The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-13
PLAN TO- ROTECTCOAL MINERS
TESTS no BE MADE or THE Va
RIOTS EXPLOSIVES.
Also Experiments In Rescue Work The
Fuel Division OF the Geological Survey
to Establish an Experiment Station.
Where the Teats VIII he Made.

Fuel DIVISION OF uue O~eOioBicai survey
to Establish an Experiment station.
whNe the TeSts VIII he Made.
WASHINGTON. May Undetermined en-
deavors to stop the loss Of human lives in
the coal mines OF the United States are to
he made by the fuel division Of the Geologi-
cal Survey. Plans have been drawn for q
unique experimental station at which tests
Of the various dynamites and powders
used in blasting coal will he made to ac-
c~urately determine their safety in the
presence OF the deadly fire damPand equally
deadly coal gas. Explosives OF all sorts
will he hurled by means OF IL mortar into
a mammoth boiler plate cylinder, which
has previously been filled with gas, and the
effects will be carefully noted. II ignition
fails after severe tests the explosives will
be known az permissible explosives and
their use will he urged upon the mine owners
Of the country.
In addition there will be important ex-
periments in rescue work. Ont part OF a
station will be fitted up as a miniature
coal mine, and miners and operators will
he taught the art Of saving the lives OF
fellow men. 1t Ia declared that in serious
gas explosions in mines hundreds Of lives
could be saved we're il possible for the
rescue party TO enter after the accident.
As il is now the deadly fredamp often
holds the men back for hours. while their
comrades are slowly being sutfocated or
burned TO death. Government experts have
found an apparatus in Europe which, when
worn by the members of Il rescue party,
enables them to enter any place where there
is gas without danger to themselves. AT
the experimental station the miniature
mine will be filled with dense smoke and
practical demonstrations IN the saving OF
life with this apparatus will be made.
we intend 10 begin the erection OF this
station within a few weeks said j. A.
Holmes. chief OF the chronological Branch
be no end to the gas and coa dust explosions
in mines. Instead Of growing less, these
horrors appear to he multiplying,
From our Investigations so far the
United States is behind Europe in safe
guarding the ives OF the men in the mines.
England and Belgium have for years had
splendid experimental stations, and in
these countries there are few casualties
in the mines. TIL Belgium mines are
notorious for the presence OF firedsmp,
yet that country has enjoyed a wonderful
immunity from these terrible explosions.
"As a result Of the experiments in Eng
land there are a number Of what are known
as permissible explosives, and these and
no Others must be used by the miners in
the blasting Of coal. They have in Eng
land also what is known as the limit charge
which must not be exceeded on pain Of
severe penalty,
SIn the various States here there are
few regulations and none In many States
when il comes 10 the kinds Of powder to
be used, While we cannot compel the
adoption Of regulations we will conduct
the Investigations and will give the facts
to the public in the hope that great good
may follow
Clarence Hall, explosive expert for the
Government, who has charge of the plans
for the proposed experimental station,
recently returned from England and Bel
GUM, where he examined the stations
there. In these and other European coun-
tries the mine owners, the miners, the
Government and the manufacturer of
explosives all cooperate in the effort to
prevent explosions. The result of these
experiments goes TO show that a large num-
Der OF the explosions in coal mines are due
to coal dust rather than gas.
That part OF the experimental station
in which the explosives are TO be tested
will be in the form Of a cylinder, 100 feet
long and six feet in diameter, lying on the
ground, An explosive mixture Of fire
damp and air in one case, or coal dust and
air in another. will ba pumped into the
cylinder, and the explosive to be tested
steel mortar 30 that the fame and prod
ucts Of combustion will 60 right into the
fire damp. IL the station is erected within
the Pittsburg coal district, as has been
suggested, natural gas will be used for
testing purposes. While these tests are
being conducted operators and miners will
be invited to be present.