El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-10-28
BLOWING IP
MINES F0A
TEST
Second Demonstration Of
Coal Dust Danger Held in
Pittsburg.
PRESIDENT TAFT
WATCHES THE WORK

Pittsburg, Pa, Oct. 28.-Preliminary
tests for the second Of the mine ex-
plosions and rescue work that are to be
held here on October 80 and 81. before
president Taft, secretary of the inte-
rIor Walter L. Fisher. governor Tener
Of Pennsylvania and 10000 miners.
mine owners and mine superintendents.
took place today. under the direction
of H II. Wilson. engineer in chief Of the
federal bureau of mines. Mr.. Wilson
announced that his arrangements were
in every way satisfactOr and that the
two days demonstration would provide
an even more graphic exposition of the
cause OF mine explosions than first re-
ports warranted.
The big feature of the program will
be the miniature explosion of coal
mine on Forbes field. the Pittsburg
baseball park, October 81, before the
president and miners. The object Of
this explosion is to demonstrate TO mine
operators that coal dust is highly com
busuble and is to blame for some of
the greatest mine disasters that have
taken place in years. A steel gallery
VIII be set up in the park. coal 5ner
will be placed within and the charge
fired from the outside by means of cleo
tricity.
Rescue Men Enter.
After the explosion, trained CORPS OF
rescue men viii enter the fumes. with
apparatus tested by the federal bureau
or mines and bring out the SUPPOSED
victims OF the disaster, giving a demon
stratlOn of resuscitatiOn. The fact that
the demonstration is to be held under
the auspices of the federal bureau Of
Mines, the PittSbUrg CCal Operators as
ISOLATION, the American Red Cross and
the United Mine 81 OrkeTs of America
assures a deep interest in the test. and
VIII probably do much to revising the
rescue methods in the coal mines Of the
United States.
The explosion Of coal dust in Forbes
field on Tuesday viii be preceded by
day devoted to the interests Of coal
operators, and those interested in coal
mining Its object viii be to teach
greater safety in mining The first
tests viii be held at the experiment
stations Of the bureau Of mines. There
VIII be tests OF mine safety lamps in
gas, and the dangers Of electric sparks
in gas and coal dust viii also be shown
in one Of the galleries.
A class Of miners will be trained in
the use of the oxygen helmet, which
permits breathing in poisonous gases
for period of two hours.
In the afternoon, the operators. enEf-
neers and superintendents will witness
an actual mine explosion in the expert
mental mine of the bureau at BrucetOn.
Pa, y miles from Pittsburg. Here the
dangers Of coal dust and black powder,
an explosive the bureau strongly adj
vises against, viii be tested. the bu-
reau's experts carrying out all the bad
practices which they believe lead to
mine explosions.
On the morning Of October 81. the
spectacular explosion viii take zee
before the president The rest OF the
morning viii be given to friendly com
petition between expert rescue teams
from the principal coal mines OF the
country and a parade of miners which
will pass in review before the presi-
dent.
Toll of Death.
The tests and demonstrations are the
result Of many years Of experiment by
the governments corps of experts and
il is believed viii effect a great saving
of life throughout the United States.
The governments statistics show that
80. 1000 miners were killed within the
past ten years. that IS. 600 were injured
and that mine explosions and accidents
have thrown over II. 900 widows and
10000 fatherless children upon charity.
1t is to rescue these casualties that the
government and the mine workers and
owners are cooperating.
The parade of miners, after being re-
viewed by the president viii march to
a special pier where they viii witness
the marine parade in honor of the cen
tenary Of the beginning Of steam navi-
cation on the Ohio river. The miners
demonstrate ton viii conclude at noon
and the remainder Of the day viii be
taken up with the river centennial