Arizona republican., 1913-05-04

falling of large bodies of rock from the roofs of it's cavernous stopes. They are known in the iron mines in Lake Superior district, where the bedded de- posits are not so thick as the ore bodies at Miami. But they take place also in workings with much narrower passages and usually result from moving ground. I note a record from the Mysore Gold mine in India that fl deaths were due to air blasts, so it is not new or unusual thing.
 It is the usual mining practice in such mines as the Miami to break down the ore into the stopes and allow the capping to gradually settle. But on the occasion of the accident there was no warning whatever The capping suddenly dropped A very serious phase of the accident was the evil dence that men had been drawing ton mage from the stopes against instruc- tions, therefore leaving a bigger space between the broken ore and the cap ping than was expected. Be that as it may. It is difficult to foretell these accidents. But if this was done against the instructions of the superintendent, it was reprehensible on the carmen's part, for it is little things that cause serious accidents, and especially in mines, where so frequently the uneX- pected is happening. But men will be careless or indifferent. even at the risk of losing their own lives. An example of this was in an eastern coal mine ac- cident over two years ago. When men went along the galleys to their work they passed smouldering bale of hay Not one of them attempted to put it out, or even report it. And they knew the mine was gassy. over seventy lives were lost in this terrible accident and none can comprehend the horrors of these occurrences unless they have seen them. Unrecognizable, charred bodies and the awful grief and anguish of the living on the bank, when the re- mains reach tn surface Yet, men will be careless. I have known men to take nails into the mine to open their lamps, so they could put their pipe on the flame to get a smoke, and know
 ing full we'll that there had been an accumulation of gas. All the toilers in the mine might be blown into eter- nifty. Such carelessness is difficult to contemplate, but nevertheless it is a fact. How many men have I seen in Arizona mines tramping down their powder charge with steel spoons, but they seem to get indifferent or hard ened to fear.
 The inquiry at the Miami brought out facts that will be a guidance and assistance in the future. The mine, of course, is not injured in itself. The capping would have to come out even- tually. but much more gradually.
 One notable feature in the inquiry was the intelligent way in which our
 present mine inspector acted. There was no endeaVor or desire evidently to air his knowledge or importance, but a good, sound miners judgment was exercised to arrive at the facts. In affairs of this nature it could safely
 be said there is no blame to be attach those accidents that are unavoidable, and as such will ever remain so, as long as men are human. However, we don't like to hear of them. And it must be said that we have been singu- larly free from mining accidents in Arizona, and especially so from such catastrophies as are occasionally re- ported from other mining regions. There is an anxious desire on the part of mine arrangements to perfect ways methods for the welfare, comfort and safety of the underground worker and the best results are obtained by hav- ing it so.