The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-08-02
DEVICES.

mines ALONE, LncI0 nave OO0n Z0,UUU
deaths, a fatality rate OF three and
threequarters men IN every 1000 en-
ployed, and more than million men
injured.
It was to reduce the death rate and
lessen the number OF injuries that the
federal government early in 1908 took
up its work in behalf Of the miners.
The first marked progress was in 1911
when the first national mine safety
demonstration was held in Pittsburgh,
Pa in the presence Of the president
Of the United States and 10000 min
ers. Since that time, there has been
a wonderful development throughout
the country in both rescue and drst-
aid work. The Bureau OF Mines now
has In the various mining fields mine
rescue cars fully equipped with res
cue and nrst-aid apparatus and man
ned by crews OF thoroughly trained
miners. In addition 1t has si1 rescue
stations, located at Pittsburgh, Pa,
Urbana, H.; Knoxville, Tenn; Nc
Alester, Okla, Seattle, Wash, and
cue auto trucks. The men on the
cars and at the stations spend their
time, when not actually at disaster.
III ~ hlh1u6 IAc AAuOLS III lilo u6C VI
the rescue apparatus and in hrst-afd
work. During the last four years the
bureau has thus trained more than 25,-
600 miners. all of whom are now
equipped to conduct rescue or Arst-aid
work. In the short period last year
during which the crews of the bu-
reau's cars were able to conduct ac-
tive training, 1864 miners visited the
cars and stations, 2s,229 attended the
lectures and demonstrations, 1926
were given mine rescue and $3.50
flrst-aid instruction and training.
AS a result Of the example set by
the Bureau Of Mines. many OF the
mine operators have begun system
of operations in which safety is con-
sidered Of first Importance. It is esti-
mated that ITO mining companies have
individually or through the associa-
ton Of two or more companies, estab-
lished seventy-six mine-rescue stations
at which there have been installed L.
200 sets Of oxygen breathing appa-
ratus for use in rescue work, besides
the auxiliary equipment for first-aid
and f1re-hghting work. There are also
twelve mine-rescue cars now operated
by individual mining companies about
their own local properties.
Van H. Manning, acting director Of
the Bureau of Mines, declares that
the work OF saving lives of the men
Is still in its infancy.
1.-THE loss of life in the different
branches Of the mining industry is
discredit to the nation" says Mr..
Manning. ct calls for more extended
inquiries on the part OF the federal
government and a proper dissemina-
ton Of the results obtained; it calls
for more stringent police supervision
or inspection by the states. and for
more determined cooperative effort
on the part Of both the miners and
the mine owners in the way of max
ing and enforcing safety regulations.
"a large proportion Of the men en-
tering the mines of the United States
each year come from the farms and
villages OF different European coun-
tries; they are unfamiliar with our
language, our institutions, our laws,
and know little or nothing Of mining
A majority OF the men now working
in the coal mines of the United
States speak and read but little Eng
lish. It Is, therefore, difficult to reach
these men through publications., even
Wnen Lne idlteT are prepared IN LnS
most simple and elementary manner.
The plan most successfully used by
the employees of the Bureau of Mines
in reaching and interesting these men
lis through giving actual working
demonstrations in mine rescue, first
aid and other safety measures and
methods. and the giving OF lectures H.
Illustrated with lantern slide pictures
which contrast the safe and the dam
gerous methods In these lectures
and demonstrations, local interpreters
are used as the need for them may
appear.
Work Of this kind develops a new
interest in the safety work among the
miners and following the movements
Of each OF the rescue cars this inter
est on the part Of the miners Is shown
in their call for the publications