Originally published in the Pacific Coast Bulletin, May 1, 1930
The College of Mines Building on the University of Washington campus. See article by Professor Joseph Daniels.
Report of fatal accidents
Pacific Coast Coal Company—Carbonado Mine
April 12, 1930
Sylvester Barker, John L. Bates, John E. Flood, Ray Glackin, Wm. Kennedy, R.C. Legge, Wm. E. McMurphy, L.B. O’Neal, John O’Leary, Alfred Parkin, Victor Pete, Thos. J. Shackley, David J. Hughes, Wm. Matson, Martin Sheridan, Ed Wali, and Phillip Fleis were killed by an explosion of coal dust or gas or both combined, occurring at 5:30 p.m., on date already noted in the Douty seam of above mine.
This is practically a new operation recently reached by a tunnel extending from the underlaying Morgan and No. 4 seams and the gangways driven about 350 feet on either side from the rock tunnel. The counter gangway parallels the main gangway and is located up the pitch about 50 feet and acts as the return air course, the main gangway being the intake and the air current is split at the north and south fork ventilating each side separately.
There are five chutes driven on each side. All five on the north side were holed through to the counter, while on the south side the No. 5 chute was being holed and within fifteen feet of tapping the counter. Two shifts, one in the morning followed by one in the afternoon, comprised of a foreman, two miners in each chute, two in each gangway, two in each counter gangway, a loader and motorman, constituted the working force of the section, all of whom perished leaving no positive clue as to the origin and actual cause of the tragedy, and all conclusions must of necessity be deductions from the effect left in the ruins and path of the destructive blast.
Assisted in our investigation by the most eminent coal mining men of the state, after due deliberations we were brought to the conclusion that the origin of the explosion was in No. 5 chute of the south gangway and the cause as firing two coal shots in the face of that chute. Evidence has conclusively established the fact that no shots were fired except in that chute in this section of the mine at the time of the catastrophe. Furthermore, the men’s bodies found after the explosion in the vicinity of No. 5 chute were all burned severely, while those in the pitch and on the north side of the mine did not show but little if any signs of scorching and undoubtedly were killed by “after damp” and the concussion of the blast.
The practice in this seam is to mine by pick work to the depth of six feet or more the entire width of the chute, eight feet, and no shooting is permitted in the undercut. The under-cutting is done in the middle of the seam and the top is permitted to be blasted down, or the bottom shot up if need be.
The morning shift had under-cut about eight feet but had not drilled the top holes for the reason that the air lines had broken down during the afternoon therefore unabling them to do so. When the afternoon shift came to work, the pipe lines had been repaired and drilling could be undertaken, so about the first thing to be done was to put in the shot holes. Apparently two rib holes, each about six feet deep were drilled—there was no evidence of a center hole which is sometimes necessary on account of the thickness and hardness of the top coal in places.
Permissible powder and electric detonators are used in this section and the practice is for the foreman, fireboss, or shot lighter to examine for gas before the holes are charged or tamped, and if no gas is detected, the miners are allowed to charge the hole or holes, as the case may be, with explosives, and again the official present examines the place for gas, and if no gas is found, proceeds to connect the electric blasting lines and personally throws in the firing switch.
The firing switch was located a little distance inside of No. 3 chute and Hughes evidently following this practice threw in the switch, as his body with five more of the miners was laying at the immediate locality of the firing switch. Delay electric detonators were used, and when Hughes, foreman in charge, threw in the switch the interval between the explosions was several seconds, and as the charge of powder in the first hole going off was greatly in excess of what was required, pulverized the coal into dust, charging the atmosphere with an element capable of the havoc and destruction wrought even had there been no gas present.
It is not conceivable that Hughes failed to examine for gas before either charging or firing the holes as all testimony of the witnesses examined declared him to be a most thoroughly careful foreman particularly in the matter of gas and the handling of explosives.
After the bodies of the unfortunate victims had been removed from the mine, a party consisting of the Mine Safety Committee, mine officials, representative of the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and state mine inspectors entered the mine and made a thorough examination of the entire section effected. After returning to the surface a large number of witnesses, who had any knowledge of conditions and practices followed in the operation of the mine, were called to testify.
Again on the Tuesday following, a number of the most prominent mining men in the state and the chief mine inspector of British Columbia made a minute inspection of the effected part of the mine, and after returning to the surface held a meeting in the mine office. Each was called on to express his personal opinion as to the origin and cause of the explosion, and to give suggestions as to preventative measures that might be taken to avoid a recurrence of such tragedies in our mines.
Each responded cheerfully and the consensus of opinion was that the explosion originated in No. 5 chute on the south side and was caused by too heavy a charge of powder in the first hole going off and creating a dusty atmosphere, while possibly a small quantity of gas liberated by the first shot added the element necessary to the propagation of combined gas and coal dust explosion, when the second shot went off, capable of the havoc wrought in the destruction of life and property in its path.
Suggestions were offered as means of minimizing such occurrences by rock dusting, and the elimination of blasting, except one shot at a time, and the working place examined for gas after each blast before igniting the second charge. All such constructive suggestions were welcomed by the officials of the company, and the meeting was informed that instructions had already been given in the matter of blasting conforming with the suggestions offered, and that rock dusting had been under consideration by the officials of the company for some time in their New Black Diamond Mine, and plans formulated for carrying water lines up each chute in the Douty seam of the Carbonado Mine for the purpose of floating the coal down each chute for the reason that the seam is not steep enough to carry the coal down on sheet iron, and if not sufficient moisture was thus dissipated in the working to render the dust inert, the Douty seam would also be rock dusted.
