Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04
Source of Danger in Mines,
y Tests of Experts Show.
IS A DEADLY EXPLOSIVE
Does More Damage, When Once Ig-
( nited Than Fire Damp.
BULLETIN ON SUBJECT ISSUED.
Government omcial Cites Many Dis
asters in 1907 a Proof Of
His Contention.

The saving or InOuSdnQS OF lives ana
large fortunes in property by the preven-
ton OF bituminous coal mine explosions
may be effected through a recent dis
covery OF one Of the gravest dangers in
mining operation by the bureau OF
mines
According to George s. Rice, chief min
ing engineer of the bureau of mines, whose
views are based on a series OF expert
ments TO determine the explosive quail
tiles OF coal dust. covering a period OF
two years, the tests have shown that
coal dust lying in loose heaps about the
levels and passages Of a bituminous coal
mine Is an explosive more insidious aid
deadly to the miner. when once ignited.
than fire damp, While this Is contrary
TO what has been the general belief. the
government expert says the proof OF It
Is beyond question.
Many mine operators and miners have
believed that coal dust would ignite from
an explosion of firedamp In a mine. but
nearly all OF them contended that the
dust In a mine free from gas could not
explode. Consequently. In many mines
miners have paid little attention to the
accumulation of dust from tn cutting OF
the COAL and IL Is in these mines. Mr..
Rice declares. that some Of the great dis
oSterS nave taken place.
Refers to Series Of Disasters.
In a bulletin which has just been is
sued by the bureau Mr.. Rice refers espe-
cially to the appalling series OF great dis
asters that occurred In the United States
in 1907 as evidence of the terrible havoc
wrought by dust explosions.
On January q, at the Primero mine.
Col, there were twenty-four deaths: jan
uary 20. at the Pence mine. w. va,
twelve deaths; January y. at the stuart
mine, near Fayetteville, w. Va. ninety
deaths; February 4. at the Thomas mine,
Thomas. ". Va. twenty-five Deaths De
cember |. at the Naomi mine, Pa. thirty
FIVE deaths: December O. at the Monongah
mine, w. Va, occurred the greatest ois-
aster in the history OF coal mining In
the United States. 35S lives having been
lost: December 16 at the Yolande mine
Ala. fifty-six men were killed, ana De-
cember ~, at the Darr mine. 30 men
were killed. In this black month OF De-
cember alone, says Mr.. Rice. GAS men
were sacrificed. chiefly from the effects
of coal dust. which IL not the initial
cause in all cases was the agency carry
ing death.
federal government took up an inquiry
into the causes of the disasters and es-
tablshed the testing station at Pits
burg. The very first work was TO prove
coal dust alone would explode. The dust
was placed In a cylinder 100 feet long
and six feet in diameter. with cannon
Embedded in one end. This cannon was
filled with black powder and discharged
by electricity into the coal dust In
practically every instance there was
terrific explosion. even more violent tnan
that caused by fire damp. Each succeed
ing experiment went further TO prove
that coal dust is the real great danger Of
the mines
Fire Damp Carries It's Warning.
Fire damp. according to Mr.. Rice. car
ries its own warning Whenever gas
IN present in a mine in dangerous guam
titles a blue flame rises from the safety
lamp to notify the miner, but coat
dust. though visible. does not attract at
tention unless present in large Quanti
ties. Fire damp Is generally found in GER
tain parts OF the mine, and except in
notable and very exceptionable cases
is controllable by means OF the venti-
lating currents.
IL by mischance a body OF firedamp
Is ignited in mine the force OF the
explosion is terrific, but the effect Is
localized unless dry coal dust is pres
ent or unleess las rarely happens) an
explosible mixture OF air and gas ex-
tends through large areas of the NINE.
everywhere, and the blast from the
ignition and combustion of the bitumi-
nous dust may traverse miles of rooms
and entries and even wreck structures
at the entrance Of the mine.
Now. since IL is generally accepted
that bituminous coal dust is explosive,
the federal investigators have been
looking for the remedy. Various ex-
periments, in sprinkling the roadways
OF the mines. in saturating the air
entering the mine with steam so as
10 produce a humid affect. and in plac-
ing zones OF stone dust in the mines.
have all been tried with various sue
cess. A number OF these experiments
are described by Mr.. Rice in the bull
letin.