The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1919-12-06

hospital corps. All of these men have been trained
by the bureau of mines.
Happily, great mine disasters have been be-
coming fewer and fewer the men come to q bet
ter understanding of the causes Nevertheless they
do happen, and one thing that the bureau has
preached is that upon such visitation there shall
DC more orderly and systematic method of rescue
work. for it has been demonstrated that life can
De saved in devious ways. The bureau has en-
deavored to tell the miners that in a great catas-
Tople it Is often better for entombed miners to
barrcade themselves in, keeping the poisonous
gases out of their working place and waiting for
relief. ln-tfis manner Il men entombed in mine
Tor four days We're recently rescued, the men even
being able to walk out Of the mine.
I'VE are not content to rest on the progress
made There are now more than million miners
In the United States and each year more than
5000 are killed in accidents and a quarter of
million injured. Taking the cold, business calc1-
lat0n OF the state compensation commissions and
eliminating the suffering and sorrow of 1900 killed
each year, the economic loss from these fatalities
alone is S12000,000 year, for these commissions
are paying an average of $4,000 for every life lost
This is terrible toll for industry to pay each
year. 1t is hard for to realize that out Of
every mining camp of 1000 men, three of them are
sure to lose their lives within II months
Mining will always be an extra hazardous
business. But the question is, Have we reached
the irreducible minimum? No, / think not. 1t is
my belief that we cut down the present fatal
ity rates full onehalf that we can save each 1900
Of the 5000 killed.
1.-THE causes of these fatal accidents are much
better known. Operators and miners are giving
much more thought to the dangers of the mines,
and the Wide-awake among them have installed
more modern safety devices. Through the ex-
detrimental mine of the bureau mining men and
miners both have keener understanding of the
dangers of coal dust and have learned how to COM
bat them.
I'm the mining industry human life is much
more valuable than before, and l believe
that can be said OF all the industries This is seen
in the great advances in safety work. the millions
Of dollars spent in safety devices and the humani
tartan work of the different state compensation
commissions. The day of the ambulance chaser
and those ghouls that preyed upon the widow be-
set with grief over the loss Of her husband have
happily passed away. The state steps in and
sees that the widow and the orphan protected,
and that alone is worth all the fight that have
endeavOred to make. do not say that the bureau
of mines Is responsible for these state compensa-
lions, but do know that these commissions came
after the mining industry started it's great human
saving drive and that the disclosures Of the condi-
lions in mining furnished the states with facts
that favored the establishment OF these commits
sions.
"Cut the mine fatalities In half"
The dedication ceremonies brought to Pitts
Durgh Tor the three days the most prominent min
ing and metallurgical men of the nation, alone
those interested in the safety-frst movement, but
also those connected with the allied Industries that
use the products Of the mines
The bureau Of mines, in cooperation with the
Pittsburgh chamber of commerce. arranged an
elaborate program Of events calling for the pres
ence of high government and state government
officials besides the leading men of mining drought
In the country. The first morning the labora-
tories at 1890 Forbes street were dedicated DIR.
Van a. Manning, director of the bureau, presiding.