The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-10-31

@s@@z.s91@1~@& Of three days was arranged by
the bureau of mines in co-opera-
ton with the Pittsburgh chamber of commerce.
One of the biggest features of these ceremonies
was the nationwide frst-aid and mine-rescue con-
test held during the last two days. About 100
teams from the coal and metal mining companies
throughout the country entered the lists The last
day there was a holiday for the miners of the
Pittsburgh district and thousands witnessed the
awarding of the prizes to the winners.
In addition to the usual prizes for these con-
tests, the Joseph A. Holmes Safety association an
organization created in 1916 in honor of the mem
DRY of the first director for the purpose of giving
recognition to persons who had performed meri-
torious and heroic deeds in the saving of human
life in the mining and metallurgica industry or
who had developed some safety appliance to fur
Their the saving of life in those Industries, made
its first awards. DIR. Van H. Manning, president
of the association announced the list of recipients
of diplomas and medals and recited the deeds for
which they were presented. The committee on
awards had recommended that II gold medals be
awarded, all for heroic deeds performed by miners
In coal and metal mines in efforts to save the lives
of fellow workmen
Speaking of the accident conditions generally in
the mining industries and of the outlook. Dr. Van
H. Manning, director of the bureau of mines, says:
II am often asked What has the bureau of
mines accomplished in saving of human life in the
minesT 1t is difficult TO say, there are so
many varying factors involved may say, how
ever that if you consider the prevailing average
death rate in the mines for a period of years be
fore the federal government took up this work and
compare with the average fatality rate since the
bureau was created. you will find that 5000 less
miners have been killed In other words, had the
cid fatality rate been maintained through the last
| few years 5000 more men would have lost their
lives 1t must also be remembered that the situa-
| ton was gradually becoming worse. and who
Kpaxry haf fhar pfuhf lnt hauo hQon N
5000 lives lost? We also have to take into consid
| GRAFTON that thanks to the many improvements in
/ life-saving methods and the greater understand
/ ings of the causes of accidents this saving of
| 5000 human beings win be increased the years
roll on until can show several times 5000 lives
| saved.
1T is indeed a glorious record of human prog
ress. Five thousand lives savedi Perhaps 1900
i less widows! At least 5000 children who still
! have fathers. Take away all the other manifold
duties of the bureau of mines and this one accom-
plishment is worthy of all its costs to the govern
ment since its establishment and for years to
| come
81 do not mean that the bureau of mines de-
| serves all the credit. 1t was however, the agency
that picked up the isolated. sporadic efforts of
4 few well-meaning and companies and welded
/ them into great national movement for greater
safety in the mines. 1t at once gained the CO.
operation of the miners, the mine operators, the
4 these the bureau Of mines would have been almost
helpless.
sit was In 1911 that the bureau held under its
auspices great national first-aid and mne-rescue
| meet at Pittsburgh, whi4h was attended by $4,000
miners. The slogan of that mnet safety first
and that was the time that the 81 an since inter-
nationally famous first became national battle
i cry for this humanitarian movement. Not only
| was safety first Immediately adopted by the
mining companies but 1t was also taken up by,
/ the railroads and by industrial plants of the
/ country. Safety organizations appeared every
where Determined campaigns were fought to re-
duce the number Of deaths and injuries. In quite
/ number of mills and factories and railroads
/ there was a reduction in the fatalities Of more
| than 80 per cent. Further Improvement was slow
er, but the original gains were made and added to-
s.Just how many thousands of lives were saved
| NAV never be known, for there are no statistics
that adequately cover Industrial accidents but
| do know that the bureau of mines and It's assoc
/ ciated agencies started a movement that not only
spread throughout the entire United States, but
1 II also reached the other countries of the world
/ Win an equally good effect And 1t all started
with the modest mine safety meet we held IN Pitts
/ burgh In 1911.
"Since that time the bureau has gone its way.
improving its methods interesting the miner in his
! own safety and that OF his fellow man; doing
what ii could to point out to the owners Of the
mines the dangerous places that could be avoided
/ ana making recommendations as the result Of its
experiments looking toward still greater safety.
/ aToday the bureau cf mines maintains IN every
Il mining field of the country mine rescue car. fully
| equipped with modern lifesaying apparatus, that
/ responds to disasters and assists IN the rescue
/ work In the meanwhile it visits the mines IN It's
/ district ana gives the miners training In both
/ mine rescue and first aid to the injured As re-
snlt there are several thousand miners throughout
me country who are expert In the use OF the oxy-