Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

HSHtS, conditions by which tHe uoIIeSts
attending the use of electricity In mines
may be remedied. as well as tests OF the
various types Of breathing apparatus useu
ny engineers and miners in examining
mines immediately following mine eA
pios1on, or in rescue work.
X x
Investigations made by the bureau
showed that 10 per cent of the victims in
certain disasters. and as
searching high as 50 per cent in others.
r. died from the poisonous
gases resulting from an ex-
plosion. Engineers of the bureau have
investigated coal mines in many parts
of the United State in the endeavor to
determine the causes of mine explosions
and mine fires and the means by which
dangerous conditions may be effectually
abated. The Investigations included the
use of different illuminants and explosives
in mines. the inf1ammability of the dusts
or gases found in the workings. and the
dangers attending the use of electricity
Each year explosives used in coal mines
cause the ignition of the nnamma BILE
gases. and these in turn cause death.
During the year the bureau tests various
explosives used. and those which are con-
sidered safe for the work they are to
perform are labeled permissible Near
ly 100 explosives have passed the tests
explosives are cooperating with the bu-
reau in this line of work and are en-
deavoring to produce explosives which
will meet the increasingly rigid demands
the bureau makes in behalf of safety
In testing and analyZng the explosives
examined during a single year. nearly
10000 tests analyses and determinations
We're made.
At Brucetown. Pa, about ten miles
south of Pittsburgh, the bureau has a
small experimental coal mine for the
study of coal-dust explosions. Here a
tWo-thousand-foot tunnel has been dug
and several rooms have been opened,
In order that actual mining conditions can
be exactly duplicated.
X
One of the most important features of
the work done by the bureau of mines is
in connection with the mine
European safety stations and mine res
c4.l, cue cars. In 1910 J. w. Paul
"AJ' and Carl Scholz, mining en-
gineers. went to Europe and visited govs
eminent and private mine rescue and
training stations in England, France,
Belgium, Germany and Austria. They
also visited many manufacturing estab-
iSiIHcutS Wucit Gaining dppdId Jus are
made and many collieres. Three types
of equipment were selected one English
and two German, and sufficient apparatus
was purchased to equip six mine-safety
cars and six stations. In a number of
instances the appliances of the nine
safety car were effectually used in saw
ing life. Since the beginning Of the work
by the government at least twenty-five
lives have been saved.
tHo
branch of the government. much of the
actual work done is through the medium
of printed matter. The bureau of mines
sends out three classes of publications.
circulars. The bulletins and formal pa
pers are, as rule, technical in character,
and contain the results of investiga tons
by the bureau. On the other hand, the
miners circulars are written in nom
technical English, and deal with subjects
relating to sanitation. mine safety. and
other matters of general interest among
men actually engaged in mining. quarry
ing and metallurgical work. Of the 7oo-
coo miners in this country. a large per-
centage know little or no English. and it
is to this type. as well as the American
born miner. that these circulars are writ
ten. They are on such topics as Acct
dents from Mine Cars and Locomotives
Mine Fires and How to Fight Them
Accidents from Fall of Roof and Coal
Coal Dust Explosions and The Use
and Care of Mine-rescue Breathing APP
paratus.' Eleven of these circulars have
thus far been issued.
The editorial work of the bureau is in
charge of an assistant engineer. who is
consequently thoroughly equip
Editorial ped with a technical and
vUorL practical knowledge on the
~ NIT
dealing. During one year the amount of
material which passed through this of
flee consisted of 1890 pages of manu-
script which We're prepared for printing.
besides $50 galley proofs and 1, 100 pages
Of proofs which were read and corrected.
The number of publications distributed
in a year by the bureau was 11O,J OF
that total more than $4,000 were the
miners circulars. showing their popu-
larity. The remaining 10000 odd publ
cations were divided into three classes
of matter. Letters requesting publica-
tons in single year amounted to y, 113
While J.O14 answers were sent out. BY
system of sending out monthly post
cards notifying interested persons that
publications have been issued the bureau
has satisfactorily solved the problem of
publicity. This monthly list numbers
about 1000 names.
with the growth OF the bureau OF mines
there arose the need of a library in which
to keep publicat. ons pertaining to min
ing and other subjects. This library was
started in 1911 and at the end of the first
year it contained 1000 volumes. BY a sys-
tenn of exchange with foreign and domes-
tic mining bureaus and societies nearly
200 of the foremost mining and technical
papers of the world are a part of the
library. While the headquarters of the
library of the bureau is in Washington,
the technical books, for the most part,
are sent to the experiment station at
Pittsburgh, where about half the VOL
umes contained in the library are at the
present time.
In addition to the work done in con-
nection with the perfecting of safety
methods in mining, the bu-
Inspection reau of mines conducts in
of Fuels. vestisations in connection
the fuel-inspection division, has charge
of the work of collecting. Analysing and
testing samples Of coal that represent
deliveries under government contracts
providing for purchase on the specitica-
ton basis. On such contracts the bidders
guarantee the quality of the coal. and
the price paid is governed by the analy
sis of the coal they deliver. During one
year $3.50 samples of coal were received
for analysis. representing 1.091 400 tons
nd m fel 81 tlS1 1tEl In