Mountain advocate., 1912-06-14
joint Conference Of Ken
lucky Nine Institute and
inspection Department
Held at Lexington to
Discuss this Que StiOn
y Large Crowd Present and
An Interesting Ses> ion wos
Held

Mining Institute and State Mine
Operators and Inspectors, the first
ever held in Kentucky, took place at
the College of Mines and Metallurgy
at State University in Lexington
last Monday and Tuesday.
1t was a meeting OF more than
Statewide interest, as the confer
ence discussed mine administration
and considered metoods for minim.
izing accidents in mines and the lat.
est rescue devices, and Investigations
were conducted in the cause and
prevention Of mine accidents and
explosions.
The United States Bureau OF Min
es sent Kentuck, and Tennessee car
No. 3, in charge of f. b Sutton,
who gave practical demonstrations
in the most modern mine rescue ap.
planes.
Prof c. J. Norwood sent out let
tiers to all coal operators and in.
spectors in the State urging them
to have representative present
throughout the meeting. Prof. Nor
wood stated:
1.-THE occasion oFthis meeting was
not the fact that we have so many
mine accideDts, for Kentucky for
many years has had an enviable rec.
ord in the matter of mine fatalities
for the number of persons employed
but believe that general discus
sion and exchange of ideas on the
preventive measures or the part Of
mine operat ors will be worth while
and many helpful results will follow
1--WE are on the eve of a great ex-
| pansion in the production of coal,
which necessarily means an increase
of accident possibilities, and it is my
belief that this general exchange of
ideas will be beneficial. We all rec
ognize that the prevention OF mine
disasters is more important than
the rescue of the injured. and yet
the rescue work is essential"
For many years Kentucky has
stood at the front in the matter of a
minimum number Of mine accidents
per number of persons employed
and tonnage raised. There are over
10000 square miles of coal land in
the State, much of which is undevel-
oped, and Kentucky ranks among
the leading coal producing States of
the Union, and in the production
of camel coal the State is not excel
led. TIL. first summing up of the
output of commercial coal for 1911
shows a production OF 13,903,823
tons. In view of the expected ex-
pansion in growth oil the coal indus
try, an annual meeting of the coal
operators, where they can discuss
and formulate new ideas and schem
es, seems n necessary consequence,
and this first meeting called by
Prof Norwood. although pioneer
move in Kentucky along this line,
is thought to be distinctive step
towards meeting this necessity.
The public was admitted to the
mine rescue car, where practical de-
monstrations and illustrated lectur
es given on the latest lile-saving APP
pliances. the installation in mines.
etc. Precautions regarding the
ndnUlluG w NOai WNiN hioNuoceh
thoroughly. and first aid problems
including treatment, were consider
ed. The oxygen helmet and the pull
motor, two of the latest inventions.
were thoroughly tested and demon
strated. These two instruments
have played a conspicuous part in
the rescue par. of several recent mine
disasters. The oxygen helmet en-
ables the weaIer to enter the most
dangerous fumes and remain Tor two !
hours. while the pulmotor is used to |
revive and r, suscitate the rescued.
After the value Of these instru.
ments had heen proven, Kentucky .
was the first to equip all her mine
,suectors with them. New every