The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-01-02
FOR MINE SAFETY.
Rescue Stations Planned for
the Coal Districts
SCHEME Of THE GOVERNMENT
Experts Are to Train Mine Crews in
the Use of the Oxygen Helmet and
Other Devices to Reduce Number
Of Fatalities.

Washington, Dec. 2S.-Carrying out
its efforts to reduce the number of ia
talities in coal mines, the United States
geological survey is about to establish
rescue stations in the principal coal
fields Of the country, in addition to the
experiment station now located at
Pittsburg.
The new stations will be at or near
the greatest centers of accidents and
it will be the purpose of the experts
to teach the miners and mine bosses
how to use the most approved appar-
atus for mine rescue work.
Government mining. engineers, thor
oughly trained in the use of rescue ap-
paratus. will be assigned to these sta
lions, and they will be ready at mo-
ment's notice to go to any disaster In
their district. The experts will be
equipped with oxygen helmets, which
will enable them to enter a mine at
once, even though: 1T is filled with gas
Of smoke -. ~: 80 -
. VIII Train Rescue Crews.
These, stations also will be head
quarters of the engineers for the study
ofthe waste of coal in mining, one of
the. important problems before the
geological survey. J.
1t is the intention to have every sta
ton fitted up with an alright room
where gas can be generated. The coal
mining companies are to be invited to
send picked men to these stations,
where they will be trained by the gov
eminent experts in the use of the oxy-
gen helmets. It is not the purpose of
the government to engage in general
rescue work, but rather to demon
'strate this apparatus until such time
ais the mine owners have thoroughly
trained rescue crews at their mines.
All Of the rescue stations are to be
erected in cooperation with the mine
owners and state geological surveys.
. i Where the Stations Will Be.
One Of the rescue stations will be at
Urbana, ILL.,, in connection with the
University of Illinois. This station will
take care of Illinois. Indiana, Michigan,
Iowa, northern Missouri and western
Kentucky.
A second station will be located
probably at Ration, N. M, to take care
Of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyo-
ming and Montana. The largest coal
output in New Mexico and Colorado
comes from the Trinidad field, which
is Immediately accessible to Ration. A
second station is suggested for this dis
trict, to be located at Salt Lake City.
81" Southern Location Undecided.
Several locations are suggested for
the station which will cover Alabama.
Tennessee, Virginia, eastern Ken
lucky, Georgia and southern West Vir-
ginia. One plan is to locate a station
at Knoxville, Tenn , in connection with
the University of Tennessee. which
has a mining course. Birmingham,
Ala, and Lexington, KY, have also
been suggested for location Of the sta.
ton in this district. George S. Rice,
mining engineer, will have general
charge OF all mining inquiries at the
stations and j. W. Paul, former state
mine inspector Of West Virginia, will
have supervisory charge Of all rescue
work.
At these stations not only will op-
portunity be given the miners to be-
come familiar With the rescue appar-
atus, but safety lamps of all designs
will be tested for their general safety
and efficiency in the presence of the
mi ilers and the mine owners,