The lesson—eternal vigilance.
Department of Labor and Industries
Division of Mining Safety,
Wm. R. Reese, Chief Mine Inspector.
Geo. T. Wake, Deputy Mine Inspector.
In memoriam
Just a short month ago the Bulletin carried news of only the happiest kind of the working family and of the activities in which it was so contentedly engaged. Today, representing every part of that family, it comes out borne down under the greatest sorrow the family has ever known.
Others of our fellow workmen have from time to time answered the call of the industry’s hazards, but the loss at Carbonado on the 12th of April was the worst ever experienced in the nearly a third of a century during which the writer has been a part of the family. I personally knew nearly all these boys, several intimately, and with one I had grown up from boyhood in the company’s service. These buddies of ours are gone, taken in some way while bravely doing their bit in the part of life’s great game that we of the mining industry are called upon to play.
Nearly every such experience brings its very costly lesson, and this is probably no exception. It is nearly always easier to look back at what might have been done than to know ahead of time what can best be done. It can never be known where the omission may have been, if there was one, but no one can know how effective additional safeguards may be. But the workmen know that whatever can be done will be.
The hearts of the company’s officers go out to the families of the boys who are gone, to their wives and the kiddies. Everything possible to do for them was the problem of the highest officers first concern. And the officers thank sincerely the friends and neighbors who did and are doing so much for those dear ones at a time when comfort from such closer sources has meant so much more than could anything the officers themselves might personally do.
Thanks too to the workmen and supervisors who lost no time, and gave no thought to their own danger, in going in to do whatever could be done for the boys they knew had been caught.
Mr. Barnum and Mr. Ward desire to join with me in this message of sympathy to the families so suddenly bereaved; and of thanks and appreciation to all the good men and women who so promptly and tenderly did everything possible, not only for those who met their death, but their widows, children, and loved ones.
— N.D. Moore.
Appreciation
To State Mine Inspector Wm. Reese, Deputy Inspector Jud Wake, and to Engineer John Shoning, of the Bureau of Mines, the company expresses its deepest appreciation for the assistance they gave at Carbonado, and for their ever valuable counsel in the efforts to bring about conditions in the industry under which such fearful happenings may be made less likely to occur.
W.A. Wilson.
N.D. Moore.
No births and no marriages in Black Diamond since last edition of the Bulletin.
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Our baseball team has entered the Inter-City League comprising six Seattle teams, Bremerton, and Black Diamond. The 1930 season opened Sunday, April 20th, with Black Diamond at home, playing the Pacific Marine Supply Company. Wonderful weather, a good crowd of fans, and a dandy ball game started the season off in great style—and lest we forget to mention it, our boys won by a score of 10 to 2.
However, this score does not reflect the play, as an error on the part of one of the visitors proved costly—but we believe we have a good ball team and one that will give our fans plenty of action and results. Complete schedule of games should be ready for printing next issue.
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Our soccer game, March 29th, with the Seattle Vikings for the league championship, ended in a tie, one all, which calls for a replay. The league, due to scarcity of good fields, has decided to play a double header with the Community Baseball league at the Civic Auditorium field April 27th, time to be announced later.
If Diamond wins this game, and our players say they will, she will carry off all the honors this year by virtue of wins over the Electro-Dentists in Pacific Coast Cup finals and Longview in Washington State Cup finals.
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Jack McCarthy and family sporting a new Essex coach were noticed galivanting around Black Diamond last Sunday and called on the Ikey Bensons. Benson says just for old times sake, he took Jack for a cleaning in a pool tournament.
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Believe it or not, we have an employee in our organization who can read printing upside down as easy as you and I read it right side up.
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The Athletic Association is giving another baseball dance in Masonic Hall Saturday, May 3rd. All proceeds go to baseball, so fellows, come out and help our team. We need it now.
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The Ladies of the Catholic Church are giving a card party at the Parish House, Friday, April 25th.
Card of thanks
We wish, through the Bulletin, to extend our sincere thanks to our friends for their kindness, expression of sympathy, and the beautiful floral offerings, during the recent bereavement of our beloved wife and mother.
Mr. Charlie Johnson and family.
Black Diamond High School notes
The high school boys’ and girls’ Glee Club will give the operetta, “The Sunbonnet Girl,” in the high school auditorium on May 9th at 8:00 o’clock.
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Vashon came, saw, and was conquered April 4, when their baseball squad defied all rain and storms thinking perhaps that they made better mud hens than the local boys. We will concede that point, but the ball game ended 9 to 7, which proved that we were the better baseball players.
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Jack Mills, midget second sacker, leads the batting list on the high school squad with an average of .364, which is clipping the old agate in any league. Closely behind him is Sternig who is pounding the horsehide for an average of .345, and Windbeckler who is pressing the leaders with an average of .333.
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Black Diamond tasted the bitter pill of defeat April 11th. Fife being the doctor, the score was 14 to 13.
On March 29, 1930, the local typewriting contest was held in Auburn.
Those representing Black Diamond High School were Madge Smith, Helen Wesely of the first-year class, and Elizabeth Pennachi, Bramo Poalucci from the second-year class.
