The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-02-06

( get the, same result. Furthsrmo
! the rock dust Is easily visible, and its
proportion may be readily estimated.
I5t has also been found that q sprink-
ling Of white limestone dust acts as o
reflector and makes the mine great
deal lighter.
In addition to this method of ipre-'
Eyention, q system Of rock dust bar
fiers have been invented by which an
leXplosion may be checked. For exam
lple, several tons frock dust are;
placed in the opening OF an entry OF
branch OF the mine. When the
shock wave from an explosion strikes
this, q cloud OF inert and non-infian,-
mable dust is thrown into the air, and
1.-The explosion is stopped as effectively
as by a steel wall 1T was found that
there was no difficulty in stopping y
violent explosion with one OF these
barriers, but a slow moving wall of
Game may creep over barrier with
out disturbing II. Experts Of the bu-
reau OF mines. however, have de-I
lsigned barriers which will release al
cloud OF dust at the slightest explo-
sion: and these designs are to bel
published for the benefit Of the In
[dustry.
This series Of experiments is but Il
detail Of the extensive work which
1.-THE bureau of mines is doing to lessen
the loss Of life among miners. BY its
rescue work. 1t has practically revolt
ltionized the procedure in case OF ac-
cidents. Eight completely equipped
rescue cars are maintained at various
points in the mining districts by the
bureau. They travel about and give
miners instructions in rescue and
first aid work; while in case of al
accident, they are rushed to the scene
land give assistance. A recent addi-
Ition to this life-saving equipment Isl
q motor truck carrying rescue APP
paratus which has rendered material
assistance Several times within the
Ipast year in the Alabama mines.
| Formerly, great accidents tisuali. \
resulted in intense excitement, and
olives were almost always lost un-1
necessarily as the result of coprag-
ccus miners blindly entering passages
ti!led with poisonous gasses in an
teffort to reach the victims. Nov,
there are always on hand men with
lo4ygen tanks on their backs and
breathing helmets upon their heads
lwho make preliminary exploration
'tof all unventifated parts Of the mine.
4 The men using this apparatus have
to be especially trained, as the ines
lperienced man VIII always try to do
~, nNa his nYv va,, 81, ,,.1,, mill
init. In mines where oxygen appa-
itratus is not yet kept on hand, safety
lamps and canary birds are used to
.lguard against the poisonous gases
The birds are especially reliable IN
|eiving warning against dangerous
conditions.
Practice in rescue work has been
carried on by tile bureau by holding
What are termed field maneuvers" at
points In the coal-inining Sec
Itions. Such maneuyers were held
lduring the past year at Pittsburg.
dPa., and Rock Springs, Wyo. The
field employees Of the bureau gathered
Hat these places. coal-mine operators
iwere invited to send their men best
! trained in rescue work and state
lyutue Inspectors were utSU luVlL6Q 10
!, be present. The gatherings were
livery successful. An abandoned mine
was made use Of, and explored cor
tinuously for twcnty-four hours, just
las though miners had been entombed
there by an explosion. AT the end ol
!, Zach week Of training, miners who
/, had been properly Instructed were
sent with their brathing apparatus
1 into parts OF the mine where the Mi
stkad been made noxious; so that thy
faced the actual conditions created ),
Tn explosion.
Thus, year by year. the lives of cou
i miners have been made safer; while
i The improvements in rescue and pre-
Inventive work have had an immense
Of the Industry to keel
IGp with. Now that the industry hal
i imore nearly reached its growth, there
8 is every prospect that its dangers will
t Ibe greatly reduced.