Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1912-04-26

nlHe, o,lzO miners lOSL Inelr HVeS.
This represented 4.S6 men killed
for every 1000 employed. In coal
mines in Europe less than two miners
are killed out of every 1000 employ
ed. AS result of the work conducted
by the bureau of mines, and the wise
use of an appropriation of $15O,000
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 of
the bureau of mines was the demon.
stration of the fact that coal dust in
bituminous mine is more dangerous
and deadly than gas. Il has been the
belief, heretofore, that gas or fire
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 as well as opera
tors that coal dust would explode, and.
unlike fire damp, carried no warning
with 1t. The keeping of dusty mines
wet, as recommended by the bureau of
mines, was found to reduce materially
the chances of an explosion of coal
dust
Good Work of Bureau.
The number Of deaths in the mines
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 lines in the
United States used two million pounds
of short flame explosives, and at pres.
ent nearly seven times that quantity
is being used with greater safety, due
to the cooperation of the coal opera.
tors and the bureau of mines.
The establishment of an expert.
mental coal mine at Brucetown. Pa,
twelve miles from Pittsburg, is still
another notable achievement of the
bureau of mines. 1t places the United
StSes In advance of other nations
with respect to this research and ex-
perimental work in mines. Numerous
tests are made at this experimental
mine, from which many excellent re-
suits are obtained
Still 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. At the big mining
disaster in Ohio one Of the rescue
corps of the bureau of mines arrived
at the scene thirty-two hours after
the disaster. Three men were res
cued who had been given up as dead
and allowed IN remain in tho nina
At another time one man was found
alive among 150 dead. and today he Is
the sole survivor of that terrible ca.
tastrophe-due to the splendid work of
the rescue corps.
Before the bureau of mines was
made possible by the interest of
President Taft, which was followed
by the necessary legislation for its es.
tablishment, 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 un.
necessary sacrifice of life has been
stopped by the cooperation of the
state authorities with the federal res.
cuers attached to the bureau of mines.
An investigation of the fuel resources
of the United States is also being
made with q view of checking the
waste. and increasing the efficiency
with which fuel is used. This latter
phase of the work is part of ths
practical conservation policy of the
Taft administration.