The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-02-21


HEZlZT M MY0EW
ZEizK WORN BY
RECCLZZgES "
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-
fuI 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 'ess peril
ous 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 we're
taken. la the face Of these calami-
Ties the teehnologic branch Of the sur
yey, under the direction Of J. a..
Holmes, is exertlng every energy 10
bring about the immediate installation
of an experiment station for the test
ing of all manner OF explosives used
in mines, with reference 10 their safe
ty in the presence Of mine gases. for
the testing Of safety lamps in the pres
ence Of gases before allowing them 70
10 into the mines. for the testing Of
rescue devices. and the training Of
rescue crews.
The details for the setting up Of
such a station are completed and will
soon be installed. although the site
has not yet been chosen. Il will In
reality be a miniature mine into which
will be artincially introduced an the
horrors that are encountered In the
lonv underground tunnels. The opera
lion OF these under all conceivable
conditions Fdll be scientifically OBJ
served and conclusions drawn as 10
where safety lies and where there Is
danger Under the present laws the
survey has but the power 70 point out
safety and danger. and no means to
enforce observance of necessary pre-
cautions. but. the experts hold, the
lesson that has been learned abroad
may. through the repetition Of The hor
rOrs. be brought home 70 America IN
such way that the safeguards o
France or Belgium may be thrown
around the American miner.
Clarence Hail. explosive expert, Il
the head Of a corps Of investigation
that have rushed TO all the disasters
that have occurred IN the past year o.
more. with the Idea Of ascertaininl
their cause. He has just returnel
from the Darr mine on Jacobs creek
where hundreds Of men have died Il
Tho tunnels and their bodies are stil
being taken out He penetrated fur
ther into that mine than any Of IN
rescuers dared to 90. he beln
equipped with an apparatus excludln
the fire damp and at the same tim
generating oxygen. He brought on
samples Of The gases Of the mine 70
analysis and much correlative info
nation.
II is upon the conclusions these me
have reached and the dangers iha
they report that the experiment 50
ton Is to Be established The cente
and most important portion Of the stl
ton viii be the explosives gallerl
p which viii be 100 feet long and 81
feet In diameter. 1t will be made
boiler plate. with q huge cannon
one end set directly into the CALLER
and used 10 set on the explosives.
There win be portfolios to allow n
escape Of too great explosives powe
and there win be thick glass portlor
through which the observers ms
watch what Is going on within.
There viii De arranged an observ
fion house so feet away. and from th
the evperimenters will watch the ha
penings IN the huge tunnellike eyli
der. Gases win be injected into a
explosives gallery. Tho natural gas
III the mines. are damp. and coal du
win be mixed with air IN varying pr
portions. Then into this mixture W
be hurled all manner Of explosive
Any explosive that win cause an lgI
slon or explosion Of the air and gas
contained IN the explosives gale
would Be unsafe 70 use In the min
for It might have a similar enc
there When the volieying OF a giy'
explosive leaves the gases slill und
turbcd It Is safe IN the mines. N
size Of the charge that may be used
these coal dusts and FIRE damps will
accurately obtained
While abroad Mr. Hall found th
there vas a very careful testing
safety lamps before they were allow
10 go into the mines In these te.
the various gases were allowed
pass through the lamps to determi
whether or not they would ign
Ahom. Of ell the lamps be say test