The Washington herald., 1908-06-28

Beginning August T. the United States
government viii undertake TO show that
the lives OF the men who mine coal can
be protected from the deadly effect Of
hre-damp, and that coal can be mined
without the terrible loss OF life through
explosions that have appalled, the coun-
try during the last few years.
The Department Of the Interior will. on
July ], erect an experimental station at
the government arsenal al Pittsburg. and
commence q series OF scientific investiga-
uons into the causes Of disasters in
American coal mines. in the hope that
the mortality may be reduced TO a mini
mum. The Investigations are 70 be gem
eral and national in their character. They
viii apply In each of the forty States
having important mining industries
Money Available for Work.
Congress. in the early part Of last ses-
sion. passed what is known as the Hem
enway amendment TO the legislative ap-
preparation bill. making an appropriation
of $4,000 for this work. and the money
Is now available.
The purpose of the bill and Of the In
terror Department is to determine. by
scientific Investigations and research. the
cause Of mine accidents. mine explosions
from gas, dust, &c; the nature extent
and origin Of these gases and other ex-
plosive materials In mines; influence Of
electricity in causing mine explosions: :
conditions under which electricity may be
safely used in mines; causes Of mine
fires; possible methods of preventing
mine accidents, mine fires Sc. nature
and extent of waste in mines. possibilities
of introducing more efficient mining
methods: the quantity of each Of the ex-
pl0Sives which it may be safe 10 use in
the presence Of coal dust. gas, &c. and
all other considerations and conditions IN
the mining industry in all its branches
and in all kinds of mines. looking to a
betterment of the industry.
Appalling Mortality I'm 1907.
This action was considered necessary
because Of the fact that the terrible NOR
tality record Of last year is being con-
tinued into this year, although 1907 was
considered an unusual one. $500 being
killed in the coal mines, against 2,O61 the
year before.
From unofficial estimates, It appears
that sixteen men have been killed or
injured each work day OF the year. But
a few weeks ago twenty-three miners
were killed and thirty injured in and
about Wilkesbarre, Pa
Last December the entire nation was
shocked by the news Of four explosions
in coal mines, in which 500 lives were
sacrificed. one Of these explosions. at
Monongah, W. Va. In which 3j6 lives
were lost, was the greatest catastrophe
Of its kind known 10 the history OF
American mining. The explosion at the
Darr mine in Pennsylvania cost 80 lives.
and Is another Of the notable disasters
of the country.
The total number Of men killed in the
coal mines in the United States for each
year from 1889 TO 1906 follows:
Eighteen hundred and ninety, 701; 1891,
LOG: 1892. $50: 1898, 965: 1894. 957: 1895,
l.O57: 1886. 1.13O; 1887, 947 1895, 1O49 1899,
l,2l3; 1900. / 49, 1901. 1874; 1902, 1.S2S; 1903,
1.79i; 1904. 1893; 1906 2.O97; 1906. 2.O6l. To-
tai. 22.S4O.
Il will be noted that as many violent
deaths have occurred IN the coal mines
Of the United States during the last six
years as during the preceding eleven