The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-04-12
AXzASE lINGTON NEWS =
GOSSIP . eE4sl5s brook. .MI74:

WASHINGTON, d. c. April 12.~
Gas masks for locomotive engineers
and firemen for use in tunnels in
u West Virginia in the summer months
when the fumes in tunnels are dan
eetous, are likely to be adopted AS
the result Of the interest Congress
man Stuart f. Reed took in sug-
geStion made to him by H. l.. Nc
Henry, q locomotiv engineer running
on engine on the B. & o. between
Z Harrisburg and Parkersburg, and
whose home is at 211 Sumner street,
Clarksburg.
There are 80 tunnels on that run,
most OF them are long and some OF
! them curvatures. Some of them are
ON grades. Frequently trainmen are
overcome by the smoke and gases in
these tunnels, and deaths have re-
suited. These mostly were to train
men whose trains got stalled in tun-
hels. Conditions are worse in sum-
mer.
Il wish you would see if you can
not get me a gas mask, wrote En-
gineer Henry to Mr.. Reed. y am q
railroad engineer on the Parkers-
burg Branch. We are having lot
Of trouble with smoke and gas in
the tunnels. would like to try it
out and see how it will act"
Mr.. Reed thought we'll OF the idea
HE went first to the officials OF thu
war Department, then to the Bureau
Of Standards and finally to Bureau
OF Mines. Everywhere they were in
terested. It was doubted il the regu-
lation gas mask used in war would
suit this emergency. 1t was believed
that special mask must be made,
and the Bureau Of Mines is going 10
send an expert from its Pittsburgh
branch to make a thorough invests
cation. He is to travel in Engineer
Henry's cab while doing it.
Van H. Manning, Director OF the
Bureau Of Mines, writing Mr.. Reed,
said:
sThe bureau of mines is very much
interested in your problem and
have asked Major Fieldner (Super-
yising Chemist of the Pittsburgh ex-
leriment station) to make arrange
y .l1ents with you and the officials OF
the railroad for test under practi'
cal conditions in order to determine
whether army gas masks furnish a
sufficient degree Of protection.
1.-THE noxious constituents of smoke
consist OF carbon dioxide, hydrocar-
bon gases, sulphur dioXide and car
bon monoxide. The army gas mask
will remove all of these constituents
except the last named. Unfortunately
the carbon monoxide is quite poison
Gus concentrations of 1-2 per cent
will render man unconscious in a
lfew minutes. 1t Is probable that un.
der actual conditions, when the trail'
proceeds directly through the tunnel
without stopping, the exposure tc
The carbon ",onoN;de is not suffic-
icntiy long in high enough concen-
trations = produce serious results
II this assumption is true, then the
gas mask would be quite beneficial
to tie engineer and fireman in, at
least, protecting them from the dis
sgreeable and irritating smoke par
ticles and sulphur fumes. 1t is be-
slieved that the gas mask would be
la distinct convenience although not
an absolute protection against all Of
the smoke constituents. Actual in.
vestigation will be necessary to prove
this point.
Il shall be very glad 10 place the
full facilities Of the Bureau of Mines
lat your disposal for the investigation
OF conditions; that is, the Burear
will send experienced chemists witt
gas masks to ride in the cab with
the engineer through the tunnels. Al
the same time they will have with
them vacuum bottles for taking
samples Of the atmosphere in the
tunnels. These will be taken back
to the Pittsburgh labratory for ana.
lysis. On the basis Of this investiga.
ton definite recommendations can
be made and no doubt the question
can be satisfactorily solved"
Mr.. Reed hasn't doubt either but
at can be, and that 1t will be in time
for the engineers, firemen and what.
ever other members Of the trail
crews may stand in need Of, tc
equip themselves with the new mask
devised to suit the purpose. These
men use now large sponges soaked
with water, which they clasp over
their faces. In some of the tunnels
by the time they mersS from them