The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-07
MINE EXPLOSIONS AND LOW PRESSURE Theorists Think the Barometer
 Plays Its Part ALABAMA SH0WSCONTRARY Mine Inspector Gray Thinks Some Sort of Magnetic Disturbance Always Accompanies Explosions-He
 Talks of Investigations.
ALABAMA SHOWSCONTRARY

HilinB experts regarding the cause of mine explosions and the probable con l nection of the barometric conditions of the atmosphere at the time of these ex- | plosions. In pursuit of these investiga- tions the Engineering and Mining Jour- nal of New York city, has written to Chief Mine Inspector J. M. Gray of this city, asking him to furnish data on at mospheric conditions and mine explosions in this section covering period of three years.
 The theory as promulgated by some sci entists is that mine explosions occur at the time of low atmospheric pressure and it appears that this theory has been borne out by Investigations of conditions prevailing at the time of explosions in certain mining districts and the investi- gators have. therefore, been led to con clude that atmospheric pressure has had something to do with these explosions.
 Inspector Gray yesterday secured the necessary data concerning the barometer readings at the time of the mine explo- sions that have occurred since 1903 in this district from W. F. Lehman, local weather forecaster, but he finds much to the surprise of himself and Mir Leh- man that the mine disasters that occurred in this state were all attended by high barometric readings, which tends to dis prove the theories advanced.
 Four mining disasters have occurred in the mining district of Alabama with in the past four years, one each year ano, it is a remarkable fact that all have occurred at nearly the same period in each year, three in February and one in January The first on which data is on January 8, 1903, in which four men were killed. the baromteter reading for that day as shown by local weather bureau records being 3OOs.
 At Hargrove, Bibb county. on February 26, 1904 mine explosion occurred. three men being killed. This explosion too,. place at 10 p. m, the barometer indicat- ing 5000 inches that day. The next explosion was the most disastrous on record, at the Virginia mine, on Feb ruary 20, 1905, in which Ill men lost their lives. The barometer read 30.21 on that day. The last explosion was at the Piper mine in Blob county at D. m, Feb ruary 27, 1906, which caused the deaths of eleven men. The barometer reading for that day was 90.19
 Has No Conviction.
 MT. Gray said yesterday In discussins the question, that he was led to believe by the local records that barometric pres sure had no connection with the mine explosions, so far as this district is con cerned at any rate. He said, however that according to the records given by the Engineering and Mining Journal that there appeared to be low barometric con ditions attendant upon mining disasters in other parts Of the country.
 'The investigations of mine explosions, '' continued MT. Gray, have shown pecu- liar and vastly different conditions at tendant upon the disasters and the theory that atmospheric conditions had some thing to do with these disasters was ad- vance1 several years ago, but the sub- ject has not been thoroughly investigated and scientists are now taking the matter up for settlement of the question and to find out what safeguards may be thrown around the miner.
 "One peculiar fact noted about the Virginia mine disaster was that every watch possessed by one of the ill-fated miners stopped at the time of the ex- plosions, which was just about o'clock in the afternoon. It is certain that the force of the explosion could not have stopped all the watches, some of which were on the bodies of the dead miners and others in the pockets of coats lying scattered or hung up, some distance from the center of disturbance.
 Prom this fact I have been led to believe that a magnetic disturbance was connected with this explosion and possi- bly with other mine disasters. In many cases the cause of the disaster is never definitely determined for explosions oc- cur in the best ventilated mines. Some occur in dry mines, losing their force when the wet part is reached. Others oc- cur In wet mines losing their force when dry sections are reached, so there you are.
 T hope the investigations of mining disasters will result in good to the men employed, but I do not think that the data from this section will help the theo- rists who want the information"