Evening star., 1935-06-16
Bureau of Mines to
Expand.

THE Bureau of Mines, which has
been carrying on on a rather re-
stricted basis for the past few years
because of insufficient appropriation.
is about to launch out on an expanded
program.
A net increase of about $500 900 in
the appropriations for the coming year
will permit resumption of research
and preventive work which has in
the past reduced greatly the loss Of
life and health in the mines Of the
country.
The N. R. A. has added q fresh
problem to the Bureau of Mines, for
data on the subject of fuel value of
various codes are required, these hg-
ureS being used as basis of figuring
proper prices under the code system.
The additional funds will permit an
expansion of the economic and salts
! tical studies of the bureau so as to
I give the mineral industry a complete
| picture of mineral resources, produc-
ton, consumption and trade condi-
| tions, as well as factors affecting the
movement and utilization of mineral
commodities. This information will
/ also be extremely valuable to con-
| gressional committees. permanent
/ agencies Of the Federal Government
and emergency or recovery organiSa-
tons.
Investigations of health hazards in
| the mineral industries. which were
suspended two years ago. will be re-
sumed. This work includes studies of
harmful dusts and gases and other
causes Of occupational diseases con-
| tracted by miners. Instruction in
safety and first-aid, particularly at
small-scale mining operations, can be
extended. Such operations have at
tracted many inexperienced and un-
| employed men and as a rule do not
| provide means of avoiding dangers
that may result in accidents or i'll
health. Training in f1rst-aid is one Of
the most effective ways of education
in safety.
The bureau will be able TO increase
its activities at the experimental
mine. Bruceton. Pa, in studying mine
ventilation, roof support and explo-
| sions of gas-air mixtures or mixtures
Of coal dust and air.
Even the 100000 analyses Of coal
made by the Bureau of Mines are in
adequate to meet the demand. stimu-
lated by the N. r. A. codes, for data
on comparative fuel values of deliv-
cred coal and for a suitable classifica-
ton of the different American Goals.
Modern industry also needs to know
how coal disintegrates on handling or
storage, whether it cakes in the fuel
bed, how easily 1t can be puiveriZed,
whether it is suitable for making gas
| or coke, and what chemicals can be
derived from it. A portion of the
increased funds will be expended for
research on these important problems.
The bureau will expand its studies
on low-temperature carbonization Of
coal in the effort to find a solution
for the smokeless fuel problem, and
thus prevent waste of fuel value in
the SCOT and tar composing the smoke,
| and will avoid damage to buildings,
clothing, ETC.; to accelerate the devel-
opment by the industry of commercial
carbonizing processes, and to deter
mine the composition of by-produet
oils and tars and develop commercial
uses for them.
Among the new studies to be ini-
tiated will be electro metallurgicaI
research to develop possible uses for
surplus power at Boulder Dam, Muscle
Shoals and other Federal projects by
the exploitation Of adjacent mineral
deposits and the production Of alumi-
mum, magnesium and other metals by
electrolytic or electrothermic methods.