Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite and bituminous ...

356 Eeports of the Inspectors of Mines. [Off. Dog.
fire. Before his clothing- could be removed he was fatally burned.
Andrew Bartz also received his injuries throug-h disobedience of the
express orders of the miuing'-boss who had instructed him to secure the
*' slate " some time before the accident happened. The cases of Hays
and Newell were different from the others, as such accidents are almost
unavoidable. These two miners were careful workmen and from the
appearance of their working- places they had used ordinary care. The
boy, Mariacher, Avas entirely too young- to be permitted by his father to
work on a "loose ended" pillar and to be working- in front of such loose
coal. In fact, the father should never have allowed his boy to be work-
ing- in such a dang-ei'ous place. In these accidents sixty-two and one-
half per cent, of them were avoidable by using- ordinary care. This is
certainly too great a sacrifice of human life if anything can be done to
lessen it. In my ojjinion much can be done by the mine officials to
mitig-ate this g-reat loss of life. The miner's working- places should be
visited frequently and they should be urged to employ the ordinary
safeg-uards to protect themselves, as there can be no doubt that much
good would be accomplished by this means. If the mine-bosses, while
making their visitations every alternate day to each working place of
the mine as the law directs, would talk to them and show that he had
some interest in their welfare by pointing out the dangers they are sub-
ject to and suggest the proper safeguards to be applied, I am confident
the results would be very satisfactory. How many of our mine-bosses
do such things? and how many of our mine superintendents visit the
working places of the miner? I am afraid too few of our mine officials
look upon this matter in a humane and proper spirit. Unless the
workmen and mine officials conscientiously realize the great responsi-
bility they owe to one another, their families, their employers, and to
the state, fatalities will not decrease as rapidly as they should. The
mine Inspector has an important mission to perform in lessening the
loss of human life. What is that mission ? Is it running into a mine
and through the main passage ways, measure the air current at face of
each entry or heading, notice the system of ventilation and drainage
and then set sail for the outside of the mine? Oh, no! this should not
he the measure of the niine Inspector's responsibility. While such
methods of inspection might be conducive in a reasonable degree to the
health of the working men, it is certainly not the most efficient method
to employ in contributing his share toward the saving of life. The in-
spector, as well as the mine officials, should realize the great responsi-
bility resting upon him, and to make his services more efficient in the
direction indicated, it should be his duty to visit the several working
places of the miners in every mine of his district and become, in a
measure, acquainted with them. He must show each and every one
that he has an interest in his welfare. After friendly relations are
formed with the workmen, and their friendship and confidence gained.