The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-11
OVER 300 ATTEND ANNUAL OUTING OF
 COAL OPERATORS Demonstration of Use of Permissible Explosives by E. B. Sutton Is Fea-
 ture of Day

Over 300 persons were in attendance at the annual outing of the Alabama Coal Operators association held yesterday at Edgewater and Bayview, which proved not only very enjoyable but highly in- structive as well. In addition to the creature comforts, which were of the finest quality, an intellectual treat was also provided in the shape of lectures on scientific subjects. dealing with min ing and mine welfare work feature was a demonstration of dust explosion by black powder and the results from the use of permissible explosives. There interesting nature.
 The party left Birmingham yesterday morning at g o'clock from the Louisville and Nashville station in a special train over the Birmingham Southern Railway to Edgewater mines of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company and re- turned last night at 6 O ocock. Included in the party were the officials of the Alabama coal mines and a number of guests. The programme as planned was carried out to the letter and additional features were added.
 The morning session was held in the auditorium at Edgewater and was de- voted to moving picture lectures and the reading of special papers At noon the party went to Bayview. where a big bar becue dinner was spread which included three kinds of barbecued meats, sliced tomatoes, cold slaw, potato salad, butter milk, lemonade and coffee. The beverage that made Milwaukee famous was con. spicuous by it's absence The party did ample justice to the choice viands and seemingly thoroughly enjoyed the spread It was prepared and served by Al Camp bell
 The dust explosion test proved of great interest and was demonstrated by E. B. Sutton of the West End station of the United States bureau of mines A tunnel s5 feet long and six feet square was constructed in the inside of which shelves were placed at stated intervals on which quantities of coal dust were placed. By means of wire these shelves were dropped just IS a cannon repre- sentng a windy shot was fired into the tunnel. The dropping of the shelves caused the tunnel to be filled with coal dust The first demonstration was made with the permissible" explosive and though the dust was thick there was no explosion. The second test was made with black powder and when the windy shot was fired an explosion occurred. The experiments were noted with much in- terest by the mine officials and were highly successful
 The programme for the day was as follows:
 Motion pictures. Welfare Work in Mining and Allied Industries" United States bureau of mines lantern slides 'Welfare," 'The Ely iPest,' War on the Mosquito,' United States bureau of mines; Coal Washing and the Prepara- ation of Coal for Market" H. S. Geis- mar. consulting mining engineer; Factor of Safety in Mine Electrical Installa- tions,' A. F, Elliott, chief electrician inning department, Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad company.
 The trip to Bayview and the luncheon followed. In the afternoon the programme included the inspection of the commits sary, plant and town at Edgewater and then reassembled at the hall
 Underground Safety Precautions" Mil ton H. Fies, vice president DeBardeleben Coal company: "The Use of Permissible Explosives Daniel Harrington, United States bureau of mines motion picture Safe Methods of Bituminous Coal Min ing" United States bureau of mines: lan- tern slides, Testing and Use of Explo- sives," Mining Methods Relating to Use of Explosives" United States bureau oi mines.