jeESLD'r' TO ENTE/2 TIINEr
N ITS effort to stop the appalling
loss cf life in the coal mines of
the country, the United States
government is meeting with
much success. For several
months an experiment station,
under the direction of the tech
nologic branch of the United
States geological survey, has
been in operation at Pittsburg, Pa., with the pur
pose of discovering the causes of mine disasters
and suggesting a remedy.
Along with establishment of this station and
the agitation which preceded the necessary legis
lation, there has been a falling off in the number
of deaths in the coal mines for the year 1908, and
while the official figures have not yet been ob
tained, it is stated that the number of deaths
will be several hundred less than in 1907, which
was an unusual year. In December, 1907, four
ergies to dis
cover some
methodby
which this dust can be
prevented from being a
serious menace to the
miners. Experiments in
wetting it have been go
ing on for some time,
but nothing of a very
definite nature has as
yet been learned, unless
it is the fact that the
coal dust does not ignite
when there is a great
amount of moisture in it.
Every effort is being
made at the station to
come as close to the ,
conditions in a mine as j
£ X&O 0x5/ y/E. tS <3XiL-X-.£ ^V*
^ feE.<SCU£L P/l&.TY' AT
__i________
explosions took the lives of 700 men,
one of them—at the Monongah mine
in West Virginia—being the greatest
mining disaster In the history of this
country. There were 356 victims.
During 1908. there Were but two acci
dents in which the loss of life was
very heavy; one in January at the
Hanna mine, in Wyoming, with a loss
of 70 men; the other, November 28,
at the Marianna mine in Pennsylvania,
which resulted in 154 deaths.
Already at the experiment station
two discoveries have been made
which will tend to decrease the num
ber of deaths in the mines. It has
been demonstrated that a number of
the so-called “safety” explosives are
anything but safe, in fact the state
ment is made that with the present .
explosives used in mining, the miner takes his
life in his hand every time he tOHChes off a fuse.
It is the purpose of the government to continue
these experiments until the explosives of the
country are standardized in such a manner that
the miner will have a definite idea what these ex
plosives will do.
After the government has gone far enough in
its experiments, a bulletin will be issued recom
mending as permissible explosives such as stand
the test. The facts learned concerning these ex
plosives will be called directly, to the attention
of the state mining bureaus as well as the oper
ators.
Perhaps the most important and far-reaching
experiments so far at the station are those in
which it has been definitely shown that coal dust
is an explosive equally as dangerous as the dead
ly fire damp. This has been a mooted question
among mining engineers and miners alike, both
insisting that it is impossible to explode coal dust
unless there is gas present. That the coal dust
will explode in the mine where there is no gas
has been repeatedly shown to several hundred
operators and miners at the testing station. The
experts at the station are now bending their en
operators have watched the rescue drill
through the large glass windows which
separate the auditorium from the gas
filled chamber. Although there has
been but little opportunity so far for
the rescue corps to demonstrate its ef
ficiency at the mines, still it has done
some good work.
Once the helmeted men while fight
ing a mine fire succeeded in bringing
an unconscious man to a place of safety,
where he was given oxygen treatment
and recovered his senses in a short
time.
It is not the intention of the United
States government to furnish rescue
corps whenever there is a disaster. The
present corps was organized with the
idea of encouraging the mine owners
possible. The tests of various dynamites and
powders used in blasting coal are being made in
a mammoth boiler plate cylinder which has pre
viously been filled with gas or coal dist. The cyl
inder is 100 feet long and six feet in diameter.
Safety valves have been placed all along the top
and are left unfastened in such a manner that
whenever there is an explosion the valves fly
open on their hinges. A series of portholes on the
side, covered with one-half inch glass, enables
those conducting the experiments to witness the
results from an observation house 60 feet away.
An explosive mixture of fire damp and air, or coal
dust and air, is pumped in o the cylinder and the
explosive which is to he tested is shot into it from
one end of the cylinder, so that the flame goes
right into the fire damp or coal dust. Natural
gas is used at thi3 station for fire damp, because
it corresponds very closeiy to this deadly gas.
