The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-16

being either struck by or caught be-
tween the cages and the shaft tmbers,
and careful review of the evidence
brought out in the coroners fnquestS
would warrant the belief that the en-
gineers in charge at the times the other
four took place were not altogether
blameless. No doubt exists in my mind
regarding the responsibility of the vic
tins in the great majority or cases cited.
But have the mine officials done their
full duty? | fear not. The causes which
operate to make the miner careless have
infected some officials as well. but per-
haps in less degree, Men invested with
authority have regularly stated, when
testifying at inquests, that the victim
violated some established rule. Investi
cation has verified this statement in
many instances. But this also implies
sad lack of discipline, for. upon such
testimony. we may reasonably attribute
some of these accidents 10 inability or
failure to enforce important rules.
The safe and economical handling of
large bodies of men requires the adop
ton Of set of strict rules and regula-
tions aside from any law now in force.
Absolute obedience to such rules should
be exacted from the employees and ready
compliance can be secured by means of
the time check. When any mine officer
confesses an inability to enforce whole
some and necessary measures of safety,
the thought is suggested that the man.
agement has made mistake in its Sc
lection Of those who are in immediate
control Unlike most other callings, the
security of the miner is largely depend
ent upon the care and prudence of his
fellows but so wide is the character and
disposition of men that in order to OBJ
tain unity of action from large num-
bers the necessity of subordinating in
diyidual plans and methods to a well
.f,x1, 1saa k+f
dent The duty of the superintendent
does not cease when he furnishes means
of safety and issues instructions. He
should see that the one is properly used
and the other implicitly obeyed. and in
no instance should he allow the subordi-
nate officials to jeopardize the safety Of
those in his charge in vain efforts for
self reputation.
Exit From Mines.
The fifth session of the legislature
enacted into law two measures of great
benefit to the miner, the prime object of
both being to provide safeguards
against a class of dangers which have
claimed a large number of victims in
past years. The law providing for an
outlet independent of the main working
shaft is being very generally complied
with. The result is that the miner is re-
leved from an incessant sense of fear
that fire, flood, cave or some kindred
disaster might imprison him. Not less
important is the mutual benefit accru-
ing to both The owner and miner as a
consequence of the greater volume of
air that is supplied by this second shaft
The economy to the owner is found in
the increasing productive capacity of
the miner without adding to the payroll
The miner need waste no time in appre-
hension of danger and the pure air gives
him both strength and Will to acom-
air is as essential to the performance
of a good days work as pure food
Without it the underground worker is
incapable of fulfilling the task imposed
upon him; in fact, he fails to accom-
plish enough during his shift to satisfy
his own idea of what is right. It, there
FORE follows that this law, though
mainly in its intent protective, combines
protection with the highest principle OF
economy to the operator by enabling
him to absorb the increased efficiency
of the 1aDofer.
safety Doors.
Opposition has been manifested to the
law requiring the enclosure of safety
cages in vertical shafts. The purpose of
the law is to protect the miner against
the various dangers encountered while
being lowered into or hoisted out OF the
mine. The necessity of it is shown by
the number of lives sacrificed while rid
ing in open cages in the past. With "A
few exceptions the law has been COM
piled with. Conditions existed in those
exceptions which made it nearly inn
possible to comply with ii within the
time specified. A degree of indulgence
has been exercised in this matter in the
hope of removing certain prejudices ex-
isting among considerable number of
employees, as we'll as mine owners; also
to allow time in which to complete inn
proyements and changes planned pre-
vious to the enactment of the law. | am
convinced that reasonable leniency is
the better policy as against arbitrary
enforcement. Sufficient time has now in
teryened To demonstrate the feasibility
and advantage Of the measure by point
ing to its successful application else
where. Now that these conditions which
formerly operated against the immediate
enforcement of the law have practically
disappeared, proper steps have been
taken to secure its rigid observance in
the near future.
Hines Inspected.
The following exhibits the number Of
mines inspected number of men en-
plosed and the number of fatal and non
fatal accidents during the last five
years:
1S93-Number of mines inspected, 53;
number of men employed, 5,312; number
of fatal accidents. 20. number of nom
fatal accidents. 4. total number of non
cidents, 80; per cent. Of accidents 10
number of men employed, 81.
1S94-Number of mines inspected, rs.
number OF men employed, 1852; num-
Der Of fatal accidents. n, number of
non-fatal accidents, 10: total number of
accidents, As; per cent. OF accidents to
number of men employed, Ca
iS95-Number of mines inspected S.;
number of men employed, 7.15s; number
of fatal accidents. Al; number Of nom
fatal accidents. Is, total number of ac
cidents. So; per cent. of accidents 10
number of men employed, 81.
1S96-Number of mines inspected. rs:
number of men employed, 7,727 number
of fatal accidents, ga; number of nom
fatal accidents, 21; total number of ac-
cidents, So; per cent. of accidents to
number of men employed, 10.
1S91-Number of mines inspected, 1870:
number of men employed 9,S25: number
of fatal accidents, 81; number of non
fatal accidents. 80: total number of ac-
af IN