The Washington herald., 1908-06-28

years. the number OF fatal accidents hav-
ing practically doubled within that time.
In 1905 and 1896 there were three men
killed 10 every L010 employed. For each
million tons of coal mined from 1850 10
1895 there We're 5.91 men killed From 1895
20 1900 there were 5.V men killed. and
from 1900 20 1906 there were 6.04 a general
average OF 5g3 men for every million tons
Of coal mined for sixteen years.
Fewer Fatalities In Europe.
In al, the European coal-producing
countries the output Of coal has increased
greatly in the last ten years. but the
number Of deaths per every 1000 miners
instead Of increasing, as in this country.
has undergone marked and decided de-
crease. This decrease has been due 10 the
effect OF mining legislation in those coun-
tries for the safeguarding and protection
of the lives of the workmen, and has been
made possible by government action IN
establishing testing stations for the study
.of problems relative to safety in mining.
including the use Of explosives.
In establishing the experimental station
Congress, as We'll as experts. aimed 10
have a station where tests as TO the
causes as well as prevcntives could be
made. and the following figures were fur
nished both Houses of Congress:
Accidents due 20 gas and dust eXplo-
sions-killed 22S, injured 80. powder eN-
plosions-ldlled so, injured 2l5, falls Of roof
and coal-klled Lo0S injured 1853; other
CaUSes-killed -. injured 2.192.
Ii will be noted that 30 per cent Of al
the fatal accidents. and 80 per cent of all
the nonfatal accidents. were the result
Of falls of roof and coal, and that, ac-
CordiDgly. these are the most prolih,
source Of accidents in the coal mines OF
the United States.
Conditions Better in America.
It is very doubtful whether natural con
ditions IN any other country in the worlt
are So favorable as in the United State.
for getting out coal with the minimum
amount Of danger 20 the workmen EN-
ployed. The structural relationships fl
the principal coal districts of the United
States are entirely favorable, and beds OF
four. FIVE. and six feet in thickness, lying
/ in nearly, horizontal positions and provid
ing almost ideal conditions for mining
make up a greater proportion of the Goa
/ properties in active development than Il
any other coal-producing country.
/ The coal mines of the United States
/ considered as a whole. are not trouble,
/ by firedamp TO any greater extent thar
the mines Of most other countries. Tn,
abundance and cheapness Of timber Fl
! this country in the past should also hav,
/ been factors Of considerable Importance
IN reducing the number Of accidents f.
mines. inasmuch as, with abundant tim
/ Der. the use of sufficient props TO supper
the roof and sides would not be preyentc,
/ by the factor of cost.
But in spite Of all the natural condi
tions TO reduce the percentage of min,
/ accidents in the United States 10
| low figure the accidents during the las
/ fifteen years show directly contrary re
suits. Considered in regard to the mum
/ ber Of deaths for every 1oo0 men en-
ployed. the United States. as has ALREADY
/ been pointed out, occupies a less favor
able position than any Of the other coal
/ producing countries more than thre,
/ times as many men out Of each LOCO en-
ployed being killed as In some Of N,
/ European countries that are much les.
/ favored in natural conditions
Prevention of Waste.
/ In addition to the Investigations rela
\ tive TO saving the lives OF the miners VIII,
/ go down IN the bowels Of the earth. ex
I periments toward the saving Of the grea
amount ot waste coal viii also be made.
The coal production Of the United States
is now 45o,OoOOOO tons a year. while TIT
waste coal from mine fires and I'm con
nection with general mining operation
/ approximates 3OO.OoO.0CO to 4O0.OOOOO0 ton
n year. The fuel bin of the United State
now aggregates approximately 81 zoo. 900. .Oo
a year The general mineral production
Of the United States now aggregates Il
value S2,0O0.000000 yearly. and in cOnnec
tion with the mining and extraction o
these materials the yearly waste approx
mates not less than one-fourth of th
! whole
At the Pttsburg experimental station
tests OF the various dynamites an
powders used in blasting coal vii 10
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