Coal mine fatalities in the United States, 1870-1914, with statistics of coal production, labor and mining methods
Part I. — Coal-mine statistics for the United States, by calendar years 3 There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the
Overview
Coal mine fatalities in the United States, 1870-1914, with statistics of coal production, labor and mining methods is a 1916 historical mining reference by United States. Bureau of Mines, preserved in the Mountain Man Mining research library. Part I. — Coal-mine statistics for the United States, by calendar years 3 There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the...
This 1916 document, Coal mine fatalities in the United States, 1870-1914, with statistics of coal production, labor and mining methods, is preserved in the Mountain Man Mining Library for research and reference. Original source: archive.org.
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Coal mine fatalities in the United State
Cornell University Library
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
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Bulletin 115
Department Of The Interior
FRANKLIN K. LANE, Secretary
BUREAU OF MINES VAN. H. MANNING, Director
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States
With
STATISTICS OF COAL PRODUCTION, LABOR, AND MINING METHODS, BY STATES AND CALENDAR YEARS
Compiled By
Albert H. Fay
Washington
Government Printing Office
The Bureau of Mines, in carrying out one of the provisions of its organic act — to disseminate information concerning investigations made — prints a limited free edition of each of its publications.
When this edition is exhausted copies may be obtained at cost price only through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.
The Superintendent of Documents is not an official of the Bureau of Mines. His is an entirely separate office and he should be addressed:
Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office,
Washington, D. C.
The general law under which publications are distributed prohibits the giving of more than one copy of a publication to one person. The price of this publication is 40 cents.
First edition. April, 1916.
Contents.
Page.
Part I. — Coal-mine statistics for the United States, by calendar years 3
Introduction 3
Source and scope of statistics 4
Acknowledgments 5
Number of men employed 5
Underground and surface employees 6
Coal-mine fatalities in the United States, 1839-1914 7
Reduction in fatality rates and growth of mine-inspection service compared . . 25 Coal-mine fatalities, by years and causes, from the beginning of inspection in
Coal-mine fatalities in the United States, by years, 1870-1914 27
Customary basis for computing fatality rates 60
Comparison of fatality rates on a uniform time basis 62
Principal causes of coal-mine accidents 65
Coal-mine disasters 65
Gas and dust explosions 73
Mine fires 75
Explosives 77
Permissible explosives 80
Falls of roof 82
Haulage systems 83
Accidents due to electricity 87
Mine shafts 90
Surface shops and yards 91
Accidents, classified by occupation 92
Nonfatal injuries in coal mines in United States 96
Fatalities at bituminous coal mines 104
Mining machines 107
Production Ill
Number of men employed Ill
Effect of machine mining on fatality rates Ill
Causes of accidents 113
Gas and dust explosions 116
Explosives 116
Mining conditions 116
Fatality rates on basis of coal mined by machines 117
Part II. — Coal-mine statistics for each State, by calendar years 133
Introduction 133
Alabama 136
Area and distribution of coal fields 136
Coosa field 136
Cahaba field 137
Warrior field 137
Plateau field 138
Mining methods 139
Roof 139
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 140
Accidents 140
in
Iv Contents.
Pakt II. — Ooal-mine statistics for each. State, by calendar years — Continued. Page.
Arkansas 146
Area and distribution of coal fields 146
Semibituminous field 146
Mining methods 146
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 147
Accidents 147
California 153
Area and distribution of coal fields 153
Accidents 153
Colorado 156
Area and distribution of coal fields 156
Character of coal beds 156
Mining methods 157
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 157
Accidents 158
Georgia 166
Area and distribution of coal fields 166
Accidents 166
Illinois 170
Area and distribution of coal fields 170
Character of coal beds 170
Mining methods 170
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 171
Accidents 172
Indiana 178
Area and distribution of coal fields 178
Character of coal beds 178
Mining methods 179
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 179
Accidents 181
Iowa 188
Area and distribution of coal fields 188
Character of coal beds 188
Mining methods 188
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 189
Accidents 190
Kansas 196
Area and distribution of coal fields 196
Character of coal beds 196
Mining methods 196
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 197
Accidents 198
Kentucky 204
Area and distribution of coal fields 204
Character of coal beds 204
Mining methods 205
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 206
Accidents 207
Maryland 213
Area and distribution of coal fields 213
Character of coal beds 213
Mining methods 214
Contents. V
Part II. — Coal-mine statistics for each State, by calendar years — Continued.
Maryland — Continued. Page.
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 215
Accidents 215
Michigan '. . . 222
Area and distribution of coal fields 222
Character of coal beds 222
Mining methods 222
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 223
Accidents 223
Missouri 228
Area and distribution of coal fields ' 228
Character of coal beds 228
Mining methods 228
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 229
Accidents 230
Montana 235
Area and distribution of coal fields 235
Character of coal beds 235
Mining methods 236
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 236
Accidents 237
New Mexico 243
Area and distribution of coal fields 243
Character of coal beds 243
Mining methods 244
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 245
Accidents 245
North Carolina 251
Area and distribution of coal fields 251
Character of coal beds 251
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 251
North Dakota 253
Area and distribution of coal fields 253
Mining methods ." 253
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 253
Accidents 254
Ohio 258
Area and distribution of coal fields 258
Character of coal beds 258
Mining methods 259
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 260
Accidents 261
Oklahoma 268
Area and distribution of coal fields 268
Character of coal beds 268
Mining methods 269
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 270
Accidents 270
Oregon 277
Area and distribution of coal fields 277
Mining methods 277
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 277
Accidents 277
Strikes and lockouts 278
Vi Contents.
Part II. — Coal-mine statistics for each State, by calendar years — Continued. Paga.
Area and distribution of coal fields 281
Character of coal beds 281
Northern field ! 281
Eastern-middle field 281
Southern field 282
Western-middle field 282
Mining methods 282
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 284
Accidents 286
Area and distribution of coal fields 294
Character of coal beds 294
Mining methods 295
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 296
Accidents 297
Tennessee 304
Area and distribution of coal fields 304
Character of coal beds 304
Mining methods 304
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 305
Accidents 306
Texas 311
Area and distribution of coal fields 311
Character of coal beds ". . . 311
Mining methods 311
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 312
Accidents 312
Utah 313
Area and distribution of coal fields 316
Character of coal beds 316
Mining methods 316
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 317
Accidents 317
Virginia 323
Area and distribution of coal fields 323
Character of coal beds 323
Mining methods 324
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 324
Accidents 325
Washington 330
Area and distribution of coal fields 330
Character of coal beds , 330
Mining methods 331
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 331
Accidents 332
West Virginia 339
Area and distribution of coal fields 339
Character of coal beds " 339
Mining methods 340
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 340
Accidents 341
Contents. Vii
Part II. — Coal-mine statistics for each State, by calendar years — Continued. Page.
Wyoming 347
Area and distribution of coal fields 347
Character of coal beds 347
Mining methods 348
Reportable accidents and organization of inspection service 348
Accidents 349
Coal-mine fatalities in the United States, by States and causes, during the calendar year 1915 " 354
Publications on mine accidents and methods of coal mining 355
Index 359
Illustrations.
Page. Plate J. Percentage of fatalities due to principal causes, by States, arranged
in decreasing order of falls of roof 26
II. Number of men killed per 1,000 employed in the coal mines of the
United States, by States and principal causes 26
III. Coal-mine fatalities computed on the basis of a 2,000-hour year, for a 10-year period, 1903-1913 (except 1909), for the various coalproducing States 64
Figure 1. Production, number of men employed, fatalities, and number killed per 1,000,000 tons mined, in coal mines of the United States, for which complete returns are available, 1870-1914 21
2. Relation between coal mine fatality rates in United States and the
percentage of industry covered by inspection service, 1870-1914. . 22
3. Number of men killed per 1,000 employed in the coal mines of
the United States, by principal causes, 1870-1914 24
4. Total number killed per 1,000 employed in coal mines of the United
States; also number killed per 1,000 employed, in common and in exceptional accidents, 1870-1914 68
5. Number of men killed per 10,000 employed, by explosives, in the
bituminous coal mines of the United States, compared with the amount of permissible explosives used, 1901-1914 80
6. Average number of men killed per 1,000 employed in anthracite and
bituminous mines of Pennsylvania, by occupation, 1902-1913 93
7. Analysis of nonfatal injuries showing part of body injured and percentage
for each location 98
8. Fatality rates, by principal causes, in bituminous coal mines of the
United States, 1891-1914, as compared with the increase in the percentage of machine-mined coal 104
9. Number of men employed in bituminous coal mines of the United
States, by groups, based on percentage of coal mined by machines, 1896-1913 112
10. Total number killed, fatality rates, men employed, tons produced,
and days active at the bituminous coal mines of the United States, by groups based on the percentage of coal mined by machines, 1896-1913 114
11. Number of men killed per 1,000 employed in bituminous coal mines
of the United States, by principal causes, by groups based on percentage of coal mined by machines, 1896-1913 115
12. The total number killed per 1,000 employed in bituminous coal mines
of the United States; also number killed per 1,000 employed, in common and in exceptional accidents, by groups based on percentage of coal mined by machine, 1896-1913 118
13. Tons mined per man per day and number of men killed per 1,000,000
tons mined in the bituminous coal mines of the United States, by groups based on the percentage of coal mined by machine,
vrn
COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1870- 1914, WITH STATISTICS OF COAL PRODUCTION, LABOR, AND MINING METHODS, BY STATES AND CALENDAR YEARS.
Compiled by Albert H. Fat.
PART I.— COAL-MINE STATISTICS FOR THE UNITED STATES BY CALENDAR YEARS.
Introduction.
The first data compiled by the Bureau of Mines relating to coalmine accidents in the United States were published in Bulletin 69,° in which the total fatalities by years and States were tabulated from 1896 to 1912. Since the publication of Bulletin 69, further research has been conducted, with the result that the bureau is now able to publish for the first time all of the fatal accidents described in the State inspectors' reports by States, causes, and calendar years, from the beginning of inspection service to date. For the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania, there is a continuous record since 1870; the records of the Pennsylvania bituminous mines are continuous from 1877, and, with the exception of one year, the Ohio records are complete from 1874 to date. In fact, the records of all of the States, with few exceptions, are complete; and incomplete data for any year may generally be attributed to the fact that no report was published during that year.
