The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-15
MINERAL Waste
ANNUALLY RUNS
into MILLIONS
Says Report Of Mine Bureau,
Which also Discusses Saw
ing Of Human Life.

Washington, Dec. l5-The saw
ms of human life in the mines. the
stopping Of millions OF dollars Of
waste of mineral resources of the
country, and an inventory of the
wastes that are continuing are given
important consideration in the fourth
annual report of DR.. Joseph A.
Holmes. director Of the United States
bureau Of mines.
Miners Rescued.
According to DR.. Holmes, the bu-
reau has recorded its most notable
achievement in the rescue OF more
than one hundred entombed miners
at different disasters. and the rescue
of many more miners by volunteers
who had been trained in life-saying
work by the bureau. The bureau s
influence has further resulted in the
establishment of rescue and first-aid
stations at hundreds of mines
throughout the country. and the di-
rector makes the statement that the
trained rescuers connected with
these stations will in future save the
lives OF many men. The total num-
Der Of miners trained by the bureau
has now reached 1895.
Despite the efforts of the Bureau
OF Mines. Director Holmes declares
that the loss of life Is far greater
than it should be with the natural
hazards of the industry. and makes
a plea for more extended investiga-
lions on the part Of the government.
THE humanitarian motives for I'M
dertaking such Investigations are
obvious" says the director. "a
sufficient economic reason is that
during the past year more than $500
men were killed and more than 1O0,-
600 injured in the mining and metal
lurgical industries of the country.
One-half OF these fatalities and
Ithree-fourths of the injuries may be
regarded as easily preventable. The
money loss from the accidents may
be estimated at not less than S12,-
900, 900 a year. and this loss must
be ultimately paid by the consumers
Of mineral products throughout the
country"
Loss of Life Appalling.
The necessity for a more extern
sive use of safety appliances in the
mines is shown by the statement
that in the last FIVE years. through
lack Of such appliances. more than
5000 men have been killed in the
mines and nearly 10000 seriously
injured.
! The director comments upon the
fact that in Kansas. Oklahoma.
Indiana and Iowa many Of the men
employed in the mines to set of the
explosives have lost their lives, and
recommends that 1.-The shots should
1 be fred electrically from outside
the mines. I'm many districts. .
says the director. the, methods OF
shotifring employed are still SO ex-
tremely hazardous that only tho
most reckless men are willing to act
as shot firers."
AS showing the interest outside
the Bureau of Mines in the life
saving campaign in the mines. DIR.
Holmes declares that the states are
already exepending in their work
more than the federal governmentin
all It's investigations In behalf
Of mine safety. He gives as an
Illustration Pennsylvania, with a
yearly expenditure OF s213,O00. He
also cites that twelve individual
mining companies have rescue cars,
which are four more than are oper-
ated by the Bureau Of Mines.
In discussing the cause Of mine
disasters, Director Holmes says.
mot only have men been killed or.
Is y, ~ y \ - \ :. q - :. =,