Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-09
REcUE SERVICE FOR MINER
Bureau of Mines Sending Out Life
Saving. Cars.

Bureau of Mines Sending Out Life
Saving Cars.
A life saving service for the rescue
Of miners In time of disaster is being
inaugurated by the United States
bureau OF mines. Six specially con-
structed cars, fully manned by corps
of miners trained in rescue work and
equipped with the latest rescue appara-
tus and first aid to the injured appli-
ances, are being located in the midst
OF the great coal districts in different
parts Of the country. These cars Will
be ready at a moments notice to pro-
coed to the scene Of a disaster, where
the rescue corps, in cooperation with
the state mining officials, Will do every
thing possible to save entombed min
ers,
This is the first important step taken
by the new bureau Of mines in its
efforts to reduce the appalling loss of
life in American coal mines.
During the year 1909 there were
2,412 miners killed in the coal mines
and 1919 injured. In the coal and in
the metal mines It Is estimated that
5000 men were killed and 10000 were
injured in 1909. For every 1000 men
employed from three to FIVE men are
killed each year in the mines of the
United States. In foreign countries
from one to two are killed in each
1000 employed. In those European
countries where the deaths are least
per 1000 men employed rescue ap-
paratus has been in use for some time,
and it Is with the hope that European
conditions can be approached that the
rescue apparatus is being introduced
here.
The saving of human life will be
the emergency feature of general
campaign of educational work among
the miners. who VIII not only be taught
the use of the rescue apparatus, but
also the proper way to take care OF
an injured miner.
A mining engineer and a surgeon OF
the American Red Cross will accom-
pany each car and deliver illustrated
lectures on the use Of explosives, cleo
trtcal equipment. fire prevention, sani-
tation and first aid surgical treatment.
These lectures will be given in the
be procured. The cars viii remain long
enough at each place so that miners
may go through the training IN rescue
work, which will be In charge of the
foreman OF the car, practical miner.
Every effort will be made to encourage
the miners TO form rescue corps at the
mines where they are and to have the
operators equip them with rescue ap-
paratus.
The cars will each contain eight so
called oxygen helmets, a supply of
oxygen in tanks, one dozen safety
lamps. one field telephone with 1000
feet of wiYe. resuscitating outfits and
a small outfit for use in demonstration
and actual practice of equipment
lating TO the first aid to the injured
connection with mine accidents.
One end Of the cars is fitted up as an
air tight room to be used In training
the men in the use OF the so called
oxygen helmets. This room will be
Elled with noxious fumes, and the
miners, wearing helmets, will remain
inside for two hours in an atmosphere
that would kill without the helmets.
These are the helmets that permit one
to enter mine Immediately following |
an explosion, while it is still filled with
poisonous gases. and breathe artifi- |
cially.
Car No. 1, in charge Of Charles En- |
zian, mining engineer, left Pittsburg |
the morning OF Oct. 81 for Monon-
gahela City, Pa. 1t is then scheduled |
to visit Mariana. Brownsville, Union |
town, Connellsville. Scottdale, Indiana,
Johnstown, Windber, South Fork, Por- |
tage, Cresson, Punxsutawney, Clear |
field, Philipsburg and State College.
Car No. 2 went to the bureau of |
mines rescue station at Urbana, ILL.,, |
Nov. 1. After remaining in Urbana |
for several days the car VIII proceed |
TO Danville, H.; Terre Haute, Ind, and |
On through southern Indiana to Evans |
Vile.
Four other cars similarly equipped /
are being made ready for delivery to |
the bureau of mines within a few days |
They Will make their headquarters at |
Rock Springs. wyo.; Billings, Mont;
Salt Lake City. Utah. and Knoxville. |
Tenn.