The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-02
LIST
IN PEACE ZONE
IS VERY LARGE
Nearly Four Thousand Meet
Death in Mines and Quarries
of United States in 1918.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. al
That peaceful industry has its horrors
as well as war is shown in the cas-
ualty list Of American mines and
quarries for 1918, issued today by the
United States Bureau Of Mines. This
list gives 1851 men killed in the
year. The number of men injured
was not tabulated, but It is estimated
that 1t reached 100000.
Altogether in the coal mines, metal
mines and quarries 1,047,010 men
were employed, and the death rate
for each 1000 men engaged was 3.49,
or nearly three and one-half men.
Excessive and Unnecessary.
DR.. Joseph A. Holmes, director of
the Bureau Of Mines, comes forward
with the statement that, taking the
hazards Of the industry into ,consid-
Grafton, this List of death and injury
is excessive and unnecessary, and a
discredit to the industry and the
country.
Commenting on the deaths in the
mines, DR.. Holmes said: 1--WE stand
aghast at the slaughter in Europe as
reports reach US concerning the ter
rlble war that is raging, and we pride
ourselves on our freedom from war
through the adaptation of higher.
ideals and standards. Yet to me this
report ON the death in one year OF
1851 men engaged in peaceful in
dustry Is quite as discreditable. And
when we consider that this record is
being repeated year after year, the
very thought Of it becomes appalling.
In the last three years, as far back
as the records OF the bureau covering
certain branches Of the industry go.
tht mines and quarries Of the United
States have swallowed up 10,4S7 hui
man lives and have incapacitated
temporarily probably a quarter of
million men. And the saddest part of
1t all is that a great part of this death
roll and still greater part Of the in
juries are not necessary. believe
am conservative when l say that
half of the 1851 men killed in the
year 1913 might have been saved and
three-fourths of the 100000 men in
jured in the same year might have
escaped injury had all the various
agencies involved, the operators, the
miners, and the state and national
governments done their full duty in
the matter. Perhaps no one of these
agencies has done its full duty For
the Bureau of Mines, as representing
the federal government, can say
that, owing to a lack of adequate
funds, this bureau has fallen short of
doing its full part in this great safety
movement; and therefore hesitate
to criticise the seeming shortcomings
of any other agency.
Fewer Killed In Europe.
st is not to the credit of the United
States that the very European coun-
tries embroiled in the greatest con-
f1ict Of the ages kill in their mining
industries but one-half or even one
l refer to the number killed for every
1000 employed, which is a fair basis
for comparison. According to the lat
est foreign statistics, Belgium killed
one man in every 1000; Great Britain
and France one and one7half men;
and Germany two and one-half men;
as compared with the American death
rate OF three and one-half.
with such grewsome record as
has the United States in It's mining
industry, it is high time something
more drastic is done to bring this ex-
cessive loss OF life down to basis
that will be more favorably compar-
aple with other countries. 1t can be
done; it should be done; and I, hope
that the American people will see that
1t Is done.
Great Improvement.
Before the federal government be-
gan its attempts to aid in reducing
the mortality Of the mines, the death
rate was steadily increasing; and al
though every year our coal mines
grow deeper and more hazardous, as
with increasing depth the explosive
gases increase, this increase in fatal
tiles has fortunately been stopped and
the the rate is now being slightly re-
.duced. Bnt this is only beginning
of what / hope will soon be a much
greater improvement. What we real
ly aim to do is to aid in saving the
lives OF at least two men in every
1000, OF the three and one-half men
per 1000 now killed in our mining
operations. In an industrial army Of
over million men working under
ground, that will mean yearly say
ing OF more than 1000 lives; and in
the combined mining and mineral In
dustries. employing two and one
third million men, hope we can aid
in preventing 10000 to 10000 acci-
dents each year.
1T must not be forgotten that min,
ing is and always will be hazardous
industry and that each year 1t will
demand as its tribute to modern civ
ilization certain death roll. We cam