The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-03-31
RElYIDL UfI5f I'll
USE OF MlE
EXPLOSIVES
Great Gain for Safety Shown in
Annual Report Of Federal
Bureau.

II. 0uTEdus
WASHINGTON. D. Gu Mar. Sl,I--
A revolution Las been brought a9eut
in the explosives used in coaA n mes IS
in the eexplosiys used in coal mines
containing Infammab1e gas or dust,
according to the fortheom ng third
annual report OF the Natfonat Bureau
OF Mines. by Joseph A. Holiness dl-
rector. !,
At the time OF the inauguration Of
this work black powder, with lt7
long fame and poisonous gases, was
almost universally used in eoa i
states. one Of the first inyestiga-
tions undertaken by the bureau was
that looking TO Improvement In ths
character of the explosives used -
result of conferences with mine
owners. miners and manufacturers
OF explosives. a number OF these
manufacturers agreed to undertake
the making OF a new type or sNR to !,
sfyes that would have for its speclal
characteristics an explosion fame o.
short duration and relatively low
temperature.
The bureau co-operated- in the de-
yeIopment of this type of explosives
by establishing the necessary stand
ard with regard to safety. ana ps
testing the explosives subm lted rom
time to time 10 determine whether
they mad reached such standard, or
the manner in which and thF extent
to which they failed TO reach -sneh
standard AS a result or this work.
within a little more than three years
time, use Of the new type OF eN-
plosives, termed permissible expo
sives.n has become general In those
mines where the rick OF gas. or dus.
~
+ba iutroductfou of the permissiple
nIosiyes were used in the coal M mes
Than IS.0bb,0O0 pounds of these ex-
nIisives were used in the coal mines
Of 4fis country. The present work
Of the bureau along these INES - 70
assure further improveWe ~
there explosives and especlally "
s,sEsss given of in firing shots, and
"a reduce the SCATTERING enect o,
these shots; and to bring about
safer methods OF handing and nrlns
whatever explosives may be used ~
mining. .ls.,.,,re,s
show that the sales Of permiiss w, 4,les.
explosives in the coal meas o. M
country were nearly dfty per cehs
,rea4er in the calendar year - y
tban in 1911. However, although
tbs increase represents a great gam
sor safetv. and although the amount
NJ permissible explosives used III thl5
country IS larger than inst useu ~
some foreign coal min 'nE countries
vet the amount is only snail Pc
cen4aea of the total amount OF eN
r,oaiyes. use1l in American coal mines.
Narrower. the mining eng ueers %
tEe bureau have noted that permissl.,,
,.is Exclusives are not always useu
rroparIv. In some mines there nave
heeT 5,loNn-out shots from Inn prop
Iv placed holes, although the ~.
orators believed that their, shot H rlis
ord .nsnection systems were gooa.
Sttnas tba+ are consIdere gaseous
,onarailv .Ils@ permissible explosives.
In GONE fields. If in q part OF nalh ::
s,,.b - the advance working, gas =
5atactad ar ,nfammaIble coal dust is
',resent In quantities .eonsidered. per-
irfssibIe explosives. are used Lhelr'
and black hlaSting powder or YhD+
mite is. used, p the rest q Ne IN rni ap.
,Iosives are thus used in. mine, It IS
giG5cuIt to Regulate ther proper
use and the chance Of q disastrous
explosion Is inereaseu. 80 ..bs
# Is encouraging to note hat me
danaerous practice 81 using conlVL.
nation charges CblRck power anu
high esplosfvel In the sane more
heinG vigorous -CpAAuSn o. ~ $3.50 t1
the digcontiEuance or the Praetice =
strongly urged by many inspectors.
me transnort alton o. black Pow
dar IN metallic kegs, in cars hauleg
Nv i trolley locomotive has causs9
more han oae serious aeciden !, tne
powder. being ignited by q spa,
made sroni the passage OF an eiec .ol, =
current 1t is bad practice % taNe
nowder and men into the mine 70
ssther. or 10 uke = trolley. motor 70
haul a car containing. powder.
In some states HAVING avs ina
restrict the Quantity Of explosives 9
n3sner NAV take into his WORKING
nisce she inspection departments
have sought 10 .reTedy defects IN Inc lHS
Jaw BIZ requesting that the GUAM =, =
r. rowtlsr miner may nave IN me-
Working place at any one time be re-
The explosion OF a, quantity Of ae.s
+onators and forty per cent sirens tn =
dynauSite stored. In a ming. ernpne-
sized the necessity q szoring oee"-
majors and eTplosfves separator
Further .eyIdsnee -,gath area 81
thai the employment OF shQt nrers
mot only lnaures more IN teil lss e,l . 3
use OF explosives, but reduces h tS
otiantfty Of explosives used 20 orlne
down a certain TONNAGE Of coal,
The Bureau pi Aipes.. has nc ~ ~,
thorfty to confpfl the use O. ee1l 49,,
explosives. or 70. preseFfee ne g l:ss