The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-04-18
MINE INSPECTOR
ISSUES REPORT
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF MINING
INSPECTOR ED. SMITH HAS
BEEN RECEIVED IN BOOK FORM,
CONTAINS MANY INTERESTING
FACTS

The annual report recently issued
by Mine Inspector Smith for the year
1929 shows that the ore shipped from
mining operations in the county in
creased approximately 20 per cent
more than the previous year.
Mr.. Smith states that II fatalities
occurred during the year even though
there was no let-up on the part OF
operators to reduce the hazards OF
mining to a minimum. The year 1928
is a record breaker insofar as the
number of accidents Is concerned.
The average number of fatalities per
year for the past 10 years has been
%.
Mines to the number of 81 were
operated in the county last year,
while 129 were not in operation.
There were 81 shaft mines operated;
five open pits and underground COM
bined; one open pit and underground
hosting through shaft.
Men employed underground num-
bered 1887; open pit, 2,191; strip
ping operation, 1928; on surface, 1,197
making a total number Of 8.003. The
total shipment of ore amounted to
IS, $50, 100 tons, 28,232 ,063 Of which was
shipped from open pits, and 7,448,657
from underground. Cubic yards of
stripping removed 7,160, 1853; number of
fatal accidents underground 8, on sur
face 8, making a total of II.
There were 20 serious non-fatal ac-
cidents. The average wage was 1888.
The cost of common labor per day
for the county beginning in 1914-15
to 1929 has been from $500 to $4.16.
T~o ~
/, 1928, estimated tonnage: Mesaba
14,483, 285; Guyana range, 53,263 ,438;
or a total of 1883, 232, 624. The iron
ore reserves of Michigan are estimated
at 1859, 430, 407 tons and Wisconsin, 49,
000,0 900 tons.
that on February Goth, Matt Strukel
was killed by fall of caved material
at the Pioneer mine. This is the only
fatal accident listed for the Ely sec
ton of the Vermilion range for the
year. Soudan is charged with one
fatal accident. Henry Paylio was
fatally injured at the Soudan mine on
December 9Th.
The Vermilion range had three nom
fatal accidents during the year, ac-
COTOIlS 10 inspector oIIuCll. vi JUNE
18th, Chas Yerich, Jr, miner, was
injured by stepping into raise at the
Sibley mine. On September 3rd, John
Kosnitch, motorman, was injured at
the Sibley mine when the motor left
the track and squeezed him between
the motor and the head car he was
pulling. On october 3rd, George E.
Hayden, miner at the Pioneer mine
sustained fractured left leg when
chunk of ore fell on it.
The report speaks volumes for the
safety measures being rigidly enforced
in the mines of the county. It shows
that during the fiscal year from July
/, 1905 to June 80, 1906 with 1888
men employed in the mines of the
county, So were killed in accidents
The number became constantly less
and while the number of men EN-
ployed also decreased, in the fiscal
years of 1921 to 1922 with only 1878
men employed only 10 fatalities re-
suited After this the fiscal year was
changed the dates running by calen-
dar years. In 1928, only 9 fatalities
resulted, the safest year in the his
tory of ST. Louis county mining. Last
year, with 8,008 men employed, the
fatalities numbered II,