Cleveland County herald., 1920-11-18
An Economic Fault That Should Be heniedied. Says Federal
 Engineer.
LIVES AID EFFICIENCY lGS7
One Thousand Die Annually From Miners Consumption, Chiefly Caused by Dust-Time Lost Aggregates
 Millions of Dollars.

clIlCleIll COHlIOi Ol dlf currents ana the necessity of supplying metal mine workers with better and safer work. ing conditions has created nn active interest in metal mine ventilation, eS- pecially in recent years. In a paper just issued by the United States bu- reau of mines the writer, D. Earring ton. mining engineer of the bureau, discusses the subject both with regard to efficiency and economy as well as safety and health. It is based on per sonal observations of Mir. Harrington during more than four years study of metal mines in six states. In which more than fifty mines were visited.
 In coal mines ventilation Is general ly regarded as essential. but In many metal mines. especially shallow ones, the operators pay little attention to ventilation, or ignore 1t altogether, says the writer. Mir. Harrington says:
 Ventilation Necessary.
 There is greater necessity for ade- Quate ventilation of metal mines than of coal mines. The latter require air currents to remove explosive gases and the fumes of explosives but metal mines, in addition to the need of re- moving fumes of explosives and occa- sionally explosive gases, frequently have need of removing dusts danger Ous to health, reduction of high tenn peratures and high humidity. and re- tuoval of inert. but unhealthful gases"
 The main features affecting metal mine ventilation as outlined In part by MT. Harrington, are:
 Movement of Air-This involves ef- fleets of air movement at various tenn peratures, humidities. and with cer- tain gases present, and the advisable velocity of current to use.
 Temperature-The temperature of lhe air in a metal mine is influenced ny the outside air temperature, under ground rock and water temperature oxidation of ores and timbers. mine fires, friction of air due to velocity of flow, movement of ground, firing of shots. quantity of air circulating, heat from breathing of men and animals. heated air from other mines heat from electric motors and other machinery.
 Humidity-The humidity of mine air depends on the relative humidity of surface air. wetness of shafts and workings. the velocities. quantities. and temperatures of the air circulated, Where small fan units are employed to force air through galvanized iroh or canvas tubing, these also affect the humidity through absorption or 0epo- sition of moisture.
 Mine gases and duSts-The intake air is usually pure. except in rare in- stances where smoke or dust from sur face works may be present. The air k the mine changes through breathing of men and animals. burning of lights, oxidation of ore or timber. gases issu- ing from strata, gases from mine fires. fumes from explosives. gases from compressed air, gases from operation of machinery, dusts from drilling, blasting, shoveling and other work
 Studied by Experts.
 The writer says that the bureau of
 
 mines and the United States public health service in conjunction with the investigation of mine dusts and gases are studying effects of temperature and humidity on workmen's health and efficiency.
 Few mines having humid hot work Ing places with no circulation have es- capped without one or more fatalities from heart failure which is really heat prostration," says the writer yet proper air circulation would make these mines endurable.
 "In some mines where gases such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide issue from the strata, fatalities and many cases of gassing have occurred from made luate ventilation; the remedy is force or pressure ventilation with constant vigilance. Many lives have been lost as well as much property, from fires in metal mines because no ventilating equipment arranged to control the alr currents in such an emergency had been provided.
 Miners consumption probably kills at least 1000 metal miners annually in the United States. and causes loss of time aggregating millions of dol lars; the misery and suffering to min CTS and their families cannot be esti mated. Yet the causes of this disease could be reduced 75 per cent, if not wholly eliminated by proper preventive measures on the part of operator and miner, one of the most potent meas ures as previously mentioned, is ade quate ventilation"