas. This test was made to show
the relative danger from various sizes of incandescent-lamp filaments.
It was supplemented by the display of 12 incandescent lamps of dif-
ferent sizes and voltages, each of which was marked to indicate
whether it exploded gas when broken under normal conditions, or
whether, and to what degree, the heat in the filament had to be
increased before explosion occurred.

Outside the electrical laboratory and at some distance from it is
a large testing gallery consisting of a cylindrical boiler-iron shell,
30 feet long and 10 feet in diameter, laid horizontally upon a concrete
bed, and partly filled with concrete to form a floor upon which appa-
ratus can be set up for test. Seven and one-half feet from either
end the cylinder can be stopped off with heavy paper diaphragms
that relieve the pressure from explosion before it becomes dangerously
heavy. A large motor-driven centrifugal fan mixes and circulates
the gas and air, and a special device has been developed to indicate
the percentage of gas in the mixtures. Tests of explosion-proof
motors, explosion-proof switches, and other large apparatus are made
in this gallery.

In the gallery (No. 24 of the program) above described, an explo-
sion-proof motor was operating in a highly explosive mixture of
natural gas and air, viz, 8.6 per cent of gas to 91.4 per cent of air.
The casing of the motor was filled and surrounded with this mix-
ture. The motor was then started and the mixture inside the
motor casing was exploded. This test was repeated several times
during the forenoon, and in no explosion was the gas surrounding
the motor ignited nor were any flames observed to issue from the
motor casing. The test was intended to show the progress that has
been made in designing so-called explosion-proof mgtors, that is,
motors so constructed that an explosion of gas inside the motor cas-
ing will not start an explosion of gas surrounding it.


MINE-SAFETY EXHIBITS AT THE ARSENAL PLANT. 27
MINE-SAFETY CARS AND STATIONS.

During the demonstration there were on view three mine-safety
cars, one from the State of Illinois, one belonging to the American
National Red Cross, and one belonging to the Bureau of Mines. On
each car there were demonstrators who explained the purpose and the
equipment of the cars.

Early in the investigation of mine disasters it was necessary to
provide, in the important coal fields, facilities for enabling engineers
to examine mines after disasters, while the mines were still full of
poisonous explosive gases. in order that examination might be made
while the evidences of a disaster were still fresh. It was found also
that such prompt examinations would be useful in opening up these
mines and in rescuing miners who might be entombed. Conse-
quently, in those of the larger coal fields in which mine disasters are
most likely, the Bureau of Mines established minc-safety stations or
mine-safety cars. The first of the stations was established at Urbana,
TIL, in 1908; a second at. Knoxville, Tenn., in 1909; and a third at
Seattle, Wash., in 1909. A fourth station at McAlester, Okla., in
1910, and a fifth at Birmingham, Ala., in 1911, were subsequently
established, these with the Pittsburgh station making six stations
suitably equipped.

Seven mine-safety cars are operated by the bureau. They were
purchased as second-hand cars, refitted at a cost of about $1,500 each,
and equipped at a cost of about $3,500 each. Plate I, A, shows the
interior of one of the mine-safety cars. These cars are distributed
as follows: Car No, 1, in the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania;
car No. 2, in the coal fields of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and
southern Wyoming; car No. 3, in the coal fields of western Kentucky,
Indiana, and Illinois; car No. 4, in the coal fields of Iowa, Kansas,
Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma; car No. 5, in the coal fields of
northern Wyoming, Montana, and Washington ; car No. 6, in the coal
fields of Ohio, central and western Pennsylvania, northern West Vir-
ginia, and Maryland; car No. 7, in the coal fields of southern West
Virginia, western Virginia, eastern Kentucky, eastern Tennessee, and
Alabama.

The foremen of these cars train miners in first-aid and rescue
work and give instructions concerning mine safety. A car moves
from one mining camp to another. When a serious mine disaster
occurs in any district the foreman in charge communicates with the
mine operator and, if necessary, has the car taken immediately to
the scene of the disaster; a special locomotive or the first available
train is utilized. The foreman, or the mining engineer of the bureau
in charge, at once offers to the local State inspector and to the mine
operator any assistance or cooperation they may’ desire, Usually


MINE-SAFETY EXHIBITS AT THE ARSENAL PLANT. 23

The color comparator and the exudation apparatus were shown in
connection with the work of analyzing explosives for the Panama
Canal. These apparatus, together with the devices used in deter-
mining the influence of temperature and pressure upon the rate of
burning of time fuse, proved of particular interest to many visitors.

The following is the personnel of the explosives chemical labora-
tory: W. O. Snelling, chemist in charge; C..G. Storm, explosives
chemist ; A. L, Hyde and W. C. Cope, assistant chemists; C. A. Taylor
and J. H. Hunter, junior chemists.

PHYSICAL TESTING OF EXPLOSIVES.

No. 19 on the program comprised a demonstration of apparatus for
the physical testing of explosives, including the following: Ballistic
pendulum, pressure gage, calorimeter, flame-testing apparatus, rate
of detonation apparatus, large and small impact machines, cone and
pendulum friction device, and Trauz] and small lead blocks,

BALLISTIC PENDULUM.

This apparatus is used to defermine the unit deflective charge of
explosives. It consists of a mortar, weighing 31,600 pounds, sus-
pended as a pendulum, with a radius of swing of 89% inches. The
swing is measured by a sliding scale. The explosive being tested is
fired from a cannon into the mortar, the two being one-sixteenth inch
apart. The unit deflective charge of the explosive is defined as that
weight of the explosive that swings the mortar the same distance as
one-half pound of 40 per cent “straight ” nitroglycerin dynamite.

PRESSURE GAGE,

The pressure gage is a strong air-tight steel container having a
capacity of 15 liters. It is used (1) to collect the solid, liquid, and
gaseous products of explosives fired within it: and (2) to measure
the pressure developed by an explosive.

CALORIMETER.

The calorimeter is an apparatus for determining the latent energy
that an explosive develops in the form of heat. This is determined
by measuring the increase in temperature of a known quantity of
water that surrounds a bomb in which a small quantity of the
explosive is exploded.

FLAME-TEST APPARATUS.

The flame-test apparatus consists of a cannon, within which the
charge of explosive is fired, and a photographic apparatus having a


32 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

Above thé “ draw slate” there is in places a top coal 1 to 2 feet thick,
but more or less shaly. The next stratum above is shale. These
are the normal conditions for the Pittsburg bed in the vicinity of
the mine. The coal bed proper is free from continuous partings,
except two small bands of shale 3 inches apart. The upper band is
one-eighth to three-fourths inch thick, and the lower is one-fourth
to one and one-fourth inches thick. These bands are a little below
the middle of the bed. The faces and butts are strongly marked.
The coal is somewhat soft, and in the process of mining a large
proportion of finely broken coal is formed.

The average proximate analysis of the coal from three full-section
face samples is as follows:

Analysis of coal from experimental mine,

Moisture
Volatile matter.

2.73,

100. 00

Sulphur. 1.39

The dust used in the experiment of October 30 was not made by
grinding the coal of this mine, as will be done in future experiments,
but was made from coal from a mine in the Pittsburg bed, which has
furnished the so-called standard dust of the Pittsburgh experiment
station. Samples of the dust used showed that 98 per cent passed
through a 100-mesh sieve. Its proximate analysis is as follows:

Analysis of coal dust.

Moisture —__.
Volatile matter
Fixed carbon -

DISTRIBUTION OF THE COAL DUST.

As the floor of the entry is the natural floor with a ballasted track,
it is not smoother than ordinary mine roadways. To save difficult
cleaning, the old burned and unburned dust on the roadway is wet
down or covered with damp clay. The fresh coal dust is placed on
shelving which can be easily cleaned after each experiment. The
permanent shelving will consist of 3 by 4 inch lumber, bolted along
the concrete sections and, in the unlined coal sections, fastened to
recessed props. The lumber is placed with the 83-inch face upwards
so as to provide a 3-inch shelf. There will be five lines on either side


18 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION,

lack of proper apparatus and knowledge in its use, many lives have been
sacrificed.

Speaking for the executive department of the Government, I can assure you
that it will do everything possible to furnish all necessary aid to keep the local
experiment station at a high plane of efficiency. The buildings now occupied
here by the Bureau of Mines were erected for the War Department long ago
and for other purposes. ‘They are inadequate and unsuited to the needs of the
bureau for this important work. ‘The present arrangement should be only tem-
porary. ‘The work has increased and developed rapidly, The Government
should, and doubtless will, at an early date see that this experiment station
is provided with more and better buildings and larger grounds to house ade-
quately all machinery and apparatus required for the proper prosecution of the
varied and important work which Congress has authorized the Bureau of Mines
to do.

I welcome you here to-day, and I shall gladly cooperate with you all in this
great movement for safety and the prevention of waste in our mining, quarrying,
and metallurgical industries,

Gov. Tener said:

Tam glad to hear Secretary Fisher's encouraging words; he voices the Gov-
ernment’s interest in extending the system providing for the safety of mines
and in looking to the humanitarian care of miners. ‘These are matters that
call for our especial interest in Pennsylvania and for our acceptance of the
Federal Government's invitation to cooperate in every measure possible. Per-
sonally, I am much interested in everything that tends to improve the
conditions under which the miner works. At my home at Charleroi I live
almost opposite the entrance of a coal mine, and all the dangers and dread
which surround these noble toilers underground have been brought bome to
me, I shall be glad to see the State take any action that will support the ed-
eral Government's splendid work. I am especially glad to see the large
number of practical miners taking such an interest in the demonstration,

Both before and after the addresses of welcome, experiments con-
cerning gas, electricity, explosives, and coal dust in coal mines were
being carried out in the various laboratories; the details of these
experiments are given in the following pages.

MINE-SAFETY EXHIBITS AT THE ARSENAL PLANT.

The mine-safety exhibits at the arsenal plant, in addition to spe-
cial features, embraced demonstrations of routine work and of the
equipment used in it; consequently descriptions of some of the
important branches of that work are deemed fitting at this point.
The order of operations indicated by the numbers on the program
is not followed, but the work or the equipment of the plant is dis-
cussed in such order as to bring out prominently the main purpose
of the demonstration, which was to emphasize the importance of
safety precautions. A plan of the arsenal grounds, indicating the
bureau’s buildings and the numbers by which they are usuallv desig-
nated, is shown in figure 1.


66 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

INinois—Oscar Cartlidge, Benton; Thomas Lawless, Springfield; ‘Thomas
Little, Murphysboro; Iector McAllister, Streator; Walton Rutledge, Alton: W.
W. Williams, Litchfield.

Indiana.—F. I. Pearce, chief inspector, Indianapolis.

Jowa.—J, B, Jeffries, Albia; R. 'T. Rhys, Ottumwa; Edward Sweeney, Des
Moines.

Kentucky.—C. J. Norwood, chief inspector, Lexington ; T, J. Barr, Lexington;
HL. D, Jones, Central City.

Maryland.—John H. Donahue, Frostburg.

Michigan.—John 'T. Quine, Ishpeming; W. ©. ‘Trestrail, Tron Mountain.

Minnesota.—P. 1. Ramquist, Coleraine.

Nevada.—Ea Ryan, Carson City.

New York.—Wm. W. Jones, 14 Manning Square, Albany.

Ohio—George Harrison, chief inspector, Columbus; Edward Kennedy, Carbon
Hill; John Burke, Wellston; Isaac Hill, Zanesville; Abel Elwood, Cambridge;
Alex Smith, New Philadelphia; 1. D. Devore, route 2, Bellaire; James Hen-
nessy, Barton; Lot Jenkins, Martins Ferry; John 1. McDonald, Glouster; W.
H. Miller, Massillon; Thos. Morrison, Sherrodsville; Robt. S. Wheatley, Saline-
ville.

Oklahoma.—Ed Boyle, chief inspector, McAlester; Martin Clark, McAlester;
Frank Haley, McAlester.

Pennsylvdnia—James BE. Roderick, chief of department of mines, Harris-
burg; Frank Hall, deputy chief, Harrisburg; T. K. Adams, Mercer; John F.
Rell, Dravosburg; M. J. Brennan, Pottsville; D. R. Blower, Scottdale; ©. P.
Byrne, Punxsutawney; John E. Curran, Pottsville; F, W. Cunningham, Char-
leroi; Isaac M. Davies, Lansford; B. I. Evans, Mount Carmel; L. M. Evans,
Scranton ; Nicholas Evans, Johnstown; Thomas A, Furniss, Punxsutawney ; W.
H. Howarth, Brownsville; Joseph Krapper, Phillipsburg; A. B. Lauch, Shenan-
doah: T. §. Lowther, Punxsutawney; Alexander McCouch, Monongahela; Au-
gustus McDade, Redham; C. P, McGregor, Carnegie; Alva May, Punxsutawney ;
Richard Maize, Somerset; P. J. Moore, Carbondale; T. A. Mather, Tyrone;
Arthur Neale, Irwin; James A. O'Donnell, Centralia; Elias Phillips, Dubois;
S. J. Phillips, Scranton; J. I. Pratt, Pittsburgh; Charles J. Price, Lykens;
T. H. Price, Wilkes-Barre; C. B. Ross, Greensburg: I. G. Roby, Uniontown;
D. J. Roderick, Hazelton; P. J, Walsh, Counelisville; Jos. J. Walsh, Nanti-
coke; Jos. Williams, Altoona; T. D, Williams, Johnstown; T. J. Williams, Kings-
ton: David Young, Freeport.

Tennessce.—Geo. B, Sylvester, chief inspector, Nashville; John Rose, Dayton.

Washington.—D. C. Botting, chief inspector, Seattle; John J. Corey, Seattle.

West Virginia—John Laing, chief inspector, Charleston; P. A. Grady, Wil-
liamson; E. A. Henry, Clifton; B. H. Hill, Chelyan; L. B. Holliday, Beckley ;
James Martin, Charleston; Arthur Mitchell, Bluefield; R. ¥. Muir, Prince;
Wm. Nicholson, Bluefield; W. D. Plaster, Elkins; F. E, Parsons, Clarksburg;
Karl F, Schoew, Fairmount; L. D. Vaughn, Grafton.

REPRESENTATIVES OF MINING COMPANIES.

Abrams Creek Coal & Coke Co., Piedmont, W. Va.: A. Spates Brady, general
manager.

Acme Coal Mining Co., Greensburg, Pa.: J. B. Huff, general manager.

Alden Coal Co., Alder, Pa.: K. M, Smith, general manager.

Allegheny Coal Co., Cheswick, Pa.: P. Townsend, manager; Jas. Adamson,
superintendent; T. C. Singleton, foreman.


FORBES FIELD EXHIBIT. 51

and you, every one of you, must give your help in this great work, Will you
who represent the companies, aided by the Red Cross, arrange for courses
whereby the men can be taught their part in the prevention of injury to them-
selves and others, whereby the men can be taught first aid to the injured,
for the fate of a wounded man depends upon those into whose hands he first
falls. The companies’ own interest commends this to you, but more than self-
interest, it is the great cry of humanity that calls to you in this work.

Will you miners do your part? Learn how to prevent accidents. Learn how
to give first aid to the injured men. You have seen to-day what splendid work
many of your fellow miners have learned to do by their earnest study and
practice. You can learn to do the same, Think what this first aid may mean
to the wives and children that you love; how it may save you and others from
a crippled life. More than this, how it may mean the very difference between
life and death itself. Will you do your part?

But this is not enough, men and women of Pittsburgh. You, too, must do
your share. There are your fellow men whose bodies may be crippled, whose
lives may be lost in the mines. The Red Cross calls to you to aid and sustain
it in its efforts to push forward this great work for the conservation of human
life.

In introducing President Taft, who was to award the trophies,
Gov. Tener said:

We have present, as an invited guest, and as the special guest within our
borders to-day, both Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh, he who has done more for
Pittsburgh—for Pennsylvania—during the past three years, in my mind, than
any other President who has ever served us in the presidential chair. He has
worked hand in hand with the work you have seen to-day, in the encouragement
of it, and especially the encouragement given to the improvement of our rivers
and harbors, and all the things which mean Pittsburgh’s future prosperity
and happiness have been given by our distinguished guest.

I remember well taking a trip by river from Cairo to New Orleans in com-
pany with President Taft. That trip and its itinerary were under the auspices

. of a Pittsburgh association. I remember that though he was not convinced that
the entire project was feasible he, nevertheless, unhesitatingly committed bim-
self to the improvement of that portion including the Ohio River from Pitts-
burgh to Cairo and had the project put into action as soon as it could posslbly
be done. And so Pittsburgh receives great benefit to-day from that great project
by being provided a way to market our products speedily and to deliver them
in the Middle and Far West in competition with producers located in that dis-
trict. I know that when it is the plan to connect Lake Erie with the Ohio
River and give us the ship canal we all want, he will, for the sake of Pitts-
burgh and the Ohio Valley throughout, aid us in every way he can,

I have special pleasure in Introducing the President of our Nation, His Ex-
cellency, William H. Taft.

President Taft spoke as follows;

I thank the governor for his kindly introduction. It is a great pleasure to
be here on this important occasion. Properly is it on the soil of Pennsylvania
that has so large a part within its borders of the mining industry of this
country; 300,000 miners with dependent families live in Pennsylvania, and
therefore this State. more than any other, 1s interested In the cause of saving
the lives of the miners, There are 700,000 miners in this country. In 10


10 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

and W. B. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, also with President John P.
White, Vice President Frank J. Hayes, and District President Francis
Feehan, of the United Mine Workers of America, and with several of
the State mine inspectors. As a result it was decided that the affair
should be not only a first-aid exhibit, but also a general demonstra-
tion of various means of procuring safety in mining, including in
particular a demonstration of rescue methods with breathing appa-
ratus and of the relative merits of permissible and nonpermissible
explosives. .As indicative of the general aim of the demonstration
the motto printed at the top of each page of the program might be
cited. This motto was “ Safety First,” and was printed in English,
Italian, French, Slavic, Polish, and several other languages.

VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS.

Conferences on financing the affair were held with President W. K.
Fields and Secretary S. A. Taylor, of the Pittsburgh Coal Operators’
Association. These officials promptly volunteered, on behalf of their
association, to finance the demonstration, and the association ulti-
mately contributed $1,000 toward the programs, a band of music,
banners for presentation to coal companies represented, souvenir
badges, and other incidentals.

The American National Red Cross, through Maj. Charles Lynch,
acting in behalf of Miss Mabel Boardman, chairman of the executive
committee, undertook to furnish souvenir first-aid boxes for each first-
aid team exhibiting and a souvenir badge to each individual of the
team, and toward this purpose, John Hays Hammond volunteered a
special contribution.

The explosives manufacturers of the United States, through Joseph
Burton, voluntarily undertook to provide the funds for the construc-
tion of a steel gallery in which to exhibit the effect of firing permis-
sible explosives in the presence of coal dust, and subsequently bore the
total expense, $1.050, of this feature.

The Pittsburgh Baseball Club, through its president, Barney
Dreyfuss, tendered the use of Forbes Field for the public exhibition.

BOARD OF MANAGERS AND COMMITTEES.

In June, when the preliminary arrangements had been in part per-
fected, the director of the bureau, being about to absent himself in the
West and in Alaska for several months, suggested the creation of a
board of managers to conduct and assume entire responsibility for
the demonstration. Thereupon the following board, representing the
six national institutions interested, was organized: Herbert M. Wil-
son, representing the Bureau of Mines; Maj. Charles Lynch, United
States Army, representing the American National Red Cross; S. A.


BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 44 PLATE It

A. VIEW OF SIDE HILL, SHOWING GALLERY ENTRANCE IN CENTER AND MAIN ENTRANCE
IN BACKGROUND.

B. SIDE HILL OPPOSITE MINE, SHOWING CAR AND OTHER DEBRIS THROWN BY THE EXPLOSION.


58 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

SMOKELESS COMBUSTION OF COAL,

Experiments are being conducted in building No. 13 with three
mechanical stokers,

One of these stokers is of the traveling link-grate type, in which
the fuel is fed into the furnace slowly and uniformly as the grate
advances into the furnace. As the coal enters the furnace it passes
under a flat arch of refractory material, the heat from which slowly
distills or drives off the volatile matter. The noncombustible por-
tion of the coal (the ash) passes over the rear of the grate and falls
into the ash pit. The fact that the volatile matter is slowly and uni-
formly driven off, and that the gases must travel almost to the rear
of the boiler before passing among the tubes, makes possible the
burning of high-volatile coals without smoke.

The second stoker, which was in operation on October 30, is of the
inclined-grate, side-feed, and overfeed type. This stoker is con-
nected to the long-combustion chamber. In it the grates are in two
planes arranged as a V. A pusher plate feeds the coal at either
side of the furnace to the top of the inclined grates, This pushing
of green coal on the upper end of the grates, combined with the slight
motion imparted by the driving mechanism to each alternate grate
bar, works the fuel down to the bottom of the V, where the ash is
removed. An arch of refractory material is sprung across the top
of the furnace and the heat from this effects the distillation of the
volatile matter gradually as the coal enters at the sides and top of the
furnace,

The third stoker is the underfeed type. The coal is uniformly fed
into the furnace by a ram. Air for burning the fuel is supplied by
a forced-draft fan and is forced into and up through the fuel bed
from tuyére blocks around the periphery of the retort into which the
ram. forces the coal. Combustion takes place at or near the surface
of the fuel bed, but the coal is gradually heated as it works up from
the retort toward the top of the fuel bed. The volatile matter
driven off, as the coal becomes heated, mixes with the air from the
tuyeres and burns near the surface of the bed of fuel.

The boilers and stokers in this building (No, 13) are used for
furnishing steam for heat and power and for experimental purposes
as well. Provision has been made for taking temperatures, strength
of drafts, and other observations in various parts of the settings, so
that tests of any coal can be made to determine its suitability for use
with several kinds of equipment.

These experiments are under the general direction of O. P. Hood,
chief mechanical engineer, and in immediate charge of S. B. Flagg
and C, D, Smith, eggineers,


60 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

difficulties frequently encountered is the accumulation of clinker re-
sulting from high temperature in the producer. In order to avoid
excessive clinker an effort is always made to keep the temperature
below that at which the ash fuses. In the producer in building No.
13 no attempt is made to facilitate high temperatures, but rather
to prevent them in order to promote the formation of carbon
monoxide. The ash melts into a liquid slag which is tapped off at
regular intervals. To aid in fluxing the ash, and to make it more
liquid, a small amount of limestone is added to the fuel charge.
Coke has been used as fuel, but the schedule of tests includes several
coals as well as low-grade and high-ash fuels.

The work is under the direction of O. P. Hood, chief mechanical
engineer, with C. D. Smith, engineer, and’ F. E, Woodman, assistant
engineer, in immediate charge.

FOUNDRY CUPOLA.

The work at the foundry cupola (building No, 13) embraces the
taking of gas samples and temperatures in the various zones of the
coke bed for the purpose of studying the fundamentals of the melt-
ing process, with a view to possible improvement.

The equipment used consists of an ordinary 36-inch foundry
cupola, reduced by lining to 26 inches, which has four horizontal
4 by 6 inch tuyéres 3 inches above the sand bottom. This cupola is
arbitrarily divided into five zones, which contain gas and tempera-
ture tubes. In each zone three samples of gas and three temperature
measurements are taken for the purpose of determining at what point
the metal melts most advantageously and is least injured by the oxy-
gen of the blast. The results are expected ultimately to show what
are ideal melting conditions and to furnish exact information in re-
gard to melting practice. The work of the foundry cupola is in
charge of A. W. Belden, engineer.

FURNACE-GAS LABORATORY.

This laboratory is in building No. 13, and is used exclusively for the
analysis of gas from the long-combustion chamber, gas producer, and
cupola. The personnel of the laboratory is as follows: A. E. Hall,
junior chemist, in charge, assisted by L. L. Satler and E. T. Gregg,

junior chemists.
PETROLEUM LABORATORY.

The petroleum laboratory in building No. 21 comprises six rooms
fully equipped for petroleum analyzing and testing. The laboratory
contains the following standard and special apparatus: *

For more detailed description see Bulletin 19, Bureau of Mines: Physical and chemi-
cal properties of the petroleums of the San Joaquin Valley, Cal., by I. C. Allen and W. A.
Jacobs, with a chapter on analyses of natural gas from the southern California oil flelds,
by G. A. Burrell. 1911. 60 pp., 2 pls,


RESEARCH WORK AT PITTSBURGH EXPERIMENT STATION, 61

Abel-Pensky and Pensky-Martens flash testers for the determina-
tion of the flash and ignition points of light and heavy oils, respec-
tively; Engler, Sayboult, Redwood, and Taliabue viscosimeters for
the determination of so-called “ viscosity ”; electric separator for the
treatment of water-oil emulsions; electric still, }-liter capacity, and
vacuum equipment for laboratory fractionation of petroleum; wash-
ing machine and centrifuge for refining petroleum products; Ives
and Stammer colorimeters for the determination of colors of oil
products; photometer and lamps for the measurement of the light
given off by burning oils; Dinsmore-Atwater calorimeter for calori-
metric determinations; electric still of 10-liter capacity for the frac-
tionation of petroleum in commercial quantities.

The elemental analysis of oil products is made in the Dennstedt
platino-asbestos furnace and in the Carius pressure oven.

The refractive indices are determined on the Abbe universal refrac-
trometer.

Saponification tests are made in a specially constructed high-pres-
sure autoclave,

The petroleum laboratory is in charge of I. C. Allen, chemist,
with W. A. Jacobs and R. R. Matthews as junior chemists.

PHYSICAL LABORATORY.

During the demonstration the physical laboratory exhibited elec-
trical pyrometers (thermocouples) for the measurement of tempera-
tures, a comparator and electric furnaces for the calibration of ther-
mometers and pyrometers, apparatus for the study of thermal con-
ductivity at high temperatures, and apparatus used in an investiga-
tion of the influence of carbon dioxide on the explosibility of mine
gases.

‘THERMOMETERS.

In investigations concerning the economical use of fuel for the
generation of heat and power, an accurate knowledge of the tempera-
tures produced in the various parts of the furnaces used is of great im-
portance. The selection of the type of thermometer or pyrometer best
suited for a particular purpose will depend largely on the range of
temperatures to be measured. In the work of the Pittsburgh experi-
ment station a number of different types of apparatus are used.
Mercury thermometers are used for temperatures up to 700° F.
For temperatures between 700° F. and 2,200° F. thermocouples are
used, and for temperatures over 2,200° F. optical or radiation pyro-
meters are used.

HEAT RADIATION.

It is well known to those who are familiar with the operation of
boiler furnaces that a part of the heat produced by the combustion




CLASSIFIED LIST OF VISITORS. W

Oak Ridge Mining Co, Oak Ridge Pa.: H. Williams, superintendent; T.
White, foreman; G. R. Williams, fireman.

Oliver & Snyder Steel Co., Uniontown, Pa.:
superintendent; J. H. Lane, superintendent.

Paint Creek Collieries Co., Mucklow, W. Va.: W. L. Connell, president; A. H.
Hale, general manager; J. A. Greene, superintendent; J. F, Hale, superinten-
dent; E, M. Johnson, mechanical engineer.

Parrish Coal Co., Plymouth, Pa.: George ©. Thomas, general foreman;
‘Thomas G. Maggs, electrician; John Metal, engineer; Harry Trebilcox, fireman;
Samuel Valentine, supply clerk; William J. Jones, bratticeman; David J. Wil-
liams, supply clerk ; Edward Loughlin,

Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co., Pottsville, Pa.: W. J. Richards, vice
president and general manager; James E, Morris, secretary to vice president
and general manager; Reese Tasker, mining superintendent; John C. Brown,
inside district superintendent; James P. McDonald, inside district superin-
tendent; Dr. George H. Halberstadt, surgeon; Dr. Jerome B. Rogers, assistant
surgeon; John F. Bevan, division engineer ; Joseph B. Garner, division engineer ;
Claude F. Lewis, division engineer ; Edwin M. Chance, chemist; Hugh A. Wilson,
inspector of explosives. — *

Pittsburgh Coal Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: W. K. Field, president; M. H. Taylor,
chairman board of directors; G. W. Schluederberg, general manager; ©. W.
Biggs, chief clerk; H. B. N. Loutlett, manager of mines; J. M. Armstrong,
manager of mines; E. J. Taylor, chief engineer; Ernest Taylor, mechanical
engineer; A. W. Patton, chief draftsman; John Britt, chief mine clerk; J. W.
Byers, livestock agent; Doctors Brown, Cruikshank, Dague, Davis, Dickson,
Douglas, Dutton, Folz, Heath, Hensel, Kennchen, Kirk, Lake, La Ross, MeCul-
lough, McGarvey, Mitchell, Newell, Patterson, Schuster, Taylor, Walker,
Warner, and Williams; Superintendents William Blower, William Carter, Henry
Cattley, Thomas Easton, William Ferguson, P. J. Garvey, Emil Gerry, Jaines A.
Gould, T. W. Gray, John Hauser, Matthew Herron, M. T. Jones, William Kelv-
ington, W. H. Linsley, W. A. Lockhart, 8. P. McCaffrey, Alexander MeClymont,
Samuel McKay, B, F. P. Mank, H. R. Miller, William Neil, James Porter,
Samuel Pritchard, Edward Ryan, L. C. Sarver, . A. Schulte, James M. Sloan,
F. W. Stark, R. V. Smith, H. D, Thompson, Jules Waterloo, and Thomas
Whiteman.

Pittsburg Coal Operators’ Association, Pittsburgh, Pa.: S. A. Taylor, secretary.

Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: C. E. Craig, superintendent;
V. L. Henry, engineer; W. H. Clark, chief clerk; F. P. Smith, electrician ; James
Craig, foreman; John Riley, assistant foreman; Harry Haslett, assistant fore-
man; J. V. McDonald, fire boss; R. P, Stark, weighmaster.

Pittsburg Terminal Railroad & Coal Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: W. W. Keefer, presi-
dent; William Mimford, jr., superintendent.

Penfield Coal & Coke Co., Penfield, Pa.: Le Roy Smith, genera! manager.

Penn-Mary Coal Co., Heilwood, Pa.: H. P, Dowler, general superintendent ;
Harry Kalloway, general foreman; Charles Ganoe, foreman.

Pennsylvania Coal Co., Scranton, Pa,: William W. Inglis, general superin-
tendent ; C. W. F. Neuffer, mining engineer; Dr. F. F. Arndt.

Pennsylvania Coal & Coke Co., Philadelphia, Pa.: Joseph Thorp, purchasing
agent; J. P. Walter, division engineer; R. D. Mainwaring, superintendent.

Piedmont & Georges Creek Coal Co., Westernport, Md.; W. E. Brown, super-
intendent.

Pioneer Coal Co., Starford, Pa.: H. H. Hetrick, foreman.

Plymouth Coal Co., Wilkes-Barre, Pa,: T. R. Phillips, treasurer; G. S. Jones,
superintendent; D, J, Morris. foreman; W. Arthur, assistant foreman, .

Frederick C. Keighley, general



FIRST NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION,
PITTSBURGIL, PA., OCTOBER 30 AND 31, 1911.

INTRODUCTION.

The national mine-safety demonstration at Pittsburgh, Pa., was
projected and undertaken in the hope that it would aid the increase
of safety in the mining industry.

That the national mine-safety demonstration was warranted and
has served a useful purpose was evidenced by the attendance, not
only at the public demonstration in Forbes Field, but also at the more
special exhibit of the work of the Bureau of Mines at the arsenal
grounds and at the experimental mine. Nearly 2,000 persons wit-
nessed the demonstrations and exhibits of the Bureau of Mines at the
arsenal grounds on the morning of October 30, 1911. The spectators
were all mine operators, miners, er persons interested in mining, and
represented operations in all parts of the United States. Nearly
1,200 of. these persons visited the bureau’s experimental mine at
Bruceton to witness the explosion of coal dust. Had the weather,
which was exceptionally inclement, been more favorable, there would
doubtless have been a much larger attendance.

At the public demonstration in Forbes Field, which was witnessed
by President Taft, from 12,000 to 15,000 persons, chiefly mining men,
were present and attested their interest and enthusiasm in the mine-
safety exhibits by remaining throughout the proceedings, regardless
of the rain which fell all the morning. Since this demonstration, the
organization of first-aid corps and of rescue corps has been under-
taken at mines where there had previously becn no such organizations.
The bureau has received letters of commendation attesting the value
of the demonstration in drawing attention to the dangers and to
possible means of greater safety in mining. Many of these letters
have urged that the results of the demonstration be published for
the guidance and instruction of those who were present.

In response to these requests the following account of the mine-
safety demonstration has been prepared. In its preparation various
division and section chiefs of the Bureau of Mines have cooperated.
The authors acknowledge the assistance they have received from
those section chiefs and other members of the bureau who contributed
detailed descriptions of apparatus exhibited at the demonstration
or of investigations represented.

a




MINE-SAFETY EXHIBITS AT THE ARSENAL PLANT, 19
GAS LABORATORY.

The gas laboratory (No. 7 on the program), in room 28, building
21, is engaged in the investigation of mine and natural gases. A
study is being made of the gases produced when coal is broken down
by explosives. These tests are being conducted with a view to sug-
gesting the length of time a miner should wait before returning to
the face after a blast and to determining the causes that lead to the
production of noxious gases in the use of explosives.

A study is also being made of mine-fire gases. In connection with
this investigation, analyses of gas taken from mine fires are made
with the purpose of discovering possible means of extinguishing such
fires. After a mine fire is sealed, gas samples can be taken from be-
hind stoppings, and analyses can be made in order to determine the

\_ fg

aE

he
Figure 1.—General plan of grounds and buildings, Pittsburgh experiment station of the
Bureau of Mines; 9, General offices; 10, electrical tests; 13, fuel-engineering tests; 17,

explosives, helmet, and safety-lamp t
coal-dust gullery No. 2; 21, chemical

yA, gus and coal-dust gallery No. 1; B, gas and
nd physical laboratories.

effectiveness of the stoppings for excluding air. Such analyses are
also valuable when they represent the entire period during which the
nine or section of the mine has been sealed, because they furnish a
basis for reasonable conclusions regarding the length of time a fire
should remain sealed. .

Part of the work of the gas laboratory is the assembling of gas-
analysis apparatus for all classes of mine-gas work—for research
work and for laboratories at coal mines where chemists are employed.
The laboratory also designs easily manipulated apparatus which
may be used by mine inspectors, superintendents, or foremen.

Work is being done toward studying the effect of atmospheric pres-
sure on the exudation of methane (CH,) in mines, and also regarding
the use of acetylene lamps in mines,


INTRODUCTION. 9

September 17, 1910, the director, Dr. J. A. Holmes, addressed the
first first-aid meeting of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal Co, at
Mahanoy Junction, Pa. On the same day H. M. Wilson, engineer
in charge of the bureau’s experiment station at Pittsburgh, attended
and addressed the annual intercolliery first-aid meeting at Inkerman
Park, near Scranton, Pa. Mr. Wilson then discussed with Dr. M. J.
Shields, field demonstrator of the American National Red Cross, the
possibility of holding, in 1911, a first-aid contest in the bituminous
coal fields at the bureau’s Pittsburgh experiment station and the pos-
sibility of making this an annual interstate affair.

