Arizona republican., 1905-10-18
GOOD NEWS FROM JEROnE
Successful hethOd OF Fighting Fire
in United Verde Nine.

The latest issue OF the Jerome
Mining News contains a lengthy arti-
Gle, which is herewith reproduced, for
if the News story is correct, it means
greatly increased prosperity for that
mining camp, beginning right now.
The News says:
That j. J. Shaw has succeeded in
controlling the fire and fumes IN the
fire district in the United Verde mine
is now almost an assured fact, after
only a few days work with his COM
pressed air system. A report that ore
from the fire district in this mine was
being sent to the smelter, started a re-
preventative of the News to the smelt-
er, where ne found that the report was
true In conversation with General
Manager Chas. w. Clark, that gentle
man said: While Mr.. Shaw has only
been working a little over a week, he
has demonstrated that he is abe to
compete with the fire district In the
mine. There is great danger in hand
ling this proposition, which Mr.. Shaw
and his men fully appreciate, but they
express themselves as willing TO pro-
coed with the work, claiming that they
have done far more hazardous mining
than they are now employed at, and
all of them seem to feel certain of
1
idea of fighting underground fire with
air were put to the best mining men
in the world, they would Immediately
say it was all rot, and that the air
would do nothing but feed the fire. We
must certainly give Mr.. Shaw credit
for this idea of using what might be
called compressed air against fire and
fumes. I hope that he will continue TO
meet with success"
Later the News representative met
Mr.. Shaw, who, when asked for his
idea of the work before him said: Il
have no doubt as to being able to han
die the fire and fumes, my only fears
are as to my ability to handle the
ground, it naturally being very much
broken up. This is not an experiment,
by any means, I having successfully
used this same process in combating
fires in coal mines in Pennsylvania.
Three years ego I went to the Iron
Mountain mine, Shasta county, Cali
fornia, a mine that for nine years
previous to that time. was compelled
to shut down a certain number Of
months every year. on account Of fire.
The process am using here, I am US
ing there, and the mine has been work
ed continuously during the past three
years. l have taken out ore that car
ried a heat of $50 degrees. While the
ground we may be working is at times
very hot, the men are working in an
air that is fresh and moderately cool,
and they work in the same clothing
as that they. would wear if working in
the open air. The temperature where
the men are now working was 125
when first opened, but is now only s..
We are now taking out ore, and if
caves do not trouble US, will continue
to do So
The machinery used in driving in the
air is at the surface of the 3OO-foot
tunnel, and forces the air 1000 feet to
where the men are working. Mr.. Shaw
is certainly making good now, and
continued success means another big
furnace at the smelter and employ
ment for a large number more men in
the mine. The miners now working
with Mr.. Shaw are Spaniards who
worked with him in the Iron Mountain.
Twenty men arrived in Jerome from
that mine last week.