Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-17

The introduction this week In the
lover branch Of the Legislature Of two
hills relating to the handling Of ex-
plosiyes and prohibiting the use Of
storage magazines underground In
metalli(erous mines has aroused a wide
discussion among mining men, One
bill Is by Representative Brink and the
other by Representative Barrett The
latter bill is the handiwork Of State In
spector OF Coal Mines Conner Thomas
and is carefully drawn document.
The recent explosion in the DAILY
West mine at Park city which resulted
IN the loss Of "a lives and the dcstruc-
ton Of large amount Of property has
no doubt led to the present move, In
that case the powder magazine was
situated on the 1900 foot level and
The cause was, as usual-carelessness,
Who II was that was careless viii pro-
baby never be known as he was swept
into eternity at the same time with
his innocent fellow workmen.
UTMOST SAFEGUARDS.
The opinions Of several persons whose
business is mining and who are famil-
lar with the handling Of explosives has
been solicited and are herewith given
and they all agree on one thing. ana
that is, whether powder be stored UNI
foreground or on the surface, 1t should
IN every possible way be sateguarded
Former Congressman r. f. Slnglser, Of
idaho, who is now operating the Ameri-
can Flag at Park City and who has had
over quarter of a century's experience
IN mining says. that underground mag
a2lnes can be so constructed and taken
care Of, as TO make them no more dan
gorous than those on the surface. In
such cases they should be placed ia
parts Of the mine as far away as pos
sible from where the work is being
done and where the mine has been
worked out What is more important
stlll Is the employment In the care
ard handling OF explosives Of only
trusted and experienced employees, un-
der careful supervision. II this were
done the danger would be reduced TO a
minimum.
Supt. w. l.. Goodsell, OF the Goodsel
Mining company Is outspoRen and EN-
phauc against underground magazines
ard fayors only those on the surface.
UNDERGROUND MAGAZINES.
Capt b. Tibbey who for AZ years has
followed mining as miner, boss, fore
man, superintendent and manager
underground and above ground, In
various parts OF the world, and whose
opinion is worth a great deal, Is out
sp0ken In favor of underground maya
zines and says they should all be un-
derground and In charge Of one man
who neither smokes nor drinks, nor
wears nails IN his shoes. He should be
closen with a special view to fitness
ard should receive extra pay Capt
Tibbey says that powder can be kept
at a more equable temperature under
ground II should be stored In maya
hines well ventilated and they should boz
constructed In cross-Cuts away from
the active workings The caps should
he kept at a distance from the powder.
He does not favor old men In taking
care Of and handling explosives mas
much as they grow careless with years.
Rubber shoes should be worn and the
st;ictest kind OF supervision should be
exercised over the powder man.
The captains objections 10 surface
magazines Is danger by lightning,
strikes. hoboes, children, fires acct
dental or intentional and malicious mis-
chief which has caused several disas-
traus explosions which are referred TO
helow. He says that the way maya
zines are constructed now they have
iron roofs. iron doors. locks, etc, all
Of which attract lightning. In
rase they are on the surface they
should be built OF adobe and have dirt
roofs and wooden doors During all the
many years the captain has bad charge
of mines. and for Il Of them nv was IN
charge Of the famous PARROT mine IN
Montana he has never had an accident
from explosives.
IN MOUNTAIN SIDE.
Judge J. r. Mcconnell OF the Raven
Mining company says the construction
OF a magazine at their mine was well
considered and theirs was built In the