The magnitude of the coal-mining industry in the United States is such that too much stress can not be placed on the need of safeguarding the three-quarters of a million men employed. Although the figures given herein show an appalling record for past years, they are not published for the purpose of proclaiming the high fatality rate of the past. They are a record of experience covering a period of 45 years, showing causes and results of many accidents in the coal mines of the United States. They represent a diagnosis of the hazard of the mining industry, pointing out the principal physical causes of accidents, and make available a body of uniform facts that will serve as a basis of preventive measures for use in future operations. It is with these great purposes in view that the Bureau of Mines presents the classified data in this report.
n Horton F. W., Coal-mine accidents in the United States and foreign countries: Bull. 69, Bureau of Mines, 1913, 102 pp.
A
4 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Classification and study of mine accidents on the basis of number of persons killed is common and very old, but fails to throw enough light upon the problem involved. Many serious accidents in mines have no fatal results, hence in a tabulation of fatalities they are overlooked and the real hazard of the industry is not made clear. An accident does not necessarily include an injury that may result therefrom. Such accidents as the breaking of a hoisting cable, an explosion of powder, gas, or dust, a runaway car or motor are all serious. Although no loss of life results, they should be recorded, investigated, and studied to prevent their repetition.
No accurate data for the United States are available showing how far the personal element as related to the mirier and his co-worker, the mine foreman, or to the superintendent and others in authority ( contributes to accidents. Many accidents are due to inexperience on the part of the miner, his failure to heed orders, a misunderstanding of instructions and last, but not least, carelessness of himself or his fellow worker. A foreman or superintendent may fail to give proper warning regarding the conditions of certain parts of the mine; he may not have inspected certain rooms or entries on the day of a mine accident; the mine may not be properly equipped, or the operator may neglect to comply with the inspector's recommendations. There is, therefore, a personal element on the part of both the operator and the miner that must be considered. Legislation and the enactment of compensation laws will make the operator realize the seriousness of the mine-accident situation, when fatalities and injuries are to be paid for in legal tender of the realm. The miner must be educated and made to realize the dangers he encounters; he must learn that self-preservation and the safety of his fellow workmen should receive his first attention; he should cooperate with his employer, his associates, and the State mine inspector to the end that the mine hazard may be reduced to a minimum. "Cooperation for safety" should be the watchwords of the operator, miner, State inspectors, and all others in any way interested in the mining industry.
Sources Amd Scope Of Statistics.
The f atalities classified in the State tables have been compiled from the State mine inspectors' reports. The details relating to each individual fatality, as published by the inspectors, have been carefully reviewed and the f atality classified according to the cause of the death as reported. The date of the accident has also been taken into consideration, so that all of the tables have been prepared on the basis of a calendar year. Thus, for the first time, the coal-mine fatalities of all the States are placed on the same basis. It is hoped that those States that classify f atalities by fiscal years will realize the value of a uniform classification and will adopt the calendar year as their basis. Inasmuch as figures based on the calendar year have been used throughout this bulletin, it has not been possible to make the State tables check
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1S10-19U. 5
absolutely with the published reports of the inspectors. Some of the States have years ending June 30, others in May, September, October, or November.
In the compilation of these tables, all fatalities that were not directly attributable to the mining industry have been eliminated, including coke-oven accidents, suicides, natural causes, and murders. In a number of the earlier reports accidents of this character were included in the inspectors' returns.
Data relating to the production since 1807, the number of men employed since 1889, the number of days worked, the number of mining machines in use since 1891, the percentage of coal mined by different methods since 1911, the spot value of the coal, and notes on the coal areas and distribution have been taken from the annual volumes of the Mineral Resources of the United States, published by the United States Geological Survey. The data relating to mining methods have been compiled from both the reports of the United States Geological Survey and the State mine inspectors. It is not feasible to indicate the source of each individual item by footnotes, as that would be both burdensome and confusing. The general statement as above given, it is hoped, will indicate plainly the source of the data herein. Wherever practicable, footnotes have been inserted, showing the source of tables and direct quotations.
Notes relating to the mine-inspection service were compiled from the State mining laws and submitted to the individual State inspectors for verification and comment, and their corrections or additions
have been included.
Acknowledgments.
Acknowledgments are due to the following persons for technical assistance that has made possible the completion of the data compiled herein, and for suggestions that have been used in the preparation of the tables and other data: Dr. J. J. Rutledge, mining engineer, E. S. Boalich, mine statistician, and W. W. Adams, clerk, of the Bureau of Mines; M. R. Campbell, geologist, of the United States Geological Survey, who revised the notes on the various coal fields of each State ; and the State mine inspectors, who supplied missing data and revised notes relating to the mine-inspection service of their respective States.
Number Of Men Employed.
Although the majority of the State mine inspectors' reports give the number of men employed in the coal-mining industry for each year, many of the reports are based on fiscal years, and as the fatalities have been classified according to calendar years, the actual number of employees would not be in accordance therewith. Some of the inspectors have included coke-oven employees, and as coke-oven accidents have been excluded, these workers should be omitted. It seemed best, however, that the number of employees should be ob-
6 Coal-Mine Fatalities Ix The United States, 1870-1914.
tained from one source, as in so doing the statistics relating to employees would be on the same basis for all the States. The bureau has, therefore, used the number of employees as reported by the United States "Geological Survey since 1889 (except 1909 and 1911). As the figures have been collected by one bureau, they are on a uniform basis and, furthermore, they are for calendar years and do not include coke-oven employees. For comparative purposes the number thus reported employed will be much better than one based on reports from 25 or 30 sources and for varying fiscal years.
The number of employees in the coal-mining industry for the year 1909 was compiled by the mining division of the Bureau of the Census and was published by the United States Geological Survey in 1910, as 666,552. In 1912 State figures for 1909 were compiled by the same bureau and published by the Bureau of Mines in Technical Paper 48,° in Bulletin 69, 6 and in each of the monthly statements of coal-mine fatalities to date. These publications have had wide circulation and have been used by many mining companies, State officials, and insurance organizations, and for this reason the figures showing coal-mine employees in 1909 as previously published by the bureau have been used in t his bulletin.
The final census figures for 1909, published in 1913, show the number of employees on December 15, 1909, as 743,293. That figure, however, includes a certain number of coking establishments and, furthermore, as the coal-mining industry employs the largest number of men at that season of the year, the number reported on that date is too high to represent a fair average.
The census report for 1909, page 196, also gives the number of employees on the 15th day of each month during the year, the average of which is 681,090. The same report also gives the number of men employed on the 15th of each month during the year by States, the average of which is 680,872, as compared with 666,552, published by the United States Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines. These two census figures, although agreeing closely, seemingly include certain coke workers. Taking everything into consideration, it is believed that the Bureau of Mines is justified in adhering to its first published figures (666,552), although this fails to check with the final census figures by about 2 per cent.
For the year 1911 the bureau collected accident statistics and at the same time obtained direct from the operators the number of men employed, both on surface and underground. The number of employees thus obtained has been used throughout this bulletin.
Underground And Surface Employees.
Complete statistics showing separately the total underground employees, as well as surface employees at coal mines are not avail-
Horton, F. W., Coal-mine accidents in the United States, 1896-1912, with monthly statistics for 1912, 1913, 74 pp.
1 Horton, F. W., Coal-mine accidents in the United States and in foreign countries, 19H, 102 pp.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 7
able. The number employed since 1889, as reported by the Geological Survey, is combined as one item, but coke-oven employees are not included. As there are no separate data for these two classes of employees, Table 6 has been prepared, the underground and surface employees being calculated on the basis of the 1911 returns to the Bureau of Mines. In this year 122,513 surface employees were reported at coal mines (exclusive of coke workers) or 16.82 per cent of the total. The total number employed each year since 1895 has been separated on the above basis, with underground and surface fatality rates calculated independently. The 20-year period chosen is considered sufficiently long to be thoroughly representative and thus to throw a little more light on the real underground hazard. For example, the fatality rate in 1913, based on all employees, was 3.725 per 1,000, whereas the underground rate was 4.218, or 13 per cent higher than the combined rate. The surface rate for the same year was 1.283. Similar comparisons with other years may be made.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1839-1914.
Table 1 shows by calendar years the total number of fatalities recorded for the coal-mining industry of the United States as compiled from the State mine inspectors' reports, and from other authentic sources. This table shows that since 1839 to the end of 1914, 53,078 men have been killed in and about the coal mines in the United States. This number, however, is not complete, as mining was carried on in all of the coal-mining States several years prior to inspection service, and as the number of fatalities that occurred in the early period of the industry has not been recorded, except for a few of the larger disasters in which 5 or more men were killed.
The 49,733 fatalities given in Table 2 represent those occurring in 89.46 per cent of the industry as based on the tonnage from 1807 to the end of 1913. The fatality rate per million tons mined during the 10 years from 1870 to 1879 was 8.70. If this figure be taken as representative of the early stages of the industry and applied to the remaining 10.54 per cent of the production from 1807 to and including 1909, not represented by accident statistics, an estimated 9,000 fatalities should be added to the 49,733, making the total to the end of 1913 as 58,733. The total fatalities to the end of 1914 are, therefore, 61,187, of which number 53,078 are accounted for in Table 1.
The total number of fatalities shown in Table 1 does not necessarily agree with" the totals shown in Tables 2, 3, and 4, because in the latter tables only those fatalities have been included for which the corresponding number of men employed was obtainable. In Table 1 the figures covering 1888 to the end of 1914 do check with the above tables. Prior to 1888 the table covers a number of mine disasters in States in which the number of men employed was not obtainable. In the subsequent discussion of mine accidents Table 1 is ignored and the lessons to be drawn are based on Tables 2, 3, and 4, which contain complete comparable data for 49,733 fatalities.
