Weekly journal-miner., 1909-05-19
TO TAX PRODUCTION FOR
 BENEFIT OF INJURED

DENVER, Colo, May 15.-A page in the last report of the United States Geological Survey, on the Mineral Re sources of the United States, contains the surprising statement that during the years 1907 the lives of 3,l25 men were sacrificed in the coal mines of the United States, while an additional 5.3I6 men were more or less seriously injured, many of them perhaps result ing fatally. This was an average of II men killed and 23 injured for each day the mines were worked.
 West Virginia holds the unenviable record for greatest death rate, being 12.35 per thousand men employed. Then follow New Mexico with 1l.45; Alabama with 20; Colorado with 6.9o; Washington with COG; and Montana with 4.39. The average for the whole country was 4.S6 deaths per 1000 men 1 employed. In the western states, where natural conditions have always been considered the safest, the average death rate is much higher than in the eastern states.
 One-third of the deaths result from explosions of coal dust and gas, the precise causes of which are not dehn- itelv known, and can hardly be pre- vented until after further investiga lions are made. X little more than one third result from falls of roof and coal, which, with the exerclse of greater care. could perhaps be largely prevent ed. The remainder result from blown out shots. and miscellaneous causes. In the early months of 1908 congress appropriated $l5O,OOO with which to- carry on experiments and investlga tions for the purpose of aseertaining the causes of. and means to prevent, such terrible loss of life, but at best this can result only in lessening the number and extent of the fatalities.
 It has been proposed by the Amen- can Mining congress, which held it's session at Pittsburg, Pa, last Deeem- Der, where the subject of coal mine ae- cidents was fully discussed, that in or der to mitigate the disastrous results, and to tighten the burden which some times falls heavily upon the distressed family of the dead or injured miner, that a small tax be levied upon all coal nrodueed. to create a fund which could be eouitably disbursed among those distressed by the accident. A tax of one-half cent per ton, it is thought would be ample, and would be of great relief to the families of dependents of the unfortunate victims.
 Congressman J. G. McHenry Of Penn svIvania. who was a delegate to the Mining Congress, is the author Of
 resolution recommending that the leg islatures of the coal mining states pass
 appropriate laws putting this plan into
 effect. It has been endorsed by many
 of the large coal operators of Pennsyl-
 vania. Ohio, Illinois and West Vir-
 pinia: hv John NitchelS ex-president,
 and by Thos. l.. Lewis, president of the
 United Mine Workers.
 The Mining congress has appointed os a committee to determine upon a suitable statute and present the same
 to the legislatures; Congressman J. G-
 McHenry, of Pennsylvania, chairman;
 ex-Governor A. B. Fleming of west Viroinia; Glen W. Traer, eXpresident of the Illinois Coal Operators assocla- ton; Alexander Dempster of the Mon ongaheIa River Coal and Coke eompa- 5 nv. of Pittsburg. and Thomas l.. Lew
 is nresident of the United Mine Workers of American, of Indianapolis, Ind Meanwhile the Mining congress,
 the coal operators, the miners organl-
 cations. etc., are urging congress to
 create a bureau of mines to collect ; data and devise methods of economi- ; cal mining and prevention of waste; to continue the search into the causes of coal mining disasters, and means
 for their prevention, and to increase
 the annual appropriations of congress for this kind of work.
 It is expected that a basis will be reached so that definite action may be taken by the Mining congress at its next annual session, which eonvenes
 at Goldfeld, Nevada, September ~ ; when the matter will be further dis
 cussed.