Evening star., 1926-10-17
MINE RESCUE WORK
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

The number of mine accidents dur
ing the present year has led TO IN
uuiries as to whether or not such
disa are on the increase At
the United States Bureau of Mines
no answer can be secured to this
question, for the very good reason
that the statistics for the year have
not been compiled as yet and no
comparisons can he made or con-
clusions drawn. UnofY1cially, 1t is
stated, however. that when the fig
ures for the - months are available
1t is not in the least likely they
will show that mine accidents are
increasing in number or in serious
ness.
The reasons for this belief are that
under state laws and regulations
mining operations are carried on
more carefully than ever before. more
is known about how to prevent mine
explosions, emergency relief equip
ment and crews are more generally
ava liable. and both miners and
opera tors have been trained in accl.
dent prevention and first-aid work
through extensive education cam
paigns carried on by the Federal
Government and by various states.
a Michigan iron mine last month
rescue car Of the United States Bu-
reau Of Mines was at the scene in
short order and the rescue work was
carried on with celebrity and with
an efficiency that would have been
impossible few years ago. 1t took
FIVE DAYS to get the men out, but
when their release was effected they
were in remarkabl good physical
condition, thanks to the training
few of them had had in taking care
of themselves and their companions
in emergencies Of that character
In one month-December, 1904
series of disast explosions In coal
mines cost the lives of more than
500 men and the serious injury OF
MANY others. This directed pubhc
attention to mining conditions ana
Congress was finally compelled TO
take some action after having failed
to do anything time and again since
1863. when the first bill was onered
to create a mining bureau. In l9os.
however, Congress merely directed
the Geological Survey to make an
Investigation Of the causes OF mine
explosions and it was not until two
wears later that the Bureau OF Mines
was established.
Many Miners Instructed.
In the Is years that have since
ala nsed the bureau has given lnstruc-
tions in first aid and mine rescue
mot hods to more than 100000 miners
and TO many of their wives and chill
dren. This educational work is car
ried on through motion pictures,
literature. lectures and demonstra-
tions. The bureau has 10 safety sta
tions and II rescue cars that are To-
Gated at strategic points throughout
the country and the crews or these
cars are constantly spreading the
gospel Of safety when they are not
called upon to assist in rescue WORK
at some disaster.
This Federal agency has no au'
thority to regulate mining operations.
n can merely advise and recommend
and all the regulating that can be
done must come through State laws.
hut there has been noteworthy har-
mony and cooperation In the reia'
tions of the bureau with the various
state boards and commissions.
In order to conduct the mine safety
work to best advantage the mining
fields of the country have been
grouped within nine districts which
are defined with reference to railroad
IA cilities and the distribution Of mines
that is. to rendering the most
speedy aid possible by both car and
station personnel in event of a mine
| accident.
In it's efforts to arouse and main
tain a general interest in safety, the
bureau has co-operated actively in the
holding of district and State. national
and interna tional. first-aid and mine
rescue meets. In the first national
meet held in Pittsburgh in 1911. 80
| first. aid teams competed; In the last
international meet, held in Salt Lake
CITY. In 1928 so teams participated.
Through the cooperation of oper-
ators and State officials the Bureau OF
Mines issues reports monthly and
annually, giving. by causes and States.
the fatalities at coal mines and the
fatal and non-fatal accidents at
metal mines. quarries.' coke ovens
and metallurgical works other than
iron and steel plants. The purpose
in publishing these data. it is stated,
| is not to fix responsibility for dis
asters, or TO preserve a historic rec
ord of past experiences. hut to make
available a body Of reliable informa-
| ton from which legislative bodies and
safety engineers can determine what
the hazards are that should receive
chief attention. A
For a lone time IT. was a matter
of controversy as to whether bitumi-
nous coal dust WAs explOsiye. many