The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-07-12
A NATIONAL
MINE BUREAU
Great Opportunity III Front Of
New Department.
SAFEGUARDS FOR WORKERS.

The machinery for the investigation
and prevention of great coal mine dis
asters like the Cherry fire in Illinois
at last has been provided by congress.
President Taft has signed the law
passed recently by both houses of con-
gress to establish a national bureau of
mines in the interior department, and
the work of organization of the bureau
will be begun soon.
Officials of the geological survey de-
clare that no branch of the United
States government will have opportu-
nifty for greater work in the preserva-
ton of human life and the protection
OF property from waste than the new
bureau.
The facts demanded by Chicago
paper Immediately after the Cherry
disaster and called for by Senator
Gallon Of Illinois In resolution he
introduced in the senate in December.
1909, showed that the government
mine rescue stations covered only a
portion Of the mining region Of the
country and that federal experts had
mo authority to investigate any mine
disasters except those caused by 'ex-
plOsions.
What New Bureau Will Do.
The great work that has been done
In this line by the geological survey
mas proved the need for money and
authority for the government to I'M
8lertake further investigations and ex-
periments to supply absolute data and
adequate safeguards for workers in
every branch of the mining industry.
Mine explosions which the government
now investigates constitute only IS
per cent Of the accidents that happen.
The new bureau Of mines will take
over from the geological survey the
work of testing explosives, investigat-
ing explosions, experimenting with
fuels and the testing of structural ma
terials, in which work the government
has been spending $350O00 annually
for two years.
1t will add to this the investigation
OF all possible causes of mine acct
dents, determination of causes of fires
and like disasters, investigation of
character and action of gas, dust, damp
and other dangers existing in coal and
metal mines and methods best adapted
to meeting these dangers and protect
ing mine workers against them.
No Interference With State.
State mine authorities have raised
objections in the past to the establish
ment of national bureau of mines on
the ground that it would result in "a
conflict between state and federal au-
thorities. 1t is made clear under the
new law that there is to be no at
tempt on the part of the government
to regulate mining operations or to
interfere in any way with state inspec-
tion.
Thousands of lives are lost in Amer
lean mines because of lack of uniform
systems of signals, standard methods
of using fuses and explosives and eff
cient methods of mine rescue work. |
This lack will be supplied, it is be-
ieyed, through the investigations and |
recommendations of the new bureau
of mines. Mine rescue stations at |
Pittsburg, Urbana, H., and other
points have demonstrated their great
value in the protection of life and
property.
The most hazardous work of the
hazardous occupation of coal miners is
the firing Of the blasting powder. or,
as 1t is known to miners, "shot firing"
The men who do this work are SINH
Larry called rshot flrers." They enter
the mine after the miners have COM
pleted their days work and gone home.
Invariably the shot firer rushes his
work, firing shots rapidly, creating |
large quantities of gases caused by
the ignition of large charges of pow
der. Then comes an i'll placed shot
or badly Judged shot, causing what
is known in mining parlance as a
''windy shot," thus providing all the |
elements for an explosion, which in
Variably occurs, causing loss Of life
and damage to property.
Recently there was patented an auto
matte electric 'shot firer" by Charles
/. Dodson of Kansas City, which. after
being put to the practical test of a
thirty days. trial inca large mine near
Pittsburg, Ean has been recon-
mended by the United States geolog-
zeal survey. The apparatus takes the
place of the "shot firer" and renders
unnecessary his services in coal
mine, thus eliminating one Of the
greatest dangers to life and property
I'm the mining industry.
The machine is a complete electrGc
plant and has no outside assistance.
1t consists of a specially constructed
clock and self exciting direct current
dynamo, with specially constructed
mechanical parts. The machine is
made to operate by inserting a key
and pulling up rack bar, which on
being released by the clock at any
time desired descends and rotates the
armature Of the dynamo by being con-
nected with gear wheels. 1t thus
generates current sufficient to explode
shots or blasts connected.
The whole history of hygine from the
earliest ages and in all the great coun-
tries is TO be illustrated at the by
giene exhibition to be held at Dresden
next year.
Mrs. Pankhurst's society of English
suffragists has just cleared $500 at
suffrage bazaar held In Glasgow. The