davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
.TO|MPROVE LOCAL
RESCUE STATION
Chief Engineer Paul Says
Plans Are Being Made
for improvements

That the local rescue station of the bu-
to as plans have been outlined for i'm
provement, was an announcement of j.
W. Paul, chief engineer of the bureau
of mines. who is attending the mine in
spectors' convention 1t was Mr.. Paul
who as chief engineer designed and su-
perintended the erection of the rescue
station at West End, which has been of
so much value to training men of this
district to rush into peril and take care
OF themselves as well as save the lives
OF others in time of danger
The station. Mr.. Paul said in this dis
trict, is in good shape. He said the To-
cation was of great Importance here and
realizing this, the bureau of mines had
planned to make some betterments and
addition in line with the important posi-
tion this station occupies.
me plans for the improvement of the
local station said Mr. Paul, .have been
outlined. The improvements will be ac-
complished surely However. | cannot
say that the appropriation will be au-
thorized this year for the reason that
the bureau of mines has used up a con-
SiueItpie amount OF the money allowed
by Congress. However. you may rest as
sured that the station here will be ma
terially bettered and it will be among the
best in this country"
the announcement of Mr. Paul will be
of great interest here by reason of the
value the station may render at any
time should accidents take place. The
station as it now stands is rather sat
isfactory so the expected improvements
will doubtless mean something far bet
ter for Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
KELLER AND CRAFT
ARRIVE IN SELMA
First Lap of Pathfinding
Trip for Highways
Covered

Selma, June 0,-(Special)- Craft
of Mobile, president or the Alabama state
highway commission, and State Highway
Engineer w. s. Keller reached Selma
early tonight on the first lap of their
pathfinding trip for .he two proposed
highways by the state from the Tennessee
river to Mobile bay. and from the east
Georgia line to the west through the
state to the Mississippi line
The scouting party was met at Hazen,
west of Selma. by IL automobiles contain
ing citizens of Selma, who escorted them
here.
Tonight at the Dallas club on " ater
street, President Craft and Engineer Kel-
Ter were rendered an informal smoker,
which was attended by about 100 repre-
sentative business and professional men
of the city. During the evening there
was held a general discussion upon the
question of good roads and the trip of
the scouting party over the state it is
believed will be of great help and bene-
fit in encouraging counties throughout the
state in the building of good roads.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
PERSONAL GOSSIP
OF THE INSPECTORS
WHOARE IN THE CITY
Committee Appointments
Made Yesterday = Cold
Snap Brings Grumbling.
Mr.. Davidson Returns
Nv CLYDE w. ENNIS

The expert mine inspectors that are
to be shown the properties of the Ten
nessee Coal Iron and Railroad COM
pany tomorrow will perhaps absorb
some information of value from that
trip. Some of the very latest Euro
pean ideas in mining have been util-
lied in the mines at Bayview. 1t is
doubtless true that few of them have
ever looked over property so thor
oughly modern and up-to-d date.
At Docena the mine inspectors will
see the most Jmodern mine city in this
district The health, comfort and con-
veniences of the miners has been taken
as the first consideration there, which
results in a mine city of exceptional
attractiveness. The steel plant will be
interesting as well as the plants at
Fairfield. The entire delegation and
their wives will take the trip, which
is expected to be the star attraction
of the mine inspectors institute.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Crowds Disappointed

Admission. June Especial. )--The
hundreds of visitors who came to An
niston Tuesday to see the Buffalo Bill
show We're disappointed at not being
able to see the parade. which was
called off on account of the late arrival
of the show in this city. A large num-
ber of those who came to attend the
ehautauqua. which closed Monday night,
remained over for the circus.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Organization Is Necessary

