The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-03-19
INCOMPETENT
LEGISLATURE
And High Officials Responsible for
the Murder of the Miners in
West Virginia Coal Mines.


West Virginia Coal Mines.
Editor Labor Argus:-If you
will allow me space in your valu-
able paper I will try and point out
to the State officials how explosions
In coal mines may be brought down
to the lowest possible minimum.
There has been lot said and writ
ten of late in regard to coal dust
explosions and the writer will give
a brief test on coal dust. The best
gas coal in the country was gotten
and pulverised to as fine a dust as
was possible and then thrown down
q shaft l24O feet and an open shot
fired which caused a flame of Is
feet, the amount of black powder
being 2 pounds, another shot of
pounds was fired with more than
double the amont of dust in the
shaft, the result was no explosion
though the flames extended to 40
feet, so much for coal dust explosi-
ons. 1t is the writer's belief that
there can be no explosion without
gas. What about the -four mill
explosions, did you ever hear of a
flour mill explosion that had vcnti-
lators In the top to allow the gas to
escape that was given off by the
grain IN process of making flourf
There is no doubt but that coal
dust will add materially to an ex-
plosion of gas. In the last article
1 wrote for your paper I gave the
names OF gases that should be I'M
derstood by the miners and more
especially by those in charge of the
mines and also the means Of remoy-
ing them.
Now in the model mines ard
that those boosted of large quaint
ties of air passing in them, do thew
know the three laws of ventilation.
90 they know how to split the air
and regulate it to the best adyan-
tage, do their men know and where
TO place their regulators in the
mines so as to remove any gas that
Is given off Some operators admit
that a ''little'' gas exists in their
mines. Well, what is the little
gas1 1 would like it explained. I
will cite case that once came I'M
der my notice, man was working
in a room just 20 feet from the
| break-through, the boss was in
formed that a little gas existed,
and came to investigate it, he said
light it up'; the man was rather
afraid, but after filling a car he put
his lamp on the needle and stood
IN the break through and Gilt it
up" the result was that all the
doors were blown out and the shock
felt half mile away four men lost
their lives. Just a little gas: if
the BOSS could have ventilated the
mines he should have removed the
gas. 1 am afraid that these model
mines are much the same.
| About air inspectors, 1 will ask
II any OF them can solve the fol-
lowing questions: Two air-ways.
A and B are the following dimen.
sions, A is feet high and feet
wide, B is 6 feet high and - feet
wide. if A is 200 yards long, what
should B be, SO that the velocities
and pressure may be the same in
the two drifts7 What pressure
per square foot does one inch OF
water gauge represent and how do
you get it, Now to the Governor
and Senate, where ever little gas
is found in a mine law should he
passed that no naked lights shall
be used or shots fired with powder:
only carbonite used and shot firers
employed. If this law is not pass
ed then the death of miners by an
explosion stands charged to you
and you are RESPONSIBLE from the
fact that you have given the opera
tors the privilege to commit
murder. and compensation should
be paid the widows and orphans.
Now, miners it is up to you to re-
Ileve these white livered beings on
the mine investigating committee
who reported that there was no
need for better mining laws for the
safety of your lives from the posi-.
lions they hold and put men in
their places from your own ranks:
remember it matters not whether
they are democrats or republicans:
get men of worth that will consider
your welfare. One more word.
mine workers of the state, vote for
your own men and those that have
been friends. Remember that your