Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-10-10
SAFETY FIRST" IS
MOTTO Of 800 MEN
IN MINES At TONO
Every Precaution Taken by Wash
ington Coal Company to
Protect Workers.
MONTHLY PAY ROLL $4,000.
Rescue Station and Hospital for
Injured-Social Hall for
AmuSementS.

Safety First" is motto that meets
the eye at every turn both in and
around the mines of the Washington
Union Coal company at Thurston coun-
tvs prosperous mining town of TOno.
And this motto means just what it
says, to judge of the precautions TAX
en- to prevent accidents, and it's en-
forcement has gained for the mine the
reputation of being one of the safest in
operation in the world.
There are approximately 800 men
employed in the various departments
of the mine and these with their fam
lilies comprise one of the most con-
tented communities in the state. The
pay roll of the coal company runs from
$4,000 to $4,000 month and the out
put is more than 800 tons of coal day.
with preparations being made to in
crease this in the immediate future to
1000 tons.
Underneath the ground in the work
ings the visitor is taken through a Sc
ries of mystifying rooms and roads,
the gloom being relieved at most un-
expected points by the appearance of
numerous Pickering lights similar to
the one with which he has been pro-
vided. In various compartments will
be found groups of men ready to greet
the stranger with hearty hand clasp
and with the gloom relieved by a col
lection of the lamps the rooms" even
with their black walls and ceiling, take
on an inviting air which it would be
impossible to anticipate when the first
entrance is made into the dark under
ground passages.
So thorough is the discipline in this
mine that the visitor, after his first
half hour among the strange condi-
tions and the unusual smothered
noises, far and near, loses all fear Of
an accident, walks with the utmost
confidence back of his guide and with
no thought Of any possible danger in
the inky darkness beyond.
In a social way Tono is provided
with every possible attraction for so
unique settlement A fine hall, which
serves the purpose of both a theater-
being provided with a roomy stage
and dance hall, the floor being OF
polished maple, is also used for public
meetings and basket ball games.
The hospital is equipped with every
modern apparatus for the immediate
care Of the victim of the inevitable ac-
cident, but this preparation seems in
itself to act as a preventive, as there
has not been a serious accident in the
mine in more than Is month. The
front room of the hospital Is fitted up
with easy chairs, tables, writing ma
terials and literature, and the floor
covered with rich rugs. This room is
used for the meetings of the various
societies and clubs organized among
the women of the town. Notwith-
standing the few accidents the hospital
has a regular physician and two train
ed nurses.
The rescue" station is one of the
most attractive institutions of the pros
porous mining town. The building
stands by itself and is equipped with
life saving apparatus with which the
men familiarize themselves by contin-
ual practice. The equipment is similar
to that used by diver in deep water
and when adjusted will provide artifi-
cial air for the wearer for two hours.
1t is used in cases of unexpected acci-
dents in the mine that imperil the
lives OF some of those underground and
enable the men on the surface to aid
their companions with the least possi.
BILE danger to themselves.
All of the company buildings are
provided with steam heat and electric
lights and the latter are also used in
the homes.
Evidence that the company is con
| templating more extensive work in the
, future is found in the contract recently
let TO w. A. Weller OF Olympia to con
struct a two-mile pipe line from the
Skookumchuck river to a point above
Tuno to furnish an additional supply
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