United labor bulletin., 1914-11-21
Increased Death Rate Shoun in
Report of Inspector Dalrymple
Percentage of Men Killed in Colorado Mines Number EN-
ployed and Tons Mined Exceed Those of Any State
and Double Average of Entire United States
coLoRADo's RECORD.

coL0RADO'S RECORD.
Average yearly earnings of coal min
ers, S66o.67.
Average earnings per day, s1.ss.
Number men killed in mines during
1918, ITO.
Injured, 354.
In 1912 Colorado mines killed to
every 1000 employed.
In 1913 Colorado mines killed sc to
every 1000 employed.
In 1912 average for United States,
3.15 per 1000.
In 1913 average for United States,
4.2s per 1000, 900 tons mined, while in
Colorado it was 11.s6 per 1000.
James DaIrymple state inspector of
coal mines. has issued his report for the
year 1913. 1t shows an increase in the
number of men killed for each 1000 en-
ploved and for each 100000 tons OF
| coal mined. and furnishes most conclu-
sive testimony that laws enacted to
protect miners are being ignored by the
| operators Until the men are permitted
| to enforce obedience to mining laws
through organization no improvement is
TO be expected, for, according to In
spector Dalrymple's report, the loss OF
| life increases each year.
There were ll0 men killed in 1913 in
accidents in the mines. Fifty-one
women were left widows and los chill
dren were left fatherless-
The inspector says that there has
| been a steady increase in Colorado in
the number of lives lost in the coal
mines during the last three years
| fmeaning the years 1911, 1912 and
| 1879. while there was a material de-
crease in the number of lives lost in
| the coal mines of the United States as
a whole.
The wear for which his report was
made covers only three months and one
week OF the strike Of coal miners. now
in progress.
Table Gives Fatalities.
His comparative table on the number
! of men killed in Colorado's coal mines,
IT, taken from bulletins issued by the
director of the United States bureau OF
mines. shows in 1912 there were zoos
men killed per 1000 men employed
in the states mines. while in 1918 there
were SEQ men killed per 1000.
The average in the United States as
| . whole for 1912 was 3.l5 men per 1000.
| The number OF men killed per 100000
tons mined in Colorado was $50 in
| 1912 and IL Sc in 1913. The percentage
for the whole United States in 1912 was
i.29 per 100000 tons.
There were 354 men injured in Colo
rado mine accident during 1918, an av-
erage of 27.5 per 1000 men employed,
according TO the report which is made
up of reports OF Accidents given to the
Inspector by the efsrating companies as
| required by law
The Inspectors rjcrt shows further
that there were lis mines in operation.
Sixteen new mines We're opened up
and seven old mines reopeneo, while Il
mines We're closed.
Decrease of i,74o,ooe Tons.
The total number of tons of coal pro-
! duced was 9,26S. .93a.
The decrease in production in 1918
was l.140,oo9 tons.
| The number OF men employed as min
ers was 1896.
Average number of days worked for
all producing mines, 1872.
The total number of men employed in
and about the mines was l2.SIl.
The average daily production OF each
miner WAS 6.e6 tons
The average annual production of each
miner was POS tons
The average price paid the miner was
| - % cents a ton for coal mined.
This makes the average yearly earn.
ing OF the coal miners of the state
S56a.6. each.
The total number of tons OF coke pro-
dueed WAS $50, ,lS6
The total number of coke ovens in
operation was 2,lS7.
The total number of men employed
at the coke ovens was 62o.
The number Of men killed under
ground was l0l The number killed
on the surface was six.
Causes Are Varied.
The causes OF the accidents were
falls OF rock and coal. 46; mine cars
and motors. L; dust explosions, 81; suf-
location from marsh gas. .; miscellane-
Gus. including premature blasts, electric
ity. shafts. mules, IL; machinery ane
/ railroad cars, Z.
The amount Of compensation for
death and injury was S33 ,59S.63.
The cost OF Development during the
year was S56s .64ll9
The tons OF Ignite coal produced
reached l92s.676; of semi-bituminous
coal. 7so.S53; Of bituminous. 6,561 $50 !:
of anthracite. 5s.6S4.
The number of tons produced for each
| life lost was S+.26S and the number
produced for each non-fatal accident was
26.lS3
During the last three months of the
wear. while the strike was in effect
the production was l.725.0Sl tons, as
against 3.2l3.3sa for the same period in
1919.
Funds Insufficient.
The inspector expresses regret that
the department was unable to put into
| affa,t al tho nrovisions of tho new
coal mining law becuase of shortage of
| f...,.l.. ~. ,,...l L,. siril., md ,l,,rc Of