Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-11

State Inspector Of Coal Mines
Makes Recommendations Re-
garding Use Of Explosives.
COAL. OUTPUT FOR LAST YEAR.
An Increase of Nearly 10000 Tons Ov-
ar Previous Ncar--Nunber OF
Men Employed

The annual report OF state Coal Mine
Inspector Conner Thomas was filed with
Gov Cutler yesterday and. among other
things that official recommend
the passage by the next leg
islature Of law that will reg
ulate the use OF high explosives in coal
and hydro-carbon mines during work.
ing hours and to limit the period for
using explosives 10 the times when all
employees are on the surface except
those actually employed In firing the
shots.
MY reasons for the suggestion says
Mr. Thomas, ARE that the men emf
poyed in the mines are allowed to use
eS plosiyes which cause the air in the
mines to become yitiated by the un-
necessary use Of powder for blasting of
the coal. In some Of our minea they
are shooting AMI using powder through
out the day.
THE great source of danger Is I'm the
free use of powder. such as blown out
shots. etc. and nearly all of our ex-
plosIons come through this source, es-
pecially when mine Is dry and dusty
a PROSPEROUS YEAR.
"rhe year 1905 was the most prosper
Gus for all interested In mining coal of
any years since mining commenced In
Utah" continues Mr. Thomas. 1T
would have been far more prosperous
il the railroads had had sufficient equip
ment TO handle the coal, while the mine
officials, owing TO a scarcity or miners,
could not comply with the great de-
mand for coal.
During the year Just closed rela tons
between the employer and employe have
been most cordial. governed by mutual
confidence and sympathy There have
been no labor troubles or discussions,
and the mine owners have literally
shared with the mine workers the pro-
fits from the mines, paying satisfactory
wages and affording them steady em-
ployment TO the extent of their ability.
Special care has been taken by the mine
owners and local Arrangements to pro-
tect the workmen from injury to body
aud death. They have endeayored to
comply with all state laws on this sub
icct and did not hesitate to incur adj
ditional expense to secure additional
safety.
THE number of accidents, while low
in comparison with other states. Is no
doubt much higher than II would have
been II the workmen were OF more
careful class and were able to cooper
ate with their employees in efforts to
provide for their safety II must be
borne In mind that of the large num-
Der OF miners employed IN Carbon
county three -fourths are foreigners un"
able TO speak our language and men
who have not been trained to exercise
care. even for their own protection.
PRODUCTION IN 1905.
The report shows that the total pro-
ductlon OF coal during the year was
$685. tons. an increase of &c. 254 tons
over 1904 The output of coke WAS 215.-
1l2 tons, an increase of 30,695 tons over
the preceding year. The coal production
during 1905 was distributed among coun-
ties as follows: Carbon, l,i44.565 tons;
summit 7i,9ll tons; Sanpete. 4,202 tons;
Emery. $500 tons: all other counties, 15,-
$50 tons. Tho value OF the coal Is placed
at 1880 9S2, an average of sllS per ton
on ears at the mine.
The report shows that 1853 men were
employed In the coal mines and worked
2.376 days. Fatal accidents numbered
seven, and other serious accidents. 80.
The mines used l50,642 pounds of pow
der and $500 pounds of dynamite.
Horses and mules to the number OF 1871
were employed In the mines. Fifty
steam boilers and two locomotives were
used. Coke ovens I'm operation number
ed 154.
Employees Of the Utah Fuel company.
the leading producer are classified ac-
cording 10 race as follows; Americans,
$40; Germans, 81 Films. i53; Italians.
III, Austrians, 260; Swedes. Z. French
men, lG Greeks, III: Savs, 3; negroes,
II; MeXicans 2. Japs i6.