A failure in public administration that caused the Centralia mine disaster Essay

The Centralia mine disaster happened on March 25, 1947. The Centralia coal mine number five, exploded near the town Centralia, illinois, and killed about one-hundred eleven people. The Health administration and mine safety of the United States Department of Labor Reported the explosion was the cause of a under burdened shot or a blow- out shot ignited coal dust.
When the explosion happened, one-hundred forty-two men were in the coal mine sixty-five men were killed by burns and other injuries, also forty-five men were killed by afterdamp. Good thing though was at least eight men were rescued, one died because of the effects of afterdamp. That being said only thirty-one miners escaped. The explosion left dozens of widows and fatherless children.
The mine explosion should have not ever happen. Years before the explosion both state and federal mine inspectors wrote reports about the mine that were not good. Both inspectors were submitting reports and was not getting results from neither the mine operator or the state and federal agencies that governed bodies over the mines.Coal dust exploded deep inside the mine and many miners were killed by fire going in and out of the tunnels. Other miners were killed by poisinous gas.
The explosion happened a little after three o'clock, 327 p.m.to be exact. Everyone that knew of the dangers of the mine and the possibility of something bad happening had blood on their hands.The mine had no moisture. Heavy spots of coal dust was along roadways and on roofs, sides,and timbers in working places and entries to the mine.
In 1883, the state of Illinois was divided in five inspection units, and Governor John Hamilton selected an inspector for each district to oversee practices and safety regulations. In the same year, Mine Inspectors had a Board of Examiners that was created to judge the qualifications for candidates for the title of mine inspector. In 1899, the boards name changed to the State Mining Board.
The Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals was created during 1917. It had several boards and commissions created to regulate mining. The department carried out policies of the State Mining Board. In May 1946, a year and two months before the explosion, the miners disagreed with how things were and they let it be known. In response to the need for coal to support the war, the mines were ordered to be seized by President Harry Truman.
The same month all this is going on(May, 1946), a letter was signed between the United Mine Workers Of America and the Department of Interior, for the department to run the mines. The letter also authorized the enforcement of federal safety rules in the mines. In 1946, the federal gov. Developed an org. Called the Coal Mines Association to administer the mines. The Centralia Co, owned Centralia Mine number five. It opened in 1907 and was about six square miles under the ground. 250 men were employed and the mine produced 2,000 tons of coal each day.
In 1941, Illinois Governor Dwight