The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1883-04-19
miNiNo ACCIDENTS IN TINE ANTMaa
CITE COAL Flelos OF PENN.
SYlvANlA.

CITE COAL FIELDS OF PENN.
SylvANiA.
WILKEs BARRE. PENN,
April 10. 1883.
Editor JoCRNAL:-Nuchh has bes
written upon the above subject. from
time la time. In this part OF the United
States ms well ~ in the west, and even
in England and the monarchies Of
Europe where coal mining IL domes-
tic industry. Doubtless such will be
the case for q millennium. For GER
tainty fatal accidents in subterranean
labor Of all kinds will continue ss long
as il shall be followed. and all argu-
men. to the contrary il merely useless.
But the monentOus question Is, can
the ratio Of these accidents in the coal
mines of the Anthracite region lie
changed, 50 that less number of
lives will he sacrificed in proportion
to the number Of persons employed,
and the amount of coal produced?
Some people aver that these accidents
are entirely beyond control-and IL
such be the true state of affairs these
accidents are Mt the minimum at least
this il the showing for the Anthracite
mining districts Of Pennsylvania. In
the State for the year 1851. there were
80, 537 ,Sys tons Of cOal produced, aud
273 persons lost their lives during the
process of niniDg-Or one life lost To
every Ill 1858 tons o; coal brought to
the surface During the same period
there were ssl non fatal accidents. or
one person injured to every 81. SIS tons
of coal mined: aud il IL certainly a
lamentable fact that so many persons
should sacrifice their lives. and lose
an arm, leg. or be otherwise badly in
iured In such peaceful industry.
Mining in large number of the
cOllieries must be conducted sxclu-
sively by the use of safety lamps. and
while in the hands Of Impractical
persons il becomes q serious matter,
and endangers many lives even in
the hands of an experienced and ju-
dicious miner ii can scarcely he called
safe il the mine is Of a gaseous nature.
Right here is the occasion of nunher-
on. fatal accidents by reason Of the
iact tnat sudueh iaii vi Top rock OF
coal may prouuce an instantaneous
conclusion oil the gaseous AR powerful
enough 10 cause the explosion OF a
safety lamp, as the gas penetrates the
gauZe. is ignited by the lighted wick,
and the terrible explosion follows.
The miner often disregards rules and
his own safety, and for the mere rur-
pose OF gaining trif1e convenience or
increasing MS pecuniary interest, Will
30 Things ana run risks nj The SIGHT OIL
which men in ordinary labor would
stand appalled, with Tear. Ihey Will
oftentinies rob various chanbefs OF
the piilars-a section OF coal winch Is,
by rules OF the colileries, lett Tor the
support OF the roof or upper strata
ana many Tunes u MINER VIII enter
his chamber alter being warned that
II IL filled with gas, ana commence his
labors without The least tiniidify, and
In the majority oil Instances the en-
plo>ion follows, ana II Is only when
their bodies are recovered ana con.
veyed through the gloomy caverns OF
the mines, ouriiea anu charreu beyond
recognition. torn and mangied. that
their comrades are awakened To real
lie the folly and perversity OF pursii-
ing such course of cuipabie neglect.
There l. no real eXtenuation To the
most OF these accidents. III Is criiiiihai
10 employ man VINO Is headstrony
and rash To such n degree as to Toe IN
different la his own safety, ana Ike
wise that OF his fellow men; and yet
there are many OF such men employed
In the mines. lnatieition anu ignor-
ance clasp hands ana together cause
greater part al these accidents from
gas explosions.
Coal, rock ana slate falls are The
most numerous, causing other acct
dents resulting fatally IN many M
stances, hut as shown above, the vic
inns generally contribute towards the
causing of the accidents very mateTi-
ally, i"r want OF exercising due care
i'm supporting the upper lodges suiii-
GENTLY. Coal anu rock Tails are not
materially different. NO miner can,
with any degree OF certainty. Judge al
his safety, nj least 80 lar ~ concerns
The veins running towards the surface
Large masses of coal are ofen detached
IN an Instant, subsequent To Its being
thoroughly examined by the practlced
miner, and on his returning Ia the
chamber after short absence, has
found himself overwhelmed with the
mass of falling coal and enveioped IN
the flame Of terrible explosion.
Many accidents occur in the gang
ways OF the mines from persons being
run over 10y mine ears. because of
carelessly operating them, for they
consider themselves privileged, as they
are under no restraint. lnattention Is
he-e found to he contributor to the
statistics OF the accident column.
Powder and blast accidents have little
apology, for the careless handling OF
powder by the most ignorant person
Is etirely iDeXcusabie, for everyone
surely has knowledge OF its destruc-
uveness.
To my mind the matter OF discipline
i'm the majority OF the collieries Is not
what II should be. The lack OF disei-
pline Is caused in many eases 10y the
absence OF any regular code vi general
or special rules required by the min
Ing laws, together with the indiiier-
ence OF both men IN Official capacity
and workmen. Where there are no
rules the men pay little regard To the
common safety, partly from igno.
rance and partly from the general
feeling among them that they are
under the direction OF superior
iaf.c ~ n 0e N IN An IIn