The first year team took third place in team average.
The county contest was held in Renton on April 5th. There the first team took fifth place in team average.
The state contest is to be held at the University of Washington in Seattle on May 3rd. This contest is open to all that are interested.
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A very pleasing birthday surprise was given to the Misses Elizabeth Williams, Helen Hathaway, and Mary Tratnic on April 23rd at 5:30 p.m. at the high school home economic club rooms.
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On May 3rd, the junior class of the Black Diamond High School invites you to their Junior Prom, which is to be given at the Masonic Hall. It will be the first prom to be given by the Black Diamond High School and we are aiming to make it a big success. Come and have a good time.
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Inter-City Baseball League Season, 1930, First half, South Division.
April 20th—Marine Supply vs. Black Diamond at Black Diamond.
April 27th—Black Diamond vs. Rosaia Bros. at South Park, Seattle.
May 4th—Bremerton vs. Black Diamond at Black Diamond.
May 11th—Black Diamond vs. Italian Society at Columbia Playfield, Seattle.
May 18th—Seattle Eagles vs. Black Diamond at Black Diamond.
May 25th—Black Diamond vs. Royal Giants at Garfield Playfield, Seattle.
June 1st—Y.M.H.A. vs. Black Diamond at Black Diamond.
View Cove ripples
We haven’t any lodges to hold meetings or card parties; nor any halls in which to dance or play pool; and we can’t give any vital statistics. But despite these ever-ready news items, we’ll do the best we can. Wm. Wrigley Jr. advertises Catalina, saying: “In All the World No Place Like This,” but Wm. Wrigley never saw View Cove.
Anyway, we’ll wager there’s more limerock on our island than there is gold on his and limerock is what we’re here for. Wrigley’s boat is always loaded to capacity with visitors to the island, but so is the rockboat. In fact, View Cove has already attracted the attention of several people this season.
The Diamond Cement made her first voyage of the 1930 season, March 31st. Mr. Collett, traveling auditor, was aboard. He remained a week auditing books, checking supplies, and giving us the once over in general.
Wm. H. Green, manager of the cement project; Ray Smith, chief engineer; Fred Biaco, assistant chief engineer, and Mr. Kuntz, representative for the E.I. DuPont DeNemours & Company, made a three-day visit in early April. Plans were discussed for the facilitation of work at the quarry. Fortunately, weather conditions made the work of the surveyors easier than heretofore when they have done much of their work in one of our popular rains. No longer can Fred Bianco complain about the weather, for he witnessed three days of almost all sunshine.
The “Call of the Wild” lured other visitors to the cove during the Easter vacation. They were: Stanbery Foster of the Coal Sales Department, P.C.C.Co.; John Pollard, son of James Pollard, manager Seattle Gas Company; Joseph Abel, son of Harry Abel of Abel Inc., Diamond Cement dealers, Seattle; Howard Rolin, Seattle; Wm. Cullen Bryant, Seattle. The boys spent an enjoyable day hunting, hiking to Tlevak Straits, fishing, and kodaking.
Members of the U.S. Bureau of Biological Research visited View Cove enroute to Manhattan Lake where they set wolf traps. Some of the party having been there before, they were escorted by Doc. There is a bounty on wolves in S.E. Alaska and the largest wolves in this section are reported to be on Dall Island.
Fishing season is here, and so are the fish, but where, oh where are the fishermen? Well, most of them are in the quarry making little rocks out of big ones. However, Jack Bryant, Claud Winland, and Arthur Dilts brought home about twenty black cod and red snappers the other night, after being out about an hour. They were beauties, too, and the boys said they were “gondubalous” when eaten.
April 29th marked a great day in the history of View Cove, it being the official voting place for all citizens living on the island, taking in Rose Inlet, Horn Cove, and View Cove. The election concerned the Territorial Primaries. How about a candidate from View Cove next year?
C.W. Butler, H.W. McKechnie, and D.C. McDonald were appointed Judges of Election. Oh yes, we now have a Justice of the Peace, so who knows what may happen with Hydaberg only two hours away, if we had a boat. But to make a long story short, Wm. McCullough made a trip to Juneau recently, where he was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, in addition to his present post as U.S. Marshall.
May we take this opportunity to express our sincere sympathy to the bereaved mothers and children of those men who recently lost their lives in the Carbonado Mine. We were their fellow workers in the great Army of Industry and we mourn their loss to their families and their community.
The safety campaign for June 1930, has been endorsed at the quarry. The spirit of the campaign has already set a budding author to writing the following doggerel. He believes rhyme more attractive than reason. We pass it on:
Here lies the body of Thomas Sable,
He took hold of the Shovel Cable;
The cable was wet (and worn no doubt)
That is the reason poor Tommy passed out.
The rails were wet; the speed was high;
A h— of a way for a man to die.
X marks the spot where Jimmy McSlusher
Fell into the limerock crusher;
A safety belt was hanging high,
A darn good reason for Jimmy to die.
An eye for beauty has Johnny Toggles—
He was drilling steel without his goggles.
Let’s go fishin’
“While soft as shadows, round its glossy rims,
The patient anglers move from east to west,
Patient at morn, at evening patient still—
Peace, if not fish, was theirs, and peace is best.”
