Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-13
EDWIN PERRY TALKS
Writes on Dust Explosions and
Suggests Remedy.
OTHER MINERS ON SAME SUBJECT
Mr.. Perry Takes Decided Stand and
Says He Is Willing to Stand by His
Guns-Addresses Questions to Hon.
7. J. Phillips, of This City.

Thousands of coal miners are deep
ly interested in the question as to
whether or not shot firers should be
employed in the mines and a commun-
ication printed below from Edwin Per-
ry, of Willard. vice president of Dis
itrict No. IS, United Mine Workers OF
America, will be read with interest
Howell Price. formerly of this city,
John Murphy, HIS North Holt street,
and James Nevin, ofskeb. also present
ideas and opinions on explosions in
mines and suggest remedies.
Z Edwin Perry, Willard.
Mr, Perrys views follow:
Kindly allow me spacein your valu-
aples Journal to express my views on
the much talked OF. topic, Dust Explo-l
slens, and inasmuch as this question
is a vital and burning one to those of
us that go down;each day into our sub
terranean workshops Ito produce a
commodity that furnishes the power
to transport our commerce and also
furnishes comforts for many homes, it
becomes essentially necessary that
this question should receive the most
rigid and careful examination and
study at the hands oil those interested
in mines and mining. Much as been
said OF late as to the cause and proven
ton of the sad and frequent occur.
rences of such so-called dust explosions.
Our friend, G. H. Kenyon, has very re-
Gently advanced very strong argu-
ment on the matter through the Cour-
Ter, an argument that is entitled to
and ought to receive our serious and
most careful study. The writer has al
ways advanced the theory that one
shot fired in any mine will not cause
an explosion. My position on this ques-
tin is that the conclusion from what is
known among miners as a tight shot,
FORCES the air pressure back and in
some instances where artificial means
OF ventilation is employed, it has been
known to reverseft the air current for
short time. However, when the air
current is forced back vacuum is
formed and when the next shot or
shots go off, the flame from,
the powder SO exploded is drawn with
lightning-like rapidity into this So
called vacuum and all particles of dust
in the mine now floating in the air, or
if not so floating is picked up by the
flame of fire above described, and now
adding to the intensity of this seeth-
ing mass of fire. Hence when these
two elements-the fame. as above de-
scribed and the air which contains an
element of gas-meet, the explosion
takes place, and those fortunate
enough to survive the shock are now
in danger OF asphyxiation from what
is known as after damp, the oxygen
having been consumed as stated in the
Courier some time ago. There are
some very able authorities who claim
that under such circumstances - one
shot might produce an explosion.
Their argument is very plausible and
/. myself, confess that if a portion of
the charge of powder should go off
and cause the conclusion that forces
the air current back, as above set
forth and in few seconds later the
residue of this same charge is subse-
quently discharged, an explosion
might occur, but such an unusual oc-
currence is only problematical.
Now as to the remedy: Shot firers
must be employed in all mines where
practical, or to make the matter
palmer, the work should be entrusted
and performed by at least two of the
most competent and experienced min
ers in the several camps, and they
the shot firers-should only fire one
shot at a time, allowing reasonable
time to elapse between the first and
second shots. and so on until all are
discharged. Much as been said in OPP
position to this system by many writ
ers on the subject, but all the OPPOSE
ton to shot firers has emanated from
those indirectly interested from pc
cuniary standpoint. AS proof of the
above assertion let me ask t. j. Phil
lips and others this question: In the
event that the employers hire and
foot the bill for the innovation, will
they assume for one moment that such
additional expense is borne by them
or comes out of their margin of profit;
or does not such additional expense
have to be added to the cost of produc-
ton and consequently added to the
selling price of their product? l en-
phatically and unequivocably assert
that the latter is the true and most
reasonable assumption Feeling that
all operators have taken their con.
tracts for the present without taking
into consideration this small though
insignificant expense we, the miners,
have very magnanimously consented
to bear the same during the present
contract year. And again: Some
employers resort to subterfuge and
say that the lives of the shot firers
are as sacred to them as hundred
lives are to each individual. This po-
sition we have never denied, but let
us digress.a little and carry this argu
ment to logical conclusion.
First, the danger to the shot firers
is greatly reduced over the present
method Of jeopardizing the lives Of
both the shot firers and the full com
!. Dlement of men employed, after
even assuming that an explosion was
possible under such an arrangement
which is not at all very probable.
Second, ! have intimated time an(
again that il no miners will voluntar
lily assume the work of shot firing,
would be willing to give my
Z services alternately with al
those employed in the mines l wa!
at work in. thus assuming just pro
portion Of the hazardous risk inciden
to our calling.
81 Third, sometimes many min
ers become, from force o
y .rc-