The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-03-11

dust and air, is pumped into the
cylinder and the explosive which
is to be tested is shot into it from
one end of the cylinder, so that
the fame goes right into the fire
damp or coal dust. Natural gas
is used at this station for fire damp
because it corresponds very closely
to this deadly gas. The cannon
in which the explosives are placed
is FREQ by electricity from the OBJ
servation house which is parallel
with the cylinder itself.
These investigations are expect
ed to accomplish double purpose;
not only a reduction in the num-
Der of men killed in the mines, but
also saving of the waste in min
ing coal. The use of improper ex-
plosives, as well as the improper
use of suitable explosives, results
annually in the waste of great
amounts of coal. The use of too
high charges in blasting, or the
use of unnecessarily violent ex-
plosives, skaters much good coal,
converting fuel into dust which
may itself be explosive and become
productive of much further dam
age. Such explosions often loosen
the roof of coal mine, which may
fall later to be wasted, or produc-
tive of fatal accidents.
In addition to the actual expert
ments in testing explosives, impor-
tant experiments are being made
in rescue work. One part Of the
station has been fitted up as a
miniature coal mine. This
is large glass encased alright
room which contains difficult pas
sages such as are found in coal
mines. There are also various OBJ
structions similar to what would
be found in a mine after it had
been wrecked by an explosion;
also dummies weighing $50 to 200
pounds, representing asphyxiated
miners. This room is filled with
deadly gas and rescue corps OF
men who are being trained in the
work enter daily, clad in helmets
which supply them with oxygen
while they work. The men re-
main in this chamber for two
hours, removing distractions,
picking up the dummies, placing
them on stretChers and carrying
them away. There is also in the
room a machine which records the
amount of work a man may be ex-
pected to do while wearing one of
helmets. One half of the large
building in which this rescue room
is located is used as an auditorium
operators have watched the rescue
drill through the large glass win.
dows which separate the audi
tOrium from the gas-filled chamber.
Although there has been but little
opportunity SO far to demonstrate
its efficiency at the mines. still it
has done some good work.
Once the helmeted men while
fighting a mine fire succeeded in
bringing an unconscious man to a
place of safety, here he was given
oxygen treatment and recovered
his senses in short time.
1t is not the intention of the
United States government to fur
nlsh rescue corps whenever there
IS a disaster The present corps
was organized with the idea of
encouraging the mine owners and
miners themselves to form a such
organizations. Invitations have
been issued to operators through
out the country to send picked
men to the experiment station,
where they may watch the govern
ment resCuers at work and later
go through the same training
themselves, in order that they
may gain the necessary confidence
in the use Of these helmets. AL
ready number of large mining
companies have taken advantage
of this invitation and are organic
ing rescue corps at their mines,
fully equipped with oxygen he'll