The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-02-20

men on top of the pit and the
surrounding villagers may be
started gwith the roar of an explo
sion which destroyed the whole
population of the mine.
have before me as l write a
case in point, which / tIanscribe:
"MAMioTH MINE. January II.
1881.
GENERAL MANAGER LYNCH:
''This is to certify that the un-
de1signed has this day (January
u, 1919 examined the working
places in the Mammoth Mine of the
I'll. G. Frick Coal and Coke Com.
pany, and fonnd the same to be
in safe condition for the miners
and other workmen employed.
WILLIAM SPAITH, Fire Boss.O
The very same day this exami-
nation and report were made an
explosion occurred, destroying the
whole population of the mine,
with the exception of sixteen of the
miners who were in distant
part of the workings, which the
rolling volume of burning air could
not penetrate.
This Is not an isolated case; it is
common one. The recent ter.
rlble catastrophe at the Monogah
mine in West Virginia is almost a
duplicate of the Mammoth ex.
plOsion.
The safety lamp in genearl use
tor examining mines which give off
ire-damp was discovered by Sir
Humphrey Davy, an eminent
chemist, in the year 1916. 1t con-
s1sts of a small oil lamp enclosed in
cylinder of wire gauze containing
1o4 apertures to the square inch.
The Davy, or some other similar
lamp, constructed on the same
principle, is still in use for examin.
ing mines which generate fire.
damp. When it is lit and comes
in contact with air Astounding in
an explosive mixture of fire damp
the gas kindles in the lamp, but
does not explode the infiammable
air on the outside. until hole is
burned in the gauze.
In the year 1881 an organization
was formed in the office of the
state inspector of mines of Ohio
known as the Ohio Institute of
Mining Engineers. The purpose
OF the Institute was to protect the
development of the mineral re-
sources of the state, improve The
working and ventilation of mines,
raised the social status of the min
ers, and preserve the maps and
plans of abandoned mines.
Through the influence short
course in mining was designed
especially for the technical ed
ucation of young miners who
desire to study mine surveying and
drafting, the problems of ven
tilation, draining and something
OF the sciences allied to the work.
ing and ventilation of mines. The
course was known as the "short
mining course" and covered two
years. The subjects taught was
Algebra. Geometry, Physics, Geo
logy, Drawing, Chemistry, Me
tallurgy and Mine Surveying.
The school is. still well attended
and has turned out many gradu-
ates who has made great success
in their chosen life work. 1t was
confidently expected that at least
some of the gradutes would have
been selected for district and chief
inspectors, after having spent two
years at college at their own ex-
pense, in studying the science
bearing SO directly on mining
engineering and the health and
safety of the miners, but so far as
l know, there has never been an
appointment made of graduate of
the course.
The school was not confined to
citizens of Ohio, and applicants for
admission, who were twenty-on
years of age, were not required to
undergo examination. Some of the
students did not know the multi
plication table; but they persevered
to the end, although it took more
than two years to secure their
certificates. In the last six months
have met three of them, one of