IF organization is necessary along po-
litical lines and indispensable to secure
the general social uplift of society," it
is certainly absolutely necessary to the
accomplishment of Industrial freedom and
the betterment of the working conditions
of employment of the mine workers, hence
i'll order to accomplish good results they
must come through our unified and indie
pendent and unrestrained and well direct
ed efforts. Il.
you as mine inspectors deserve well
of your state governments. No men in
the government service have proven
themselves to be more efficient; nor more
faithful to public duties; duties we'll and
intelligently performed and done under
adverse conditions. Your compensation
for the kind of services you render, the
hazards of the employment taken, with
the uncertainty%of employment with no
provision made by the state for your
future all incident to this position is
shamefully inadequate. The great serv-
ices you have rendered the state In the
past, done silently and unostentatiously
putting into motion with missionary zeal,
forces having in view the common good
of the mine workers have had splendid
effects. Those services of the mine in
spector may not have been done in such
a demonstrative and spectacular man.
ner as by some other agencies at work.
yet. we know of no single agency in the
government service or otherwise that has
done more for the real betterment of min
ing conditions in general for the mine
worker than has been done by the Or
ganized and unorganized efforts of the
humble mine inspectors of this country"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11

out ballots to be used in election was
discussed. Edward Flynn. chief mine
inspector for the Tennessee Coal, Iron
and Railroad company. and ethers en-
gagged in spirited discussion of the
question. A committee was named to
ascertain mailing time of ballots al
ready used and report to the conven-
tion,
Delegates Shown the City
The delegates and their wives and
daughters were taken over the city
in automobiles Yesterday afternoon
leaving at 8 o'clock. Automobiles were
furnished by Erskine Ramsay, NJ Webb
Offutt, Culpepper Exum, Edwin Ball
and the Chamber of Commerce Tor the
trip. The trip from later expressions
was greatly enjoyed. They were shown
the Highlands by local members, one
of whom was in each machine. They
went over Mountain Terrace, Cliff
Road. across town to Norwood and
then to Fairfield. The visitors were
very much impressed with the interest
ing residential sections shown them
and the model Industrial city.
: The delegates last night were en-
tertafned at a smoker given at the
Hotel Hillman. The ladies were enter
tained with theatre parties and auto
uobile rides
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Standing Committees Appointed

At the morning session of the in
spectors' institute the following com
mittee was appointed, one of which is
headed by c. II. Nesbitt of Alabama al
chairman. On that committee are Oscar
Cortledge of Illinois, X. Y. Muir of
West Virginia; on resolutions, ID. j.
Roderick of Pennsylvania, Arthur
Moses of Illinois. and G. Z. sylvester
of Tennessee
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
"Send Us Sunny South Weather

The weather man of this district was
indicted yesterday by those attending
the institute for the cold snap. Over
coats were purchased yesterday and
heavier linen by the visitors because
they expected weather entirely differ
ent from that they experienced yester-
day. Mr.. McDermont of Montana SAID
that he could get this kind of weather
at home, while the delegates from
Illinois, Indiana. Pennsylvania and
elsewhere were heard muttering threats
against Uncle Sans weather man
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
News of Ensley

Norman III, Johnson, editor of the Rich
mond Journal and Commerce, will prob
ably be invited to address the Merchants
district some time in July. The ques-
tion will be considered at the meeting
of the Ensley association. which will be
held this afternoon.
1t is understood that Mr.. johnson will
accept the invitation II rendered and
the plan which in all probability will
be adopted at the meeting this afternoon
is to have the editor address the business
men at a big anniversary meeting The
members of the Ensley organization have
had under consideration some form of
celebration of the first anniversary and
the best favored proposition so far ad-
vanced is to arrange a.. outdoor meeting.
probably barbecue, and other interest
ing features being added. Other matters
for disposal at this afternoons meeting
will be of routine nature.
j. Gordon Jones' who has been spend
ing a few days with relatives in Ensley
will return to his home in Pittsburg to-
day. Mr. Jones came TO Ensley last
week to attend the funeral of his brother
Thomas Jones, which was held last
Saturday. Mr.. Jones is a noted basso
singer in the Smoky CITY, and is said
to be the highest salaried church singer
in Pittsburg
At the Eistedfood, the big Welsh music
festival to he held in July, Mr. Jones will
direct a choir of children in addition
to entering the basso contest, which will
be a feature of the event. He will also
take other parts in the festival. Mr..
ZONES is the soloist for the Emery Metho-
Il st Episcopal church at East Liberty,
Pittsburg.
| The members of the Ensley fire depart
ment are pulling for another record in
June like the one established in May,
that of not having a single fire. For the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Validity of Law Upheld

