Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-10-27
The Conditions at D0wsOn and Possible
Causes Of The Appalling Disaster
b, In b. alIEllInAN.

at Dawson b. placed by statistlclans
as one Of tho great coal mine disasters
of tho world The following articles
written for the Herald by Mr.. Short
dan, ~ therefore Of unusual value.
Mr. sheridan was inspector Of coal
mines for the United states for many
years aud was n active supervisors
Of the Dawson mines from the day
they were opened. lie ~ perhaps bet
ter dualldod 10 describe conditions in
the mines thnn any other man. Mr..
sherldhn'E article was submitted
with photographs. maps and draw
inga OF the workings Of the mine.
which unfortunately the Herald has
not epnce 20 reproduce)
silver city, y. 81, oct 25. ists.-f
Now that the sad accident nj Dawson,
New Mexico, is commanding the atten-
ton Of the pupiit, q might be well
for "a proper understanding OF the
subject that people be informed of the
manner I've which the mine is opened
and methods Of operating
When you applied 60 the writer go
wire an opinion ~ 90 the cause OF
the disaster, the reply VAS Fan ex-
perlcncCd miner would not express
an opinion as to the exact cause Of
the explosion until after an inspection
be very difficult 60 definitely establish
the cause OF the accident
ON tho other hand, numberless men
inexperienced In mining imngine they
are competent 60. ana do, without
hesitation, give positive opinions as
To the cause of such disasters. Again,
some men who have been miners all
their lives VIII volunteer an opinion
even before any OF the facts in con-
UHfffMU with aurM an nrUuFTUnrn iU
known TO them. upon mere rumor.
The man who works IN the interest
OF science, tnnd allow me 20 state
Just here, that the proper safeguard
ing Of the lives ~ miners Us nov be-
ing considered as a scicnco) proceeds
from an lmpersonal standpoint 90
seek facts. he must be totally devoid
of consideration of any sort for the
personal factors he may come In con-
tact with In his investigation. he mas
not any prejudice for nor against any
persons. any social or Industrial or
gnnlzauons any systems or methods
OF operation, cor dCYlCes, used. Facts
are what hc seeks, uncolorcd, simple
facts without trace Of cXnggcra-
ton. From consideration Of these
facts he ondcavuTs go dcduce proper
conclusion as 90 cause and effect IN
tho Happenings he mas had under n
vcstigatiOn.
In too many Instances the lnvesti-
cation OF disasters Is conducted solely
with the purpose az attaching blame
Go some persons and the investigation
Is begun In prejudice and conducted
: thr0ughout with the sole emo 10 view
of nnding "a way go lay blame on some
one. In consequence of this prejudice,
and object OF fixing blame upon some
prisons, only such incidents are taken
( cognlzance Of ms tend 90 satisfy. the
I preiudices 0f the INVESTIGATOR ana az
1 tain his object Of nxing blame, ienor-
/ ing far more important hcts INA,
| would lead to truthful but impnrtal
conclusions.
/ The writer does not contend that
| the responsibility for such accidents
/ should not be dcfcrm ned, nut the re-
| spouslbillty cannot be honestly and
I truly assigned unrl an Investigation
! without prejudice is hod. 49,,
/ Tho admirable work ar the hl'eu
/ states bureau Of mines is worthy OF
Aovery commentator Tor the manner
J la which IL conducts inNcstigauuns oil
mine disasters.
The closest attention is given oven
/ IN. noet minute detail OF conditions
/ i'm thc mine: everything that may tenn
60 the discovery OF the cause Of ac'
cidents N taken note of. The whole
/ proceeding 81 along the line of cXhcl
on finding the defect which caused
The accident and discovering means
OF preventing such defects.
The explosion az Dawson Us t,"so al
homo To at of New Mexico and the
people should know the conditions a'
I they have prevailed for years th'
| mines: the writer having had juris,
i diction over tho saleiN conui.l'h o'
the mines as United states mine H'
gpcctor from the day they were opcn'
cd until fourteen months ago. Is lam
ilinr with the operation OF tho prop
erty. 49,,
Tho Dawson mines were originally
part of the Maxwell land grant. J, %
Dawson acquiring tl'ie from Lucief
y. Maxwell In the latter part OF lHN
The pawson Fuel company purchase,
the property from Dawson and IL
1909 the mines were opened ana th'
railroad built. In 1900 the present
owners bought the property.
The mines are all located on M
Blosshurg coal seam, The coal ilel
practically horizontal, the dip bel %
about one degree TO the northw est
40. . mine. whore the explosion oc
urred, and No. mine are opcne,
from opposite sides OF q mountain
spur or ridge that forms "a promon
tory between the Nermcio river an'
Rail canyon ~ and near the convetg
enCe of the two canyons; 80. mine
or the Vcrmeio river sido and No.
mine on the Rail canyon side, th'
workings a. the two mines running ap
, proximately parallel 90 each otnef
the main entries OF either bonn
driven into the field 90 tho north.
Between No. high limo or man
entry. there are five other cntrio
opened from tho outcrop upon ga
coal seam and connecting No. am
No. mines. and furnishing thlt nu'n
her of openings Tor cgrcss or lHaitt'
out of or into the mines.
Tho fnn shaft h located ',33tl
! feet from the mouth of the main en
n try and about 30 feet west of the en-
+ try. connecting with the entry hy
short cross cut. This SHAFT rs .0f Tee
In depth, dimensions approximate
lOxl5 feet, the exact area 81 th
cross section within the concrete hi'
ing being 1AS square feet.
Al distance OF % feet from IN
,center of the top OF this shlu IN
ventIlatlng fan Is located. The "a
wns placed 90 feet 90 one side OK ~
n shaft that IL might be out OF the dI
! rect line of violence la the event
an explosion. Tho fan house is ,
masonry aud concrete with contre'
roof and h nreproof
Tt.u4aNfutaiV oyer the shalt the roc