Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of ...
Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of ...
Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of ...
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90 <strong>Reports</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Inspectors</strong> op <strong>Mines</strong>. [No. 10,<br />
Accidents from Falls <strong>of</strong> Ro<strong>of</strong> niid Coal.<br />
The niimljer <strong>of</strong> accidents, resulting in deaths, from " falls <strong>of</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> " and<br />
"falls <strong>of</strong> <strong>coal</strong>," in this district, for last year, is fearful to contemplate.<br />
Thirty-one lives were lost in this manner, out <strong>of</strong> a total <strong>of</strong> forty fatal ac-<br />
cidents, making over seventy-five per cent, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole number. And <strong>the</strong><br />
number <strong>of</strong> persons injured during <strong>the</strong> year, from <strong>the</strong> same causes, is sixt}^-<br />
four. We are accustomed to call <strong>the</strong>se " falls <strong>of</strong> ro<strong>of</strong>" and " falls <strong>of</strong> <strong>coal</strong><br />
"accidents; " but I am firmly convinced that <strong>the</strong> term, in at least nineteen<br />
cases out <strong>of</strong> twenty <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> so-calletl accidents in <strong>the</strong> mines, is entirely in-<br />
applicable. An "accident" is something imavoidable, unforeseen, and beyond<br />
human control ; but our so-called mine accidents are very seldom <strong>of</strong> this<br />
nature. They are, almost in every case, foreseen, and with reasonable<br />
care, might be easily avoided. There is not a miner in <strong>the</strong> <strong>coal</strong> region,<br />
who does not know that nearly all <strong>the</strong> accidents, from <strong>the</strong> falling <strong>of</strong> ro<strong>of</strong><br />
and <strong>coal</strong>, are <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> inexcusable carelessness and neglect. Procras-<br />
tination is <strong>the</strong> criminal fault. Though <strong>the</strong> danger is well known, still <strong>the</strong><br />
miner will persist in putting <strong>of</strong>f doing <strong>the</strong> one thing needed, until it is too<br />
late, and he pays <strong>the</strong> fearful penalty <strong>of</strong> his neglect, with his life ;<br />
or he be-<br />
comes morally a murderer <strong>of</strong> his laborer, perhaps, who is hurled into<br />
eternity through his reckless carelessness. There is not one instance <strong>of</strong><br />
an accident, from <strong>the</strong>se causes, occurring during last year, where <strong>the</strong> miner<br />
was not aware <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> danger ; and in many instances, <strong>the</strong> mine boss knew<br />
also <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> danger, and knew <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> miners' neglect to make <strong>the</strong>ir places<br />
secure, ^nd still allowed <strong>the</strong>m to go on with <strong>the</strong>ir reckless and criminal<br />
carelessness until <strong>the</strong>y, or <strong>the</strong>ir laborers, or both, or some one else, Avere<br />
ei<strong>the</strong>r killed or maimed for life. There is not near enough timber used for<br />
propping in our mines, and I am entirely at a loss to know what to do to<br />
remedy <strong>the</strong> evil. The inspector can do but little to reduce <strong>the</strong>se accidents,<br />
unless <strong>the</strong> miners and <strong>the</strong> mine bosses will do <strong>the</strong>ir part. And I have but<br />
very little hope <strong>of</strong> a reform on <strong>the</strong> part <strong>of</strong> mine bosses and miners, until<br />
our courts will sustain <strong>the</strong> inspectors, by enforcing <strong>the</strong> penalties <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Mine Ventilation act upon <strong>the</strong>m for <strong>the</strong>ir neglect.<br />
The eighth section <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mine ventilation act sets forth <strong>the</strong> duties <strong>of</strong><br />
" He<br />
<strong>the</strong> " mining boss " in relation to this matter in <strong>the</strong> following words :<br />
shall keep a careful watch over <strong>the</strong> ventilating apparatus, over <strong>the</strong> air-<br />
ways, <strong>the</strong> traveling-ways, <strong>the</strong> pumps and sumps, <strong>the</strong> timbering ; to see, as<br />
<strong>the</strong> miners advance in <strong>the</strong>ir excavations, that all loose <strong>coal</strong>, slate, or rock<br />
overhead is carefully secured against falling 5 * * * * *<br />
and over all things connected with and appertaining to <strong>the</strong> safety <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
men at work in <strong>the</strong> mines, &c."<br />
Now, how is a mine boss to perform <strong>the</strong>se duties ? Can he do it with-<br />
out examining every working place under his charge at least once per<br />
day? Can he do it by simply walking into a working place, passing<br />
through it, without examining <strong>the</strong> overhanging <strong>coal</strong>, slate, and rock by<br />
sounding it and feeling it ? Can he do it by only visiting <strong>the</strong> working