The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-17
To PROTECT MINERS
FROM SUDDEN DEATH
Government Preparing to Make
Life More Secure in Coal
Regions.
TO HAVE EXPERIMENT MADE
Death Roll in West Virginia
Alone Demands New
System.
TO HAVE EXPERIMENT MADE
by WALTER EDWARD HARRIS.


WASHINGTON. D. c.. June 1s.-The
Geological Survey experts OF the fuel
division propose to undertake series
of experiments with view to putting
an end to the appalling loss OF life in
coal mines. The plans for an expert
ment station, unique in civil life in
this country, and only approximately
.paralleled by army and navy investi-
gators. have been prepared At this
station tests OF powder. dynamite.
nitro ely cerine, and other high explos-
ives OF various kinds, will be hurled
into large boiler plate cylinder. filled
with gas. and the effects will be care
fully noted. II ignition OF the gas
fails after these severe tests. the ex-
plosives used will be known as per
Missile explosives" and mine owners
will be urged to use them.
In addition to these experiments.
others in rescue work will be con-
Quoted in miniature mine in one part
of the station. 1t is claimed that In
many mine disasters hundreds Of lives
could be saved were 1t only possible
for rescuers to enter Immediately after
the accidents. The deadly fre-damp
holds back those who would save their
comrades imprisoned In the shafts and
drifts.
The government experts have col
lected appalling figures. showing the
death rate In coal mines. In West
Virginia alone. in the month of jan
uary, 1907. 103 miners lost their lives
in two explosions. From the 9Th Of
March. 1900. to May l, 1907, no less
than 315 men lost their lives In eight
explosions In the coal mines OF West
Virginia. OF course. the total number
Of men killed In the mines Of the
State in that period was much greater.
Death Roll In Pennsylvania.
The total death roll Of tho mines
of Pennsylvania last year was 500, or
which 250 died as the result OF eXplo-
sions Of gas or dust. It is the object
Of the experts Of the geological sur
vey to reduce these accidents to the
minimum, according to DR.. ]. A.
Holmes. chief Of the Fuel Testing Blu
reau.
DR.. Holmes says that their inves :
LEGATIONS thus far have revealed the
fact that the United States Is behind
Europe in the matter OF safeguarding
the lives Of miners. England and Bel
GUM have for years conducted exper-
iments for the purpose OF ascertainins
the eccentricities Of high explosives.
and the findings have been or great
advantage to mine operators. who nave
applied them in the protection OF hui
man life.
In England there are number OF
"permissible explosives. and these
must be used by miners IN blasting
coal, and nothing else. They also have
in England what Is known as the
"limit charge" which must not be ex-
ceeded on pain Of severe penalty. In
90. mr. raru1a tfN
regarding the kind OF powder to be
used, and the size OF the charge which
NAV be employed. The regulations
IN such States as have them are very
few.
The results OF experiments In Ger
man show conclusively that the ma
tority Of the worst accidents come from
the explosion Of gas or coal dust. Many
arise from the latter The worse ex-
plosion In German mines for years was
the one at the Reden mines. where
nearly 200 lives were lost. The ex-
plosion resulted from gas tsnited. The
accident at tho Courrieres mines at
Pas dc Calais. France. In March OF
last year, resulting In the loss OF 1900
lives, was probably due to coal dust.
Natural Gas for Test.
But to return to the projected ex-
pertinent station. 1t VIII probably De
located somewhere in the Pittshurg
district, so that natural gas may be
used for testing purposes. It is the
purpose OF the projectors to build q
great cylinder or boiler plate. 100 feet
long and feet In diameter. lying on
the ground.
An explosive mixture Of fire and air
in one case and coal dust and air in
another will be pumped into the cylin-
der. ana the explosive to be tested will
be shot into it from one end by means
Of big steel mortar, SO that the fame
and products of combustion will pass
into the fire. damp. Safety valves will
be placed along the top OF the cylinder.
SO that when there Is an explosion
these will ny open and prevent the de-
struction OF the cylinders. Along tho
side vii, be series Of portfolios, COW
cred with glass half an inch thick.
through which those In the observa-
ton houso may watch the effects Of the
explosion. The observation-ho will
be sixty feet away and the mortar
which will hurl the explosive will be
fired by electricity from the house. In
which will be the officials testing the
material and invited operators and
miners.
In order that the effect OF, the OK
plosions. IL there are any, may be fully
ohsarVed piece of oil paper Will be