The diamond drill., 1918-03-16
(From the Ishpeming Iron ore }


man who might have been in the
Amasa- Porter. and who had escaped
the food OF sand and water following
the accident there, two weeks, ago,
was given up when second How
completely filled the openings where
the mer might have taken refuge. II
is not probable that any escaped the
first .now, so the death list will num-
Der about sixteen men.
We observe that The Diamond Drill,
of Crystal Falls. believes that the ac-
cident might have been ayerted had
the county mine inspector been look
ing after the duties OF his position as
the law directs, the claim being made
that he visited there seldom.
II has been our observation that
mine inspectors in these days have
very little to do for the reason that
the agents of the companies, the mine
captains. foremen, etc, are much bet
ter equipped for keeping in touch
with the needs OF the property than
is the man who pays occasional visits.
The inspector shares the responsible
titles OF accidents, probably, but the
fact Is he hasn't had much to do,
Everyone will recognize the fact that
the mining company regrets accidents
as sincerely as anyone. Aside from
the injuring and killing of men, which
they sincerely deplore, there is much
expense attached TO them. Fatalities
are costly and no company desires
them, not even TO take the chance of
getting a lot OF low-cost ore, or to
withhold expenditures that ought 70
be made for the protection OF the mine
In these days all the mining organiza-
tions, so far as we know, practice
safety-frst methods and all of them
give particular instructions to their
mining captains and foremen TO take
every possible precaution against
danger.
The mine inspectors OF Michigan
cannot go into every portion OF every
mine because they would not have the
time, and they do not consider it i'm
portant, knowing present practices.
IL there was dangerous condition at
the Amasa-Porter IL was unknown to
the company and to the men. We have
not heard that there was any COM
plant by any employe concerning the
conditions, and we imagine the men
would have complained had they be-
lieved there was danger. In these
days the men would complain IL they
thought a mine unsafe, and would re-
fuse TO work in such a one. They
would easily get work elsewhere. II
seems the company did construct a
bulkhead to keep any flow OF water
OF the mine where they evidently
thought any danger OF this kind would
start. Many mines have bulkheads
for this purpose. We see them in
nearly every mine we visit. We doubt
il the mine inspector had ever been
spoken TO by any OF the men at this
property as fearing an inrush of quick
sand. or course il Is easy TO see what
might have been done after the dam
age has been done, but IL is not al
ways easy to anticipate these things
A few months ago there was a great
rush OF water that came into the
Stephenson mine, at Gwinn. IL came
without warning, filling up the mine
very quickly Fortunately no one
was caught. And there was at the
Stephenson mine the most able pump
ing equipment OF any Of the mines oi
the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron company. II
was thought to be ample to care for
twice tho volume OF water the mine
would ever make and yet In an hour
the water was $50 II. deep in the shaft
and the lower levels. IL came In al
a rate OF approximately 5000 gallont
a minute, and that's pretty good rlv.
er flow. And no mining company
looks closer after It's operations thar
the Cleveland-Cliffs or pays more at
tention to the protection OF men ans
property. No one ever dreamed tha
such a flow OF water could come into
the mine. And the mine is still filled
awaiting great pumping facilities e
unwater II.
Many years ago we visited the Mans
field mine where twenty-eight miners
were caught by the Michigamme rivci
breaking into the mine. The mlninl
had been carried upward TO withir
about six feet OF tho river bottom.
criminally careless act for which thos,
responsible ought TO have been jailed