The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1920-06-11
COAL NINE FATALITIES
GIVEN OUT BY THE
BUREAU
DECREASE SHOWN FOR CALEN.
OAR YEAR 1919.
Worst Disaster Was Near Wilkes
barre, Pa, Where Ninety-Two Lives
Were Lost BY the Burning Of Large
Quantity Of Powder 80 stricter
Regulations Most Imperative.

United States bureau of mines. de-
partment of the interior. has just is
sued complete statement Of coal
mine fatalities occurring throughout
the United States during the calendar
year 1910. Reports received from
the inspectors for the year show q
reduction of 10.5S per cent in fatali-
ties as compared with 1918. while in
1918 the reduction was 45 per cent
from 1917 figures. The total num-
her killed was 1907 in 1919 and 25Os
in 1918, a reduction Of two hundred
and seventy-three. There was de-
crease of one hundred and twenty
eight, or 25 per cent in fatalities re-
sulting from minc ears and locomo-
tives, and a decrease Of one hundred
and ninety-eight or Is per cent in the
fatalities due to fall of coal or rock
Surface accidents show n decline of
about % per cent a. compared with
the previous year There we're. how
ever, increases in accidents due TO
gas and dust explosions and also ex-
plostves. There occurred during the
year nine disasters Ia which five or
more men were killed. representing n
total Of two hundred aud one fatal.
tics.
The worst disaster Of the year was
the one occurring nj Baltimore Tunnel
No. ?. Wilkcsbarrc, Pa, resulting
from the explosion or burning of q
number of kegs of powder, by which
ninety-two lives were lost This dis
astcr emphasizes the need for strictcr
regulations relating 10 hauling men
and explosives Into the mine Mt the
aime time. The question of whether
aiiertricity was responsible or not does
mot affect the consideration of the
various dangers which arise in under.
ground transportation and handling
of explosives. At best the handling
aud hauling Of explosives Is hazard
Gus and such being tho ease. mo- one
other than the necessary attendants
should be permitted 10 ride in ears oi
nHges transporting explosives. As q
result of this disaster. the report oi
she coroncr's jury to the governor oi
Pennsylvnnin brings out some i'm
poriant dangers 10 be avoided in IN,
risc and transportation of explosives
The condition under which N,
-nines were operated Ia 1919 were moi
normal M the country has not hccom,
adjusted 10 the new commercial con
.ditiuns as a result of the war Their,
were numerous labor troubles during
The year and ON November lst strik,
almost completely shut down the cen
trail biiuminous field, with the result
that but little coal was mined during
the month of November and early
part of December According Ia M,
preliminary estimates by the United
State, geological survey for the ycai
1919 the total production was ass,
O63,OOU tons of hitumlnous coal which
rs reduction of l2l ,323,OOO tons q,
compared with the previous year m,
anthracite production is estimated bN
the survey as SG,200,OOO tons or a NJ,
.duction of l2,GOO,OOO tons from th,
preceding year,
While the actual number of fatal
dies II considerably less than 1918
the ratio ON tonnage basis is Slight,
ly higher, The number of tons pro,
duced per fatality ia 1918 ia the hi.
luminous mines was 2S5,559 u, CON,
pared with 725,OOO tons per fatality
m 1919 In the ANTHRACITE field the
production per fatality in 1918 was
2b2,sl3 tons as compared with 1885,,
700 tons per fatality ia 1919. The
average for the entire coal mining IN,
'duslry was 235,000 tons per fatality
us compared with 262,s73 in 1918;
24l,6ls in 1917; 265O0i in 1916, and
234,207 in 1918.
Complete figures showing thenum.
Der of men employed are not avail,
able, but estimates received from the
inspectors total about 100000. Al,
though the number of names ON the
payrolls may lac slightly in excess OF
1918, the actual number of DAYS labor
performed during the year will be
much less than in the preceding year
because of the irregular working of
the mines on account of ear shortage
strikes and the unsettled demand tol
coal. When the number of employees
Is properly weighted ON the basis OF
fulltime workers, the reduction in ac
cident rates may not be as great az
first appears. This rate on a tonnage
basis does not show any improve
ment. In fact, the contrary bs indi'
Cmed