Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-28
OUR MAIL POUCH.
Mr.. Keighley Makes some Suggestions.

Mr.. heighley Makes Some Suggestions.
To the Editor OF The Dispatch:
In thinking over the Mammoth explosion,
the idea occurred to me that fire posses should
be put through test for color blindness. AS
all experienced miners know, the examination
for mine gases is made by observation on the
fame of safety lamp, held up in the place
suspected to contain fire damp.
There are two methods of determining the
presence of fire damp by safety lamp, viz:
FirSI-With very low flame, in which the
observer depends entirely ON color; thar is. the
appearance of the "blue cap" the intensity of
color and length and width of cap indicating
the percentage of c. H. contained in
the surrounding atmosphere. This method Is
the one generally practiced. and for the first
time in my experience has it occurred to me
that possibly some explosions were indirectly
the result of color blindness on the part of the
fire boss.
Second-With q moderate sized fame, in
which an elorgation or spring of the flame IS
depended uDon for an indication of Q II 4, bat
not for percentage. This method is not gen.
orally practlced by fire bosses, but for indica-
tions without percentage 1 consider it superior
TO the other test, as am persuaded the moder-
ate sized name is more sensitive. and the color
phase OF tie examination not being more than
an approximation OF the percentage OF & ii
1t is really not necessary. and in case of culor
blindness on the part of the person making ex-
ANIMATION the low flame blue cap" method
would be startlingly dangerous. but even with
the larger flame a person with poor eyeSlght
might often be led into error.
1t is a well known fact that often the gauze
OF safety lamp gi7es a reflection that resem-
DIeS faint blue cap, and many a time have
heard disputes arise over such a delusion: yet
until now it never struck me that color blind
ness is just as likely to be source of dangerln
mining as it is IN railroad operations.
Now, do not wish to give ont the inference
that the Mammoth explosion was the result of
color blindness, but l am earnestly seeking for
clew to the cause, and in searching for tEat
cleW numerous ideas are employed and every
possible source of danger is being considered
thoroughly. not SO much for the past as for fu-
ton 1t should be found that our fire bosses
have not been put through the proper tests
even the Mammoth disaster will yield fruit
that may be of use in the science of mining.
Let US hear from our scientific men, who are
versed In the deluSions resulting from color
blindness. and also from all who are interested
IN ascertaining how to avoid erroneous exami-
nations for firedamp.
Ihe writer some time ago devised a simple
contrlvance for aiding the fire boss in making
examinations for mine gases and applied for a
patent on the same, but said application was
rejected because the Patent Office officials de-
cided that it was an infringement upon some
Dodys insect powder duster." though how
they make this out is a mystery to me; how
ever, even with that appliance Of mine the
color blindness" idea uncoverS source of
danger that we cannot afford TO underestimate
or ignore, and want to know now if any other
person has given that matter a thought, so if
you will kindly give this a corner in your next
issue you will greatly Oblige
FRED c. KEIGHLEY,
Superintendent Mammoth Coke Works.
MAMMOTH, Pa, Feb. 25.