The Nenana daily news. (Nenana, Alaska) 1918-1921, 1918-04-04
1855 MINERS
KILLED LAST YEAR

the coal-mining industry by war
time conditions is said by the Bu-
reau of Mines to be responsible for
the highest fatality in the last seven
years.
During the year 1917 there were
1905 men killed in coal mining,
which is an increase of 470 over the
previous year
Statement by Secretary Lane
cat least, temporarily, it gives
black eye to the splendid efforts of
the Bureau of Mines in its cam
paign with the miners and mine
operators for safer conditions" said
Secretary of the Interior Lane
Until the war struck US there had
been constantly decreasing death
rate which was much gratifying to
the men of the Bureau of Mines,
as well as to myself. There had
DCSH liS ulHloSI cooperation ue-
tween the industry and the bureau
and it had begun to appear as if
we had passed those disgraceful
days when human life was cheaper
than a mine mule.
Due to Changing Conditions
although the war has changed
all this for the time being, it is still
our duty to analyze and see if we
can not correct some of the condi-
tions even during the war, for Il
single life saved is not only humane
but a step toward victory. The I'M
fortunate death toll of last year is
undoubtedly due to the fact that
the industry has been speeded and
retarded spasmodicaliy throughout
the year. There was the unusual
demand for coal, the uncertainty of
prices at the mines, the failure at
times of transportation facilities,
and the changing Of markets to
avoid long unnecessary hauls, the
difficulty in obtaining experienced
men to offset enlistments, the draft.
and miners voluntarily returning to
their countries in Europe to take
part in the war. All of these fac
tors combined against the best eff
forts of the operators to produce
coal in sufficient quantities to keep
the country supplied with the nee
essary fuel and also to have the
safety conditions which we expect.
"The speeding up of the mines
at times, under the circumstances,
was conducive to high death rate.
Mines found themselves short Of
labor and compelled to employ new
and inexperienced men from other
fields. Many of the experienced
mine former and safety engineers
had either enlisted or been drafted
into the army, or obtained more re
munerative employment elsewhere,
with the result that less experienced
foremen had to be placed in charge
of some of the workings. With the
exceedingly large demand for coal
it was not possible for the oper-
ators and others concerned to give
as much attention to accident pre-
vention at the mines as in recent
years under normal conditions.
Dange~ in Shutdowns.
Mines which have not been able
to obtain an adequate supply of coal
cars have been operated only part
time, which again is not conducive
to safe conditions. This has re-
suited in an increase of certain
dangers, especially those due to gas.
dust, and falls of roof, which would
not ODCdlH III the case OF The mines
operating full time. An active mine
will ordinarily be kept in better
condition than one operated only
part time.
"The remedy, therefore, both for
sufficient supply of coal and also
reater safety for the men lies in a
continuous steady flow from the
mines, withouth these overstraining
bursts Of speed and these part-time
operations that led to a neglect of
the usual precautions in the mine.
Hopeful for New Year
II am satisfied from what the |