Evening star., 1947-04-02
Inspector Says Plea
To Close CenfraIia
Mine Was Ignored
BY The Assoeiossd Press

CENTRALIA, Ill, April 2. An
Illinois State mine inspector says
his plea two years ago for closing
the Centralia coal mine. where Ill
miners perished March IS, was re-
jected by Robert M. Medill. who
resigned yesterday as State director
of mines and minerals.
State investigators. who today
planned to resume taking testimony
also were told that the mine man
agement decided it was not eco
r1omical. to install a sprinkler sys-
tenn, which was recommended by in
spectors to keep down explosive coal
dust.
A mine manager also testified the
blast might have been caused by
ignition from the miners open
flame lamps" which he said were
in use despite their prohibition
under Federal law.
Favored Taking Chance.
The State mine inspector. Driscoll
o. Seaman, testified he pleaded in
March, 1945, for authority from MIR.
Medill to close the mine because Mr..
Scanlan felt an explosion in the
mine would kill every miner In 1t.
Mr.. Scanlan said Mr.. Medill replied:
well. we'll have to take that
chance"
Mr.. Scanlan also testified last
night that Mr.. Medill ordered him to
"cut down the size" of his mine
inspection reports, and told him:
Those damned hunks wouldn't t
know about the conditions II you
hadn't called it to their attention" ="
Mr.. Medills resignation was an
nounced yesterday by Gov. Green OF
Illinois, who said the director had
quit "for the good of the service" !"
Mr.. Green did not elaborate, but
Mr.. Medill said he thought "it would
be better if I stepped out OF the pic
ture"
Harold Leroy Walker, head of
the Department of Mining and
Metallurgical Engineering at the
University of Illinois was named
temporary successor to Mr.. Medill.
Mr.. Medill has been summoned to
testify tomorrow before the inves-
tigating committee organized by Mr..
Green. He told newsmen that
when the facts are brought out
there will be nothing that will hurt
me-"
Says Scanlon Had Authority.
In other comment to newSmen,
Mr.. Medill denied calling the miners
damned Hunks" but said he had
asked Mr.. Scanlon to shorten his re-
ports. He said Mr.. Scanlon had
adequate authority as an inspector
to close any mine.
Mr.. Scanlan in his testimony said
II know If I had closed that mine
Medill would have sent somebody
else to reopen it."
William H. Brown, manager of the
mines underground operations since
1943, testified the blast might have
been caused by some one tamping
a fuse near box of powder" caus-
ing an accidental explosion, or by
ignition resulting from the miners
open lamps"
He said Federal law banned open
lamps and the company had ordered
but had not yet received closed
lamps.
Mr.. Brown said State and Federal
inspectors urged installation last
year of sprinkling system to
dampen large amounts Of explosive
coal dust in the mine, but I'VE
honestly did not think it was eco
nomical for our mine"
Wanted to Avoid Expense.
"You mean you didn't want to
bear the expense?" Mr.. Brown was
asked by John Cassidy, chairman OF
the State investigators.
That's right" said Mr.. Brown.
Frank PERI, Staunton, ILL.,. Fed
eral mine inspector, testified he
found 60 violations Of the Federal
code last November and "numer-
GUS" violations on an inspection
March 1920. Then, he said, he
found the mine very dry and dusty
and anna arent1y IL had not been rock