The Elbert County tribune., 1911-05-05

rate. whereas every other country Is showing
decrease"
They pointed out that the European mines
deep and beset with many dangers we are not
troubled with. while mines are easy and
should be safe to work. because the veins are
large and thick and run horizontally. And yet they
showed where 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 hrst time in the history Of coal
mining in this country to veins that are real
ly dangerous We the very threshold Of
new and far more hazardous period in coal mining.
and unless we take active measures, we are going
to have series of mine explosions which will
appal us-even II 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 explosions-electricity There would
be no objection to electricity under proper condi-
tons but the difficulty with 1t at the present time
is that the electrical machinery sparks. In
gaseous or dusty mine. 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 no
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 lat
the face OF the coal. Formerly 1t the rule
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 II has made
coal production cheaper. and, on that account no
matter how many deaths 1t causes, 1t would be
extremely difficult to drive 1t out of the dangerous
coal fields The saving averages about three
cents ton, but here is 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 terrific
accident happened. the mine inspectors ST.
fenced
Perhaps we are not to 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
of some of the worst disasters being laid to
electricity. definite cause. in any event, is an
adherence to them For II the blame be
placed on the operating machinery of a 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 g. 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 1t came to fixing the cause, electricity was
hardly considered. fact that is particularly note.
worthy as the decision was severely criticized aft
erwards In engineering journals.
Testimony that tended to prove that electricity