Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1910-06-02
A NATIONAL:
NINE BUREAU
Great Opportunity In Front Of
New Department.
SAFEGUARDS FOR WORKERS.
United States Authorities to lnvesti-
gate All Possible Causes Of Mine
Accidents and Methods Best Adapted
to Meet Shaft Dansers-Shot Firer
That Eliminates Risk of Lives.

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
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
Cullom of Illinois in resolution he
introduced in the senate in December.
1909 showed that the government
mine rescue stations covered only Il
portion Of the mining region of the
country and that federal experts had
no authority to investigate any mine
disasters except those caused by eX-
plosions
What New Bureau Will Dc.
The great work that has been done
In this line by the geological survey
has proved the need for money and
authority for the government to I'M
dertake 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 -
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 $350.OOO 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.
nj hor oie,nd
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.
ton.
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 etti
cient methods Of mine rescue work
This lack will be supplied, it is be-
lieved, through the investigations and
recommendations of the new bureau
of mines. Mine rescue stations at
Pittsburg, Urbana, ILL.,. 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