The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-06-08

rate. whereas every other country 10 showing q
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 ana
should be safe to work. because the veins are
large and thick and run horizontally And yet they
showed where ne Kill four times a. many men a.
France.
This Is the condition of our comparatively safe
mines Of today but NJ they showed. Ne are nov
beginning for the hrst time In the history Of coal
mining In this country to open veins that are real
Iy dangerous. We on the very threshold OF
new and far more hazardous period In coal mining.
and. unless take active measures. NE are going
to have a series Of mine exploaions which viii
appal us-even n 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 20 electricity under proper condt
tIons but the dIeulty with q at the present time
IL that the electrical machinery sparks In
gaseous or dusty mine. given the right conditions.
and u needs only n spark 20 Hill every man In H.
Il should be used only In mines where there IL no
chance Of the accumulation Of gas: but In point
OF fact n 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 IL any telling where gas viii be struck
next: and the cutting machines. which work ahead
and are most likely To open gas pockets. are oper
the face Of the coal Formerly Il was the rule
and In some states the Law TO bore ahead and test
for Eas pockets but with the modern electric cut
ting machines all such precautions are out Of the
question.
IRE case against electricity. when used for pow
er n the most serious consideration In the whole
OF the coal mining situation. because u has made
coal production cheaper. and. on that account. no
matter hov many deaths Il causes. II would be
extremely dicuit 10 drive II out Of the dangerous
coal helds. The saving averages about three
cents ton. but here IL 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 was permitted only
In mines where open lights were safe. So the op
orators. TO dodge the Law. tore out their covered
lights and sent men into gaseous mines with nam
Ing torches In their hats Then. until some terrific
accident happened. the mine inspectors we're 81
fenced.
Perhaps We are not to blame the coal operators
for reducing the cost Of production to the lowest
possible points but when they do 30 At the present
tremendous cost Of human life. Il Il high time they
feel the stern hand Of regulation. So far. however
they have always been able 10 prevent the real
cause Of OF the worst disasters being laid tC
electricity definite cause. IN any event. is an
abhorrenee to them For u the blame can b
placed on the operating machinery Of a mine. n
opens the way to damage suits. contingency ths
coal operators are adopts at escaping
This whole situation vas never better showI
than In tho terrific disaster a. MOnongah No. q n
West virginia. which had TIE longest death lis
IN the history Of American coal mining. The acci
dent occurred on December 9. 1897. immediatsh
after a trip Of fifteen loaded mine cars. liberated
By the breakiag of an iron coupling pm. had rur
back twelve hundred feet on an eight per cont
grade. r1inins thick cloud of dust and endlnG b
causing short circuit IN the electric current But
when Il came 10 nxing the caune. eiectricisy wai
hardly considered. faea that Il peKiiculaFlr noto
worthy "a TIE dacIsfun severely esiticised an
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