The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-09-28
MIG. R S LARUE
WRITES AGAIN
ANOTHER 5ARTIcLE BY FoRMER
MINE INSPECTOR ON MINE
EXPLOSIONS.

I45hEEr Il
ANOTHER PARTICLE BY FoRMER|
EXPLOSIONS.
Mr.. r. 8. LaRue, formerly State
mine inspector for the First mining
district OF West Virginia, now employ
ed by the Candem aeirs looking after
their mining interests. has contribute.
e~l-anothed article along the lilies
that he has given special attention.
Mr.. LaRue has proved the correct
ess Of his mine; ventilation theory
and in the solution OF that ne claims
that the danger of mine explosions
and mine fires are eliminated no mat
ter what explosives are used. Mr.. La
Rue's article Is given below:
Coal mine explosions nave sent n
thrill of horror at various lines
throughout the civilized world. Since
the beginning of mining operations.
accounts of these great disasters
have been heralded over civilization.
In this article / wist. to speak OF soEc
OF the causes that have produced
them. and some of the things that are
liable still to produce them. Coal
dust has been a very tmportan: fac
tor in these disasters from the Begin
ming OF minnie operations. Instead az
1T being called dust, it should be
called death. A BLACK Obstructive
monster, always present In the a.nIus-
.phere of dry mines.
Upon n careful examination OF the
atmosphere in low ventilated mines,
we find a very fine dust In susren-
sion. When this dust is exploded In
the safety lamp. 1t produces hiu's1
white snrlts that rise about half an
inch above the flame of the lamp. In
a mine where a high velocity of air is
maintained we find the same fine
grade OF dust. also a cohrser dust In
suspension. This mixture. when cx-
ploded In q Wolf Safety Lamp. makes
n ibluish white flame, also throws up
white sparks into the RJu2e o: the
lamp. Thus 1t can readily be seen
the higher the velocity OF air In dry
mines, the greater the danger of n
dust explosion. Another cause oil
mine explosions, Is the use oil So
called safety lamps. These lamps are
used in mines under conditions where
men should not be allowed to work ut
all. When Sir Humphrey Dhvy invent
cd this lamp, ne did not call 1t n safe
ty lamp. 1t was only n devise for
testing for gas In mines t1at were sup
posed to generate gas. It was not SUP
posed to be used By miners to mine
coal at the working face. But later 1t
given the name of safety lamp by
others and placed in the hands OF min
ers to be used under conditions where
men should not have been allowed to
work at all. God only knows how
many thousand Of lives have been lost
in mines owing to the use of this SC
called safety lamp.
I wish to state here, there is no
such a thing us q safety lamp In use
in mines.
Another cause of the loss of man.
lives in mines, Is mine fires. The
mines are allowed to become dargcr,
ously dry, and open torches touched
to q wooden ibrattice, n wooden over
cast or a canvas brattIce, and IL Is
not discovered for n Time. h lire
gets beyond immediate control. the
retreat of the men In the mine is cut
off and they perish.
Another great danger in dry and
gaseous mines, IL the use OF electric.
ity.
But In my opinion a greater danger
c%onfronts us in the mines of this
country to-day than any Of the above
mentioned, viz: the Introduction AMI
use In the mines OF so-called safety
powders, or permitted explosives. |
I'LL lIlGSc SHIIosltA
properly tested for use In such places
MS they are being used. and great
mine disasters are bound to follow
In the near future.
AT Pittsburg these explosives are
tested. by being fired from a canon
into n cylinder n hundred feet long
and six feet four inches In diameter.
The combustion to produce the expln.
sion. or test the powder, Is placed In
the cylinder in front of the discharge
from the canon OF ourse Under
these conditions there Is no conlh.Is-
tion around the explosive In the cam
non. nor car there he my dust pro-
.lucod from the inner walls OF the
canon. Now let lis carefully examine
the condition OF a shot fired In n Ehs
eous coal mine: The coal is undcrcmt
six and one-half feet deep vita a
chain machine; n hole Is boare;i six
and onc-nalf feet deep. W o inches or
in diameter: the shot frer
comes along later, looks at the place
and %exa1noines 1t. for gas. finds no
standing gas, the mine Is we'll VEN
tilatch. but he holds mis- lamp against
the face of the coal and gets a cap
In his lamp from the gas that is be-
ing generated In that place: he ~
nnlines the unhercuttin: and tho
depth of the mole. scrnpcs out tho
dust and perhaps tnkes ont II
two sticks of explosives that the
mas put in the hole before the
firer comes: the soht firer says.
this cut will need three sticks OF DOW