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

No. 10. MINE INSPECTORS' REPORT. xix
Third bituuiiiious district inspector reports an increase in the
number of accidents Avhich is due in part to a boiler explosion,
something unusual in the bituminous mines of this State. He also
very pointedly refers to the necessity of workingmen exercising
greater caie before they can expect to escape the dangers of their
occupation.
Fourth bituminous district inspector reports a very material increase
in production for 1807, which he ascribes to the increased number
of mining machines that are being used. He also reports a
marked decrease in the number of fatal accidents, but fails to give
an explanation for this decrease.
Fifth bituminous district inspector's report shows a marked increase
in the production of coal and coke, also an increase in the number
of persons employed. He also reports an increase in the number
of fatal accidents which he attributes to the recklessness of the victims
themselves. A perusal of his report shows that notwithstanding
this,
the mines in his district are in a better and safer condition and
are more attentively looked after by the ofiflcers in charge than at
any former period. There is, he says, still room for decided improvement.
Sixth bituminous district inspector reports a decrease in the number
of fatal accidents and a large increase in the quantity of coal
produced over that of 1896. He also says that many of the mines
have been greatly improved by the adoption of better methods of
mining. It will also be noticed that the quantity of coal mined is
one-third more per fatal accident in 1897 than in 1896. There is
also a large number of modern improvements being installed in this
district.
Seventh bituminous district inspector reports that the mines in
his district are in reasonably good condition, and the most prolific
source of accidents is from the falling of roofs which is due to the incompetency
of the miners. He also says that the strike of two
months did not very materially affect the production as compared
with 1896, the diflerence being only 624,450 tons, and had not several
of the large mines been closed during the entire year, the production
would not have been far short of that for 1896.
Eighth bituminous district inspector reports the mines in
his district
in fair condition as a whole, but complains of some of the mine
foremen being inclined to violate the law radier than enforce its
provisions. Tn speaking of accidents he calls special attention to
two deaths during the year which were caused by the persons coming
in contact with electric wires. It is true that electricity is no
longer an experiment but has steadily advanced in its field of usefulness,
and stands to-day as one of the most effectual aids in the
economics of mining. It has made possible the mining of thin seams