The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-04-18
ERS'WELFARE
CAUSE OF taft
Bureau Of Mines Marks Great
Step Forward.
SAVES HUNDREDS OF LIVES.
Discovery of Danger of Coal Dust Inn
portant - Handling of Explosives
Made Safer - Governments Expert
mental Coal Mine.


Made Safer - Governments Expert
mental Coal Mine.
The saving of many lives annually
the lives of miners throughout the
United States-wiil be one of the splen.
did results that will follow the estab-
lishment of the bureau of mines. one
Of the great achievements in the inter
est of labor of the administration of
President Taft.
The excessive and unnecessary loss
of life in the mines of this country
was one of the primary causes for the
creation of this bureau. For years
hundreds of miners were killed in mine
disasters, and practically nothing was
done to check the terrible loss of life.
Spurred on by President Taft, an
act creating the bureau of mines was
passed by congress and became effec
tive on July l, 1910. John A. Holmes
of the United States geological survey
was appointed as the first director
Mr.. Holmes was reputed and certified
W NC inc peSt tIdlneu HaH LOT tHe
place obtainable in the United States
The chief experimental station was es
tapllshed at flttsburgh, Where the IN
vestigatiOns of the problems intrusted
to the bureau have been prosecuted 50
successfully for nearly two years.
In the year 1907, the most disastrous
OF all years in the American coal mines
BID miners lost their lives. This rep
resented 4.SG of men Killed for every
1860 employed. In coal mines in Eu-
rope less imam TWO miners are Killed
out OF every l'ooo empower. IS re
suit Oh lhe WORK conducted ny the pu-
reau OF mines ana tHe wise use or an
appropriation OF *I1O''YV Iaade by con
SresS' lhe death rate mas been already
reduced TO practically ohe-half what 1t
was N l9V''
One OF the notable achievements OF
the bureau 81 mines was the demon
stratlon OF the fact that coal dust in
bituminouS mine Is more dangerous
and deadly than gas. 1t had been the
belief heretofore that gas or fire damp
was the greatest menace to the min
ers' and little attention was given to
the accumulation OF coal dust. The
bureau of mines proved to the salts
faction OF the miners as well rs opera
tors that coal dust would explode anC,
unlike fire damp, carried no warning
with 1t. The Keeping OF dusty mines
wet, as recommended by the bureau
of mines. was found to reduce ma
dust.
The number Of deaths in the mines
has been greatly reduced as result
Of the testing Of explosives under the
direction of the bureau of mines. In
the year 1908 the coal mines in the Unit
ed States used 100000 pounds Of
short flame explosives, and mt present
nearly seven times that quantity is be
ing used with greater safety. due to
the cooperation of the coal operators
and the bureau Of mines.
The establishment of an experiment
tai coal mine at Brucetown, Pa.
twelve miles from Pittsburgh, is still
another notable achievement of the
bureau of mines. 1t places the United
States in advance of ether nations with
respect to this research and expert
mental work in mines. Numerous tests
are made at this experimental mine,
from which many excellent results are
obtained.
Still another important work which
is conducted under the auspices of the
bureau Of mines is the rescue of en-
tombed miners. Since the creation of
the bureau many hundreds of lives
have been saved. At the big mining
disaster in Ohio one of the rescue corps
Of the bureau Of mines arrived at the
scene thirty-two hours after the disas-
ter. Three men We're rescued who had
remain In the mine. AT another time