The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-12

Missouri. II proposes to investigate gold
and silver mining with the idea of per-
forming such fcauS that accomplished
by the government In New Zealand when
it developed the commercial use OF
cyanide and rcvOlutioniZed the processes
of the world
An this has come about through the
efforts of DR.. Joseph A. Holmes OF the
geological survey. Just as every great
accomplishment Is due to some one man
who is back of ii. Two or three years
ago he was appointed as an expert in
charge OF the technologic branch Of the
survey, The duties OF the branch In
cludcd investigating mining conditions,
along with testing coal for government
purchase and passing on building ma
terial such as concrete. The chief archl-
,eet for the g1yernment states eo that the
S2,O00.000 a year. Coal Is bought through
these tests, not by the ton. but by the
heat units II contains. which is the right
way. All the material that is going into
the Panama canal locks Is tested by this
branch OF the survey. All these dutios
arc transferred to the bureau of mines.
Has Been Appalled,.
Dr. Holmes has been performing all
these routine duties. but he has been,
going further afieId. His Investigations
into mining have appalled, him. The
waste OF life IS country as COM
pared with 1Gu has been shown TO
be nothing less l,.on a national disgrace.
The waste of materials is a national
folly, so nonstrous as 10 he beyond
comprehension. The Intelligent develop
mcnt of the mining business has been
shown TO be sadly In need Of guidance
and he has urged the pointing OF the
way by the government Congress has
responded 10 the call in n surprisingly
short time for so cumbrous n body and
one which of necessity must await upon
public opinion. The bureau is TO be un-
der tho department of the interior Its
Immediate purpose VIII be to gather all
the information cNtant In the world with
relation to mining and make It avail
able for the American operator. This
will be sr-' '.cmented by independent in
vostiGatlC carried on year after year,
by the LcsS scientists available. With
American originality II is anticipated
that discoveries will he made that will
set the pace for the nations OF the world
\ life-saving brigade, with many sta
tions. Is expected as the logical out
growth OF the work that has already been
done.
The work that is being carried on by
the technologic branch of the geological
survey may be taken a measure OF
the performance of the bureau OF mines
on larger scale Take, for example.
the lfe-saring as now existing and which
responds when disaster occurs within
reach OF one OF Its stations. 4 mine cX-
plodes, is on fire. is filled with death
dealing gases such as may not be faced
by their fellows In attempts at rescue,
Man Who Saves Life.
Into this seemingly hopeless scene OF
multiplied tragedy there has suddenly
been thrust the latest development of the
man who saves life as a business. While
the multitude waits In despair at the
mine mouth and the men underground
cling desperately to the thread of life in
the hope that aid will reach them before
they die. the lifesaver arrives, He
thrusts the helpless crowds aside and.
he nears the shaft OF the mine, he
puts q hood like arrangement over his
hno yrp11t Lob hnfy ftN..
nose guard OF n football player and the
outfit OF deep sea diver. There are
always two rescuers together and they
plunge into the fumc-fillcd mine with
the same uuconcern that a workman
would enter the mess hall at dinner
time.
These men are the wearers of the new
oxygen helmets. that Will shut out all
else and furnish TO their wearers the oxy-
gen that will keep them alive and ac-
tive. regardless OF the atmosphere in
which they move, These men go down
the smoke filled shaft. The electric
lights on their helmets pierce the gloom