Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-12-18
new MINEl.AWS
URGED BY RICE
FORMER oTTUMWAN, NOW HEAD
OF MINE ACCIDENT plvls-
ION TALKS
Gil Err RY Ter o
He Assisted In the Work Of Rescuins
the Enton1bed Miners-ShoWs
Perils Of Sending combus-
tlbles Down Shaft.

A number of radical changes in the
Illinois mining statutes to prevent
repetition Of the disaster at Cherry,
Illinois, is advocated by George s.
Rice, head Of the mine accident divi-
sion OF the United States Geological
survey Mr.. Rice is former resident
of Ottumwa, and during his sojourn
here was employed as engineer for the
Whitebreast Fuel Co Since his re-
| moval from Ottumwa he has rapidly
| risen in the mining world and Is now
| the head of one of the most important
divisions Of the United States geolo$..
ical work. Mr. Rice represented the
government in the rescue work at
Cherry, ILL.,. and was one of the in
spectors who donned helmets, explored
the mine, and helped to recover the
twenty men who, of the $40 miners,
came out alive.
| Points Out Faults.
| The ex-Ottumwan delivered an adj
dress at Chicago recently at the meet
ing of the Western Society of Engi-
neers and he urges new mine laws
whereby similar disasters can be
averted and whereby similar accidents
cannot happen. 1.-THE lessons we are
to draw from the Cherry disaster
says Mr.. Rice, "are as follows:
First, the danger of having COM
bustible material taken down wood
lined shafts and also timbered pass
ageways.
Second, the menace of having the
approaches and the exits themselves
of combustible material.
Urges Underground Rescue Chambers.
f,I 80 Two n
fan when those above do not know all
the conditions underground at the
moment of reversal This may not
have been matter of consequence in
the present instance, but the dangers
are brought to notice.
Fourth, the Importance of having
ample fire fighting equipment and sys
tematic drilling.
Fifth, that escape facilities suitable
for mine with 100 underground
workers may not be suitable for 500 u
600 workers. The depth of the work
ing shaft should also be taken into &C
count. Stairway exits which are re
quired by the present Illinois law
while suitable for shallow seams, may
not be so for deeper seams, except as
an auxiliary means.
Sixth, that fire-proof underground
rescue chambers, supplied with food
water, and means of communication tt
the surface, preferably with an oper
drill hole, would be of inestimablt
value. Such chambers are used il
some Of the German mines, equipped
also with oxygen self rescue appar
atus.
Wants Compulsory Insurance.
Safety provisions cost money. Wit
the prevailing drastic competition il
the mining industry, such expendi
lures would force many operators on
Of business. But the public, I believe
would be willing to pay for them.
"The maintenance of the widow
and orphans should be as much a par
of the cost of production of coal as thu
payment Of wages and the means O
. living. A part of the cost should b.
a com pulsory accident insurance mad
\ compulsory by the laws of the state
7 During the lecture MI. Rice made
general and sharp criticism of Goa
mining and the laws pertaining there
to in the United States, COMPARING
them with those of European coun
tries.
"The death records for the Unite
States during the last fifteen year
for the mining industry are remarl
able" he declared. mo other indu'
: try shows such an increasing deaf
% rate. The death rate in 1895 was rs
to every 1000 men engaged. In 100
ID the death rate was about $50 pc
is thousand This is different abroad
The death rate for Belgium last yea
:, was 81 per thousand, and our figure
show the United States to be wher
is Belgium was eighty years ago"
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