Gilpin observer., 1905-02-23
NEWS FROM The MINES and MILLS
Coal Mine Inspectors Report.

Coal NINE inspectors Report.
One of the most important reports
issued by state department for the,
past biennial term is that Of John d.
Jones, state coal mine inspector. It
is volume of 1872 pages and covers
many features of coal production and
care of the miners, heretofore un-.
touched upon in these reports. It Is.
an encyclopedia Of information re-
garding the coal production business
in Colorado, and already a large num-
ber of requests have been made for
copies.
In his introduction Mr.. Jones says
that during the last two years the coal
resources of the state have been more
extensively explored than ever before,
yet owing to the labor strike, the pro-
duction fell to 6,776.551 tons, whereas
it should have been 10000 900 tons.
Speaking of mine Inspections, Mr.
Jones says that they have been made
as frequently as has been possible. and
many precautions have been ordered
adopted at the various mines. He
points out that the present statutes
were enacted In 1883 when the total
production of coal was 1,220.593 tons.
while the normal production at present
should be 100000 tons.
1t is impossible for three OF them to
make the inspections required by law,
and the force OF the office must be in
creased
According to the report. the rate of
fatal accidents was very low in 1903.
but in 1904 it was above the average.
This the inspector attributes to the
fact that unskilled men took the places
Of striking miners. Over two-thirds OF
the accidents could have been avoided
by proper timbering.
Mr.. Jones points out a number OF
places in which the present laws look
ing to the safety Of the men may be
improved.
A hundred pages of the report are
taken up with a tabulated summary OF
the production by counties. and five
pages in reporting the mine accidents.
There is also an extended report on
the terrible accident at the Tercio
mine in Las Animas county, on Octo-
ber 2Sth, in which nineteen lives were
lost. In the report is also printed an
elaborate map. prepared by the in
spector. which shows the coal meas
uTtS III tut SUutHtI4 INochy
coal fields.
The inspector takes up the various
questions of coal production and dis
cusses them in an elaborate way.
showing the scientific analysis and the
development by mines down to the mi
nutest details. etc. The report is likely
to be a standard authority on Colorado
coal production for several years.
ctatigtirn1 ary of the rerOrt
Is as follows:
1903 1904
Number of mines in
Tons of Ignite coal
produced l,1I6,24S 1.23S.1SI
Tons OF semi -bitum-
inous coal produced s26,412 6li,o'l
coal produced ....5,5y5.sls 4.T3s.3ss
Tons of anthracite
coal produced -. 4S,964 5J.4O4
Tons of unclassified
coal produced. est. 10000 10000
coal produced ....7.775.soe s.77s.55l
Total tons of coke
Total number OF
coke ovens ...... 3.233 5,3I6
Number of employees
in and about mines 1926 lo,f69
Number of employees
at the coke evens 1850 91f
Number of fatal ac- :.
cidents ........ 40 80
Number of non-fatal
accidents .....-. 100 1lS
Number of employees
for each life lost. 25.2 III
Number of employees
for each non-fatal
Tons of coal mined
aecident ...:.": 7oss45 57.4sst
for each life lost 1s4.ss2s 7s.iil