Washington, June 10.-validity of the
Michigan law of 1909 changing the basis
for taxation of telephone companies from
assessed value to earnings, was today
upheld by the supreme court.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Officers and Committees

The officers OF the instftuteNand the
local committees handling the conven-
tion follow:
Thomas X. Adams president; ID. j.
Roderick. first vice president; Edward
Flynn, second vice president; ID. C.
Batting, third vice president; James w.
Paul, secretary; r. S. Wheatley, as
sistant secretary; II. Il. Rhys, treasurer
]. r. Beard. editor in chief.
Local ttees-Arrangement: c.
IL. Nesbitt, chairman; Edward Flynn,
w. II. Ray. J. f. Webb. Entertainment
Frank Hillman. chairman; /. w. New
by, HI II. Hamilton, j. Nj. Webb.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Individual Responsibilities-Adam ms

The miners of this state whose voca-
ton is one essentially involving con
siderable personal danger, will be in
terested in this expression of President
Adams, who has for 25 years been "a
miner and inspector of mines:
Personal responsibilities are great
in mining. You gentlemen know my
views along that line. l believe the
miners and those who work around
mines could greatly lessen the fatal
titles by more carefully looking after
their own activities. Every man who
is near a mine should be exceedingly
careful how he conducts himself for
the safety not alone of himself but of
others depends upon it. If every one
would exercise that caution which con-
stantly suggests itself to them there
would be many lives saved and these
fearful fatalities would be greatly de-
creased" ~
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Secretary J. L. Davidson at Meeting

james L. Davidson, secretary of the
Alabama Coal Operators association,
rushed back from New York yesterday
to help entertain the mine inspectors
institute in session here. He was at
the meeting yesterday and was in
charge of a number of the delegates
for the automobile trip He said the
meeting was one of great Importance
to this district and the mining industry
at large. and he was glad to help en-
tertain them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Laws Only Worth Nothing

This organization has power to ac-
complish much good If 1t has learned how
to use that power effectively. If we have
not been as potential or as effective in
realizing the real purposes of our asso-
citation, the failure is ours. But we can
with we'll directed efforts, be earnest.
united and enthusiastic, work and make
this institute a powerful agency for good
or we can by our indifference make It a.
monumental failure. The institute gives
as medium through which We can talk
to the people of this country with q
power not possible when we talk as in
dividuals. We are in a much better po-
sition to reach the governmental power
SO as to force the enactment of reason-
able and necessary laws. But laws put
upon the statute books of the different
states Will avail US nothing, unless all
of those people who are concerned In
the operation of the mines are forcibly re-
quired to obey them.
: Whenever the mining people of this
country truthfully resolve to eliminate at
least 80 per cent of all classes of mine
accidents they have the power and the
knowledge within themselves to do 80
This much desired result will surely come
whenever the captains of the coal mining
industry are so educated up to the high
and humane ideal that the preservation
OF human life Is a more valuab Bile asset
than that Of large dividends; and. when
ever the mine workers themselves have
learned the lesson of obedience and have
made this fixed habit of life, and that
their lives are more to them than the
obtaining high rate of wages, the dis
astrous problems having such baneful
results. will have in a large measure been
solved and eliminated.
'We feel that we have good reason for
announcement because, with ali our
shortcomings. at no time in the. history
of the coal mining industry have kreater
efforts been put forth for the betterment
OF mining conditions in general with
more laws enacted, and better enforce
meht OF the same. than now. The dah
serous elements Incident 70 thu mininr
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Mr.. Paul Entertained