The cannon in which the explosives are placed
is fired by electricity from the observation house
which is parallel with the cylinder itself.
T hese investigations are expected to accom
plish a double purpose; not only a reduction in
the number of men killed in the mines, but also
a saving of the waste in mining coal. The use
and miners themselves to form such organizations.
Invitations have been issued to operators through
out the country to send picked men to the experi
ment station, where they may watch the govern
ment rescuers at work and later go through the
same training themselves, in order that they may
gain the necessary confidence in the use of these
helmets. Already a number of the large mining
companies have taken advantage of this invitation
and are organizing rescue corps at their mines,
fully equipped with oxygen helmets.
In 1907 more than 3,125 men were killed in the
coal mines of the. country—a death rate of 4.86
for every 1,000 men employed. This is from three
to four times as many men per thousand as are
killed in any coal-producing country of Europe,
where experimental stations such as the one in
Pittsburg have been in operation for several years.
Full Beards for Farmers.
The protection of farmers and offers who are ex
posed to the heat a great deal is a serious and diffi
cult matter. Cancer is on the increase, and farm
ers furnish a large proportion of the cases, many
of them being due to the direct effects of sunlight
on the face and hands. A full beard for the farmef
is most desirable for his protection.
OLD ROMAN WALL DISFIGURED
Relic of Antiquity Sacrificed to Com
fort of Suburbanites.
A correspondent in Rome has taken
j. e first opportunity of looking into,
- atlier through, the breach made
T,aa r municipal authority in the Auro-.j
of , « all. It has been made quite!
whole cue . candidIy {or the sake of
belonging to ta.;[ suhUibs. See what
'vsuburbs to a walled
y
/
/
city' Rome is only partially walled,
of course, but this piece of rather late
antiquity—but still antiquity—the
great brown range of brick, was, for
a great space of the Pincian Hill, com
plete. The three gates piercing it
were sufficient for the carts on their
way to and from the outer world of
the Campagua. And one might have
thought that the few hundred yards
that the-suburbanites had to walk or
drive in order to get in at one of those
historic gates were not too great a
tax to pay to history anti archeology.
Hut it was deemed too great, and the
wall is broken, not by a new gate, but
by a mere cutting, which disfigures
as well as destroys.
The Scene Painter’s Retort.
The late Theodore Thomas was re
hearsing the Chicago orchestra on the
stage of the Auditorium theater. He
was disturbed by the whistling of Al
bert Rurridge, the well-known scene
painter, who was at work In the loft
above the stage. A few minutes later
Mr. Thomas' librarian appeared on the
“bridge” where Mr. Burridge. merrily
whistling, was at work. “Mr. Thom
as' compliments,-' said the librarian,
“and he requests me to state that if i
Mr. Burridge wishes to whistle he will ,
be glad to discontinue his rehearsal.” j
To which Mr. Burridge replied, i
suavely: “Mr. Burridge’s compli- j
ments to Mr. Thomas; and please in
form Mr. Thomas that, if Mr. Burridge
cannot whistle with the orchestra, he
won t whistle at all.”—The Argonaut.
'
, of improper explosives, as well as the 1
improper use of suitable explosives,
' results annually in the waste of great
amounts of coal. The use of too high
charges in blasting, or the use of un
necessarily violent explosives, shatters
much good coal, converting fuel into
dust which may itself be explosive
and become productive of much fur
ther damage. Such explosions often
loosen the rcof of a coal mine, which
may fall later to be wasted, or produc
tive of fatal accidents.
In addition to the actual experiments
in testing explosives, important experi
ments are being made in rescue work.
