The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-27
ID OPEN BIDS ON
 RESCUE STATION Equipment Will Be Espe-
 cially Elaborate TRAINING FOR MEN Room Filled With Fumes Is Pro- vided Where Rescuers Practice
 Working With Oxygen
 Helmets
By CLYDE W. ENNIS

By CLYDE W. ENNIs
 J. w. Paul of Pittsburg, engineer or the bureau of mines rescue station, Will reach Birmingham today for the purpose of being present when the bids for the local rescue station are opened to- morrow afternon at o'clock. The at- tendance of MT. Paul upon this detail or the local work is taken to indicate that the bureau of mines is keenly interested in the local situation and desires to pro- mote the construction here in every pos sble way.
 The plans for the rescue station to De erected on Poplar street, West End, were given out yesterday by o. R. Brown 1ore- man of the rescue station temporary headouarters, and who will be in charge of the station when completed
 The most important feature of the local building, according to the mine experts is the smokeroom which will be located on the second floor. This room Will De hiieo at stated times with fumes of formalde- hyde and the classes will be sent into the room to remain certain length or time in taking the lessons. As explained by Mir Brown, the smokeroom training IS to inculcate in the miners and the class men nerfect confidence in the rescue hel- nets. so that in a smoke-laden mine they will have the assurance that their equip- ment will not permit any smoke or gas to enter the air spaces. This faith does not hermit of any uneasiness on the part of the rescuers when they are called to enter mine laden with black damp afterdamp or other death-dealing after gases of an explosion. This training is of prime importance to the classes, and is dealt in regularly at this time at the temporary headquarters of the mine res cue station.
 Two Story Design
 The building will be of two-story design, of brick and dressed lumber construction.
 It will be equipped with an observation room of large dimensions and oHice' equipment room, laboratory and large hall on the first floor. On the second floor there will be one large bedroom, vashroom. which includes three shower baths. lavatories and other requ1sites' one large, commodious balcony and small alcoves for equipment used in the worK. A portion of the second story will nave concrete floors, while other rooms will be of yellow pine lumber and plastered walls.
 Every detail has been supplied by the engineering department of the bureau or mines for the construction. The details are so minute that the number of hinges nails electric globes and other small parts of the building are accounted for in the general plans. MT. Brown said yester- day the building would be on good site with a commanding view, and would re- semble a residence from the exterior It is planned to have bedroom for the mine experts who may happen To De- come attached to the local station. The equipment room and the other technical storerooms will be supplied with railings, cases made of glass and other ceanly materials which will insure the most perfect sanitation about the res- cut station.
 If is probable that a department will be arranged to demonstrate explosives The bureau will be visited from time to time by powder experts here, and giant eX plosiyes set off to show the manner or their operation.
 The most perfect system of up-keep will be inaugurated by the bureau to create a place in which the district can take pride and place where the industrlai men will feel warranted in passing few hours weekly in getting in touch with the great department having in hand so perilous a work as rescuing people in exploded coal mines.
 The work of construction of this build ing calls for the installation of radiators made by the American Radiator company, or those lust as good, and the most per feet system of electric installation that can be arranged for
 The various rooms will be commodious, airy and arranged in a decidedly conyen- tent manner.
 MT. Brown Talks
 MT. Brown, in speaking of the work in this district, said yesterday:
 we have a class now of large propor- tions which visits our temporary head quarters from time to time to take the drills The smokeroom, where we ignite powder or other harmless smoke creators, is entered every week by class equipped with helmets. These helmets are fas- tened to the men and every effort and opportunity given for the entrance into them of smoke. We find that smoke does not enter them and hence the miners
  but confident that no gas or black damp in the mines will penetrate the helmets.
 q would use the industrial companies of the district to designate a certain force from each mine to take up this work. There is absolutely no reason to expect that a miner unused to the helmets of this bureau will be at ease when he done one when an explosion takes place. How ever. if we get these men here, and the government drills them free, telling them of all the dangers and demonstrating conclusively that the equipment is per fectly safe, they will in short time be- come proficient in the use of them. Un- less this is done the men cannot be of service at a place where there has been an explosion. It cannot be argued that when an explosion occurs we can take up any man of mine intelligence and rush him into black damp with these government safety precautions without getting him somewhat nervous about 1t. To overcome this fear and timidity is the reason we have this smokeroom drill.
 Soon Become Expert
 "The companies Of the district have am