R. LeGallienne.
Read that over two or three times and you’re going to do two things. First, you’re going fishing at the first opportunity and second, you’re going to relax immediately. Man alive, just close your eyes and get it all. The humming gurgle of the stream as it breaks into riffles. The clean, sweet breeze, the gentle rustle of leaves, the cheery chirp of birds, the whirr of the reel as the line pays out to drop in a still dark pool or tickle the crest of a riffle. And then the strike. Boy it’s a grand and glorious feeling. Nerve Tonic a la Mother Nature and served right out in the open.
It would be impossible to think of fishing without thinking of Izaak Walton. He was truly the “Dean of Angling.” Here was a man who fished all day and sat down in the cool of the evening and wrote about it, day after day, year after year. Absolutely a “Nut” on the subject.
Late in the sixteenth century he wrote his masterpiece, The Compleat Angler, and today, in this twentieth century, it remains a joy and comfort to every human who loves gentle humor and the charm of outdoor life. In this particular book he makes the following broad statement: “We may say of angling as Dr. Boteler said of strawberries: Doubtless God could have made a better berry but, doubtless God never did; and so, if I might be judge, God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling.”
In other words, it’s the “berries.” And two dollars to a doughnut there are millions living today willing to endorse Izaak Walton’s claim.
Angling goes back many, many centuries. We ran across a definition of “The Perfect Angler” by an old Greek poet, written many centuries ago. This is how he describes the Perfect Angler. “A well-made man, active, patient, vigilant, enterprising, courageous and FULL OF EXPEDIENTS. You will note he makes no mention of truthfulness. But regardless of that fact it was a swell definition until the Greek got to the tail end of his description. Here he spilled the beans. FULL OF EXPEDIENTS. Now, according to authorities an “expedient” is simply “that which aids as a means to an end.” And in 1930 it sells from $2.00 to $10.00 per fifth. But if a Greek poet claims that a man should be full of “Expedients” to be a Perfect Angler then what can mortal man do.
Fishermen are great kidders. Also, they’re highly inconsistent. They take great delight in kidding he who rises at daybreak for the sole purpose of knocking a gutta percha ball all over several sections with a couple of clubs. Seem to feel that a man must be a trifle “balmy” to get a kick out of that sort of thing. Not dangerous, you understand, but just a little “Nutty.”
And these same kidders will leap out of bed with the first soft rays of the sun and whip a stream until the shadows lower. What for? About four-bits of fish. If they’re lucky. Is that consistent we ask? Certainly not. But these fellows are getting something else out of this. Any sport which takes man away from the grind of his every day existence, keeps him out in the open in touch with the soothing charms of outdoor life, fills his lungs with sweet pure air, loosens his taut nerves, gives a man something far more of value than a low score or a few fish.
There should be a real bond of fellowship between the Golfer and the Angler. Both branches of sport have produced an over-quota of “traditional liars.” The lowest Golf scores need never be made with a Club. “The pen is mightier than the Club.” The finest catches are frequently garnered at the Public Market. A tired Angler approaches a Fish Merchant with the request that the merchant toss him about six nice trout. The Merchant tosses and the Angler catches. There you are. Now, without a single pang of conscience, he can tell the wife and friends he actually caught them. That’s what the novice does. The old timer just buys ’em and lies.
And while we’re on this subject we might mention the conversation of a couple of fellows on the Maple Valley road recently. Hailing a passing car the driver leaned out and yelled, “Stranger, where might the town of Black Diamond lie?” And the answer was shot back, “My friend, the town of Black Diamond might lie in any direction but just at the present time it’s about the size of fish.”
And so, we come by degrees to the Pacific Northwest, or to be more specific, to the angling and advantages that Dame Nature has laid at our own threshold. Very few parts of the country can boost of better opportunities. Lakes? Yes, lakes galore, Lake Twelve, Lake Fourteen, Lake Sawyer, Lake Wilderness, Lake Lucerne, and dozens of others. Rivers? Sure. White River, Green River, and Cedar River. Small streams? You bet. Covington Creek and Newaukum Creek. Nature surely has done everything but put a pole in their hands. The fish are simply loafing around waiting for you to come out.
Now, let’s get personal. We make the assertion that one George “Buller” Upton was the uncrowned “Ace of Angling” in the Diamond district up to the time of his death some few years ago. It was not necessary for Buller to prove his title, he admitted it. He claimed to have acquired the nickname “Buller” as a badge of honor while serving in the British Army under General Buller. Others claim he earned the title describing a few of his catches. Figure it out for yourself.
Not knowing his reputation as an Angler, the writer went fishing with him one day and took him on for a side bet of two bits per fish. When we came off stream in the cool of the evening, we sat down on the bank to settle. I was proud of my catch. Had seven nice legal-sized trout. Buller opened his basket and pulled out fourteen, three legal size and eleven bait size. Without the semblance of a blush he remarked, “Son, this is just going to cost you $2.75.”
At about this stage in the proceedings a game warden appeared around the bend in the stream and headed in our direction. I leaned over and whispered to Buller, “Maybe you’re right old timer but we’re going to call in a little outside arbitration. If that game warden says you’ve got fourteen fish I owe you $2.75, and if he says you’ve got three fish you owe me one dollar.” Buller gave a startled glance upstream, hurriedly arose and sauntered into the thicket. He returned a few minutes later with three fish and $1.00.
He’s gone now and despite his old fish stories all of us loved the old fellow. The credit side of his ledger won’t hurt him in the next world.
