Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1908-02-28

An experiment station for the test
ing of mine explosives and the study
ing of appliances and methods where
by mining can be made safer. Why
not? Surely the memory OF the aw-
full catastrophes which closed the year
emphasize the need of such efforts to
make the work Of the those who delve |
in the bowels of the earth less peril |
GUS occupation. But these disasters |
have only sustained the prophecies
of the experts of the United States
Geological Survey, who have persist
emily maintained that conditions
would grow steadily worse until dras-
tic measures of supervision were
taken. In the face of these calami-
ties the technologic branch OF the sur
vey, under the direction of j. A.
Holmes, is exerting every energy to
bring about the immediate installation
of an experiment station for the test
ing of all manner of explosives used
in mines, with reference to their safe
ty in the presence of mine gases, for
the testing of safety lamps in the pres
| ence of gases before allowing them to
20 into the mines, for the testing of
rescue devices, and the training of
rescue crews.
The details for the setting up of
such station are completed and will
soon be installed, although the site
has not yet been chosen. 1t will In
reality be miniature mine into which
will be artificially introduced all the
horrors that are encountered in the
long underground tunnels. The opera
ton of these under all conceivable
conditions will be scientifically OBJ
served and conclusions drawn as tc
where safety lies and where there is
danger Under the present laws the
survey has but the power to point out
safety and danger, and no means tt
enforce observance OF necessary pre-
cautions, but, the experts hold, tht
lesson that has been learned abroad
may, through the repetition of the hor
rors, be brought home to America II
such a way that the safeguards o
France or Belgium may be throw
around the American miner.
Clarence Hall, explosive expert, /
!. the head of a corps OF investigator
that have rushed to all the disaster
that have occurred in the past year
! more, with the idea Of ascertainin
:. their cause. He has just returne
from the Darr mine on Jacobs creel
where hundreds OF men have died l
!, the tunnels and their bodies are stf
:. being taken out. He penetrated fu
. Their into that mine than any of tn
rescuers dared to go, he bein
+ equipped with an apparatus excludin
! the fire damp and at the same tim
generating oxygen. He brought o,
= samples of the gases of the mine Il
: analysis and much correlative info
a nation.
q 1t is upon the conclusions these me
@ have reached and the dangers thi
s. they report that the experiment st
IS ton Is to be established. The cent
1t and most important portion of the st
IT ton will be the explosives CALLER
le which will be 100 feet long and s
i'd feet in diameter. It will be made
Y. boiler plate, with a huge cannon
to one end set directly into the gale
r. and used to set off the explosives.
n There will be portfolios to allow t
at escape of too great explosives pow'
US and there will be thick glass porto
Ia through which the observers m
he watch what is going on within.
We There will be arranged an obser'
IS. ton house so feet away, and from Il
Nd the experimenters will watch the h;
20 penings In the huge, tunnel-like Cyl
Is der. Gases will be injected into
90 explosives gallery. The natural gas
an of the mines. fire damp, and coal d.
~; will be mixed with air in varying p
~ portions. Then into this mixture y
up be hurled all manner OF explosiV
It's Anv explosive that will cause an ie
GU ton or explosion of the air and gal
contained in the explosives gall
ca would be unsafe to use in the mi
ne for It might have similar en-
VI there. When the yolleying OF a gil
yer exnlosiye leaves the gases still uni
'oo turbed 1t is safe in the mines.
ce: size of the charge that may be, used
u these coal dusts and fire damps VIII
accurately obtained.
al. While abroad Mr.. Hall found t
~ there was a very careful testing
esa safety lamps before they were allo'
~. to go into the mines. In these Il
~ tbs various gases were allowed
,air pass through the lamps to detern
aIa whether or not they would igl
them. OF all the lamps he saw ties