The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-12-27
MANY MINERS LIVES
ARE BEING SACRIFICED
Large Number Of Disasters CouIi
Be Prevented.
U. S. GOVERNMENT EXPERTS REPORT.
Three Times as Many Miners in Proper
tion to the Number Employed Are
Killed in the United States Than in
European Countries More Enlight-
ened Methods Urged.

Washington, D. G. Especially
coal mines of the United States are
killing three times as many men per
1000 employed as those of most
European countries. In the last II
years 22,804 men have given up their
lives in the mines of this country.
AS many violent deaths have occur
red in the mines during the last six
years as during the preceding IL
years. The number of fatal accidents
each year is now double that of the
year 1895 In 1906 6,S61 men were
killed or injured in the mines, the
killed numbering 2,061 and the in
jured 1900.
These terrible facts have been
cleaned by government experts act
ing under orders from Secretary Gar
field, of the Interior Department, to
investigate the nature and extent OF
mine accidents, particularly those re-
sulting from explosions, and also to
make suggestion as to how mining
conditions may be improved and ac-
cidents prevented.
The Secretary's request for infor-
nation was sent to George Otis
Smith, director of the Geological Sur
vey, last June, who placed these in
vestigations under the technologic
branch of that organization. Carry.
ing out the suggestions, Joseph A.
Holmes, chief of the technologic
branch, Clarence Hall, explosives ex.
pert, and others made, number OF
examinations of the more dangerous
coal mines of Indian Territory. In
addition, Mr.. Hall and his assistant
Walter o. Smelling, nave investigated
the nature and causes of number
of disastrous coal-mine explosions in
several of the states.
The conclusion of the experts are
found in a bulletin just issued Oh
"Coal-mine Accidents; Their Causes
and Preventions."
The statement of Mr.. Holmes in
the bulletin that an increase in tire
number and in the seriousness OF
mine explosions may be expected to
continue has already proved fatefuL
for since the words were written tee
country has been startled with th6
news of three mine explosions cost.
ing nearly 500 lives The first ex-
plosion occurred in Pennsylvania In
the early part of December, and cost
32 lives. Then followed the Monon-
gah mine disaster in West Virginia
with a loss of nearly 400 lives, and
the explosion in Alabama the other
day, with 81 lives lost.
Mr. Holmes i'll summing up the
situation says: ''Tle figures given
in this report indicate that during
the year 1906 nearly 1000 men were
killed or injured in the coal mines
of this country, and that the number
of these accidents, caused directly or
indirectly by mine explosions has
been stadily increasing. 1t is also
indicated that this Increase has been
due in part to the lack of proper and
enforceable mine regulations; in part
to the lack of reliable information
concerning the explosives used in MIN
ing, and the conditions under which
they can be used safely in the pres
ence of the gas and Gust encountered
in the mines, and in part to the fact
that in the development of coal min
ing not only is the number of miners
increasing, but many areas from
which coal is being taken are either
deeper or farther from the entrance
where good ventilation is more difi1-
cult and the dangerous accumuia-
lions of explosive gas more frequent.
"The increase both in the number
and in the seriousness of mine OK
plosions in the United States during
past years may be expected to con-
tinue unless, through investigations
made in the United States, such as
have proved effective in other COAL
producing countries, information can
be obtained and published concern
ing the explosives used, the con-
ditions under which they may be-
used safely in the presence of coal
dust or gas, and the general con-,
ditions which make for health and
safety in coal-mining operations.
Such information, obtained through
comprehensive and impartial inves-
legations, may serve in this, as IN
other countries, as an intelligent
basis both for legislative Enactment
and for agreements among persons
IL TT. frr1ct