With the passing of George Upton the crown now rests on the head of Dave Schwartz. Dave has promised more fish dinners and delivered fewer than any man in the county. He is also a greater hunter. We were going to eat elk meat a few years ago. He showed us a picture of the horns. Even Buller in his balmiest days never described prettier catches and displayed fewer fish. He now makes his headquarters at Lake Fourteen.
John Banchero owns a portion of this lake and Dave is probably fishing on shares. And we’re betting even money that the Banchero family are still on a meat diet. The next time Dave docks in front of John’s place with a boat load of fish just help yourself. He promised them to us but we can’t seem to get ‘em.
Carbonado has its anglers and its Carbon River. Mike Simsick, the powderman, is the ace in that camp. Perhaps we shouldn’t have mentioned powder in connection with his fishing. There really is no connection. Mike could scarcely wait for the season to open in Pierce County. Some intimate he didn’t. But at any rate he can now bring in his catch before dark.
In fishing as in golf it’s the rank amateur who has the real sport. He hasn’t a reputation to maintain. The amateur angler walks right up the middle of the street proudly displaying his two trout. He’s downright pleased with his luck. The expert and the perfect angler slink up an alley with his two, hides them in the coal shed, dresses and drops over to the hotel to discuss them, adding a little here and there as to size and number. And his listeners, either quietly disgusted or openly insulting, slowly move away.
No sir, it’s not the low score and the high catch that matters. It’s what you get when you are out under God’s blue canopy tramping the shady woods and wading the cool stream. Go on out and make your own coffee, fry your own bacon, light the old pipe, breath deep, and relax. Then come back and tell us we’re full of prunes. But you won’t. Let’s go fishin’ fellows.
EDITOR.
The price and peace of contentment
In the coal business we must fight every inch of the way. There is very little business that comes to us by accident or merely because of the fact that we happen to be in the coal business.
Our peace of mind and our contentment in our jobs can only continue while business is sufficiently active to keep us on the job. It is therefore a common problem of every person on the payroll of the Pacific Coast Coal Company and all of our allied companies to help in keeping the coal moving. Please bear in mind in saying a good word for coal or cement that we are not alone helping the company but are likewise helping ourselves. The amount of coal and cement which we sell is certainly very much related to our pay envelopes both collectively and individually.
This question of cooperation is highly important. In order to survive and prosper we must all pull together heartily and enthusiastically.
I am taking the liberty of placing a quota for all of the employees in all of our departments. This quota consists of five new sales contacts per employee for the month of May. This contact is to consist of an initial sales talk with at least five prospects for coal or wood or cement. These prospects are to be people who are not now using our products.
When a contact is made and if the order is not secured and yet there seems a prospect for early business, prospect cards should be turned in to Mr. Scott in our Follow-up Department, or to any of our yards, and these prospects will be given immediate attention.
In order to stimulate interest, notice of suitable awards will be made for the individuals making the best showing in the way of turning in prospects. You are already aware of the awards which are made for new business which you develop.
You will all recall the old Biblical story of the father with many sons. He called them all each representing the number of brothers. He together and showed them two piles of sticks, then tied the one pile firmly together. He passed around the individual sticks to ask if they could be broken. The assembled brothers demonstrated very readily that the individual sticks could be easily broken. He then asked if any of them could break the bundle which was tied firmly together. Each in turn tried, but none of them had any effect; the bundle came through with every individual stick being entirely intact and as strong as before the attempt to break them.
It is just so with us in the Pacific Coast family. By sticking together and everyone lending his utmost assistance, the entire structure will be held together firm and strong. We can thus entrench ourselves in such a way that competition can have little effect upon us in our drive for prosperity. Let’s all get together and boost our own game, and BOOST, and BOOST, and BOOST!
— Thomas M. Reeder.
The College of Mines and the Northwest Experiment Station, United States Bureau of Mines
The editor has asked me to prepare a short article dealing with the College of Mines and the Northwest Experiment Station of the United States Bureau of Mines, for the readers of the Bulletin. Both these agencies are closely linked with the mining, ceramic, and metallurgical activity of the state and make contact at many points with the Pacific Coast Coal Company.
For example, Mr. N.D. Moore has been a member of the advisory board of the College of Mines for many years and has been of material assistance many times in helping the institution by advice and by active service outside. Through the courtesy of the company and its officials, students of the College of Mines make periodic visits to the mines, washeries, and briquet plant of the coal company, and to the cement plant, to see the details of practical operations and get acquainted with new developments in mining, washing, and utilization of fuels. Several graduates of the institution have been employed in the operations of the coal company.
Both the college and the Northwest Experiment Station have for several years been engaged in a cooperative investigation of problems dealing with the coal mining industry of the state. These investigations have dealt with safety; mining operations; the washing and preparation of coal; utilization in briquetting, coking, and low temperature carbonization.
The safety problem is probably familiar to every reader by first-hand contact. It may not be known, however, that Mr. D.C. Botting, then state inspector of coal mines, was responsible for establishing the mine safety and rescue station on the University of Washington campus on March 12, 1910. Out of this beginning has grown the continuous and intensive program carried on by men like Wolflin, Flynn, Corey, Chisholm, and Schoning.
