The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-02-06
THE HAsiKIN LIE TIER
SAFE Y I'M MINES

BY Eredsri
Coal mining Isl and probably mus
always remain, one OF the hazardous
occupations. The public hears only
fof the occasional great disasters: ID
which a number Of men lose their
lives; but more miners are. killed ID
tie long run by rock. or coal faIlina
from the roof OF mines. usually one al
time. than In any other way. Every
miner who goes underground takes q
decided risk, and some OF the work
crs are In immediate danger every
cay, as for example the .shot-iirers =
\ who remain inside the mines to touch
OFF charges Of powder or dynamite
after all Of the others have left. In
1.-THE better equipped mines, the blast
ling charges are now exploded by an
electrical apparatus operated fro.,
outside the mine: but the Shot
frer" is still employed in some Of the
smaller mines. and none but the
most courageous men will accept the
position. VI
Generally speaking, however, the
operators of mines are doing ali in
their power to promote the safety OF
their employees, In accordance with
the advice and recommendations OF
the United States Bureau of Mines.
Nearly all OF the larger operators now
have rescue apparatus and corps OF
trained men, equipped with helmets
end oxygen tanks, similar to those
carried by the rescue cars Of the bu.
reau Of mines, so that they are fully
able to cope with any accident Small
Ter operators are usually not so we'll
iequiped, but are willing to cooperate
with the bureau Of mines, and to have
its assistance In rescue work, and in
promoting safety. State govern
ments are also cooperating with the
bureau OF mines, and in Illinois, es-
pecially, valuable studies are being
made, with the assistance of the
Illinois geological survey, of the oc-
lcurrence OF gas in mines.
1t lis the prevention Of mine acct
dents, however. that the most notable
advances have recently been made.
and especially in the prevention Of ex-
plosions. OF So accidents that were
Investigated by the bureau Of mines
within the past year, 20 were caused
by explosions. which was twice as
many as were caused by any other
cne agency, fire coming next as the
Icause of Is accidents. A typical coal
mine explosion Of the worst sort was
that at Dawson, New Mexico, last
October. in which 1853 men were en-
tombed. and persisted. A rescue car
of the bureau OF mines was rushed IL
the spot from Kansas, and men
Equipped with breathing helmets and
lcSygen tanks sent into the mine; but
rescue was for the most part impossi-
ble. Two of the helmet men los,
their lives in the effort to save some
of the miners.
Owing to the suddenness and ter
rife force Of these explosions, and the
formation Of poisonous gases, death
for many miners is inevitable when
ever they occur, and rescue work
hazardous and uncertain. It Is in the
prevention of explosions that work Ii
needed and is being done. 5
The discovery that coal-dust, In
suspension, Is a highly explosive sub.
stance, an dthe cause Of most Of the
great explosions in coal mines is the
most important in this line that has
been made in many years. The blu.
reau Of mines has just completed q
series of remarkable experiments with
the explosibility of coal dust, the re.
suits of which will soon be published
in full.
1t has been found that the ga.
called fire damp" upon which mos,
of the explosions have hitherto beer
blamed, could not be the cause OF an5
but purely local explosions, while ex
iplosions OF coal dust will send a wal
:lof flame into every open part of the
ln:ine.
i Coal dust is inevitably formed ii
the process of mining, both in cutting
out the coal. and in loading it upc1
|cars. The dust accumulates upon
1.-THE floors. roof timbers, cars, and al
-lother stationary surfaces. When {
!; |charge of blasting powder is set Off
] this dust Is thrown into the air, ant
! lif the 1ame,froln the blasting charge
. reaches 1t, will explode with grea,
force, and the fame will be carried ar
indefinite distance. as more and mors
] dust is thrown into the air.
The exact workings of this terrif.
lexplosiye force were discovered b,
1.-THE experiments conducted by the BID
Ireau of mines at the government .ex
detrimental mine at Pittsburg. Arti
[6cially-made coal dust was distribut.
led about the mine. The explosion
was started by a small cannot loaded
with four pounds OF black powder
tamped with clay. This cannon nat.
turally threw out a stream Of flame to
distance Of from ten to fifteen feet.
The flame WAS extended by the coal
dust Immediately in front OF the can
non to q distance OF from rs to 126