The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-04-17
Death lURnnG
H0AU|KI0k MINES.


p.
port just Issued; President Davis ;of
District II, United Mime Workers Of
America, summarizes the accidents or
the last few years within his district,
which centeTs In west Virginia, and
comments upon the figures as follows
! "1so1-Killed, 1874; injured, 1s4;
number Of tons Of <coaa mined per life
lost, 1885. s}SSss*>s .@ T
"1s02-Killei, 1859; injured, 223;
number Of tons coal mines per life
lost, 164,5ss. :2..* #. ~* s..
"19o3---Killed, 15s; injured, 22s;
number OF tons coal mined per life
lost, 152,979. -:7 4s i l.. "a !. s.. ~.
1904 KILLED, 40; injured, 211;.
number OF tons coal mined Per life
lost, ,191, 49, $500. ,t.;sxIs Il, i.
"1s05-Killed, = 1914; injured, $50;
/ number of tons COAL mines per life
lost, 1888. >
1906 KILLED, 1858; injured, 2ee;
| number of tons coal mined per life
lost. 156,313. s :: III: H..
~: "1o7- Killed 1885,; injured, 44s;
number Of tons coal mined per life
lost, 123,026. 5..'-.-,''s* : W.. -. '.~
"190s-Killel, 625; injured, $50;
number Of tons coal mined per life
lost 62,9S7. d.,
MANY of these explosions and acct
dents could, in my opinion, have been
easily avoided had the mining laws Of
the state been properly enforced and
compiled with. 49,.
! The report of these catastrophes
shows that the gretatest number oc-
Cured in the non-union sections Of
the state. In fact, there has been lit
tie or no complaint coming from the
mines Of companies with whom we
have contracts Of violation: of law;
however, It is apparent to all that the
mining laws have been ignored to
some extent In the 11on-union fields.
! I'm order that we may be able to
cooperate with the mining department
and give our assistance to see that
the laws receive the proper test, I
would recommend that whenever it
can be shown that the; mining laws
! are not complied with, that you notify
the deputy mine inspector Of the dis
trfct which he has charge OF, and also
forward a copy Of the modification. to
our district office. II the mining laws
Of this state are Inadequate, 1t can
be ,ascertained by " a strict enforce
ment. i: ":~-.~,:.* ="
For the year erding June 80, 1907,
there we're 1924 fatalities occurring in
1s1 j. mines, employing 1884. men
producing 13,8s6,562 gross tons, while
at all other mines there were pro
duced 26,2o3,749 gross tons without
the loss Of single life within the
mines. "a >.;.".. a. =, ...' ~ : .~'.
"a striking coincidence is observed
from the fact that not a single inside
fatality. is recorded I ct the mines
working urder contract, with the
United Mine workers OF America.
ITO any Intelligent, discerning in
dividual this deduction proves the
force OF our contentious that under
union. conditions =, fatalities -. in the
mines are reduced to the lowest pos
sibls minimum, while under other
conditions life is held 50 cheapIy that
no restraint Is placed on unscrupu-
lous employers who value their en-
ployes as a means to- swell their ar
ready bullying Golfers. <.:.. :.*:...
| If the United Mine Workers had
done nothing else to commend itself
to the public, this alone would be suf-
ficient reason to preserve dts existence
and place It in the forefront Of bene-
ftcient institutions.