The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-19

piB slump III SutPu' WINS SouSeu
by the Strike.
Mine Inspector II. o. Prytherch, of
the Second Anthracite district yes
terday ,pleted his report for the
year 1900, and last night forwarded It
to the bureau of mining. 1t consists
of his annual statement and Il number
of tables. and shows the existing con-
ditlons We're much the same as in 1899.
His comparison between the results
In 1899 and 1900 Is as follows:
In 1899 the following list Of accidents was
returned: Fatal, ~; non.ittal, lj9; total. COS.
The tables which accompany and form part
OF the report show the following to he the
list for 1900:
Fatal, So; non.fata, 1j2; total 907. BY
comparison we find Tor 1900 all increase Of d
fatal accidents, a decrease OF nontatal acct
dents and a decrease Of in the list OF total
accidents We would remark that during lso9 one
accident only by which two lives were lost
AZ the same time occurred, while in 1900 one
accident resulted in the loss Of four lives. and
two by which two lives each were lost oc'
Cured Perhaps this will partly explain the
increase in the fatal list. Hence it will be
seen that the number Of fatal accidents in
the years under comparison the same, but
those OF the latter claim six more victims.
The total production of coal for 1900 shows
a decrease OF 34j.3i6 tons and an increase Of
l,36s in the total number of persons employed
N and about the mines.
The decrease in the production was caused
by the general strike and numerous other
minor disagrecments between employer and en-.
| poyes in the district during the year.
REMARKS on THE ACCIDENTS.
II will be seen that in addition to the tables
which have always accompanied these reports,
| tables OF percentages have been prepared in
order TO show in a more conspicuous manner
the causes which result in the greater part
OF the accidents, as we'll a. the class or classes
| Of employees which contribute to the list of
| victims.
| An Explosion Of gas in mine, resulting in
the loss OF number OF lives together or at
| the same time, attract wide attention, while
| the everyday accidents from falls OF roof and
| coal" occur almost unnoticed. The tables re-
ierred to show "falls OF roof and coal" to be
responsible ior IS per cent Of the fatal acci-
| dents and II per cent. OF the total accidents in
the district during 1900, and explosions Of gas
| are responsible for per cent. OF the fatal and
| per cent. Of the total accidents.
| Following the tables OF percentages further
| il will be seen that miners make up 10 per
| cent. Of the victims of fatal accidents and 80
| per cent. Of the total accidents.
| Iaborers 20 per cent of the fatal and % per
cent. Of the total accidents.
These two classes OF workmen, the miners
and laborers, work in close contact, in fact
together and il one Interpretation Of the pro-
vision Of the mine law be correct the miner
is, 10 great extent, responsible for the safety
OF his laborcr.
These two classes together make up ~ pei
cent Of the victims Of fatal accidents ant
81 per cent. OF the total accidents Inasmucf
as tails Of roof and coal" are responsible fol
aj per cent. of the fatal and Al per cent OF thu
total accidents, feel that the provision o
the anthracite mine law, 1891, guarding particu
larly against this class of accidents should b
quoted:
"Articlc XII Rule li--Any person havin.
charge OF working place in any mine shal
keep the roof and sides thereof properly secure,
by timber or otherwise. SO as to prevent sucl
roof and sides from falling. And he shall no
do any work permit any work 10 be don
under loose or dangerous material, except 10
the purpose OF securing the same
PLACE MUST BE SAFE.
Again, Article AII, Rule "a: 'Bcforc com
mencing work and also after the firing Of ever
blast the miner working breast or any othc
place in a mine shall enter such breast or plac
to ascertain its condition and his laborer O
. assistant shall not go to the tace Of such breas
= or place until the miner has ascertained the sam,
and found il to he safe"
b, ine iul's P'''Su su,iu :" =" ,t 10 ''a' ''a' m
l "'i ss"',a' "I"'o I'm
t | 'o't '"u u "o9e "on'
: Spe''eu 'i,St P'o, P,n' "'' -"
'"r,G '' "o".. D' 49,, ,I,'ll, o,,,,,i,, a.,
I".a '''a.'e' ,t"o '|D.'' .,. 10y, ~. -, ~
4 district in 1900, and from our observations "
nave cohe!uded that very Iaiee humber
a miners are unaware OIL thesc provisions o' al
I n.y. ,,", ,ha. o., - th" ,o,., oo,idor,s .,
5 I..,oa .,,,aor ,h.t ha,1;,u ,,,I,y i,,sti6..
;, ooIri,. o,,o,,;., ., ,bi, s,hi,,t ,rd 70 ;s y,
. r',' o,onor,,ian nr ,ba r,rt -, :,
q, uu,S .' ''I W. lp, ,' Wv p".. IT., ~ d,
, - I ,';,,,on1a, =, ,,aI au;,.n,
, - ,o,;tont. ,rn,n tbis so,,ro aud b,.
asaIi"' ''.'u'''' t' LOU , ."lS a. ~
II ''"s W" w
u = suggestion follows that In add
Ian h.. ~ 10 .t mil 40 n