Report of the Bureau of Mines of the Department of Internal Affairs of ...

No. 10. SECOND ANTHRACITE DISTRICT. 33
Owing to the mixed cleniciU now cniploytHl in the mines, and
after noticing during tours of inspections various doubtful ways of
handling and using these high explosives, I deemed it my duty to
call (he atlention of rtie operators and supcrinlondents to the fact
and re(iues(iiig them to conii)ly with general rule -!). This was done
by circular.
In reply word was received to the effect that the manufacturers
of the high explosives used in the district, do not furnish
special rules such as are referred to in general rule 20 of the mine
laws.
liess room is
also i)rovided in these veins, so that the risk of accidents
from moving cars is greater. It is also more than probable
that accidents from explosions of gas will also increase when a large
nujnber of mines are working these veins exclusively.
It will be realized from the foregoing that the conditions which
surround the underground worker are constantly changing and growing
more dangerous, as one bed becomes exhausted and another is
developed.
During tlie last few years a number of the most experienced miners
have been replaced b}' men less qualified.
If the conditions renmined comparatively stationary it is more
than probable that a more favorable comparison with old time mining
statistics would be shoAvn, as the result of the enaction of better
mining laws and their
enforcement.
It has been well established that as long as men are employed
in mines, just so long will accidents continue to occur. The history
of the coal mining industry of every country is made up largely of
accidents, and the brighest talent has not been able to discover the
means whereb}' they may be reduced from year to year. It has
occurred to the writer that while everything is being done looking
to
reducing the number of these fatalities, something material could
be accomplished towards lessening the suffering of the injured miner.
Possibly some of the accidents which occur in the mines terminate
fatally for the want of better care of the injured. There is no fault
to find with the ambulances and the attention paid to the unfortunate
by his fellow workers and the mine officials. If these persons w'ere
better versed in the administration of help, it would be all that could
be desired. All the mines of the district are so located that a
physician can reach one in a short time, and the hospitals are
not far distant. Still a man injured in a distant part of a mine
must suffer from loss of blood, and his injuries be aggravated by
carrying before a doctor can attend him. If a number of the employes
of each mine liad sufficient skill to bandage so as to prevent
loss of blood, and to afford the most comfort available under the
circumstances while the injured person is being taken out, it is
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