The first statewide mine rescue and first aid contest in the state was held at Denny Field on the campus on July 22 and 23, 1914. Since these early days, the station has trained thousands of men. For example, since 1924 only 90 men, principally students, have been given instruction at the university, but 4,000 men have been trained at the mines in the state. During 1928 and 1929, Mr. John Schoning has trained 735 men in the employ of the Pacific Coast Coal Company.
The coal mining investigations were carried on in early days by Mr. George Watkin Evans, and more recently by Mr. S.H. Ash, both well known to many readers of the Bulletin. A report on these investigations was published several years ago by Mr. Evans as Bulletin No. 190 of the United States Bureau of Mines under the title “Coal Mining Problems in the State of Washington.” The contributions by Mr. Ash will appear in forthcoming publications of the bureau.
The actual work is conducted by the staffs of the two organizations together with a group of advanced students who hold fellowships or scholarships for a year or more. Dr. H.F. Yancey is now acting as superintendent of the experiment station. Research problems are investigated in the field and laboratory. The laboratory facilities in coal washing at the University of Washington are believed to be the finest and most complete in the country.
During the past few years, a large number of reports have been issued dealing with the results of the investigations. Field activities in the past have largely consisted of work at the washing plants in the state. Practically every washery of the Pacific Coast Coal Company has been studied at one time or another.
Just at present the major activities of the bureau are an investigation of the pneumatic or dry method of cleaning coal on concentrating tables, and a study of low temperature carbonization of coal, particularly with reference to Washington coals. Data is being assembled which may throw considerable light on these questions.
The Bureau of Mines will publish within the next year a report dealing with the coal fields, coal mining, and preparation of Washington coal. Within the past year an exhaustive survey of all the coal mines has been made and a complete series of samples of face and tipple coal numbering 300 have been taken and analyzed. The results of this sampling will be given, together with considerable other data of interest, such as the agglutinating value or coking strength, friability or tendency to break under handling, the yields of coke, gas, tar, and other byproducts from low temperature carbonization, and weathering characteristics of the different coals or their ability to withstand storage under normal weather conditions.
The Northwest Experiment Station has also been conducting investigations of non-metallic substances other than coal. The common clays and shales, kaolin, feldspar, and glass sands of Washington; refractories and insulating materials like magnesite and diatomaceous earth; ochres, and similar pigments; clay washing and purification, have all come in for attention under the direction of Professor Hewitt Wilson.
The College of Mines itself is also concerned with the training and preparation of students for work in the mineral industry. Five curricula or options are open in mining engineering, in geology and mining, in metallurgy, in coal mining engineering, and in ceramics. The enrollment for 1929–1930 was 44 students. Dean Milnor Roberts is head of the College of Mines, R.C. Corey is professor of metallurgy, Hewitt Wilson is professor of ceramics, and the writer is professor of mining engineering. Instruction in related fields of work such as geology, chemistry, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering is given by specialists in other departments of the university.
This briefly is the story of the activities of a state and national institution which aims not only to train men for the mineral industry, but also to undertake research and investigations leading to the better utilization of the raw materials of the state of Washington.
— Joseph Daniels.
Briquetville news
The old advice: Don’t believe all that you hear and only about half of what you see, still holds good. For instance, if someone should call you on the phone and advise that you were the father of twins, don’t make a pump handle out of the arm of the first fellow you meet, rush madly around corners on two wheels, buy three boxes of high priced cigars, or give away half your home brew without investigating. The report may not be correct, and cigars and home brew cost money. So do twins.
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George Bell and L.M. Harpst, former employees of the Briquet Plant, but now with Stone & Webster on the Wenatchee hydroelectric construction jobs, were visitors over the recent weekend. Mrs. Bell returned to Wenatchee with her husband, and that city will be their future home.
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John Burlin attended the recent Hansen-DeDioux wrestling match in Seattle.
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Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Howson are the proud parents of a baby boy born at Renton Hospital March 28th. Cliff insists that his son has just as good a chance to become President as Mr. Hoover had at the same age. We’re putting in a bid for ambassador to the Irish Free State right now.
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Ted Emery, press operator, made a business trip to Seattle Monday.
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B.F. Day, rural mail carrier on this route, has been laid up for the past ten days by illness. During his absence his place is being efficiently filled by his daughter. She is handling the mails with the dexterity of her dad.
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Sign on rear of Dick Ford’s flivver: “Go slow, man at work.”
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Mr. Charles Hitt, who for the past year or more has operated a service station at Briquetville, has closed out his business and has moved his family and household goods to Bellingham, where he will reside in the future.
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Mr. A.W. King, now employed at New Black Diamond, and who formerly worked as washery man here, was calling on friends in this vicinity during the past week.
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George Snyder is erecting several garages on his property on Lake Washington Boulevard. When completed, he proposes to rent them to workmen employed in this locality.
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J.W. Gorst, who recently returned to his old job of night foreman, and who has been operating a service station on the Enumclaw Highway, has put his place up for sale, and as soon as he can dispose of it, will move his family to Kennydale.
Mr. and Mrs. P.C. Barney, former Carbonado residents, now of Butte, Montana, wish to extend their sympathy to the bereaved families of the recent disaster.
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We wish through the Bulletin, to thank our many friends for their kindness and sympathy extended to us, and for the many beautiful floral offerings sent in loving memory of Thomas James Shackley.
Signed: Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Andrews and Family.
