The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-09-01
Chapter of Mining Don'ts.

Mr.. Robert N. Bell, inspector of
mines for the state of Idaho, in his
annual report, delivers a sermon in
don'ts that should be remembered |
They may we'll be printed in large
type and posted prominently in every
shafihouse, where they may be seen
constantly, for to remember them
is to lessen the number of accidents
that occur in mines, while results
will be generally better. They fol-
low:
Don't start to drill in a new face
until you have thoroughly satisfied
yourself that there is no missed hole
or unexploded pieces Of powder left
in the old butts, or that could angle
into the line you are going to point
hole on.
Don't depend entirely upon re-
ports. 1t often happens that the
upper part Of a charge Of old pow
der will explode and the lower part
remain alive and unexploded with
out cutting-off.
Don't be in too big hurry to go
| back on stinker, or burnt hole, or
to reprime a missed hole; but 1t is
safer to reprime it in an hour, say,
than to work over it for whole
half shift. During the past summer
missed holes at the fsaowstorm mine,
in Shoshone county, and at the Crack
erjack mine, in Idaho county, with
fuse apparently burnt out, and CIV
ing no sign Of life, exploded aftel
standing quiescent for four and one
half hours, badly manning two men
in one instance and one in the 9th
er, who were working over them. A
round sixteen machine holes in a
three compartment vertical shaft zoo
feet deep, at the Thorn mine, near
| Idaho City, last summer, was fired,
and only one report short noticed;
when the round was finally cleared
up it was found that the butts OF
ten of the holes contained from one
to ten inches of uneXploded powder.
The powder used looked all right,
but subsequently proved to have
been in stock for long time Moral:
Demand fresh powder, use strong
caps and good fuse.
i sDOn't use any kind of q metal
tamping bar, or tap a wooden one
with hammer when loading.
Don't jab too hard with a wooden
tamping bar in case a piece of pow.
, der fitches or sticks half way in {
hole when loading, and you canno
push it home gently. Never minc
your reputation as loader. Let hel
2 spoil if it should result in your los
in your job you will have yoursel
e left anyway.
i Don't be a hayseed and carr,
V your powder about your person t
t soften it, or attempt to thaw stlcl
@ in a fame of candle, or crimp
k cap with your teeth, or break sticl
/. in two; cut it, no matter how dull
II your knife is.
l. Don't keep powder and caps O.
) the same box
t. Don't jab a pick into a muc
> pile like driving spike on the rail
n way. You are liable to hit stra
g piece of powder that will explod
n and blow your eyes out. Such an acc
Is dent has happened within a yea
n Use your pick to work the stuff dow
1T with a mere raking motion. 1t
1t safer and just as effective.
te Don't take naked light into
IS storage place for powder or sui
or magazines; leave 1t at the entranc
ar as far back as it will serve the pu
I'd pose.
at Don't take these admonitions tc
te much to heart, but bear them CO.
Ill stantly in mind. With all the risl
}" Of mining occupation including tt
re handling Of powder, they are l
greater than those of trainment, r
st quire no more mechanical skill, az
ch with reasonably careful handli'
ep and intelligent precautions the pre-
n ent source Of accidents in Idal
ch mines ought to be reduced very m
y terially."
I'LL