Evening star., 1913-12-07

sprinkled frequently. The dust danger
has been partially eliminated and eX-
When the bureau began it's work the
use of black powder for blasting pur-
poses. with its long and dangerous
flame. was common and had been pro-
ductive OF unnumbered fatalities. I'm
proper explosives and improper use of
explosives plainly were the cause of
many accidents.
DR.. Holmes set his bureau to work to
powders that could be used with a
reasonable degree of safety. Thirty
such were found. They make up what
is now known as the list of permissible
gaseous or dusty mines. Now three
years after, 100000 pounds of these
permissible explosives are being used
In the United States, greater amount
than Is being used in Great Britain
where such explosives are compulsory
and have been in use for a number of
years.
DR.. Holmes did not need any Law to
make American mine operators use these
explosives. He simply showed them that
II was wise and economical for them to
do SO. That was all that was necessary.
Prior to the establishment of the
bureau OF mines there was no definite
system Of rescue work in any Of the
coal mines Of the country. There were
three sets Of oxygen rescue apparatus
In the United States when the bureau
ordered one for its use Resuscitation
apparatus was unknown. First aid to
the injured did not amount to much
outside of the anthracite district of
pennsylvania, where it was highly de-
veIoped.
DR.. Holmes. at once on assuming the
dictatorship Of the bureau, organized a
small but highly experienced corps of
rescue workers. This has grown until
now the bureau maintains six mine res
cue stations and eight mine rescue cars
IN tnose or the larger coal fields in which
mine disasters are most likely to occur
Oh great mine accident a car equip
ped with resuscitation apparatus. oxygen
atus.an appa atus something like
divers suit, which permits a rescuer to
work In the presence of deadly mine gas
ana nrst-ald equipment is rushed to the
scene The public is familiar with the
work that these cars have done
But this is only part. The real work
was undertaken in those pioneer days
only three years ago. That was i'm t ain
ing volunteer rescue corps at all the
great mines of the country State mine
inspectors, operators and miners CO.
operated heartily. They all wanted to
learn from the experts the best methods
of saving life.
Is but a pa of the great rescue force
tnat mas grown up in all coal mining dis
trlctS. While a practical force itself the
bureaus rescue equipmnet and personnel
serve their larger purpose in being edu-
cational
\ *
And this is characteristic of all the
larger activities Of the bureau 1t simply
points the way to better things acts as
center for organized effort assists i'm
consolidating isolated movements for i'm
provement, and furnishes the expert re-
search and advice necessary
AS a result of the fuel Investigations
which are constantly being carried on
the government now buys most of its coal
on the specification basis. socalled. Some
sS,OO.OCO worth of coal year are bought
by Uncle Sam in this way.
The specification basis is simple 1t is
merely basing the value of coal on it's
units of heat value Before this plan
came into use Uncle Sam and every one
else bought coal on the st, ength of trade
name or through the wles of expert
statesmen. Now they can buy in definite
terms of heat value. The bureau analyzes
the coal and determines the heat units
per pound.
Mine owners were a bit doubtful of the
plan at first: now they heartily indorse
II. 1t gives them a better line on the
worth of their own product. Further
more. there was a lot of good coal in the
country that was handicapped in the
market through not being SO well known
as other coal intrinsically no better The
Now the market is founded on heat units.
Private corporations which are large
purchasers OF coal have seized upon the
government coal specifications and are