The diamond drill., 1918-03-16
THE AMAsA-poRTER ACCIDENT


accident at the AmasaPorter mine,
which appeared in these columns two
weeks ago. One article is by George
Newett OF the Ishpeming Iron Ore,
man who knows as much about mining
all over this peninsula as any man
living. Another Is from Capt. Mitch
ell, county mine inspector whom we
criticised; the other is taken from
the Iron River -Stambaugh Reporter.
We publish them SO that our readers
may get fairly we'll acquainted with
the opinion OF those who look at these
matters from different angles. There
isn't any thin spots in our hide and
we would have published Capt. Mitch
ell's letter in reply TO our criticism
Just as freely as we criticised him.
The several comments have, II seems,
TO us, shot beside the mark instead of
hitting the bulls eye. They lead off
on a tangent OBrien intimates that
we should apologize to Captain Mitch
ell and to the men who operate mines
because OF the article. Well, that de-
pends upon how you view the matter.
Only in one point do we make any mod
ifcation and that is in the sentence
which should have read, Careful in
spection MIGHT have, etc" instead
of would have"
AS TO furnishing a bill OF particu-
lars, we call attention to our article
OF last week in which every phase cf
the work of preparation and the steps
taken after the first cave and at the
time OF the accident by those in charge
were detailed. Our particular COM
plant, as stated therein, is that the
mine inspector was not on hand I'M
mediately after the first cave and
while the mine was closed down TO
counsel with those in charge as to the
advisability of starting work again.
II Is probable that had he been there
the same procedure would have been
decided upon as was done without his
advice-work started after four days
shutdown. Again, it might not have
been The management used their
best judgment and with their decis-
ions TO resume we find no fault. It's
the fact Mitchell didn't act-most like
ly didn't know Of the cave at all, al
though preparations had been max
ing for 1t for several months-that we
criticised. He should have been
on hand when work was re-
sumed. II is barely possible
that he might have seen some danger
that others didn't see. There was a
pit full of water. a COB OF permeated
quicksand. The bulkhead held. There
was no reason that anyone could see
for supposing that II wouldn't hold.
Now, il is barely possible that in
Captain Mitchell's forty years OF ex-
perience he may have known of some
cases where danger lurked under just
such circumstances and that knowl-
edge would have caused him to say
Tets wait a few days more" before
taking the responsibility OF sanction
ing the resumption of work That Is
our complaint against Mr.. Mitchell
We claim that the miners first, and
the management OF the mine next
should have had the benefit of his
counsel and advice at that very i'm
portant moment Had his advice been
wrong no one would have complained
for We all know that hind-sight Is
better than foresight
So far as the portions of the arti-
cles dealing with mine managers 3.
concerned they are all wide of then
mark. II Is well known fact tha,
] no man can stay in mine management
these days who doesn't first last and
all the time look to the safety of his
employees. The management OF tho
/ Amasa-Porter Is no exception They
did all that could be expected Acct
dents are deplored by mine manager.
and mino owners as much as by EN-
ployes.
Captain Mitchelrs dribble abou
last November etc, is just gush {,
/ take away the mind from the meat o.
the nut. We say frankly that we ar,
not now and never have been I'm &C
cord with the method of mine inspec
tion In vogue in Michigan We be
lleve that IL should be under n stat,
bureau OF mines with the very hes
technical talent available at It's head
this talent to be reinforced by com
petent corps OF practical men in eacl
county and the industry to pay th
nn8f fk.X ,,,u. 49,