New-York tribune., 1908-12-04
COAL MINING TESTS
Experiments in artificial WOrkings
Feature of Congress.

Pittsburg Dec S-Greater safety in mining, con-
servation in the mining industry. the formal
opening OF the government station for lnNesteatioh
of mine explosions which established here re-
Gently election of three directors addresses oy
James r. Garfield, Secretary of the INTERIOR Dr'
J. A. Holmes. chief OF the technologc branch "f tne
United States Geological Survey; the annual au-
dress of President H. Richards, of Idaho
speeches by well known mine owners ana h1lhe
officials and a reception to the delegates nv the
citizens cf Pittsbucg were some of the features OF
the American Mining Congress here to-day
Coal operators. mine owners engineers. practlcal
miners scientists and national and state onlclalS'
all here for the congress, took part this afternoon
in formal dedication of the federal goNerilnleA,
boratory and testing station recently estaoHSieu
in this city A series of tests in artificial mlne
In which conditions of real mines reproduced so
far as possible, showing the results from various
explosives and from so-caled safety agencies was
the interesting feature of the ceremony. sec
retary James r. Garfield oficiated.
The first test to-day was with safety powder
dry fire clay and bitumnous coal dust, the latter
placed on shelves representing Lodges in real mines.
The powder iignited for the blast and dld not
explode the dust
test, when II pounds of black powder and twenty
pounds of road dust tactuaI mine dust were used
The recoil strong and the flames covered the
full length of the artificial mine. The test proved
the combination be exceedingly dangerous.
At this point experts of the. station appeared
wearing the Draeger oxygen apparatus, including
metal and glass hoods. chemical chamber and air
bag. designed to render breathing normal or nearly
while the operator Is surrounded by the most
deadly gases and vapors The men hurried into
the gallery. still filed with the fumes of the eX-
plosiOn. and apparently were not affected by any
of the gases. This device is designed particularly
for work and used with good results at
Mariana
One of the most important actions today was the
Introduction of resolution providing for tax of
one-half cent a ton all coal mined to provide
for pensions and other relief in mine accidents
John Mitchell. former resident of the Tinted
Mine Workers of America received close attention
when he spoke on conditions in the mines here
and abroad Taking up the subject of fatalities in
the mines Mr.. Mitchell said that provisions should
be made 10 pay every widow Of miner who was
killed in mine $3.50 and injured miner $500
This money. he said. could be obtained through
small tax on the coal that was taken out. and the
tax would be such that II would not bear heavy
on any coal operator, He told Of the experienced
miners formerly employed in the mines, whereas at
present the miners are mostly foreigners and
wholly inexperienced.
A plea for the conservation Of the nations nat
lIral resources above as well below the surface
was made in the annual address of President Rich
ards tonight a session at the Hotel Sohenley,
where regular session was held in connection
with dinner Of the delegates. He said, IN part:
Great waste is going A small percentage of
the effective of coal is obtained but millions
of have been wasted through false mining
We have largely prospered in the pasr by a
wasteful use OF natural bounties, and this has be
effort Scientific and intelligent deve opment
sses eu bersofoTe IN ToeI,e The nroGTSts NJ agr
culture may he renewed the products of the mine,
If there is any method by which the lives Of
underground workers can. be reasonably protected,
Since 1SS9 over thirty thousand miners have been
blown into the other world and more left crippled
in this world. There must be scientific way to
prevent this.