8 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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TABtE 7.— AVERAGE PRODUCTION, NUMBER OF MEN EMPLOYED, NUMBER OF FA- TALITIES AND RATES, AND DAYS WORKED IN THE COAL MINES IN THE UNITED STATES, BY STATES, FOR PERIODS DURING WHICH CONTLNUOLS RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE.
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Indiana.
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Missouri
Montana
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Washington
West Virginia. Wyoming
1893-1913 1903-1913 1886-1913 1909-1913 1SS5-1913 1895-1913 1888-1913 1893-1913 1888-1913 J1889-1906 11909-1913 1900-1913 1888-1913 1900-1913 1893-1913 1908-1913 1884-1913 1803-1913 1909-1913
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 21
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spection States for the same year was 90.54. From 1889 to date the percentage of production and the number of men employed under inspection service agree with each other within less than 1 per cent. Beginning with 1910 complete figures are available for all of the States, thus representing 100 per cent of the industry. Beginning with 1870, the fatality rate per million tons mined was 13.47 (see fig. 2). This has been gradually reduced until in 1914 it was 4.78. The average amount of coal produced per man per year in 1870 was 440 tons, whereas in 1913 it was 762 tons, and in 1914, 673 tons. Although the figure for tons per man per year was less in 1914 than in 1913, the figure for tons mined per day per man was 3.25 in 1914 as compared with 3.20 in 1913.
Table 2A shows the number of men employed in and about the coal mines by States and calendar years from 1889 to 1914 inclusive.
Table 3 shows the total number of fatalities in the inspection States, for which reports were issued, by calendar years and causes, from 1870 to the end of 1914. This table is a summary of the State tables presented in Part II of this bulletin, as compiled from the State mine inspectors' reports.
Table 4 shows coal-mine fatalities by principal causes, the total number of fatalities, the percentage of the grand total, and the number killed per 1,000 employed (see fig. 3) for a period of 44 years, from 1870 to and including 1913. During this period 23,260 men were killed by falls of roof and pillar coal. The fatalities due to falls of roof and pillar coal in 1870 were 1.60 per 1,000 men employed, while in 1913 it was 1.69. There seems to be but little variation from these figures throughout the 44-year period, the average being 1.554.
Fatalities due to mine cars and locomotives (fig. 3) in the earlier years of inspection service show a slight decrease to about the year 1885. In 1885 the percentage of fatalities due to mine cars and locomotives was 8.01, or 0.206 per 1,000 men employed. Both the percentage and the rate per 1,000 men employed have increased until in 1913 the total percentage was 15.22, while the number killed per 1,000 employed was 0.567.
With reference to gas and dust explosions (fig. 3) both the percentage of the fatalities and the rate per 1,000 men employed are erratic. The lowest figure was in 1887, when 4.36 per cent of the total number of fatalities was due to gas and dust explosions, or practically one fatality per 10,000 men employed. This rate has increased in an irregular manner, reaching the highest point in 1907, when the total percentage of fatalities due to this cause was 29.49, or 1.417 fatalities per 1,000 men employed. Since 1907 there has been some reduction in both percentage and the rate per 1,000 men employed, but this is irregular and in all cases higher than it should be.
24 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Coal-Mink Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914. 25
Accidents due to explosives also show a decrease from the beginning of inspection to about 1887. From 1887 to 1903 there was an increase, and from 1903 to date the rate has gradually declined.
The fatalities due to shaft accidents (fig. 3) are gradually decreasing, the rate per 1,000 men employed in 1870 being 0.758, while in 1913 it was 0.083.
Table 5 contains the same grouping by causes as does Table 4. It, however, shows fatality rates by States for continuous periods for which records have been published. It contains 1,279 less fatalities than Table 4, by reason of the fact that intermittent records prior to the period of continuous records have been omitted. (See Pis. I and II.)
REDUCTION IN FATALITY RATES AND THE GROWTH OF MINE-INSPECTION SERVICE COMPARED.
The relation between mine-inspection service and the fatality rates at coal mines from 1870 to date is shown in figure 2. The upper curve represents the actual percentage of coal produced under inspection service to the close of 1909. From 1910 to 1914 the Bureau of Mines has received accident report's direct from the operators in those States wherein there is no mine inspection. These States are California, Georgia, Idaho, North Carolina, and Oregon. The coal produced in the noninspection States is less than 0.1 per cent of the total so that the curve from 1910 to 1914 may be accepted as representing the inspection service.
In 1869, 179 men were killed in a mine fire at Avondale, Pa. The following year a law provided for systematic inspection of the anthracite mines. Pennsylvania was therefore the first State to establish a mine-inspection system. From 1870 to 1873 the curve shown represents the anthracite fields only. The fatality rate in 1870 in the anthracite mines was 5.93 per 1,000 men employed, whereas the number of fatalities per million tons mined was 13.47. Corresponding figures for 1914 for the Pennsylvania anthracite field are 3.31 fatalities per 1,000 men employed, and 6.55 fatalities per million tons mined. There are no records to show what the fatality rate in anthracite mines was for years previous to 1870. It was, however, high in 1869, on account of the Avondale disaster. The year 1870 was apparently normal as shown by the actual number of men killed in the anthracite field during the next few years, so that the number of fatalities in 1869 must have been more than 350, with not to exceed 35,000 men employed.
The next State to appoint a mine inspector was Ohio, in 1874, and the first complete inspection year for the Pennsylvania bituminous mines was in 1878, so that after 1874 other States have been added to the inspection list,
26 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914.
Tables 8 to 39 show by years the number of inspection States for which complete records have been obtained, and it is upon these tables that the totals shown in Table 2 and the curves in figure 2 have been, based.
During the first 10 years (fig. 2) of mine inspection the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed and the number of fatalities per million tons of coal mined declined rapidly. From 1880 to 1897 the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed remained practically stationary, while the number of fatalities per million tons mined showed a very slight reduction. From 1897 to 1907 the number killed per 1,000 employed increased considerably, reaching the highest point in 1907. Since that year there has been a marked decline.
The increase in the fatality rate from 1897 to 1907 is not necessarily due to less efficient mine inspection. The conditions under which mines were operated were changing. The mines were growing deeper ; there were more old abandoned workings for accumulation of gas and dust; and more men were employed in the individual mines than in former years ; so that in case of a gas or dust explosion, the likelihood of trapping more men was greater by reason of a larger number of men being employed. During this period there was an influx of foreign laborers, many of whom came from the agricultural districts of southeastern Europe. They had no experience in mining, did not know the English language, and hence were not capable of understanding and carrying out orders that were made in a tongue foreign to them. Although the inspection service has been increasing in efficiency from year to year, the various hazards, for the reasons mentioned, are also increasing.
The increasing fatality rate due to mine disasters, from 1897 and culminating with 1907, has been the means of the passage of more stringent laws concerning the operation of coal mines. Every disaster is thoroughly investigated by State and Federal authorities, as well as by the local engineers of the operating company, to determine the exact cause, so that similar disasters may be prevented in the future. States are establishing rescue and first-aid stations, and nearly every large mining company has its safety engineer and safetyfirst committees with the necessary rescue and first-aid equipment. An educational campaign on mine-accident prevention has been conducted since 1907 with the result that there is much closer cooperation of miner, foreman, operator, and inspector than in former years. Permissible explosives and improved types of safety lamps have been introduced into many of the mines. Explosibility of coal dust has been studied and precautions adopted to render the dust inert. The work of these various agencies has resulted in a gradual decline in the fatality rate from 1907 to 1914.
Missing Page
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 27
COAL-MINE FATALITIES, BY YEARS AND CAUSES, FROM THE BEGINNING OF INSPECTION IN 1870 TO 1914.
Tables 8 to 39, inclusive, show by causes and calendar years all of the fatalities occurring in and about the coal mines in the United States by combining those States for which there are complete inspection records. In the compilation of these tables all fatalities have been omitted for which the corresponding number of employees was not given. Thus one State may appear in a certain year and not in another simply because the records were incomplete. With reference to fatalities from 1870 to 1873, inclusive, which are represented only by the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania, the reader is referred to Table 125 under that State. The percentage of the industry covered by these tables, the number of men employed, and the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed, and per million tons of coal mined are shown in Table 2 14355°— Bull. 115—16 3
28 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 55
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Customary Basis Foe Computing Fatality Bates.
The customary basis for computing fatality rates is on the number of men employed in the industry. This basis is faulty to the extent that under existing conditions it is not possible to obtain the exact number of men at work, for the reason that all of the men do not work throughout the year. There are always a number of men who work a few days at one property and either quit or are discharged and go to other mines. The actual number of men on the pay roll is, therefore, much higher than the number of men really at work in the mines, and unfortunately it is the former figure that the operators too frequently report. It is also imperfect in that no distinction is made concerning the number of working hours per day. In some States the 8-hour day prevails, whereas in others 9 or 10 hours constitute a legal day.
The comparison of fatality rates on a percentage basis is far from being correct. For example, there may be 1,000 fatalities due to various causes in a certain group of mines, 50 per cent of which may be attributed to some one cause, as falls of rock, and 25 per cent to some serious gas and dust explosion. The difficulty with the percentage basis is that the number killed in a large disaster enters into the total number of men killed in that particular group of mines. 'When the total is thus abnormally increased the effect is to decrease the percentage rate of each of the other causes to balance the excess which is due to the one large disaster. In the assumed case above cited, in which 25 per cent of the f atalities were due to a gas and dust explosion, the elimination of the number killed (250) in this particular disaster from the total would leave only 750 fatalities, and the percentage of fatalities due to falls of rock, which in the first case was 50 per cent, would be increased to 66§ per cent, although the aotual number, 500, killed by falls of rock remains the same, and roof conditions have not changed.
