Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-10
WOULD BETTER LIVING
CONDITIONS OF Miners
United States Bureau Plans
Investigation to Improve
Health.

i
about to investigate the conditions un-
der which a miner works. believing
that insanitary conditions which exist
in some of the mines as well as in some
of the mining towns are n factor in the
death rate among the men. 1t is init
mated that these conditions not only
unnecessarily cause the death of minei -
through Disease but they are often re-
sponsible for accidents which might
not have happened If the miners were
| in perfect health.
/ The bureau has organized what is
known as the mine sanitation section
in charge of J. IL. White, engineer.
The bureau hopes to bring about
progress by appealing to the miner. the
manager and the owner showing that
all three can assist, and how all three
can be benefited by good sanitary con-
ditions.
Pictures to Be Used.
1t will reach the miner by means OF
illustrated lectures. moving picture ex-
,hibits and pictorial circulars. These
will show how sickness and suffering
are spread by careless habits. and will
drive home the Importance of personal
and household cleanliness. The bureau
will assist the managers by pointing
out glaring sanitary menaces, and
showing methods and costs or abate-
ment. 1t will describe in bulletins COM
lmon insanitary practices and show the
evils which follow in their wake. 1t
will submit sanitary rules and regula-
tons and show the best methods Tor
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 single stroke.
The effect Of this is that the valuable
lessons learned by the 'try-out method
and the profit gained by previous mis-
takes do not exert their powerful In
fuence. so that the errors existing in
one house exist I'm all: If one house Is
not properly lighted. none or the
few houses are placed too closely To-
gether. all houses will be similarly
spaced; if there is congestion in one
section. there will be congestion
Learned from the experience or otner
mining towns already built but this
information was perhaps not readily
available and local conditions modify
each case.
House Problem to Be Probed.
"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 ones which have stood the tests
of time.
1.-The company ownership is the most
important factor entering into housing
standard which the operator wishes to
maintain. 1t is difficult to stimulate
personal pride among. the inhabitants.
and friendly rivalry Is absent How,
ever. if improvements are introduced
they are far-reaching, and the tone OF
the entire town is raised, so that one
~sv1At Io arSDn of
at its neighbor.
THE necessity and importance of a
satisfactory water supply for the people
not 20 egen
in the past: in studying conditions with
a view of introducing public water
S Srpveme 1nso and the age of the town
must be carefully balanced.
Pollution Of Water.
I'm a limestone region pollution of
the water may come from miles away
which makes the potential danger Of the
well very great. This may involve the
distribution of drinking water in bot
ties throughout the town, the well water
being used for cooking and washing pur-
poses only.
The inconvenience due to- the diff
Guilty of getting water from the wells
may be eliminated by establishing bath
houses at mine shafts, so 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 great convenience for the women;
Juggling in several tubs Of water, pre-
liminary to doing a weeks washing, is
a severe burden. lighthouses in or near
the schools for the women and children
are almost necessary accessories to the
perfect we'll system. Wholesome and
safe drinking water is essential to ex-
istence; its supply is one of the gravest
responsibilities accompanying company
ownership.