The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-14
TO MAKE WORKING CONDITIONS
IN AMERICAN COAL MINES SAFE

reau SO that men will be allowed to
leave their employment for a week
without loss of pay to attend school,
at these rescue stations. From this
point the bureaus work is expected to
be accomplished. when the students
return to their respective employment
where like schools will be established
and the propaganda OF the bureau dis
seminated among the miners. Sub
life saving stations will be established
at the mines, where duplicate life-sav-
ing apparatus will be Installed.
To make the service effective from
the beginning, the engineers or super
intendents will receive detailed in
structions from the bureau as to what
is expected OF them. They will be re-
quired to Keep in close touch with the
mines and see that the men are thor
oughly drilled at all times, responding
to calls for help Immediately. The en-
gineer will direct all rescue work in
time of accident. and with him will
lie the responsibility for the proper
application Of methods IN conducting
rescue work.
At certain stated periods engineers
from the bureau OF mines will visit
the various stations and act as in
spector during the course OF the year S
work. The bureau expects to keep in
close touch with the mines, also. but
more particularly with view of es-
tablishing a general cooperation for
the benefit Of the mine owners and the
mine operators.
1t will not have any police power.
however, but will be able to enforce
it's regulation through the laws of the
state in which the mine is located.
The principal work of the bureau
will be to study the cause Of mine dis
asters. Following an accident an ex-
animation OF the mine will be made to
not only determine the cause. but II it
could have been prevented by human
agencies. Adequate government su-
pervision in foreign countries has re-
suited in greatly reduced fatalities.
One of the greatest aids in saving
mine disaster victims, particularly
those who have been hemmed In by
fallen roofs or walls, is the oxygen
helmets. The geological survey has
made a number of experiments with
the helmet and found 1t very practical.
The bureau of mines will attempt to
carry the experiments little farther,
and cause all mines to be equipped
with oxygen helmets and arrange that
miners be taught their use. Hereto
fore, owing to the class Of men EN-.
ployed in the coal mines the life saw
ing devices have not been installed ow-
ing to the prevalence of superstitious
fear. The schooling system, however,
it is expected, will completely over
come such obstacles.
The helmet is similar in appearance
to the headpieces worn by divers. 1t
completely covers the head, fitting
snugly around the neck and shutting
of all air from the outside. Oxygen
is supplied to the operator by pump
from large oxygen tanks. The opera
tor otherwise is dressed in oil skins,
closely tied at the wrists and ankles.
Around his waist he carries small
sized miners pick, a spade, lantern
and extra coil Of rope, about 20 feet.
With this equipment he enters the
mine in case of accident resulting from
either black damp or coal dust ex-
plosion, successfully carrying on his
work Of rescue unhampered by death
dealing gases that surround him.