The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-09-14
STATE MINING INSPECTOR
MAKES ANNUAL REPORT
Recommends to Coming Legislature
Five Amendments to Mining Laws.

Five Amendments to Mining Laws.
The report of John H. Donahue of
trostburg, state mining inspector for
the year ended May l, 1911, has been
issued. The report says: "The year
1910, while showing no phenomenal or
unprecedented features, was on the
whole or at least for the miners, much
more prosperous one than the one pre-
ceding it. The total production of coal
mined for the year was 4, 7l6, 1872 long
tons over the year 1909, and an aggre-
gate production of 798 tonsfor each en-
ploye in and outside of the mine. The
production by counties for the year 1910
was; Allegany county, 3,814,51O tons,
mined by pick, and 124, 399 tons by ma
chimes, making a total of 1888, 800 tons
of coal and increasing the production
423, 627 tons over the year 1909. Garrett
county produced III, Alb tons by pick,
and giving the large increase of 253, 1863
tons oyer 1909, %%1sAIlegany county en-
ployed 1926 miners, 81 drivers, 800 in
side laborers and 555 outside laborers,
making a total of 5,042 men employed,
an increase of 157 men over the year
1909. Garrett county employed 645
miners, AZ inside laborers and 81 out
side laborers, showing an increase of
81 men over the previous year.
Machines are used only in Allegany
county and At in 1910 against Al in 1909.
During the fiscal year ended April /,
1911, there were II fatal and 125 non
fatal accident. For the calendar year
ended December 81 1910, there was Is
fatal accidents showing a production of
262, OBJ tons for each life lost and g. %
per thousand employed. The fatal ac-
cidents were two less than the previous
fiscal year. The largest percentage of
accidents occur at the working faces
and in many cases due to carelessness
on the part of the miner. The inspector
says he had time and again recommend
ed more systematic inspection of the
working face by the mine foreman and
he regrets that this and other sugges-
tons of the inspector were not adopt
ed" The mine foreman is to the mine
the same as the peace officers is to the
town. Mr.. Donahue adds: Where
proper notices fail to be effective then
he should firmly and impartially demand
obedience to his instructions and to the
rules and regulations of the mine under
his charge and also observe and require
obedience to the laws of the State gov
erning the mines so that lives of the
men under his care may be protected to
this end that accidents may be reduced
and lives may be saved" The inspec-
tor urges that reasonable discipline be
impartially enforced.
The report recommends that the fol
lowing amendments to the miningllaws
be passed by the next Legislatures:
First. All mines employing ten men
or more, where a fan is required, to
keep it running all the time, whether
the mine is running or not.
Second. To prevent. the solid shoot
ing of coal.
Third, The amount of powder, not
to exceed five pounds, to be taken into
/ the mines by one person,
Fourth. A better grade Of oil for il
Eliminating purposes.
Fifth. a miners hospital something
that is badly needed in the mining re-
gion.
The inspector commends operators
who have installed telephones in their
mines which are valuable especially in
( case of accident. He urges that all
operators so equip their mines. The
excessive use of explosives is con-
/ demned. The miners so addicted is call
ed n explosive miner, whose
wages are falsely made for they are
not secured by superior skill in the art
Of mining, but through reckless daring,
at the sacrifice of safety and some
times his own life or that of his fellow
workman.