The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1917-10-26
~ H. } Parker In the Salt LAX,
Mining Review.

hNNiNN iA'Ni'W
In thu production at raw material
from the mines in the United States
over u million men are employed. and
an additional million In qunrrics aud
In various mctollurgicni operations
necessary ~ convert ore into com
merciai product yot We find that up|
Go 1905 the federal government had
paid hut little. " any. attention To the
lives and welfare of the huge army of
toilcrs In this great but hazardous in
dustrv. Many mine accidents 81 n
serious nature had occurred prior TO
this time and the death rate In mines
averaged 1.5 pcr thousand mon rm-
pioycd q figure considerably higher
than the rate In England Belgium.
Germany and France. but u was not
until December. 1907. whom four dis
astrous explosions occurred, claiming
together six hundred aud oighty-ninc
lives. that the public anxiety was
aroused Co this appalling and uuncc-
cssary sacrifice ~ human life.
An investigation as to the causes at
such dread explosions was then au-
thoriScd through an appropriation hy
congress In MAY. 1903. Among other
work Investigations were authorized
as Co the hest types ~ mine rescue
apparatus and the methods Ut mine
safety and mine rescue work IN gen-
crai These Investigations wcru In
trusted e. tho tDphauiugic branch uf
the United states geological survo,
and were placed under the direction
~ the late Dr Joseph \ Holmes. "a
man of high ideals answering pur.
pose aud houndlcss energy who later
became the bureaus first director. To
this man the mine owner aud moro
particularly the man underground.
who faces day by dny the hazards Of
the occupation aud the cause ~ safe
~. owe debt they can mover repay.
ana as a monument Ia his memory the
bureau ct mines VIII ever stand.
Through tht work done Nv 1905 and
1909 hy the trchnoiogio branch ana
the resultant awakening ns to tho cn.
ormouH waste 81 lie ana resources
the bureau nf mines was established
by act OF congress In MAY. 1919. pri-
mariiy. the purpose nf tho bureau of
mines. as outlined In the organic act
IL twofOld
rirst-promotinE conditions leading
90 the improvement of the safety aud
health of the miner.
sccond-Thc efficient and economic
development ct our mining. motn'-
iurgical and other mineral industries
The first purpose. involving az Il
does the question of the conservation
of human life. received most properly
the firm and greatest attention. Al
though the disastrous explosions 1T
1901 brought forcibly before the pub
he and congress the need ~ federal
inveatigatiyc and educational aid To
lessen those hazards, the fact romans
that the deaths from explosions con-
stitute IN average years not more than
rs per cent OF thp total fatalities In
coal mines. A study of tho causes 81
the remaining fatalities and also tho
non-fatal accidents. showed that
very large percentage of all accidents
resulted either directly OF Indirectly
from the carelessness and Ignorance
q tho employer or employees ana ns
part OF tho general schcme TO remedy
these conditions tho late director
Holmes conceived the Idea OF assign
ing Ia each ~ the more important ~
the mining Hnctions of the country
several representatives of the bureau
who would travel from mine to mine
and spread the doctrines OF safety. To
facilitate the housing of these men
and their considerable equipment. he
proposed the establishment Of mine
rescue cars or safety stations OF both
the stationary and movable types.
The Mine Rescue Car.
Seven Wagner sleeping ears OF
somewhat antiquated type were SEE
cured and altered 90 meet the re-
quircmcnts of tbs work. Later an.
other car ~ similar type was added
These we're assigned with hcadquar.
tiers which are geographical or rail-
road centers at important mining see
tiOns--Car I at Wllkcsbarro. Pa; Car
az Trinidad, Colo. Car . at Evans.
willie. Ind. Car I at Rock Springs.
Wye; Car 8 az Billings. Mont; Car 6
at Pittsburg. Pa; Car az Hunting
ton. W. Va, and Car 5 az Ironwood,
Mich.
The crew Of each ear consisted 81
a mining engineer, whose duty Il was
90 investigate mine disasters 10 in
vestigate safety conditions AT mines
and advise the mine officials as Co the
possibilities of improving these condi-
lions; 20 deliver illustrated lectures
20 the miners and impress upon them
tue httu OF ktfhAfl care lh Ahtll WORN
not only 10 safeguard their own lives
hut also the lives NJ others; fore
man miner, who demonstrated and
taught miners Ia first aid TO the IN
1ured. and last, but hy no means least
cook. Either the first aid or fore
man miner Is usually practical min
ing man, while the other il Young
mining engineer
These cars We're rymodclled $50 that
one end was fitted up as demonstra-
ton room and here the equipment
was carried, consisting of twelve sets
~ rescue apparatus, safety lamps.
first aid supplies, fire oXtinguishcrs.
electric lamps. gas analysis appara-
tus. belopiican and tho various mis-
cellaneous supplies ana repair parts
needed for training ana disaster work.
The remainder OF tie car served as
the living quarters for the crew and
was arranged TO provide a kitchen.