Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1922-12-21
Too Many Mine Disasters


From the director of the hui.
mines of the UsHted States II 49, ~
BAN, comes report which seems -
should make men stop to tbink %
Is the opening paragraph of Mir p' e
communication: 'lA
Goal has been mined 70, -.
months since the resumption ~ ~
ing following the i've months, s,-a, I'D
and in that time six explosions I'm. 1'A
about 49, men and injurine more - !
100 others have occurred IN III
nous mines. The number ana y
fence of these explosions is incra.s'.
the record Of the mast month -
the wersss, of Az. The coal ind1e.I
has rot in Years suffered as m,ns n
disasters, and rhe entire country ~
erly is aroused
II should be remembered tho. ii
communication of Mr.. Balm conal
tutes a governmtr6 and official 49,
Il gives the viewpoint Of men WI,
busina ss 1t is TO study situations y
without fear or favor to comma
thereon.
The director asks these question.
why did these explosions oecnr
Were they entirely accidental
could they have been preyentad
'Will similar explosions follow. II,
Mr.. Balm adds: Investigations n
under WAY will determine the copso
past accidents and what, if anvtbi,.
might have been done to prevo
them. but investigations alone y
give no assurance that similar a.
dents viii not again occur. The
sons learned must be applied
every possible protection taken II N
killing Is to be stopped"
Due Partly to Strikes Results
The country is told in the course
the directors report that while
seasonal hazards, which are great
in the coal industry during the wink
months, probably have influenced Il
result. there has been a lessening
morale throughout the coal industK
as a result of the strike, which Ten
toward a less careful attitude OF mid
Another probable factor, he saws
a changing in personnel at the nir
following the strike and the shift
Of miners to camps where they VI
not familiar with the dangers.
places, he says, there is lack of ii
discipline (which is essential to d
vention Of disaster whether In is
ing a battle or in lighting the haza
of nature"
This government official tells
country, which has been shocked
recent terrible disasters in The min
Industry. that in the face Of these
creased hazards II is the instant d
OF operators and mine workers TO
centrate their attention on the
vention of accidents. Unless thi:
done. Mr.. Balm saws waningly. d
viii be more accidents and more
lost, however much the research
may do TO solve the causes Of Al
dents and to provide methods
avoiding them.
Until the present series Of
astrous explosions the record OF
crease in accidents had led the bur
Of mines to feel that dangers Il
| rertain sources were being ellmina
After the demonstrations in the
ing bureaus experimental mine,
ginning in 1911, the number of btu
nous mine explosions declined as
suit Of the educational campaign
augurated by the bureau of mineS r.
carried on with the cooperation
miners and operators. During
years period the number of deaths
sulting from explosions was decret
by onehalf from the number H
during the previous ten years.
Coal Dust Certainly Explosive
1t may he interesting TO know
practical mining men of the cou
were still incredIl0us few years
as to the explosibility OF coal
They were invited to the experime
mine to witness the tests. ID "li
the tests mine car was shot IRON
entry of the mine with such force
liz was carried 300 feet through tn
before II landed on a hillside
doubt remained after that in any"
mind that coal dust was ltseIl
sive and was also the cause OF
explosions which later EXTENDED
force through the mine.
II seems to be believed In was
ton that if the mining Industry ca
stabilized and troubles OF va
klads which have Deset II ID ''e
can be minimize ed. the future h''
fairly free from disaster. l'uf'hE
ten years when there were cow
lively few uI,sets in the induS'
pIosions were cut down maIefiaN
Director Balm says explosions
and must be prevented and ti'a'
is no reason. with the preSeh'
edge. why local explosions ID
should spread throughout 'he
underground workings. Then "e
that miners and operators, IL
official inspectors, must take !"
the situation promptly ana VIZ
Or there will still be more Set,