The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-12-26
awful Slaughter
IN american Mines
THREE TIMES AS MANY DEATHS
PER 1000 EMPLOYEES AS
IN EUROPE.
Bulletin on Accidents--IrqYiry Or
dersd by Secretary Garfield Demon
strates the Need Of Regulations
That Can Be Enforced.

washington, Dec. 10. - The coal
mines of the United States are killing
three times as many men per 1,00C
employees as thosr of most European
countries. In the last " years 22,S4C
men have given mp their lives In the
mines of this country.
AS many violent deaths have oc.
Cured In the mines during the last
six years as during the preceding II
years The number of fatal accidents
each year is now double that OF the
year 1895. Iu 1905. 6,S61 men were
Killed or injured in the mines. the
dead numbering 2.061 and the injured
$500.
These terrible facts have been
Cleaned by government experts acting
under orders from Secretary Garfield
OF the interior department to investi
gate the nature and extent of mine
accidents. particularly those resulting
from explosions. and also to make sug
gestons a. to how mining conditions
may be improved and accidents pre-
vented. The secretary's request for
Information was sent to George Otis
Smith, director Of the geological sur.
vey. last June.
Many Examinations Made.
Carrying out the suggestions, Jos.
sph A. Holmes, chief of the techno.
logic branch. Clarence Hall. explosives
expert. and others, made a number OF
examinations Of tho more dangerous
coal mines of Indian Territory. In
addition. Mr. Hall and his assistant,
Walter o. Smelling. have Investigated
the nature and causes OF q number OF
disastrous coal mines explosions In
several Of the states.
The conclusions Of the experts are
found In bulletin issued Wednesday
on GOAL mine accidents; their causes
and prevsntions.
The statement Of Mr.. Holmes in the
bulletin that an increase In the mum.
Der and In the seriousness Of mine
explosions may be expected to con.
tinue has already proven fateful, for
since the words were written the
country has been startled with the
news Of three mine explosions, cost.
ing nearly 500 lives. The first explo.
sion occurred in Pennsylvania In the
early part Of December. aad cost 32
lives. Then followed the Nonongah
mine disaster in West Virginia. with a
loss Of nearly 400 lives, and the explo-
sion in Alabama the other day, with
81 lives lost.
Proper Regulations Lacking.
Mr.. Holmes. in summing up the situ.
alton, says:
The figures given In this report
Indicate that during the year 1906
nearly 1000 wen were killed or in.
Iursd In the coal mines of this coun.
Try, and that the number of these ac.
'idents caused directly or indirectly
by mine explosions has been steadily
increasing. II is also indicated that
his increase has been due In part to
he lack OF proper and enforceable
nine regulations: in part to the lack
" reliable Information concerning the
Explosives used In mining, and the
onditions under which they can be
Ised safely in the presence OF the gas
|
nd In part to the fact that in the de-
elopment Of coal mining not only is
he number of miners increasing, but
lany areas from which coal is being
AIKEN are either deeper or farther
ron the entrance, where good ven
lation 10 more difficult and the dan.
erous accumulations OF explosive
as more frequent.
The increase both In the number
nd seriousness of mine explosions
uring the past few years may be ex
ected to increase, unless through
Ivestigations. such as have proved
fectiye In other coal-producing coun-
les, information can be obtained and
lblished concerning the explosives
sed, the conditions under which they
ay be used safely and the general
'nditions which make for health and
lfety."