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

No. 10. SECOND ANTHRACITE DISTRICT. 37
la two or (liroe instaiues it has been noticed that while niiuers
wire ill a i)hi(e of saft-ty, tVaiing a "miss" owinjj; in some cases to wet
holes, they uudeiiook to remain at (he moulh ot ihe cross-cut with
their heads extended towards the cluunber in order to listen to the
sc.uib, the flying coal from the blast strikin.n' Humu svith fatal results
while in that jiosition.
In drilling holes in some of the smaller mines, streaks of sulphur
are encountered, and because these are harder than the coal, a contraction
of the hole takes pkice, and often the hole becomes crooked.
DitTticuHy is therefore experienced in inserting the powder cartridge,
ard the men in some instances have been templed to resort to violent
means to force it, causing a premature explosion, (he investigations
of a number of these accidents admitting of no other solution.
Suitable
suggestions have been made by the Inspector in each and every
Ci;tse.
Five non-fatal accidents have occurred owing to the careless handling
of powder near naked lights. These are violations of law.
Explosions of (Jas.
In such mines as evolve explosive gases in dangerous quantities,
definite rules and methods of handling the same are framed and
rigidly enforced. When the quantity evolved is small, even when the
barometer is low, less attention is paid to rules and methods. The
same fact is illustrated in the mining of coal from the solid and in
the robbing of pillars. Statistics show that fewer accidents result
from falls where the latter work is performed, although it must be
admitted that it is far more dangerous than the former. The only
explanation which can be offered is
latter work are ever on the alert,
that the persons employed at the
while the former, owing to a false
sense of security, grow somewhat indifferent. Where accidents have
occurred from this source during the year, practical suggestions have
been made to those in charge, after a searching investigation into the
cause of the accident, together with the rules in vogue. Such suggestions
tend to insure greatc^r safety in the future.
Accidents from Other Sources.
Accidents i-esulting from sources which have not ahi^ady been
enuinerated in this report, such as falling down shafts, breaker machinery,
cars outside, sinking, etc., etc., fortunately have not been
numerous.
Maps, Reports,
Etc.
The maps of thv several mines in the district have been deposited in
the oftice of the Inspector and are extended from time to time and
returned as required by law.