British Miner and General Newsman : — 1862-11-22 (London, England)

THE BRITISH MINER AND GENERAL NEWSMAN  neglect. It is the general belief of those conversant with the subject, that the number killed by disregard of the precautions ordered, is greater than has been proved, which is very probable, as it must often be impossible to get evidence of neglect, which many have an interest in concealing, and under circumstances where the exact truth is apt to be obscured. Her Majesty's Inspectors of Mines have repeatedly attributed the cause of extensive losses of life in collieries to the extreme ignorance that prevailed among the miners; and the men themselves are not ignorant of the fact, for they have petitioned the legislature by thousands, stating that unless Parliament would assist them in carrying out their desire that their children be educated, not one in a hundred would be able to read. To remedy all this, the British Miners' Benefit Association has been formed. The objects of the Association are threefold. First—Science—Considered in relation to its capability to prevent accidents in mining operations.  "Second—kducation—As a means fo the same end. by awakening a proper sense of the responsibility which attaches to persons holding positions of trust—who have many lives dependent on their care, and by making the great mass of our mining population aware of the dangers to which they are exposed; to render it impossible for incompetent persons to hold the position of overlookers in mines, whilst at the same -time greater caution and less foolhardiness will be secured in the men.  And Third—By the collection of voluntary contributions adequate to the instant relief of the families of those killed; to secure provision for the infirm and disabled, and to relieve them, generally, in affliction, by the distribution of funds in accordance with principles and regulations to be agreed on by this Association. And here I may add, that the Association desires it should be distinctly understood that it will hold itself aloof from all questions in dispute between the employers and the employed; but should an appeal be made to the Association by either parties, its best endeavours will be used to induce mutual concessions to be made, to urge moderate counsels on all; and promote to the utmost feelings of harmony and good-will. (Loud Cheers.) feelings thus endeavoured, very briefly, to give you some idea of the scope of the Association, the importance of, and necessity for which cannot be over-estimated. Great calamities call forth great efforts; but it has been stated, on the authority of some of the most distinguished of the inspectors of mines, that "ten times the amount of suffering exists from single accidents, of which the public know nothing."  'Who will say there is no.' necessity for such-an institution as that to which I invite your attention? The magnitude of the existing evil is evident from the frequency with which the public are shocked by accounts of colliery accidents, and the swidespread and very correct opinion that employment in coal mines, is very hazardous; during the last eight years there have been reported 8,015 deaths by colliery accidents, or 1,002 a-year, showing a death-rate from violence excee'ding four per thousand. The death-rate by accidents among colliers is, at least, from six to seven times as great as the death-rate from violence among the whole population, including suicides homicides, and the dangerous occupations. I? these were excluded, it is probable that colliery work would be seen to be eight or ten times as dangerous as the average. In confirmation of this, I may state that the charge of the Insurance Company against death by accident, is, for colliers, eight times the ordinary rate. If this destruction of life were inevitable, it would be melancholy enough, but a very large part of it is not inevitable ; it would be very much diminished if. the inspectors could succeed in enforcing obedience to their regulations, and that obedience would be far better enforced if it were made the direct and palpable interest of owners and managers of coal mines to observe and to enforce them.' After giving some most interesting in respecting the mortality from accidents n coal mines, and forcibly urging the necessity for the employment of improved means of ventilation, and stating that the introduction of such would be one of the chief objects of the Association, Mr. Towers proceeded as follows:  _ Having first endeavoured to prevent, as far as human precaution can prevent, mining accidents; the certainty that serious catastrophes will still occur, remains; and the second great object of the Association is to afford immediate relief to all sufferers from colliery casualties. The Association appeals to high and noble motives of action; it seeks to inculcate the necessity of prudence,forethought, and self-reliance. The condition generally of the miner, when suffering from illness or accident, has been hitherto synonymous with misery and want, unless,' in those rare cases, where he had made provision for a rainy day, or when his club happened not to have become bankrupt at the inoinpnt of his affliction. 

Article type: NotIncident