The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-22
DUST IN THE MINES
INSPECTOR REPORTS ON CONDI-
 JTIONs AT FLAT TOP.
Governor Jelks Advised that Precau- tions Have Been Taken to Guard Against Repetition of Disaster
 af Virginia.

Precautions against dust explosions in the coal mines of the State have no doubt been sharpened by the Virginia minc disaster as only yesterday As- sistant State Mine Inspector James Hillhouse reported to Governor Jelks that dust had been found in the Flat Top mines near Birmingham in Jener- son County where State and County convicts are being worked.
 The dust did not stay in the mines long as the Inspector soon after its discovery ordered 1t removed and caused the superintendent thereof to put in a sprinkler at once.
 The inspector also. found loose rules being observed in ''tamping" the charges. The word "tamping" means a process for loading in blasting. the coal. It was found that in Flat Top mine short fuses for dynamite in blasting the middleman were being used and instructions were issued that such practice be discontinued at once and 1t has been complied with already. Wet dirt or clay will hereafter be used in the mines for ''tamping."
 The following is the body of the re- port of the inspector on the condition of Flat Top mines:
 ventilation is moderately good. I find the coal is being mined and shot | ur6IS Oeiuk put OH dCJOioih8 tO ihoeA oS- tions from Mir. Gray (Mr. Gray Is Chief State Mine Inspector.) The shot firers are using short fuse for dyna- mite in blasting the middleman and are
 using one dummy cartridge for tamp- ing. (Mr. Hillhouse explained In a footnote that the middleman mentioned is a parting of the slate in the center of the seam of coal ranging from twelve to twenty-four inches in thick . ness and that 1t requires blasting to break 1t down.) I gave instructions to discontinue this practice and use for tamping' either wet dirt or clay and employ long fuses.
 T also found some of the headings dusty and instructed that the dust be loaded out and a sprinkler put on im- | mediately. Superintendent Gafford complied with the above instructions | immediately and said that he would see that they were carried out to the
 letter. The mine otherwise Is in good l condition"
 Flat Top mines is the property, of the Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron Com Inny, of Birmingham, and convicts are | used in working them. The day shift | consists of 121 miners, 35 inside and IA | outside men. The superintendent Is | Frank Gafford. and the mine boss is
 A. J. Atkinson.
 l The report of Inspector Hillhouse | was originally made to Chief lnspec- | tor Gray who transmitted it yesterday | to the Governor. It Is the first mining | report that has been made since that l of the Virginia mine disaster in which by official estimate there were III union miners killed. mostly white.
 There was some detailed criticism of | the mine and methods contributing to this disaster but no attempt was made | to fix the responsibility therefor. Cor | oner W. D. Paris of Jefferson County ! is making a thorough investigation of the catastrophe, having at present a | copy of the long mine Inspectors re- port before him. His prime effort Is
 to locate the responsibility and he will depend to large extent on the details | of the Inspectors conclusions.