The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-12-05
HORRORSI|V PEACE
u - .-
: + Il <!FUL INDUSTRIES
~T
1851 L -, 100000 Injuries
In AMI e <Mines During

we'll as war is shown in the casualty
list of American mines and quarries
for 1913, issued today by the United
States Bureau of Mines. This list
gives 1861 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 $40,
or nearly three ,and one-half men.
DR.. J. A. Holmes, Director of the
Bureau of Mines, comes forward with
the statement that, taking the haz-
ards of the industry into considera-
ton, this list Of death and injury is
excessive and unnecessary, and a dis
credit to the industry and the coun-
try.
Deaths Appalling
Commenting on the deaths in the
mines, DR.. Holmes said: I'VE stand
aghast at the slaughter in Europe as
reports reach us concerning the ter
rible 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
1861 men engaged in a 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,
=! the mines and quarries of the United
States have swallowed up 10,4S7 hu-
man lives and have incapacitated
temporarily probably a quarter of a
million men.
"The saddest part Of it all is that a
great part of this Heath roll and a
still greater part of the injuries are
not necessary. I believe 1 am con-
| servative when I say that half of the
1851 men killed in the year 1913
| might have been saved and three
| fourths of the 100000 men injured in
the same year might have escaped in.
jury had all the various agencies in
volved, the operator, the miners, and
the state and national governments
done their full duty in the matter
Perhaps no one of these agencies has
done it's full duty. For the Burea1
} of Mines, as representing the fedora,
! government, ]. can. say that owing, tc
a lack of adequate funds, this bureau
( has fallen short of doing it's full par
in this great safety movement; and
therefore hesitate to criticize thu
seeming shortcomings of any othe1
agency.
U. S. Death Rate High.
1T is not to the credit of the Uni
fted States that the very European
countries embroiled in the creates
conflict of the ages kill in their min
ing industries but one-ha1f or ever
one-third of the number of men W.
kill. I refer to the number killed fo
every 1000 employed, which is fail
basis for comparison. According t.
the latest foreign statistics, Belgium
killed one man in every 1000; Grea
Britain and France one and one-hal
men; and Germany two and one-hal
men; as compared wi tn the American
death rate of three and one-half.
Drastic Laws Needed.
with such a grewsome record a
has the United States in its mining in
Fdustry it is high time something NOR
drastic is done to bring this excessiv
boss of life down to a basis that will
kbe more favorably comparable witt
/ other countries. 1t can be done; an
hope that the American people will
see that it is done.
Before the federal government be
gan it's attempts to aid in reducing
the mortality of the mines, the dealt
rate was steadily increasing; and al
though every year our coal mine
grow deeper and more hazardous, a
with increasing depth the explosiv
gases increase, this increase in ia
talities has fortunately been stoppe'
and the rate is now being slightly re
duced. But this is only a beginning
of what I hope will soon be a muc
greater improvement. What we real
ly aim to do is to aid in saving. tn
} lives Of at least two men in ever
1000. of the three and one half me
J per 1000 now killed in our minin
Operations. In an Industrial army O
| Continued on PAGE 8.