1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

306 REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF JMINES. Off. Doc.Fatal.Non-fatal.By falls of coal, 1 4By lailioad cars outside of uilues, 1 1By being stiuelc by haulage rope . . 4By being struck by post, . . :}By falls of 'iiorseback.'" . . 2B^' an explosion of powder . . 1By being struck by an overhead roller on in-line, . . iBy being caught by a revolving shaft . . 1By an exi)losion of gas, . . 1B}' being caught under a cage . . 1Total, ;J0 (it;Mine v/agons have caused the greatest nunibei of deatlis and alsoconies second in the causes of non-fatal accidents, as slutwii in theaboA'e table. Fast and reckh ss dri\ ing, jumping on and otf trips andcareless handling of wagotjs, are some of the causes. The minerules, if i)roperly enforced, would remedy tliis to a great degree.Falling slate comes next in the causes of fat;il, and first in the nonfjitallist. The slate in several mines in the district is very treacherousand at no time can it be dejx'nded upon.I urge up(ni the miners to be very careful and keep it well ])osteduiitil the projter time comes for taking it down, and then to takeit down ])rom]>11y and not j.'ut it off from time to time, as is sometimesdctne. which \-ery often lesults in accidents. I urge the mineb(»sses to l)e vigilantin this nuttter.Falls of roof come next; much cjitc should be taken with theroof. It should he ke]»1 well i»(.s|c(| ;it all limes, by placing a jiostas soon as theic is room lor it and not ]>uiiiiig it olV until anotherA\agon is loaded or something else of less imjiortance is done. A carefulexaniJDalioii should be made for slips, lioi'sebacks and other defe(ts in the root, in this way many acci