New-York tribune., 1907-12-19
DEATHS In COAL MINES.
Some Startling Figures Collected 6y
Government Enperts.

Washington, Dec. 1s.-The coal mines of the
United States are killing three times as many men
per thousand employed as those of most European
countries In the last seventeen years 2,siO men
have given up their lives in the mines or TINS
country. AS many violent deaths have occurred IN
the mines in the last six years as in the preceding
eleven years. The number Of fatalities each yedi
is now double that OF fs95 In 1906 6,s61 men were
killed injured in the mines the dead NUMBER ING
2e6l and the injured 4.S00. These facts have neen
CLEANED by government experts acting uhuer oi
from Secretary Garfield TO investigate the nature
and extent OF mine accidents. particularly thoSe
resulting from explosions and also TO make sus
gestious as to how mining conditions may oe I'LL
proved and accidents prevented
The secretary's request for information was sent
to George Otis Smith. director OF the geoiosicai
survey last June. Carrying out the suggestion 10
seph A Holmes. chief of the technoiogical oFahct'
Clarence Hall, explosives expert and others lia'ie
q number Of examinations of the more dangerous
coal mines of Indian Territory In adGluoh' MI
Hail and his assistant, Walter o. Smelling, have
investigated the nature and causes of number OF
disastrous coal mine explosions in several OF the
states The conclusions OF the experts are 1oulu
in a bulletin issued to-day on 'Coal Miile ALL
dents: Their Causes and Prevention
The statement of Mr.. Holmes that an increase IN
the number and seriousness Of mine explosions may
be expected has already proved fateful. for SINCE
the words were written three mine explosions Ia
cost nearly FIVE hundred lives The hrst occuIreu
IN Pennsylvania in the early part OF DeceIipei'
and cost thirty-two lives. Then followed the MO-
nongha mine disaster in West Virginia, WIN
loss of nearly four hundred lives. and the eXpio-
sion in Alabama, with sixty-one lives lost
Mr. Holmes in summing UP the situation. says;
The figures given in this report lndicate 'na'
during the year 1906 nearly seven thousand men were
killed or injured in the coal mines OF this country
ana the number of accidents caused directly or in
directly by mine explosions has beeen steadily IN
creasing It is also indicated that this increase mas
been due IN part the lack of proper enforceaDie
mine regulations in part to the lack OF reaoIe n
formation concerning the explosives used in mining
and the conditions under which they can be useo
safely in the presence of the gas and dust encoun-
tered IN the mnes and in part to the fact tHat II
the development OF coal mining. not only Is tlie
nun Der Of miners increasing, but many areas loih
which coal is being taken either deeper or fuf-
ther from the entrance. where good venuhauoh Is
more difficult and the dangerous accumulauons OF
explosive gas more frequent
THE increase both IN the number and seriousness
of mine explosions during the last Few years may
he eypected to continue unless. through 1nVesuga-
tions such as have proved effective in other coal
producing countries information can be opVaiheu
and published concerning the explosives used fhe
conditions under which they may be used safely
and the genera! conditions which make for health
and safety. Such information may serve as an
intelligent basis both for legislative enactment ana
for arguments among persons associated Win lli-
ing onerations The bulletin shows that IN all
European coal producing countries the output OIL
coal has increased greatly during the last ten
wears but the number of deaths the 1eto miners, IN
stead of increasing, in this country, has under-
gone marked decrease This decrease mas peen
dine the bulleta saws to the effect of mining egis-
Iat;on in those countries for the safeguarding and
protection Of the lives of the workmen, and has
been made possible by government action in es-
tabisbiug testing stations for the study of prob
lenns relative 10 safety in mining.
considered in regard to the number Of deaths tne
, ona men employed, the United States occupies
Ices favorable postton than any other OF the cool
producing countries, more than three times as
many men out Of each 1.o0o employed being killed
as in some European countries. In regard to
deaths the 100000 tons of coal mined the United
States is also showing an increase IN Ihe Fa.S
,-..- e1,erv other country is showing a de-
crease"