Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1912-04-19

portsnt - Handling Of Explosives
Made Safer - covsrnments Expert
mental cesl Mine.
The saving Of many lives annually
the lives Of miners throughout the
United States-wIll 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 /, 1910. John A. Holmes
OF the United States geological survey
was appointed as the frst director.
Mr.. Holmes was reputed and certified
to be the best trained man for the
place obtalnable In the United Statess
The chief experimental station was es-
tabllshed Mt Pittsburgh. where the In
vestigntions Of the problems intrusted
to the bureau have been prosecuted so
successfully for nearly two years
In the year 1907, the most disastrous
OF all years In the American coal mines,
SIPS miners lost their lives. This rep
resented 4.96 Of men killed for every
1000 employed. In coal mines In Eu-
rope less than two miners are killed
out OF every 1000 employed. As re-
suit OF the work conducted by the bu-
reau OF mines and the wise use OF an
appropriation Of $4,000 made by con-
gress, the death rate has been already
reduced to practically one-half what It
was In 1907.
One of the notable achievements OF
the bureau Of mines was the demon
stration Of the fact that coal dust In
Q bltuminous mine is more dangero 10
and deadly than gns. It had been the
belief heretofore that gas or fire damp
was the greatest menace to the min
err, and little attention was given to
the accumulation of coal dust. The
bureau OF mines proved to the Salts
faction OF the miners as we'll as opera
tors that coal dust would explode and.
unlike fire damp. carried no warning
with It The keeping OF dusty mines
wet, as recommended by the bureau
Of mines, was found TO reduce ma
terialiy the chances OF explosion of coal
dust. .
The number OF deaths in the mines
has been greatly reduced as a result
Of the testing of explosives under the
direction OF the bureau OF mines. In
the year 1905 the coal mines In the Unit
ed States used 100000 pounds of
short fame explosives. and at 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. II places the United
States In advance OF other nations with
respect to this research and expert
mental work in mines. Numerous tests
arc made at this experimental mine.
from which many excellent results are
obtained
still another important work which
ID 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 thu bureau OF mines arrived at the
scene thirty-twO hours after the disas-
ter Three men were rescued who had
been given up as dead and allowed to
remain in the mine. At another time
one man was found alive among 100
dead. and today he Is the sole survivor
OF that terrible catastrophe due to the
splendid work OF the rescue corps.
Before the bureau OF mines was
made possible by the interest Of rres-
ident Taft. which was followed by the
necessary legislation for its establish
ment. there was no organized effort IN
saving the lives OF entombed miners.
Time and again men have sacrificed
their lives in vain attempts to rescue
their companions This unnecessary
sacrifice Of life has been stopped by
the cooperation Of the state authori-
ties with the federal rescuers attached
TO the bureau Of mines. An lnvestisa-
ton Of the fuel resources OF the Unit
ed States Is also being made with
view OF checking the waste and In
creasing the efficiency with which fuel
Is ueed This latter phase OF tue work
In a mart NJ the Droefical conservation