Upon returning to Washington, Director Holmes immediately
added a first-aid course of instruction to the training already adopted
for the bureau’s mine-safety stations and mine-safety cars. Through
the courtesy of the American National Red Cross, Dr. Shields at once
took up the instruction at Pittsburgh of the bureau’s miners who were
to be trained as foremen of the mine-safety stations and of the mine-
safety cars. The work of the stations and the tours of the cars started
late in October, 1910. Within a few months the popularity of the
instruction in first-aid work and in the use of breathing apparatus
was such that the holding of contests was given early consideration
by the mine officials and workers in various coal fields outside of the
anthracite region in which such instruction was then being introduced
for the first time.

During this period the officials of the Bureau of Mines conferred
informally with coal-mine operators, mine workers, and others regard-
ing the possibility of holding annual first-aid meets in the bituminous
regions of Pennsylvania, Alabama, Indiana, Colorado, Washington,
and elsewhere, and as a result there developed evidence of a general
desire for a national meet.

In April, 1911, an informal conference was held in the director’s
office at Washington. Those present were Maj. Charles Lynch,
United States Army, director of the first-aid department of the
American National Red Cross; W. J. Richards, vice president and
general manager of the Philadelphia & Reading Coal and Iron Co.;
and J. A, Holmes, H. M. Wilson, and Van. H. Manning, of the Bureau
of Mines. It was decided that a national first-aid meet should be
held in Pittsburgh on September 16, 1911, and that this should prefer-
ably be an exhibition of skill in first-aid work rather than a contest
for prizes. Subsequent correspondence with the more prominent
coal-mining officials of various parts of the country, especially of the
anthracite region, where most experience had heretofore been had
in conducting such affairs, led to a decision in favor of an exhibition
rather than a contest. Subsequent conferences were held with mem-
bers of the Committee on Mines and Mining of the House of Rep-
resentatives, especially with the chairman, M. D. Foster, of Illinois,


CLASSIFIED LIST OF VISITORS. 13

‘Tunnel Coaling Co.. Greensburg, Pa.: M. J. Bracken, general superintendent ;
Robert Morris, chief engineer; William Laun, foreman.

Union Pacifle Coal Co., Omaha, Nebr.; Frank A. Manley, vice president and
general manager.

United Coal Mining Co. Christopher, I: F. J. Urbain, general manager;
Ed. Alais, superintendent.

Unity Coal Co., Latrobe, P:
foreman.

Vinton Collieries Co., Vintondale, Pa,: T, W, Hamilton, George Blewitt, super-
intendents; J. H. Pardoe, A. Abrams, James Heany, foremen.

Virginia-Maryland Coal Corporation, Adamston, W. Va.: A. Lisle White,
superintendent.

Wake Forest Mining Co, Wake Forest, W. Va.: Jesse Gardnier, foreman.

Waltersburg Coal Co., Waltersburg, Pa.: W. A. Stone, general manager; 0. P.
Stone, superintendent; J. J. Dorotinsky, foreman.

Washington Coal & Coke Co., Star Junction, Pa.: 0. S. Blair, general super-
intendent; H. M. MeDonald, assistant manager; H. Il. Elkins, mechanical
engineer; Thomas Zimmerman, resident engineer; R. M. Pollick, general fore-
man; J. §. Hall, foreman; John Dougherty.

Widnoon Mining Co. Lawsonham, Pa,: W. E. Dayton, superintendent.

Youghiogheny & Ohio Coal Co., Pittsburgh. Pa.: J. G. Patterson, chairman;
Charles Porter, general agent: W. G. Muse, chief engineer; Dr. J. H. Lawhead,
West Newton, Pa.; W. F. Finney, West Newton, Pa.; Leonard Hoyland, fore-
man.

Thomas Fish, superintendent; James Turnbull,

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA,

Frank J. Hayes, vice president, Indianapolis, Ind.; Edwin Perry, secretary,
Indianapolis, Ind.; Thomas L. Lewis, ex-president, Bridgeport, Ohio; William
Diamond, national executive board, Saginaw, Mich.; James F. Moran, natioual
executive board, Des Moines, Iowa; Francis Feehan, district president, Pitts-
burgh, Pa.; Patrick Gilday, district president, Morrisdale Mines, Pa.; Alexander
Howatt, district pri James H. Walker, district presi-
dent, Springfield, Tl; G. W. Savage, district secretary, Columbus, Ohio; Ed.
Cunningham, Bridgeport, Tex.; H. M. McGinty, Osceola Mills, Pa.; F. J. Pearce,
Indianapolis, Ind.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS.

Miss Mabel Boardman, Washington, D. C.; Maj. Charles Lynch, Washington,
D. C.; Dr. M. J. Shields, Washington, D. C.

ENGINEERS AND OTHER TECHNICAL MEN.

G. P. Bartholomew, New York City . W. Bentley, Pittsburgh, Pa.; J. R.
Belcher, Salt Lake City, Utah; E. L. Blum, New York City; L. P. Blum, Pitts-
burgh, Pa.; J. Parke Channing, New York City; E. T. Conner, Philadelphia,
Pa.; H. M. Crankshaw, London, E. C., England; J. C. Dilworth, Pittsburgh,
Pa,; H. N. Elmer, Chicago, Lll.; I. Grageroff, Emporium, Pa.; William Griffith,
Scranton, Pa.; John Hays Hammond, New York City; A. Hexamer, Phila-
delphia, Pa.; Frederick L, Hoffman, Newark, N. J.; W. M. Judd, Pittsburgh,
Pa.; J. F. Kuntz, Pittsburgh, Pa.; P. H. Lantz, New York City; H. J. Lewis,
Pittsburgh, Pa.; Herman McBroom. Pittsburgh, Pa.; H. E. Metcalf, Pittsburgh,
Pa.; Dr. Thomas Rhoads, Washington, D. C.; W. A. Sausioux, Buford, N. Dak.;





MINE-SAFETY EXHIBITS AT THE ARSENAL PLANT, 25

commodating (1) an explosive mixture of gas and air; (2) coal
dust; and (8) a mixture of natural gas, coal dust, and air. The
charge of explosive is fired into the gallery from a cannon through a
hole in the end plate. Permissible explosives are required to pass
three series of tests consisting of 25 trials in this gallery before being
placed on the list of explosives permissible for use in coal mines. As
an illustration of the series of tests in which the charge of explosives
is fired into a mixture of gas and air, the following tests were made
on October 30:

A permissible explosive, equivalent in deflective force to one-half
pound of 40 per cent nitroglycerin dynamite, was tamped with 1
pound of dry fire clay and was fired into a mixture of gas and air
containing 7 per cent of methane and ethane. Result—No explosion.
The flame did not show in doorways or windows.

A charge of FFF black blasting powder, equivalent in deflective
force to one-half pound of 40 per cent nitroglycerin dynamite, was
tamped with 2 pounds of dry fire clay and was fired into a mixture
of gas and air containing 7 per cent of methane and ethane. Result—
Ignition; flame showed in all doorways and in all windows,

The work of this section is under the direction of Clarence Hall,
explosives engineer; S. P. Howell, assistant engineer; and A. J.
Hazlewood, H. F. Braddock, J. W. Koster, I. W. Robertson, and
A. J. Strane, junior engineers,

COAL-DUST EXPERIMENTS,

The ignition of coal dust (No. 22 on the program) by means of
laboratory coal-dust ignition apparatus was designed to give a demon-
stration of the explosibility of coal dust in air.

The apparatus used was assembled after the principle of the
laboratory apparatus employed in measuring the relative inflamma-
bility of coal dust. It consisted of a 3-gallon aspirator bottle of
thick glass in which was suspended, through a rubber stopper closing
the mouth of the bottle, a coil of about 5 feet of No. 26 platinum
wire. Through a hole in the same stopper, connection was made by
means of a glass tube with a light-walled Florence flask of about 1-
quart capacity, the glass tube passing through a second rubber
stopper firmly fastened in the mouth of the flask. The stopper of
the aspirator was held gas-tight and firmly in place by means of
steel pieces bolted to a wooden collar around the neck of the bottle.
The tubulature in the bottom of the aspirator bottle was closed by
means of a one-hole rubber stopper containing a copper funnel bent
at a right angle and directed upward inside the bottle under the
platinum coil. The stopper was firmly held in place by careful wir-
ing. The funnel contained one-sixth ounce of fine coal dust. To the
projecting end of the copper funnel was attached a thick rubber


Bulletin 44

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF MINES
JOSEPH A, HOLMES, Dinector

FIRST NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION

PITTSBURGH, PA., OCTOBER 30 AND 31, 1911

BY

HERBERT M. WILSON anv ALBERT H. FAY

WITH A CHAPTER ON THE EXPLOSION AT THE EXPERIMENTAL MINE

BY

GEORGE S. RICE

WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1912


‘BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 44 PLATE Vi

A, RUPTURE IN ROOF OF MAIN GALLERY, EXPERIMENTAL MINE.

B. COAL-DUST EXPLOSION IN STEEL GALLERY, FORBES FIELD.


12 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

tenary of steam navigation on the western rivers, and the banquet
given by the chamber of commerce.

The managers of the national mine-safety demonstration and the
Director of the Bureau of Mines are also indebted to the Illinois
Mine Rescue Station Commission, to the Philadelphia & Reading
Coal & Iron Co., and to the Pittsburgh-Buffalo Co, for sending corps
of men to participate in the rescue exhibition, to the Illinois Mine
Rescue Station Commission for sending a mine-rescue car, and to the
American National Red Cross for sending a hospital car.

INVITATIONS SENT OUT.

On June 26 Director Holmes addressed a circular Jetter to all coal-
mining companies known or believed to be interested in first-aid
work, inviting them to enter teams in a first annual national first-aid
field meet, to be held in Arsenal Park, Pittsburgh, September 16,
1911. On July 12 a second circular letter was addressed to all coal-
mine operators believed to be interested, to all State mine inspectors
in the United States, to officials of the United Mine Workers of
America throughout the United States, to State geologists, to profes-
sors of mining engineering in colleges and universities, to Canadian
and foreign departments of mines, to a large number of mine sur-
geons, and to other persons believed to be interested. The letter
stated that arrangements had been definitely perfected for a first
national mine-safety demonstration, to be held in Forbes Field,
Pittsburgh, Pa., October 27, and invited active cooperation and the
entering of first-aid teams. Subsequent communications advised of
the postponement of the date to October 31, on account of the desire
of President Taft to be present and of his preference for that date.
Because of requests received from mine operators and others, Oc-
tober 380 was assigned as the date for a public demonstration by
the Bureau of Mines of its work at the arsenal grounds, Pittsburgh,
and at the experimental mine at Bruceton, near Pittsburgh. Subse-
quently, special invitations were sent by Director Holmes to about.
1,500 persons outside of those connected with mining but who were
known to be interested in first-aid work or in the work of the Bureau
of Mines, or for especial reasons might desire to be present. These
included all Members of Congress, governors of mining States, Cabi-
net officers and chiefs of bureaus in Washington, explosives manu-
facturers, prominent operators of metal mines, manufacturers of
mining machinery, and officials of railways interested in coal mining
and coal transportation and over whose lines the mine-safety cars of
the Bureau of Mines were, by courtesy, gratuitously transported,


INTRODUCTION. 11

Taylor, representing the Coal Operators’ Association ; Francis Feehan,
representing the United Mine Workers of America; John Laing,
representing the State Mine Inspectors’ Institute; and Thomas B.
Dilts, representing the industrial department of the International
Young Men’s Christian Association.

Early in June, and immediately after the preliminary arrangements
made by the board of managers of the first national mine-safety
demonstration, the following general committee, composed of em-
ployees of the Bureau of Mines, to have immediate charge of the
details, was appointed: Herbert M. Wilson, chairman; J. W. Paul,
mine-rescue and first-aid work; Clarence Hall, arsenal demonstra-
tion; L. M. Jones, experimental mine; Lauson Stone, program; A.
W. Belden, reception; J. K. Clement, ushering; and C. S. Stevenson,
secretary.

Each of the above was appointed a chairman of a subcommittee
composed of other bureau employees, and to these men, and the field
officials subsequently appointed, is due in large measure the success
of the demonstration. Special mention should also be made of the
valuable assistance rendered by a number of other persons, notably
G. S. Rice, through his responsible and energetic work in connection
with the explosion at the experimental mine, and certain clerks and
other employees of the Bureau of Mincs who attended to various
details connected with the perfecting of arrangements for the several
events.

The following committee of field officials was appointed in Sep-
tember to assume charge of all arrangements concerning the demon-
stration at Forbes Field: Manager of field events, J. W. Paul; mana-
ger of first-aid events, Dr. M. J. Shields; manager of explosion,
Clarence Hall; field marshal, Francis Feehan; chief usher, J. K.
Clement.

About the Ist of October, upon the return from Alaska of Director
Holmes, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Interior, the
following special reception committee to the President was ap-
pointed: Senator George T. Oliver, Representatives John Dalzell,
A. J. Barchfeld, James Francis Burke, and S. G. Porter, of Penn-
sylvania; W. A. Magee, mayor of Pittsburgh; J. A. Holmes, Direc-
tor of the Bureau of Mines; F. R. Babcock, president of the Pitts-
burgh Chamber of Commerce; and W. H. Stevenson, president of the
Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Much credit is due to
this committee for the smoothness with which the two civic events
arranged for the President on October 31 were made to coordinate
with each other and with the minc-safety demonstration. The two
civic events referred to were the marine parade, celebrating the cen-


50 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION,

Secretary Fisher said:

Recently there has gone through this country an unexampled wave of popular
“sentiment in favor of conservation. But it is necessary that conservation be
based on something else than sentiment and thet it be shown to be practical
in nature. ‘That is the reason for a demonstration like the one we have seen
here to-day. The work of the Bureau of Mines typifies the true spirit of con-
servation. It demonstrates what is wasted in our natural resources. ‘There are
two kinds of waste. ‘There is that kind which does not make full use of all
the resources at our command, and there is that kind which allows a chosen
few to tie up our natural resources to the detriment of the many. But the
greatest waste of all is that of human life and human energy. It is that waste
which must be prevented first of all. It is that waste which the Burexu of
Mines is bending every effort to reduce to a minimum, You will notice on your
program that safety first is the motto of the Bureau of Mines. My personal
interest in this work, therefore, brings me here to-day, and about all I can say
to you boys is that we weleome your cooperation, or, rather, I should say, that
we offer you our cooperation. Because, after all, safety in the mines depends
on the miners themselves, ‘They must prevent disaster, they must rescue after
havoc has been wrought. It was a splendid demonstration which we witnessed
here this morning, and in the name of the Bureau of Mines and the National
Government I congratulate all those who took part in it,

Miss Mabel Boardman, of the executive committee of the American
National Red Cross, was the next speaker on the program. -In intro-
ducing Miss Boardman, Gov. Tener said:

Living as I do (as most of you know) near the coal mines of the Mononga-
hela Valley, 1 am especially interested in tbis work, and I am glad to see so
many representatives of the mines and so many first-aid teams here. I have
been interested in the Monongahela district for many years, during which time
I have known of more than one explosion that has occurred, and I have seen
the distress and the havoc that most explosions wrought. I am therefore in
sympathy with all that is being done to-day, all that is shown by these tests
in your methods of life-saving, and in the conservation of human life, These
great explosions do occur and when they do occur succor is needed promptly,
and we have a representative of that society which has done more in times of
war and in times of peace to relieve the suffering that results than any other
agency or any other influence in the world. I have the pleasure at this time of
presenting a prominent officer of the society, a member of the executive commit-
tee of the American National Red Cross, Miss Mabel Boardman.

Miss Boardman’s address was as follows:

MEN AND WoMEN oF PrrrssuxcH: ‘Che duty of the American Red Cross is to
give relief after great disasters, ‘The fact that 2,000 of our miners yearly lose
their lives in the mines and that many thousands more are injured at their
work is an appalling national calamity. What are we going to do about it?
It isn’t enough for the Red Cross and others to organize pension systems to care
for the widows and orphans. What are we going to do to prevent the wives
becoming widows and the children orphans? What are we going to do to pre-
vent this sacrifice of human life?

You have seen the admirable work the Bureau of Mines is doing for the pre-
vention of disaster and the rescue of the miners in case of accident. You have
seen what the Red Cross is doing for the training in first aid to the injured,



88 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.
EFFECT OF FLAME ON COAL RIBS.

In several places along the inner crosscut and along the air course
outby the inner crosscut the ribs showed marked signs of blistering.
The soot, which elsewhere coated everything, was absent in these
places and evidently thin scales of coal had dropped off after the
explosion, leaving rounded surfaces instead of the usual flat facings
with square edges. (PI. IV, B.)

VENTILATION.

The regular ventilation was carried on at the time of the explosion.
There was about 9,000 cubic feet of air per minute entering the
mine through the gallery and about 8,000 cubic feet passing through
the open crosscut at the 640-foot station and returning in the main
entry. The shots were, therefore, fired in a dead end, but the explo-
sion encountered moving air at the first crosscut. The second cross:
cut contained a sandbag stopping 7 feet thick. The bulk of this
stopping was blown toward the air course, but a considerable number
of the bags had been thrown toward and into the main entry. It
would appear that the first explosive wave coming out the main
entry had overturned the stopping toward the air course and that
the branch explosion coming out that passage a moment later had
thrown a number of the loose bags back toward the main entry.

