The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-04
UNCLE SAM STARTS
BUREAU OF MINES
Grows Out of Work Done BY
Geological Survey
DR.. HOLMES PROTECTOR
VIII Investigate and Report Upon All
Features of Industry-Life Saving
Corps VIII BE Established.
Safety Equipment
DR.. HOLMES PROTECTOR
from the washington Herald.

From the washington Herald.
Beginning July |, the government will
have a bureau of mines. Congress has
passed a bill authorizing it and the Pres
ident has signed it.
So has the government decided to give
the second greatest industry within Its
borders an industry which furnishes 20
per cent of all its freight. a degree of
recognition. So has the nations purpose
to inquire into the death of 10000 miners
within the last decade taken form. So
has provision been made for putting on
a permanent basis a new lifesaving corps
one which will go into the earth when
flames and noxious gases run riot and
drag TO life men who would otherwise
suffocate by the hundred.
Bureau Only a Start
Three or four hundred thousand dol
lars will this year be appropriated for
the benefit of the industry which yields
the nation $1,000, 100000 a year in wealth.
This amount is not proportionate to the
sl4,0oo,000 a year for agriculture, which
yields 100000. nor with 100000 for
fisheries, which yields but SEQ 100000 a
year. But 1t is a degree of recognition
and is probably the best spent money
Congress has ever appropriated.
In ting this bureau the government
is buying the lives of 1000 men year,
for of the 5000 year now being killed
two-thirds might be saved. 1t Is paying
but 500 each for their lives, II there were
no benefit aside from life saving.
The government proposes to investigate
the conditions under which so many men
go unnecessarily to their death. IL pro-
poses to find out why, in mining 5Oo,Oo,0oo
tons of coal a year 25000o,Ooo tons are
wasted. 1t proposes to teach the con-
sumner how to get as much neat OUT VI
one ton of coal as he is now gettine gu.
of two. 1t proposes to find out why ~
per cent of the lead and zinc are los. II,
the milling, even in such well organized
fields as those of Missouri IL proposes
To investigate gold and silver mining with
the idea of performing such feats as
that accomplished by the government IN
New Zealand. when 1t developed the COM
use of cyanide and revolutionized
the nrocesses of the world. 1t proposes TO,
find out why IA tons of copper are uaiiy
carried away in tailings at single mine
In Arizona.
Work of DIR. j. H. Holmes
All this has come about through the
efYorts of DR. Joseph A. Holmes OF the
Geological survey. just as every great
a accomplishment is due to some one man
who Is back of 1t. Two or three years
ago he was appointed as expert IN charge
Of the technologic branch of the survey
The duties of the branch INCLUDED lnNes
-igating mining conditions, along win
testing coal for government purchase and
passinp on building material, such as
concrete. The chief architect for the
states that the testing OF
building material alone saves s2oo'ooo
a wear. Coal is bought through these
tests. not by the ton. but by the heat
units 1t contains. which is the right way.
All the material that is going INTO tne
Panama Canal locks is tested by TINS
branch of the survey. All these duties
are transferred to the bureau or mines.
DR.. Holmes has been performing these
routine duties. but he has been going
further afield His Investigations into
mining have appalled, him. The waste OF
life in this country, as compared WIN
Europe. has been shown to be nothing
less than a national disgrace. The waste
Of materials is a national folly SO mon
strous as to be beyond comprehensloh'
The Intelligent development of the MN
Ing business has been shown to be sadly
need
the pointing of the way by the govern
ment. Congress has responded to the
call In a surprisingly~ short time Tor SO
cumbrous a body and one which OF ne
cessity must await upon public opinion
How Bureau VIII Work
The bureau is to be under the De-
ma rtment of the Interior. It's immediate
purpose will be to gather all the infor-
nation extant with relation to mining
and make it available for the American
operator. This will be supplemented by
investigation. carried on year
after year by the best scientists avail
able With American originality IL Is
anticipated that discoveries will be mace
that will set the pace for the nations OF
the world. A life saving brigade with
MANY stations, is expected as the logical
outgrowth of work that has already
been done.
The work that is being carried on by
the technologic branch OF the Geological
survey may be taken as measure OF
the performance of the bureau OF mines
on a larger scale. Take for example, the
life saving as now existing and winch re-
spends when a disaster occurs witnln
reach of one of its stations. mine
explodes, is on fire. is Allied with death
dealing gases, such as may not be faced
by their fellows in attempts at rescue.
Into this seemingly hopeless scene or
multiplied tragedy there has suddenly
been thrust the latest development of
the man who saves life as business
While the multitude waits In despair al
the mine mouth and the men under
ground cling desperately to the thread OF
life in the hope that aid will reach them
before they die the life saver arrives. He
thrusts the helpless crowds aside, and
as he nears the shaft of the mine he