One part of the station has been fitted
up as a miniature coal mine. This is a
large glass-encased, air-tight room which
contains difficult passages such as are
found in coal mines. there are also
various obstructions similar to what
would he found in a mine after it had
been wrecked by an explosion; also dum
mies weighing 150 to 200 pounds, rep
resenting asphyxiated miners. This room
is filled with deadly gas and a rescue
corps of men who arc being trained in
the work enter daily, clad in helmets
which supply them with oxygen while
they work. The men remain in this
chamber for two hours, removing ob
structions. picking up the dummies, plac
ing them on stretchers and carrying
them away. There is also in the room
a machine which records the amount oi
work a man may be expected to do while
wearing one of these helmets. One-halt
of the large building in which this rescue
room is located is used as an auditorium
and several hun
dred miners and
TIhree Mew Besncps
The walking costume illustrated is both useful and smart. The skirt Is
Quite plain, and is cut a comfortable walking length. A great advantage in
the coat is that it is high in tne neck, anti fastens over at the left side in a
point; nine small buttons put closely together form the fastening. The en
tire coat is tight-fitting, a fur necklet adds a finish. Hat of soft felt, trimmed
with velvet and quills. Materials required: S yards cloth 48 inches wide, 19
buttons, 5 yards coat lining.
The simple but effective blouse Is composed of lace and spotted net. For
the yoke and collar, the net Is tucked horizontally, and is edged with lace
meda’llons, which are also taken in rows down the front of blous1-: then net
s finely tucked In between them. Three frills of lace form the sleeves. Ma
terials required; 1% yard net 42 Inches wide, 2 yards of medallions, G yards
of lace for sleeves.
The next shows a useful Indoor-dress that would look well msde up in
’■oval blue cashmere: the skirt is tight-fitting round the hips, and just full
enough at the foot to hang gracefully. A row of passementerie torms the
trimming. The over-bodice is slit up at each side of back and front, also on
the sleeve; passementerie completely edges it and covered buttons acid to
the trimming. Guipure lace forms the yoke and tight sleeves of under-slips.
Materials required: 7 yards cashmere 46 inches wide, 2Vz yards lace, 2 dozen
buttons, 9 yards passementerie.
IDEA FOR SHORT CURTAINS.
Decorative Scheme That Is Proving
Helpful to a Degree.
There is a fashion in decoration that
should be helpful to the woman who
must St short curtains to new win
dows.
This is the idea of having deep dec
orative borders on fabrics of solid
color.
Separate borders can be bought at
the large shops with surprising ease
by the woman who knows how to root
out the artistic thing. They do not
come for curtains as a rule, but they
serve admirably.
The foundation color is usually deep
tinted, although some good patterns
can be got with the foundation in
natural crash tones.
The color note is intended, of
course, to harmonize with the room in
which it is placed.
The border may be fastened on by
a double row *of stitching close to
gether, pver which are b*g stitches
with coarse thread of the foundation
color, sewed as Bagdad strips are
sewed.
Some people omit the stitching,
using only this coarse sewing.
Turban Notes.
The round-crowned turban in straw
is a distinct favorite for early spring.
Satin trimming shirred over cords is
a favored decoration on the newest
turban.
The all-flower model lends itself
most successfully to the large turban
shape.
A flat-crowned turban in rough
black straw of unusual height is bound
round with a narrow black velvet,
ending in one huge rosette.
The narrow stiff quill—In pairs—di
vides honors with the tight bunch of
small roses as a middle front decora
tion for the straw turban.
Small turbans fitting very low on
the head are draped with black lace
veils.
Cross Bar Muslins Again in Favor.
There is considerable rejoicing that
the dainty cross bar muslins are being
used more and more for milady’s lin
gerie.
The heavy thread in the weave
lengthens the life of the garments
wonderfully.
Garments made of this outwear
t-ose made of nainsook or other plain
sheer material.
Colored Embroidery on Towels.
There is a strong revival of colored
embroidery on linen toweling. Dull
blue, soft browns, pink and faded
green initials are now seen on hand
some towels. These letters are worked
in the middle of the end of the towel
and can easily be done at home by
even the beginner in embroidery
SEPARATE TUNIC A BLESSING.
Can Be Used to Advantage In Altering
Old-Fashioned Frocks.
Clever women have found out that
a separate tunic made of another ma
terial than the gown and draped over
it is an excellent method of altering
an old-fashioned frock.