In the outer crosscut, there was only a canvas curtain stretched
across to keep the air current from short-circuiting. The crosscut
was loaded with 0.46 pound of coal dust per linear foot placed
on temporary shelves. That branch of the explosion passing
through this crosscut did not appear to have been violent, as light
cross timbers placed in the air course just outby the crosscut had
not been disturbed, although they had some burned dust sticking to
them, and fragments of a curtain were slightly burned. Immedi-
ately beyond these timbers in the air course, the explosion appears
to have suddenly increased in violence. Whether the increase of
violence was due to enlargement of air space at the junction with the
slant entry or to other cause is uncertain at this time. All the
heavy shelves beyond this point were thrown down and some of them
broken. The sandbag stopping across the air course was thrown
outby, some of the bags going outside the mine, although a few bags
were drawn inby, seemingly by the reflex air wave.

CONCRETE LINING BROKEN.

As in the explosion on October 24, the concrete arching was lifted.
The concrete corner of the Y was broken by a horizontal fracture and
the upper half lifted so that a stick and pieces of a curtain brattice


14 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

Dr. J. B, Talmage, Salt Lake City, Utah; W. H, Tolman, New York City;
I. Weil, Pittsburgh, Pa.; W. G. Wilkins, Pittsburgh, Pa.; I. H. Woolson, New
York City.

REPRESENTATIVES OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES,

George Washington University, Washington, D. C.: Charles E. Monroe, pro-
fessor of chemistry.

Michigan College of Mines, Houghton, Mich.: F. W. Sperr, professor of
mining engineering.

Pennsylvania College for Women, Pittsburgh, Pa: Allice D. Butterfield, ©.
Pauline Burt, Claire Colestock, Lillian Lindsay, and Lillian McHenry.

Pennsylvania State Coilege, State College, Pa.: Dr. W..R. Crane, dean,

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.: Dr. M. E, Wadsworth, dean; W. J.
Allen, S. 0. Andros, Leland C. Ball, J. J. Cain, Karl Davis, Paul Geary, 8. L.
Goodale, R. V. Herring, Karl J. Holliday, W. R. Kerr, J. ©, Mackrell, jr.,
Matthew Marshall, H. B. Meller, H. C. Ray, August Reith, F, W. Regan, J. J.
Ripner, P. L. Simpson, B. F. Straw, V. C. Sviminoff, D. E, Taylor, L. Unger,.
J. G. Wehs, A. P. Wright, and B. N. Zern,

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TECHNICAL PRESS.

H. A. Beardsley, W. G. Conley, W. K. Fisher, Rt. D. Hall, and T. A. Ufellow,
Coal Age, New York City; J. B. Johnston, Coal and Coke Operator, Pittsburgh,
Pa.; Paul U. Kellogg, The Survey, New York City; N. Martin, Iron City Trades
Journal, Pittsburgh, Pa.; J. C. Murray, Canadian Mining Journal, Toronto,
Ontario; L. W. Peck, Black Diamond, Pittsburgh, Pa.; H. W. Potter, Electrical
Worker, Pittsburgh, Pa.; J. J. Vigneau, Coal Field Directory, Pittsburgh, Pa.

REPRESENTATIVES OF RAILROAD COMPANIES.

Canadian Pacific Railway: W. C. Scott, fuel inspector, Cleveland, Ohio.

Chesapeake & Ohio Railway: James Clark, D. R. Phillips, and George W.
Stevens, jr., allotment commissioners, Huntington, W. Va.

Pennsylvania Railroad: R. M. Scott, train dispatcher, Pittsburgh, Pa.; G. W.
Snyder, assistant engineer, Pittsburgh, Pa.

REPRESENTATIVES OF EXPLOSIVES MANUFACTURING COMPANIES.

Austin Powder Co., Cleveland, Ohio: Geo. T. Kendrick, Joseph Kendrick,
and A. Lent.

Burton Powder Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: W. ©. Anderson and G. W. Van Wert,
New Castle, Pa.; C. 'f. Burton, F. J. Burton, J. Burton, J. 8, Burton, W. 0.
Dunn, A. H. Edgerton, J. M. Elliott, G. W. Henry, J. F. Nichols, and J. F. Wil-
liams, Pittsburgh, Pa.; C. M. Messmore, Uniontown, Pa.

E. I. du Pont de Nemours Powder Co., Wilmington, Del.: F. D, Brown, W. B.
Lyon, J. Z. O'Donnell, and F. W. Pickard, Pittsburgh, Pa.; J. II. Connell, Somer-
set, Pa.; A. M. Corney. Chester, Pa.; G. C. Gault, Uniontown, Pa.; F. H. Gun-
solus and Samuel Hagy, Wilmington, Del.; H. H. Hamilton, Birmingham, Ala.,
J. F. Porter, Bradford, Pa.; E. H. Taylor, Fairmont, W. Va.

Equitable Powder Co. ast Alton, Hl.; F. W. Olin.

Fort Pit Powder Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: Paul T. Byans.

Jefferson Powder Co., Birmingham, Ala.: I. W. Newby and Samuel Rand.

Keystone National Powder Co., Emporium, Pa.: Henry Auchu, A. C. Blum,
©. H. Cordie, Geo. Galbraith, Dr. ©. W. Gray, J. T, Howard, W. D. Parsons,



30 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

LAYOUT OF MINE.

The mine consists of a pair of entries driven in the Pittsburg bed.
These entries are nearly parallel with the “butt” joints of the coal
and at right angles to the “faces”; in other words, the entries are
what aretermed “face” headings. The coal bed rises on a slight grade
from the outcrop. A plan of the mine workings is shown in figure 2,
and the mouth of the entries at the outcrop is shown in Plate I, B.

At the time of the experimental explosion of October 30, 1911, the
main entry was 713 feet long and the airway 669 feet long, with three
crosscuts between them. The entries extend in a southerly direction.
The west one is called the main entry and is the chief explosion pas-
sage. The east entry is the airway. There is a small shaft on the
east side of this entry, 62 feet from the mouth, for ventilation when
driving entries.

A third passage, 198 feet long, enters the airway from the east at
an angle of 55°. At the outer end there is a concrete section 20 feet
long, covered with boards or plates weighted with sand bags, which
serves as a large relief valve. Beyond this, and in line with it, there
is a steel gallery (just back of two trees on right of foreground of
Pl. IT, A) 122 feet long, of which 20 fect at the mine end can be
rolled to one side so that special experiments can be made in the
isolated 102-foot section. This is nearly a duplicate of the gas and
dust gallery at the Pittsburg station, except that the outer end is
closed with a wooden stopping, and near this end there is a Y for fan
connection. The installation of a powerful fan for making coal-dust
experiments in high-velocity air currents is intended. This fan,
which is now on hand, is reversible and has a rated capacity of 80,000
cubic feet of air per minute with a 2-inch water gage, and of 15,000
cubic feet of air per minute with a 6-inch water gage.

At the time of the test, on October 30, a small fan (capacity, 10,000
cubic feet per minute with a 1-inch water gage) driven by a gas
engine was installed in an offset off the Y, near where the permanent
fan will be erected. This small fan is for future use at the top of
the air shaft, to act as an auxiliary fan for ventilating the mine
when the large fan is not employed or is cut out by breakage resulting
from an explosion.

The steel gallery is 6 feet 4 inches in diameter. The oblique head-
ing between the external gallery and the airway is lined with rein-
forced concrete and is 6 feet 4 inches wide by 6 feet 4 inches high.
The main entries are each 9 feet wide and from 6 to 7 feet high.
The outer 169 feet of the main or explosion entry is lined with re-
inforced concrete; the internal dimensions are 8 feet wide and 7 feet
6 inches high. The airway at the junction of the slant or gallery
entry and for a distance of 20 feet outby and 65 feet inby is similarly




COAL-DUST EXPLOSION AT EXPERIMENTAL MINE.

By Grorce 8. Rice.

SELECTION OF MINE,

Soon after the investigation of the causes of mine explosions was
authorized by Congress in 1908 the technologic branch of the United
States Geological Survey, under whose charge it was placed, gave con-
sideration to the establishment of an experimental mine where coal-
dust tests could be made on a larger scale than was possible in a sur-
face gallery. In 1910, when the mine-accidents work was transferred
to the newly established Bureau of Mines, an allotment. was made to
establish an experimental mine. Attempts were made to find an
abandoned mine which would be suitable, but none such was found.
Following this, efforts were made to find a suitable location for open-
ing a new mine. As the Pittsburg coal bed is one in which many
serious disasters have occurred, it was thought best that the mine
should be opened in this bed. Another consideration was that the mine
must be isolated and in such « location that the concussive air waves
started by an explosion would be deflected upwards, thus reducing
the chance of shattering windowpanes in distant houses, a difficulty
experienced at the English and the French dust-explosion stations.

It was also necessary that the mine should not produce a perceptible
amount of methane so that coal-dust tests could be carried on without
the complication of mine gas. On the other hand, it was important
that natural gas be available for introduction through pipes into the
mine for gas-explosion experiments and for combined gas and coal-
dust tests.

It was also important that the mine be naturally dry so that ex-
periments with dry coal dust would be possible. Complications and
difficulties connected with shaft linings precluded a shaft mine, so
that a mine on the outcrop was considered essential. The Bruceton
location, which was finally selected, was one of the few available
places that met all the requirements. The entries were started in
December, 1910, and the work of development and of erecting the
plant proceded as rapidly as circumstances would allow.

29


RESEARCH WORK AT PITTSBURGH EXPERIMENT STATION. 57

number of coal samples as rapidly as is consistent with accurate
results. In general, the rnethod recommended by the committee of
the American Chemical Society, modified in certain respects, is used.
Moisture is determined at 105° C. in a constant-temperature oven,
through which air that has been dried over sulphuric acid is passing.
Ash is determined on the same sample by heating it to constant
weight in a muffle furnace, the temperature of which is about 800° C.
Volatile matter is determined in a 30-c. c. platinum crucible placed 1
em. above the top of a Meker burner, with the gas orifice so adjusted
as to give a free flame 16 to 18 cm. in length when the gas is supplied
at a pressure of 33 cm, of water. The burner and the platinum sup-
port for the crucible are inclosed in a draft-proof sheet-iron stand.
The total carbon and the total hydrogen are determined by combus-
tion in a current of oxygen, and the volatile matter evolved by
passing over heated copper oxide to aid in procuring complete com-
bustion. Two gas combustion furnaces are usually operated simul-
taneously by one analyst. Nitrogen is determined by the Kjeldahl-
Gunning method. The apparatus has a capacity of 12 simultaneous
determinations. Sulphur is determined by the Eschka method.

The personnel of the fuel-testing laboratory is as follows: A. C.
Fieldner, assistant chemist; G. E. Webster, D. I. Brown, A. M. Wedd,
F. D. Osgood, and W. A. Selvig, junior chemists; and W. E. Surbled
and Morris Block, laboratory assistants.

COMBUSTION IN BOILER FURNACES.

A special furnace with a combustion chamber nearly 40 feet in
length and about 9 square feet in cross section was in operation on
October 30. This furnace was designed for the investigation of the
process of combustion in boiler furnaces and of the conditions neces-
sary for the complete combustion of different coals at different rates
of firing and with different air supply through the grate and above
the fuel bed.

For the purpose of determining the completeness of combustion at
different parts of the chamber, many gas samples are collected by
means of water-cooled sample tubes. Temperatures of furnace gases
are measured by means of an optical pyrometer.

The chamber space necessary for practically complete combustion
depends on the following factors: Nature of coal used, rate of com-
bustion, supply of air, rate of heating fuel, and rate of mixing vola-
tile combustible matter and air. The experiments contemplated will
require tests on six or more typical kinds of coal.

The work is in charge of J. K. Clement, physicist, and C. E. Au-
gustine, assistant engineer, and is under the general direction of O. P.
Hood, chief mechanical engineer.


8 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

In lending its support. to public demonstrations of first-aid and
rescue work the Bureau of Mines has in view the encouragement of
methods and appliances best adapted to preventing accidents and to
increasing safety in mines. Prompt treatment of injuries by persons
skilled in first-aid methods reduces the miner’s loss of time by about
90 per cent. There is a corresponding saving in wages to the worker
and a reduction of damages or compensation charges to the operator.
Where mine operators take an interest in and encourage first-aid
work a better feeling develops between the worker and his employer,
resulting in improved hospital and sanitary arrangements, improved
living and housing conditions, and the general advancement of the
mining industry.

Experience indicates that the best results are effected by training
in first-aid work at least one mine worker in every ten. ‘This precau-
tion insures the presence near the place of accident of enough first-aid
men to give prompt treatment. Public exhibits and contests stimulate
the interest of miners in organizing a first-aid corps and keep them
prepared to render the most effective service. Such exhibits and con-
tests have for several years been held annually by the various coal
companies and groups of coal companies in the anthracite region, and
within the last year they have been held by the employees in various
other coal-mining sections. The national mine-safety demonstration
was conceived as a means of further stimulating such interest and
as an object lesson to those who had not adopted first-aid instruction
or instruction in the use of artificial breathing devices and life-saving
apparatus.

Those who attended the demonstration will understand that the
Bureau of Mines is prepared to render to States or to mining com-
panies stich advice or assistance as may be necessary to establish local
life-saving, fire-fighting, and first-aid corps. This bulletin is pub-
lished as a further means to this end, in order that those concerned
who did not attend the demonstration may have their attention
attracted to the bureau and its purpose. Mine owners, mine operators,
inspectors, and miners are invited to call freely upon the bureau for
advice and suggestion as to mine safety. It is the hope of the bureau
that in the course of time each coal-mining State may have one or
more mine-safety cars or stations which, after the manner of those
provided by the State of Ilinois, will become local centers for rescue
operations and for the instruction and organization of similar private
stations at the mines.

EVENTS LEADING TO THE DEMONSTRATION.

As has been said, one of the main purposes of the Bureau of Mines
is to increase safety in mining; consequently the bureau took an active
part in the events that led to the holding of the demonstration, On


22 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

After the completion of the test above mentioned, the protective
devices were removed from the motor, and the motor casing was once
more filled and surrounded with the explosive mixture. On this oc-
casion (as was anticipated) an explosion of all the gas in the gallery
resulted, because the explosion inside the motor casing was readily
communicated to the gas outside. The latter part of this test served
to emphasize the danger of operating unprotected motors in the
presence of gas. The first part of the test was of special interest as
demonstrative of the possibility of so protecting motors that a spark
inside the motor casing can not be communicated to gas surround-
Ing it.

The work of this section.is in charge of H. H. Clark, electrical en-
gineer; L. C. Isley, assistant electrical engineer; and R. W. Crocker,
junior electrical engineer.

EXPLOSIVES CHEMICAL LABORATORY.

At the explosives chemical laboratory (No. 10 on the program),
rooms 32, 33, and 34, building 21, the methods of analyzing black
powder, dynamite, and permissible explosives were shown; also the
operations of testing the stability of explosives, tests for exudation
of nitroglycerin, and the tests of electric detonators, detonating caps,
and fulminating compounds. Apparatus for determining the gravi-
metric and absolute density of black powder and a device for deter-
mining the colors of explosives by reference to certain standards were
also exhibited.

The operations involved in the analysis of dynamite were shown in
detail from the first sampling of the cartridges through all the oper-
ations of determining nitroglycerin and other constituents. The
electric drying ovens used in this work were shown in operation, The
analysis of black powder and of fulminating compounds was also
shown in detail, a number of samples of powder being under analysis
at the time.

The testing of electric detonators proved of particular interest, in
connection with an exhibit of new methods devised for testing the
absolute strength of detonating compounds, The great exactness of
the results obtained by the new method and a comparison of these
results with the results obtained by methods formerly in use were
shown by a series of tests. The protecting cabinet, in which nitro-
glycerin has been boiled and distilled, was shown, and the methods by
which the illumination of this cabinet is effected, and the means of
affording protection to the observer, were explained by the attendant.

The pressure tank, in which electric detonators are tested for water-
proof qualities, was shown. In this tank the detonators are subjected
to a pressure equivalent to that which they receive in the actual oper-
ations of blasting at a depth of 100 feet under water.



CLASSIFIED LIST OF VISITORS. 15

W. W. Phillips, B. E. McDevitt, and A, W. Nibclius, Emporium, Pa; J. J.
Crumbaugh, Louisville, Ky.; S. D. Hall, Clarksburg, W. Va.; E. B. Lee, Blue-
field, W. Va.; K. T. Lee, Bramwell, W. Va.; F. J. Waddell, Huntington, W. Va.
G. R. McAbee Powder & Oil Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: R. P. Lohm.
Standard Powder Co, Pittsburgh, Pa.: J G. McAbee and G. R. McAbee.

REPRESENTATIVES OF MANUFACTURERS OF MINING SUPPLIES.

Adams Co., 8. Jarvis, Pittsburgh, Pa.: G, W. Hite and W. C. Schade.

Atlantic Refining Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: I, F, Ablett, J, Ablett, and R. F.
Monteith.

Best Manufacturing Co., Oakmont, Pa.: J. W. Prenter,

Bethlehem Steel Co., South Bethlehem, Pa.: R. A, Brennan, civil engineer.

Dravo Contracting Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: R. M. Dravo and R, G. Johnston.

Carnegie Steel Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: C. A. Baumger, assistant engineer, Clair-
ton, Pa.; E. Bond, civil engineer, Mingo Junction, Ohio; R. P. Dickson, inspector,
Pittsburgh, Pa.; J. M. Fouse, engineer, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Walter Greenwood,
safety inspector, Youngstown, Ohio; B. F. Mailing, mine superintendent, Bel-
aire, Ohio; Thomas Watkins, inspector, Homewood, Pa.; A. W. Slater, inspector,
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Ensign, Bickford Co., Simsburg, Conn. : J. K, Brandon.

