The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-01-04
COAL MINING ACCIDENTS.
Timely Report Just Issued by v. S. Geo
logical Survey.

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United States, 2,061 being killed and
$500 injured. In the first seventeen
days of December of this year about
500 lives We're lost, and the total death
roll for 1907 will probably greatly
exceed that of the preceding year
Notwithstanding this appalling ac.
cident list, ii is very doubtful whether
the natural conditions in any other
country in the world are SO favorabl,.
for getting out coal with a minimum
amount of danger to the workmeu en-
ployed. The structural relations in the
principal coal districts of this counHA
are entirely favorable: the beds
thick-four. five or six feet-they lie
in nearly horizontal positions, and they
provide nearly ideal conditions for min
ing. The mines as whole are not trou-
bled with fire damp to a 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. fo- 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 20 reduce the number OF mine
accidents in the United States to a 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 anG
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 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 conn-
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 decrease.
In view of these conditions and OF
the two most recent horrible disaster
no more timely report was ever pub
llshed by the government than
just issued by the United States Go
logical Survey as Bulletin No. 333, en-
titled Coal y Accidents: Their
Causes and Prevention" a preliminary
statistical report by Clarence Hall and
Walter y. Smelling of the technoiogic
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 end aavoring to carry out the suE-
lstin Tf ha 1ati
the improvement of mining conditions
and the prevention Of accidents in the
coal mines of the territories, a 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 charse
Of the technologic branch. Other and
more extended examinations in both
Indian Territory and New Mexico have
been planned.
Meanwhile Mr.. Hall and his assoct.
ates have been investigating the ma
ture, extent, causes and results oil
| number Of disastrous coal miAe 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
view to determining the practicability
of preventing coal mine explosions and
improving mining conditions, Mr.. Hal!
with the assistance of Mr.. Waite-}
Smelling, and under the advice of Y
c. f. Munroe, began an inquiry coli
corning the nature and extent OF si'h
explosions and the methods employed
in tho ITrlirnH St1tnc onl fnrpipH
tries to prevent their occurrence,
In response to numerous requests
for information on this subject. Hessrs.
Hall and Smelling have furnished in
the bulletin just issued brief sun
mary of the results of these inauirl'7,
Later bulletins will deal with other
phases of the subject.
The authors point out that the m
crease both in the number and serlons
ness of mine explosions in the United
States shown in the past may be eN-
pected to continue unless most eh'I'
getlc measures are taken to count@aCl
the prevailing tendency. With the He'
pletion of the thicker and more faVo'
ably situated seams of coal, thinner
and less regular seams must oe
worked. This factor will undoubtedF
be of the greatest Importance within
comparatively few years and the ma
ural result will be to increase grea'!
the death rate. The rising price oL
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 we''
the direct cause of fifty per cent. OF 'he
deaths in mines in 1906. 4
The varied nationality of the miners
is also factor n ha rppk0Dpt Will
At the Monongah mine, which was VIZ
tied by Mr.. Smelling just after the acc-
dent signs printed in seven difereh0
languages were placarded on the walls
large proportion Of the foreign-ho,h
miners are unable 10 understand Ell