The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-10-12

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 horizontally. And yet they
showed where we kill four times as many men as
France.
This is the condition OF 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
new and far more hazardous period in coal mining,
and, unless we take active measures, we are going
to have a series of mine explosions which will
appal us-even If there are 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 ENTHUSIASTICALLY 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 a
gaseous or dusty mine, given the right conditions,
and it 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 are 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 against electricity, when used for pow
err 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 1t causes, 1t would be
Arivy
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 use was permitted only
in mines where open lights were safe. So the OPP
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 were 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
cause of some of the worct disasters being laid to
electricity A definite cause, in any event, is an
adherence to them For, II the blame can be
placed on the operating machinery of mine, 1t
opens the way to damage suits, contingency the
coal operators adopts at escaping.
This whole situation never better shown
than in the terrific disaster at Monongah No 8, 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 pn 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 severely criticized aft
erwards In engineering journals.
Testimony that tended to prcrN that electricity