South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-26
CASUALTY LIST
AMONG MINERS
BECOMING LESS
Report of Federal Bureau
Shows Encouraging COndi-
tons in 1914 Due to Cooper
alton of Men and Operators.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2B.-The 1914
casualty list FOR the army of three
quarters OF a million men employed in
American coal mines. just made pub
lie by the United States bureau of
mines. shows that 2.451 men were
killed during the year. Comparing
the deaths with the year 1913. there
Is a decrease Of 334, or one man less
killed for nearly every day in the
year.
Shocking as is the violent death
OF 2.451 men in a years time by a
peaceful industry" said Van. H. Man
ming. acting director OF the bureau,
the men OF the bureau who are en-
gagged in the campaign TO reduce this
casualty list find, in comparisons with
ether years. some facts that are rath-
er comforting and some indications
that the Improvement noted in the
saving Of life Will be further accentp-
ated as the years pass.
Casualty List Grows Less.
I'm the first place. coal mining in
1914 cost the lives of 3.3 men in every
1000 employed, while in the year
1913, the death rate was 1913. That
reduction alone means a saving Of
more than 300 lives.
every one million tons OF coal mined
in 1914 was 4.S1. In the year 1913,
there were 4.89 miners killed for every
one million tons mined With the ex-
ceptiOn of the years 1912. the 1914
rate is the lowest yet recorded for
the United States.
The amount of coal produced for
each miner killed in 1914 was 2OS,07S
tons, which is the largest amount on
Of he
1912.
There were 316 lives lost in disas-
ters in which more than five men were
killed. which is a reduction of las
deaths when compared with the disas-
tiers OF 1913.
When the bureau of mines began
its works, the great cause of disasters
in the coal mines OF the United States.
was the explosion of coal dust. This
phase OF the problem was taken up
more vigorously than any other and
IT is indeed gratifying to the bureau
that the explosions from coal dust in
1914 have decreased 90 per cent from
the previous year.
Cooperation Is Manifest.
While the bureau of mines is lead
ing in this national movement to re-
duce the number Of deaths in the
mines, It realizes fully that not much
progress could be made, were it not
for the helpful cooperation il obtains
from the state bureaus. the miners
themselves, the operators and various
other agcenies. The improvement be-
ing made may rightfully be credited
TO closer and more careful inspection
by the state inspectors; better en-
forcemant OF laws and regulations by
the operators: a better realization of
the dangers attendant upon the miner
in his daily work and his efforts to
reduce accidents due to the educa-
uonal campaign conducted in his be-
half: the extended use Of safety lamps
in doubtful mines; the use OF permits
sible explosives that have been passed
upon by the bureau of mines: the wet
ting of dusty mines to prevent explo-
sions OF coal dust: the first aid and
rescue training which saves lives that
otherwise might be lost by reason of
injuries received; the enactment of
Industrial accident compensation laws;
and last but not least the fine spirit
OF cooperation on the part of all con-
cerned.