The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-09-12
MINES And MINING.
Notes by Edwin Perry, Iowa Sec'y.
United Mine Workers.

The Ogden Coal Co. has contrac.-
ed with Ira d. Kellogg for the build
ing of twenty-five houses for the en-
ployes and will build more as the
mine is developed. This particular
mine, in all probability, will prove a
COOL investment to the stockholders,
and will also supply work to many
miners of the Boone Sub-jistric-. Mr..
Owen Reece, formerly of Hilton. will
nave charge of the compa1y's inter
ests.
With few exceptions the mines of
the district are working full time, and
future prospects good. The Ottumwa
mines are not working very much. 1t
is generally believed that the coal 1t
being reserved for local trade. Those
miners that could leave without too
much inconvenience should locate
elsewhere, while there are plenty OF
available mines where men are need,
ed.
Some time during the early part of
August the writer was equested to
speak at Boone on Labor Day, but
desiring to be near home promised
to supply some one in my place, and
in the meantime agreed 10 offlciate
as chairman of the Beacon Labor Day
celebration, but to my surprise
learned on Saturday that the Boone
miners assisted on my coming there
Hence | trust this apology will be
sufficient for my inability to be at
Beacon.
There were but seven deaths during
August in our district, falling on
from previous months. The cost of
providing this insurance to our mem
bers If paid by them would amount
to les than one dollar per capita. 1t
mas been clearly demonstrated that
our organization could furnish insur-
ance to its members for any amount
up to one thousand dollars or more
on the same terms as other compan-
les at an approximate cost not to ex-
cee2 $500 per annum. Then why do
old line life insurance companies ex-
clude in some cases the miners or
otherwise charge rates that are pro
hibitory?
Several states very recently passed
laws making the employer respon-
sible for damages as result of defec-
tive machinery, ETC., and the Rock
Island Coal Co., of Illinois, issues the
following notice to their employees,
which will be heartily approved by
every interested person whether he
is miner or operator:
"The mining of coal is danger
GUS occupation, and even WITH all the
precautions which are adopted, many
accidents occur The employees, OF
this company are especially warned
and requested to look after their per.
sonal safety and warn others OF dan.
ger when it comes to their notice.
The condition of the roof should be
watched and examined, ana miners
at the face. of the rooms should
promptly take down loose rock or set
timber wnen required Drivers and
timbermel SHOULD promptly distribute
timber when ordered and notify the
proper authorities OF any dangerous
conditions along the roadways. Due
care should be exercised in the hand
ling of explosives, and hoisting AMI
slope engineers should be extremely
watchful IN the handling of apparatus
in their charge. Any act of careless,
ness may result in personal injury
to yourself or your fellowmen, and
financial loTs to the company
The Italian miners are also given
the same warning, the notice directed
to them beginning with the reminder
that lie scavare il carbone un oc-
cupazione pericolosa ed tai punto
che, can lutte lie precauzioni che 81
adopteran,. assai accident avvelgto-
no." ETC., etc.
The Swedish miners are not forgoS.
ten, as thev are admolished tina.
"Arbete i kolgrufor ar en- farlig sys-
selsattning och trots af ALA vidtag.
IA forsiktighetsnatt banda manga
olykor" Toe point so well taken is
followed up by what means just the
same that was given to the English
miners.
y y y
In all probability Iowa will show
the lowest death rate from mine acct,
dents during 1907 of any coal pro
ducing state IN the Union. Fo~ 1905
about 115 out of every thousand lost
their lives in the mines of Iowa, and
with the laws now in force the death
rate will be much less. So much for
progress.
3 p y
We are approaching the season OF
the year wnen the atmospheric co1di-
A H.,