Evening star., 1908-01-10
TO MAKE MINING SAFE
Intention of Owners and
Operators Meeting Here.
ORGANIZE AN ASSOCIATION
Will Prosecute Inquiry as to Causes
of Explosions.
HOLD ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Agreement to Levy Tax on Menu
bers-Appeal to Congress for
Suitable Appropriation.
ORGANIZE AN ASSOCIATION
HOLD ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Fully determined that no saving Of
trouble or expense shall deter them from
probing 10 the bottom the causes Of the
recent disastrous mine explosions i'm their
state and elsewhere. nor from applying
the proper remedies. once the causes are
ascertained. over three-Score mine owners.
and operators of West Virginia in special
convention assembled in this city yester-
day. formed a permanent organization to
be known the West Virginia Mining
Association. Further than this the new
association pledged itself to the contribu-
ton of a considerable sum of money an
nually 10 carry forward private research
work. and also adopted resolutions calling
on all of West Eirginia's representatives
in Congress 10 use their best efforts to-
secure appropriations for the geological
survey sufficient to enable that bureau To-
prosecute a detailed inquiry as to the
cause of explosions in coal mines.
II Is said to be even among the proha-
bilit!es of the near future that the organ
ization by West Virginia coal operators
Will find imitation in other states and the
ultimate result may he the formation of "a
national association devoted to the end OF
safeguarding the lives of men engaged in
the production of coal in underground
mines.
Form an Association.
Permanent organization was effected by
the opera tors by the election of the fol-
| lowing officers: President. William y.
Page of Washington: secretary. Neil Rob-
| inson of Charleston, w. Va. and treas
urer. IL. q. Caperton. BY resolution the
association determined to tax it's MEM
bers in the ratio of - cents for each 1.O1
tons of coal production. and this will
mean an annual contribution to the cause
of between 5000 and $1,000.
1t was adopted the principle of the
West Virginia Mining Association that
The primary object of this association
is the formulation of plans for the gen.
eral betterment and advancement of the
mining industry in West Virginia: the
dissemination of literature relating to un-
derground conditions; the conduct of tests
of explosives. ventilating systems and
mining machipery, and to take such
ton may be right and proper on any
and all other things that may promote the
welfare of operators and their employees"
In statement explanatory of the prin-
ciple thus laid down. President Page de-
clared the mining association Is and in
tends 10 be entirely non-partisan. except
that IL proposes to use all its influence
upon members of Congress of both par
ties TO secure sufficient financial support
Tor the scientific work of the govern
ment's departments in mining inquiry.
The association proposes to keep rigidly
aloof from any attempts to alter market
conditions or enter into questions arising
between capital and labor its sole object
being the preservation of the lives of men
engaged in underground work. Mr.. Page
also declared the mines in which recent
disasters occurred were among the best
equipped and most carefully conducted in
the country-mneS which would have met
the requirements of the mining laws OF
any country in the world.
Sense of the Meeting.
All mining interests of West Virginia
We're represented al the meeting. in the
gathering being either the owners or
operators of nearly every one OF the 200
mines in West Virginia. The sense of the
meeting was included i'm the resolutions,
| which will be sent To senator's and repre-
sentatives from West Virginia in Com
greSs. setting forth:
That the senator's and representatives
of the state of West Virginia be earnest
~ requested to their best efforts
toward providing the geological survey
with a sufficient appropriation To enable
that bureau of the government 10 ascer-
tain far possible the causes under
lying these disasters. and when these
have been determined 10 recommend prop
er remedies for the saving of life. and
which we pledge ourselves to carry out
in good faith regardless of cost.
That at present We are at total loss
To account for many of these disasters
which have occurred in The best regulated
mines in the country, such as have been
garded heretofore as absolutely safe bE
the owners and managers who have
spared no expense. and by the mine in
spectors Of the several states. and after
a full conference with the United States
government experts who have carefully
investigated these disasters they are un-
able 10 throw any light upon the subject
at the present time.
THAT the United States government
should take the necessary steps to deter
mine the causes before any attempt is
made 10 apply legislative remedies. and
when the causes have been asccrtaincd
and the remedies suggested we pledge
ourselves 10 cooperate with the national
Congress and state legislatures in the
framing and passing of any proper and
effective legislation for the protection Of
life or property which may result advan-
tagcously 10 the national government,
states. labor and capital
Proceedings Wednesday Afternoon.
Addresses at the meeting Wednesday
afternoon were made by Director j. Otis
Smith. DR.. j. a. Holmes and Clarence
Hall Of the geological survey: \. +. Flem-
ing. former governor of West Virginia;
john J. rierney and |. +. 'Tierney OF Pow
hatan. w. Va: Samuel Dixon of Mac
Donald. W. Va: b. F. Bush of Baltimore.
president Oh the western Maryland Coal
Company. j. w. Heron of Hinton. w. Va.
and others. Neil Robinson. secretary OF
the convention, and mining expert Of
Charleston. w. Va. discussed the objects
of the gathering and the remarks Of other
speakers. saying. in part:
Within the past twelve fifteen
months the mining industry OF the United
States has suffered from series of cN-
plosions and disasters the like of which
had heretofore been unknown i'm this coun-
try. These accidents have not been linn
tied to any one state or district. and their
frequency makes il clear that there are
conditions affecting the mining of coal
with which the operators have never had
experience Some of the best managed
and best equipped mines in tile United
States have been sufferers from these eX-
plosions.
1T was with a rcalization of the neces-
sity for SOLVING the problems and finding
WAYS and means To prevent such dis
asterS in the future that "A call for the
meaing was issued. Director Smith OF
the geological survey has given us assur-
ance that a series OF experiments with
explosives and explosive gases will be
carried on as rapidly the appropria
tons by Congress will permit. All of the
speakers have endeavored TO throw light
on the causes of mine disasters but each