The tonnage basis for comparison is also open to some criticism in that mining conditions are not the same in all mines or States. One mine may be in a coal bed 7 or 8 feet thick, and another mine in a bed 2 feet 6 inches thick. It is evident that a miner working in thick coal can produce more tons per year than a miner working in thin coal. The first mine would show a lower f atality rate on the tonnage basis, although in each mine the men were exposed to the mining risk the same number of days per year, indicating that the thicker coal bed is safer than the thinner bed. As a matter of fact the thinner coal bed is the safer of the two, as shown by the low fatality rate in Iowa as compared with the rates of Illinois and Indiana and some other States.
For certain purposes, each method has its champion, and in order to meet the requirements of all, the three bases have been used throughout this bulletin. But for true hazard rates, that one serves
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 61
best which takes into account the number of men and the time they are engaged in a hazardous occupation. This necessitates reducing all labor to a standard year of a certain number of hours, 2,000 or 3,000 as the case may be, representing a definite number of days (shifts) of 8 or 10 hours each. The ideal method would be for the operators to report the actual number of hours' labor for which wages were paid during the year. This figure divided by 2,000 would give the number of 2,000-hour employees; that is, the actual number of men who were exposed to the mining hazard the full 2,000-hour period. They would, therefore, all be on the same time basis. The total number of hours divided by 3,000 would place the employees on a 300 (10-hour) day year, but inasmuch as coal mines are operated less than 2,000 hours per year, the shorter year is more nearly in keeping with actual conditions, and therefore preferable. Figures approximating this condition are given in Tables 40 and 41.
Table 40.— FATALITY RATES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS AS COMPARED WITH THE RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF MEN REPORTED AS EM- PLOYED, 1903-1913, INCLUSIVE, EXCEPT 1909.
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211,382 a39,006 123, 713 664,866 209, 054 157, 415 124,576 187,589 a 47, 611 35, 454 95,056 29,887 29,776 6 3,188 452,089 84,418
Colorado
Kentucky
Michigan
New Mexico
Ohio
Tennessee
Utah
Washington
"West Virginia. . Wyoming
Total and
average .
o. Employees and fatalities for 8 years only. & Employees and fatalities for 5 years only, c Employees and fatalities for 4 years only.
62 C0Al-Mi1Te Fatalities Ix The United States, 1810-1914.
Table 41.— FATALITY RATES PER 1,000 MEN, BY STATES, COMPARED ON A UNIFORM BASIS OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.*
State.
S.91
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. to
l.flti
'1909
Average.
Alabama
Arkansas
Colorado
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky.
Maryland
Michigan.
Missouri
Montana
New Mexico
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington. .-
"West Virginia
Wyoming
6.t3
Average.
o For details from which this table is derived see special tables under each individual State. & Complete data not available.
Comparison Of Fatality Bates On A Uniform Time Basis.
In the comparison of mine accidents the time element should be taken into consideration. In other words, the length of time that a man is exposed to the mining risk is an important factor in amving at the true risk in the mining industry, and especially so when one State is compared with another. With this end in view, Tables 40 and 41 are based upon a uniform period of two hundred 10-hour shifts.
The tables under the various States show the number of 8, 9, and 10 hour men over a period of 10 years. There are also a number of men unclassified, but for this comparative study they have been taken as 9-hour men. Concerning the actual number of working hours E. W. Parker says: °
It should be remembered, however, that when the length of the working day is stated, reference is made to the number of hours the mines are supposed to have been in operation and not to the number of hours worked by the miners. In both the anthracite and bituminous fields practically all the coal is mined by contract at an agreed rate per ton or other basis of payment. The miner is an independent contractor and is not obliged to put in a certain number of hours at his working place. The figures in the following table really indicate the number of hours the men were given an opportunity to work and do not mean that all the employees worked 8, 9, or 10 hours, as the case might be.
a Mineral Resources of the United States for the calendar year 1913, U. S. GeoL. Survey, 1915, p. 754.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 63
Since the settlement of the anthracite strike of 1902 the mines in that region have been operated on a 9-hour basis, with the exception of engineers and pumpmen, who work 8 hours, and of the miners, who work by contract.
While these figures as previously stated, may not be strictly exact, it is certain that in an 8-hour State there will not be many 10-hour men. Yet it is jbelieved that in a 10-hour State the majority of the men will work about two hours longer than in an 8-hour State. Inasmuch as these labor statistics were all collected by one bureau, the United States Geological Survey, they are all on the same basis, and for comparative purposes should serve nearly as well as exact figures. They are the only figures available by which it is possible to attempt a study of mine accidents in relation to the length of exposure to the many dangers attending the industry.
Exact data along these lines are desirable; and it is hoped that mining companies, State officials, and industrial-accident commissions will realize the importance of arriving at a true risk and cooperate in obtaining such information as may reveal the true accident hazard in the mining industry.
The State tables (see fist of States in Tables 40 and 41) cover a 10-year period from 1903 to 1913 inclusive, except for the year 1909, for which complete data are lacking. This information is available for 24 States, and the varying hours, number of employees, and the working days have been given proper weight, with the result that the total number of working hours in each State has been computed for the 10-year period, and their sum gives the total number of working hours in all the States. This divided by the number of men reported working gives an average year of 1,909 hours for the United States as a unit. The working hours in each State divided by 2,000 gives the equivalent of 2,000-hour workers, upon which fatality rates may be based. The number of calculated 2,000-hour workers is given in parallel with a column showing the number of employees as reported.
Table 40 shows the number of working hours per year in each State as varying from 1,314 in Arkansas to 2,447 in Virginia. The Pennsylvania anthracite field works 1,985 and the Pennsylvania bituminous 2,034 hours per year. In view of the fact that this range varies from a few hours below to a few hours above 2,000, and that the average for the United States is 1,909, a 2,000-hour year has been adopted for calculations in the accompanying tables. It is more nearly in keeping with actual mining conditions to base the calculations on a 2,000-hour year than it would be to base them on a 3,000-hour year, as is frequently done in factories, metallurgical works, and in other industrial plants. Anyone desiring a 3,000-hour basis may obtain it by adding 50 per cent to all of the rates given in Tables 40 and 41.
Table 40 gives the number of fatalities that are due to exceptional accidents and those due to common accidents, the exceptional acci-
64 Coal-Mike Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
dent being one in which five or more men are killed at a time, and the common accident one that occurs in every-day mining operations, wherein usually one or two men but not more than four, may be involved at a time.
The length of time during which miners are exposed to the hazards of the industry varies in different States, due to both commercial requirements and labor organizations. The number of hours a day is largely regulated by labor organizations and State laws, and the number of days worked a year is regulated more or less by commercial conditions. When the demand for coal is slight the output is curtailed by working part of the time, or by closing the mines entirely for several weeks to await better market conditions.
The actual average number of days that the mines are operated each year is given in the State tables. The tables show that this number varies from year to year for the same State. For example, in 1906 Colorado averaged 268 working days, while in 1911 the mines were operated 207 days. Arkansas in 1903 operated 223 days, and in 1910 only 128 days. Ohio varied from 161 days in 1908 to 206 days in 1913. With such wide differences in the number of days that the mines are in operation, it is evident that the hazards in each State are not the same.
Another reason why they are not comparable is that the number of hours worked per day is not the same in each State. For example, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and a number of other States are on an 8-hour basis with but few 9-hour and 10-hour men. On the contrary, in Alabama, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, and a few others, the majority of the men work 9 hours and many of them 10 hours, as shown in the State tables.
It is not a fair classification to place the fatality rate of an 8-hour State on an equal basis with that of a 10-hour State, when the men of the latter State are exposed to the mining risk 25 per cent longer. Every hour adds 12 J per cent to the hazard, as compared with an 8-hour day. As an example of unfair comparison Ohio and Montana may be cited. The fatality rate for Ohio (Table 40) is 2.94 per 1,000, based on the actual number of men working, regardless of the time element, and the rate for Montana is 4.08 per 1,000. When the rates are reduced to a common basis of 2,000 working hours a year, the Ohio rate becomes 3.94 and the Montana rate 4.23, so that the difference on the 2,000-hour basis is 0.29, as compared with 1.14 per 1,000 on the customary basis. The same comparison may be made for other States. In Virginia many of the mines are worked 10 hours a day and from 200 to 280 days per year, thus increasing the time of exposure and giving on the customary basis a fatality rate of 6.74, which, if reduced to the 2,000-hour year, becomes 5.26, comparing favorably with West Virginia at 5.18 per 1,000.
Missing Page
COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE tTNlTED STATES, 1870-1914. 65
Table 41 shows the fatality rate by States and calendar years, for a 10-year period wherein all rates are based on the number of 2,000-hour workers. The detail figures from which this table is derived will be found in the special tables in Part II under each individual State.
Plate III shows comparative fatality rates at the coal mines of the States in which coal is produced, based on a uniform period of 2,000 working hours per year, thus placing all of the States on a comparable basis, as indicated in Table 40. The circles represent the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed, wherein only the "common accidents" are considered. The solid circles represent the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed, for the "exceptional accidents." This chart represents the average of each State for a 10-year period, except where noted in Table 40. The common-accident hazard varies somewhat from one State to another, yet the difference is much smaller than usually shown where the time element is not taken into consideration.
Principal Causes Of Mine Accidents.
Coal-Mine Disasters.
A summary of the coal-mine accidents in the United States in which 5 or more men were killed at one time, together with the number of such accidents, is given in Table 42. This table shows that since 1839 there have been 297 mine disasters in which 5 or more men were killed at one time, representing 7,590 fatalities. Of this number, 6,126 were killed by gas and dust explosions, 199 of the disasters falling into this class. There were 30 mine fires, claiming 809 victims. There were 144 accidents in which 5 to 9 men were killed at one time, representing 911 fatalities. Although this group represents the greatest number of accidents, the largest number of men killed is in that group in which from 100 to 199 fatalities resulted from a single disaster. There were 12 such disasters, resulting in 1,715 fatalities. Details relating to individual accidents classifiedin this table are given in Table 44.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 67
Table 43.— FATALITIES IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES OP THE UNITED STATES CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO COMMON AND EXCEPTIONAL ACCIDENTS."
Number killed.
Number killed per 1,000 employed.
