The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-05-23

laws, increases or reduces the danger
of explosion. There are differences OF
opinion as to whether silent electric
current on wire introduced into
mine, that does not come into contact
with anything that will create
spark, will ignite the gas in mine.
There are other things at the present
time In doubt, and under this bill
proposed here, if it is enacted into
law, bureau is established furnish
ing the necessary equipment to make
an investigation, and then these
things can be determined through
tests and experiments, and informa-
ton furnished to the various state
governments so that they may con-
struct their laws accordingly. Gap
plause.) = ~ -
During these five past years, in the
United States, nearly 10000 coal min
ers have been killed. With the same
degree OF safety in American coal
mines as has existed in France and
Belgium 1000 Of these miners would
have been saved.
During 1907 the number of men
killed and injured in the coal mines
was approximately 5000. the number
of killed reaching the enormous total
Of $500, or nearly so per cent, over
| the year 1906.
During January, February, and
| March, the first three. months of the
| present year, there have been killed
| and injured in our mines some 1900
miners, or 10 to 20 for each working
day.
It will thus be seen that the loss CT
! life from mine accidents in the United
| States is increasing, and it already Is
three and a half times greater per
thousand men employed than IN
France or Belgium and nearly three
| times as great as in England, al
| though our coal mines are neither as
deep nor naturally as dangerous as
the mines Of those countries. In
other producing countries the
| percentage of accidents is being con-
| tinually reduced, and it has been DEM
onstrated that government investiga-
lions into the causes Of accidents in
| the mines and enactment of legisla-
| ton in accordance with the informa-
ton thus obtained have materially re-
! duced the number Of these mine dis
asters,
In the United States, where the sit
uation Is more complex than it is in
| the other countries because of our
| dual form of government, investiga-
tions of this character, If undertaken
by the various coal producing states,
| would lead to needless and costly
| div, 3oof f1vo tot nj
| f1icting results. The federal govern
| ment can make a more complete. in
vestigation into the causes Of these
| terrible accidents: than any one of tho
states can do.
The life cost of our coal supply is
! too great to pass by unheeded. The
| situation requires immediate action
on the part Of congress. Many lives
are being sacrificed through lack Of
| sufficient Information of the means
| required to prevent them. In .Decem-
| Der of last year about 500 miners were
killed in four disasters in the mines.
On January 1, this year, nine men
were killed and five injured by al
explosion of gas at Carthage, N. Mex.
On January 30 nine miners were
killed at Hawks Nest, w. Va, by an
explosions. On February II ten min
ers were killed at Central City, KY
| On February 81 three men were
killed and seven injured at Wilkes
Barre, Pa.
On March %, 10 men were killed at
Hannah, Wyo., by an explosion in q
coal mine. Just the other day -four
| nd IN
jured in an explosion of gas at Ellis
worth City, Pa. A number Of Other
serious accidents have taken place
bringing the death and accident rate
of the present year to an average Of
about 20 per day. These accidents
are not due to lack Of intelligence or
the part of either the workmen or thu
managers, but to lack of necessary
means to obtain information concern.
ing the actual causes of the accident:
and of the methods necessary to pre-.
vent them. A bureau Of mines ant
mining, properly equipped, is abso
lutely necessary to make the expert
ments and tests that will furnish thu
desired information. The miners O.
our country are an Intelligent ant
courageous class Of men. They ar,
engaged in the production of materia
that is the basis of our modern indus
trial and commercial activities. The!
are daily taking great risks in tn
hard and hazardous occupation which
they follow. When accident has be-
fallen any Of their number, when tn,
caving in of the roof, the flooding o
the mine,. or an explosion of coal dus
or fire damp has cut OFF all means o
escape, the innate courage of tn
miner asserts itself, and he will ~yielt
to no hardship, hewever great, no
shrink from any, danger, howeve
perilous, in his efforts TO relieve. hi
fellow-me *> - ~. ~
Tell me in martial measures Of tn
Charge. of the Light Brigade; poin
with patriotic pride to the farmer
who fought with the soldiers at Con
cord and. Bunker fHtll;; repeat to M
the story of the mighty conflict be-
tween the Blue and the Gray, whe,
= the flower Of American youth yielded
up their last fullsssmea sure of devo
| ti0n, in tdefense IN satheir resnectfv.