Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-04-20

discovery OF Danger OF Coal Dust Inn
portant - Handling of Explosives
Made Safer - Governments Expert
mental Coal Mine.
The saving of many lives annually
the lives of miners throughout the
United States will be one of the SPLEEN
did results that will follow the estab-
iishment 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 first director
Mr.. Holmes was reputed and certified
to be the best trained man for the
place obtainable in the United States
The chief experimental station was es-
tabllshed at Pittsburgh. where the in
vestigations Of the problems intrusted
10 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.
3,125 miners lost their lives. This rep
resented 4.s6 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 a 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 10 practically one-half what II
was In 1907
one 81 the notable achievements Of
the bureau Of mines was the demon
stration Of the fact that coal dust in
a bituminous mine Is more dangerous
and deadly than gas. It 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 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
terially the chances Of explosion of coal
dust
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 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 I'm advance Of other nations with
respect 20 this research and expert
mental work In mines. Numerous tests
are made at this experimental mine,
from which many excellent results are
obtained
Sun 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 AZ the big mining
disaster in Ohio one Of the rescue corps
" the bureau 81 mines arrived az the
scene thirtytwo hours after the disas-
ter Three men were rescued who had
been given up as dead aud allowed 20
remain tn the mine AZ another time
one man was found alive among i1o
dead aud today be- Is the sole survivor
~ That terrible catastrophe due 60 che
splendid WORK 81 the rescue rous
nefare The bureau II mines was
made pasAble 81 Toe Interest," q FIRES
deut tau. Wtl5h was followed " thf
aer,-sar9 legislation 81 ~ establish
mFnt laerr was no oreauiEed e'f0si De-
saving che ilfes Of cnamhed m.aefs
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