The Hartford republican., 1914-12-18

ally in force today in the metal mines
of the country"
The Bureau, in addition to attempt
ing 40 prevent the explosion of coal
dust in mines, which has resulted
in great loss OF life, has been investi-
eating methods that would stop such
explosives after they have started.
During the year. for such devices
were perfected by George s. Rice, the
chief mining engineer of the bureau,
and patented for the benefit OF the
mining industry. Director Holmes re
devices as probably the most impor-
tant part of the years work. The
devices consist of barriers placed in
the mines and loaded with stone
dust. The explosion striking these
barriers, the stone dust is brown
into the air and stops thefurther
prupogation of the explosion. 1t is
felt that such devices would localize
M explosion to the portion of the
mine IN which It started, and thus
save the men working in other parts
Of the mine.
In the accomplishments of the
year, Or. Holmes calls attention to
the statement OF his engineers that,
with an expenditure Of $4,000. they
have brought about a saving of nat
ural gas worth S15,0OO.OO0. "A sum
many times greater than the total
cost OF all the work done by the
bureau during the four years of its
existence. This was done by intro
ducing better methods in the drilling
for petroleum and gas. This waste
of gas stopped totaled S5O,0OO.OOO
cubic feet per day. equivalent in heat
ing value to 1900 tons of coal per
day. In preventing the escape of
this enormous quantity of gas" says
Director Holmes, another saving
was made. the value OF which cannot
be estimated-the elimination of dan
ger to human life from the escape of
this gas into the atmosphere. DR..
Holmes estimates the loss to this
country each year in the development
Of the oil fields TO be not less than
$50, 100000, and that a large part. of
this loss is preventable. The fact
that the principal oil:producing areas
Of the country are now believed TO
Re well defined" says Or. Holmes.
"aud the fact that the next few
years will see constantly diminish
ing instead of an increasing produc-
tion. unite in making imperative the
need OF exended inquiries.
Director Holmes also calls atten-
tion to the discovery of q process by
the chemists of the bureau whereby
radium. which is much sought for
its supposed curative qualities. can
be produced at one-third of its pres
ent cost. With radium now selling
at $4,000 gram. its reduction in
price TO $4,000 will. it is said, re-
suit in many hospitals throughout
the country being able to purchase
Il supply. The process devised by
the bureaus chemists has already
been tested with success in the plant
of the National RadiUm institute,
which is under the supervision of the
technical staff of the Bureau OF
Mines.
The bureau also claims that
through its scientific method of
purchasing coal by measuring the
heat units the Federal Government
has saved during the year 100000
ana that the various cities of the
country that have taken up this plan
of buying coal have reported a saw
ing last year of thousands OF dollars.
Director Holmes places the present
waste OF mineral resources of the
country at the sum OF one million
dollars a day and declares that in
a large measure this waste is unne-
cessary. in one respect at least"
says the Director. "the consideration