Goodman Manufacturing Co., Fairmont, W. Va.: J. R. Cameron.

Goodman Manufacturing Co., Athens, Ohio: Parker Cott.

Heyl & Patterson, Pittsburgh, Pa.: W. 'T. Hurst.

Hockensmith Wheel & Mine Car Co., Pénn Station, Pa.; W. D. Hockensmith,

Hyatt Roller Bearing Go., Newark, N. J.: H. M. Shaw.

Illinois Steel Co. Chicago, Ill: William Brady, civil engineer.

Jeffrey Manufacturing Co. Athens, Ohio: J. W. White.

Jeffrey Manufacturing Co., Columbus, Ohlo: C. E. Waxbon.

Macbeth, Evans Glass Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: H. P. Fuller.

Marshall Foundry Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: Richard Muse.

National Tube Co, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Andrew Temer.

Pittsburgh Coal Washer Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: Harvey Cory.

Pittsburgh Film Manufacturing Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: F. D. Allison and C. A.
Taylor.

Pittsburgh Gage & Supply Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: D. M. Bryan, G. C. Hess,
F. W. Newton, N. W. Poole, and W. L. Roberts.

Pneumelectrie Machine Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: H. V. Brown,

Porter Co, H. K., Pittsburgh, Pa.: ©. B. Hodges, F. 0. Leitzell, and M.
MacKenna.

Power Specialty Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: R. 8. Edwards.

Ridgway Dynamo & Engineering Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: P. L. Hay.

Shimer & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.; A. A. Frazee and Horton Penrose.

Solvay Process Co., Syracuse, N. ¥.: C. C, Wilcox.

Snilivan Machinery Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: T. B. Phillips.

Travelers Insurance Co., Columbus, Ohio: T.«P. Wangler.

Union Electtic Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: ©, J. Brown.

United States Steel Co. Volant, Pa.: Mont. F. Crawford, foreman.

Western Hlectrie Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: H. D. Brainard, J. 0. Morris, and
E. M. Wier.

Wilkins Co. W. G., Pittsburgh, Pa.: J. F, Kuntz.

Wood, Randolph Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: H. F. Randolph.

Yawman & Erbe Manufacturing Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. J. H. Conlon.

oO



48 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION,
ZXPLOSION-GALLERY TESTS.

At 10.40 a, m. on October 31, in the Forbes Field gallery* a per-
missible explosive, equal in deflective force to one-half pound of 40
per cent nitroglycerin, was tamped with 1 pound of dry fire clay and
was fired into the gallery (No 27 on the program). Result—No
ignition; no flame visible.

At 11.05 a. m. a charge of FFF black powder, equal in disruptive
force to one-half pound of 40 per cent nitroglycerin, was tamped
with dry fire clay and was fired into the gallery. Result—Ignition;
flame showed in all doorways and extended 50 feet out. of end of
gallery. The smoke issuing from the gallery is shown in Plate VI,
B. A view of the President’s box in the grandstand is given in
Plate VITI.

RESCUE WORK.

Immediately following the coal-dust explosion two rescue crews,
protected by’ breathing apparatus, entered the open and smoking
mouth of the steel gallery (Pl. VII, B) to rescue the supposed
victims and bring them to first-aid corps for treatment. Each
crew consisted of 10 men and captain. The crews proceeded across
the field to the open end of the steel gallery, entered the gallery, and
returned with supposed victims? The second team was held in
reserve while the first team entered the gallery, and while the second
team was in the gallery the first team was held in reserve. The
teams were composed of foremen miners of the Bureau of Mines,
aided by squads representing the Illinois Mine Rescue Station Com-
mission, the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co., and the Pitts-
burgh-Buffalo Co. Each squad was equipped with some type of
breathing apparatus,

The first crew entered the gallery and recovered three supposed
victims of the explosion, brought them from the gallery and placed
them in care of foremen miners and first-aid miners of the Bureau
of Mines, who demonstrated the proper treatment of the following
accidents, using the pocket first-aid packets only and such things as
might be available in a mine after an explosion.

Accident 1—Miner overcome by afterdamp and having lacerated
scalp. Treated by C. O. Roberts, first-aid miner.

Accident 2—Miner slightly overcome by afterdamp and suffering
from simple fracture of right thigh and compound fracture of right

©The Forbes Field steel explosion gallery was cylindrical, 133 feet long, internal diam-
eter 6 feet 4 inches, and represented an underground tunnel or part of a coal mine. The
explosive was fired into the end of the gallery, within which were 133 pounds of fine coal
dust from the Pittsburg bed, distributed uniformly throughout, and 20 pounds on a wooden
bench 20 feet long near the mouth of the cannon, making a total of 158 pounds of coal
dust.

* Moving pictures of this demonstration have been shown throughout the country.


712 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

Pocahontas Consolidated Collieries Co., Pocahontas, Va; James Elwood Jones,
general manager; W. H. Walters, superintendent; Robert Wallace, inspector.

Portage Coal Mining Co.. Portage, Pa.: H. A. Tompkins, president; D. Frog-
gett, foreman: William Filer, foreman,

Prospect Hill Co., East Palestine, Ohio: Grant Hill, superintendent.

Reading Iron Co.. Somerset. Pa.: George J. Krebs, superintendent ; Thomas.
Stakem, assistant superintendent.

Rock Island Coal Mining Co., Chicago, IL:

Republic Iron Steel Co., Republic, Pa.: W. Il, EB, Royce, general superin-
tendent; D. J. ist, Superintendent ; W. Pel superintendent; F. W
hall, chief engineer; Logan Ito storekeeper; C. F, Mills, master mechanic;
L. D. Titus, fire boss: Frank Kabnlish, mechanic; John Laick, machine boss;
Joseph Patterson. fire boss. .

St. Bernard Mining Co., Earlington, Ky.: A. G. Spillnan, assistant manager.

Sanford Coal Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: R. B. Burgan, treasurer; B. F. Tarr, super-
intendent; William Drenuon, foreman.

Saline County Coal Co., Harrisbarg, 1
tendent.

Shawmut Mining Co. St. Marys, P:
Jones, superintendent ; Hugh Reynold
intendent ; A. E. Caldwell, foreman.

Somerset Smokeless Coal Co., Boswell, Pa.: J. L. Jones, foreman,

Solvay Collieries Co., Syracuse, N. ¥.: C. C, Wilcox, superintendent.

South Fayette Coke Co., MeClellandtown, Pa.: J. W. Abraham, genera] man-
ager; J. S. Connors, foreman.

Spring Valley Coal Mining Co., Spring Valley, Ill: S. M. Dalzeil, general
manager.

Stag Canyon Fuel Co.. Dawson, N. Mex.:
O'Brien, general manager; Dr. F. C. Diver.

Stage & Son Coal Co., Claytonia, P: James Welsh, superintendent.

Stearns Coal Co. (Ltd.), Stearns, Ky.: J. E. Butler, superintendent; G. M.
Humble, engineer.

Sterling Coal Co. (Ltd.), Cleveland, Ohio: IT, D, Hileman, general manager.

Sunday Creek Mining Co., Poston, Ohio: N. D, Monsarrat, second vice presi-
dent; Field Scott, district superintendent ; H. G. Salters, electrician; Ed. Call,
H. Stewart, J. H. Taylor, fire bosses; H. ‘Thiessen, John Frazer, W. Pritchard,
J. J. Murray, foremen ; G. W. Grimes, engineer ; James Hughes, sighter ; Thomas
McHarg, night inspector; James Williams, boss driver.

Superior Fuel Go., Greensburg, Pa.: R. M. Goehring, assistant engineer.

Susquehanna Co: Go., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.: C. B. Dougherty, assistant to the
manager; F. H. Kohlbraker, superintendent.

Taylor Coal & Coke Co.. Searight, Pa.: J. J. McIntyre, superintendent.

Tearing Run Coal Co., Homer City, Pa.: M. H. Guthrie, secretary and treas-
urer; J. J. Campbell, superintendent.

Temple Iron Co., Scranton, Pa.: A, M. Bingham, secretary and assistant treas-
urer; A. Kethel, chief mechanical engineer ; G. W. Engle, chief mining engineer ;
Joseph Reese, James J. McCarty, and Seward Button, district superintendents;
John Mellow, superintendent of breakers; Milbre Bonham, outside superin-
tendent.

‘Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co., Birmingham, Ala.: F. H. Crockard, vice
president; E. H. Coxe, general superintendent; J. M. McHugh, superintendent;
Dr. W. S. Rountree; Dr. L. F. Jackson; A, H. Verehot, foreman; J. W. Groves;
Francis Brawley; Hugh Lynch; J. F, Brown; Will Flynn,

Tower Hill Connellsville Coke Co., Uniontown, Pa.: John R, Thompson, assist-
ant treasurer.

Carl Scholz, president.

William ‘Johnson, general superin-

W. R. Craig, chief engineer; James
superintendent ; James F. Beattie, super-

Dr. James Hyde, president; T. H.



RESEARCH WORK AT PITTSBURGH EXPERIMENT STATION. 55

crushing, drying, and pressing of California lignite (which had been
out of the mine three years) into firm briquets without the addition of
binder. Samples of North Dakota, Texas, California, and Philip-
pine lignitic coals and of briquets made from these fuels were ex-
hibited.

The results of the tests made by the briquetting section have de-
monstrated the practicability of converting fuel waste and low-grade
fuels into briquets for commercial purposes. The briquetting tests!
are under the supervision of O. P. Hood, chief mechanical engineer,
with C. L, Wright, engineer, in immediate charge.

BY-PRODUCTS, DUST, AND Gas,

Destructive distillation —The’ destructive-distillation apparatus,
exhibited in rooms 27, 29, and 31 of building 21, is used in testing
coal for gas, tar, ammonia, and other by-products of destructive dis-
tillation.

Coal dust.—An apparatus was shown in which a cloud of coal dust,
suspended in an atmosphere of inert gas (nitrogen), is for a brief
time heated by a hot platinum coil and the volatile products deter-
mined. This experiment bears upon the study of the primary steps
in the decomposition of coal by heat and incidentally, therefore, upon
that of coal-dust explosions.

Oceluded gas.—Experiments were shown in which the rate of evo-
lution of occluded gas and the rate of absorption of oxygen by coal
were being studied. Gas (methane) is given off by some coals
abundantly for a long time after mining, and by others only in slight
quantities for a short time.

Spontaneous combustion.—The study of the effect of temperature
upon the rate at which oxygen is absorbed by or acts upon coal, pro-
ducing spontaneous heating, was illustrated by an apparatus in which
air was passed over coal in a (ube electrically heated to different
temperatures. This research has a direct bearing on questions con-
cerning spontaneous combustion of coal in mines or in storage.

Weathering.—Investigations and tests are made concerning the
loss of heating value and volatile content due to the weathering of
coal and to its storage under cover, in air, or under fresh or salt water.

The work of these coal investigations is under the direction of
H. C. Porter, chemist, and F. K. Ovitz, assistant chemist.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUTION OF COAL,

Rooms 23 and 25 of building 21 are devoted to research work on
the chemical constitution of coal and an investigation of the relative
explosibility of coal dusts. The problem of the constitution of coal
is being attacked in these laboratories by the method of extraction


BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 4¢ PLATE It

A. INTERIOR OF AN INSTRUMENT STATION, SHOWING MANOMETER AND PRESSURE CIRCUIT
BREAKER,

B. JUNCTURE OF GALLERY ENTRY AND AIR COURSE, SHOWING BROKEN REINFORCED CON-
CRETE CORNER WITH CURTAIN AND WOOD IN THE CREVICES.



68 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

Chicago & Carterville Coal Co.. Herrin, Il.: J. D, Peters, vice president and
general manager,

Chicago, Wilmington & Vermilion Coal Co., Streator, Ill; C. A. Hubert, gen-
eral superintendent.

Clark Bros, Coal Mining Co., Smoke Run, Pa.: J. H. Miller, superintendent.

Clark Coal & Coke Co., Peoria, Hl.: Horace Clark, general manager.

Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corporation, Clymer, Pa.: James Methvan, super-
intendent; D. J. Price, resident. engineer; H. H. Hetrick, foreman; David Baird,
foreman; Timothy McCarthy, foreman; William Leadhiter, foreman; William
M. Evans, M. D.

Cleveland Clifts Iron Co., Ishpeming, Mich.; W. Combuor, safety inspector.

Cochran Coal Co., Salina, Pa.: R. T. 8. Steele, treasurer; W. H. H. Miller,
snperintendent; Thomas Stratton, foreman.

Colorado Fuel & Iron Co., Pueblo, Colo.: BE. H. Weitzel, manager, J. C. David-
son, foreman; G. B. Parker, foreman; B. P. Pollard, foreman.

Commercial Coal Co., Bracken, Pa.: John Hammond, foreman.

Commercial Coal Mining Co., Expedit, Pa.: W. ©. Smith, superintendent;
H. P. Dingwall, clectrical engineer; W. C. Harrison, foreman; B. F. Smith,
clerk; Victor Bergh.

Conuell Anthracite Coal Co., Seranton, Pa.: W. 1. Connell, president.

Connellsville Central Coke Co., Uniontown, Pa.: C. E. Brotz, superintendent.

Consolidation Coal Co., Baltimore, Md.: A. 'T. Watson, purchasing agent;
J.C. Gaskill, assistant consulting engineer; and HB. Drennen, superintendent
power and mechanical department, Fairmont, W. Va.; FP. R. Lyon, manager
Pennsylvania division, Somerset, Pa. West Virginia division—H. H. Watson,

anager; C, H. Tarleton, superintendent of mining; E. B. Moore, chief en-
gineer: A. W. Hesse, assistant chief engineer; and F. K. Day, L. A. Riggs, and
E. 8. Bonnet. division engineers, Fairmont, W. Va.; G. J. Altstetter, division
engineer, Clarksburg, W. Va.; G. E. Peddicord, Monongah, W. Va.; Luke Mur-
ray, Glean Falls, W. Va.; K. D. Bailey, Hutebinson, W. Va.; C. FE. Gaskill,
Adamston, W. Va.; H. M. Smith, Montana, W. Va.; and G. M. Gillette, Acosta,
Pa., superintendents, H. 8. Bell, gas inspector, Fairmont. W. Va.; J. C. Thomp-
son, mine inspector, Watson, W. Va. Maryland division—H. V. Hesse, manager ;
D. G. Morgan, mine inspector; Daniel Porter, mine foreman; and A, W. Jen-
kins, assistant mine foreman, Frostburg, Md.

Consolidated Coal Co. Saginaw, Mich.: Alexander Liddle, superintendent.

Cortez Coal Co., Punxsutawney, Pa.: R. Hampson, superintendent.

Cowanshannock Coal & Coke Co.. Yatesboro, Pa.: J. Craig, superintendent ;
‘A. Pryde, assistant superintendent; Charles Facemeyer, foreman; William
Smith, foreman.

Crescent Conl & Coke Co., Pittsburgh: S.A. Taylor, president.

Cunningham Coal Co., Chicora, Pa,: P, A, Jordan, superintendent.

Davis Coal & Coke Co., Thomas, W. Va.: Lee Ott, general superintendent;
©. Tibbetts, superintendent, Potomac Plant; P. J. Brennan, superintendent,
Coketon Plant; W. W. Brewer, superintendent, Weaver Plant.

Dayton Coal & Iron Co., Dayton, Ohio: L. C. Crewe, general superin-
tendent; W. N. Holden, superintendent.

Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Co., Scranton, Pa.: C. E. Tobey,
assistant general superintendent; H. G. Davis, district superintendent; Walter
Reese, district superintendent; P. H. Devers, assistant district superintendent ;
W. F. Sekol, mining engineer ; R. L. Evans, foreman; J. A. Thomas, rescue fore-
man; Dr. D, II, Lake.

Dents Run Mining Co., Dents Run, Pa.: T. Y. Evans, superintendent.

Diamond Coal Mining Co., Rimersburg, Pa.: James Malonéy, superintendent.







28 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

the force on the car, together with such local miners as have had
rescue training, make an examination of the mine, penetrating its
poisonous and explosive gases with the aid of artificial breathing
apparatus. They then aid in the rescue of any persons who may
have been entombed.

The primary purpose of the cars and stations is not the rescue
work that they may incidentally accomplish, but the investigation of
mine disasters, the development of more efficient mine-safety and
first-aid equipment and methods, and the training of local miners at
each of the mining camps visited, so that in case of mine accidents
of any kind there will be at each mine men ready and equipped to
render immediate and valuable assistance. To carry out these pur-
poses the mining engineer of the bureau examines in advance the
safety conditions at mines, advises with the mine offic Cm
ing the possibilities of improving these, and delivers illustrated lec-
tures to miners, calling attention to the need of greater care in safe-
guarding their own lives and the lives of others. Daily demon-
strations of mine-reseue and first-aid equipment and methods are
given. Miners are trained in methods of handling such equipment
under mine-disaster conditions.

This part of the bureau’s work is under the direction of J. W.
Paul, mining engineer, in charge of the following: J. C. Roberts and
H. M. Wolflin, mining engincers; O. H. Reinholt and J. T. Ryan,
assistant mining engineers; C. S. Stevenson, W. D.. Roberts,
Webb, E. B. Sutton, W. T. Burgess, A. R. Brown, D, D. Davis, AL
‘A. Sams, W. A. Raudenbush, and William Burke, foremen miners;
W. D. Schofield, G. T. Powell, C. O. Roberts, and Jolin Ferrell, first-
aid miners,



FORBES FIELD EXHIBIT. AT

Sunday Creek Co., Field Scott, superintendent, Poston, Ohio.—36. Captain,
John Clark; James Taylor, Thomas McHarg, William Pritchard, James Wil-
liams, and Hugh Stewart (subject).

