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

Official Document, No. 10.
Eighth
Bituminous District.
( CLEARFIELD, CENTRE AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.)
PhiUpsburg, Pa., February 13, 1898.
Hon Jas. W. Latta, Secretary of Internal Affairs, Harrisburg, Pa.:
Sir: I have the honor of presenting to you my third annual report
as Inspector of coal mines for the year ending December 31,
1897, as required by article X, section 11, of the Bituminous Mine
Laws. The report contains the usual statistical tables relating to the
names of companies and location of mines, the total production in
net tons of coal, the number of each class of workmen employed in
and about the mines, each fatal accident reported fully, together
with causes and. where necessary, the manner of averting as far as
possible any further occurrence of such accidents. Although there are
quite a number of accidents that may be attributed to the carelessness
of employes themselves, a new danger, however, shows itself in shape
of electric wires, these having caused two deaths during the year,
and considerable care will be required to prevent future accidents
from this source. Descriptions of these accidents are given in another
place.
The mines have been kept in
very fair condition as a whole, but
there are several cases where the foremen were arbitrary and, instead
of putting in force the provisions of the laws, they seemed rather inclined
to violate them. It should be the foreman's first aim and object
to see that the provisions of the law are observed by himself and the
employes under his care, especially where life and limb are in danger,
and he is expected to have more knowledge of the dangers that exist.
Mention is here made because it often occurs that when investigating
an accident, the officials say they had often warned the workmen of
the danger, yet did not compel them to more thoroughly guard against
it, which, if they had, would be the means of reducing the number of
accidents to a minimum.
The total production in net tons of coal is
slightly less than that of the preceding year, yet the number of fatal
accidents is one in excess, while the non-fatal accidents are seven less,
which, however, is
in the State.
a very fair showing compared with the average
(427)