Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-11
DANGERS AND DEATH
Are the hourly Prospects of the
Toilers in Mines of This Dis
trict, Because of Many
NATURAL GAS LINES THAT LEAK.
Inspector James Blick Says He Daily
Expects a disaster Caused by
CayingS-In Where
THE WORKINGS AND PIPES ADJOIN.
Expert Testimony That Goes to Show There is Real
Cause for Apprehension.
THE WORKINGS AND PIPES ADJOIN.
Expert Testimony That Goes to Show There is Real
Cause for Apprehension

the plain utterance of no less an authority
than Mine Inspector James Blick, of the
Seventh district, which includes the Pan
handle, Southside and Yough mines. That
the danger is imminent, there is not only
unfortunate experience to show, but the
testimony of experts in mining who support
the assertion.
The chances of a destructive explosion oc-
curing in this neighborhood are traceable
to two sources, namely. to the existence of
fredamp in all the mines to greater or
lesser degree, and to the fact that natural
gas pipes are frequently within but few
feet of the workings, and, should anv
cave-in of the ground sustaining them occur,
liable to fill the mine with their deadly con-
tents and cause an explosion by the gas
coming in contact with naked light So
says Inspector Blick, who has been for five
wears in charge of this district and 40 years
in the mining business.
Danger in Every Mine in the District.
There is no use in qualifying the mat
ter" ne said yesterday, in the course of con-
versation; there is danger OF disastrous ex-
plosIon in every mine where the workings
are wrought in the vicinity of pipe lines.
And the danger is greater in this district
than anywhere else, because of the number
of lines and the increasing extension of the
mines. look for such an accident at any
moment from this source, and the worst of
it is that am powerless to prevent it. The
cause of the danger arises from the chances
Of a cave-in occurring where the line runs
over working place, and permitting the
gas TO flow into the mine from the resulting
break in the pipe"
But wouldn't the gas, being half as light
as the air, ascend, and not descend?''
Yes, il the break occurred in the open
air but the pipes are buried from three to
six feet below the surface, and, the gas being
forced from the pipe at pressure OF from 60
to $50 pounds, would escape by the most con-
veuient channel; that is, it would pass into
the mine through assures in the strata which
had caved in. Not alone would its own
weight force it in, but the suction of the ven-
tiating fan in the mine would help to draw
it in as we'll.
Case Where Test Was Given,
Il know this to be fact, for have seen
the matter tested. In one case a cave-in
happened where there we're no lines, and
where the distance between the roof of the
workings and the surface was 80 feet In
very short time the fan was drawing pure air
through the strata, to a very appreciable ex-
tent It's easy to perceive, take ii, that if
pure air can be so drawn. gas, of half its
weight can be sucked in with even greater
facility. The other test allude to was made
by an engineer who was trying the value of es-
cape pipes on gas lines The gas companies
formed a theory that if escape pipes were
attached TO lines rhat al "A
gas escaping INTO mines through leaks or breaks
would be nullhed on the assumption that the
fuid would ascend. The test l speak of con-
clusIvely proved this to be a fallacy. A pipe
the same size as the escape pipe was introduced
through the cave-in into The mine and attached
TO the pipe. The result was that the gas
poured into the mine in response to the suction
OF the fan, and but very little passed through
the escape. There is doubt at all in INV
mind that gas from break would flow into the
mine.
"As long as the ground remains firm" con-
tlnued the inspector, "there is no danger but
no one can say when cave-n may not happen
and bring about an explosion. There are half
a dozen mines in my district where the work
ings are within 80 feet of the pipe lines and
who can say when the ground may not break.
The only remedy can see for it is by placing
the gas lines above ground, or stopping all min
ing In the vicinity of the lines. The gas COIN
panies don't want their pipes above ground for
various reasons, and the mine owners are not
disposed 10 sacrifice any of their coal land.
Power to Appeal to Court.
I have power to go into court and apply for
an injunction restraining the coal company
from operating, but it might be month before
could obtain il, and that might be lust a
month too late. For instance, four men were
killed year ago at Toms Run. 1 had warned
the operator that the mine was dangerous, but
he paid no attention. Well, there was an ex-
ploslon and four lives lost"
What remedy do you suggcst?"
"A common sense mining law that will make
simple and explicit regulations for the execu-
tion OF the business. and that will provide due
measure or protection for employer and men,
l think inspectors should have more summary
power, as, if they judged mine dangerous, to
have power to close ii then and there instead
OF simply expressing their opinion that il is
and leaving the responsibility with the men or
owners. There should also be more discipline
in the mines, and system of graded fines for
dlsObedience TO rules. AT present to punish a
man for an infraction of rules the law provides
fine OF $780, an absurd amount to think of
asking miner to pay"
What is the general condition of the mines
in this district"
Every mine in the district generates fire.
damp 1t was only last November we had an
explosion at the National works and another
in May at the Powers mine. This explosion
was of more destructive nature than the
Mammoth affair." bus there were only four men
III the mine at the time. l have suggested the
use of locked lamps in several mines recently
owing to the amount of gas accumulated. but
without any avail. Open lamps are the custom
in this district. and they will continue until
the Legislature steps in and makes the use of
saIety lamps compulsory, as it should
A Few Words on the Other Side.
When Inspector Blick's opinion of the mines
n bis charge was mentioned to Mr. Arch Cum
minis, the Philadelphia Companys weIl-known
mining engineer, he did not seem to be much
surprised.
There is not always sufficient care exer-
cised,' he SAID, "by coal operators IN mining
near gas lines. In July and August
of lSS9 the was sinking OF
the earth at Patton township at
q point where q 6-inch gas pipe ran above the
New York and Cleveland Gas Coal Company's
mine When we were notified of the break we
81 feet of the pipe, and 1t was not considered of
sufficient Importance to acQuaiDt us with the
fact. In cases where workings are being run
IN the vicinity of our lines we have the pipes
is feared they are raised above
ground and cased in. The practice
IS to raise the pipes when the workings reach
TO within go feet of them, and il is adhered to.
The pipe leading from Hays toward Bellevernon
Is SO inches in diameter and crosses eight mines
The owners anu operators were scared at first
al having such a neghbor. but subsequently
concluded they had nothing tofear. know of
one case where a pipe was laid dangerously
near mine, and it did not seem to concern
anyone very particularly"
There is gas flowing into the mines all the
time" continued Mr.. Cummins '.and precau-
tinns against accidents could not be too strin-
gent. The great preventative is full and suffi-
cient ventilation, and this is the lesson that
the Mammoth mine disaster teaches If full
ventilation mad been attended to there would
have been no accideHt, and if the ventilation of
these mines now generating gas. and they all do
so, is made complete there need be no fear of
explosions. Regarding breaks in pipes, the
tendency OF the gas is TO 60 upward, and