The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-04-14

falls of roof and other conditions is many times greater in an idle mine than in one that is worked steadily. As Mines Go Deeper Cost Goes Up. Ihe Government should take steps 1 immediately to prevent this loss and | conserve our fuel supply for future generations Every year our mining operations are extended a greater dis tance under ground, and we must penetrate the earth to greater depths | to open new coal veins which means increasing the hazard and the cost of 1 mining.
 AS the public demand for coal fn- creased unrestricted development took place and additional miners were em- Paoyed; until today there are nearly SO0,O00 men, with their wives and families, depending on the coal min ing industry for a living. Producing our nations supply of fuel is the most large industries. In the darkness of the bowels Of the earth the toilers and countless thousands will meet with injuries that often cripple them for life.
 Compelled to live in an isolated mining camp, often far removed from other industries, frequently in homes oI the poorest construction, with no modern conveniences, the social en- v1ronment is not what the average American workman and his family usually enjoy. Admitting that many large mining companies have erected substantial modern homes and have arranged for the social entertainment education and recreation of their miners, which is commendabIe, they are an exception othe rule It is but fair to state that the average min ing community is the most undesirable place in the country to raise a fam fly.
 Forced Development Increases
 Mine Hazards.
 The hazard in mining materially in creased by excessive development and frequent idleness of the miners The constant employment of inexperi- enced men to fill the places of experi- ehced miners, who leave the industry because of dissatisfaction with the conditions referred to, is also a cause of numerous accidents.
 The outstanding factor is the fafl- ure or inaility of the mine owners funds to insure safe working condi- uons in the mines at all times With few exceptions the mine owners have not done their part in eliminating even in the organized fields. including their officials. have been extremely lax in cooperating with the Fed eral and State Departments of Mines and the coal company officials in the work of accident prevention.
 During the last twenty-five years the miners have enjoyed handsome wage increases while hours of labor
 
 conditions of employment have been materially improved, yet the standard of living has remained about the same This is due to irreguIarity of employment, thus when work IS avail able they are obliged to work hard in order to repay the debt they have incurred through enforced idleness
 Constant worry results from this condition, which is made more bur densome by the knowledge that they are required to follow the work and move their entire family at frequent intervals
 Earn Livelihood Under Inhuman
 Conditions
 As they grow older. with a better understanding of the conditions set forth. they become dissatisfied and usually leave the mining industry for other employment.
 They have protested vigorously a gainst inhuman conditions under which they are obliged to earn a. lsv- ing. They have frequently gone on strike and refused to work for long periods, during which they and their