The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-12-23


state University, later secretary Of the
North Carolina Geological Survey n
now director of the United States
Bureau Of Mines:
A public service that measures its
activities in terms OF human lives
saved is the United States bureau Of
mines. Here is the test: In 1907, be-
fore the establishment Of the bureau,
the accidental death rate among coal
miners was appalling. The bureau
was charged with the duty, among
others. of making "diligent investiga-
ton Of the methods of mining, espe-
cially in relation to the safety Of
miners, and the appliances best adapt
ed to prevent accidents Already a
reduction of one-third in the mine ac-
cident death rate has beer a And
that reduction is directly ~traceable to
the work OF the bureau.
Where it cost a human life for
every 144,325 tons mined in 1907, n
human life now pays for 226,460 tons.
Made Price OF Lives Go Up.
The bureau Of mines has made the
price of human lives go up and the
cost of coal, as measured in blood,
go down.
But the bureau yet has a journey
to raw to each the goal toward
which il is moving. Before the bu-
Gedu Ol IHlfleS DcSdil IS safety i
campaign, the death rate from coal
mine accidents III the United States
was on the increase. Since the bu-
reau has been at work the rate has
steadily decreased. 1t is the testi-
mony Of the West Virginia coal mine
Observation-Disclosures testimony at
that-that no less than $500 lives
have been saved through the activi-
ties of the bureau of mines since that
organization came into being.
They nave the figures to prove it
figures as solid and reliable as ar &C
tuary's monthly tables.
in dollar savings the bureau also
has a wonderful record. In a state
ment issued by the American Mining
Congress during it's session at Phila-
deiphia in October, it was declared
that the work of two of the bureau's
experts in the State Of Oklahoma
has already resulted in a saving OF
more than $4,000, 900 worth Of natur.
al gas a year, and within the next few
months this saving will reach Wa
10000 a year"
And that is but one item of many.
A dreamy-eyed scientist, DR.. JOSEPH
A. Holmes, is director of the bureau
of mines. He organized it. Before
was authorized by law he assisted
materially in creating the sentimen
that moved Congress TO provide for it
establishment.
Practical mining men who did no
know him were inclined to sneer a
the ideas he advanced when he wa
appointed. They were fooled by tn
dreamy eyes. the gentle speech, tn
studious manne of the sclent1S'
They were sure he could not teac
them anything Of the business j
which they had been engaged all the
lives.
Group by group, as the activite
of the bureau of mines reaches then
they are coming over. IT is the praf
teal men who are chief supporter
Of the bureau of mines today. I'll
Holmes theories have the most RI
markable way of being proved sour
and helpful. In fact, the dream,
eyed scientist has triumphed in ever
effort he has put forward to aid IT
mining industry in the prevention
waste OF human life. Visionary
may appear to the superficial Of
server: intensely practical he prov,
himself in action.
Miners and mine operators II
country over accord him and n
very infant among II
bureaus of the government-unstin
ed praise. Blu ne makes it plain
All his writings and utteranceS tn
the success that has been achieved
only through having the whOle-hear
ed cooperation Of the mining indu
try and Of State mine inspectors.
II should be borne in mind that Il
United States bureau Of mines h
no police power over mines Or mini
anywhere in the country, save in &
Territory Of Alaska, and save, also.
government-owned land or Ina
land controlled by the gOvernmeI
The bureau cannot say to a mi
owner, "You should do this or ~,
shall not do that" Such authority
reserved to the State officials. b
it can advise, and in most States
advice is eagerly sought. a
vice has owe sound.
Safety, efficiency, ecOnomy-the
are the watchwords of h servi'
With the devotion Of a ZealOt,
Holmes uphOlds them. In a m
ably short time he has made thu
mean something more thar an &C
demic phrase in this country.
To him and to his bureau is ascri