There are some skirts that are too
short to be lifted up even for two
inches on the bodice to give the em
pire effect, and they are too much out
of style to wear as they are.
If the skirt and bodice are put to
gether by their linings and two or
three folds of self-colored material
neatly draped around the waist line in
order to make it invisible the founda
tion work is finished.
The tunic may be made of net,
chiffon cloth, bands of net and em
broidered satin or all-over lace edged
with fur or gold galloons.
This is cut with a seam down the
middle of the back and neatly draped
three Inches above the waist line,
headed with folds of the material or
a piece of the trimming used eles
where. t
This tunic drops from bust to knees
and gives the exact line that it needs
this winter on smart frocks.
NEW HEAD DRESSING.
Simple Greek Coiffure of Paste, Mount
ed on Silver.
Embroidery in General.
Some very exquisite centerpieces
are being made in a combination of
stitches. The use of coronation braid
intermingled with solid embroidery
and French knots is rich in effect. One
edge shows a row of heavy stem stitch
just inside of the buttonholed finish,
andother buttonholed edge is finished
in long uneven scallops with a second
row exactly like it a half inch fur
ther in. ^
White Suede Gloves.
White suede is the favorite evening
glove.
LITTLE ESSAY ON THE BRAIN.
Fruitful Theme Wittily Handled by
Thomas L. Masson.
Thomas L. Masson, in Llppincott’s
Magazine, thus wittily discourses upon
a fruitful theme:
“Brains are common to all parts of
the country, and traces of them have
been discovered in summer at Lenox,
Bar Harbor and Newport.
“They are originally used to obtain j
money, but when money is obtained
by them it usually takes their place.
“The quality of brains varies in dif
ferent localities. Mixed with ginger,
they become very valuable. With a
spine, they arb a necessity in every
household.
“At one time they influenced litera
ture, but the discovery was made that
literature could do without them.
Since then they have been almost ex
clusively devoted to advertising.
"Brains are employed in various en
terprises. They make bridges, rail
roans and other systems of transporta
tion. '■ They also create capital, and are
used extensively in evading the Jaw.
They mix with water and gasoline, but
are absorbed by alcohol.
“Brains are bought and sold in the
open market. They may be traded in
on the exchange in Washington and
Albany or in other political centers.
The best quality, however, are not
traded it. Indeed, oftentimes they are
not even heard of until long after they
have passed away.”
Marking One’s Belongings.
The fad of the day is to have all of
one's belongings marked. The fastidi
ous housekeeper translates this to
mean that everything, from wash
cloths to umbrellas, one young bride
even going so far as to have lurr in
itials neatly worked upon her dish
towels. It is nice to have a special
monogram designed for one if pos
sible, which may be adapted to all the
different articles and styles of mark
ing required. It can be used in dif
ferent sizes, carried out in hand em
broidery in white mercerized cotton,
and used at pleasure for table r.nd
household linen, lingerie, parasols,
gloves. Stockings, table covers and
bureau scarfs.
“THE MARRYING SQUIRE."
luctlce George E. Law Has Broken All
Records.
George E. Law, Justice of the Peace,
13% Franklin St., Brazil, Ind., is
known far and wide
as the “Marrying
Squire,” from the
fact that he has mar
ried more couples
than any other offi
cial in Indiana. Judge
Law wrote a letter
in 1900, recommend
ing Doan’s Kidney
Pills, which ho said had made a bad
back well, enabled him to sleep bet
ter nights and feel more fit for work.
The treatment also cleared up the
urine. On January 5, 1909, Judge Law
confirmed his previous testimony. “I
have recommended this remedy to
many people since I first used it,”
said he.
Sold by all dealers. 50 cents a box.
Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
Teacher of Physiology.
“Now we will dissect this odd little
animal. But first, Jimmy Phalig, will
you tell me what we have here?”
Jimmy—“Faith, and it’s called a bat,
sir.” Teacher—“Very well. Now,
how many kinds of bats are there?”
