Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-12-28
Federal Bureau Places States
Of Michigan and Minnesota
IN Honor Glass

washington, Dec. 2l.-ln q review
OF the work accomplished in the cam
paign to reduce the number Of deaths
in the mines OF the United States,
the Federal Bureau of Mines today
placed the states of Michigan and Min
nesota lin tlle honorable mention
column.
The report, which deals with fatal.
ties in the metal mines Of the coun.
try for 1912, shows that Michigan has
reduced its total Of deaths in the cop.
per. and iron mines from 1874 in 1911
to ninesy.six in 1912; that Minnesota
has reduced it's total deaths in the
iron mines from seventy.six to fifty
in the same period. The death rate
for every LOCO men employed lin
Michigan was 4.24 in 1911 and 3.26 In
1912; and i'll Minnesota 4.59 in 1911
and 3.O2 In 1912.
The thirty.eight less lives lost in
Michigan represent one miner saved
for every 1000 employed and the 26
less lives lost in Minnesota represent
one and one-half miners saved for
every 1000 at work.
"The decreases in Michigan and
Minnesota in a years time are the
most remarkable we have encountered
so far" said DR.. Joseph A. Holmes.
the director Of the bureau today, "and
were largely due to an active safety
during the last three years.
1t is indeed gratifying to note that
the Lake Superior operators are meet
ing with such marked success within
SO short a time. It shows what may
be done in other states if special
are made to safeguard all en-
gagged in the mining industry.
I do. not wish to be understood as
agreeing that the death rates in
Michigan and Minnesota are as low as
they should be, or as low as they will
become, but l. do say that
these two states in the year have
made nor real progress toward the
desired goal than others in the union,
in metal mining or coal mining,
and that much credit is due the
mine owners in these states for their
activities lin behalf of safety.
From the very first, the bureau Of
mines has noted the friendly coop.
erative spirit between the operators,
the miners, the state inspectors and
the bureau of mines. The aggressive
progressive spirit manifested by all
persons concerned, the desire upon the
operators and the men to learn about
the work Of the bureau along safety
lines, the enthusiastic, kindly greet.
ing of the men of our rescue cars, the
eagerness Of the miners to take tho
prescribed rescue, and hrst.aid train.
ing, all those were sufficiently motto
able to bring warn comments from
the employees sof the bureau. And the
result has been SO fruitful in SO many
less funerals, so many less widows
made and so many children who have
their fathers left to them. If there
were a lesson to the entire mining in
dustry for the year just closing. I
would point to the remarkable record
made by Michigan and Minnesota"
The bureaus report on metal-mine
accidents in the United States in 1912,
shows 661 men killed, 4,5O2 seriously
injured out of a total number Of 169..
1879 mel employed. The figures show
a decreasce of thirty-four deaths
frof 1911, despite the fact that Alas.
ka with twenty-one fatalities is in.
cluded for the first time in the 1912
report. The death rate for 1912
3.91 for every 1000 employed as
against 4.19 in tile year 1911.
The report on metal-mine accidents
completes the mortality statistics. for
the mining industry for the year 1912
and shows in coal. mining, metal min.
ing and quarrying, a total of 1924
deaths for the year. with a death rate
CT 1922 as against 1902 in 1911 and a
rate of 1858 in every 1000 employed.
NATIONAL HOCKEY SEASON OPENS.
Toronto. Ont, Dec. 27.-Ife champion
ship season of the National Hockey AS
ISOLATION, the leading professional organ.
ization of its kind in the Dominion,
opens, tonight and will continue until
March 4. In the opening contests Quezec
is scheduled to plays with the Ottawas.
the Canadiens with the Ontarios, and
Toronto with the Wanderers.