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

38 REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS OF MINES. Off. Doc.
The monthly air reports are also received from the mine foremen
before the 12th of the month for the preceding month. Keports of
all accidents are promptly forwarded and the same may be said of the
reports of boiler inspections.
Article XIV. section 1, reads in part:
"Notices of deaths or serious
injuries resulting from accidents in or about mines or collieries shall
be made in writing to the Inspector of mines," etc.
Many of the non-fatal accidents described in table V are such as
cannot be considered serious and therefore should not have been reported.
Table A shows that there are 16,578 persons employed in and
about the mines of the district in various capacities, including mine
foremen and outside foremen. It is not surprising that some of these
employes should be found in the act of risking their lives by practices
which cannot be justified by law or circumstances. Some miner
^ have been found in the act of preparing powder with their lighted
lamps on their caps. Some of the mine foremen could add to their
t wn usefulness by cultivating a better system and exercising greater
discipline in the discharge of their duties. By calling attention to
a few who are lacking in judgment it is not intended that the remarks
concerning the careless miner and indifferent foreman should
ajiply but to a limited number.
Copies of the mine Inspector's reports, if liberally distributed,
y.ould tend to show the underground worker the conditions under
which accidents have occurred in the past, thus directing his attention
and observation.
Mining Operations Discontinued.
Dui-ing the year mining operations have been discontinued at one
shaft only in this district, namely the Delaware and Hudson Canal
Company's Von Storch shaft. At this shaft the ''Clark" vein was
being worked, but owing to danger threatening from a squeeze it
was mutually agreed between tlie mine Inspector and the company's
oiTicials that it was unsafe to continue the operations.
On -Tune 12. 1S97, I visited the mine to examine a squeeze on part
c! McDonongh's road. Its effects were visible for a dislance extending
some 300 feet, but no imminent danger was anticipated from
liic indications suri'ounding it at the time. So it was decided that
a careful and experienced man be delegated to watch il while it
was being secured by timbering and to give (he alaini in case of
serious indications appearing.
On August 20, 1S07, I revisited the squeeze in response to a report,
and found that it had made considerable progress since June 12. It
was ])lain to be seen at this time, that the trouble originated in
old workings to the right, and also that timbering was no! successful
in arresting it. Owing, therefore, to the more serious indications