Susquehanna Coal Co., Robert A. Quinn, manager, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.—87. Cap-
tain, Peter Murphy; Frank Bonsock, Stanley Prush, George Perkins, Elias
Negosh, and Andrew Barron (subject).

Tennessee Coal, Iron & Railroad Co., Bdward Coxe, general superintendent,
Birmingham, Ala,—88, Ensley district, superintendent, J. M. McHugh. Captain,
A. H, Verchot; Francis Brawley, J. F. Brown, Will Flynn, Hugh Lynch, and
Sandy Reid (subject).

Tawer-Hill Connelisville Coke Co., L. W. Fogg, general manager, Uniontown,
Pa.—39. Captain, H. O. Millward; Fulmer Neilson, John Action, Willlam E,
Meikrantz, and Henry Miller (subject).

Stag Canon Fucl Co. T. H. O’Brien, general manager, Dawson, N. Mex.—
40, Captain, Winfield Smock ; Robert Bossfield, W. E. Bayley, Jack McLaughlin,
Ed. Thomas, Frank Dazzo (subject).

MINE-GAS TEST.

In order to demonstrate the effect of carbon monoxide (white
damp) on men as compared with its effect on birds (No. 28 on the
program), a glass-paneled box 6.5 feet high, 6 feet long, and 2.5 feet
wide was constructed. In the presence of the spectators at Forbes
Field sufficient carbon monoxide was forced into the box to produce
an atmosphere containing 0.25 per cent of white damp. G. A.
Burrell, assistant chemist, entered this atmosphere, taking three
canary birds with him. The birds collapsed in three minutes, and
were passed out of the box and held up by the legs to show the
audience that they had collapsed. Two of the birds died, while the
third subsequently revived. Mr. Burrell remained in the atmosphere
eight minutes, but felt no ill effects from the exposure. On a pre-
vious occasion he remained in such an atmosphere for 20 minutes,
but later became ill, although he felt only a slight headache, at the
time of exposure.

Canary birds have been used by the bureau in actual exploration
work following a mine explosion, and have given warning of the
presence of bad air, thus enabling the party with them to retreat in
time. The history of exploration work after mine disasters is re-
plete with instances of exploring parties zealously pushing on and
taking desperate chances to rescue imprisoned men or to restore normal
conditions. Many men have collapsed because of the afterdamp, and
some have died. These risks will be largely eliminated if men will
make use of the canaries as indicated above, and will use breathing
helmets in exploring atmospheres that cause distress to birds,

41264°—Bull. 44---12-—4


56 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

with solvents and the subsequent examination of the fractions sep-
arated. Use is made of organic solvents to separate unchanged the
chemical compounds that constitute the complex material known as
coal. After these substances have been isolated, the next step is their
identification.

The visitor of October 30 had exhibited to him the general method
involved. At that time the solvent in use was ether. Samples of the
pyridin-soluble material of a Pittsburg coal were exhibited, as well
as the ether extract of that particular fraction of the coal. Methods
of extraction and distillation employed were also exhibited.*

The laboratory apparatus used in the investigation of the relative
inflammability of coal dusts was exhibited, and demonstration of the
use of this apparatus was given from time to time. Curves were
also shown giving the results obtained for a number of coals and
for mixtures of coal with shale dust, as well as for samples of gluten,
asphalt, and wood dusts.

This special research work is under the direction of J. C. W. Frazer,
chemist; E. J. Hoffman, assistant chemist; and L. A. Scholl, jr.,
junior chemist.

FUEL-ANALYSIS LABORATORY.

The fuel-analysis laboratory, rooms 3, 7, and 32 of building 21, is
occupied mainly with the analyses and calorimetric testing of solid
fuels, including coal, coke, lignite, and peat. The samples submitted
for analysis are taken from all fuels used in boiler and gas-producer
tests, or from mines investigated by the engineers of the bureau.
Ultimate analyses and calorimetric determinations are made of some
of the mine samples and of mine and prospect samples of coal and
lignite collected by the United States Geological Survey, as well as
by certain State geological surveys. The data from these tests are of
value in establishing the composition and heating value of the coals
belonging to the United States,

Room 3, in which all calorimetric determinations are conducted, is
equipped with five bomb calorimeters. The bomb calorimeters are
capable of measuring the heating value of a fuel, in terms of calories
or British thermal units, with an error not exceeding 0.25 of 1 per
cent.

Room 7 is especially equipped for the air drying of the coarse sam-
ple of coal, and for its subsequent pulverization and reduction to the
laboratory sample.

Room 22 is devoted to the proximate and ultimate analysis of fuels,
and to certain miscellaneous analytical work incident to fuel-testing
and mine investigations. The apparatus is arranged for analyzing a

*A detailed account of the procedure followed and of the results of a preliminary
investigution is given in Technical Paper 5, Bureau of Mines: The constituents of coal
soluble in phenol, by J. C, W, Frazer and 1, J. Hoffman, 1912, 20 pp.


4

Forbes Field exhibit.

Research work at the Pittsburgh experiment

Classified list of visitors_

CONTENTS.

First aid to the injured.
Entrance rules ~.
Field rules and event:
Companies represented

Mine-gas test.

Explosion-gallery tests.

Rescue work...

Presentation of trophies — -

Special investigations relating to coal_
Briquetting plant.
By-products, dust, and ga
Chemical constitution of coal
Fuel-analysis laboratory __
Combustion in boiler furnaces
Smokeless combustion of coal
Steaming tests

Producer-gas plant.

Foundry cupola —

Furnace-gas laboratory

Petroleum laboratory ~

Physical laboratory.
‘Thermometers
Heat radiation -.
Explosibility of mine gu

Mining-engineering investigations.

Computing, drafting, and photogr:

Library

Instrument maker's s}

phic section.

hop.

Ot


40

NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

FE)

DIRECTION OF EXPLOSION WAVE —>

20

10

ol S

HONI GUVAOS UAT SANOd NI@UASSAUd

0)
@_ NO RECORD OBTAINED

‘TIME IN SECONDS

“~' DISTANCE FROM MOUTH 140 FEET; FROM ORIGIN 873 FEET
DISTANCE FROM MOUTH 40 FEET; FROM ORIGIN 678 FEET

B-MANOMETRIC CURVE AT STATION 0440.

Ficure 4.—Pressure curves obtained in coal-dust explosion on October 24, 1911, in experimental mine.

A~MANOMETRIC CURVE AT STATION 1-440.

but how much higher
is not known. The
instrument at station
40 indicated a pres-
sure of 44.8 pounds.

The actual pres-
sure may be inferred
from the records ob-
tained on October
24, when the condi-
tions were similar to
those on October 30,
except that only 500
pounds of coal dust
was used in the main
entry, and the outer
300 feet was not
charged with coal
dust. It is probable
that there was nearly
sufficient coal dust
carried along by the
advance wave to ob-
tain approximately
parallel records. A
diagram showing the
curves obtained by
the two manometers
is given in figure 4;
both curves are
platted with refer-
ence to the same time
intervals. The cir-
cuit breakers showed
that the explosion
traversed the entry
from the face to sta-
tion 140 (578 feet)
in 1.52 seconds, and
between that and
the next — station
(100 feet) in 0.0513


COAL-DUST EXPLOSION AT EXPERIMENTAL MINE. 39

were blown into the opening and held fast when the concrete settled
back to its normal position (Pl. III, 2).

OTHER EFFECTS OF EXPLOSION.

From the junction to the mouth of the concrete gallery there were
continuous cracks along both springing lines of the arch, and at a
point 224 feet from the mouth of this slant entry the lift was at
least 12 inches, as shown by one of the §-inch reinforcing rods pull-
ing out and subsequently doubling as the roof dropped back in place.
(Pl. IV, @.) Other rods in this vicinity were pulled through the
concrete. (Pl. V,(.) No upheaval due to the explosion was readily
discernible on the surface, except where there had been a filling near
the mouth of the gallery, where the cover was only 8 feet thick.
This point was directly above the place where the concrete roof was
lifted 12 inches,

The explosion rapidly increased in violence after passing the outby
crosscut in the main entry, 470 feet from the origin of the explosion.
Farther out the pressure lifted the reinforced concrete arching,
breaking the concrete around the bars. At a point 50 feet from the
mouth the arch was lifted and remained 11 inches above its former
position. (Pl. VI, A.) There had been a roof fall at this point
prior to putting in the concrete lining, and dry material had been
packed into the hole, Cement subsequently pumped behind the
lining may or may not have permeated the dry packing. Thus there
may have been sufficient voids to permit some or all of the lift noted.
The natural cover was 12 feet thick where the maximum displacement
occurred. The cover did not show any break on the surface.

The effect of the explosion at the mouth of the main entry is shown
in Plate I, B. The pieces of timber in the foreground are the shelves
that were blown out of the mine at the time of the explosion. This
illustration also shows the concrete construction at the mouth of the
entry, which was heavily reinforced. The reinforcing bars of the
concrete arch and sides of the entry are five-eighths inch square,
which, together with }-inch round rods placed longitudinally, form
a complete network of steel. This construction extends the entire
length of the concreted portion of the entry.

INSTRUMENT RECORDS,

Unfortunately the circuit for the manometers had not been re-
paired at the time the new firing wires were brought in, so that the
only records obtained were those for maximum pressure. The springs
furnished with the instruments were for use up to a pressure of 30
pounds per square inch. The manometer at station 140 (140 feet
from the portal) showed that the pressure was above 45 pounds,


RESEARCH WORK AT PITTSBURGH EXPERIMENT STATION. 59

STEAMING TESTS.

The return-tubular boiler in building No, 21 is 60 inches by 16 feet,
with forty-four 4-inch tubes. The setting of this boiler was designed
so as to make possible the burning of high-volatile bituminous coals,
such as that from the Pittsburg bed, without violating a smoke ordi-
nance that allows only 6 minutes’ emission of dense smoke in any
hour.

With such a furnace it is possible to burn slack coal from the
Pittsburg bed at the rate of 15 pounds per square foot per hour with-
out violating an ordinance such as that mentioned. With some
modifications in the setting, the coal mentioned could doubtless be
burned at a rate of 20 pounds per square foot of grate surface per
hour without producing any more smoke.

In the conduct of boiler tests, the Orsat gas-analysis apparatus is
used for the purpose of determining the quantity of air being sup-
plied for combustion and of governing the fires accordingly.

During the tests on the return-tubular boiler the water fed to the
boiler is automatically weighed and the quantity of water recorded.
The water weigher, which is near the feed pump, does not actually
weigh the water, but measures it in two compartments which are
alternately filled and dumped. A counter registers the number of
times these compartments are filled, and from these data the weight
of water can be computed when the temperature of the water is
known.

The three smaller boilers in the boiler room of building No. 21
are types used in heating practice. The largest of these is suitable
for large residences, schoolhouses, or public buildings, and the two
smaller ones are intended for residences of ordinary size.

One of the smaller boilers in building No. 21 is used in conducting
tests for the Quartermaster’s Department of the United States Army.
The coals so tested come from all parts of the United States, Alaska,
and the insular possessions; also from Japan, Australia, and other
countries.

These tests are under the direction of O. P. Hood, chief mechanical
engineer, with S. B. Flagg, engineer; H. H. McKee, assistant en-
gineer; and Charles Schramm, fireman, in immediate charge.

PRODUCER-GAS PLANT.

The producer-gas plant in building No. 13 is being operated in an
experimental way, at high temperatures. The clinker is tapped off
as a liquid slag.

Carbon monoxide is one of the most important constituents of pro-
ducer gas, but its most satisfactory formation requires high tempera-
tures, In the commercial operation of gas producers, one of the


INTRODUCTION, 15

8. Treat a simple fracture of left collar bone and simple fracture of jaw; two-men
event.

4, Treat a dislocated right shoulder and simple fracture of right leg; two-men event.

5. Rescue and treat a man who has fallen on an electric wire, back down, clothing
burning ; rescue, extinguish fire, treat back and upper arms; team event.

6. Rescue and treat a man who has fallen on an electric wire, face down; rescue,
extinguish fire, treat chest and upper arms; team event.

7. Treat gas burns of face, neck, cars, and hands; team event,

8 Treat gas burns of hands, right arm, and shoulder; team event.

9. Treat a broken back and simple fracture of right forearm; team event.

10, Treat a dislocated hip and simple fracture of collar bone; team event.

EXPLOSION, RESCUE, AND FIRST AID AT STEEL EXPLOSION GALLERY.*

10.40 a. m. [27]® A permissible explosive, equal in disruptive force to one-
half pound of 40 per cent nitroglycerin, tamped with 1 pound of dry fire clay,
will be fired into the gallery. No explosion of the coal dust is expected.

MINE-GAS TEST.

10.45 a. m, [28] The usc of birds in exploring mines after explosions or
mine fires, at which carbon monoxide causes a large percentage of the fatalities,
‘A few birds, which’ are much more sensitive to the effect of poisonous gas than
men, can be taken into a mine with a rescue party, and as soon as they show
signs of distress the party can retreat to safety. In the demonstration a man
(G. A. Burrell, Bureau of Mines) will enter a glass box the atmosphere of
whieh contains 0.25 of 1 per cent of carbon monoxide gas (the miner’s white
damp) and remain there for some time after the birds have collapsed. ‘The
birds will subsequently be resuscitated by oxygen.

EXPLOSION.

11.05 a. m. [29] A charge of 'F black powder, equal in disruptive force
to 4 pound of 40 per cent nitroglycerin, tamped with dry fire clay, will be fired
into the gallery containing 153 pounds of bituminous coal dust, being the same
kind of dust as that used in the preceding event [27]. An explosion of coal dust
is anticipated.

RESCUE.

11.05 a, m. {30] Reseuc party of foremen miners of the Bureau of Mines,
aided by squads representing the Llinois Mine Rescue Station Commission,
the Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co, Pittsburg-Buffalo Co., and other
local coal companies, «nd equipped with various types of artificial breathing
apparatus, will enter the gallery immediately after the coal-dust explosion and
recover three supposed victims of mine explosion, bring them from explosion
gallery and place them in care of squad of foremen miners and first-aid miners
of the Bureau of Mines, who will demonstrate the proper treatment of the fol-
lowing accidents, using the pocket first-ald packet oniy and such things as might
be available in a mine after an explosion :

‘Accident 1. Miner overcome by afterdamp and having lacerated scalp.
Treated by C. O. Roberts.

“Forbes Field explosion gallery is cylindrical, 133 feet long, of an internal diameter
of G fect 4 inches, and represents an underground tunnel or part of a coal mine, The
explosive is fired into the end of the gallery, within which are 133 pounds of fine coal
dust from the Pittsburg bed, distributed uniformly throughout, and 20 pounds on a
wooden bench 20 feet long near the mouth of the cannon, making a total of 153 pounds
of coal dust.

Event [27] iflustrates the safety in using a permissible explosive in a dusty mine,
Event [29] illustrates the danger in using black powder in a dusty mine,

41264°—Bull. 44—12 2



46 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION,

Northwestern Improvement Co., ©. R. Claghorn, general manager, coal-mining
department, Tacoma, Wash.—19. Captain, James Bagley; John Parker, John
Hutchinson, Sain McCullough, and James Pascoe (subject).

Oliver & Snider Steel Co., Fred G. Keighley, general superintendent, Oliver,
Pa.—20. Captain, Lewis Smitley; Thomas Lalley, John Tomash, John Kinic,
James Bradee, and William Lalley (subject).

Parrish Coal Co., W. G. Thomas, general manager, Plymouth, Pa.—22. Cap-
tain, Thomas G. Maggs; Samuel Valentine, Harry Trebilcox, William J. Jones,
John Metal, and Walter Davis (subject).

Pennsylvania Coal Co., Capt. W. A. May, general manager; Dr. F. F. Arndt,
surgeon in charge, Scranton, Pa—2l, Captain, William Creedon; Harry Hous-
ton, George Kellam, Charles Warren, William Simmons, and Michael Burke
(subject).

Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co., W. J. Richards, vice president and
general manager; Dr. Geo. H. Halberstadt, surgeon in charge, Pottsville, Pa.—
28, Wadesville Colliery: Captain, George Rubright; Edgar Rubright, Joseph
Griffiths, William Raybold, Samuel P. Ray, and John Hale (subject).

Pittsburg-Buffalo Co., Marianna mines, S. C. Reynolds, superintendent, Mari-
anna, Pa.—24, Captain, Sim Reynolds; Charles Sweet, Charles Waine, J. T.
Reynolds, Karl Schrum, Charles Warrick (subject).

Pittsburg Coal Co., G. W. Schluederberg, general manager, Pittsburgh, Pa.;
McDonald district, superintendent, L. ©. Sarver—25. Squad No. 1: Captain,
S. W. Cramer; C. A. Nelson, C. A. Lawson, John Bebling, Thomas Holleran, and
Thomas Webber (subject). 26. Finleyville district, superintendent, James Por-
ter. Squad No, 2: Captain, Alexander Waugh ; John Bowles, Thomas McManus,
Edward Lewis, William Feick, and Robert Duke (subject). 27. West Newton
district, superintendent, John Hauser. Squad No. 2: Captain, Fret Jarvis;
George M. Sterner, William Scott, Henry Hall, William Berger, and Peter
Dorian (subject). 28. Carnegie district, superintendent, Henry Cattley. Squad
No. 4: Captain, Ralph Bradley; Joseph Logue, O. C. ‘Trimmer, Danlel Strang,
James C. Barr, and George Wilson (subject). 29. Whitsett district, superin-
tendent, William Kelvington. Squad No. 5: Captain, John Prebest; Burt Ram-
sey, John Stiffy, Roy E. Fox, Rock Colland, and Walter Stiffy (subject).

