The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-04-01
AT the Instance Of State Mine
Inspector BY the Geo
logical Survey.

coal dust from West Virginia mines
to demonstrate the explosiveness OF
that article.
y thought it proper" said Mr..
Lains. being officially interested in
the experiments going on at the cx.
perimental station under the d.
rection of the United States geolog-
ical survey. located at Plttsburg, to
! see II arrangements could not be
made by the officials of the insti-
tuition to test our West Virginia
GOALS. and have completed arrange
mcnts by which demonstrations VIII
be given from this station OF all
coal mines in the state;
Il will ship from each of the
twelve mining districts in the state
from $50 to 500 pounds OF dust
taken from such mines as are deen-
ed dangerous because of gas and
dust mixed.
| Il VIII also ship from $50 to 500
pounds from mines where gas does
not exist. This dust will demon
strate that an explosion will occur
in mines where gas does not gener-
ate, and that dust in such mines as
are void OF moisture is equally as
dangerous under certain conditions
as mines that generate fire damp.
Il have made arrangements for
demonstrations to be made OF Poca
hontas and New River Goals on Sat
urday, April 10. and all mine man
ayers. mine foremen and mine Of
ticials will be invited to see the
demonstrations and any other per-
son interested will also he welcome.
The Fairmont Goals.
On Saturday. April II, tests will
be made from the Goals of the Fair
mont and northern sections of the
state to which all mine. managers
and people interested in the mining
OF coal will be invited.
"on Saturday. April "a, tests will
be made from Goals of the Kanawha
Guyan and Big Sandy coal and coke
sections, to which all mine opera
tors. mine foremen and others will
be invited, and 1t is particularly de-
sired that all mine superintendent.
mine foremen and others attend
these demonstrations on such DAYS
as Goals from their respective dis
tricts are being tested.
Tests will be made in these Goals
by the following powders. known as
safety explosives: Masurite, car
bonite No. 1 carbonlte L. F. No. Il:
coalite No. 2. meteor. carbonite
No. 2; carbonlte No. 2 L..F.; coalitc
No. f., and gun powder. monoble,
carbonite No. 8, eoalite No. /, and
other similar powders.
by United State Engineers.
These tests will be made by the
engineers of the United States ex-
pPsive testing station in gas and
dust gallery No. i. The charge of
explosives to he fired in these tests
will be equal in disruptive force to
one-half pound of nitroglycerine
dynamite in its original wrapper, OF
the following formula: Nitroglycer-
Inc, 40 per cent; nitrate OF sodium,
~ per cent; wood pulp. Is per cent,
calcium carbonate, per cent.
The dust used for these tests
will be pulverized to the same de-
gree OF fineness before being placed
in the gallery and demonstrations
will first be made of these dusts
from some of the safety powders
with mixture from 4 to s per
cent. of methane and ethane, at a
temperature of "a degrees Fahren-
heit with one pound of clay for
tamping.
AFTER tests have been made as
stated with the safety explosives, IL
no ignition takes place, and there
should he no explosion with these
explosives. the gallery will then DC
thoroughly cleaned and an equal
amount OF coal dust will be distrib-
uted through the gallery and a
charge of gun powder will be shot
into the dust, without being mixed
with any gas whatever. This test
Is supposed to cause a terrific explo-
sion showing that dust in mines that
does not contain sufficient moisture
TO keep them damp is liable to ex-
plode at any time II miners be per-
mitted to use black powder for
blasting purposes.
Il believe that the prevention of
mine disasters. Is one which COM
mands the sympathy and interests
of all, and especially of those inter-
ested in the mining OF coal and liv-
| ing in the coal producing sections.