Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-10
OF MINES MEET
-S4ss9G.g1
They Organize 10 Take Steps To
Prevent Accidents In Future.
WEST V|RGINI4Hs N The LEAD
Ex-Gov. Flemmlng, MIR. 3. F. Bush and
Others Make Addresses at Wash.
lnston CONFERENCE.-THE Do All That
Lies Within Their Power.
tBy Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Jan. o.
Prominent coal operators from the
principal coal.producing states of the
East gathered in Washington to dis.
cuss the recent mining disasters and
the best methods to preserve the lives
of miners.
Inc meeting was ut the invitation
OF the West Virginia operators. who
at an earlier, meeting decided upon
| me formation of state association.
.he details to be submitted ut Il meet
ing TO be held tomorrow morning. 1t
is expected that other states renre
, scented will form like associations the
! purpose OF all being to guard against
accidents In the coal mines. These
associations will appoint permanent
committees for research. investirn
ton and will cooperate with the
| United States Geological Survey and
other technical departments of the
government. They will also furnish
accurate information in connection
| win mining and mining conditions
| when called for by Congress or the
| state legislatures. The chief object
OF these associations. according 10 the
| operators. will be not to oppose prom
or legiSlation lat to promote any
| practical legislation for the prescrya
tion or life and the prevention of min.
Ing disasters, regardless of expense
or regulations.
| Al the meeting a temporary organi.
cation was effected, with william n
Page. OF Washington, as chairman and
Mel Robinson. of Charleston. w. Va
MS secretary. The committee recon-.
mended that n permanent organiza-
ton be effected ana that these men
serve as officers. Another meeting
VIII be held tomorrow, at which the
permanent organization will be com.
pleted
Addresses were made by Director
j. Oils Smith. DIR. j. A. Holmes and
Clarence Hall, all OF the Geological
survey; a. b. Fleming. former COVER
nor OF West Virginia; John j. Tierney,
OF Powhatan. w, Va; Samuel Dixon,
OF Macdonald. w. Va: B. f. Bush. of
baltimore. president of the Western
MARYLAND Railroad Company; ]. w.
heron. OF Hinton. w. Va. and others.
III discussing the object of the gath.
erhg' MIR. Neil Robinson. secretary
Oh 'he convention and n West Vir.
sinia mining expert. said:
within the last twelve or fifteen
months the mining industry of the
United States has suffered from SO.
ries OF explosions and disasters. the
IKE OF which has heretofore been I'M,
known In this country. These acct.
dents have not been limited to one
state or district. The frequency of
these disasters has made clear to the
operators that there are conditions in
liuencing the industry with which they
nave never had any. experience. Some
OF the hest equipped and best man.
aged mines In the United States have
been sufferers from these explosions.
"Realizing the necessity for SOLVING
ne problem and finding methods for
me prevention. so far as may he pos.
sible. OF explosions in the future. n
call was recently issued for the as.
sembling Of representative operators
from all over the country in order
that they might confer with tho az.
perts of the United States Geological
Survey and discuss ways and means
for hetterment of conditions.
AT the meeting assurance was
given by Director Smith. of the
Geological Survey. that tho worl. OF
me government experts who nre ex.
perimenting with explosives aud tx.
plosive gases. will be continued with
MS much vigor as the appropriations
made by Congress will permit. The
entire time of the convention was
given over to discussion of means for
the preservation OF life underground. -