The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-04-19
MINERS WELFARE
CAUSE OF TAFT
bureau Of Mines Marks Great
Step Forward.
SAVES HUNDREDS OF LIVES
O'seovsry Of Danger Of Coal Dust I'm.
Notwithstanding Of Explosives
Made Safsr-0ovsrnment's
Experimental Coal
Nina.

The saving Of many lives anuuallv-
the lives OF miners throughout the
United states-will be one OF the
splendid results that will follow the
establishment Of the bureau Of mines.
one OF the great achievements in the
interest Of labor BY the administration
OF President TAFT. The formation Of
this bureau IL Likewise 4 notable
achievement, and will prove far.reach-
ing In it, effects to q class Of vaxe.
earners which has been In great mad
OF some practical relief.
Inc 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 moth.
ing was done to check the terrible losa
OF life. There was also need for IN in
vestisation 10 determine what could
Do done In the way Of handling the
nisn explosives. ~ well 40 to improve
the conditions under which the man
worked.
Spurred on BY President TAFT. IN
act creating the bureau OF mines was
passed BY congress and became sfIec.
tive on July 1. 1910. John A. Holmes
OF the United States geological sud.
vey. was appointed 40 the nrst direct.
OF. MI. Holmes was rsputed and cor
tined to b the best trained man for
the place obtainable in the United
States. The chief experimental sta,
tion was established in Pittsburx.
whore the Investigations Of the prob.
lens entrusted to the bureau have
been prosecuted 70 successfully for
nearly two years.
In the year 1907. the most disastrous
OF AL years in the American coal
mine. S.12S miners lost their lives.
This represented 4.Ss men killed
for every 1000 employed. In coal
mines in Europe less than two miners
are killed out Of every 1000 employ.
cd. Al result Of the work conducted
BY the bureau Of mines, and the wise
use OF an appropriation q $3.50. 900
made By congress. the death rate has
already been reduced to practically
one-half Of what It was In 1907.
One of the notable achievements az
the bureau Of mines was the demon.
stration Of the fact that coal dust IN
bituminous mine Il more dangerous
and deadly than gaa. It has b>en the
belief. heretofore. that gas or flrs
damp was the greatest menace to the
miners. and little attention was given
to the accumulation Of coal dust. The
bureau Of mines proved to the salts
faction OF the miners ~ well - opera
tors that coal dust would explode. and.
unlike IRE damp. carried no warning
with It, The keeping Of dusty mines
wet, - recommended by the bureau OF
mines. was found to reduce materially
the chances Of m explosion Of cosl
dust.
Good Work Of Bureau,
Tho number Of deaths in the mines
has been greatly reduced q Z result
OF the testing Of explosives under the
direction Of the bureau Of mines. In
the year 1908 the coal lines in the
United States used two million pounds
OF short name explosives, and 1t pres.
emit nearly seven times that quantity
10 being used with greater safety. due
to the cooperation Of the coal oper,.
tors and the bureau Of mines.
The establishment Of an expert
mental coal mine at Brucstown. p.
twelve miles from Pittsburg, 10 stiIj
another notable achievenont Of the
bureau Of mines. It places The United
States In advance Of other nations
with respect to this research ana a.
psrimsntai work In mines. Nun>rous
tests are made at this e9psrimsatal
mine. from which many excellent ~
suits are obtained.
Still another important work which
10 conducted under the auspices q Tie
bureau Of mines 10 the rescue OF >u.
tombsd miners. Since the creation OF
the bureau many hundreds Of lives
have been SAVED. Al tAs BIG ninins
disaster IN Ohio one Of the rescue
corps Of the bureau q mines arrived
At the scene tAirty-two hours otter
the disaster. Three men we're re-.
cued who had bssn Givsu up q Aead
and allowed to remain IN the mine.
At another time one man was found
alive among $50 dead. ana today ~ 10
the sole survivor q that terrible q.
to the splsndid work OF
the rescue corps.
Before the bureau Of mines was
made possible BY the interest a
President TAFT. which was followed
BY the nsosssary legislation fer its -
Adjustment, there was NO orsaniseA |
effort In saving the lives Of sntombed |
miners. Time and again. men have
Iacrihcsd their lives In vain attempts
10 rescue their companions. This un-
necessary sacrifice Of life has been
stopped By the cooperation Of the
Itate authorities With the federal res. |
:uers attached to the bureau q mines.
An investigation Of the fuel resources
II the United States II also being
made with view OF checking the |
waste. and increasing the efici>ncy
With which fuel II used. This latter
phase Of the work n a nar% 40 A.