Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-07-30
The Dangers Of Mining in England.

THE London Standard says Many In
tcrcstinp particulars as TO the effect Of re.
cent legislation on the management of
mines are to be found in the official vol
ume lust issued which gives the reports
of the inspectors of mines for the year
1874. The summary of the statistics oil
all the reports shows that with regard to
those undertakings which are subject to
the Coal Mines Regulation act there are
no accidents or deaths during the year in
Ireland. In Great Britain there WAS an
average of ono fatal accident amongst ev-
cry 602 persons employed in and about
the mines and one death by accident
amongst every 510 persons. 1t Will be
observed that "fatal accident simply
counts rs one In these returns, although
IL may kill several persons. Hence there
is n difference in the ratio according as we
take the accidents or the deaths. 1t is also
shown that 157 222 tons of mineral were
got for each fatal accident and 1873, ,251
tons for each death. In the preceding
year (lS73) the fatal accidents and the
number of deaths from such accidents
were more numerous IN proportion to the
number of persons employed, there being
one accident among 500 persons and one
death from accident among 41O. In pro.
portion to the weight of mineral raised
the figures for 1878 showed one accident
for 14B, ,S61 tons and one death for 1885,
ca tons. Thus, on the basis of the work
done there was an improvement last year
rs compared with 1878 in the ratio of fatal
accidents, but in regard to the actual loss
of life the ratio was not quite SO good as
before, though the difference was so slight
as to be scarcely appreciable. 1t is curious
that the fatal accidents from the explosion OF
4 In,
Der last year as in the year preceding,
namely, forty-four. The number of fatal
accidents from the breaking of ropes and
chains was also the same in the two
several years, being eleven in each. In
some other instances the two years show
almost an exact equality in the number of
fatal accidents of specified character.
With regard to the deaths from explosion
of fire-damp the figures show great in
crease, being 1876 for last year rs against
100 in the year preceding. But, ofcoursc,
two or three heavy accidents will greatly
aggravate the returns under this head for
single year. The deaths from the falls
of the roof or sides of mines show con-
siderable decrease, being 412 in 1874 as
against 49l In 1873. The magnitude of
these latter numbers rs compared with
those under the head of fircdamp shows
tnat the terrible CataStIOpneS WllCh Creale
so great sensation in The public mind are
not the most fruitful source of destruction
to the life OF tho collier. Deaths from ac-
cidcnts in the shaft wero 154 last year, and
III the year preceding The deaths from
miscellaneous accidents under ground
were 214, rs against POI in 1873. The loss
of life from accidents at the surface showed
an increase, the deaths from this cause be
ing 100, whereas in 1873 they were sc.
Coming to the total there is slight de-
oroaoo, tIio doaihs in 1874 hninr | .O5G as
against 1,069 in the year before The
total number of mines was 4,332, employ
ing 53S, ,S29. The tons of mineral wrought
amounted to 14O, O,713,S32, of which 1885,
,10S were coal, the remainder being
iirc-Clay, ironstOne and shale.n