The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-08-06
MINING Can Be
MADE SAFER
If Proper Precautions are taken
By Own
ers.

Washington, Aug. 5.-That wide
spread coal-mine explosions with
their large loss of life can be pre-
vented If the recommendations of
the Bureau of Mines are used and if
care is taken at all times by every
one in the mine is the assertion
made by George s. Rice, chief engi-
neer of the bureau in report made
public. today.
Mr.. Rice goes farther and declares
that mine explosions can be consid-
cred "acts of God" for which no one
is responsible. He says that mine
arrangements are not using the
means that are at hand to prevent
explosions, especially coaldust ex-
plosions. Despite all that has been
said and written during recent years
about the prevention of explosions,
says Mr.. Rice, ''it must be admitted
that unsatisfactory progress has
been made in this country in lessen
ing they number of dust explosions.
Out of 100 typical mines examined
in one state, only fifteen were TAX
ing any precautions, and in only
few of these was there enough sys-
tematic huminifying or watering to
give a reasonable assurance that the
coal dust, always present in coal
mine. was rendered nonignitable.
perhaps the reason better protec-
ton is not sought in bituminous
mines in general is that dust is every
where and its presence and danger
are frequently forgotten. The risk
of an explosion seems to a mining
man like the chance of being struck
by tightening, yet the chances are
greater than that, as indicated by
the toll of mine explosions in this
country, which has varied in recent
years from 400 to 1000 deaths per
annum.
mo better illustration of the ad-
vantage of carefulness can be found
,nan in the LINES of Belgium. N
those mines great instaneous out
bursts of infamnable gas from the
measures into the mine workings
er,: frequent. M.a.i'nes smotherihg
the men. yet FOR III" last years 10
oxn,osions of any magnitude have
occurred through ignition OF the gas
though proir to 1898. when less pre-
cautions had been taken there mad
been many great disasters.
1.-THE adopted preventative meas
ures is largely in the hands OF oper-
ators, but in the carrying out OF the
provisions every mine employe in
concerned.
"Without open flame of some sort
there would be no mine explosions.
Permissible explosions as recon-
mended by the bureau for the use
In gaseous mines produce some
flame. but their flame is so small and
its duration is so brief that II pro-
perly used they will not ignite gas
or dust; and II they were employed
throughout the coal mines to the ex-
clusion of black powder, dynamite
and other explosions of character
dangerous to use in coal mining IL
Is believed by bureau engineers that
nearly one-half Of the explosions
would be prevented.
"If safety lamps or permissible
electric lamps were used, even in So
called nongaseous mines, it isthought
that over one-third of all the expio-
sions in this country would be pre-
vented.
..It is observed by the field engi-
neers of the bureau that the unex-
pected presence of gas is most i'm
portant factor in the starting OF
mine explosions. In many so called
nongaseous mines. gas issued in small
feeders at the face in some part OF
the mine. as a matter of daily occur
ance, yet open lights used in SUCH a
mine. This is particularly source
of danger in those Alabama ana
Oklahoma mines in which much
fire damp is found. Also there are
many mines. doubtless more thah
half of the mines in the United
States. in which small bodies OF gas
are occasionally reported, yet these
mines are rated as nongaseous ana
open lights are freely used, despite
the fact that a considerable proper
ton of the explosions have occurred
in Just such mines through the igni-
ton of a pocket of gas by longfiame
explosives or by an open light.
Comparatively few OF the coal
mines of the country are frankly
acknowledged to be gaseous, ana
singularly enough. since the ou-
-, ...o.t, xyas In a puratad In 1913.