Jimmy—"There are foive. The black
bat, the red bat, the acrobat, the base
ball bat and the brickbat, sir.”
How’s This?
We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward for &nj
:aae of ( atarrh that cannot be cured by Halil
Catarrh Cure.
F. J. CHENEY «fe CO.. Toledo. O.
We. the undersigned, have known ¥. J. Cheney
for the last 15 years, and believe him perfectly hon
orable in all business transactions and financially
able to carry out any obligations made by his iirra.
Walking. Kin nan «£ Marvin.
W holesale Drueiristh. Toledo. ().
Hall's Catarrh Cure is taken internally, acting
directly upon the blood arri mucous surfaces of thu
system. Testimonials ser.t free. Price 75 centj pel
bottip. Sold by all Drueeti’s.
Take Hall's Family Pills for constipation.
If thou speakest what thou wilt,
thou shalt hear what thou v.oulds#
not.—Bias.
OWES
HER
LIFE TO
Lydia E. Pinkham’s
Vegetable Compound
Vienna, W. Ya. — “I feel that I owo
the last ten years of my life to Lydia
E. Pmkham s Vege
table Compound.
Eleven years ago I
was a walking
shadow. I had been
under the doctor’s
care but gotno relief,
^ly husband per
suaded me to try
Lydia E Pinkham’s
Vegetable Com
Eound and it worked
ke a charm. It re
lieved all my pains
and misery. I advise all suffering
women to take Lydia E. Pinkham’s
Vegetable Compound.”—Mes. Ejema
Wheaton, Vienna, W. Va.
Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com
Eound, made from native roots and
erbs, contains no narcotics or harm
ful drugs, and to-day holds the record
for the largest number of actual cures
of female diseases of any similar medi
cine in the country, and thousands of
voluntary testimonials are on tile in
the Pinkh'am laboratory at Lynn,
Mass., from women who have been
cured from almost every form of
female complaints, inflammation, ul
ceration,displacements, tibroid tumors,
irregularities, periodic pains, backache,
indigestion and nervous prostration.
Every such suffering woman owes it to
herself to give Lydia E. Pinkham’s
Vegetable Compound a trial.
If you would like special advice
about your case write a confiden
tial letter to 3Irs. Pinkhani, at
Lynn, 3fass. Her advice is free,
and always helpful.
There’s Danger
Ahead
if you’ve been neglecting a cold.
Don’texperiment with your health.
Get a remedy that you will
cure—that remedy is
DR.D.JAYNE’S
EXPECTORANT
It’s safe. In the severest cases of
coughs, colds, bronchitis, croup, in
flammation of chest and lungs it is the
most effective remedy known. It does
its work quickly, removes the cause of
the disease
Sold everywhere in three size
bottles. $1.00. 50c, 25c.
A 25cm Bottle of j«
Kemps Balsam II
Contains
40 DOSES, j;
And each dose is more effective ! *
than four times the same quart- , [
tity of any other cough remedy, < »
however well advertised and how- J J
ever strongly recommended that < I
remedy may be <,
Remember always that Kemp’s * *
Balsam is the < ►
Best Cough Cure. 51
It has saved thousands from con- ' '
sumption. , >
It has saved thousands of lives. *'
At all druggists’, 25c., 50c. and $L < >
_^on]t ,,cccpt anything else. J |
WISCONSIN occno'
They never fail. hII«V
Let us send you our catalcg. VklaliU
*• ,s You nil about vegetable
farm and Held seeds, that never disappoint vo»
when harvest time comes. 1 1 >oU
Wisconsin Seed Growers’ Ass’n, LaCrosse. Wis.
TEXAS STATE LAND
SU-iSS! o^Vun^tS^S
in<l 40rearstime on balance; tbrco per rent inS£
•st; only U2.00 cash for ltf) acres at fci.oo per acre
1 reate si opportunity; Rood aRricultural land: lend
° S hf *nBtrncttonsand New stale U»w.
• J- Hnyder, school Land Locator, 19ft ft h Ht.
tustln. lex. Reference. Austin National tank.”1"’