Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-07-19
IMPROVE MINERS
MANNER OF LIFE
u. S. Bureau Plans to Better
! Their Living Conditions.
mo MAKE Use or "MOvIES"
Bureau VIII Show Mine Managers
/, Where claring Sanitary Msnaoes
Exist; Also Methods and Costs Of
i Abatemsrt--Lectures on importance
Of Cleanliness.


! Observation-Disclosures on Importance
Of Cleanliness.
The United States bureau OF mines
Is about 10 investigate the conditions
under which a miner works, believing
i that insanitary conditions which exist
I'm some OF the mines as well as in
some OF the mining towns are a factor
J in the death rate among the men. It
Is mtlmaied that these conditions not
only unnecessarily cause the death Of
miners through disease, but they are
soften responsible for accidents which
might not have happened il the miners
Were in perfect health
i The bureau has organized what Is
known as the mine sanitation section,
in charge Of ]. IL. White engineer.
= The bureau hopes TO bring about
progress by appealing to The miner. the
manager aud the owner. showing that
snll three can assist, and how all three
scan be benefited by good sanitary con
editions.
i Pictures TO Be Used.
- II viii reach the miner by means Of
illustrated lectures. moving picture ex-
hibits ana pictorial circulars These
will show how sickness ana suffering
ARE spread by careless habits and will
drive home the Importance Of personal
and household cleanliness. The bureau
@wil assist the managers by pointing
~out glarlng sanitary menaccs and 10y
Showing methods aud costs of allate-
~ment. II will describe in bulletins com
mon insanitary practices and show the
Sevils which follow IN their wake. 1t
~will submit sanitary rules and regua-
stions and show the best methods for
-their enforcement.
Engineer White in talking about the
conditions which exist in mining towns
ssaid
zone Of the first Investigations which
~the bureau intends 10 take mp il the
@honse problem. with view OF putting
before the miners the best practices
~and the ones which have stood the
tests of time 81
''The company ownership Is the most
simportant factor entering into itous-
ing conditions Every honse reflects
the standard which the operator wish
es to maintain. II Is ,tinicult. to stimu.
late personal pride among the inhab-
itants, and friendly rivalry Is absent
However, II improvements are intro
duced they are farreaching. and the
tone OF the entire town Is raised SO
that'one house Toes not point the fin
ger of scorn ut its neighbor
Water Supply Important.
''The necessity and Importance If a
satisfactory water supply for the PEG
pie who We're to get out the coal were
probably not given much consideration
I'm the past. In studying conditions
with view of Introducing public
water supply into town the cost OF
improvements and the age vi the town
must be carefully balanced
''The Inconvenience due 10 the diff
Guilty OF getting water from the wells
may be eliminated by establishing
lighthouses at mine shafts. so that the
men may wash upon coming out Of
the mine. These bath aud change
houses are being widely introduced
In few states they are required by
law. A public laundry Is a great con
yenience for the women Iugging in
several tubs of water preliminary to
doing weeks washing is a severe
burden. lighthouses in or near the
schools for the women and children
are almost necessary accessories TO the
perfect well system Wholesome and
safe drinking water Is essential to ex-
-istence. It's supply is one OF the gray.
est responsibilities accompanying com