The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-28
ACCIDENTS IN
COAL MINING
Over 5000 Men Killed and
Over $500 More Injured
During the Year 1907.

Accidents in the coal mines of the Unit
ed States in 1907 resulted in death to 3,125
men and injury to 5.316 MORGAN increase
of 1,O53 in the number of deaths and sic
in the number of injuries over the record
year of 1906. This record marks the year,
In all other respects the most prosperous,
as one of the worst in the history of the
coal mining industry of the country. Even
the above figures. however, fail to repre-
sent the fun extent of the disasters, for
any statistical statement that attempts
TO cover coal mining accidents for the
entire United States is necessarily some
what incomplete. The United States geo.
logical survey, by which the figures for
the country are published, Goes not COL
lect the information directly, but obtains
IT through the courtesy of state or terri
tory mine inspectors or other officials who
Compile data concerning accidents and
their causes and effects. A number of the
coal producing states have no officials
charged with these duties, and one or two
of the state officials failed to reply to
the inquiries sent out by the survey. Ia
1906 returns were received from y states
and territories; in 1907 only Is reported.
Death Rate Per Thousand Employed.
The reports receHed Indicate a death
rate per thousand employees of 3.3l in 1906
and 4.S6 in 1907, and the number of tons
mined for each life lost decreased from
l94950 to l45,i1. The state which had the
lowest death rate per thousand 0.95) in
1897 was Missouri, where 1912 tons of
coal were mined for each life lost. Mich
iSan was second on the roll of honor as
far as death rate per thousand employees
was concerned. and Kentucky was Sec
ond in the number OF tons mined for each
life lost. The death rate in Michigan
was 176 per thousand; in Kentucky it
was 1.S9. Kentucky mined 356.035 tons of
coal for each life lost; Michigan mined
29oSS1 tons. Arkansas reported death
rate of 1.97 in 1907. with 1892 tons mined
for each life lost, and Utah, with a death
rate of 2.I2. mined sol tens for each
life lost. West Virginia reported the
largest death rate in 1907-12.S5 per thou
sand-and the lowest production for each
life lost-65. 959 tons. New Mexico stood
next to West Virginia, with a death rate
of 11.45 and a production of Il, 322 tons for
each life lost. and Alabama was next.
with a death rate of - per thousand and
production of 925S5 tons for each life
lost
Causes of Accidents.
The prominence given by the press TO
descriptions of mine explosions when such
disasters claim "A number of victims has
led the general public to believe that OF
the MAN. perils which coal mine workers
are exposed the danger from explosions is
the greatest. Statistics do rot bear out
this impression. OF the total number
reported for the last calendar year 347
deaths and 343 injuries were caused by
4i6 injuries by powder explosions and
windy shots, 1.122 deaths and 214l inju-
ries by falls of roof or coal; S55 deaths
and 2,416 injuries We're ascribed to other
causes The figures for 1907 show. how
ever. that explosions of gas or mixtures
of gas and dust have comparatively IA
tai results, the number killed in this way
during the year being three times as great
as the number injured; in accidents from
other causes the number of non-fatal in
jurieS largely exceed the fatal ones. In
accidents from powder explosions and
windy shots twice as many men were
injured as were killed. and the same ratio
holds in injuries from falls of roof or
coal In the accidents ascribed to other
causes nearly three times as many mel
were injured as were killed
Accident Prevention.
Commenting on this record in his re-
port upon the coal production of the
country. published by the United States
from Mineral Resources of the United
States, Calendar Year 1907, E. w. Park
er. the coal expert and chief statistician
of the survey, says:
1T has been said that there is only
one way by which accidents in coal mines
can he entirely prevented. and that is by
ceasing to mine coal. There is no doubt,
however, that the number of accidents
may be greatly lesSened, and much bene-
fit is anticipated from the action of con-
gress in appropriating $4,000 to enable
the United States geological survey to in
Vestigate the cause of mine explosions and
make recommendations in relation there
to. 1t is not the intention. as it is not
the province, of the geological survey to
undertake any system of mine inspection
or regulation. but simply to carry on re-
search Investigations the results of which
will be published for the benefit of all.
The writer is of the opinion that one of
the great needs of the coal mining indus
try is the enforcement of military disci-
pline in the operation of the mines. With