Background
Rice, George Samuel was born on September 8, 1866 in Claremont, New Hampshire, United States. Son of George Samuel and Abby Parker (Rice) Rice.
Rice, George Samuel was born on September 8, 1866 in Claremont, New Hampshire, United States. Son of George Samuel and Abby Parker (Rice) Rice.
Student College City of New York, 2 years. Engineer of Mines, School of Mines (Columbia), 1887. Doctor of Science, Lafayette, 1936.
Was assistant engineer, Colorado&Utah Railroad, 1887. Mining engineer with Colorado Fuel Company, Denver, 1888-1890. Mining engineer, Whitebreast Fuel Company, Ottumwa, Iowa, 1890.
Chief mining engineer, same company and allied companies, Chicago, 1897, also general superintendent Cardiff Coal Company, 1899, Shoal Creek Coal Company, 1902. Consulting mining work for A.,T.&San Francisco Railway, C.,M.&St.P. St.P. Railway, and other corporations, 1900-1908, also for Armour Fertilizer Works in phosphate fields, Tennessee and Florida, also reported on zinc and lead mines in Missouri and Wisconsin, etc. Appointed mining engineer in charge of field investigations, technologic branch of the United States Geological Survey, 1908.
Chief mining engineer United States Bureau of Mines from establishment, 1910, to his retirement, September 1937. In charge government rescue and recovery work in mine fire and explosion disasters, 1908-1926. Sent on investigative trips to European mines and testing stations, 1908, to report on safety and conservation methods.
In charge of unique series of investigations in government experimental mine in which large coal dust explosions are produced. First in the United States to advocate (1913) rock dusting for prevention such explosions. Developed use in mines of gunite for fire protection and preventing weathering of roof.
Initiated, 1918, testing of liquid oxygen explosives. Reported on oil sand and potash mining methods in Europe. Investigated outbursts of gas, bumps, rockbursts in mines of the United States, Canada and Europe.
Chairman American Institute Mining and Metallurgical Engineers Committee on ground movement and subsidence. Reported on losses of coal in mining for United States Coal Commission, 1924. Prepared regulations for coal mine leasing in Alaska, 1917, and Public Domain, 1920, covering conservation and safety.
Planned testing in experimental mine of novel method of vehicular tunnel ventilation for Holland Tunnel, New York-New Jersey, 1922. On committee to investigate post-war mining conditions in Europe, especially in devastated coal and iron regions of France. Adviser on mining matters to American Economic Mission at Cologne Conference with Germans, March 1919.
Author of numerous papers for technical societies and journals and bulls, of the United States Bureau Mines.
Member British Institution Mining Engineers, American Institute Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, Mining Society Nova Scotia. Member (honorary). Coal Mining Institute of America. Member Washington Academy Sciences, Washington Geological Society, etc.
Medalist British Institution of Mining Engineers, 1929. Club: Cosmos.
Married Julia Sessions, December 23, 1891 (died August 13, 1934).; married second, Sarah M. Benson, December 21, 1935. Children: Abby (deceased), Katharine Peabody, Julian Brewster.