Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-19
SAFETY IN MINES.

Discussion About the Best Kind of Lamps
The Davy Considered Past Its Prime
Where Operators Are Afraid of Labor
Saving Machinery.
The Western Pennsylvania Central Mining
Institute met in the Court House yesterday
morning, John McMurray in the chair, Will
lam Sidden, secretary. The morning session
was spent discussing constitution. One
was adopted for the government of the body
as also bylaws.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Adams ex.
planned the operation of his improved bee
hive coke oven, which he claims reduces the
cost of burning coke almost rs per cent, the
cost at present being % cents, and by his
movable bottom of wrought iron, with one
thickness of fire brick in 1t, and this, when
the coal is roasted, is dropped upon
run out cooled off, Wien the charge is easily
removed. Mr.. Adams explained that the
coal on the bottom of the oven being the
last to burn, the bottom did not get very hot
during the charge; in fact, he said he could
almost bear to put his hand for a moment
in 1T.
Inspector Duncan thought it strange, if all
the inventor claimed was correct, that oper-
ators were not clamoring to get a chance to
introduce his method. Mr.. Duncan seemed
to think that the chief end and aim of a coke
operators existence was to make money,
crying for the new ovens.
Mr. Adams said he had been unable to get
operators to test his apparatus, notwith-
standing it had been five to seven months in
operation at North Mansfield and Dunbar
respectively. One came and looked at it and
went away and a few Others happened to
come when the oven was not in operation
His remarks might have been taken to indi
cate an opinion that coke operators already
had so good thing that they did not care to
trouble themselves with any improvement.
laf mad
light, or at least his explanation was re-
garded as plausible by some people He
said that operators in Europe were afraid of
labor-saving machinery lest it produce
tronble among the laboring classes, Int he
suggested u somewhat disSimilar reason for
the action of Western Pennsylvania opera
tors in the statement that if by the use of
this oven four men would do the work of 25,
there would be great falling off in the sale
Of goods by the company stores. No one
could at once get over the force of this argu-
ment
mining as 1t Was, Is and Ought to Be-"
was the subject of paper read by William
Gfllie, of Courtney, Pa. The cardinal feature
of the paper was an eXhortation to have
mining districts separated into smaller ones
than at present, without connection by leav-
ing strong ribs of coal between them. This
would obviate the necessity of having aper-
lures that may carelessly be left open.
Then, too, in case of explosion the loss of
life and destruction of property would not
be so great as at present.
"What Modern Safety Lamp Would Be
Best to Adopt for Use in Mines?" was the
subject for general debate. 1t appeared to
be pretty general opinion that the Davy
lamp, though good thing as pioneer, and
in its day, and rejecting great credit on its
inventor, is now back number, Mr..
Duncan saying that by means of
the Shaw test of gas in mines, he,
Duncan, had found lamp that was sensi-
tive to u per cent of gas, while it took some
thing like per cent to show on the Davy.
a q lamn he
was difficult to operate, as it went out when
held at an angle.
The discussion of this subject occupied
the rest of the day, and at Mr.. Adams sug-
gestion committee was appointed to ex-
pertinent with different lamps.
1t was ordered that the constitution and
bylaws be printed, and some applicants for
were taken into the fold.