The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-18
HIGH FATALITY RECORD
At MINES DUE To WAR
Bureau Reports aces Men Killed.
increase OF 40 Over Number
for Last Year.
LACK OF SKILLED LABOR
Secretary Lane Says Operators Have
Been Forced to Take Workers of
All Sorts; Attempts TO Speed Up
Spasrnodicafly is Harmful.

Washington. ., C. February IT
The Generalization forced upon the
coal mining industry by wartime
conditions Is said by the bureau of
mines to be responsible for the
highest IA tality record from accidents
in that industry in the last seven
years
During the year 1917. there were
1885 man killed in coal mining,
which is an increase OF 4To over the
previous year.
black eye to the splendid EFFORTS OF
the bureau Of mines In its cam peixu
with the miners and mine operators
for safer conditions" said Secretary
OF the Interior Lane today. Until the
war struck as there had been a con-
SANITY decreasing death rate, which
was much gratifying TO the men Of
the bureau OF mines as well as TO
myself. There had been the utmc r
cooperation between the industr !
and the bureau. and 1t had begun
to appear - II we had passed those
disgracefui days when human life
was cheaper than "a mine mule.
Although the war has changed all
this for the time being. 1t is still our
duty to ana1yxe and see II we caei-
not correct some OF the conditions
even during the war. for q single life
saved. is not only humane, but a step
toward victory. The unfortunate
death toll OF last year Is undoubtedly
due to the fact that the industry
has been speeded and retarded spas
medically throughout the year. There
was the unusual demand for coal. the
uncertainty OF prices at the mines,
the failure at times OF the transpor.
tation facilities. and the changing OF
markets to avoid long unnecessary
hauis. the difficulty in obtaining ex-
perfenced men to offset eniistxq ents,
the draft and miners voluntarily re-
turning 10 their countries in Europe
to take part IN the war. All OF these
factors combined against the best
EFFORTS OF the operators 60 produce
coal In sufficient quantities TO keep
the country supplied with the neces-
sary fuel. and also to have the safety
conditions which we expect
The speeding up of the mines at
timer. under the circumstances, was
conducive to q 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
fcremen and safety engineers had
either enlisted or been drafted into
the army. or obtained moro re-
n1uneratfve employment elsewhere.
with the result that less experienced
foremen had IA be placed In charge
OF some Of the workings With the
exceedingly large demand for coal, II
was not possible for the operators
and others concerned to give as
much attention to accident preven-
ton at the mines as I'm recent years
under normal conditions.
Mines which have not been able
to obtain an adequate supply Of coal
cars. have been operated only part
time, which again Ia not conducive ia
safe conditions This has resulted in
an increase OF certain dangers, o.
pecially those due to gas. dust and
IA lis Of roof, which would not OBJ
tain in the case OF tho mines ope.
rating full time. An, active mine will
ordinarily be kept In better condition
than one operated only part timA
The remedy. therefore. both for
a sufficient supply OF coal and greater
safety for the men lies In : cons
tinuous. steady now Of coal from the
mines. without these over-strainina
operations that led to q negiect OF the
usual precautions IN the mine.
Il am Satisfied. from what the IN
dustry has done in the past. that thia
year with the bsttering Of the con-
ditionB over which the opsrators
have had no control, there VIII be
q greatly incrsassd production d
coal and without m unusual aacrtfo6
/ Of life. 0fvsa the pFOp~r enc0uraoO.