(2) purchases and supplies, (3) library and translation, (4) shops and power plant, and (5) care of buildings and grounds. (b) Technical service, involving computing, drafting, photography, and motion-picture work. GENERAL OPERATION OF EXPERIMENT STATION. The work under the first general class, involving the general upkeep and operation of the station, was carried on during the fiscal year at a total expense of $44,685, of which $33,473 was chargeable to the allotment for investigating mine accidents and $11,212 to the allotment for testing fuels. The chief clerk of the station, W. R. Talbot, has general supervision of all of the clerical work. Four stenographers, two filing clerks, one property clerk, a telephone operator, and three messengers comprise the force. The purchasing office, accounting, and the receiving, shipping, and supply room are in charge of J. H. Robison, the purchasing officer. Two purchasing clerks, one accountant, and two receiving and shipping clerks were employed. The library, containing about 4,400 volumes on technical subjects, and subscribing to about 200 technical periodicals, was in charge of M. S. Howard, whose work also included the selection from current publications of a bibliography of articles in which the technical employees of the station were presumed to be interested. The translator, O. L. Schwarz, was engaged in translating from foreign technical publications, principally French and German, articles on mining, mine accidents, and physical-chemical investigations by foreign scientists. The supervision of the shops and power plant was in charge of A. J. Smith, master mechanician. The shops are used to make necessary repairs to buildings, equipment, and apparatus in use by the investigators, and to make such apparatus as can be more easily handled in the bureau's shops than by contracts outside. The shops employ two carpenters, three machinists, and two electricians. The power plant requires for its operation an engine runner and three firemen. The custodian of the buildings and grounds, E. R. Linkenhoker, has general supervision of the labor force, the janitors, and watch men. TECHNICAL SERVICE. The technical service is closely related to all the bureau activities because of the computing, drafting, photographic, and motionpicture work which it does as a fundamental part of the investiga tions carried on by the bureau. Its work includes the reduction of test data, the computation and compilation of results of technical investigations, the design of apparatus and equipment for experimental work, the preparation of mine-disaster maps, the engrossing of mine rescue and first-aid certificates, making charts for use as lantern slides, preparing illustrations for published reports, and producing and distributing motion pictures showing methods and safe practices in mineral industries. This work was carried on at an expense of $17,048, of which $10,836 was chargeable to the appropriation for investigating mine accidents and $6,212 to the appropriation for testing fuels. Four computers, three draftsmen, three photographers, and two stenographers were employed during the year. NATIONAL SAFETY-FIRST EXPOSITION. The Bureau of Mines took an active part in the preparation and conduct of the National Safety-First Exposition held by Federal initiative at Washington, D. C., February 21-26, in which 22 Government bureaus, the National Red Cross Society, and the police department of Washington participated. An official of the Bureau of Mines assisted in arranging the exhibits and was in general charge during the week of the exposition. The Bureau of Mines exhibit included various safety devices, such as rock-dust barriers for arresting mine explosions, devices for testing mine air and gases devised by bureau engineers, safety lamps, and firing machines for firing shots by electricity. All the principal types of breathing apparatus and other equipment used by mine rescue crews, such as oxygen containers, signal horns, life lines, firstaid cabinets, stretchers, and oxygen resuscitators, were shown. Bureau men were detailed to explain the uses and working of the breathing apparatus and other devices exhibited. GOVERNMENT SAFETY-FIRST TRAIN. In March, 1916, the Department of the Interior, with the advice and cooperation of other Federal departments, made arrangements for a special train to contain exhibits of various bureaus showing their activities in conserving life and property. The train, which consisted of 10 coaches, a sleeping car, and a dining car, all of steel, was supplied and operated, without charge to the Government, by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co. The work of organizing the exhibits and obtaining the necessary cooperation of the various bureaus was placed in charge of the Director of the Bureau of Mines. One complete car was occupied by the exhibit of the Bureau of Mines and contained practically all the devices and equipment shown at the Safety-First Exposition, with many new ones. The car was in charge of G. W. Riggs, foreman miner. The director of the Bureau of Mines was in direct charge of the train and accompanied it during part of its itinerary. M. F. Leopold, of the bureau, had immediate charge during the absence of the director. Arrangements were made to have the train visit places on the lines of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway during July and of the Union Pacific Railroad in August. |