Year.
In exceptional accidents.
In common accidents.
Total.
In exceptional accidents.
In common accidents.
Total.
Total
a ExceDtional accidents are denned as those in which 5 or more men are killed at one time. Common accidents are those in which less than 5 men are killed at one time.
Table 43 shows, in parallel columns, by years since 1870 the number of men killed in common accidents and those killed in exceptional accidents, with fatality rates for each. For the entire period the rate for the exceptional accidents was 0.45 per 1,000 -men employed, and for the common accidents 2.87. The rates for 1914 are slightly below the average. In figure 4 the total fatality rate is represented by a solid line, the common-accident rate by a dotted line, and the exceptional-accident rate by dashes. These curves show the lowest total and common-accident rates between 1885 and 1890. Since then these rates have increased to 1907, from which year there is a decline in the
68 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914.
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18*70-1914. 69
fatality rate. This table shows that 6,692 men were killed in. exceptional accidents since 1870, whereas the number killed in common accidents was 43,036. The number of fatalities represented in this table is based on those States for which complete inspection reports have been rendered.
Table 44 gives a revised list of all of the mine disasters ° for which records are available from any source whatever since 1839 to and including 1915. This table presents details of the summary shown in Table 42.
Table 44.— COAL-MINE ACCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH FIVE OR MORE MEN WERE KILLED. (REVISED TO JAN. 1, 1916.)
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Killed.
1876 July 24 18/7 May 9
1881 Feb. 10 1S81 Mar. 4
1884 Jan. 24 1884 Feb. 20 1884 Mar. 13 1884 Aug. 21
1885 Apr. 6 1885 Aug. 11
1886 Jan. 13 1886 Jan. 21 1886 Aug. 30 1886 Sept. 13
1888 Mar. 29 1888 Nov. 3
1890 Feb. 1 1890 Mar. 3 1890 Apr. 2 1890 May 15
Black Heath.
Spencer
Chesterfield.. Midlothian...
Avondale
Potts
Heins & Glassmire.
Otto Red Ash- Henry Clay
Midlothian
Black Diamond.
Wadesille
Brookfield
Potts
Sullivan
Audenried
Mill Creek
Lykens Valley.
Robbins
Almy
Midlothian
Kohinoor
Coulterville
Diamond .-.
Crested Butte
West Leisenring.
Laurel
Buck Ridge
Youngstown
Cuyler
West End
Plymouth No. 2.. Nanticoke No. 1..
Almy No. 4.
Newburg
Fair Lawn.. Marvine
Conyngham.. Tunnel.
Bast
Keith & Perry No. f
Kettle Creek
Shaft No. 2
Kaska William
White Ash.
Nottingham
Susquehanna No. 4.
Jersey No. 8
Hill Farm
Mammouth
Near Richmond, Va..
Pottsville, Pa
Near Richmond, Va.
Coalfield, Va
Plymouth, Pa
Potts Mine, Pa
Middleport, Pa
Girardville, Pa
West Pittston, Pa-
Branch Dale, Pa.
Shamokin, Pa
Coalfield, Va
Nortonvule, Cal.. Wadesville, Pa... Brookfield, Ohio.
Locust Dale, Pa- Sullivan, Ind
Audenried, Pa. . . Mill Creek, Pa
Shamokin, Pa
Robbins, Ohio...
Almy, Wyo
Coalfield, Va
Shenandoah, Pa.. Coulterville, 111... Braidwood, 111...
Crested Butte, Colo. . West Leisenring, Pa.
Pocahontas, Va
Shamokin, Pa
Uniontown, Pa
Raven Run, Pa
Mocanaqua, Pa
Plymouth, Pa.. Nanticoke, Pa..
Almy, Wyo
Newburg, W. Va..
Scran ton, Pa
do
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.. Ashland, Pa
Big Mine Run, Pa..
Rich Hill, Mo
Clinton County, Pa.
Frontenac, Kans
Middleport, Pa
Jefferson County, Colo. .
Plymouth, Pa
South Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Nanticoke, Pa
Ashley, Pa
Dunbar, Pa
Mount Pleasant, Pa
Mine explosion
do
do
do ,
Mine fire
Explosion of breaker boilers.
Cage fell down shaft
Cage fell down slope
Smoke from burning breaker.
Mine explosion
do
do
do
do
Suffocated by gases from mine locomotives.
Mine explosion
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
Inrush of surface water into workings.
Mine explosion
do
do
Mine fire
Mine explosion
Fall of roof
Gas from boiler fires in mine.
Mine explosion
Buried by inrush of quicksand. .
Mine explosion
do
do
Suffocated by inrush of mine gas.
Mine explosion
Suffocated by inrush of mine gas.
do
Mine explosion
do
do
Mine car fell on men in cage.
Inrush of water from old shaft.
Mine explosion
do
do
do
Mine fire
Mine explosion
Horton, F. W., Coal mine accidents in the United States: Bull. 69, Bureau of Mines, 1913, p. 45.
70 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, lSTO-lSU.
Table 44.— COAL-MINE ACCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH FIVE OE MOBE MEN WEBE KILLED. (BEVISED TO JAN. 1, 1916.)— Continued.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Killed.
1892 Jan. 7 1892 Apr. 20
1893 Jan. 10 1893 Feb. 14 1893 Apr. 1 1893 June 22
1894 Feb. 13 1894 July 17 1894 Aug. 24 1894 Oct. 8 1894 Oct. 11
1895 Jan. 22 1895 Feb. 18 1895 Feb. 27 1895 Mar. 20 1895 Apr. 8 1895 Oct. 7 1895 Dec. 19
1896 Feb. 18 1896 Mar. 23 1896 June 28 1896 Oct. 29
1897 Jan. 4 1897 Jan. 13 1897 Mar. 4 1897 Sept. 3 1897 Sept. 20 1897 Sept. 28
Feb.
Apr. May
July
1K9H
Dec.
1S99
Dec.
1B00
Mar.
May
Aug.
Nov.
Nov.
Ken.
Apr.
May
May
June
Sept
Oct.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Jan.
Mar.
Mar.
Hi
May
July
Aug.
Spring Mountain No. 1...
Bichardson.
Susquehanna No. 1.
No. 11
Lytle
Boslyn
York Farm
Como
Chicago and Iowa
Neilson
Susquehanna No. 1
Gaylord
East Sugar Loaf
Franklin
Luke Fidler
Henry Clay
Blanche
Tate
West Bear Bidge
White Ash:
Bed Canyon
Blue Canyon
Dcrrance
Cumnock
Nelson
Vulcan
Berwind
Twin
Oswald
No.l
Wadesville
Kansas & Texas No. 44.
Sunshine
Belle Ellen
Jennyn No. 1
Von Storch
Kaska William
Umpire.. Midvale.. Exeter...
Jeanesville, Pa.
Glencarbon, Pa.
Nanticoke, Pa..
Krebs, Okla
MinersviHe, Pa..
Boslyn, Wash
Pottsville, Pa
Kjig, Colo
Albia, Iowa
Shamokin, Pa
Nanticoke, Pa
Plymouth, Pa
do
Stockton, Pa
Franklin, Wash
Shamokin, Pa
do
Standard, W. Va
Sturgis, Ky
Mahanoy Plane, Pa
Cerrillos,N. Mex
Bed Canyon, Wyo
Lake Whatcom, Wash. .
Wilkes-Barre, Pa
Cumnock, N. C
Dayton, Tenn
New Castle, Colo
Dubois, Pa
Pittston, Pa
South Wilkes-Barre, Pa
Princeton, Ind
Alderson, Okla
Wadesville, Pa
Huntington, Ark
Sunshine, Colo
Belle Ellen, Ala
Bendham, Pa
Scranton, Pa
Middleport, Pa
Brownsville, Pa
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.. West Pittston, Pa.
Drowned by inrush of water from abandoned workings and asphyxiated by gas from fire built by imprisoned men.
Imprisoned by rush of coal and suffocated by mine gas.
Mine explosion
do
Drowned by water from old workings.
Mine explosion
do
do
do
Mine fire
Mine explosion
do
Fall of roof
Dynamite explosion
Mine fire
do
Boiler explosion
Mine explosion
Powder explosion
Mine explosion :
do.
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
Fallofroof
Mine explosion. , dodo..
Crosshead fell down shaft.
Mine explosion
do.
Cook & White
Cumnock..
Grindstone
Carbon Hill No. 7
Sumner
Bed Ash
Winter Quarters 1 and 4 . . Issaquah No. 4
B erryburg
Buck Mountain
Diamondville No. 1 . - -
McAlester No. 5
Chatham
Eichland
Port Boyal No. 2
Spring Gulch
Buttonwood
Diamondville
Pocahontas
do
No.l
Milby & Dow
Lost Creek No. 2
Catsburg
Nelson
Fraterville
Boiling Mill
Bowen
Blocton, Ala
Madrid, N. Mex...
Cumnock, N. C
Grindstone, Pa — Carbonado, Wash.
Sumner, Pa
EedAsn-W. Va.,
Scofield.Utah
Issaquah, Wash. . .
Mine fire
do
do
Drowned by water from
old workings.
Mine explosion
Mine fire
Mine car fell on men in
cage. Mine explosion
.do..
.do.. .do.. .do., .do.. .do., .do..
Berryburg, W. Va. .
Mahanoy, Pa
Diamondville, Wyo.
Alderson, Okla
Farmingtori, W. Va..
Dayton, Tenn
Port Boyal, Pa
Spring Gulch, Colo..
Plymouth, Pa
Diamondville, Wyo. .
Pocahontas, Va
do
Hartshorne, Okla. . .
Dow, Okla
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Monongahela, Pa —
Dayton, Tenn
Coal Creek, Tenn
Johnstown, Pa
Bowen, Colo
Smoke from burning air shaft.
Powder explosion
Mine explosion
Mine fire
Blown-out or windy shot.
Mine explosion
do
do
do
do
do
Mine fire and explosion . .
