Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-08-27
BUREAU OF Mines


The mine accident investigations,
which have been transferred from the
geological survey to the bureau of
mines, were first authorized in the legis
lative appropriation act of May 2a,
1908, carrying for this purpose an APP
preparation of $150,000. This was fol-
lowed by a similar appropriation car
ried in the act for the sundry' civil ex-
penses of the government for 1870 A
mine experiment station was established
in Pittsburg during 1908, at which,
since that time, Investigations of ex-
plosives, coal gas, dust, electricity and
other possible causes of mine explosions
have been continually under way. The
mining engineering field force of the
geological survey has already made de-
cided progress in. the study of under
ground mining conditions and methods.
Practically all of the coal mines in
which mine explosions have occurred
during the last two years have been
carefully examined, the gases, coke and
dust have been analysed at the labora-
tory at Pittsburg and every effort has
been made to determine the explosibil-
ity of various mixtures Of gas and air
in the presence of shots of different
types of explosives. Considerable prog
ress has also been made in the investi-
cation of explosives used in coal min
ing, and the conditions under which
they may be used with least risk. Manu-
facturers have submitted many explo
sives for test at the station, and a con
siderable portion of them passed and
have been classified among the permits
sible explosives. The investigations
and educational work in connection
with the use of artificial breathing anc
, other types of mine rescue equipment
the so-called oxygen helmets, have MOI
only been useful in developing a more
satisfactory use of such equipment IL
the examination of mine explosions, bu
: also better methods for using this equip
ment in mine rescue work. The fuel in
vestigations under the geological sur
vey and which are transferred to tn
; bureau of mines have already resulted
= in a better realization throughout tn
, country as to the value of fuels. On
result. of this work is that nearly all o
> the fuel now purchased by the fedora
: government is bought on specification
r and subject to test by the fuel division
or purchased after examination made 0
2 the coal supplied by the mines fror
which coal is delivered to the govern
/ ment.
The publications of the survey relat
I; ing to mine and fuel investigation
= those prepared by the technology
q branch will, in the future, be distribute
I by the bureau of mines. The public;
l. tons relating to structural materia
D will continue to be distributed by I'll
geological survey. The last of the bu
. letins of the technologic branch to
2 published by the survey were issue
e from the government printing ofii'
}; August l. This bullerln relates to IL
- explosibility of coal dust, and was pr
~ pared by G. S. Rice, with chapters /
- j. G. Frazer, Axel Larsen, Frank Ha;
2 and Carl Scholz.
The first of the bureau of mines br
letins, the "Volatile Matter of Coal,
ny L. -. L OllCl anu l. . lNs ONAtA3 W
W be published in the next few month
+ Then will follow 'sCoal Analyses"
. N. W. Lord and J. S. Burrows; "Fin
q. Data Regarding Steam Tests" by L.
c. Breckenridge; "North Dakota Iigni
@, as a Boiler Fuel" by D. 7. Randa
and Henry Kreisinger; "Producer-G
Tests in 19O5-19o7,' by R. Fernal
''The Coke Industry as Related to Il
Foundry" by Richard Moldenk
n "Coals for Illuminating Gas" by A.
Z White and Perry Barker, and "Petr
= leum for Combustion Under Steam Bo
ers," by l. G. Allen.
These publications, when issued, CT
as be obtained by addressing the direct
:. of the bureau of mines, Washingto
n n "a