Pittsburg Terminal Railroad & Coal Co., W. W. Keefer, president, Pittsburgh,
Pa.—30. Castle Shannon district, superintendent, John Mahoney. Captain,
James Creehan; John Schneider, Richard Donnley, Joseph Kagle, Thomas De-
Janey, and Charles Kurtz (subject).

Portage Coal Mining Co., H. A. Tompkins, superintendent, Portage, Pa.—
31. Captain, John Sweeney; William Filer, William Campbell, Edward Lamb,
and Rudolph Canyok (subject).

Republic Iron & Steel Co., W. H. B. Royce, general superintendent; W. A.
Perry, superintendent, Rupublic, Pa—82. Captain, Logan Ross; Joseph Patter-
son, Charles F. Mills, John Laick, Frank Kabulish, and Dale Titus (subject).

Rochester & Pittsburg Coal & Iron Co., A. W. Calloway, general superin-
tendent, Punxsutawney, Pu.—33. Captain, George Facemyer ; Alexander Warden,
Andrew Volinsky, Robert Patterson, Joseph Poydok, and Daniel McElhatten
(subject).

Spring Valley Coal Co., 8. M. Dalzell, general manager; J. H. Luther, assist-
ant to the general manager, Spring Valley, Il—34. Captain, Anton Loefiler;
George Condie, Edward Grossman, Michael Robouck, Charles Savio, and Anton
Chiado (subject).

Stearns Coal & Lumber Co., J. E. Butler, superintendent, Stearns, Ky.—-
35. Captain, Tom Strunk; Reason Cecil, George Phillips, Burg Cecil, Willlam
Miller, and George Humble (subject).


52 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

Years last past, 20,000 of them gave up their lives and 70,000 of them were
wounded in the mines by reason of mining explosions and other accidents,
one-seventh of the entire body of miners in 10 years. That is not a record to
be proud of, and it is time indeed that we should take steps to restrain and
restrict this loss,

The establishment of the Bureau of Mines in the Federal Government was
taken chiefly to initiate the movement and restrict and lessen the loss of life.
The Federal Government has no direct jurisdiction, but it has the money and
it has the spirit, and it has the authority under the Constitution to act for the
general welfare of the people. It has, therefore, the right to expend the
money and show to all the mining bureaus of the States and all the State
authorities the correct methods to pursue to save the lives of their miners.

As Secretary Fisher has said, ultimately this must come home to the indi-
vidual miner; ultimately we must depend upon his attention to the safety of
himself and his fellows.

We are a great Nation. We know it, because we admit it; and we have a
most intelligent population; but there are some defects that with a microscope
you can discover, and one is a certain sort of a security about ourselves that
we are not going to be hurt, and that we can look after ourselves, Now, we
want to get over the idea that the force of gravity and the force of exploston
do not apply to American citizens. We want to get into our heads the idea
that we must take precautions if we would save life, and we want to impress
that upon the miners who themselves are exposed in the mines. It requires
discipline; it requires instruction; it requires experience, and we have miners
who have all of these; and we must enforce through the State agencies, with
the information that the Federal Government gives, this lesson, and must
emphasize that the miners themselves must save themselves—with the knowl-
edge and the appliances that the employers must supply; and the information
that the Government must furnish; and the laws and inspection that the
State must give to the miners, Al] these agencies cooperating must make our
mines safer than they now are, hence the importance of this movement.

T um glad to see here the governor of Pennsylvania and the governor of West
Virginia, those great mining States. I am glad to see here the head and the,
moving spirit of the Red Cross, Miss Mabel Boardman, who sees in the tre-
mendous loss of life and limb due to these accidents the opportunity for the
application of the resources of that great association to help mankind. And
I am glad to have the Secretary of the Interior here, with his energy and
force, and also the head of the Bureau of Mines, who is making such progress
in developing the secrets of explosives, so that we can learn how to use them
without hurting ourselves. I do not know an occasion that is more important
in the development of industry than this one right here, and in this hive of
industry, Pittsburgh, to develop that sort of conservatism, that sort of security,
that sort of insurance against accident and loss of life that all common-sense
men ought to embrace, We must stamp out the spirit of carelessness and the
happy-go-lucky idea that I am afraid is too common with Americans generally.

Now, I feel great honor tn presenting tokens to these worthy men, these
worthy miners, who come out of the mines, conscious of what can be done
and anxious to excel in doing that which men ought all to do—the saving of
lives of their fellow men and of themselves, the aid of the wounded, the aid to
the unfortunate. It is an inspiring sight to see how they have learned to make
themselves ready-made surgeons. It is an inspiring sight to see men take
their lives in their hands and enter such a hell as that over there in that


NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION. 17
FORMAL OPENING OF THE DEMONSTRATION.

The demonstration was formally opened on the morning of October
30. At 10 o'clock in front of building No. 17, at the lower end of the
arsenal grounds, addresses of welcome were delivered by Hon. Walter
L. Fisher, Secretary of the Interior; Hon. John K. Tener, Governor
of Pennsylvania; and Dr. J. A. Holmes, Director of the Bureau of
Mines. In welcoming the mining engineers, inspectors, and miners,
and in introducing Secretary Fisher, under whose department the
Bureau of Mines is established, Director Holmes said:

The great purpose of the national mine-safety demonstration is to stimulate
and encourage the movement for mine-rescue and first-aid work.

Of course, the aim of all this work should be the prevention of mine accidents,
but everyone who studies the situation realizes that this will have to come by
degrees, and that there probably will be some accidents as long as mining con-
tinues, In view of this fact, it is important that everything possible be done
looking to the rescue of and prompt aid for miners that may be injured.

One feature of these demonstrations that will greatly stimulate the move-
ment is the bringing together from all parts of the country of the miners who
are leading in this rescue and first-aid work. Taking part in the Forbes Field
demonstration to-morrow will be 40 or more teams of miners coming from
every important coal-producing State, some of them from such far-away coal
fields as those in the States of Washington and New Mexico; and those coming
will be the prize winners—those who have already won the highest prizes as
being the most skillful miners in this work to be found in the regions from
which they come.

One benefit to grow out of this great demonstration will be the awakening of
the public to a realization of the magnitude and growth of this movement; and
it will. stimulate the public to aid this movement in every way possible.

Again, this great demonstration will stimulate the establishment of local
rescue and first-aid stations at many of the large collieries in different parts of
the country, where either large individual operators or groups of operators will
supply the equipment and the young, public-spirited miners will take the train-
ing and organize into first-aid and rescue teams.

Again, assemblages and demonstrations of this kind will help to bring about
the better cooperation between the miners and the coal operators, the mine
inspectors, the Bureau of Mines, and the Red Cross organizations, They also
will stimulate inquiries and investigations and the development of better rules
and regulations looking to the ultimate prevention of mine accidents.

Secretary Fisher said, in part:

The presence here of so large a body of mining men under such inclement
conditions is the best evidence of the success of the endeavors of the Bureau
of Mines to bring together mining men for the study of problems in which
they, the General Government, and the States are mutually concerned. I urge
you to do everything practicable to further cooperation between the miners, the
mine owners, the Government officials, and all who are interested in the mining
industry. Through such cooperation in the adoption of such measures for
safety as may result from the investigations of the Bureau of Mines, the effi-
ciency in mining and the methods which are rapidly being developed should
result in a saving of the lives of many thousands of miners, Heretofore, for


CONTENTS.

Page.

Introduction — 7
Events leading to the demonstration 8
Voluntary contributions 10
Board of managers and committees 10
Invitations sent out. - 2
Detailed program. 13
Formal opening of the demonstration. Ww
Mine-safety exhibits at the arsenal plant. - 18

Gas laboratory _
Electrical section.
Explosives chemical laboratory.
Physical testing of explosives.
Ballistic pendulum_._
Pressure gage.
Calorimeter
Flame-test apparatus __
Rate of detonation apparatus.
Large and small impact machines.
Cone and pendulum frietion devices.
‘Trauz] and small lead blocks...
Gas and dust gallery No. 1.
Coal-dust experiments.
Safety lamps -
Breathing apparatus. -
Mine-safety cars and stations.
Coal-dust explosion at the experimental minc
Selection of mine-.
Layout of mine_
Character of coal bed.

Distribution of the coal dust 32
Instrument stations 34
34

35

Evidence of explosion in the mine 37
Soot filaments a 37
Coked dust. 37
Effect of flame on coal ribs_ 38
Ventilation ________ 38
Concrete lining broken_. - 88

Other effects of explosion_ = 39
Instrument records

3


34 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION,

pound per linear foot, a total of 225 pounds of coal dust on that side.
The entire quantity used in the explosion was, therefore, 852 pounds.

INSTRUMENT STATIONS.

At the time of the test five instrument stations had been con-
structed—one attached to the external gallery, two in the gallery
entry, and two in the main entry. These stations were erected for
safely housing the yecording manometers used to obtain pressure
curves. They were also designed to house circuit breakers (both
pressure and flame) for respective velocity records and automatic
gas-sampling devices. The four mine stations are built in the rib
and are lined with reinforced concrete. In the entry side there is
a heavy-ribbed cast-steel plate, through which connections are made
to the instruments (Pl. III, A). Entrance behind the instruments is
obtained through an adjoining compartment, the doorway of which
to the entry is guarded by a ribbed cast-steel door. The cast-steel
cover and door are made to resist pressures of 600 pounds per square
inch. The plate is permanently bolted in place and the door, after
closing, is made tight by iron wedges.

The equipment at present includes circuit breakers and three man-
ometers of the Altofts type. At the time of the experiment, only two
manometers and two pressure circuit breakers could be used. The two
manometers were placed in the main entry stations at 40 and 140 feet,
respectively, from the mouth of the entry. The circuit breakers were
also placed in these stations, and a small wire was placed where the
first blown-out shot could break it and thus indicate the start of the
explosion. The velocity records are automatically registered by
instruments in the observatory on the hillside, from which point the
shots are ignited by battery.

IGNITING SHOTS.

It had been planned that the persons who would see the exhibit
would go to the mine by train, arriving about 2.30 p.m. After the
mine had been examined, the test was to be made at about 3.45 p. m.
Unfortunately, the train was delayed about an hour, so that the in-
spection of the mine by the 1,200 visitors was not completed until
after 5 o’clock.

The intention was to ignite the coal dust by a single blown-out
shot placed at the face of the main heading, as had been successfully
done in a similar experiment on October 24. Two auxiliary holes,
one on either rib, had been drilled for a second firing circuit in case
of failure of the first shot. In'the trial explosion of October 24, a
single blown-out shot, charged with two pounds of black powder,
started the explosion,


CLASSIFIED LIST OF VISITORS. 69

Dixon Coal Co., Idamar, Pa.: J. W. Harrison, superintendent; James Logan,
foreman.

Dominion Coal Co. (Ltd.), Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada: James McMa-
hon, superintendent of rescue work.

Dunbar Furnace Co., Dunbar, Pa.; Stuart B, Marshall, general superin-
tendent; J. W. Greaves, sr., superintendent; J. T. Bradley, foreman; Jobn
Stannis. James Paisley, fire bosses.

E. Kichelberger & Son, Six Mile Run, Pa.: Wm, E. Williams, superintendent.

Ellsworth Collieries Co., Ellsworth, Pa.: W. A. Luce, assistant general man-
ager; F. B, Dunbar, superintendent, Ellsworth P| ; W. E. Lahson, super-
intendent, Cokeburg Plant; J. P. Miller, inspector.

Fayette Coal Co., Noblestown, Pa.: John MeVickar, general superintendent,

Fayette Coke Co.. Uniontown, Pa.: G. TI. Reynolds, superintendent; C. E.
Lenhart, general manager.

Franklin Coke Co., Uniontown, Pa.: J. S. Braddock, president.

Great Lakes Coal Co.. Kaylor, Pa. P. McCune, superintendent; P. U.
Kelly, assistant superintendent; H. Muir, foreman; ©. B, Henry, foreman;
A. C, Shaffer, foreman; Thomas Page, foreman; David Jones, C. K. Johnson,
fire bosses,

Greenwich Coal & Coke Co., Greensburg, Pa.: J. G. Dunsmore, superintendent ;
Martin Mairn, foreman.

Harbison-Walker Refractories, Pittsburgh, Pa.: J. J. Brooks, jr. general
sales agent; Hay Walker, vice president.

Tlastings Coal & Coke Co., Cherry Tree,

Hazel Mountain Coa! Co., Hazelton, Pa.
tendent.

Hillsdale Coal & Coke Co., Glen Campbell, Pa,: Levi Connor, superintendent ;
Jchn Wright, foreman.

Hillside Erie Co., Forest City. Pa.: Peter Parry, foreman; Alfred Bailey,
G. E. Masey, assistant foremen,

Hudson Coal Co., Deertield, Ohio: John P. Williams, superintendent.

Huff Coal Co., Humbert. Pa.: I. T. Huff, superintendent.

Hutchison Coal Co., Fairmont, W. Va.: C. J. Ryan, general superintendent ;
J. A. Jenkins, superintendent ; C. D. Kramer, superintendent ; Earl MeConaghey,
superintendent ; E. P. McOlven, superintendent: J. Reuter, superintendent; F. R.
Gerchow, chief engineer; J. F. Bratt, inspector; John Dailey, foreman; P. Cos-
tello, foreman.

Illinois Coal Operators’ Association, Chicago, Ill.: Horace Clark, secretary;
J. D. Peters, Carbondale, Ill.; C. A. Herbert, Streator, Ill; W. J. Spencer,
Canton, Il.

Industrial Coal Co, Hilliard, Pa.: Edwin Greenough, superintendent.

Jefferson Coal & Iron Co., Livermore, Pa.: John Reed, general manager.

Kaine & Wilkey Coke Co., Uniontown, Pa.: W. Il. Wilkey, manager.

Kemmerer Coal Co., Kemmerer, Wyo.: M. 8, Kemmerer, president; P. J.
Quealy, vice president and general manager.

Keystone Coal & Coke Co., Greensburg, Pa.: H. F. Bovard, general guper-
intendent; Lloyd Huff, general manager; Frank Miller, assistant general man-
ager; G. W. Hutchison, ief engineer; G. H. Francis, engineer; A. N. Pershing,
auditor; Wm. Nesbit, inspector; E. C. Taylor, superintendent; Foster Cook,
superintendent; A. W. White, superintendent ; Joseph Wentling. superintendent 5
H. H. Null, superintendent; Henry Welty, superintendent ; M. R, Morris, super-
intendent: Alex. Coulter, superintendent; H. T. Knight, superintendent; James
Duncan, foreman,

: Jobn Auld, jr., foreman.
M. H. MeTurk, assistant superin-



26 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

tube leading to a 2-quart bottle, containing air under pressure and
provided with a pinch cock for releasing the pressure at the proper
time. For protection to the operators and observers the whole
apparatus was inclosed in a box, one side of which was thick plate
gas, through which the inflammation could be observed. The plati-
num coil, the source of ignition, was heated to a bright redness by an
electric current, until the air immediately surrounding it in the
bottle had become quite warm. Then suddenly the dust was ejected
from the funnel by releasing the pinch cock that held back the com-
pressed air in the $-gallon bottle. The dust coming in contact with
the heated coil was ignited, the resulting explosion being evidenced
by a flame in the bottle, a comparatively loud report, and the com-
plete smashing of all the glass parts of the apparatus. A drawing
of the above apparatus and a description of the experiment will
appear in a forthcoming bulletin on the inflammability of coal
dust. This experiment was devised under the direction of J. C. W.
Frazer, chemist, and was conducted by EK. J. Hoffman, assistant
chemist and Louis A, Scholl, jr., junior chemist.

SAFETY LAMPS.

During the forenoon of October 30, in building No. 17, there was
a continuous series of tests (No. 17 on the program) with single and
double gauze safety lamps in a current of air of varying velocity
and containing 8 per cent explosive gas (methane and ethane). The
results of these tests showed that in the gallery a single-gauze Davy
lamp ignited the gas-and-air mixture in 10 to 18 seconds at a velocity
of 600 feet per minute. The double-gauze bonneted Jamps, in a cur-
rent of explosive air and gas moving at a velocity of 2,500 feet per
minute, caused no explosion within the gallery.

The tests were made in horizontal currents. The gallery used for
making these tests is 20 fect long, 12 inches high, and 6 inches wide,
and is provided with heavy glass windows and explosion relief dia-
phragms. The velocity of the current through the gallery is regu-
lated by a pressure fan.

BREATHING APPARATUS.

During the forenoon of October 30, miners trained in the use of
artificial breathing apparatus gave an exhibition (event No. 18)
-within a gas-tight room, in building 17, filled with irritating and
irrespirable smoke and gases, This room is used for training miners
in the use of the various types of breathing apparatus for entering
mines after explosions or mine fires. The equipment within the gas-
tight room is intended to simulate some of the physical conditions
found in mines after explosions.




COAL-DUST EXPLOSION AT EXPERIMENTAL MINE. 41

second, Therefore, the average velocity of the first distance was
877 feet per second, and between the two stations was 1,948 feet
per second. The latter velocity is greater than that reported in the
first series of the Altofts experiments, though not so high as that
reported in certain tests by Taffanel at the Liévin station.

It is the intention, when additional funds are allotted, to extend
the main entry and air course and try more extensive explosions.
When the wave movements of coal-dust explosions and the surround-
ing phenomena have become more thoroughly understood, the suc-
ceeding series of experiments will embrace tests of preventive means.

