Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1911-05-05

rate whereas every other country is showing
decrease"
They pointed out that the European mines are
deep and beset with many dangers we are not
troubled with, while our mines are easy and
should be safe to work. because the veins are
large and thick and run horizontally And yet they
showed where we kill four times many men as
France.
This is the condition of our comparatively safe
mines of today, but, they showed, we are now
beginning for the first time in the history of coal
mining in this country to open veins that are real
ly dangerous. We are on the very threshold of
and far more hazardous period in coal mining,
and, unless we take active measures, are going
to have a series OF mine explosions which will
appal us-even il there are no Americans killed.
Out of the report they made has grown the
Pittsburg testing station of the department of
mines, which is now taking up the most serious
cause of mine explosons-electrcity There would
be objection to electricity under proper condi-
TONS but the difficulty with it at the present time
is that the electrical machinery sparks. In
gaseous or dusty NINE given the right conditions
and 1t needs only spark to kill every man In 1t.
1t should be used only in mines where there is
chance of the accumulation of gas; but, in point
of fact it has been adopted most generally by the
mine operators of the "gas belt" of Western PENN
sylvania and West Virginia In all that country
there is any telling where gas will be struck
next; and the cutting machines which work ahead
and are most likely to open gas pockets are oper-
ated by electric dynamos which constantly "at
the face" of the coal. Formerly 1t was the rule
and in some states the law to bore ahead and test
for gas pockets but with the modern electric cut
ting machines all such precautions out of the
question
The case against electricity when used for pow
er, is the most serious consideration in the whole
of the coal mining situation, because it has made
coal production cheaper. and, on that account no
matter how many deaths it causes, IT would be
extremely difficult to drive 1t out of the dangerous
coal fields. The saving averages about three
cents ton but here is an instance of the lengths
to which operators have gone to make that miser-
able profit: When the dangers from electricity
began to be understood, its permitted only
in mines where open lights safe. So the op
orators, to dodge the law, tore out their covered
lights and sent men into gaseous mines with fam
ing torches In their hats. Then until some terrific
accident happened, the mine inspectors ST.
fenced.
Perhaps we are not no blame the coal operators
for reducing the cost of production to the lowest
possible point; but when they do at the present
tremendous cost of human life 1t is high time they
feel the stern hand of regulation So far. however
they have always been able to prevent the real
cause of of the worst disasters being laid to
electricity. definite cause. in any event, is an
adherence to them. For, If the blame can be
placed on the operating machinery of mine, 1t
opens the way TO damage suits, contingency the
coal operators are adopts at escaping
This whole situation was never better shown
than IN the terrific disaster at Monongah No. s. in
West Virginia, which had the longest death list
in the history of American coal mining The acct
dent occurred on December 6. 1907 Immediately
after trip of fifteen loaded mine cars. liberated
by the breaking of an iron coupling pin had run
back twelve hundred feet on an eight per cent
grade. raising thick cloud Of dust and ending by
causing short circuit in the electric current But
when it came to fixing the cause electricity was
hardly considered. fact that is particularly note
worthy as the decision was severely criticized sft
erwards IN engineering journals
Testimony that tended to prove that electricity