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We wish to thank all the kind friends who extended their sympathies and gave the many beautiful floral offerings to our beloved. E.J. Walters.
— Mrs. Minnie Walters.
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Mrs. E.N. Russell and son Donald of Los Angeles were visiting her sister-in-law, Mrs. Dan Bededeard for a few days before she left for Spokane to spend the summer with Mrs. C.A. Russell.
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We wish, through the Bulletin, to thank the Pacific Coast Coal Company, the Carbonado Community Club, and those who sent the many beautiful floral offerings, and our many friends for their kind expressions of sympathy extended us during our great sorrow.
— Mrs. Hughes and Son Ben.
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For all their beautiful floral offerings and kind expressions of sympathy during our recent bereavement, we wish to thank our many friends.
— Mrs. J.L. Bates and family.
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It is through the Bulletin we wish to thank our many friends for their kindness and sympathy shown us and for the beautiful floral offerings, during our recent sorrow.
— Mrs. Raymond Glackin and son Donald.
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It is my desire to thank the many friends for their kindness and expressions of sympathy and for the beautiful floral offerings during the recent bereavement of my beloved husband, Sylvester Barker.
— Mrs. Sylvester Barker.
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I wish to thank my friends for their expressions of sympathy and floral offerings at the funeral services of my beloved husband, Mike Sheridan.
— Mrs. Mike Sheridan.
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We wish to thank our many friends for the beautiful floral offerings and for their kind expressions of sympathy during our recent bereavement.
— Mrs. Victor Pete and daughter Paredine.
Carbonado school notes
Mr. A.C. Read of the Read Photo Service Company developed some good basketball photos of both boys’ and girls’ teams recently. He also had some fine photos of the gymnasium and the Fairfax bridge.
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March 22nd was celebrated in Carbonado by holding the long-advertised Junior Prom. The prom was all that advance notices declared it would be. A sports idea was used in providing the theme for decorations and the effect was novel and pleasing. About two hundred couples enjoyed the dancing, music for which was provided by Al and Rufe’s Orchestra of Auburn.
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A Senior Sunday School class party was held in the gym on Friday, March 21st. A variety of games were participated in and a number of the young peoples’ parents were present. Hannah Kaufman was given first prize for scoring the highest total points in the various games.
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Mr. E F. DeGrandpre of the P.C.C.Co. office, visited our school on Thursday, March 20th. Mr. DeGrandpre expressed his interest in our school plant and in the work being done here.
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Plans for High School Commencement are well underway at the present writing. The Senior Play is to be presented on Thursday, May 15th. Baccalaureate Service on Sunday, May 18th and Commencement Exercises on Thursday, May 22nd. Dr. C. Oscar Johnson, of Tacoma, has been secured as commencement speaker. The public is invited to these events.
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The annual school exhibit will be held on Wednesday, May 21st with an entertainment in the auditorium at 8 p.m.
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Baseball started off with a series of three home games with Orting High. Carbonado won all three of the series, by scores of 9–5, 10–9, and 5–4.
The league games have been played, Carbon dropping both of them, to Fife 10–4 and Meridian 4–2. The Meridian game was a battle from start to finish, with the final result in doubt until the last man was retired. One or two “breaks” coming our way would have given us the game.
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At the regular monthly meeting of the Parent-Teachers Association, the election of officers resulted in placing the following in office: Mrs. Kaufman, president; Mrs. Parkin, vice president; Miss Ruth Allen, secretary, and Mrs. James Smith, treasurer.
A vote of thanks was tendered Mrs. Martin, retiring president, for her able efforts in leading the activities of the organization during the past year. The Girl Scouts served refreshments at the close of the meeting.
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Under the auspices of the senior class, the Girls’ Glee Club of The College of Puget Sound appeared in a concert at the school auditorium, April 10th. The concert was enjoyed by a small audience.
The freshman class sponsored a party for the high school on Friday, April 11th. The party was held in the gym and was thoroughly enjoyed by the student body.
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Ethan Allen, a sophomore at the University of Washington, drove over from Seattle Friday afternoon, April 18th, to stop for his sister, Miss Ruth of our Commercial Department. Mr. Allen, as his name would indicate, is a direct lineal descendant of the Ethan Allen of Revolutionary fame.
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On Saturday, March 29th, several of our boys drove over to Kapowsin to participate in a triangular track meet with Kapowsin and Orting. The final score gave Kapowsin 63, Carbonado 49, and Orting finished a poor third.
The point winners for Carbon were Willie Snyder in the dashes, shot put, and broad jump. Stayer scored 18 points and was the high point man of the meet. Jimmie Smith, first in pole vault; George Smith, discus throw; Harold Lundberg, javelin throw; Don Birkett, half mile, shot put, and hundred-yard dash.
The boys will visit Kapowsin again on Saturday, April 26th, when the Pierce County Meet is held there. Carbon will give a good account of themselves at that time.
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We are extending our heartfelt sympathy to the families bereaved by the fateful catastrophe that befell our community on April 12th.
Father and son banquet held at Carbonado Hall at Carbonado April 3
On Thursday evening, April 3, the long-anticipated banquet of the Carbonado Dads and their sons was held at the auditorium. Promptly at 6:30 as directed, about 160 Dads and lads sat down to enjoy their annual feast around a prettily decorated table arranged in the form of a square.
