Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-15

idly. because of the fact that tho
health conditions. as we'll as the risk
Of accidents, may be influenced by
conditions susceptible OF easy i'm
provement.
THE large and continuous influx of
foreigners into the mining regions OF
the United States may bring to an in
creasinE extent the hookworm and
other diseases that exist In mines In
parts Of certain European countries.
Various questions that concern the
health of workers In mines. quRrries
and metallurgioal plants cannot be
answered finally without investigs-
tons and inquiries that are national
in scope. Among such questions are
the most efficient methods of prevent
Ing the diseases peculiar to mining and
| meta.lurgical industries. and the most
effective sanitary precautions to be
observed in and about mines and in
the various metallurgical occupaI
tons"
Especial attention IL called to some
of the benefits derived, both by the
government and individuals. from the
bureaus fuel Investigations. A saw.
ing of money and the delivery Of bet
ter grade coal than would have bssn
obtained otherwise, are mentioned in
this connection. More than $5,000,0 900
worth Of coal Is bought annually by
the government under specifications
! prepared by the bureau Of mines; and
/ additional fuel to the value OF $1,000
900 is bought by It under the general
advice Of the bureau. The benefits
have been both general and special.
the real saving being several times as
great as the actual money saved be-
cause Of the securing Of better coal
During the year every mine In the
United States at which an explosion
or IRE of any note occurred was visit
ed by one or more engineers Of tha
bureau, says Director Holmes, who
in cooperation with or with the APP
proval OF the state or mine officials.
investigated the cause Of the disaster
and gave such aid a. was possible in
preventing further loss of life and re-
sources. Many other mines were in
vestigated.
In all but two OF the mines where
large disastrous explosions have taken
place during the last few years open
lights were used. he says. and II
safety conditions are to be improved.
It seems probable that the use Of cleo
trio lamps will DO widely extended.
The bureau has made tests showing
how electric motors should be inoaned
TO render safer their operation in
gaseous coal mines. II has shown that
explosive mixtures OF mine gases may
be ignited by the breaking Of an cleo
trio light bulb.
The director dwells on the neeeF
sity of trying to prevent explosions
rather than check them after they are
started. In this connection he calls
attention to the fact that there has
been a revolution in the use Of ex-
plosives in coal mining" and the work
! OF the bureau "in investigating expo
sives has alone a value far greater
than the entire cost OF maintaining the
bureau since its establishment" He
says that now more than 100000
pounds a year are being used Of per
Missile explosives" whereas a few
: years ago practically none was used
: Much can still be done in this direc-
, ton, he adds, and it is of great i'm.
!, portance that Investigations should be
conducted with explosives for use In
} the metal mines and quarries OF the
, country"