Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-13

tamping bars of either copper or COP
per tips, or to, use any filling in firing
said shot, except firesclay or dampen-
ed earth, and that the use of the drill
llngs from coal be expressly forbid
den for use in tamping.
4. That 1T shall be unlawful for any.
miner In blasting or shooting coal
from the solid in case the tamping is
blown out, without throwing down the
coal, to use the same hole the second
tlme, unless the coal be first cut or
mined, and then only when the hole
has been drilled deep enough to put
the new charge of powder beyond the
bottom of the first hole
The Reasons.
The reason why the use, of sauibs
instead of fuse, and of copper needle
and copper tipped bars is recommend
ed, is that in the use of fuse, the hole
above the powder is often filled with
coal dust or material that cannot be
securely tamped because of danger of
breaking the fuse, while by the use of
needles, tamping bars and squibs, the
powder can be securely confined with
out danger of premature explosion.and
made to expend its force in shooting
ON the coal instead of blowing out the
tamping and exploding in the mine,
Inc rules proposed for adoption pro
VIDE for the use of copper tins on the
needles and of copper tamring bars be-
cause with steel needle or bar there
IS always chance of striking a spark
When the steel comes into contact with
a hard substance, and this spark might
lgnate the powder and cause prema-
lure explosion. The copper will not
| make spark.
The reason for the suggestion that
TWO shots should not be fired from the
same hole is that the first shot is H.
aple to open seams or cracks through
which powder might be blown out into
the mine. 1t has been said that the
Lost Creek explosion was caused in
this manner; that is, that there was a
seam made by the first shot and that
a second shot was fired in the same
mole, thus giving the second shot an
opportunity to pillow out through the
seam into the mine.
An Operator Interviewed.
A prominent member of the State
Operators association, when inter-
|
| with regard to the matter of the propo.
sltlon made by the operators, express
60 himself as very much in favor of
them from an humanitarian standpoint
primarily. He said: Although the
operators stand to lose little by the
| adopuon OF these rules, the miners
VIII not. This will be of more benefit
by lar than will the employment of
shot tlrers, which has just been auth
orlzed by the operators and miners
executive boards in joint session. The
employment of shot firers, we main
tain, is not humane plan, as with
them explosions are bound to occur
sometimes, but with our plan they can
not occur il the rules are obeyed.
Some Loss to Owners.
The operators will lose some on
their screenings. They do not pay
the miners for screenings, and with
the big blasts the small coal is. of
course, more plentiful, making screen
lngs also more plentiful. With the
smaller shots obtained by the use of
smaller holes the coal will be larger
and the percentage of screenings less
than at present. In addition to this,
the operators will not sell much more
| than half the amount of powder they
now sell because a smaller amount will
be used with the smaller holes. How
ever, we are willing to do this in order
to prevent explosions, thereby protect
| ing the lives OF our employees and the
property in our mines.
Miners Standard Raised.
"These rules, if put into effect, will
| make the miners more skillful and the
skillful miner is naturally more care
full in mining because he knows more
of the dangers than does an inexperi-
enced man. With the present system
in use, almost anyone can mine coal
with but little experience, but with the
new plan adopted, skillful men will be
required. The miners will make just
as much money as they do now be-
cause there will be more large coal and
less screenings. The lump coal repre-
sents money to them, while the screen
ings are not paid for by the operators"
Affects OttumWa District.
This set of rules, if adopted, will
affect all the mines in the state where
the coal is mined by use of powder.
This includes the district around OF
tumwa, and practically the whole cen
ter of the state as far north as Des
Moines. The southern coal field is
not affected greatly because powder is
little used there, as is also the case
north of Des Moines.
WHOLESALE FRAUD CHARGED.
Appanoose County Officials VIII Face
Serious Charges. &