1873 - Old Forge Coal Mines

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j
109,
40 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
Accidents.
It is to be greatly regretted that the large increase in the number of fatal
accidents in and about the collieries of this district during the year far
exceeds those of the preceding year of the inspectorship particularly in
;
tiiis case is the increase in the number of deaths in the collieries of Pottsville
district, where the smallest number of collieries are worked. An
excess, under other years, was certainly to be expected, on account of the
vigilance evinced by the inspectors of mines in their respective districts.
This increase in deaths and injuries must be attributed partly to the increase
of business, yet the proportion is still greater, to the amount of
work clone and the number of persons employed, than the average in the
collieries of Great Britain, Belgium or France.
Great
Britain.
Nova
Scotia.
Number of persons employed at mines 370, 881
Tons of coal mined
117, 439, 251
Lives lost by sundry accidents
I 1,075
Persons employed to each life lost
345
Tons of coal mined to each life lost
I 246
3,522
880, 950
13
271
67,765
The increase of death cannot be accounted for on the plea that the increase
of shipments, the bad condition of the mines, or that their peculiar
dangerous condition is increased. With but few exceptions their general
condition is better, while there is no evident change in the seams or strata.
The system of mining has undergone no innovation and ventilation, as a
permanent auxiliary to mining in deep coalmines is absolutely established.
The steam suction fan system largely predominates overall other antiquated
means used formerly, and is so far an improvement on the old Winin sheet,
water fall blowing fan and furnace, as the locomotive is on the cart. The
system of raising coals out of mines, at present in use, cannot be easily
improved upon for safetj 7 and service, as a number of able mechanics of
every class are present to supply all needs, and are competent for any emergency
that arises in mining and pumping at the collieries, yet, with all the
safeguards, the death toll has increased fearfully.
It would seem to be due, crediting the various reports to be correct, from
the verdicts of coroners' courts to common place report, that to rashness,
ignorance and inexperience on the part of the employees, coupled with an
unpardonable curse, the incompetency of the mine bosses and want of
order, system and good government of the employees, we will assume this
opinion, and hazzard any contradiction. There are many miners, as well
as managers of mines, who know much more about dire things than they
really know about their proper duties, having a practical cunning, iuculcated
from the habits of the mines, and an evasive method of explaining away
subjects of importance, or in common parlance, boring and talking a man
to death. That, when any serious casualty or even the smallest event that
may occur, personal interest steps in, and criminal negligence and guilty
parties are covered over by contradictory reports and menial vacillation.
Consequently very little blame can be attached to the operator, who commonly
relinquishes his duties to the mine boss, yet a feeling of something
more than seems to be expressed in the reluctance evinced by many of them
in reporting accidents that occur in mines under their direct superintendence.
The most plausible palliations are resorted to always when accidents do
occur; and amongst this class may casualties be expected. Nevertheless