The weekly Alaska citizen., 1917-11-05
BUREAU IF MINES EXPERIMENT STATION
 Series of Articles Explaining Its Origin and Purpose

The mlne-rcsCue and tiISt-ald work undertaken by the Bureau of Mines, Its earliest and in many ways its most human feature, Is pioneer cdu- cational work, and has for its chief purpose the training of q sufficient number of miners in different parts of the country in first-aid, mine-res- cue, and fire fighting methods, so that they may be easily organized in to corps for relief and rescue work in the event of disaster.
 Early in the investigation or mine disasters 1t was necessary to pro vide, in the important coal fields, facilities for enabling engineers to examine mines after disasters, while the mines were still full of the poi sonous or explosive gases, in order that examination might be made while all evidence was still fresh. It was found also that such prompt examinations would be useful in op- ening up these mines and in reScu- ing miners who might have become entombed. For these reasons there have been established in the larger inning districts, in which mine dis asters are most likely to occur, mine safety stations or mlne.sa toty cars Half of each car is fitted as sleeping and living quarters for the rescue crew and half as demonstration room for irst-aid work. The first of the stations was established at Crbana, III, in 1908; a second at Knoxville, Tenn, in l909 and third at Sc attle, Wash. The fourth was estab- lished at McAlcster, Okla, and a fifth at Birmingham, Ala. Pitts burgh is also a mine-safcty station, while several others have since been established. The newer cars are of steel construction and thoroughly modern in equipment.
 The primary purpose of the cars and stations is not the rescue work that they may accomplish, but the in Vcst.gation of mine disasters. The incidental purposes are the develop ment of more efficient mine-safety and frst-aid equipment and meth ods, and the training of local min CTS at each of the camps visited, so that in case of accidents of any kind there will be at each mine men ready and equipped to render immediate and valuable assistance. To carry out these purposes the mining engineers of the Bureau examine the safety conditions at the mines, advise the mine officials as to the possibilities of improving these conditions, and deliver Illustrated lectures to the miners. calling their attention to the need of greater care in safeguarding their own lives and the lives of oth- CTS. Daily demonstrations of mine rescue and first-aid equipment and methods are given. Miners are trained in the practical methods of handling such equipment under mine disaster conditions.
 Yearly an increasing number of mine-safety cars are operated by the Bureau These cars do not remain at headquarters, but each within its own district moves from one mining camp to another, the crew living on board. When a serious mine disaster occurs, the car in that district i'm mediately drops its ordinary program and is carried to the scene of the disaster either by special locomotive or by the first available train. Hay ing nothing to pack up, just to jump aboard, this can be done on mo ment's notice. The men of the car, together with such local men as have had mine-resCue training, examine the mine as quickly as possible, pene- trating the poisonous and explosive gases in it by means of the breath ing apparatus that they wear, and aiding in the rescue of any persons who may have been entombed in the mine. In case of a disaster in the coal fields near any one ot the stations mentioned above, the miner in charge of this station, with all available rescue and first-aid equip mcnt, proceeds by the first train to the scene of disaster, and endeavors to accomplish, with the help of To- callv trained miners, all the above
 toned purposes.
 The experience of the past few , 4.s has shown that this method of u! ,eminuting information among min CTS and of procuring their coop !, at,on in mine safety work, while
 oW, IS more effective than any oth- CT possible system. Its adv vantage over publications will be appreciat- ed by those who understand that a majority of our miners are foreign born and ordinarily read little or no English printed matter. But the de mand for printed matter follows the visits of the cars.
 In five years, as result of the educational campaign carried on by the engineers of the Bureau, the proportionate loss of life from mine explosions was reduced by twothirds. Although, unfortunately, mine ex- plosions do continue to occur, not only in the United States but in other countries, much information is being gathered regarding the causes of these explosions and it is believed that within a few years more of continuous investigation and educa tional work the causes will be so understood that the application of more thoroughly preventive meas ures will be practicable and that then these awful disasters may be entirely prevented.
 There are in our mining industry approximately 100000 men who work underground, and more than 100000 who labor in connection with the various metallurgical and other mineral industries above ground (with the sudden increase in production in many of the metal industries due to the war, these numbers have undoubtedly increased recentlv.) The fatality rate in met al mining is much the same as that