PERSONNEL,

The investigations at the experimental mine are in charge of G. 8.
Rice, chief mining engineer, assisted by L. M. Jones, mining engineer,
and H. C. Howarth, mine foreman. J. K. Clement, physicist, assisted
by W. L. Egy, assistant physicist, has charge of the.velocity and
pressure determinations.




COAL-DUST EXPLOSION AT EXPERIMENTAL MINE. 37
EVIDENCE OF EXPLOSION IN THE MINE.

At the face of the main entry, where the shots were fired, it was
found that fragments of some boards that had been laid on the floor
to receive the coal dust had been drawn back into the crater made
by the center shot (P1.IV,4A). This was due presumably to the gases
rushing back to fill the vacuum caused by the blast. There was no
evidence of great violence, except in the immediate vicinity of the
shots, until the middle crosscut was reached.

SOOT FILAMENTS.

Between the face and the open crosscut 70 feet from the face there
were threads of soot hanging from the roof and ribs (Pl. V, A).
Evidently the threads or filaments came from the excess of carbo-
naceous matter in the atmosphere during the explosion, as they are
frequently observed in quiet areas of mines in which explosions have
occurred,

COKED DUST.

Although no dust had been placed along the inner crosscut, the
flame from the main entry had branched through it, and thence into
and outward along the air course. Crusts of coke were plastered on
the rib near the roof at the inby corner of the air course and the
crosscut (Pl. V, B). There was a small quantity of coked dust on a
prop which stood at this corner.

Little trace of the explosion was found toward the face of the
air course. Unused cross shelves were only slightly moved, and
buckets, containing coal dust, standing at the face had not been dis-
turbed. There were deposits of coke and coked dust on the west rib
of the air course for 28 feet inby the last crosscut and for 14 feet
outby. Smaller deposits were found on the east rib throughout this
distance. ,

There was little coked dust in the main entry. The coke was
found only as small isolated particles in the inner part of the entry
and none at all was observed toward the outer end. The absence of
a considerable amount of coked dust may be attributed to three
causes: (1) There was practically no coarse dust, 98 per cent passing
through a 100-mesh sieve, so that the dust which entered into the ex-
plosion was probably largely consumed, leaving only ash. (2) The
violent movement of the gases along the main entry probably carried
away what little coke might have been formed in that entry. (8)
The roof and ribs were damp, and it has been observed in other mine
explosions that coked dust does not tend to stick to a damp surface
and that a relatively slow air movement, such as a reflex wave would
give, is likely to sweep away detached particles.


BUREAU OF MINES BULLETIN 44 PLATE I

B, MOUTH OF THE MAIN ENTRY, NOVEMBER 1, 1911, AND PARTY OF INVESTIGATORS.


INTRODUCTION, 13

DETAILED PROGRAM.

In order to give a comprehensive idea of the demonstration as a
whole and as a means of reference, the detailed program is presented.
below:

MONDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 30.

BUILDING NO. 21, CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL LABORATORIES,
Operations 1 10 10 will be continuous from 8.30 a. m. to 10.00 a. m.

[Operations or event numbers are in brackets.]

[1] Room }, physical laboratory.—Measurement of high temperatures; calibra-
tion of physical apparatus und instruments: determination of thermal condue-
tivity at high temperatures; investigations of the explosibllity of mine gases.

[2] Room 8.—Determination of heating values of solid and liquid fuels in the
bomb exlorimeter.

[8] Boiler room.—Operation of hand-fired return tubular boiler arranged for
smoke prevention, Several types of heating boilers.

Room 8.—Library.

Rooms 15, 17, and 19,—Mining-engineering investigations.

[4] Second floor: Room 22, fuct laboratory.—Proximate and ultimate analysis
of coal, lignite, peat, and coke. Analysis of mine and boiler water, coal, ash,
and slag.

15] Room 21, petroleum laborator
petroleum investigations.

{6] Rooms 23 and 25.—Research on the chemical constitution of coal; investl-
gation of the relative explosibility of coal dusts.

17] Room 28, gas laboratory.—luvestigation of mine air and natural gas; gas-
analysis apparatus; examination of natural gas for gasoline manufacture; physi-
ological effects of noxious mine gases.

[8] Rooms 27, 29, and 31.—Investigations of destructive distillation of coals;
weathering and spontaneous combustion; occluded gases in coal.

[9] Room 30.—Photographie liboratory.

[10] Rooms 32, 83, and 34, explosives laboratory.—Analysis of black powder,
dynamite, and permissible explosives; testing the stability of explosives;
strength of detonators, danger of exudation of nitroglycerin explosives.

Inspection and analysis of fuel oils,

Event No. 11 will take place at 10 a. m. in front of building No. 17 at lower end of
arsenal grounds.

[11] Address of welcome—Dr. J. A. Holmes, Director of the Bureau of Mines.

Operations [12] to [20] will he continuously running from 10 a. m. to 12 a. m., and
may be witnessed at intervals between the scheduled operations [11] and [20] to [24].
‘They are conducted for the purpose of devising methods for the conservation either of
human life or mineral resources.

[/2] Building No. 10—Breaking lighted incandescent lamps in an explosive
mixture of gas and air; illustrating their relative sufety.

[13] Building No. 13—Foundry cupola, showing method of taking gas samples
and temperatures in the various zones of the coke bed, for the purpose of
studying the fundamentals of the process, with a view to possible improvement.

[14] Gas producer burning fuel at high temperature and capacity, aceumula-
tion of ash and clinker removed by tapping off the liquid slag periodically.

[15] Smokeless combustion of low-grade, high-volatile fuel in boiler fur-
naces using mechanical stokers,



RESEARCH WORK AT THE PITTSBURGH EXPERIMENT
STATION.

Since the main feature of the demonstration discussed in this report
was safety, only a mere outline can be given of many other important
investigations, which, though they are being conducted by the bureau,
were not fully represented in the demonstration.

The chief purpose of the Bureau of Mines is to conduct investiga-
tions and inquiries concerning mining, the treatment of mineral sub-
stances, and the utilization of fuels with a view to increasing safety
and efficiency and preventing waste in the development and utiliza-
tion of the mineral resources in the United States.

The investigations and research work of the bureau are chiefly
carried on at the Pittsburgh experiment station and are under the
immediate supervision of the engineer in charge.

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS RELATING TO COAL,

In addition to the mine-safety investigations mentioned in the fore-
going pages, the Bureau of Mines is conducting investigations of a
general nature which are of vital interest to the mining industry
and to the public at large. Among these investigations is included
a study of fuels, including lignite, petroleum, natural gas, and pro-
ducer gas, but especially embracing coal—the briquetting of low-
grade coal, waste in coal mining, etc.

BRIQUETTING PLANT.

With the briquetting plant (Building No. 32), extensive investiga-
tions have been conducted on the briquetting qualities of American
fuels, including experiments with anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite,
and peat. Two types of briquetting machines are used, a German
lignite-briquetting press and an English briquet machine.

The German press is adapted only for those types of peat and
lignites which contain sufficient natural binder to form briquets
under pressure. The object of the tests with this press is to deter-
mine whether American lignites can be briquetted without the use
of artificial binder. At this plant briquets have been successfully
made from California, North Dakota, and Texas lignites.

On the day of the demonstration, October 30, the English machine
made briquets of Pittsburg slack and 6 per cent of water-gas pitch
binder, and the German equipment was operated to demonstrate the

54


70 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

Knickerbocker Smokeless Coal Co., Hooversville, Pa.: T. Lewis, general
manager.

The LL. & H. Coal Co., Athens, Ohio: A. J. Laverty. president.

LaBelle Coal Co., Wellsburg, W. Va.: P. M. Scott, president.

Langdon Coal Co., Huntingdon, Pa.: C. J. Langdon, general manager.

Latrobe Coal Co., Latrobe, Pa.: D. W. Jones, superintendent.

Latrobe-Connellsville Coal & Coke Co., Latrobe, Pa. W. Saxman, treasurer
and general manager; J. F, Chrow, Earl Saxman, H. E. Rinehart, Thomas Fish,
A. Smith, H. C. Cooney, W. 8. Gibson, superintendents; C. L. Palmer, chief
engineer; D. Connelly, Thomas Boyle, Martin Smith, James McGinnis, George
Nishm, John McPherson, H. W, Altman, James Turnbull, foremen; ©. Caldwell,
John Hauser, A. Anderson, fire bosses; D. B. Clark, E. Ferry, M. Silk, James
McCready, F. Hebner, J. Kattana, employees.

Leechburg Coal & Coke Co., Leechburg, Pa.: William Hedges, foreman; A.
Morris, fire boss.

Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co.. Lunsford, Pa.: W. A. Lathrop, president;
R. H. Wilbur, vice president; B. Snyder, jr., general superintendent; W. G.
Whilden, superintendent; Joln L. Simons, inspector; B. Cunningham, fire boss;
Dr. J. H. Young, Dr. E. H. Kistler.

Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Co., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.: D. R. Roberts, inside
superintendent; Dr. F. L. McKee.

Lehigh Valley Coal Co., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.: 8. D. Warriner, vige president and
general manager; W. H. Davies, W. D. Owens, division superintendents; John
Lloyd, inspector of equipment; Atherton Bowen, assistant inspector; G. T.
Haldeman, mine-rescue engineer.

Locher Bros. Coal Co., Windber, Pa.: Thomas Locher, manager; T. Mac-
Tavish, foreman.

Louisville Coal & Coke Co., Goodwill, W. Va.: James Collins, manager; W. R.
Dudley, chief engineer; G. R. Scott, superintendent.

Lower Vein Coal Co., Terre Haute, Ind.: George H. Richards, general
manager.

Loyal Hanna Coal & Coke Co., Onnlinda, Pa.: Joseph Patterson, superin-
tendent.

McAlpin Coal Co., McAlpin, W. Va.: William Laing, superintendent; P. B.
Evindall, foreman.

MecTurk Coal Co., Girardville, Pa.: W. R. MeTurk, sr., president; W. R.
MceTurk, jr., assistant superintendent; J. M. Holt, superintendent.

Matthiessen & Ilegeler Zine Co., LaSalle, Ill.: James Cullen, William Konce-
wich.

Mifflin Coal Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: J. M. Taylor, treasurer.

Monmouth Coal Co., Brereton, Ill.: W. J. Spencer, general manager.

Monongahela River Consolidated Coal & Coke Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: G. F.
Osler, general manager; I’. J. Durdan, general agent; Richard Donaldson,
sales agent.

Mountain Coal Co., Greensburg, Pa.: A. N. Pershing, assistant treasurer.

Myersdale Coal Co., Listie, Pa.: J. H. Seurfield, superintendent.

National Mining Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: F. A. McDonald, chief engineer.

National Tube Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: Andrew Teemer, traffic department.

New York & Cleveland Gas Coal Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.: Hugh Dunning, general
superintendent.

Nineveh Coal & Coke Co., Greensburg, Pa.: A. N. Pershing, assistant to the
treasurer.

Northwestern Mining & Exchange Co., Dubois, Pa.: J. H. Fulford, general
superintendent,



FORBES FIELD EXHIBIT.
FIRST AID TO THE INJURED.

The idea of training men employed in hazardous professions in
first aid to the injured dates from 1880, when the St. John’s Ambu-
lance Association was organized in England. Later the St. Andrew’s
Ambulance Association was organized in Scotland, and the Sameritter
Verein in Germany, as well as similar organizations in France, Bel-
gium, and Austria.

Membership in foreign first-aid organizations is permitted only
after long and careful training. The work has been so dignified that
the membership is considered a great honor.

First aid to the injured was not seriously considered in the United
States until 1897, when several railroad companies furnished packets
and books of instruction to some of their men. The work was started
about 1899 in the anthracite coal fields, where it is now an essential
feature of mining, one miner in every fifty having knowledge of the
work.

The example set by the anthracite coal fields has been successfully
followed in practically all mining States until at present any progres-
sive mining company feels that its organization is not complete until
the work of first aid to the injured is thoroughly established among
its men. In 1910 the American National Red Cross organized a
separate first-aid department, and at about the same time the Young
Men’s Christian Association made first aid a part of its educational
work.

ENTRANCE RULES.

The demonstration of first aid to the injured by teams of trained
miners representing mining companies from all sections of the United
States took place at Forbes Field on the morning of October 31,1911.

Preliminary rules were sent out on July 12, but on September 20
were supplemented by additional rules or suggestions thereon, mak-
ing the final entrance rules as follows:

1. The national mine-safety demonstration will be a noncompetitive exbibi-
tion of skill in first aid to the injured in mines.

2. Not more than one team of five men shall represent any one coal mine, or
the Bureau of Mines, or State mine departments, except that coal-mining com-
panies operating more than one mine may enter additional teams representative
of groups of miners, helpers, trapper boys, or other mine workers.

8. All persons entering shall submit cértificates showing that they are, or
haye been, bona fide mine workers.

42


44 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

bered teams performed the even-numbered events, and the odd-numn-
bered teams performed the odd-numbered events, as listed below:

1. Treat a lacerated wound of the right side of head (temple) and a lacer-
ated wound on top of the right shoulder; one-man event.

2, Treat a punctured wound over the left eye and lacerated wound of palm
of right hand; one-man event.

3. Treat a simple fracture of left.collar bone and simple fracture of jaw;
two-men event.

4. Treat a dislocated right shoulder and simple fracture of right leg; two-
men event.

5. Rescue and treat a man who has fallen on an electric wire, back down,
clothing burning; rescue, extinguish fire, treat back and upper arms; team
event.

6. Rescue and treat a man who has fallen on an electric wire, face down;
rescue, extinguish fire, treat chest and upper arms; team event.

7. Treat gas burns of face, neck, ears, and hands; team event,

8. Treat gas burns of hands, right arm, and shoulder; team event.

9. Treat a broken back and simple fracture of right fore arm; team event.

10, Treat a dislocated hip and simple fracture of collar bone; team event.

Forty squares, each to be occupied by an exhibiting team, were
numbered upon the ground in front of the grand stand, and 25 feet
to the rear of these squares were placed the banners and numbers
marking the positions of the various teams. In the performance of
events 1, 3, 5, etc., teams bearing these odd numbers moved to the for-
ward positions and performed. Immediately upon completion of the
exhibit by all these teams, or at the expiration of the time limit, a
gong was sounded, then all performing teams retired, each carrying
its patient 25 feet to the rear, the even-numbered teams, 2, 4, 6, etc.,
advancing at the same time to the forward position and proceeding
immediately to perform the even-numbered events. The time allot-
ted for the completion of the events was one and one-half hours, but
the teams completed the exhibition in 53 minutes. Plate VII, A,
shows the Roslyn (Wash.) team, which is typical of the others,

In order to avoid confusion and to expedite action, five coaches
were appointed as follows: Dr. M. J. Shields, in charge; J. J. Rut-
ledge, R. Y. Williams, J. C. Roberts, and D. T. Dilts. Each coach
looked after eight teams to see that they began treatment of the
patients promptly upon the ringing of the gong, and-commenced the
removal of bandages from the patients in readiness for the succeeding
event. In no instance did any team fail to complete the treatment
within the time allotted. The spectators were kept informed of the
number of the event in progress by display of the number on a bul-
letin board, this being supplemented by four announcers using mega-
phones. At the conclusion of the first-aid exhibition the teams with-
drew from the field to a position immediately in front of the grand
stand, where they remained at attention until the conclusion of the
succeeding events on the program.


16 NATIONAL MINE-SAFETY DEMONSTRATION.

Accident 2. Miner slightly overcome by afterdamp and suffering from simple
fracture of right thigh and compound fracture of right forearm near wrist.
‘Treated by W. A. Raudenbush and William Burke.

Accident 3. Miner overcome by afterdamp and suffering from simple frac-
ture of right collar bone and simple fracture of left arm, Treated by W. D.
Roberts and J. T. Ryan.

11.10 a. m. [81] Second rescue party brings two miners from explosion gallery
as soon as first three have been dressed and placed in ambulance. These are
Placed in the care of first-aid squad, who in the meantime have been provided
with bandages and first-aid supplies.

Accident 4, Miner overcome by afterdamp and burned about face, neck, ears,
and hands. Treated by W. A. Raudenbush and William Burke.

Accident 5. Miner overcome by afterdamp and burned from waist line up.
‘Treated by W. D. Roberts, C. 0. Roberts, and J. T. Ryan.

MINE-RESCUB BREATHING APrARATUS.

A mine-rescue breathing apparatus is a self-contained device, the wearer of
which can penetrate the zone of irrespirable gases formed by mine explosions
or mine fires.

‘There are several types of breathing devices, one of which depends on liquid
air for the breathing supply, a second depends upon the generation of oxygen
from a chemical compound, a third depends upon normal air under pressure,
and a fourth, which is most generally known in America, depends upon pure
oxygen under great pressure for its air supply.

The history of mine-rescue apparatus dates from 1868, when a device was
used similar to the submarine diver’s helmet. Practically all succeeding forms
were built along similar lines until 1896, when the present portable self-con-
tained type was devised and used abroad. 'The first of this type to be used in
the United States were four imported in 1907 by the Anaconda Copper Co., of
Butte, Mont. Mine-rescue breathing apparatus was purchased and generally
used in September, 1908, by the technologie branch of the United States Geo-
logical Survey. To-day the Bureau of Mines has 7 rescue cars and 6 rescue
stations in various States, equipped with over 120 complete sets of such appa-
ratus, while over 1,000 sets are owned by States and mining companies having
rescue corps trained in their use.

PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES, 11.30 A. M.

Presentation of trophies. -William H. Taft,

President of the United States.

Address___----~. a John K. Tener,
Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Walter L. Fisher,

Address.

Secretary of the Interior.

Address_

iss Mabel Boardman,

American National Red Cross.