The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-23
Circular to Operators

Office of State Mine Inspectors,
Birmingham Ala, October 4, 1909.
To the Alabama Coal Mine Operators.
About one year ago the United States
government opened an experimental and
testing station at Pittsburg, Pa, for the
purpose of experimenting with coal dust
and gas, to ascertain their explosive
qualities, and to test their different ex-
plosives that are used in coal mines for
blasting purposes. AS result of thess
tests the United States geological sur
vey. which department has charge of the
testing station, issued list of explo-
sives that have been tested and considered
safe in coal mines. Neither black pow
der nor dynamite appear on the list OF
permissible or safety explosives.
This department has been making an
effort to prohibit the use of dynamite in
the mines of this state, and have been
very successful, We have also con-
demned the use of black powder, where
1t is practical to use one of the safety
explosives, especially in dry and dusty
mines We have condemned the use Of
dynamite in all coal mines.
All the large coal producing companies
are using safety explosives and a num-
Der of smaller ones. but there Is some
dynamite being used. and it is with a
view of stopping the use of dynamite
entirely and black powder where 1t Is
possible to do so, that prompts this de-
partment to issue this circular
AS cold weather approaches the dan
ger of explosions from dust and blown
out or windy shots increases. This de-
partment desires and solicits the cooper
alton of the coal operators in our efforts
to prevent a recurrence of the disasters
that have occurred each winter for the
past FIVE years and which have been very
destructive to life and property and In
order to do this we make the following
recommendations:
/ That YOU prohibit the use of dyna-
mite in your mine and use one of the
permissible explosives in its place.
@ That where 1t Is practicable or pos
sble to use one of the permissible or
safety explosives in the place of black
powder, and especially. in mines that are
dry and dusty, or that generate largo
quantities of explosive gas, safety ex-
plosivcs be used.
That where your mines are dry and
dusty that you have them watered roof,
sides and bottom as often as necessary
TO keep down dust.
4. That you send clay into the mines
and distribute it along the headings,
where 1t will be convenient for the miners
and that they be required to use 1t for
tamping their shots.
8. That the operators of mines where
=
made with safety explosives and n the
safety explosive proves successful In
breaking the coal that 1t be used In
stead of black powder
These recommendation are made in
compliance with section 1926 of the min
ing law and you are respectfully requested
to comply with same.
ED FLYNN,
Chief Mine Inspector
s.. JAMES HILLHOUSE,
ROBERT NELL. ,s
Associate Mine Inspectors.
p ]. ROGERS,
JAMES BEATTIE,
GEORGE BARBOUR,
T. H. T1NNEY,
Board of Examiners.
Last Onhcial Report. 8
The last official inspection of the mine
prior to the explosion Is shown in the
following report: -
Date OF inspection, February %, 1910.
County where located, JefferSon.
Name Of mine. No. 3. 4
Name of owner or op0ator Palos Coal
and Coke company. b ass
Postoffice address of owner of oper-
ator, Birmingham.
Name of superintendent. M. B. Dren-
men, postoffice address Palos.
Name Of bank boss, j. c. Wooten. post
office address, Palos.
Kind of opening, slope.
Total number of miners employed, co.
Total number of day hands employed
outside, H.
How ventilated. fam.
Number OF day hands employed inside,
&c.
Number of mules, 49,
l find the following headings: Face
heading, which is not running at present,
seventh left, sixth left, fifth left, fourth
cross. sixth right. The ventilation is in
pretty good fix at present time, But this
mine makes q good deal of gas and much
care should be, exercised In this way.
Whenever heading passes a cross cut a
canvas brattice should be extended from
last cross to the face of heading and con-
tinued until anothe1 cross-cut be cut
over. and this system must be kept up
or there will be sas trouble.
There is a change of mine foreman to
take place on March J. I'D he must not
alioG any shooting on the solid. or T.
this were to take place. chances would