The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1909-12-09
Coal Nine Accidents and Their Prevention

Erpeh !. Charge Tentog Brood Uahsd Ssles COhsaE S~sey.

{ oentage of whom come to him un-
familiar either with the practices OF
the industry or with the language
or traditions of the country;
s. And the penalty which the ma
ton is paying for this bad system is
this increasing waste or resources
and the still more objectionable in
creasing waste of human life-the
yearly loss of s5O,OOO,OOO tons of
coal aud the killing or injury yearly
of from 5000 TO 10000 men.
And what are the remedies for
this bad situatlon2
A. Investigations, such as are
now being conducted by the govern
ment, as to the causes of mine ex-
blossoms; and other similar investI-
cations as to tho cause of mine ae-
cidents of other kinds, and as to
methods of prevention.
B. Educational work among the
miners and the lower active mine
officials as to . those causes and
remedies;
@. The training of men at each
mine as to the best methods of us
ing explosives, using electricity,
handling of gases and dust, of
tImbering, of preventing and ex-
tlnguishing mine fires; as to the
methods of rescue work, and as to
the methods of first-aid. to -the-in-
jused work;
ID. The development. of better
and more uniform mining laws,rules
and regulations, based upon accur-
ate data and experience;
T.. Active. determined coopera-
ton bstween the miners and the
maragement in. the States iu-
spectors aAa tho enforcement of
6hese rules and regulations with
view to tue maintenance of the
safest possible conditions in every
mine.
The above are all parts OF the pro-
gram for lessening and alternating
mine accidents; but they do not
complete the program. 1t is an es-
sential part of this program that
f. The ruinous competitive system
upon which coal mining in the
United States is based at the pres
ent time should be changed, and
that the price paid for coal at the
mine should be such as will permit
and secure safe. and Efficient mining
unaccOmpanied by either
this large loss of life or waste of re-
sources-lnining which can have
due regard to net only the safety
but also to the health and the COM
fort of the men who toll under
ground aud whose labor is so es-
sential to the welfare OF the nation.
All this can be done without adding
to the burden of the ay-
5rage American citizen without any |
increase in the price of coal at the |
poor mans cottage, aud without the |
risk of any unreasonable restraint of |
trade.
There can be no permanent in-
1u stry without reasonable profits.
IL is unjust and Irrational that in |
his great and essential branch of |
industry, reasonable profits should |
De dependent upon any unnecessary /
sacrifice OF human life, and un-
necessary waste of resources which /
We can neither replace nor restore
and which will be essential to the |
future development of the country. |
This industry'needs and deserves
lair treatment at the hands of the /
American people, and upon its re-
sept of such treatment depends in
40 small degree not only the well
fare OF the operators-thOugh no
body cares about them-but also the |
welfare Of the 100000 miners who
risk their lives in supplying the |
fuel for the nations industries, and |
the heat and light for the nations
comfort and convenience.