Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of ...

COMMUNICATION.
To Ilis Excellency, John F. Hartranft,
Governor of the CommomceaUh of Pennsylvania :
Sir :—In compliance with the requirements of an act of General Assem-
bly of the Commonwealth, approved the fifth day of April, 1870, "An Act
for the preservation of the records of the inspectors of mines," etc., I have
the honor to herewith submit an annual report of all matter of information
that came under my ofl&cial notice, and such other information as had been
furnished me by the inspectors of mines during the year, detailing the
number of fatal and non-fatal accidents that occurred in their respective
districts ; and the number of collieries in operation, showing their char-
acter and condition, the power used and force of hands employed in each.
I find by comparison that the fatalities are somewhat less than last year,
yet the roll is not as favorable as was anticipated. Since resumption in
Juae fatal accidents were numerous.
In Pottsville district 59 collieries were in operation and produced 3,853,-
629 tons of coal ; 28 fatal and 88 non-fatal accidents occurred, leaving IT
widows and 62 orphans. In Shenandoah district 54 collieries were in op-
eration, producing 3,000,179 tons of coal ; 26 fatal and 114 non-fatal acci-
dents occurred, leaving 11 widows and 49 orphans. In Shamokin district
60 collieries were in operation, producing 3,388,726 tons ; 38 fatal and 106
non-fatal accidents occurred, leaving 13 widows and 30 orphans. Making
an aggregate of 92 deaths, 308 cases of maimed persons, leaving 41 widows
and 141 orphans. The character of these casualties will be found detailed
in tabulated form hereto subjoined.
Investigation into these fatalities will justify the assertion that fully one-
half of them are the result of carelessness, improper attention and undue
disregard of safety, occasioned, to a large extent, by the long suspension,
the non-repair of the mines, and the hurry consequent upon resumption.
From a review of the coal tonnage produced in the last sis months of
the year, which equaled the entire shipment of 1874, from this we must
conclude the work of production and preparation of coal was pushed for-
ward with undiminished energy, and although prices ruled steady, wages
declined much below the rates of former years. The collieries are again
idle since the first of December most generally, and resumption is a ques-
tion of time.
1 MiN'E Eep.