The Elbert County tribune., 1919-10-31

hospital corps All of these men have been trained
by tie bureau of mines.
"lInppily. great mine disasters have been be-
coming fewer and fewer us the men come to n bet
ter understanding of the Nevertheless they
do happen and thing that the bureau has
preached is that upon such visitation there shall
be more orderly and systematic method of rescue
work. for it lms been demonstrated that life
be saved in devious ways. The bureau has en-
deavored to tell rhe miners TINT In IL great catas-
trophe II Is often better for entombed miners
barricade themselves in, Keeping the poisonous
gases out Of their working place and waiting for
relief In tnis manner ~ men entombed In mine
for four days were recently rescued the
being able to walk out of the mine.
1--WE are not content rest on the progress
made. There are than II million miners
In the United States. and each year more than
5000 are killed in accidents and quarter of a
million injured. Taking the cold, business cacu-
laton of the state compensation commissions and
eliminating the suffering and of 300 killed
each year, the economic loss from these fatalities
alone is $12.OO0.OO0 year. for these commissions
paying an average of $4,000 for every life lost.
This is terrible toll for industry to pay each
year It is hard for realize that out of
every mining clrip of 10O0 men, three of them are
to lose their lives within II months.
Mining will always be an extra hazardous
business. But the question is, Have we reached
the irreducibe minimum? No. think not 1t is
my belief that cut down the present fatal
ity rates full one-hulf; that save eact 800
of the 5000 killed.
"The causes of these fatal accidents are much
better known Operators and miners are giving
much thought to the dangers of the mines
and the wide-awake among them have Installed
more modern safety devices Through the ex
permental mine of the bureau mining men and
miners both have keener understanding of the
dangers of coal dust and have learned how to COM
but them.
I'm the mining Industry human life is much
valuable than ever before. and | believe
thn can be said of a the industries. This is seen
in the great advances in safety work. the millions
of dollars spent in safety devices and the human
tartan work OF the different state compensation
and those ghouls that preyed upon the widow be-
set with grief over the loss of her husband have
happily passed away. The state now steps in and
sees that the widow and the orphan are protected
and that alone is worth all the fight that we have
endeavored make. do say that the bureau
of mines is responsible for these state compensa-
tons but do know that these commissions came
after the mining industry started Its great human
saving drive and that the disclosures of the condi-
tions In mining furnished the states with facts
tint favored the establishment of these commits
sions.
'Cut the mine fatalities in half"
The dedication ceremonies brought to Pitts
burgh for the three days the most prominent min
ing and metalurgical men of the nation, not alone
those interested in the safety first movement but
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 of mining tlrought
In the country. The first morning the new labora-
tories at $500 Forbes street we're dedicated DIR.
Van H. Manning. director of the bureau, presiding.