In addition to the central testing station, sub-stations for training
miners, and as headquarters for field investigation as to the causes of
mine disasters and for rescue work in the more dangerous coal fields,
have been established; at Urbana, Ill., in charge of Mr. R. Y. Williams,
Mining Engineer; at Knoxville, Tenn., in charge of Mr. J. J. Rutledge,
Mining Engineer; at McAlester, Okla., in charge of Mr. L. M. Jones,
Assistant Mining Engineer; and at Seattle, Wash., in charge of Mr. Hugh
Wolflin, Assistant Mining Engineer. Others may soon be established in
Colorado and elsewhere, in charge of skilled mining engineers who have
been trained in this work at Pittsburg, and who will be assisted by
trained miners. It is not to be expected that under any but
extraordinary circumstances, such as those which occurred at Cherry,
Ill., the few Government engineers, located at widely scattered points
throughout the United States, can hope to save the lives of miners after
a disaster occurs. As a rule, all who are alive in the mine on such an
occasion, are killed within a few hours. This is almost invariably the
case after a dust explosion, and is likely to be true after a gas
explosion, although a fire such as that at Cherry, Ill., offers the
greatest opportunity for subsequent successful rescue operations. The
most to be hoped for from the Government engineers is that they shall
train miners and be available to assist and advise State inspectors and
mine owners, should their services be called for.

It should be borne in mind that the Federal Government has no police
duties in the States, and that, therefore, its employees may not direct
operations or have other responsible charge in the enforcement of State
laws. There is little reason to doubt that these Federal mining
engineers, both because of their preliminary education as mining
engineers and their subsequent training in charge of mine operations,