While dinner was being served a group of pep songs were participated in by sons and their fathers, alternating or singing in unison, under Mr. Kaufman’s direction, with Mrs. C.F. Brady at the piano. These lively songs were interspersed between courses, and after dinner, with Mr. Kaufman acting as master of ceremonies, the following was presented:
Coronet solo: Melville Martin
Vocal solo: Esther Kaufman; accompanist—T.M. Price
Clarinet solo: Esther Kaufman; accompanist—Wally Gustman
Address: Fathers and their boys; Rev. Mackenzie
G.l. Sovereign, Pierce County Y.M.C.A., secretary of Puyallup; and Rev. Bendadom of Orting were also guests of the evening and participated in the program. A goodly number of dads from Fairfax were down to enjoy the memorable occasion.
Under such pleasant and profitable environment two hours and a half passed quickly and the guests were loth to say good night, when the curfew hours arrived. The ladies of the local P.T.A. came in for well-deserved praise for the excellent dinner and no less excellent service rendered.
One of the dads presents remarked as the gathering left the auditorium: “Boy, I could stand one of these banquets every week.” Various expressions of like appreciation were heard. All this augurs well for further gatherings of this nature.
Newcastle news
We read with a great deal of interest the article, “The Picking Table,” by the editor in the April issue of the Bulletin. Seldom do we hear the picking table man credited with such responsibility in the work of “winning coal,” but rather is he the lowly picking table man.
An operator in the Manual Section of the Selective Distribution Department, if he be interested in his work, must exercise keen judgment, quick decision, and action in order that the best product may be obtained.
What ho! ye doughty picking table man, let’s at it and show ‘em we are 100 per cent strong for good lump coal.
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Mr. Axel Anderson, Sr., an old timer of Newcastle, was laid to rest April 8, 1930. Mr. Anderson came to Newcastle in 1884 where he resided until three years ago, when he moved to Snohomish. He leaves a widow, two sons, Axel Jr., of Newcastle and Thury of Seattle, and two daughters, Mrs. George Niel of Snohomish and Mrs. Archie Johnson of Seattle. Axel Anderson, Jr., came to Newcastle in 1886 and the other children were born in Newcastle. The people of Newcastle extend their sympathy to Mrs. Anderson and her family.
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Mr. and Mrs. James Trotter have returned to their home in Chllliwack, B.C., after an extended visit with their son, Mr. Robert Trotter.
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Mr. William Whitfield of Vancouver, B.C., father of Mrs. Robert Trotter, has been a guest in Newcastle, but has now returned home.
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Mr. and Mrs. Lennard Cooper spent last week in Vancouver, B.C.
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Mrs. Rasmus Nelson, Mrs. Crookston, Mrs. Murdock, Mrs. Atherley, Mrs. Richardson, and Mrs. Sterling bring glowing accounts of the fine day spent at the King County P.T.A. convention at Highline High School on Saturday, April 12, 1930. The addresses were unusually inspiring and the pageant “Service” given during the closing hour was beautiful and uplifting. The trip through the Lake Burien School showed many new and interesting examples of handcraft and activity work and no one will deny that King County stands high in education in the schools of Washington. Come to our next P.T.A. meeting, Tuesday evening, May 13th and hear the report from our president, Mrs. Nelson.
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On Tuesday evening, May 20th, the P.T.A. Ladies will have a meeting in the Club Room. Save the date and come and hear the play given by some of our ladies and their friends. It will be a great evening and you must come and see all the fun, and also all the “Doin’s” that follow.
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Sympathy is extended to Mrs. Crookston and Mr. Wallace who received word of the death of their mother in California last week. Funeral services were held in Yakima.
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On Wednesday evening, April 2nd, a surprise shower was given to honor one of our most popular girls, Miss Gladys Watson, whose wedding occurred in Wenatchee on the following Friday. A very pleasant social evening was spent with Miss Gladys and her mother at the Ladies’ Club. Many of the ladies from Newcastle were present. Out of town guests were Miss Frances Fee and the Misses Thelma and Mona Kelley.
Mrs. Watson, the mother of the bride, assisted in opening the numerous parcels and all enjoyed seeing the many pretty and useful gifts. The ladies then served delicious refreshments and here’s where the young men in town appeared. They then gave a farewell dance for Miss Gladys and her girlfriends in the Club Hall. After the marriage ceremony in Wenatchee the groom, Mr. W. Russell, took his bride to their new home in Wenatchee. Newcastle extends best wishes for happiness to Miss Gladys, who is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Watson.
Misunderstood
Could we but draw back the curtains
That surround each other’s lives,
See the naked heart and spirit,
Know what spur the action gives,
Often we would find it better,
Purer, than we judged we should—
If we only understood.
Could we judge all deeds by motives,
See the good and bad within,
Often we would love the sinner,
All the while we loathe the sin,
Could we know the powers working
To overthrow integrity,
We should judge each other’s errors,
With more patient charity.
If, we knew the cares and trials,
Knew the effort, all in vain,
And the bitter disappointments—
Understood the loss and gain—
Would the grim external roughness
Seem, I wonder, just the same;
Should we help where now we hinder;
Should we pity where we blame?
Ah, we judge each other harshly,
Knowing not life’s hidden force,
Knowing not the fount of action
If less turbid at its source.
Seeing not among the evil
All the golden grains of good;
Oh, we’d love each other better,
If we only understood.
— Author Unknown
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