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

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Official Document, No. 10.
Sixth Bituminous District.
(CAMBRIA, SOMERSET AND INDIANA COUNTIES.)
Johnstown, Pa., February, 1898.
Hon. James W. Latta, Secretary of Internal Affairs:
Sir: I have the honor herewith of presenting my annual report as
Inspector of Mines for the Sixth bituminous district.
1 am pleased to report a decrease in the number of fatal accidents
from eleven, in 1896, to eight, in 1897, while the total quantity of
coal mined has been increased from 4,722,871 tons, in 1896, to 5,-501,611
tons, in 1897.
The mines have not only been maintained in their usual condition,
but many of them have been greatly improved by the adoption of
better plans of mining, upon which comments will be made in
another part of the report. There will be found embodied herein
also the usual tables and statistics,
together with a description of
each mine as regards ventilation and drainage, and the improvements
and developments at the various collieries during the year.
Very respectfully,
J. T. EVANS.
In the report for 1894 a table was given, showing the number of
tons of coal mined per fatal and non-fatal accidents from the year
1885 to 1894, inclusive. This showed 442,030 tons per fatal, and
283,735 tons per non-fatal accident. The two following years—1895
and 1896—showed 480,506 tons per eacli fatal and 260,846 tons per
each non-fatal accident. The present report shows 687,701 tons per
each fatal and 275,080 tons per non-fatal accident. Thus, there is a
gradual decrease in the number of fatal accidents each year in proportion
to the (luantity of coal mined. The foII()N\ing is the list of accidents
for 1897, and how caused:
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