The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-06-06
Saving of Human Lives

Engineers of the United States bureau of mines have recently per-
fected six devices, five of which indirectly involve the saving of human
life and the sixth the saving from waste of natural resources. In each
instance, application has been made for patent in order to retain these
devices for the Use of the people without the payment of royalty and to
prevent any commercial concern from gaining a monopoly in their
manufacture.
Perhaps the most important of the inventions that are to be dedi
Gated to the free use of the people relate to improvements in the rescue
apparatus worn by miners following disasters. This apparatus which
supplies oxygen to the rescuer permits him to enter poisonous gases
and carry on his work for a period of two hours. In the bureau Of
mines experience with this oxygen-breathing device, three rescuers
have lost their lives and in each instance it is believed their deaths were
due to certain defects in the apparatus. This led Ito a desperate attempt
upon the part of the engineers to construct an apparatus that would be
reasonably safe. The engineers found considerable difficulty in the
absorption of the poisonous matter of the breath in the apparatus and
also in the reduction of the high pressure oxygen carried in the tanks
on the back of the rescuers. Both problems were submitted to William
f. Gibbs, consulting engineer of the bureau and after research covering
several months, the solution of both problems is announced in appica-
tons made for patents. The caustc soda which is used in the APP
paratus in taking up the poisonous exhalatons of the breath has been
so adjusted as to permit a continuous flow of the expired air.. A series
of successful experiments have already been made upon this device.
The second rroblen-the reduction of the oxygen pressure of
1000 pounds to the square inch to the proper amount needed by the
rescuer-has been accomplished by the invention of a new type OF
valve. The apparatus at present reduces the oxygen pressure, but sup
plies the oxygen at a constant rate, n matter how much the wearer
needs. With the new valve, the supply of oxygen is regulated by the
demands of the wearer of the apparatus, and no oxygen goes to waste
through a relief valve as in the devices now in use In making these
improvements for safety, MIR. Gibbs has succeeded IN reducing tn
weight of the breathing apparatus fully 40 per cent. The apparatus at
present weighs forty pounds which proves a serious handicap to the
rescuer in his work.
"A tnrd mVentOn IS that Oh d oHdPoU HHS .S III oN N
rescue work following a mine disaster. Often the mine cage is so
badly shattered by the effect of explosions that it can not be operated
In such instances, it is claimed, the colapsible cage would save hours
of delay in rescue work and perhaps be the means of saving many lives
The designer of this cage is George S. Rice, the chief mining engineer
of the bureau of mines.
J. w. Paul, engineer in charge of the mine rescue work of the
bureau of mines, is the inventor of an electrical signalling device tor
use in shafts, especially following disasters. With this device, a person
descending a shaft will be able to signal the hosting engineer. IT the
man n the cage is overcome and the apparatus falls from his hands, a
circuit is Immediately closed and a gong in the engine house gives q
sudden varninU Such device if is claimed by Mr. Paul would have
been useful at the Cherry mine fire in Illinois several years ago where
so many men lost their lives. The rescue crews there had to subject
themselves to unnecessary dangers in descending the wrecked shaft
because of lack of means of signalling. The device is 20 arranged that
in the absence of human intelligence to direct the giving OF a pear-
ranged code of signals, the gong on the surface and in the engine house
would ring continuously, which, in every case would be the signal to
hoist Immediately.
The bureau has also applied for a number of patents on processes
for extracting vanadium, uranium and radium from ores, such as
carnotite ore. These processes re the result of the work of the Den
yer. Colorado, laboratory of the bureau of mines and their purpose
which goes with the so-caned secret processes. The patents have been
asked for in the names of Richard B. Moore, in charge of the Denver
laboratory, and Karl Kthi, his assistant. With the great demand for
radium in the treatment of cancer, the bureau of mines looks upon this
invention a. another possible means of saving human life. 1t is esh-
mated that these new methods will cut the cost of radium fully one
half and perhaps more. They arc to be for the use of any citizen of
the United States.
The woman suffrage party of Cook county, Illinois, of which Mrs.
charlotte Rhodus is president. has officially declared that the sanCny