Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1913-07-16
WILL LOOK AFTER
THE HEALTH OF MINERS

The United States Bureau of Mines
is about to investigate the conditions
under which a miner works, be-
lieving that the unsanitary conditions
which exist in some of the mines as
we'll as in some OF the mining towns
are a factor in the death rate among
the men. 1t is intimated that these
conditions not only unnecessarily
cause the death of miners through
disease, but they are often response
bic for accidents which might not
have happened if the miners were in
perfect health.
The bureau has organized what s
known as the Mine Sanitation Sec
ton, in charge of J. Fl. White,
engineer.
The bureau hopes to bring about
progress by appealing to the miner,
the manager, and the owner, show
ing that all three can assist, and
how all three can be benefited by
good sanitary conditions. 1t will
reach the miner by means of il
Illustrated lectures, moving picture
exhibits and pictorial circulars. These
will show how sickness and suffer
ing are spread by careless habits,
and will drive home the Importance
of personal and household cleanli-
ness. The bureau will assist the
managers by pointing out glaring
sanitary menaces, and showing
methods and costs of abatement. it
will describe in bulletins common
unsanitary practices and show the
evils which follow in their wake.
1t will submit sanitary rules and
regulations and show the best
methods for their enforcement.
Engineer White, in talking about
the conditions which exist in mining
towns said today, "The mining town
does not grow but is built at
single stroke. The effect of this
is that the valuable lessons learned
by the 'try-out' method and the
profit gained by previous mistakes
do not exert their powerful in
tluence, so that the errors existing
IN one house exist in all; if one
house is not properly lighted, none
OF the houses will be properly light
ed; If few houses are placed too
closely together. all houses will be
similarly spaced; if there is con-
gestion in one section, there will be
congestion throughout. OF course.
ohe could have learned from the ex-
perience of other mining towns al
ready built, but this information was
perhaps not readily available and
local conditions modify each case
One of the first Investigations
which the bureau intends 10 take I'D
IS the house problem with a view Of
putting before the miners the best
practices and the ones which have
stood the tests OF time.
The company ownership is the
most important factor entering into
housing conditions. Every house
reflects the standard which the
operator wishes to maintain. 1t IS
difficult to stimulate personal pride
among the inhabitants and friendly
rivalry is absent. However. if
improvements are introduced they
are far reaching and the tone of the
entire town is raised, so that one
house does not point the finger of
scorn at its neighbor.
The necessity and importance Of
satisfactory water supply for the
people who were to get out the
coal was probably not given much
consideration in the past; in study
ing conditions with a view of in
Producing a public water supply into
town the cost of improvements
and the age of the town must he
carefully balanced.
In limestone region pollution
OF the water may come from miles
away which makes the potential
danger OF the we'll very great. This
may involve the distribution Of |
drinking water in bottles through
out the town, the we'll water being
used for cooking and washing pur-
poses only.
The inconvenience due to the
difficulty of getting water from the
wells may be eliminated by estab-
fishing bath houses at mine shafts
SO that the men may wash upon
coming out of the mine. These
oath and change houses are being
widely introduced in a few States
they are required by law. A public
laundry IS a great convenience for
the women; Juggling in several tubs
OF water, preliminary to doing