Mine fire
Fell from cage
Mine fire
Mine explosion
do
do
do
do
do
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 71
Table 44.— COAL-MINE ACCIDENTS IN ' THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH FIVE OR MORE MEN WERE KILLED. (REVISED TO JAN. 1, 1916.)— Continued.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Killed.
Sept.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dee.
Mar.
Mar.
Mar.
Apr.
June
June 30
Nov.
Nov.
Jan.
Jan.
Apr.
May
May
May
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Koh.
Keb.
Mar.
Mar.
Apr.
Apr.
Apr.
Apr.
Apr.
July
Oct.
Oct.
Nov.
Nov.
Dec.
Deo.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Ksh.
Keh.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr. May
l.f
June
Aug.
Oct.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Deo.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Mar.
Apr. May
May
June
Aug.
Dec.
Dec.
Deo.
Ib
Dec.
Dec.
Jan,
Stafford
Lawson
South Wilkes-Barre.
Cardiff
Sandoval
Central Slope 77
Blossburg No. 3
Bonanza No. 20
Ferguson
Harwich
Maple rill
Lance
Locust Gap
Big Muddy
Williams town
Tercio
Auchincloss
No.5
Decatur
Lytle
Virginia City
Grapevine
Clear Spring
Rush Run and Red Ash . .
Oswald
Leiier
Cabin Cree
Conyngliam
Eleanora
No. 19
Puller
Clyde
Hazel Kirk No. 2
Tidewater
Braznell
Diamond ville No. 1
Horton
Coaldale
Detroit
Parral
Maitland
Little Cahaba
Century No. 1
Cuatro
Shenandoah City
Red Lodge
Susquehanna No. 7
Pocahontas
Dutchman
Rolling Mill
San Toy No. 1
Fidelity No. 1
Breese-Trenton
Primero
Lorentz
Johnston City
Stuart
Thomas No. 25
Holden
Bond and Bruco
Morgan
"Whipple
Englerille
Johnson No. 1
Sonman
Naomi
Monongah Nos. 6.and £
Yolande
Darr
Bernal
Baekman
Algoma, W. Va
Stafford, W. Va
Black Diamond, Wash. .
Shamokiu, Pa
South Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Cardiff, 111
Athens, 111
Sandoval, 111
Carbon, Okla
Blossburg, N. Mex
Hanna, Wyo
Bonanza, Ark
Connellsville, Pa
Cheswick, Pa
Mahanoy City, F a
Stearns, Ky
Plymouth, Pa
Locust Gap, Pa
Herrin, 111
Williamstown, Pa
Tercio, Colo
Nanticoke, Pa
Burnett, Wash
Decatur, 111
Minersville, Pa
Virginia City, Ala..
Wilcoe, W. Va
West Pittston, Pa..
RedAsh,W.Va
Princeton, Ind
Zei:ler,Ill
Kayford, W. Va
Wilkes-Barre, Pa
Dubois, Pa
Wilburton, Okla
Searight, Pa
Fredericktown, Pa. .
Monongahela, Pa
Vivian, W. Va
Bentleyville, Pa
Diamond ville, Wyo.
Horton, W. Va
Coaldale. W. Va
Detroit. W. Va
Witteville, Okla
Parral, W. Va
Walsenburg, Colo . . .
Piper,Ala
Century, W. Va
Tercio, Colo
Shenandoah, Pa
Red Lodge, Mont . . .
Nanticoke, Pa
Pocahontas, Va
Blossburg, N. Mex..
Johnstown, Pa
Corning, Ohio
Stone Citv, Kans. . . Breese, 111
Mine explosion
do
do
do
Dynamite explosion
Mine explosion
Windy shot
Blown-out shot
Mine explosion
Powder explosion
Mine explosion and fire. . .
Mine explosion
do
do
Dynamite explosion
Mine explosion
Dynamite explosion
Mine fire
Powder explosion
Suffocated by gases from locomotive.
Mine explosion
Fell down shaft
Mine explosion
Mine Are
Fa'lofroof
Mine explosion
do
Fell down shaft
Mine explosion
do.
do.
Powder explosion
Fell down shaft
Mine explosion
do
do
Mine fire
Mine explosion
do
do
do
Mine fire
Mine explosion
do
Dynamite explosion.. Mine explosion
do
do
do
.do.
Clinton, Ind
Primero, Colo
Penco, W. Va
Johnston City, 111
Stuart, WVa
Thomas, W. Va
Taylor, Pa
Tacoma, Va
Black Diamond, Wash.
Scarboro , W. Va
Enileyille, Colo
Priceburg, Pa
Sonman, Pa
Fayette City, Pa
Monongah, W. Va
Yolande, /la
Jacobs Creek, Pa
Carthage, N. Mex
Hawks Nest, W. Va, . ,
Dynamite explosion
Mine fire
Mine explosion
do
do
do
Fell down shaft
Powder explosion
Cage with men fell down shaft.
Powder explosion
Mine explosion
Powder explosion
do
Mine explosion
do
do
do
do
do
Mine fire
Mine explosion
Fell down shaft
Mine explosion
do
do
do
do
do
72 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Table 44.— COAL-MINE ACCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH FIVE OB MORE MEN WERE KILLED. (REVISED TO JAN. 1, 1916.)— Continued.
Date.
Name of mine
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Killed.
1909 Jan. 10 1909 Jan. 12 1909 Jan. 19 1909 Jan. 25
1910 Jan. 11 1910 Jan. 31 1910 Feb. 1 1910 Feb. 5 1910 Feb. 8 1910 Mar. 12 1910 Mar. 31 1910 Apr. 20 1910 Apr. 21 1910 May 5
1911 Jan. 20 1911 Feb. 9 1911 Mar. 18 1911 Mar. 22 1911 Apr. 7 1911 Apr. 8 1911 Apr. 24 1911 May 27 1911 July 13 1911 Sept. 12 1911 Oct. 3 1911 Oct. 23 1911 Nov. 9 1911 Nov. 18
1912 Jan. 9 1912 Jan. 16 1912 Jan. 19 1912 Jan. 20 1912 Feb. 22 1912 Mar. 20 1912 Mar. 26 1912 Apr. 21 1912 June 18 1912 July 11 1912 July 16 1912 July 24
1913 Feb. 19 1913 Apr. 23 1913 May 6 1913 May 17
Moody
Mount Lookout
Prospect
Wilhamstown
Hailey-Ola No. 1
Warrior Run.
Red Lodge
Rachel and Agnes
J ick Branch
Zeiiler
Lick Branch
Stone Canyon
Washington No. 5
Short Creek
No.14
Sunnyside ,
Echo
Eureka No. 37
Lackawanna No. 4
Toller
Northwestern
Rock Island No. 8
Franklin No. 2. '.
Auchincloss
St. PaulNo. 2
Baker No. 5
Mine A ,
Nottingham
Primero
Browder ,
F.rnestNo. 2
South WIlkes-BarreNo.5.
Great Western No. 2
Mulga
Amsterdam ,
Starkvffle
Lawson
Victor American No. 3...
Shoal Creek No. 1
Providence No. 3
Greeno
Leyden
Lick Fork
Carbon Hill
Cokedale
No. 16
Hazel
Price-Pancoast
Banner
Cameron
Sykesville
Marvine
O'GaraNo. 9
Adrian
Bottom Creek
Cross Mountain
Parrish
Carbon Hill
Central
Western No. 5
Jed
Coil
Hastings
Panama...
Old Dominion No. 1 ,
Superbaand Lemont
Abernant
Cincinnati.
Taylor
Imperial...
South Carroll ton, Ky
Hanna, Wyo
Wyoming, Pa
Midvale, Pa
Williamstown, Pa
Haileyville, Okla
Wilies-Barre, Pa
Red Lodge, Mont
Marianna, Pa
Switchback, W. Va
Zeigler.Ill
Switchback, W. Va
Chancellor, Cal ,
Franklin, Md
BoswelI,Pa
Short Creek, Ala
Pittston, Pa
Evansville, Irid
Buery,W.Va
Windber, Pa
Wehrum, Pa ,
ToUerville, Colo
Roslyn, Wash
Hartshome, Okla
Johnstown, Pa
Nanticoke, Pa
Cherry,Hl
Clay,Ky
Herrin,Ill ,
Plymouth, Pa
Primero, Colo
Browder, Ky
Ernest, Pa ,
Stearns, Ky.
Wilkes-Barre, Pa
Wilburton, Okla
Mulga, Ala
Amsterdam, Ohio ,
Palos, Ala
Starkville, Colo
Yolande, Ala
Black Diamond, Wash..
Delagua,Colo
Panama, 111
Providence, Ky ,
Tacoma, Va
Leyden, Colo
Thacker, W. Va
Carbon Hill, Va
Mineral, Kans
East Canonsburg, Pa
Throop,Pa
Littleton, Ala
Elk Garden, W. Va
Shamokin, Pa
Sykesville, Pa
Scranton, Pa
Freeland, Pa
Harrisburg, 111 ,
Punxsutawnev, Pa
Vivian, W. Va
Bricevule, Term
Plymouth, Pa
Carbon Hill, Va
Central City-Ky
Kemmerer, Wyo
Lehigh, Okla
McCurtain, Okla
Jed.W.Va
Madison ville, Ky
Hastings, Colo
Moundsville, W. Va
Carbon Hill, Va
Evans Station, Pa
Abernant, Ala
Eldorado, 111
Finleyville,Pa
Hartford, Ky
Belle Valley, Ohio
Mine explosion
do
do
Fall of roof ".
Powder explosion .
Mine fire
Mine cars
Mine fire
Mine explosion
.do.
Mine fire and explosion. .
Mine explosion
do
Mine explosion
do
do
do
Dynamite explosion
do
Mine explosion
do
do
do
do
Mine fire.
do
Mine explosion
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
do
Mine fire and explosion. .
Mine explosion ,
Powder explosion
Mine explosion
Mine fire
Mine cars
Mine explosion
do
do
Fall of roof.
Mine fire
Mine explosion ,
do
do
do :...
