1900 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

Official Document, No 11.
Fifth Anthracite District.
LUZERNE AND CARBON COUNTIES.
Hazleton, Pa., February 18th, 1901.
lion. James \Y. Latta, Secretary of Internal Affairs:
Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith my fifth annual report
as Inspector of Mines for the Fifth Anthracite District for the year
ending December 31, 1900.
I take pleasure in stating thai with but few exceptions I have
received courteous treatment, and the co-operation of both operators
and miners in the discharge of my duties during the year, for which
1 desire to publicly extend my sincere thanks. There has been no
lack of diligence in the execution of my duties where it has been
possible.
Every mine has been visited and inspected as often as the
exigencies of the case and the condition of the mines required, or
my limited time would permit. When I have had occasion to call
attention to defects in ventilation or other matters requiring attention,
I am pleased to state that my orders have been ((implied with,
within a reasonable time, so that in no case have I been compelled to
invoke the aid of
the law.
There is no question but that the mines of this district will compare
favorably with those of any other district in the State in all
matters pertaining to general safety ami sanitary condition.
The report contains the usual tables of useful statistics relative
to the several operations of the district. A perusal will show that
the total number of accidents during the year in and about the mines
was 116, by which 40 persons lost their lives, leaving 17 widows and
44 orphans to mourn the loss of husband and father.
of these 10 fatal accidents, 23, or 57.5 per cent., occurred in the
mines, while IT, or 42.5 per cent., occurred on the surface, in the
stripping or about the breakers. I have given a detailed description
of these from personal investigation, giving the cause and fixing
the responsibility for each accident. The quantity of coal produced
pe^ life lost was 154,269 tons, against 1 1"..'.'!! tons in the previous
year.
( L53 )