Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-17
Where is Danger
The G1eate1:?
D'vetSe Wees Expressed by Leading shining Men as 10
Storing Explosives Underground or Upon the Sustace
-Sfab Coal Mine Inspector Thomas Favors The Latter
Some Strong Opposing KeaS.

nature Of n vault In the side OF the
mountain with wooden doors and only
one man carries the key
GERMANYs GREAT CASE.
Mining Engineer d. r. Rohlang
graduate Of Freiberg, who has had
many years experience as mine man
agar Is 0utspOken In favor Of surface
magazines. When reminded OF the fact
that underground storage Is IN vogue
In the mines of Germany he admitted
That they were q success there, but
that they were so hedged about with
care and such extraordinary supervis-
ion was exercised over them and such
penalties attached that the danger from
explosions was practically eliminated,
He said, however. that what applied In
Germany would not apply here as II
would retard and handicap mining,
AUTHOR OF ONE MEASURE.
State Coal Mine Inspector Conner
Thomas, who is the author Of Repre-
sentative BaTetts bill says while the
laws governing the operation OF mines
IN Utah are superior TO any other state.
can yet be improved upon and fayOrs
the surface magazine and says the
storage Of powder enough to do for one
shift underground is as bad asthe stor-
age of 10000 pounds. He is utterly op-
posed TO underground magazines.
PROTECT BOTH SIDES.
A gentleman connected with the salt
Lake Hardware company says that 4
law 10 be effective should protect both
sides There should be certain rules
adopted with reference to the handling
of powder underground. the violation
Of which should be punished He says
the men are better protected UNDER
ground than the owners of the proper
~. As 70 surface magazines he in
stanced the case OF the railway ware.
house, which was destroyed by fire IN
Butte, Mont, six or seven years ago.
Powder was stored In this warehouse,
and an explosion resulted wiping out
the whole fire department and killing
many others besides,
CoURTED DEATH.
General Manager Moore Of the Union
Pacific Coal company at Rock SPRINGS
says they do not store any powder in
zines. When spoken 10 about the ex-
plosIon which occurred there II Yeas
ago he said II was caused by two Fin
landers who were driving past in a
wagon and chose the door Of the mag
azlne In which 1900 keys Of powder
were stored, for target. OF course
there was not even a grease spot OF
them left Another accident viii be re-
l,l "a. bn 81 Ia IN A D
senal Hill, Just outside this city. an
that case two boys chose the door for
a target with similar results.
IN PRUSSIA
The mining laws Of Prussia provide
among other things that only reliable
men over p years can handle powder,
which they dare not approach with an
open light, nor may they smoke They
are obliged to 90 barefoot or wear rub
Der shoes or boots. Special powder
chambers underground are limited 10
300 Kilograms ut one time and these
chambers must be distant 30 meters
from each other and at least 80 mete,s
from manways. Percussion caps must
not be kept unlocked nor In the same
room with explosives. In every way
the UfOittllON 10 NE anu property u
so carefully hedged about that accl-
dents are well nigh impossible.
BAMBERGER FAVoRs UNDER
GROUND.
Senator Simon Hamburger Is not at
all vague IN his views as to which In
ours the greater risk. his prejudices en-
tirely being In favor Of the UNDER
ground storing Of powder He says
that where the powder is stored IN
remote section OF the mine, II Is only
visited by one man, who II he ex-
ercises the care that every man should
always use In the handling OF this high
explosive. the risk he runs is reduced
TO the minimum Mr.. Bamberger says
there Is always some danger In the
handling Of powder and where II Is
stored on the surface Of mine and
when II must be handled every day by
being taken into the mine for each
shift, there Is frequently recurrence
Of the danger He holds that the most
scientific authorities on this question
favor underground storage and cites
the fact that the Daly-West proprietors
have again placed their magazines un-
foreground after a most careful and
scientific investigation,