Evening star., 1924-05-04
WIRED WIRELESS"
MAY SAVE MINERS
cIecessfui. Experiments to Com
municate With Entomted Men
Announced.
PENETRATE EARTH 400 FEET
6aves Conducted by Wires, Tracks
and Pipes.

Successful experiments in harness
ing radio as a means OF aiding in
nc rescue of entombed miners was
:nnounced ~ the United States bu-
eau of mines today as the latest
,aine disaster in West Virginia re-
ceded from its place OF Importance
II the days news.
Already radio fans have been en-
tertained with stories and pictures
Of coal miners enjoying radio con-
certs in their tunnels far under
ground. But when there comes an
explosion or a cave-in the ordinary
radio doesn't work. The waves can't
plow through the intervening rock
and earth.
Wired wireless" is the answer.
Under the direction of J. J. Jakosky.
n assistant engineer of the bureau
OF mines, assigned to the Pittsburgh
district wired wireless had been
made to carry 400 feet underground.
trolley wires, mine tracks. COM
,.ressed air and water pipes were the
carriers" used. Breaks In these
lines, such as might be expected in
easc of an explosion. were bridged
~ the radio waves, for ii has been
discovered that wave lengths OF high
frequency can be made TO travel Tor
some distance through solid earth or
strata.
Experiment Success.
The experiment is success and
the bureau now faces the problem
Of inducing mine operators to take
Up radio seriously. 1t is conceded
that the installation of radio equip
,nent for use only in disasters would
70 IA h.a
However. no operator is willing TO
admit the possibility of disaster in
mis- mine.
Virtually all mines, however, use
telephone systems for ordinary COM
lnunication. The trouble with these.
rom a disaster point OF view. is that
the lines almost invariably break
'vhen d catastrophe occurs. The an
swer is simple, as the bureau OF
mines sees It, Namely. substitute
wired wireless" for telephones.
Once this is accomplished the prac-
gency are clearly apparent Even
one-Tay communication will be of
great value. Entombed miners equip
ped with receiving sets could be in
formed Of the progress Of rescue
parties. While this would prove OF
70 physical aid, officials say, it would
be an immense psychological help. In
some cases, 1t vas pointed out. an
even more practical use could be
round for onc-Way communication
the direction OF ontombed men to
other parts of the mine where the
rescuers could reach them.
Multiplied Advantages
Where communication could be had
with the victims, the advantages
would be multiplied. The entom bed
men could communicate to the eager
workers and watchers outside in
formation as 20 the number and
names of those trapped. the number
of men still alive, air conditions and
other facts that would prove of great
help in the work Of rescue
All this can be accomplished, ac-
cording to the engineers who have
been making the experiments, by the
use of high frequency generating
plants. using the caUiers in the mines
without Interfering in any way with
the efficiency of the carriers.
II the operators would install such
equipment, the engineers believe, the
miners would soon become acquainted
with its operation and care This
familiarity, in case of disaster. would
render successful use of the ap-
paratus far more likely than in the
case of any special apparatus in the
operation of which the miners had
had little practice.