El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-26
Public to Be Taught Mining
Show VIII Be Held in Philadelphia
Next Month at Which Mining
Will Be Demonstrated.
By rederic J. Hnszfn
: ? WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 2e

ever held in this county will
open in Philadelphia on October II,
three days preceding the 18th annual
convention Of the American mining
congress. This exhibition, prepared at
great expense, is the first effort of
the organization to demonstrate to the
puohc the methods by which their met
ais and fuel are WreSted from the bow
els OF the earth, frequently at tremen-
dous hazard of human life and health
The show will be held in Horticultural
nail, one of the largest buildings in
Philadelphia available for exhibition
purposes An imitation coal mine,
winch contains all the equipment of
modern mine, has been erected in the
cellar OF this building. A force of
regular miners viii be busily engaged
throughout the week in demonStrat ting
the different processes necessary in
bringing the coal from the bottom of
the mine 70 the surface of the earth.
To Show Hardships.
rms model mine will show all the
hardshipS of mining and its unavoid-
able dangers. The exhibition will con-
trast Anticipated methods, now being
discarded, with the improved methods
secured by modern science and inven-
ton The mining of metals will also
De demonstrated by different processes
because OF the great public interest
IN the SAFETY precautions now being
taken in all classes of mines. demon
STATIONS of this kind will form an i'm
pOrtant part of the exhibition. The
United States bureau of mines will be
represented by one of it's mine rescue
cars with the full equipment and a CORPS
OF trained workers to operate it In
ADDITION to the men OF this corps, sew
eFdl groups OF miners from different
sections viii demonstrate the various
classes of rescue work in operation in
their mines A large glass room has
Deen built upon the main floor of the
nall This is to be filled with smoke
ana nOx1ouS gases In it the men will
demonstrate the life saving value of
the oxygen helmet Men taken out OF
by means Of the pulmotor now in such
general use in mines throughout the
country.
Second Greatest Industry,
Mining is second among the great in
austrles OF the country Yet Few per-
sons are in any way familiar with it
The products of this industry in the
United States amount to over 81 OOO-
UOU,00O annually. The products of ag-
r1cuIture are counted at s.. OOO. 600 600
although a part of these are really
counted twice, grain being counted at
ITS own valuation and the stock which
II feeds being counted also
The products Of mining make posi-
pie the development of almost every
otner industry Mining supplies the
coal which furnishes industrial power.
the iron which makes machinery, the
copper which transmits electricity and
the gold which measures our standard
Of value. Coal mining produces the
greatest bulk The coal mined annual
" IN the United States would fill a
train of cars long enough to encircle
the globe without leaving room for a
single engine. Its weight amounts to
more than 100000 tons annually.
There is a possibility of increasing this |
amount to 75O,0O0,00O tons If desired. !
Inc advantage of such an increase is |
questionable in consideration of the |
desirability of conserving a natural re-
source.
Mining Schools Needed.
The American Mining congress in /
cludes in its membership men engaged /
IN all kinds of mining operations. The
convention will be largely devoted TO /
their work
The need OF additional mining schools /
under state control, similar in scope /
TO the agricultural colleges now exist
ing IN every state, is becoming gener-
ally admitted 1t is only by such means 1
that young men can acquire the techni- ]
cal mining training for a work which /
Is becoming more highly specialized
each year. Federal aid in establishing
such schools is now being advocated 1
by all those interested in mining prog
resS
Next to coal. gold is the mining prod
uct having greatest effect upon the /
general progress of the world. The an
nual production of the world amounts
to about $500. 000, 600. The United |
States produces a fifth of this 1t is
beneVed that the gold resources of this
country will be sufficient for its fu-
ture needs II they are properly mined,
Dut much OF the ore now found is of
such low grade that it requires the /
highest degree of efficiency to mine II
profitably- The greatest wealth Of
TINS country IS now in its lower grade
ores The present need is for eff
f1clent mining men who are able to
economically operate the low grade
Large Investments Made.
NO business requires larger invest
ments of capital, patience and scien-
tlfic skill than mining. Mining in
VeStmentS are based upon about the /
same degree of risk as life insurance.
The effort to make a single mine pay /
IS venture BY assuming a number (
oI risks an average is reached which I
makes profitable investment posi-
bic The change of mining methods
has called for larger capital
One of the matters receiving in ]
creased consideration at each session /
of the congress is the safety of men
employed in the mines. Last year 412
men were killed for every million tons
IF coal mined, so that for every man
killed. 2S3,0OO tons of coal were pro- /
tuced- This seems a horrible waste Of !
human life Yet it is nearly a third
esS than the average of five years ago
Il IS believed that the safety methods
20 be demonstrated at the exhibition
Philadelphia will further lessen this
'acrlllce as VIII also a higher educa-
lonaI standard of the men engaged
n mining work. Many of the accidents
'esuIllhS IN death or injury are que 10
ignorance upon the part of the men
Who falI victims to them.
Many Fatalities Recorded
fataI accidents in metal mines are I
more numerous, in proportion TO the
lumber of men employed in them, than
n coal mines According to the report
IL the bureau OF mines last year go 4