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32 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
takes the poisonous gases from the lungs of an
asphyxiated miner and fills them with oxygen,
will also be demonstrated. This apparatus has
already brought back to consciousness a number
of miners given up as dead.
The following letter has been and is being sent
to coal operators throughout the country:
Dear Sir:—Arrangements are being perfected
for the First Annual National First Aid Field
Meet, to be held in Arsenal Park, Pittsburgh, probably
September 16. This will be conducted under
the auspices of the Bureau of Mines and the Pitts­
burgh Coal Operators' Association, wilh the cooperation
of the American Red Cross. There will
be souvenir programs, souvenir buttons, a military
band, public speakers, etc.
On behalf of the Bureau of Mines I wish to extend
to your company an invitation to enter first
aid teams in this meet. It is believed that you
may feel more inclined to do this as it will not be
a competition but merely an exhibition of skill.
If this bureau can do anything in the way of
giving instruction in first aid at the Pittsburgh
Station, or from one of the rescue cars, or through
the good offices of the first aid department of the
American Red Cross or the Young Men's Christian
Association, please advise me.
I would appreciate early advice from you as to
the number of teams you will enter.
Sincerely,
J. A. HOLMES, Director.
The rules adopted for the contest are:
1. Non-competitive exhibition of skill in first
aid to the injured in mines, to be held in Arsenal
Park, between Thirty-ninth and Fortieth streets
and Butler street and Penn avenue, Pittsburgh,
September 16, 1911, 1:30 to 5:30 P. M.
2. Not more than one team of five men to represent
any one coal mine, or the U. S. Bureau
of Mines, or state mine deiiartments, provided
that coal mining companies operating more than
one mine may enter additional teams representative
of groups of miners, helpers, trapper boys,
or other mine workers.
3. All persons entering to submit certificates
showing that they are, or have been, bona-fide
mine workers.
4. All entries to close one month prior to
date finally selected for the meet.
5. Coal companies entering teams to be invited
to present, not later than one month in
advance of meet, a list of live events as their
choice, these to be submitted to the managers,
who will select five for adoption from the various
events suggested, each entering team to
exhibit in those events suggested by them and
such others of the five as they may elect. All
teams to exhibit in unison.
6. Should any unusual or valuable events be
suggested, the managers may increase the program
by one or two such special stunts.
7. In addition to the five first aid events there
will be a representation of a coal dust explosion,
with rescue by helmet men and first aid treat
ment.
8. Exhibition of skill in adjusting and use of
rescue apparatus by teams of four with a cap­
tain; entries to be as above for first aid teams.
PLANS FOR REDISTRICTING STATE OF
PENNSYLVANIA ARE BEING MADE.
Plans for redisricting the bituminous coal regions
of Pennsylvania for the purpose of creating
four new districts are being studied at the State
Department of Mines and will probably be submitted
to Gov. John K. Tener for approval within
a short time. James E. Roderick, chief of the
department of mines, was in Pittsburgh and the
mining towns in its vicinity recently making
some observations regarding the possible lines of
districts and has carried on a detailed investigation
into the subject.
The soft coal region has 21 inspection districts
at present. Four new districts were directed by
the Legislature to be created according to the
needs, ln the anthracite region one new district
has been created, making 21 in all.
UNITED COAL COMPANY PURCHASES CON­
TROL OF MERCHANTS COAL COMPANY
The United Coal Co. of Pittsburgh, one of the
large coal companies in Pennsylvania, has purchased
75 per cent, of the capital stock of the Merchants
Coal Co. The United Coal Co. now owns
and controls through its stock-ownership in the
Merchants Coal Co. 10 mines in full operation, and
one field shortly to be developed, the mines being
located in the Pittsburgh district and the Johns­
town basin, Pennsylvania, and in Preston county,
West Virginia. The properties of the United Coal
Co. have been appraised recently at over $19,000,ooo.
In connection with the announcement of the purchase,
J. S. & W. S. Kuhn, Inc., investment bank­
ers, are offering $750,000 6 per cent, notes of the
United Coal Co. which have been issued to reimburse
that company in part for the purchase of
control of the Merchants Coal Co.
The operations of the various sinking funds will
retire the bonds before one-half of the coal in the
one seam, which is now being worked, is exhausted.
The surplus of the United Coal Co. for the past
nine years, amounting to over $1,100,000, has been
expended in permanent improvements to its properties.