]. w. Paul of the federal bureau of
mines from Pittsburg was given a box
party at the baseball game yesterday
afternoon. He is widely known here
and very popular among the operators
and others In many cases he has
rushed here from Pittsburg to be of
service to men in trouble at explo-
sions.
The party included: President Adams
Chief Inspector Nesbitt, Mr.. Paul. Err
skine Ramsay, Nj. Webb Ofutt, Mr.
Swan of West Virginia and others.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11


knowledge of mining never was so uni
sersally diffused; the mines never were
so intelligently managed than at the
present time, yet unnecessary accidents
happen and many of them of great sever
ity and mangnitude.
New Dangers Have Arisen
"Along with our wonderful progress
and development in mining many more
and new dangers have arisen in the
Mines This is largely due to the intro
duction of complicated and of multi
plicity of machinery and dangerous pow
ers into the mines. and the inordinate
desire to obtain big things by coneentra-
tien of productive unit mines, to obtain
economic results: the great haste in per-
forming daily tasks by the working men
in order to secure greater productive
power and supposed greater efficiency
and this attempted with large numbers of
unintelligent and unslSilled working men
now employed in the mines of the coun-
try and by reason of all this disastrous
results have followed. In view of such
facts much strenousu work remains to be
done by the mining classes and especially
by the mine inspectors before ideal con-
ditions can be secured in the mines so
as to better safeguard life and reduce
the death rate to the proper minimum.
Those of us who had not the ex-
perienee In the mines of this country be-
fore we had secured effective mining leg
islation can hardly imagine the great i'm
provements in the sanitary Npnditions of
the mines now and Athen. N. fact we
have been creditably informed that the
sanitary conditions in the large, we'll
regulated mines of this country are not
'exceled by that prevailing in any other
country. While 1t NAV be regarded in
some quarters that human life is held
very cheaply especially of those who are
employed in the mines here. yet, We're
all the adverse conditions with which we
have to contend well understood our rec
ord of the death rate would bear much
more favorable comparisons with other
countries.
institutions of this character are an
absolute necessity in this country. BY
the mine inspectors being organized the
power for the accomplishment of good is
thereby largely increased. 1t is the opin-
ion of nearly all intelligent men at the
present day that in order to accomplish
the best results for the public welfare
whether it be of political social or in
dustrial nature, must come largely
through organized effort. We live in an
age of organization.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11

The Twentieth century Culture club Will
meet this afternoon at o'clock at the
residence of Mrs. I. d. Craig, 1620 Ter
rell boulevard
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Mr.. Martin of West Virginia Here

James Martin, an Inspector from
West Virginia. is attending the instt-
tute. He likes Birmingham and was
exceedingly anxious to get look at
the city
>'I have heard a great deal OF Bir-
mingham,'' he said, "and the fine prop
critics that you are operating here The
greatness of Birmingham has been
blazoned over our state many times
and we were very anxious to meet In
this district. The sessions we have
heard have been unusually interesting.
The hospitality accorded us has been
greater than we have ever experienced
elsewhere"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11

81 days of May no fire occurred In the
jurisdiction of the local department which
was unprecedented in the history Of the
city. and since none has developed thus
far in June, makes a total Of Il days.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
Life Has Been Sacrificed

Our industrial position, however, has
been won at a great sacrifice of hu-
man life In connection with the usual
coal mining industry things have hap
pened and are vet taking place which
are more of a distressing character than
that which we have just related to you.
In the year 1912, 1850 persons lost their
lives in and about the mines ofthis coun-
try, or 3.15 deaths to every 1000 persons
employed or 4.29 deaths to every 1000, 900
tons of coal produced or one person
killed to every 233,0OO tons of coal pro-
duced. This is the best record we have
had since the disastrous year of 1907, in
which $50 persons lost their lives by mine
explosions. While this record is better
than it has been for the past six years
the death rate in and about the mines
is entirely too high.
WE realize that the miner Is engaged
at hazardous occupation, but we are
equally agreed that very many Of the
lives lost are an unnecessary sacrifice
not warranted by the hazard of the min
ers occupation.
I'VE. as mine inspectors have greater
opportunities of acquiring experience and
an intimate knowledge of varied mining
conditions and of the practicable means
to employ to render harmless dangers
incident to mine operations. than any
other body of men, henve it is our duty
as members of this institute both in our
individual and organized capacity to blaze
the way which will lead to the adoption
of precautionary and remedial measures;
in the different states as shall render the
mines in the future safer than they have
been in the past.
The people of this country have rea-
son to expect that an organization of this
character, composed as 1t Is of expe-
rienced and intelligent mining men, will
take the initiative in securing such uni
form and necessary legislation as will
safeguard life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11

