The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-19

hcSsee OOdit iTOH anu 6dlTOau company
sent some samples of dust from four of
their mines, one in the Pratt field, one
In the Blue Creek field, one in the Bloc
ton field, and the other from Whitwel
Tenn, to the government testing plant
at Pttsburg, to be tested to see whether
these explosives would fire the dust. =
This portion OF the testing plant con-
sists of an iron gallery or tube made
of boiler plate. about six feet in diameter
and 100 feet long, at one end of which
is a heavy nickle-steel cannon embedded
in concrete
At intervals of every five or six feet
there are small heavy plate glass win
dows on the side of the gallery and port
holes with heavy lids on the top to relieve
the pressure when explosion occurs.
The method of conducting this test is
as follows The dust to be used is dis
tributed along the bottom of the gall
lery, as 1t would be in the bottom or
floor of the mine, and also along the
sides of the gallery, on shelves. as 1t
would be found upon the COB or sides of
the mine. After making a test to de-
termine how much of the explosive is to
be used as equivalent in strength to 227
drains or ounces of 40 per cent dyna-
mite, which is the standard charge. this
amount of explosive is then charged into
the cannon and tamped with one pound
of dry clay and set off with electricity
Inc HfSl SnOt was lOdued with 40 drains,
or little over ounces, of cabonite No.
2, and 20 pounds of dust from Johns
mine, in the Blue Creek field, was dis
tributed in the gallery and ? per cent
of fire damp was introduced into the
tunnel where the shot was fired. The
flame was scarcely perceptible at the first
window, the dust was not ignited, and
there was no explosion, except the ex-
plosive itself in the cannon.
The next test was made with 313 grams
or 10 ounces of btuminite No. /, other
conditions being the same, and the result
was the same as in the previous test
The third test was made with 500 grams,
or about 16 ounces of black blasting pow
der which is equal in strength to the
above charge of bituminte and carbon
lite, all other conditions of the expert
ment being the same, except that In this
case to avoid the possible claim that
the explosion was caused by gas, there
was absolutely no gas introduced into
the chamber; the result of this test was
that there was a long tongue of flame
which stirred up the dust and ignited it,
the flame extending for a considerable
distance out of the mouth of the mine,
threw dirt from the ground against a
heavy iron sheet suspended about so feet
from the mouth of the tunnel. The flame
was visible In all the windows of the
chamber and issued from u port holes
open but the balance were thrown open
with such force that they rebounded into
position, these doors being hinged. Dense
volumes of black smoke from this ex-
ploson issued from these port holes and
from the end of the tunnel. Coke was
formed in large quantities and some of
this gathered up 1 have here to show
you.
The result of the other tests were
the same in each test. bituminlte and
carbonite producing practically no
fame and did not ignite the dust,
but, in every case, the black powder
did without the assistance of any gas
whatever. I was advised by the en-
gineer in charge that dynamite pro-
duced about the same result.
This then proves, exclusively, that
black powder or dynamite will pro-
duce dust explosions without the aid
of any gas. This is not impossible
am advised even with these safety
explosives If used In very excessive
quantities. / have with me report
of this test in detail which l will be
glad to show anyone but will not
take up your time in going over here
As a. result of some tests made at tn is
station the United States geological
survey has issued list, which / have
with me, OF what are known as per
tliSSiblC tAPiOblfcSg 1ie test having
been made on May Is, 1909. This in
cludes two grades of Aetna coal pow
der, five grades of DUPONT carbonite
two grades of Keystone coal special
two grades of Potts Powder company
coalite, three grades of Sinnamahon-
Ing collier dynamite, Masurite, Meteor
dynamite and Monobel, the last two
grades being also manufactured by
the DUPONT company.
You will note that bituminite. man
ufactured by the Jefferson Powder
company, is not on this list, but, on
inquiry, L learned that the reason
was that bituminite and some other
explosives were not received in time
to be included in this test but will
be included in a supplementary list to
be issued shortly.
believe that one of the surest meth
DDS of preventing explosions, as the
result of windy or blown out shots
Is to use these so-called safety or per-
missible explosives and I will say
here that the Tennessee company is
using these explosives exclusively ex-
cept on two divisions VIII ere the oppo-
sition of the men TO it has been very
strong and where it has been SEEM
fngly impossible to produce as good a
grade of coal as with black powder
But We are experimenting at
these places and endeavoring to in
still In the men the proper spirit
of cooperation, due to the fact that
our object in wanting to use this safe
ty explosive is to protect the lives of
the men as well our property.
think then that every mining man
should, where possible, use these safe
ty explosives and where 1t Is not pos
sible to use every precaution in their
power to see that sh OTIS are proparlx,
loaded, not over loaded, and properly
tamped. Mining the coal either by
hand or machine will lessen the amount
of explosive necessary to break down
the coal and give the ammunition a
better chance to do its work and hence
lessen the probability of blown out
shot, but the cut gs should be re-
moved from the ont of the hole
before blasting y fear there sh ould
be one. Q
The next step the prevention of
explosions, 1t seer , to me, where gas
generates. is to Introduce sufficient
air into the mine and properly conduct
1t to the working force in sufficient
quantities to sweep the gas out or
render it harmless. In the detection OF
gas and preventing it's accumulate
or ignition, the gas mans position
is most important and responsible
one and he should be chosen accord
ingly. In doing this, however If our
mines are not already dry and dusty
we are apt during dry or cold months
of the year, by introducing large
quantity of air and a rapidly travel
ing air current to take up and carry
considerable quantity of moisture from
the bottom and sides of the mine and
to render 1t dry and dusty If it was
NOT alraadV so. and in this case. fhia