The Washington times., 1911-08-12
TAFT To SEE MINE
SAFETY DEVICES IN
ACTUAL OPERATION
Demonstration Scheduled
for Pittsburg in
R1 October.

To give a vivid object lesson to the
miners in the Pittsburg district, on the
causes and effect of mine explosions
and to teach greater safety in mining,
a great national mine safety demon
stration will be held in Pittsburg Oc-
tober 26 and q.
The demonstration will he under the
auspices of the Federal Bureau Of
Mines the American National RED
Cross. the Pittsburg Coal Operators As
socAtion, and the United Mine Work.
crs of America.
President Taf: will attend and deliver
an address. 1t is expected that fully
$1,000 miners, will be present on both
days of the demonstration.
The date was originally set for Sep
tember 16 but was changed, so that
President Taft could attend on the
second day, October y, to witness 4
mimic mine explosion in a temporary
steel gallery which is to be erected On
Forbes Field the Pittshurg Nationals
baseball park. The explosion will be
followed by an exhibition of rescue
work by helmeted miners. and a pa
rade of all those in attendance in re-
view before the President.
Souvenir Prizes For Miners.
After his address the President will
present souvenir prizes to the miners
taking part in the rst-aid-tO-the-in
jured and rescue work exhibitions.
Aside from the President there will be
many other prominent men present, in
Guiding Governor Tener, of Pennsyl-
vania, Secretary of the Interior Fisher.
and DR.. Joseph A. Holmes, director of
the Bureau of Mines. The general ar
rangements of the demonstration are
in charge of H. NJ. Wilson, engineer in
charge of the Bureau of Mines.
The first day of the demonstration
will be devoted to the interests OF the
mine operators, mine owners. mining
engineers, and superintendents of mines.
There will be an explosion OF coal dust
in the experimental gallery of the Bu-
reau of Mines station, and tests of mine
safety lamps in gas. The danger Of
electric sparks in gas and coalNdust
will also be shown in one of the gal
leries.
In the afternoon the operators, en-
ginnerS, and SUperintendcntS will wit
ness an actual mine explosion in the
experimental mine of the bureau at
Bruceton, Pa, twelve miles from Pitts
burg. Coal dust will be allowed to aC-
cumulate in the mine, and black pow
der-the use of which is strongly Op-
posed by the hureau-in mines where
there are dangerous conditions, will be
used. In other words, the bureaus eX-
pertS will carry out in this mine all the
bad practices which they believe lead
to explosions.
Explosion Of Coal Dust.
Tne next morning, October 81. the
demonstration will take place on Forbes
Field. in the presence of the President
and other distinguished visitors. The
cause Of the recent great explosions in
coal mines will be drama tically shown
in an explosion of coal dust in the tenn
porary gallery. Immediately following |
the explosion members of one of the |
rescue corps OF the bSre6u, in their |
oxygen helmets. Will rush into the |
smoke filled gallery and go through the |
work of rescue. Supposed victims of |
the explosion will De brought forth and |
given tirst-aid- d-to-the-injured.
Expert rescue teams from the prinCi- |
pal coal mines of the country will give
friendly exhibitions, and then the miners |
Will pass in review before The President
he parade of the miners will continue
downtown to the river front, where a !
special pier has been assigned them TO !
witness the marine parade in honor of |
the centenary Of the beginning OF steam |
navigation on the Ohio river The !
miners demonstration will conclude at |
noon, and the remainder of the day will !
be taken up with the river centennial.