The Colorado statesman., 1908-01-04
COAL MINING ACCIDENTS.
Timely Report Just Issued by w. S. Geo
logical Survey.

Nearly 1000 men were killed or in
1ured in 1906 in the coal mines of the
United States, 2,061 being killed and
4,SOO insured. In the first seventeen
days of December of this year about
500 lives were lost, and the total death
roll for 1907 will probably greatly
exceed that of the preceding year.
Notwithstanding this appalling ac-
cident list, it is very doubtful whether
the natural conditions in any other
country in the world are so favorable
for getting out coal with minimum
amount of danger to the workmen en-
ployed. The structural relations in the
principal coal districts of this country
are entirely favorable; the beds are
thick-four, five or six feet-they lie
in nearly horizontal positions, and they
provide nearly ideal conditions for min.
ing. The mines as a whole are not trou-
pied with fire damp to greater extent
than those of other countries. The
abundance and cheapness of timber in
past years should also have been fac
tors of considerable Importance in re-
ducing the number of accidents in
mines, for the use of sufficient props
to support the roof and sides need not
have been prevented by excessive cost.
In spite of all the natural conditions
tending to reduce the number of mine
accidents in the United States to low
figure, the statistics for the last fifteen
years show directly contrary results.
Coal mining in other countries has
been made safer by the adoption and
enforcement of stringent regulations
for the mines, but in this country it has
become increasingly dangerous each
year.
Considered in regard to the number
of men employed in the coal mines, the
United States occupies a less favorable
position than any other coal-producing
country, more than three times as
many men out of each 1000 employed
being killed as in some European coun-
tries that are less favored by natural
conditions. In regard to deaths per
million tons of coal mined, the United
States not only occupies position
worse than that of most European
countries, but is also showing an in
crease in the rate, whereas every other
country is showing a decrease.
In view of these conditions and of
the two most recent horrible disasters,
no more timely report was ever pub
lished by the government than that
just issued by the United States Geo
logical Survey as Bulletin No. $685. en-
tiled Coal n Q Accidents Their
Causes and Pre-, ention," preliminary
statistical report by Clarence Hall and
Walter .. Smelling of the technologic
branch of the survey. This report is
the direct result of an order from the
secretary of the interior, dated June
10, 1907, transferring to the Geological
Survey the general supervision of the
work of the coal mine inspectors in
New Mexico and Indian Territory.
In endeavoring to carry out the sug-
gestions OF the secretary relative to
the improvement of mining conditions
and the prevention of accidents in the
coal mines of the territories, number
of examinations of the more dangerous
mines of Indian Territory were made
by Messrs. Clarence Hall, Samuel San
ford and Rollin T. Chamberlin and
Prof. J. A. Holmes, the expert in charge
of the technologic branch. Other and
more extended examinations in both
Indian Territory and New Mexico have
been planned.
Meanwhile Mr.. Hall and his associ-
ates have been investigating che ma
ture, extent, causes and results of a
number Of disastrous coal mile eXplo-
sions in several of the states. These
studies have been carried on in con-
nection with the general Investigations
of the waste and destruction of coal in
mining operations. In connection with
all these investigations, and with a
view to determining the practicability
of preventing coal mine explosions and
improving mining conditions, Mr.. Hall
with the assistance of Mr.. Walter o.
Smelling, and under the advice of Prof.
C. E. Munroe, began an inquiry con-
cerning the nature and extent of such
explosions and the methods employed
in the United States and foreign coun-
tries to prevent their occurrence.
In response to numerous requests
for information on this subject, Messrs
Hall and Smelling have furnished in
the bulletin just issued a brief sum-
mary of the results of these inquiries.
Later bulletins will deal with other
phases of the subject.
The authors point out that the in
crease both in the number and serious
ness of mine explosions in the United
States shown in the past may be ex-
pected to continue unless most ener-
getic measures are taken to counteract
the prevailing tendency. With the de-
pletion of the thicker and more favor
ably situated seams of coal, thinner
and less regular seams must be
worked. This factor will undoubtedly
be of the greatest Importance within
comparatively few years and the nat
ural result will be to increase greatly
the death rate. The rising price of
timber will have the effect of decreas
ing the number of props used and thus
increasing the chance of accidents
from falls of roof and coal, which were
the direct cause of fifty per cent. of the
deaths in mines in 1906.
The varied nationality of the miners
is also a factor to be reckoned with.
At the Monongah mine, which was Wis
tied by Mr.. Smelling just after the acct
dent, signs printed in seven different
languages We're placarded on the walls