The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-01-03
New Devices
discovered bV
Mine Bureau
Their RIlrp0 Is Prevention of
Explosions Of Coal Dist,
Says Aanuai Report

says Annual Report
! ~ AsHEss Gsr0N. Jan. LIN his an
lnEal report 81 u zde 10 he * SretsIfy'
lot tho terror Difectof Joseph A.
4 Holmes Of the U hited Stat Is B ife:iil
toz Mines states that excellent prog
lrs4s has been made d u il ) Tie last
iiktAt III the tnyesti kat fdhs OF
Ethe exp tillty a coal dust AZ the
fexp erine mia n,inr near Brtcefou,
| ga These iilH i6nS Inc lided d
teafetpl ozatas nat don into the inflayis
1 ili%bt lily OF coal dakt collected nom
Ihnndfe6s 81 mines In different coal
! fieids and q systematic study OF the;
1 Feasibility of coal mine exhiosions'
starting from the imp eperS use OF ,ex7
pIesiyes or the use OF impruper ex-
siyes, or from eieDtfic sparks.
1 min e mine fires or other
Ecar Types Of Explosion.
Probably the most importap mt fea-
age OF tho years work was fine de-
vetpU melt soi four types Of explosion
stopping de- vices in VII ch rock dust
I ~ used as follows: Box barriers,
Icpncentratcd batreirs. ventii6ting
door barriers and ventilation stoppin,.
barriers The barriers were tested
In Strong and In weak explosions and
were effective JIM preventing .nropapaz
ton Of fame beyond them. Scr be-
sing place IA 70 mine they are easily
inspected and require tie attention.
lemons ions before mining men
led to Inquiries from 4 number of
companies, with q view to the cree
ton OF the devices In mines.
The results Of the tests at the ax-
perrin entail mine have shown the value
Of Altering and Of steam fiumidifying
systems and the peculiar merits &c
rock dust, both when iistrfbutedS
| thrpugtout the mine and when used
as barriers for limiting explosions.
The suppl entary use of sliale dust
or limestone dust was found to great
Nv increase the efficiency Of watering.
WolIr great explos i6ns occurred dur
ing the year, as FOL lows. One in tho
Stag Canyon mine, at Dawson.s N.
Mex. October az. / 1913, resulting in
the death Of 1853 men; one at Acton,
Ala, November Is, 1918, in which "a
men were killed one at the Vulcan
mine. New Castle, Colo. December
! 16, 1913 in which 8 men were lsill-
led; and one at Ecc1es. w. va. 4 ApriIs
| rs, 81, In which 1871 lives were lost
The general ventilation In most Of
the mines involved in explosions was
good, but the defect in certain mines
Twas in permitting the local acc1mu-
lation OF gas through not bratticing
up the face or gaseous entries or
working places. One Of the great dis
4 asters. was probably caused by the
4 use OF dynamite for blasting, and by
disc edience IN firing a shot or shots
when miners were In the mine, In
spite of the fact that an outside Shot
hring system had been installed.
Hazardous Methods.
i Other lesser disasters occurred dur
ling the year. Many shot firers lost
4 their lives in the PittsburE. Kansas
district, and in Oklahoma, indiana,
and Iowa Although the system of eni-
tploying shot flrers to fire the shots
when all others are out Of the mine
lessons the number OF deaths. vet In
many districts the methods Of shof
firing employed are still SO extremely
hazardous that only the most reck-
less men are will to act as shot fir
ers In any mine In which this sys3-
tenn Is used there seems to be no good
reason why shot firing from without
the mine by electrical means should
not be employed, at least is perniis-
lstble explosiF Ives are not used
rector Holmes. strongly urges the
purchase by the government Of the
| grounds. on which the experimental
4 mine Is situated. He declares that
the bureau Of mines should own the
grounds, now merely leased. In order
4 to safeguard the large expenditure al
ready made in developing the mine
| thereon and equipping 1t with expen-
1 Hive appliances. &. 8
Looking to the future, the director
observes that, despite the progress
made IN scertaining the nature o..
llninc explosions and in devising meth
lods. Of prevention, they still continue
to occur. and 1t is to he feared that
complete prevention will be difiicult,
lowing to the inherent difficulty in
/ eliminating errors OF observSt ton,
4 Judgment, or nnd ding from
among miners or mine officials. Thus
ipne OF the shocking disasters OF the
last year was brought about because
q one mans willingness to risk the
sacrifice Of not only his own life, but
the lives OF many others in order to
gain aSfew tons Of coal 1t, Is dtficsilt
TO meet such a case, and yet with the
progress that is being made IN the
methods Of prevent ting or limiting ext
plosfons, It Is certain that hereafter In
9 we'll protected mine property cared
Tor There Will be much less danger OF
In Mexico there Is q Il so foot bridge!
that is comp oHedl entirely Of ma
hogany, worth, at the present price
of the wood. almost So 000, 900. "