Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-20
DON'T THINK ALIKE.
Colonel W. P. Rend, the Chicago Coal
Operator, Expresses Himself
ABOUT THE SHAW APPARATUS.
He Quotes Some Reasons Against 1t Which
He Holds Are Sound.
MR.. SHAW SAYS 1T STANDS ALL TESTS

Colonel W. P. Rend, of Chicago, is a
coal operator of experience, and when he
talks about mining matters he generally
speaks by the book. Last night. at the
Monongahela House, discussion turned on
the attempt to introduce the Shaw Mine
Signaling Apparatus into compulsory use,
and the Colonel expressed his views regard
ing it in no measured phrase.
81 regard this" he said, mot only as the
shallowest of humbugs. but as an attempted
fraud OF the most glaring character upon the
coal-mining industry Of the State of Penn
sylvania. The owners of this pretentious
scheme are simply seeking, by the aid of
legislation, to levy and extort tribute,
amounting to millions of dollars, from
the coal operators Of the State,
and are aiming at their own enrichment
without offering anything in return that
possesses particle OF merit. So far from
this device diminishing the dangers of ex-
plosions in mines am perfectly certain
that it would, if adopted, very much add to
them"
Not Alone in His Views.
Colonel Rend, taking a copy OF the COlliery
Engineer from his pocket, and indicating
an article on the Shaw system, with which am
heartily in accord. That article contains a
brief and able Synopsis of the reasons that
demonstrate the utter absurdities of the
claims put forth for this system. If anyone
can upset the reasoning herein advanced,
shall be ready at once to accept the Shaw sys-
tenn, and never say another word about it,
Among the reasons given against the intro
duction of the system are the following: THE
machine does not register the presence of gas
except In the immediate vicinity of the mouth
of the tube, and as the miners will believe it
perfect in action, they will not exercise the
usual care, and more accidents due to explo-
sions OF gas will happen. The pipes will be
continuously out of order, as it will be impos-
sible to guard against the joints being
broken and acidulated mine water eating holes
in them. In cases of outbursts of gas, the
fire-damp will reach the miners lamps as soon
as it will the mouth of the tube. and if the
miner is depending on the machine for safety
he will be burned before any signal can possi-
bly, be given him. 1t is proposed to place
single tube in each work king place. II there
was any means OF determining the proper Ioca-
ton for the mouth of this tube 1t would not be
required, as if it is known where gas will
appear it can be watched and guarded against.
Claimed to Have Once Failed.
"The principles OF the machine are not new.
They have been proposed before on the con-
ohOHt VI GuAoPci auu lucy nave Dceu ulsCdlueu
as worthless and dangerous. In mines where
there is continuous evolution of gas from all
the workings it cannot be applied, because it
will require more pipes than can be put into the
mine openings. The large number of pipes
will fill up the main air or haulage ways, in
teIfere with the ventilation and prevent the
working of the colliery."
Mr.. Shaw, in talking about himself, and the
lamp of which he Is the inventor, said last
evening that his reputation as an inventor
went back to 1858. when he put upon the mar
ket his gas stoves. He said that when he had
used the Sir Humphrey Dayy lamps he found
they were imperfect. They were only
partial defense against the explosive gases
of coal mines. He claimed thar his invention
was the only one that would show that the
Dayy lamp was not q safe one to be used in
coal mines.
Mr.. Shaw wanted it distinctly understood
that his lamp had passed all the tests in the
State of Pennsylvania. and had been indorsed
by f. C. Keighley, Mine Inspector of the Fifth
Bituminous District. aud by the manager or the
Stellarton mine, Nova Scotia.