The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-06-04
HOLD SCHOOL IN
MINE IN IDAHO
Subterranean Studies Pursued by
Pupils in Mining
Work.
PAID WHILE They LEARN
Returned Soldiers Are Instructed In
the Art and Practice Of Mining
Lead-Zinc Ore-Teacher
Is Lieutenant.

MOSCOW, IdahO.-A ScnOOlrOOm I,4OO
feet underground in the Morning mine
at Mullan, Idaho, in which returned
soldiers are being taught the art and
practice Of mining lead-zinc ore, is one
of the latest educational innovations
of the University Of Idaho. This work,
which has been inaugurated by the
school of mines of the university, is,
SO far as is known, the first attempt
to apply to actual underground min
ing work the new system of vocation
al education provided for by the
Smith Hughes act. and the experiment
is being watched with interest by min
ers and mine operators alike through
out the Western states.
The schoolroom is far under ground,
and it is devoid of blackboards, books
and benches. Pupils and teacher alike
are dressed in overalls and mining
boots. and the school equipment con-
sists of rock drills driven by COM
pressed air. or machines" as they are
generally termed In mining parlance;
steel or drill bits for these machines,
picks, shovels, timber, dynamite, caps
fuses and all the other paraphernalla
of those who go down to the mine in
skips.
Teacher Is Lieutenant
The teacher is Lieut.. Frank H.
Skeels of The United States army
engineers, recently released from
service for this work. Before going
into the army Lieutenant ssevis had
heen a mine manager and mine super
intendent to which position he had
risen after spending his life since boy
hood in and about the mines OF the
Occur d'Alene district.
Admission to the school is obtained
by application to the federal employ
ment agent at Wallace, and preference
is given to returned soldiers who are
young enough and bright enough to
be teachers.
The work in hand is what is known
as drifting-that is. driving a horizon
tai gallery or working lengthwlse OF
the vein. The pupils operate the rock
drills in turn, studying the number OF
0OIeS UeCtSSuIN u DltttN IVA ~>N- -
determined section of rock, the angies
at which they must be driven to make
the greatest progress with the least
amount of drilling and the smaileS'
possible supply of dynamite. In addi-
tion. the placement OF timber to sup
mort q weak wall and all the various
kinks Of the underground trade are
taught by making the student DO them
In actual, workmanlike fashion to pass
the scrutiny of domestic mine fore
man and a lynx-eyed safety engineer.
Paid While Learning.
There is the more prosaic work OF
"mucking" or shoveling, and also OF
tramming the broken ore or waste TO
the shaft or dumping place. The young
fellows who attend the school receive
fair compensation for their time, as
the school is carrying on drift work
by contract, and payment for explo-
sives and other supplies is divided pro |
rata among the men, the salary OF the
instructor being paid Jointly by the
state of Idaho and the federal govern
ment.
While at the present time there is
a school in one mine only, 1t Is expect
ed that within the next month or two
schools will be organized at each OF the
other four or five big properties In the
Occur d'Alene district.
Like every other novel enterprise
the school has had to overcome a good
deal of skepticism and passive opposl-
ton on the part Of some Of those who
should be most concerned in Its es-
adjustment, but this Is gradually fad
ing out as the practicability Of the
scheme is being demonstrated" Dean
E. A. Thomson Of. the University
school Of Mines said.
Applications for enrolment far ex-
coed the present capacity OF the
JehOOl.
. |