Mine cars
Cave-in
Mine explosion
do ,
do
do
do
Dynamite explosion
Mine explosion
do
Mine fire
Mine explosion
do
do
do
do
do
Cloudburst flooded mine
Mine explosion
do.
do
Overcome by gas.. Mine explosion. . . .
Not included in State inspector's statement of mine fatalities.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18T0-1914. 73
Table 44— COAL-MINE ACCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH FIVE OR MORE MEN WERE KILLED. (REVISED TO JAN. 1, 1916.)— Continued.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Killed.
1914 Jan. 10 1914 Jan. 14
1915 Feb. 6 1915 Feb. 17 1915 Feb. 18
East Brookside
Stag Canon No. 2
Vulcan
Rock Castle
Spencer-Newland
Eccles Nos. 5 and 6
Union Pacific No. 2
Maryd
Cinderella
No.l
Lehigh No. 4
Mulga
North or No. 1
Tripp
Carlisle
Prospect
Atlas
Layland No. 3
Shoal Creek
Smokeless Valley No. 1
United Coal No. 1
Patterson No. 2
Orenda
Northwestern
Boomer No. 2
Tower City, Pa.., Dawson. N. Mex.
Acton, Ala
Newcastle, Colo. RockCastle, Ala. Mulberry, Kans..
Eccles, W. Va
Cumberland, Wyo. Maryd, Pa
Cinderella, W. Va..
Adamson, Okla...
Lansford, Pa
Mulga, Ala
Royalton, HI
Scranton, Pa
Carlisle, W. Va... Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Rich Hill, Mo
Layland, W. Va...
Panama, 111
Johnstown, Pa
Christopher. Ill
Elizabeth, Pa
Boswell, Pa
Ravensdale, Wash. Boomer, W. Va
Mine explosion, do
.do. .do. .do.
Cage with men fell down shaft.
Mine explosion
Mine cars
Overwinding of cage
Suffocated by fumes from fire in fan house.
Cave-in
Mine explosion
do
do
Collapse of bottom of cage .
Mine explosion
do
Powder and mine explosion.
Mine explosion
do
do
do
Mine cars
Mine explosion
do
do
Gas And Dust Explosions.
Table 45 shows the number of men killed by gas and dust explosions in the coal mines of the United States, by States, during indicated periods ending December 31, 1913, for which continuous records are available. This table takes cognizance of 6,726 fatalities in the coal mines of the United States due to this cause alone, including both common and exceptional accidents. In addition to these accidents a number of mine disasters occurred prior to the beginning of State mine inspection, which are not included in this table. During the periods covered, the fatalities due to gas and dust explosions were 13.88 per cent of the total number killed, or a fatality rate of 0.46 per 1,000 men employed.
Utah has the highest percentage of fatalities in important coal mining States due to this cause, the rate being 57.75 per cent of the total, or 5.34 per 1,000 men employed. Utah's high rate is due to one disaster at the Winter Quarters mine, in which 200 men were killed at one time. New Mexico has the next highest percentage, 56.51 per cent of the total fatalities for a period of 21 years, or 6.46 per 1,000 men employed. This high rate is due to the Dawson disaster, in which 263 men were killed at one time.
The percentage of fatalities due to gas and dust explosions in some of the States is much higher than in others, whereas the rate per 1,000 men employed may not be in accordance therewith. Here again is shown the fallacy of making fatality comparisons on the percentage basis. In Utah and New Mexico the percentage of fatalities due to
74 Coal-Mine Fatalities Ix The United States, 1870-19U.
falls of roof, 26.76 and 28.17, respectively, indicates exceedingly safe roof conditions in the mines of these States, as this rate is about onehalf the average for the United States, which is 47.49 per cent. But the f atality rate due to falls of roof, based on the number of men employed, in New Mexico is 3.22 and in Utah 2.48, both of which are much larger than the average for the United States, which is 1.57 per 1,000 men employed.
Table 45.— NUMBER OF MEN KILLED BY GAS ANX> DTJST EXPLOSIONS IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES OF THE UNITED STATES. BY STATES. DURING PERIOD SHOWN ENDED DEC. 31, 1913, FOR WHICH CONTINUOUS RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE.
Number of years in period
ended Dec. 31, 1913.
Number Mlled.
State.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000 employed.
1.S7
Utah.
9.S6 27. £0
a This table is based on Table 5, and is for periods indicated, by States, for which continuous records are available. It does not necessarily check with Tables 3 and 4, for the reason that the latter tables include intermittent records prior to the period having continuous records.
It will be noted from figure 3 that the accidents due to gas and dust explosions were comparatively few from 1875 to 1890, the rate being about 0.30 per 1,000 men employed. Beginning with 1890 the fatality rate has been very irregular, owing to the irregular occurrence of large diasters. The climax was reached in 1907, when seven explosions occurred, in each of which more than 20 men were killed. The number killed by gas and dust explosions in 1907 was 1.417 per 1,000 employed in all coal mines, or 1.796 (Table 68) per 1,000 for the bituminous mines alone. As shown in Table 4, the f atality rate due to this cause has declined since 1907, being 0.457 per 1,000 in 1911 as compared with the average of 0.487 from 1870 to 1913.
In considering the number of men killed in recent gas and dust explosions, it must not be forgotten that the mines are becoming
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 75
deeper, contain more abandoned, rooms and old workings, with the possibility of greater accumulations of gas and dust, are larger, and that more men are employed in the individual mines than in former years, so that when an explosion does occur, there is the possibility of trapping more men than would have happened in the same mine 20 or 25 years ago.
With deeper mines and the resultant old workings, ventilation is not as easy to maintain as in the newer mines, thus permitting the accumulation of gas and dust. The deep slope or shaft mines drain all of the water from the upper workings, leaving the haulage ways and rooms dry, with the result that coal dust will be produced and accumulate in them. Water also drains from the gob and waste piles and they become comparatively dry. Air will circulate through abandoned rooms, caved workings and gob, and in so doing the velocity of the air current is reduced and the suspended dust deposited. The air is actually filtered, leaving its deadly burden of dust to be ignited by an explosion of gas or a blown-out shot.
Mine Fires.
Table 46 shows a list of the principal mine fires which have occurred in the United States since 1869, and in which 1,053 men have been killed. This table does not necessarily check with Table 3, for the reason that it includes one disaster in 1869 not shown in Table 3;
Table 46.— MINE FIRES IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH FIVE OR MORE MEN
Were Killed.
Date.
Sept. 6 Aug. 21 June 16 Apr. 1 Aug. 24 Oct. 8 Sept. 20 Sept. 28 Oct. 30 Oct. 1 Feb. 25 Nov. 14 Nov. 22 Ian. 13 June 30 May 5 Jan. 16 Oct. 13 Dec. 4 June 7 May 19 Aug. 26 Nov. 20 Jan. 10 Nov. 9 Nov. 13 Nov. 8 Dec. 14 Apr. 7 Feb. 22
Total
Name of mine.
Avondale
Buck Ridge
Hill Farm
Neilson
Franklin
Luke Fidler
Belle Ellen
Jermyn No. 1
Von Storeh
Midvale
Diamond ville No. 1
Pocahontas
do
Milby &Dow
Locust Gap
Decatur
Clyde
Horton
Red Lodge
Engleville
Hailey-OlaNo.l
Red Lodge
Zeigler
Auchincloss
St. PaulNo.2
Victor American No. 3. .
Leyden
Price-Paneoast
Western No. 5
Location of mine.
Plymouth, Pa
Shamokin, Pa
Dunbar, Pa
Shamokin, Pa
Franklin, Wash
Shamokin, Pa
Belle Ellen, Ala
Rendham, Pa
Scranton, Pa
Wilkes-Barre, Pa
Diamondville, Wyo.
Pocahontas, Va
do..
Dow, Okla
Hanna, Wyo
Locust Gap, Pa
Decatur, 111
Fredericktown, Pa.
Horton, W. Va
Red Lodge, Mont. .
Engleville, Colo
Haileyville, Okla. . . Red Lodge, Mont. .
Zeigler, 111
Kingston, Pa
Cherry, 111
Delagua, Colo
Leyden, Colo
Throop,Pa
Lehigh, Okla
Killed.
"169
79
a Fire and explosion combined. -Bull. 115—16 6
76 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914.
it also includes 3 disasters in which a mine fire and explosion were combined. Table 47 shows a list of mine fires at mines in the United Kingdom that were due to spontaneous combustion. This table brings out forcibly the dangers due to spontaneous combustion of waste material stored underground. Too much care can not be exercised in the matter of taking care of waste material, such as waste in engine rooms and pump stations, and old timbers, which may be easily ignited should they come in contact with oil-saturated waste. Timber should not be stored with the mine gob where oxidationis likely to take place, as it will add fuel to a fire which may be easily started. All inflammable material should be removed from the mines.
Table 47.— LOSS OP LIFE OCCASIONED BY FIEES DUE TO SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN MINES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1893-1912, INCLUSrVE.a
Date of accident.
Name of mine.
County.
Number killed.
Number injured.
Reported cause of death.
19C5 June 25
1906 Apr. 27 1906 May 26
1908 Dec. 23 1910 Apr. 17
19U Nov. 25
Total.
Harecastleand Woodshutts.
Oldfleld
Shelton
Whitwick
Dalqhuarran.. HillofBeath..
Talk o' the Hill
Hamstead..
Melgund...
Coneygre, No.
126 pit. HadenHUI... Hamstead
Lumphinnans, No. 1 pit.
Bog, Nos. 1 and 2 pits.
Court Herbert.
Aldridge... Lochhead.
Cakemcre
Wmdmillend,
No. 5 pit. Bignall EM,
Jamage pit. Bentley
: forth Staffordshire. .
do
do
Leicester. . Yorkshire-
Ayrshire. Fife
North Staffordshire . South Staffordshire - Fife
South Staffordshire .
.do. -do.
Fife
Lanark
Glamorgan
South Staffordshire. Fife
Worcester. , do
North Staffordshire. Yorkshire
Norton
North Staffordshire.
