u,.:- • - Clpdigital.org

EXPERIMENTAL EXPLOSION WRECKS GOV­
ERNMENT MINE AT BRUCETON AND
PROVES COAL DUST TO BE EXPLOSIVE
IN ITSELF.
An experimental explosion was successfully carried
out at the U. S. Bureau of Mines Bruceton
mine on October 24, which proved the theory that
coal dust, in itself is explosive, and which wrecked
the mine.
The explosion, whicli occurred about 9 p. m.,
October 24, was the first one in the experimental
mine of the U. S. Bureau of Mines, which lias
done any great damage—and the experts were
startled, even though they were pleased with the
proving of the theories for which some have
laughed at them. The experiment was in line
with those the engineers have been conducting
right along since the taking over of the mine some
time ago.
The test was an explosion of 2(ju pounds of coal
dust placed at tbe end of one of the 700-foot entrances
of the mine. The coal dust was touched
off by an electric spark from the outside. There
was no thought on the part of the engineers that
the explosion would have anything like the results
it had. They proceeded on the theory that the
amount of coal dust they were igniting represented
the condition in tbe average mine. It is also a
theory of the mine experts that coal dust explosions
affect the whole mine, whereas gas explosions
affect only the particular locality in which
they occur. The theory was abundantly upheld
by the experiment, inasmuch as everywhere in the
mine there was evidence of damage.
About two-thirds of the way down one of the
mine entrances there was placed the barrier of
sand bags and at the mouth of another entry the
iron doors were weighted down with 40 simnlar
bags, each weighing in tbe neighborhood of 150
pounds. The big barrier in the entry was knocked
to bits while the blockade at the mouth of the
other entry was hurled aside and some of the bags
were thrown 30 or 40 in the air. About 25 feet
away from the second of the three mine openings
stood a freight car. which was found 300 feet further
off after the smoke had cleared. Where one
entry runs into another the concrete work was
broken down, this being possibly the biggest surprise
the engineers received as showing the force
of the explosion. The main entry of the mine is
built unusually solid of concrete work and this
escaped any damage.
"Had the experimental mine been working as a
normal coal pit and the explosion caused October 2 4
of 200 pounds of mine dust been accidental, it
would have killed 150 coal miners. The explosion
was of such terrific force that it would have
probably blown every miner within the mine into
an unrecognizable mass."
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 29
This was the statement made by tbe Bureau of
Mines engineers who on October 25 went through
the mine. Tbe force was so terrific on the mine
that some of the registering apparatus was
wrecked. One of them showed a pressure of 100
pounds to the square inch. One hundred feet of
concrete lining at the mine opening had been
i aised and dropped, as well as the entire roof.
Several heavy falls were noted and the entire
working badly wrecked. A gasoline motor standing
100 feet from the entry of tbe mine and supposed
to be out of danger had a small red flag
on it in order that an explosive force might be
noted on the flag. A part of this flag was found
in a tree several hundred feet away. The motor
was wrecked.
George S. Rice, in charge of the mine; Clarence
Hall, in charge of the explosives, and J. W. Paull,
in charge of the rescue department, entered the
mine and made a thorough investigation. The
wreckage was worse than was supposed. That an
explosion can occur when a mine is unusually
moist, as this one was, and tbat the force of the
blast is general and follows every lead of the
workings and in all directions with apparently
equal force was clear.
The test, which is held by experts to be one of
the most appalling ever given, will be studied by
tbe experts of the world. It is held that this will
be the beginning of the solving of many of the
greatest dangers of mining and also offer means
of finding remedies for them.
OFFERS TO BUY INDIAN COAL LANDS.
E. A. Perry of Muskogee, Okla., has offered the
Choctaw nation of Indians $15,000,000 for the half
million acres of segregated coal and asphalt lands
of the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations.
Fifteen million dollars is the exact amount that
the government placed as the value of the land
after spending eighteen mom lis anil $100,000 investigating
with diamond drills.
More then 10 years ago the government undertook
to ascertain just what the coal land was
worth. Government experts with diamond drills
were sent into the Choctaw nation. They worked
18 months and spent approximately $100,000. Fifty
test holes were drilled. Some of these were 200
feet deep and some were 2,000.
The segregation consists of a chain of irregular
areas stretching clear across the Choctaw nation
from Tanaha. on tbe Arkansas river, southwest
and into the Chickasaw nation. The asphalt lands
lie almost entirely within the Chickasaw nation.
and the biggest deposits are in the vicinity of Ardmore.
The Bon Jellico Coal Co., Jellico, Tenn.. will develop
1,250 acres of coal in Whiteley county, Ky.