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Show lOPEK FLAME LAMPS ARE RECOMMENDED INDIANA COAL MINE DISASTER WHICH COST FIFTY LIVES UNDER DISCUSSION Grand Jury Urges Legislation: Coal Operators and Miners Favor Naked Lights For Safety Of Men Sullivan. Ind. The Sullivan county grand jury has sent a message to Governor Kdward Jackson at Indianapolis Indian-apolis recommending certain legislation legisla-tion to help in preventing repetitions of the recent disaster in this or other Indiana coal fields in the fuiure. Tne grand jury investigated the disaster at the City Coal company's hiine which resulted in the death of fifty-one fifty-one men February 20. The witnesaes examined included William H. Mc-McGrew, Mc-McGrew, coroner, and A. C. Dally, chief inspector for the Indiana bureau of mines and mining. The message to 'the governor follows: fol-lows: "We are members of the Sullivan Sul-livan country grand jury and the prosecuting pro-secuting attorney of said county respectfully re-spectfully urge you to exert your influence in-fluence and good offices with the Indiana In-diana state legislature as follows: "1. Period to effect passing of the bill providing for rock dusting in coal mines warranted by conditions. "2. To oppose the socalled safety lamp measure." Coal operators and miners Here insist in-sist upon use cf the open flame lamps and as a result of their expressed views, coupled with the statements of Coroner McGrew and Inspector Dally, the legislature will not consider consid-er a measure for the exclusive use of safety lamps, it is said. Reasons were given by the operators opera-tors and miners, one being that the use of the electric lamp would necessitate neces-sitate the carrying of heavy batteries to supply current while the carbide lamp was small and comparatively light. Another reason was that the open flame warned the miners of the presence of small amounts of gas, an increased flare in the open lamp indicating in-dicating that gas was seeping Into the workings and steps could then immediately imme-diately be taken to ventilate a mine and drive the gas out before enough eas accumulated to cause an explosion. |
