The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-12-27
WESTERN MINES
OPEN SAFETY
DRIVE
Union Pacific Co. Shafts
busted With ShaIe Powder
to Stop Explosion

ROCK SPRINGS, Wye, Dec. 27.---
The Union Pacific Coal Company,
largest producer Of coal west Of the
Mississippi river, Is launching a
safety move that is expected to re-
duce explosion hazards in mines en-
ploying more than 1000 men, it has
announced here.
The Union Pacific Company has
seventeen mines, all located in
Wyoming at the following cities and
camps: Rock Springs, Superior,
Hanna, Reliance and Wihton Cum
berland. In zach OF these mines an
extensive rock busting program Is
being started to prevent any explo-
sions from coal dust. The coal dust
explosion in a mine Is the explosion
that takes so heavy a toll of human
lives in mine disasters each year.
Frontier, Sublet, Castle Gate are O
few Of the disasters of this type fresh
in the minds OF Western people.
MuffIes Explosion.
This company has erected a large
plant for pulverizlng shale to q fine
dust, 80 per cent Of which will pass
through a screen with 200 mesh to
the square inch. This dust is placed
in a rock busting machine and blown
up on the ribs" or sides and the
roof Of the entries and haulage tun-
nels that form the coal mine.
The force Of the air is sufficient
to force this dist in the crevices
Of the wall and to make the tiny
particles cling to the wall ana roof.
The coal dust settles on the rock
aust. mixing with 1t SO that when
gas explosion at the face of the
workings stirs up the mixture. suf
ficient non-combustible material il
in the coal dust to stop the ex.
plosion.
The dust is almost white in color,
increasing the illumination Of the
mine. AS lack of illumination is a
cause of many of the minor acct
dents in a coal mine, officials ex-
pect that the total number Of in
1uries during the year will be ma
| terially reduced because Of this fac
| tor.
Treatment Takes Months.
The initial treatments of these
mines will take several months. At
intervals, in order to maintain the
proper mixture to prevent explo-
sIons. additional applications Of rock
dust will be made. The cost OF this
safety measure will run into many
thousands OF dollars annually.
I This is declared to be the largest
single safety move ever made by a
coal company In the western United
| States, II not in the entire nation.
Experiments by the Federal Bureau
of Mines have proved this method
to be the most efficacious In explos-
lon prevention.
An order has been issued by the
company heads that all mines shall
be busted as soon as possible. Al
ready 10000 feet Of entry, or tun'
mel, has been busted at the Re
| lance mines Of the company. ana
about half as much has been &C.
complished at the Winton work
ings. A car Of dust has been sent
to Cumberland. One Of the largest
busting machines in the United
States is being constructed Id the
Rock Springs machine shops OF
the company. Hanna will soon
start busting.
New Machine Evolved.
Research work by company en-.
gineers has evolved a new type Of
busting machine said to be the
most advanced type that the United
States has produced and which will
dust approximately 1000 feet of
entry per hour. several times faster
than any mcahine used before.
About five tons Of this dust are
required to dust a mile Of mine
entry.