The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-23
TRYING 7 0 SAVE
LIVES OF MINERS.
Government to Begin Series Of
Investigations Into Causes
OF Disasters.
WILL TEST EXPLOSIVES
Results to Be Published Tor Bcne-
WILL TEST EXPLOSIVES
Results to Be Published for Bcne-
fit Of Operators and
Worklnen.
Times-Dispatch Bureau.
M,,nsov y1u,iJ,,

Washington. y. c., June 90.
In few weeks the government will
begin series of Investigations into
the causes OF disasters in American
coal mines, in the hope or reducing the
present frightful mortality among
miners. Some OF the experiments,
which will be conducted on the grounds
OF the arsenal in Pittsburg, will be
picturesque in the extreme. Secretary
Garfield said to-day tina, the Depart
ment of the Interior would have a COM
plete experimental station In operation
at the arsenal By the lst of August.
Prompt Action necessary.
The legislative appropriation bill this
year carried an Item OF $4,000 for
the purpose OF conducting these ex-
perimcnts. and the department has
been moving with great rapidly in
order to begin the work at as early
date as possible.
Prompt action was considered neces-
sary because the terrible mortality
record OF last year is being continued
into this year, although 1907 was re-
garded as an unusual one $500 per-
sons being killed in the coal mines MS
against 2,061 the year before. From
unofficial estimates 1t appears that
sixteen men have been killed or In
cured each work day OF the year. Just
tho other week. twenty three miners
were killed and thirty were injured
IN and about Wflesbarre, Pa.
How II VIII he Done.
AT the Pittsburg experimental sta
tion, tests OF the various dynamites
and powders used In blasting coal Will
be made to determine accurately their
safety in the presence OF the deadly
Iredamp and equally deadly coal dust
That part OF the experimental station
in which the explosives are to be test
cd Will be In the form of cylinder,
100 feet long and six feet In diameter
lying on the ground.
An explosive mixture OF fire damp
and air in one case or coal dust and
air in another Will be pumped into
the cylinder, and the explosive TO be
Tested will be shot into 1t from one
End by big steel mortar, SO that the
flame and products OF combustion will
go right into the explosives.
Pittsburg was selected as the site
for the station because the govern
ment Is already in possession of avail
Able land and buildings there. The
tite Is especially favorable because 1t
is In the heart OF the Eastern coal
fields, and in the State where 151i
In 1907 fncarly half the total for the
entire United Statesp. 1t is also an
advantage to have natural gas easily
pbtainable. as II corresponds more
nearly to fire damp than any other.
Watch II From Distance.
The cylinder in which the explosives
are TO occur will be. made OF heavy
boiler plate safety valves VIII be
placed all along the top and will be
left unfastened In such Il manner that
Whenever there is an explosion the
valves Will fly open upon their hinges.
y series of port holes on the s!des. covered
with one half inch glass. Will enable those
conducting tho experiments to witness the
explosions from the observation house sixty
feet away. The steel mortar. which Will
fired BY electricity from the observation
house. which is to be parallel With the
cylinder itself.
While these tests are being conducted
operators and miners Will be present. In
order that they may be able TO see clearly
the explosions OF gas or dust, a piece of oil
paper will be placed across the face of one
OF the safety valves with a piece OF gun
cotton suspended about six inches away.
When an explosion occurs the flames Will
burn the oil paper and ignite the gun cot
ton.
In connection with the experimental sta
ton there Will be a miniature mine with
drifts, headings. rooms and ladders. This
place will be filled with smoke or gas, and
experiments will be made with apparatus
capable OF sustaining life in these vapors.
Miners Will be taught how 10 wear the APP
pcratus and how TO save their comrades who /
an explosion. 1t is believed that with some
ouch apparatus in use last December. when
500 men were killed in four mine explosions. |
number of the Victims might have been
saved had they been reached In time. AS
II is now, following an explosion with the
mine filled with poisonous vapors, no one
VII venture In for come time after the ac-
cident. sad illustration Of this is seen In |
the explosion at Hanna. Wyoming. on March
rs. In which seventy miners were killed. No
one has Yet entered the mine. the bodies be-
Ing still there.
Instructions for Miners.
The investigations will be conducted by a |
trained mining engineer, experienced in sucn
work. The station itself will be in charge
OF Clarence Hall, the governments explo- !
sives expert. with DR.. Walter o. Smelling as
explosives chemist.
The results OF the Investigations will be
published for the benefit of the mine
bureaus of the various coal-producing States,
the mine owners and the miners themselves
Simple instructions will be issued from time
TO time to the miners In half a dozen diff I
ferent languag es- There Is no Intention OF I
in any way with the inspection
work OF the State bureaus. It is the pur-
pose of the United States officials to CO.
operate with these bureaus to the extent OF
supplying information.
CAPTAIN M'CPEA III