The chronicle=news. (Trinidad, Colo.) 1898-current, 1915-01-02

0AT6II WUnk IN
COAL MINES
HAS PROGRESSED
In his annual report Just made to
the secretary of the interior, Director
f. Joseph A. Holmes OF the United
States bureau of mines states that
excellent progress has been made
during the past fiscal year in the in
designations of the explosibility of
coal dust at the experimental mine
near Bruceton. Pa. These investiga-
tions included a careful examination
into the inflammability of coal dust
collected from hundreds of mines in
different coal fields and systematic
study of the possibility of coal mine
explosions starting from the i'm
proper use of explosives or the use of
sparks. miners lamps, mine fires or
other agencies.
Probably the most important fea-
turc of the years work was the de-
velopment of four types OF explosion
stopping devices in which rock dust
/ is used. as follows: Box barriers.
concentrated barriers. ventilating-
door barriers. and ventilation-stop-
ming barriers The barriers were
tested in strong and in weak eNplo-
sions and were effective in prevent
ing propagation of flame beyond
them. After being placed in mine
they are easily inspected aud require
little attention. Demonstrations be-
fore mining men led to inquiries
from number of companies. with a
view to the erection of the devices In
mines
The results of the tests al the eX-
Ierlmental mine have shown the
value of watering and Of steam hui
midifying systems. and the peculiar
merits of rock dust. both when dis
tributed throughout the mine and
when used as barriers for limiting
explosions. The supplementary use
of shale dust or limestone dust was
found to greatly increase the eff
cheney of watering.
Four great explosions occurred dur
ing the year. as follows: One in the
Stag Canyon mine, at Dawson, ". NJ,
October 90, 1918, resulting In the
death of 263 men: one at Acton.
Ala. November is, 1913, in which
- men were killed; one at the Vul-
can mine. Newcastle, Colo. Decem-
Der 10. 1919. in which 81 men were
killed. and one at t.ccles, w. Va.
April Is. 1911. in which ISL lives
were lost The general ventilation
in most of the mines involved in en-
plosiions was good. but the defect In
certain mines was in permitting the
local accumulation of gas through
not bratticinr up to the face Of gas
eous entries or working places. One
Of The great disasters WAS probably
caused by the use of dynamite for
blasting. anu by disobedienCc in fir
ing II shot or snot when miners were
in the mine. in spite of the fact that
IN outside shot-fring system had
been installed.
Other lesser disasters occurred dur
ing the year, Many shot Erers lost
their lives in the Plttsburs, Kan. dis
trict, and in Oklahoma. indiana and
Iowa. Although the system of en-
ploying shot firers TO fire the shot
when all others are out of the mine
lessons the number Of deaths. yet in
many districts the methods of shot
firing employed are still SO extremely
hazardous that only the most reck-
less mcnare willing TO act as hot fir
iirers. In any mine in which this svs-
TEN 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 ii
permissible explosives are not used.
Directors iicimes strongly urges
the purchase ny thr government of
the grounds on which tpe expert
mental mine is situated. He de-
ciares that the bureau of mine
should own these grounds, now mere
ly leased. in order to safeguard the
large expenditure ALREADY made in
developing the mine thereon and
equippin2 it with expensive appli-
anccs.
Looking to the future, the director
observes that. despite the progress
made in ascertaining the nature OF
mine explosions and in devisine
methods of prevention, they still
continue I'd occur, and it is to be
feared that complete prevention will
be difficult, owing to the inherent
difficulty of eliminating errors OF
observation, judgment, or under
standing from among miners or mine
officials. Thus. one Of the shocking
disasters of the past year was
brNght about because OF one mans