The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-03-08


employed at Butte and on the rail-
ways.
Most of the larger mines in the
Occur d'Alenes are not suffering from
the need of closer mine inspection
from a general safety standpoint. as
they are in splendid shape and their
operators earnestly TRIP to anticipate
trouble and protect their men as far
as is possible and consistent But a
good local unbiased mine inspector
and safety expert, working in coop
Grafton with the operators in the dis
trict in the strict enforcement of the
safety rules among the men, and In
their behalf against undue risk,
should result in making the Occur
d'Alcnes one of the safest big metal
mine working districts in the country.
The interest being taken by several
of the big companies in accident pre-
Nention and the care and health Of
their men is sincere and the instruc-
ton in first aid work and other pre-
U'cautionary measures is a commend
able spirit of the times and is UNI
be reiigiously persisted in With mill
tary rigidity.
Prevent Miners Consumption.
In this connection. the necessity of
the enforced use of injector sprays or
other dust killing devices to be used,
on light air hammer drills used for
up holes in dry Slopes or raise work.
is manifest and a statutory require
ment to this effect as prevention
against miners consumption induced
by rock dust is worthy of serious con-
sideration.
Several of the mines have provided
these devices, but it is difficult to get
the men to use them as they balk at
any added chore 10 their regular du-
ties like carrying up IA few gallons of
water into a Stone or raise and the
extra care involved in handling their
operation, which requires about as
much mechanical ingenuity, on an in
jectors spray as the operation of a
carbide lamp, and any law passed for
this purpose should. in addition to
penalty for not providing this or 9TH
er means of health protection by the
operators include a penalty to the
workman for refusal to protect them
selves by the use and application of
the device.
| would again repeat the admonition
to miners that too much care can not
be taken in dry raise work and other
dead end operations where ventilation
is necessarily poor against the egect
of spent powder gases. which should |
be religiously cleared out by volume |
of compressed air. as the after gases |
of a dynamite blast, when present in
a very small percentage i'm the mine |
air is decidedly poisonous and should |
be carefully guarded against.
Storage Battery Locomotives.
! would further urge the adoption |
of storage battery locomotives in all |
low drifts where electric haulage is |
used in place of trolley operated ma
chimes, and am glad to find that their |
use has been extended, during the
year. by application of this system in |
one of the shaft levels Of the Hecla
mine and at the Sinker Tunnel mine
in Owyhee county which, however, in !
these instances, replaced mule haul |
age
la lA,t ti,r,
have given splendid satisfaction in all |
the shaft levels Of the Bunker Hill |
mine, which have been entirely free |
from electric shock accidents since
the operation. Their use involves a
economic cost where the
trolley system is in use to make the
change. After their installation the
cidedly safer and should be given
serious study and consideration for its
advantages over the trolley system
from a safety standpoint where new
electric haulage installations are con-
Gasoline Underground.
The use of gasoline for small hoist
ng purposes underground is employ
I'd in several mines in the more arid
mountain sections OF south central
IDAHO, where timber is scarce and dear /
md steam power costs. from the use
If either wood or coal. is almost pro-
libitive, especially with small devel-
'pment enterprises and limited pro- ]
ULCERS who are working on a narrow !
margin of profit :
The use of this fuel in underground {
tations is decidedly dangerous from
fire standpoint but has been permit !
ed for several years at six properties 1
n Custer. Lemhi and Blaine counties L
or the reasons outlined above, as |
here is no statutory prohibition =
gainst its use and egorts have been {
made to protect the engine tank SUI {
ly as fully as consistent. 1
While such fuel in underground 7
tations is decidedly dangerous from I
fire standpoint, no complaints have l
yer been received from miners WORK :
ng under these conditions by this de-
artment. Efforts have been made 10 !