South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-01
MOVIE CAMPAIGN
TO GUARD MINERS
Federal Government Is Using
Motion Pictures to Develop
First Aid Idea, Through the
Bureau of Mines.

To lessen accidents in the anthra-
cite mines the United States bureau Of
mines. supplementing the efforts OF
the coal operators TO safeguard their
employees. is developing the first aid
10 the injured idea and accident pre-
vention in "A series OF motion pictures.
The Lackawanna Co has published a
book OF photographs showing the right
and wrong way of doing things IN the
mines and the fatal accidents result
ing from carelessness among the
miners.
Along this line the Susquehanna Co.
has issued a book cd "dOnts" which
contains many specific cautions TO all
classes Of labor employed in the mines.
All the companies are doing their ut
most to prevent accidents in their col
heries, and to this end one Of the big
anthracite producers recently refused
TO adopt a fuse for firing blases that
took 40 seconds longer to burn than
those now in use. The argument in
favor OF the fuse was that IL gave the
miners a longer time TO seek a place
OF safety after lighting the fuse. but
the final argument against il was that
II gave the miners longer time TO
get back before the explosion took
place
Employ More Men.
According TO prominent coal Oper-
ator all the companies in the Penn
sylvania anthracite fields have employ
ed additional men 10 guard against
accidents. They are known as safety
inspectors. These men inspect the
mines before the miners go to work,
and the results. &c is said have been
unusually satisfactory. The list OF &C
cidents has been decreased more than
so per cent in the anthracite field.
The mine schools throughout the
anthracite region, according 10 this
operator, encouraged by the operators
and supported in part by the local
school boards and by the state. strive
10 fncuIcate a knowledge of the dan
gers which confront the miners. The
same IS true Of the Instructors Of the
first aid 90 the injured corps. The
mine rules are published by some
companies in many languages and
they are being enforced more strictly
than ever. II a miner has been warn
ed TO set a prop or pry down loose
roof and he has failed 10 do SO by the
time the foreman or inspector passes
that way again he is liable TO dis
missal.
Every day some new safety device
is tested or installed in some part of
the anthracite region, but in spite OF
all these precautions accidents con-
tinue 10 happen. In some companies
all accidents are discussed at weekly
superintendents meetings, and the re-
suit is published, with suitable warn
ing, in circular letters to all foremen.
Safety catches on the mine cages
are required by lew, as Is the lire
proOfing OF many places inside the
mines but the operators go further
than the law demands in this respect.
The fan houses. hosting engine houses
and all other buildings containing ma
a rtr.rFf afr nf "
fire would in any way affect the safe
" of the men underground, are ire
PROCEED, though this is not required
bv law. and the legal minimum of air
IS universally exceeded.
Fire Fighting Apparatus.
Special cars equipped With fire ap-
paratus and pumps are provided for
underground use. and all companies
have specially trained rescue squads,
equipped with oxygen helmets and
other rescue apparatus, at central
points in their collieries. Beside the
alarm and signalling systems and the
regular telephones connecting all
parts Of the mines, by means OF Whlch
the news OF any danger or trouble can
be promptly transmitted, there are
extra telephones and wires kept on
hand especially for use in rescue work.
The I.ehigh Valley Coal Co. has equip
ned a mine rescue car, in addition TO
those maintained by the Umted states
bureau of mines.
At the Butler breaker OF the Hill
os protection for the workers in the
preparation Of coal for market are
shown The pulleys. gears. rolls. shafts.
couplings, cams, ropes and belts are all
covered so that there is no possibility
OF coming I'm contact with them
Throughout the breaker there are bar
rels of water and waterpails with
rounded bottoms so that they cannot
be used for any other purpose than
that OF lighting fire. Hose always is
connected 10 the standpipes which
reach TO the top Of the breaker. and
there are signs everywhere reading:
Safety F{rst-Be Careful" Pals OF
sand and chemical extinguishers are
plentiful and there are buttons, indi-
Gated by large signs, a touch Of which
will stop all machinery instantly. II
cannot be started again until signal
Is given from the same button. There
Is steam heat TO protect the worl1men
Quenr IRE drills.
cunt fire drills.