of coal never were better understood; a
knowledge of mining never was so uni
,ersally diffused the mines never were
so intelligently managed than at the
present time yet unnecessary accidents
happen and many of them of great sever
ity and rnangnitude.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11
FIFTY PER CENT OF
MINING ACCIDENTS
CAN Be ELIMINATED
So Says President Adams in
Address to the Mine
Inspectors
is A QUESTION OF
EDUCATION ONLY
Many of Lives Lost Are Needless
Sacrifice-In 1912 There Was One
Death for Every 233,OO0 Tons
of Coal Produced

Following the welcoming addresses,
which were brief, of Culpepper Exum,
president of the city commission, and
w. p. G. Harding, president of the Cham
Der of Commerce. Thomas *. Adams of
Mercer Penn. president of the Mine In.
spectorsN institute. in the fifth annual
convention delivered the following ad-
dress.
This is the fifth annual convention of
our institute and we meet today in many
respects under very auspicious circum-
stances. We are in common with all
other classes of American citizens, enjoy
ing the fruits of a prosperity never ex-
ceeded before in the history of our ma
ton, for which we ought to be thank
full. We should feel proud of the fact
too, that in the rapidity of the accumu-
lation of wealth no other nation has ex-
celled u.s. we are also living under IA
form of civilization which makes il pos
sble for US to enjoy a degree of happi-
ness. of freedom and of ethical, educa-
tional and social culture, and to bestow d
philanthrophy, especially to the needy and
unfortunate unsurpassed by that of any
other country in the history of the world.
There are very few nations that can
equal us in contiguous territorial extent
which contains practically ineXhaustible,
valuable minerals, capable of increasing,
to fabulous proportions our already ac-
quired $l10 900, ,000,OG0 of national wealth.
''The coal mining industry has kept
step with the marvellous progress and de-
velopment attained along all other lines
of human endeavor. SiXty-three years
ago there were produced 100000 short
tons of coal in this country and during
the year 1912 there were produced nearly
550,000,000 short tons of coal and in the
production of which 10000 persons found
employment. While the product of the
coal mining industry is not of such large
volume and value as compared with that
of agriculture with it's annual value of
products of nine and one-half billions of
dollars: nor of the annual output of
manufacturers worth fifteen billions of
dollars yet, as mining men, we are JUS
titled in the belief that coal is king and
that it is the most important pillar in
the structure of the industrial life of
this nation. When we realize that our
rendered possible by the ingenuity, in
dustry and organizing genius of our peo-
pie, we have great reason for rejoicing
with all other patriotic Americans at our
country's achievements.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-11

The members of the Ensley fire depart
ment are pulling for another record in
June like the one established in May.
that of not having single fire. For the
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-05-26
SIERRA BLANCA SCHOOL
HOLDS CLOSING EXERCISES

Sierra Blanca. Tex. Nav 26-School
has closed here and the commencement
exercises were enjoyed by a large crowd.
Miss Breeding. assistant teacher. ar
ranged and supervised the program.
Miss Neva Yarbro from Van Horn. IS
here. the guest of Mr.. and Mrs. W. T..
NarbrO.
Miss Edith Taylor. of FL Paso, is visit
ing Mr.. and Mrs A. LickOrish.
Mrs. w L. Frame, of FL Paso. IS
visiting friends and relatives at this
place.
Engineer Clifford. of the G.. H. & S. A.,
also Amos J.. Smith. FL Paso division,
are spending a few days at the hot
springs, south Of this place
The young people enioved a moonlight
picnic and dance at the Southwestern
mines near this place. About 20 couples
went from here. some in private rigs and
automobiles. while others eniOved an old
fashioned hay ride, drawn bv four mules.
A platform had been built for the dancers
and am informal supper, consisting of
N~rbecue, salads. cake and coffee was
served !. r. owe. manager of the
mines, acted as host.