Evening star., 1947-04-03
Kruo Orders 518 Coal Mines
To Remoin Closed Indefinitely
Because Of Danger From Blasts
No Undue Hazards
At 2,0l3 Others
Noted by Inspectors
BY The Asseeiotsd Press

Secretary of Interior Krug to-
day directed that 51S Govern
ment-operated soft coal mines
remain closed indefinitely be-
cause they are believed danger
Gus.
John L. Lewis promptly comment
ed: May God in heaven forgive
him for not closing them before Ill
miners died at Centralia. ILL.,"
MIR. Krug said the 2,013 other
mines under Federal control could
reopen Monday at the conclusion OF
the six-day mourning" period called
by Mr.. Lewis for miners killed in
the Centralia disaster If the "operat-
ing managers certify that they have
reviewed safety conditions and prac-
tices and that there Is no imminent
danger to the men working In those
mines"
Employ 10000 Miners.
Approximately 10000 miners are
employed at the 518 mines which
Secretary Krug said are believed
dangerous from an explosion point
of view"
These pits will be closed until cer-
titled by the local unions Mine Safe
ty Committee and the operating
managers or until new inspections
determine that they are reasonably
safe"
Mr.. Lewis called Mr.. Krug's action
helated. Testifying on mine safety
before House committee, Mr.. Lewis
declared:
"I point out that Secretary Krug
is doing now what he should have
done ever since the safety code be-
came effective. He's starting to
enforce his own code-but after Ill
men died at Centralia.
Nov on this particular day OF
our Lord, Mr.. Krug found 518 mines
not safe.
May God IN heaven forgive him
for not finding those mines before
and not closing them down before
those men died"
Secretary Krug said that review
of inspection reports did not indi-
cate unduly hazardous conditions In
2.Ol3 mines. But, he directed an
immediate re-exarnination of safety
conditions and practices along with
consideration of any Federal or
State inspection reports.
Navy Capt. N. H. Collision, coal
mines administrator, called on Mr..
Lewis to submit the names of any
other mines which the union con-
siders so hazardous as to require
closing"
Three Steps Ineffective.
Capt. COLLISION said the three
steps now provided for removing
men from ussafe mines proved in
adequate March Is in the Centralia
disaster.
These steps provide that Cd the
local union Safety Committee may
require the withdrawal OF miners
from unsafe mine areas; Cd III
inminent danger exists the Federal
inspector may require withdrawal
of the miners. and 90 the Federal
inspector reports serious danger by
telephone so the coal mines ad-
ministrator can move Immediately
to withdraw the miners.
Mr.. Krug directed Capt. Collision
and DR.. r. r. Sayers, director OF
the Bureau of mines, "to proceed
with the utmost speed to check
safety conditions in the mines where
the Mine Safety Committee and the
management cannot agree and per-
init prompt reopening of those mines
under safe working conditions"
Daily Output $4,000 Tons.
In order to reopen the 518 miles
considered hazardous, safety GER
tificate will be requested from the
Union Safety Committee and the
mines manager, Secretary Krug
said. If agreement cannot be
reached on the safety certificate, a
Federal inspector will be sent as
soon as possible to go through the
mine again and recommend when 1t
can be opened.
The Interior Department esti-
mates the daily output of the 518
mines at 350,o00 tons of bituminous
coal.
The order will close mines in prac-
tically every coal-producing State of
the Nation, Interior Department
spokesmen said. Nearly 200 of the
51S are In Pennsylvania. Illinois,
West Virginia, Ohio and Alabama
1See MINES, Page A-5)