The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-16
MINE INSPECTOR BYRNES
He Makes His Annual Report
to the Governor.
A MARKED IMPROVEMENT
Copper-Silver Mines Lead All Others.
Causes Of Accidents-Lack of Pru-
dencs- Exits From Mines-S Safety
Doors-Deputy's Report


lowing extracts from the report will be
of especial interest:
1T is gratifying to note the marked inn
provement in the methods OF opening
and developing the mines discovered
during the past two years. 1t evidences
a greater confidence in the stability and
better appreciation of the worth OF the
mineral lodes. Mining has now come to
be a business with no greater chance of
loss attending it than may be met with
in any other legitimate undertaking,
and where directed by men of expert
ence and sound judgment, the risks are
even less. This is being recognized, as
may be seen by the tendency of capital
to invest in promising prospects.
The copper-silver mines lead all
others in productive capacity. Their
stability and permanency have ceased
to be a matter of controversy. The
true worth of these can only be deter
mined in the years to come.
The gold bearing districts have at
tracted the attention of class OF men
whose connection with any mining en-
terprise is a guarantee of merit. As
consequence, active, systematic develop
ment is going on in many sections, sew
eral promising discoveries have been
made which will undoubtedly add to
the output of the yellow metal.
There are few slver-lead mines still
operating. The many exclusively silver
mines and those combined with lead OF
low grade have closed down. Some OF
the latter had continued work after IT
had ceased to be profitable, hoping for
a favorable change and endeayoring u
prevent the loss and destruction result
ing from the mines filling with water,
but they were forced to succumb.
The future of coal mining looks ex-
ceedngly bright. The consumption is
steadily increasing and the many new
n af lat n
dictate an ineXhaustible supply.
The mining industry in general is i'm
proving as shown by the large Increase
in the number of men employed over
other years. It's progress is along lines
best calculated to inspire confidence III
the value and permanency of our min
eral veins A steady, certain advance
marks the progress of this great IN
dustry which will in time place Mon
tana at the head of the list of the pre-
cious metal producers.
The mining journals of the state ana
that part of the press that has taken
stand against the scheming mine pro-
motors, is deserving Of Great credit The
injury done to the industry and the OBJ
stacles placed in the way OF securing
capital for the development of meritori-
Gus enterprises has been truly pictured
by the journals referred TO.
The mine superintendent and fore
men, without exception, have extended
me every assistance in the course of the
discharge of my -dnties. for which
courtesy |. hereby make thankful ac-
acknowledgement.
Causes of Accidents.
Special attention has been given to
investigating the accidents common to
mining for the purpose of gaining as
thorough a knowledge as possible of
their causes to the end that timely sug-
gestions, offered While discharging the
duties of my office, may extend to pre-
vent their recurrence.
The greater number of fatalities and
injuries inflicted in the coal mines dur
ing the first year Of my tenure in office
are of character which might have
!, been avoided by the exercise of sound
judgment and more caution. BY re-
ferring to the tabulated list it will he
seen that nearly half of the fatal and
practically all of the non-fatal acct
dents We're the result of either a fall of
coal or top rock. Those from falling
coal usually occur While the miner is
underwriting the seam. Investigation
has shown that had the precaution been
taking of placing props against the coal
during this process at least the majority
Of these accidents would not have been
recorded. Where the roof is bad and
the lives of those working are in con-
slant jeopardy from falling slate or top
rock it is the duty Of the superintend-
ent to select for such places expert
enced, cautious miners, possessed OF a
disposition which makes safety the first
consideration and digging coal the sec
ond. Were special rate allowed for
working these places. sufficient To
equalize the opportunities for earning a
fair days wages with the more favored
parts of the mine, all objection on the
part of the miner would disappear. BY
adopting such a rule in places where
skill, experience and prudence operate
Tff sfT.11G frgtF
viii give some proof of their much as
serted desire to avoid accidents.
The metalliferous mines of Montana
are reasonably well provided with safe
guards for the protection of life and
limb, yet accidents are occurring with
sucn alarming frequency as to occasion
serious doubts of their efficacy. This is
particularly true of the large producers.
The conviction is forced upon me that
if human life We're given its rightful
first consideration in the affairs of these
large companies and earnest, intelligent
effort made TO reduce the fatalities, Ii
could be done by applying the means
already at hand. All material and appli-
ances necessary to make safe conditions
are supplied. Timbers are furnished
without stint. Powder is thawed and
distributed by a man employed for that
purpose. Ventilation is generally good.
Not less thar two exits are found in cay
of these mines. The shafts. guid.S
safety appc -dtus and cages are regular
~ examined ~ d tested. The cage ten-
der has full cha. &c of the cage; and Bell
lines and is the only person authorized
to give signals direct TO the engineer.
The hosting equipments are maryeis
in power and mechanism. manned by
engineers selected for their skill and ex-
perience. and yet, in spite of such SEEM
ingly perfect arrangements, the death
rate is very high
A glance at the list hereto appended
shows that six lives were lost by caves
of rock, six by explosions, two by falling
down chutes. six by falling down shafts
and eight by skips and cages. The pre-
vention of those resulting from fail Of
rock and explosions is largely dependent
upon the caution exercised by the in
dividuai Constant exposure 10 the risks
incident t. their calling makes the miner
very trustful and accidents from this
source can be traced to a failure II en-
pioy temporary devices for present