u,.:- • - Clpdigital.org

THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 29
MINE INSPECTORS' INSTITUTE OF THE UNITED STATES HOLDS
ANNUAL SESSION AT CHARLESTON, W. VA., JUNE 13-16.
The Mine Inspectors' Institute of the United
States held its annual convention at Charleston,
W. Va., June 13-16, and it was attended by coal
mine inspectors from all over the United States.
Former Governor W. A. MacCorkle welcomed
the delegates to the city and the response was
made by President George Harrison, of Ohio, who
said:
Fellow Members:—Since our last gathering the
usual number of lives have been sacrificed in the
mines of this country, and, in consequence, the cus
tomary number of wives, children and dependents
have been called on to mourn the untimely end of
their bread winners.
A year ago we prided ourselves on the establishment
of a Federal Bureau of Mines, and the enactment
of more adequate mining laws in various
mining states, and many of us were buoyant with
hope that the fatalities in mines would be materially
reduced in consequence of added safe-guards.
The number of lives lost from gas and dust explosions
and other causes classed as mine calamities,
may not have been so great, but the number
of individual fatalities seems to have more than
kept pace with the ever increasing production of
coal, and we are still confronted with the unsolved
and important problem of how to accomplish the
prime object which prompted the establishment of
our Institute.
A careful investigation of the causes leading to
fatalities in the mines in Ohio, at least, gives positive
proof that over SO per cent, of all fatalities
are avoidable, and would not occur if employes and
the management of mines were more obedient to
the requirements of laws and more disposed to a
strict performance of duty. Lack of discipline is,
to a great extent, the secret of the high death rate
in our mines, compared with that of older mining
countries where greater responsibility is imposed
on the management of mines, and where inside
foremen have sufficient help to insure not less than
two visits each day to every miner under his jurisdiction.
These visits are not made at break-neck
speed, as it were, on a flying velocipede or automobile,
but time is taken to see that working
places are properly timbered, and all dangerous'
roof taken down or secured at the proper time,
and miners not permitted to work under it. The
order of the mine foreman or superintendent, in
regard to the safety of working places and general
security are as binding as statutory law, and quick
punishment for violations always follows. There
is no disposition to aid each other in dangerous
violation of law and orders given by the management,
and, in consequence, prompt prosecution of
ouenders has a very beneucial effect in the way of
lessening the number of fatalities.
The Federal Rescue Stations have been recently
organized, and are doing a very commendable
work in training mine inspectors and practical miners
direct irom the mines, in the use of the helmets
and in rescue and first aid work necessary in mine
calamities. Four of our inspectors spent a week
at the training station at Pittsburgh in February
last. They were very courteously treated and assisted
in every way by Mr. Paul, and all those in
charge, and gained much information of great
value regarding rescue and first aid work. We
heartily recommend to mine inspectors, and those
connected with the management of mines, to take
advantage of the opportunities offered in this connection
by the Federal Bureau of Mines.
One of the objects of our Institute was to exercise
our influence, in every reasonable way, to
make the mining departments in various mining
states, institutions of efficiency, relieving the inspectois
of any political obligation that would embarrass
them in the performance of their important
duties in the enforcement of laws and protection of
life and property in the mines. Judging from the
many changes of mine inspectors that have recently
taken place in a number of state mining departments,
there has not been much progress made
in eliminating politics. Ohio has endeavored to
keep faith with the policy of the Institute in elim
inating baneful political influence, and in securing
the most efficient, practical men as inspectors at
our command. The state mining department, the
miners and mine operators of Ohio' 1 are all deeply
indebted to Governor Harmon for his stern determination
to make the mining department non-partisan,
and his insistence that where so many lives
are at stake, political influence must have no consideration
in the ability and faithful performance
of the duties of inspectors.
For some time past the inspection force of our
state has been composed of six Democrats and six
Republicans, and we have the governor's assurance
that, this policy will be maintained by him.
I am prompted to call attention to the fact that
we are not deriving the benefit that most of us expected,
in an educational way; from our annual
meetings. Much of our time is consumed in ways
other than was intended, in discussions of important
subjects pertaining to every-day occurrences,
in mines, which unnecessarily fill our cemeteries
and grave-yards with victims, and leave countless
thousands of innocent women and children helpless
and dependent upon others.
It is true that many intelligent and well pre-