The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1915-06-04

In bis annual report made to the
secretary OF the interior DirefuO,
Joseph A. Holmes OF the unlteo
States bureau Of mines states Una.
excellent progress has been mace
during the past fiscal year IN the
investigations OF the explosibility on
coal dust at the experimental mine
near Bruceton. Pa. These invesu-
cations included a careful eNamina.
tion into the inflammability OF coal
dust collected from hundreds OF
mines I'm different coal fields and a
Systematic study OF the possibility
OF coal mine explosions starting
from the improper use OF explosives
or the use OF improper explosives,
or from electric sparks. miners
lamps. mine fires or other agencies
Probably the most important fea-
ture of the years work vas the de-
vciopment Of four types OF eXplo-
sion stopping devices In which rock
dust IL used box barriers. concen-
tratcd barriers. yentilating door
barriers and ventilation stopping
barriers. The barriers were tested
in strong and weak explosions and
were effective In preventing propa-
cation OF flame beyond them. After
being placed in a mine they are
easily Inspected and require little
attention. Demonstrations before
mining men led TO inquiries from
number OF companies. with a view
to the erection OF the devices IN
mines. The results OF the tests AT
the experimental mine have shown
the value OF watering and OF steam
humidifying systems, and the pc
culiar merits OF rack dust, both
when distributed throughout the
mine and when used as barriers for
limiting explosions. The supplement
tary use OF shale dust or limestone
dust was found to greatly Increase
the efficiency Of watering.
Four great explosions occurred
during the year: One In the stag
Canyon mine AZ Dawson. n. NJ. Oc-
tober 90. 1913. resulting In the
death OF two hundred aiXty-thrcc
men: one az Acton, Ala. November
rs, 1913. In which twcnty-fonr men
were KILLED: one NJ the vulcan
mine. New Castle. Colo. December
10. 1913. In which thirty-seycn men
were killed. and one az Eocles. W.
Va. April 2S. 1914. IN which one
hundred and cighty-onc lives were
lost The general ventilation In mos
OF the mines involved In explosions
Was good, but the defect In certain
mines was ia permitting the local
accumulation OF gas through not
bratticing up the face OF che gas
cous entries or working places One
OF the greatest disasters was prob
ably caused by the use OF dynamite
for blasting. and by disobcdience IN
firing shot or shots when miners
were In the mine. In spite OF the
fac, that an outside shot firing sys'
tenn had been Installed.
Other lesser disasters occurred
during the year. Many shotflrerr
lost their lives In the Pittsburg
Kan, district. and In Oklahoma, In
diana and Iowa. Although the avs.
tom OF employing shotfirers 60 fire
the shots when all others are out OF
the mine lessons the number oi
deaths. yet In many districts the
methods OF shot firing employed ar,
still 40 hazardous that only the
mos, reckless men are willing TO ac
as shotfirers, In any mine IN whicl
this system IL used there seems "a
be no good reason why shot firms
from without the mine by electrical
means should not be employed. al
least II permissible explosives ar,
not used.
Director Holmes strongly urges
the purchase by the government oI
the grounds on which the expert
mental mine Is situated He de
clares that the bureau OF mine,
should own these grounds, nov
merely leased. In order 10 safe
| guard the large expenditure already
made IN developing the mine there
on and equipping n with eNpensiy,
| appliances. Looking 10 the future
the director observes that, despit,
the progress made In ascertalninl
the nature OF mine explosions ant
In deyising methods Of prevention
! they still continue 20 occur, and /
Is TO be feared that complete pre
Ycntion will be difficult. owing {,
the inherent difficulty OF elimina
ting errors OF observation, mdp
ment OF underi landing from amont
miners or mine officials.
Thus, one Of the shocking disas
tiers OF the past year was brOugh
about because OF one mans willing
ness 90 risk the sacrifice OF not onl
his own life, but the lives of mani
others In order 10 gain few toul
OF coal. IL Is difficult 10 meet gucI
n case, and yet with the progress
that Is being made In the method
Of preventing or limiting explosions
!, Is certain that hereafter In a wei
protected mine properly cared u,
there will be much less danger OF ,
widespread explosion.
The sun has the most complet
aud best equipped printing estab
llshment between Salt Lake CT
and Grand Junction. Colo. No io
too large or too small 10 reccly
the closest consideration. Ask 10
estimates. The sun, Price. Utah
-Adyt.