Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-20
Conner THOMAS
FILES REPORT.
state Coal Mine Inspector Leaves
Annual Report With Gov
ernor Cutler.
REASONS FOR FUEL SHORTAGE
suggests Something for Consideration
OF Observation-Disclosures Of Fis-
cal Year Ending Nov. 80.

Conner Thomas, state coal mine In.
spector for Utah. has nleG his report
eoyer.ng the fscal year ending Nov. 80
vim Gov John c. Cutler. II 10 a vol
uminous document containing over 50
pages Of typewrltten copy. Mr. Thomas
goes into the operation OF the coal
mines OF Utah In detail and makes a
nui1lbor Of suggestions for the consd-
cation Of the members OF the next Leg
stature, pointing out some OF the weak
spots IN existing laws.
regarding the late coal famine, Mr..
Thomas attributes tire cause OF short
age 10 the unusual Industrial growth Of
me state and country ana adds This
country has outgtown to a tremendous
extent, It's facilities for supplying Its
demands. The extensive construction
and other Industrial projects have so
drawn on the available supply of labor
and Notwithstanding that there has
been very great demand for coal, the
supply OF surface laborers and miners
has Increased. Our mines are produce
Ing all the coal that our miners can
dig which is around 200 carloads per
day. A shortage OF railway equipment
has also contributed towards the fuel
famine"
The Increased activity IN the metalli-
ferrous mining fields of the west and
southwest the inspector states, has in
creased the demand for Utah coal over
400 per cent. The new Garfield smelter
has increased the demand for smelter
eJal and coke over 100 yer cent. To
NEE, this demand the coal mines have
Increased their output over last years
production from IS TO 45 per cent.
In my report OF 1905 suggested to
the honorable Legislature OF Utah, that
they make an amendment to the coal
and hydro-carbon mining laws Of the
State OF Utah, as follows: That Il shalt
be unlawful for any miner or any en-
ploye in the coal and hydro-carbon
mines OF the state to Use or set off any
high explosives for the mining of coal
Or taking down rock during the work
ing hours as all shots must be fired aft
er the men are all out Of the mine. ex-
eepting those that will be needed to
fire the same.
The reason for the above sugges-
ton is that the men employed IN the
mines are allowed to use explosives,
which cause the air In the mine TO be-
come vltiated by the unnecessary use
some Of our large mines they are shoot
ing and using powder throughout the
day
Other reasons are that the great
source Of danger comes from the use
Of powder, such as blowout shots, etc,
as nearly all OF our explosions come
through this source, especially where
mine b dry and dusty. Hoping the
honorable body will take this matter
up az II Is one of the most needed
amendments OF today.
Provisions of the mining law ex-
einpt from inspection the mines ems
ploying six men or less. There are
scores of such mines IN this state, and
while the Inspector visits them occa-
sionally. he has no authority to take
any action regarding their condition.
These mines have no fans or furnaces
and In other respects are operated
without regard TO law. We have no
means OF ascertalning how many men
are killed In them or what amount OF
coal they produce, but from the occa-
slonal visits made to them by the in
spector, we have reason to believe that
most of them should be closed as they
are unfit for men to work in. All mines
should come under the provisions OF
the mining laws at least so far as ven
tlatlon and the safety Of the workmen
are concerned.
ELECTRIC HAuLAGE SYSTEM.
Electric haulage has been intro
duced IN several Of the large mines OF
our state and proves an ideal power
for hauling the heavy tonnage Of coal
through the extensive underground
levels and tunnels. Electric motors
using direct current Of 500 volts, be-
Ing employed In this work, this voltage
Is supposed to be harmless. but results
prove otherwise. There Is not a word
in the mining laws OF this state gov
erning the operations of mines that
has the least application to the dan
gers of electric wire. mining machines
or hauling motors. in fact. the word
electricity, or mining machines, are not
to be found in the mining laws, which
no doubt Is attributable to the fact
that at the time the present mining
laws were enacted, electricity In our
mines was practically an unknown
experiment.. Now the greater percent
age of our coal Is produced from It's use,
and the amount OF machinery intro
duced in the mines Is rapidly on the
increase yearly.
SUGGESTION FOR LEGISLATURE.
"a metallferous mining law should
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