Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-07-13
TO help The
Nine WORKERS
10 Investigate
al Usalitafy Conditions
: ! Tint Exist

lFhN"SSSf@f#NT NG@& 5EsH#r.
washington, July 12.-Ehe Unitea
States Bureau. 81 Mines Is about to g
investigltei the conditions under
which . miner works. believing that
the unsanitary conditions which ex.
ist in some Of the mines rs we'll . a.
IN some Of the mining towns a ~ w
, ffctor in thes death rate among the
men. 1t is intinated that these on
ditions not only unnecessarily cause
the death Of miners through disease,
sbat. they are often responsible for ac'
,cidents which might not have hap.
saea,asaa if the miners we're in perfect
,heaith.
The bureau has organized what IS
known as the Mine Sanitation Sec
tion, In charge OF J. H. White, engl'
neer.
The bureau hopes to bring about
progress by appealing to the miner,
the manager and the owner, showing
that ally three can assist, and how all
three can be benefited by good san
itary conditions. 1t will reach the
miner by means of illustrated lee
lures, moving picture exhibits and
pictorial circulars. These will show
how sickness and suffering are spread
by careless habits, and will drive
home the Importance o. personal and
household cleanliness. The bureau
will assist the managers by pointing
out glazing sanitary menaces, ana
showing methods and costs Of abate-
ment. 1t will describe in bulletins
common unsanitary practices and
show the evils which follow in their
wake. 1t will submit sanitary rules
and regulations and show the best
methods for their. enforcement.
Engineer White, in talking about
the conditions which exist in mining
towns, said today, "The mining town
does not grow, but is built at a single
stroke. The effect of this is that the
valuable lessons learned by the try.
out method and the profit gained by
previous mistakes Ado not exert their
powerful influence SO that the errors
existing In one house exist ins.aA; il
one house is not properly lighter
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. viii be properly
lighted; if q few houses are placed
no closely tUgethtf, ill houses will
be stuiilxfly SPACED: II there fs con.
gestion In one section, there will be
congestion throughout. OF course,
one could have learned from the ex'
p,erience Of other mining towns al.
ready built, but this Information was
perhaps not readil available and local
conditions modify each case.
.'One of the first investigations
which the bureau intends to take up
Is the house problem, with a view OF
putting before the miners the best
practices and the one which have
stood the tests Of time.
"The company ownership is the
most important factor entering into
housing conditions. Every house re.
fleets the standard which the oper-
ator wishes to maintain. 1t is diff.
cult to stimulate personal pride
among the inhabitants and friendly
rivalry is absent. However, ii i'm.
provements are introduced they are
far-reaching and the tone Of the en-
tire town Is raised, so that n house
does not point the finger Of scOrn at
it's neighbOr.
THE necessity and Importance of
q satisfactory water supply for the
people who were to get out the coal
was probably not given much consid'
Grafton in the past; in studying con-
ditions with a view Of introducing a
public water supply into a town the
cost of improvements and the age OF
the town must be carefully balanced.
in a limestone region pollution OF
the water may come from miles away,
which makes the potential danger OF
the we'll very great. This may in.
volve the distribution of drinking wa
ter in bottles throughout the town,
the we'll water being used for cooking
and washing purposes only.
1.-THE Inconvenience due to the, diff
fculty Of getting water from the wells
may be eliminated by establishing
bath houses at mine shaft 30 that
the men may wash upon coming out
Of the mine. These bath and change
houses are being widely introduced;
in a few states they are required by
law, "A public laundry Is a great 9
yenience for the women; Juggling IN
several tubs Of water, preliminary to
doing, a weeks washing, is q severe
burden. Bath houses in " 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 existence; Its supply is mi of the
qravest responsibilities accompany
ing company ownership.'
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