Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-10
PRIMER ON EXPLOSIVES.
United States Geological Survey Has
Issued One for Miners.

Washington, Dec. Sin furtherance of
its efforts to reduce the number of fatali-
ties in American coal mines, the United
States Geological Survey has just issued
primer on explosives for the benefit of
miners and all others who have anything
to do with explosives The primer, which
is written in plain, non-technical Ian
guage describes how and of what eXplo-
SlV"S are made, the dangers in their use
and how these may be avoided or reduced
TO Il minimum.
The assertion is made by Director
George Otis Smith of the United States
Geological Survey, that the improper use
of explosives and the use of improper eX-
plosves are responsible for "A considera-
BILE number of deaths in the coal mines,
many of which are often credited to other
causes.
Vigorous objection is made to the use of
black powder in any mine where there
is danger of a gas or coal dust explosion.
In such mines the operators and miners
been tested at the Mine Accidents sta
ton, at Pittsburg, Pa, as being much
less dangerous in their action. Investi-
cations at this station have proved that
the flame from the explosion of black
powder lasts from 1000 to 1000 times as
long as the flame from the newer eXplo-
sives and is therefore more likely to ig-
mite the gas or dust in these mines.
The use of explosives is increasing
both in quantity and in the variety of
purposes to which they are applied"
says Mr.. Smith. They are now made at
$50 plants in different parts of the coun-
try and the product of a single year now
approaches 50O0O0,0O0 pounds. OF all this
material, there is no such thing as a safe
or safety explosive when in the hands of
a careless or ignorant person. This state
ment is true whether considered in con-
nection with the transportation or use of
these explosives in mining. In addition to
the large losses of life and property re-
sulting from an improper use of eXplo-
sves in mining, the recent statistics of
the Railway Bureau for the Safe Trans
portation of Explosives have shown more
than 400 persons killed and injured and
from accidents from this source. The
fact that through cooperative effort UNI
der the wise supervision of this bureau
during the three years of its existence
these losses have been reduced to almost
nothing, should encourage the hope that
similar cooperative effort may likewise
greatly reduce losses of life and property
from the use of explosives in mining.
1.-The large death roll of American
mines is an oft recurring appeal to the
miner and the management that they CO.
operate in every possible effort for
greater safety. 1t may never be possible
under conditions such as exist today to
prevent mine accidents Little may be
accomplished in that direction by either
the operators or miners working alone,
through hearty, determined cooperation
of the two, these accidents may be
greatly reduced. This will require wise
laws and regulations based on fact and
experience, and the strictest possible dis
cipline."
The authors of the bulletin are Charles
f. Munroe, explosives expert and Clar-
ence Hall. explosives engineer of the
TechnOlogic branch of the United States
Geological Survey.