The age-herald., 1900-11-15

State Mine Inspector J. DeB. Hooper has submitted the following report to the Gov ernor, reviewing the work of his depart ment:
 Birmingham Ala, October, 1900 To His Exeelleney Joseph F. Johnston, Governor of Alabama
 Dear Sir-I have the honor to present herewith the third biennial report for the inspector of mines:
 On taking charge of this office. Septem- Der 1, 1898, I found no office furniture and scarcely any record of business in the of- flee. Since then l have, out of the appro- priation allowed by the State, bought d complete set of office fixtures, including desks, table, map case, bookcase, carpet. copying outfit, books of record, two ane- mometers and five test weights for use of thls department
 The use of the anemometers and test weights have greatly facilitated d better understanding between the operators and miners by furnishing a correct and undis- puted authority both for the quantity of air and for the correct eight of the coal
 Coal Production.
 From the coal production of 5,S9371 tons in 1897, we produced 7,S4S,000 in 1S99 and it is estimated that the present year will show tonnage of about S500,000.
 The largely increased number of mines, luelI 6AlGnl dllQ dFed, make It necessary to have another assistant inspector in or der to carry out the law and make a care ful examination of each mine every three months. The reports of the assistant in- spectors of their examination of the mines often give information of great value to the general officers and owners of coal properties. As it is now I can only copy those reported in bad condition and take steps for their betterment, whereas the owner or operator of each coal mine should be furnished with copies of these reports. Notwithstanding the increased tonnage of coal and the consequent increased number of persons working in the mines, fatal &C., cidents have remained about the same The total number for 1897 was 3S, tonnage 5,S93, I'll; 1898 was 45, tonnage 6,466, 741 1899 was 4O tonnage 7,494, ITS; to October 1, 19O0 was S, estimated tonnage 6,O00,000
 Convict Mines.
 Under authority and by direction of your excellency, l gave special attention to the convict mines. Early in January, 1899, l made a thorough and careful inspection of all the mines where convicts are employed and instituted certain safeguards and pre- cautions which have, 1 believe, placed con vict mines in Alabama in the front rank for the small number of accidents and health of any State or country where con victs worked in the mines. l refer to past records of convicts killed in the mines: Convicts killed, 1885, Il; 1896, 3; 1897, Il; 1898, 15; 1899, 6; 1900 4.
 Of those in 1899, six were killed at shaft No 1 of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail- road Company, w. D. Hayley, mine fore man, in charge. Slope No. of the same company escaped without single fatal accident, as did the convict mines of the Sloss-Shefheld Steel and Iron Company at Coalburg.
 During the present year two convicts nave been killed at Shaft No. l, w. D. Hayley, mine foreman, in charge, and one a Slope No. ?, W. l.. Martin mine fore man, in charge, both these mines belong ing to the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Rail- road Company.
 Coalburg, of the Soss- Sheffield Steel and Iron Company, holds the long and unprece- dented record of nearly twenty-two months without fatal accident until the 18th day of this month
 In addition, the washrooms and the sani- tary conditions of the mines have, under your special directions, been carefully and constantly looked after, and 1 am satisfied that this has been largely the cause of the improvement in the general health of the convicts working in the mines and at the same time greatly reduced the death rate from other causes.
 Prevention of Accidents.
 For the prevention of accidents I would recommend the employment of capable and experienced mine foreman and holding them to a strict accountability for the condition of the working places of the miners working under them as well as the general condition of the mine.
 There should be an effective clause added to the mining law, so that when the lives or health of the miners are endangered from any cause that prompt measures could be taken for their protection. It is not suggested that this be left to the ar bitrary judgment of the chief mine in spector.
 The thanks of this department are due to all the railroads entering this district for courtesies in the way of passes, which have materially reduced our expenses and rendered it possible for us to do the amount of work required by law with the appro- priation made.
 All of which is respectfully submitted.
 J. DeB. HOOPER,
 Chief Mine Inspector