Yorkshire
Glamorgan
Skull fractured by explosion blowing out stopping.
Suffocated by fumes and smoke.
Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Suffocated by fumes from burningtimbers.
Explosion ignited by gob fire while working in a "scouring."
Suffocated by fumes; gob fire.
Poisoned, by carbon monoxide leaking through stoppings.
Explosion ignited by gob fire.
Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Suffocated by products of combustion.
Carbon monoxide and black damp poisoning. Do.
Carbon monoxide poison-
""Bo.
Carbon monoxide suffocation.
Shock of explosion ignited by gob fire.
Suffocated by fumes.
Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Severe burns.
Carbon monoxide poison-
"60.
Explosion ignited by gob fire. Do. Do. Carbon monoxide poisoning.
a First report of the departmental committee on spontaneous combustion of coal in mines, Home Office, London, 1914.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 77 Explosives.
Table 48 shows by causes and States the total number of fatalities due to explosives, during periods of inspection service for which continuous records are available. The fatality rates due to explosives from 1870 to 1914 are shown in figure 3. In Table 48 are tabulated 3,675 fatalities due to the use of explosives underground. This table has been divided into 14 subheadings showing various causes of accidents while using explosives, and it will be noted that 24.87 per cent are due to premature blasts, 16.79 per cent to handling and transportation, 16.71 per cent to flying pieces of rock or coal. The number of fatalities due to striking unexploded charges in removing debris is small, only three being reported. The small number of fatalities due to thawing of explosives is largely accounted for by the fact that black powder is used to such a large extent in the coal mines. Dynamite is not used so extensively and hence there are not so many accidents due to thawing as in the metal mines, where dynamite is used almost exclusively. Of the 27 fatalities due to thawing explosives, 21 occurred in the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania, where a large amount of dynamite is used. The table presents a detailed study which has not heretofore been available, and it is hoped that it will be of some special use to safety engineers in forming rules and regulations concerning the use of explosives.
The table also gives the percentage of fatalities and the rate per 1,000 men employed. In Kansas and North Dakota nearly onefourth of all coal-mine fatalities is due to the use of explosives. Although in Indiana 19.44 per cent and in Oklahoma 15.77 per cent are due to this cause, the average for the United States is 7.59 per cent.
Table 49 gives the number of fatalities due to explosives in and about the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania from 1870 to and including 1913. This table shows that 1,835 fatalities were due to this cause alone, of which 1,790 were underground, as indicated in Table 48. Table 49 also shows the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed as being 0.225 in 1870. This rate fluctuates more or less, but it has more than doubled in recent years, ranging from 0.414 in 1909 to 0.540 in 1908 and 0.427 in 1913. The average fatality rate per 1,000 men employed in the anthracite field during the entire period of 44 years is 0.354, as compared with 0.05 in the bituminous fields of Pennsylvania, in which there were 185 fatalities as compared with 1,790 in the anthracite field.
Anthracite coal being much harder than bituminous coal, more nearly approaches metal-mining operations, and of course larger quantities of more powerful explosives are required. Table 50 shows that the amount of explosives used in the anthracite field is practically three times the amount used in the bituminous mines of
78 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914.
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 79
Pennsylvania. In 1913 the bituminous fields used 14,652,931 pounds of black powder as compared with 44,001,660 pounds in the anthracite mines. The bituminous mines for the same year used 696,162 pounds of dynamite, whereas the. anthracite mines used in the same period 16,093,035 pounds. The amount of permissible explosives used in the bituminous fields was 6,715,028 pounds as compared with 3,323,645 in the anthracite fields. Records showing the use of permissible explosives are not complete prior to 1909.
Table 49— FATALITIES IN AND ABOUT THE ANTHRACITE MINES OF PENNSYLVANIA
Due To Explosives.
Number killed by —
t
a
Year.
§
U
a
w
w
lis
a
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o
f
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a
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a
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las
Co
.a"
s we
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a
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Si" M
s
J5
"2"
"2"
"3'
"2"
Total. .
Underground.
a Based on total employees as given in Table 124. t Included in the 2,321 surface fatalities, Table 5.
80 Coal-Mine Natalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Table 50.— EXPLOSIVES USED IN THE COAL MINES OF PENNSYLVANIA
Quantity of explosives used in anthracite mines.
Black powder.
Dynamite.
Permissible explosives.
Quantity of explosives used in bituminous mines.
Black powder.
Dynamite.
Permissible explosives.
Pounds.
Pounds. 3,649,417 3,454,641 4,155,685 2,130,965 5,317,422 6,519,312 8,353,594 7,980,733 10, 544, 81 10,766,245 10,724,616 11,171,458 13,369,056 13,685,0C2 16,093,035
Pounds. 6,C00,7C0 7,409,925 7,851,500 9,906,725 11,145,715 12,026,275 15,194,150 13,119,010 13,S T 4,215 12,738,800 12,221,214 12,539,013 12,925,731 13,402,034 14,652,931
Pounds.
l,3CO,161
Pounds.
o Ann. Rept. Department of Mines of Pennsylvania, 1913, pp. 59, 75. PERMISSIBLE EXPLOSIVES.
The number of fatalities per 10,000 men employed, due to explosives used in the bit umin ous coal mines of the United States from
Figube 5.— Number of men killed per 10,000 employed, by explosives, in the bituminous coal mines of the United States, compared with the amount of permissible explosives used, 1901-1914. (Based on Table 68.)
1901 to 1914, inclusive, are shown in figure 5. The figure also shows the amount of permissible explosives used for the same period. This period is taken for the reason that in 1901 there were no permissible explosives used in the coal mines of the United States. In 1902 this
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914. 81
class of explosives was introduced, there being 11,300 pounds used during that year. In preparing this chart, the amount of permissible explosives used in the anthracite mines has been eliminated, leaving the figures for bituminous mines only. This chart shows the rapid increase in the use of permissible explosives and, at the same time, a corresponding decrease in the fatality rate. None of the serious mine disasters have been attributed to permissible explosives.
Table 51 shows the amount of black powder, high explosive other than permissible, and permissible explosive used in the coal mines of the United States, geographically grouped, wherein the mining conditions are more or less of a similar character. This table is for the two years 1913 and 1914.
Table 51.— QUANTITY OF "EXPLOSIVES USED IN THE COAL MINES OF THE UNITED STATES DURING 1913 AND 1914.1
States.
Quantity of explosives used.
Black blasting powder.&
High explosives, other than permissible explosives.
Permissible explosives.
Maryland and Virginia
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
Georgia and North Carolina
Indiana and Kentucky
Illinois
Ohio
Alabama and Tennessee
Michigan
Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri
Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming
Cdlorad o, New Mexico, and Utah
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington
California and Nevada
Kegs.
Pounds.
Pounds.
Pounds.
Pounds. 441,825 8,989,625 2,904,449
Total 7,396,683 7,072,506 24,143,133 24,215,945 21,804,285
a Fay, A. H., Production of explosives in the United States during 1914, Tech. Paper 107, 1915, pp. 10-12. b Kegs of 25 pounds each.
Quantity Of Explosives Used In The Coal Mines Of West Virginia."!
Year.
Number of operators reporting.
Black powder.
Dynamite.
So-called
safety
powder.
Kegs. 373,669 447,306 443,989 425,342 391,282 459,273 409,312 409,540 W
Pounds.
Pounds.
m
a Compiled from State mine inspectors' report3. & Not given.
82 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
YEARLY SALES OF SHORT-FLAME EXPLOSIVES USED IN COAL MINES IN THE UNITED
States, 1901-1914.O
Year.
Quantity sold.
Year.
Quantity sold.
Pounds.
Pounds. 2,108,610
Fay, A. H., Production of explosives in the United States during 1914: Tech. Paper 107, Bureau of Mines, 1915, p. 13.
QUANTITY OF PERMISSIBLE EXPLOSIVES USED IN DIFFERENT COAL FIELDS IN THE
United States, 1910-1914.
Coal fields and regions.
Pounds.
Pounds.
Pounds.
Pounds.
Pounds. 4,380,635 7,966,464 3,510,013 1,364,450 411,937
Total
"Fay, A. H., Production of explosives in the United States during 1914: Tech. Paper 107, Bureau of Mines, 1915, p. 13. - & Not including Pennsylvania anthracite field.
Palls Of Roof.
Table 52 shows the number of fatalities due to falls of roof and pillar coal in and about the coal mines of the United States, by States, during periods ending December 31, 1913, for which continuous records are available. During these various State periods there were 23,011 fatalities due to falls of rock and coal alone. This represents 47.49 per cent of the total number of fatalities, or a fatality rate of 1.57 per 1,000 men employed. (See fig. 3. Pis. I and II.)
It is not always in the mines having the strongest roof where the least number of fatalities occur. When a mine is known to have a bad roof, the miner, foreman, and all others concerned will take special precautions to use plenty of timber to keep the roof in place. Furthermore, the roof will be tested frequently and the miner will be on the lookout at all times when he knows that roof conditions are bad. With a strong roof, however, such precautions are not taken. The miner and the foreman consider the roof safe and give it no further thought. This leads to negligence, and as a result many of the fatalities due to roof falls happen where roof conditions are considered the best.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914. 83
Table 52— NUMBER OF MEN KILLED BY FALLS OF ROOF AND PILLAR COAL IN THE
COALMINES OF THE UNITED STATES, BY STATES, DURING PERIOD SHOWN ENDED DEC. 31, 1913, FOR WHICH CONTINUOUS RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE, a
Number of years in period
ended Dec. 31, 1913.
Number killed.
State.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000 employed.
S
Ohio .
Utah
a This table is based on Table 5, and is for periods indicated by States for which continuous records are available. It does not necessarily check with Tables 3 and 4 for the reason that the latter tables include intermittent records prior to the period having continuous records.
Falls of roof form the principal cause of accidents in coal mines, a fact that should command the serious attention of the inspectors, operators, mine foremen, and the miners. Roof falls are bound to happen, yet with proper precautions, use of sufficient timber, and care on the part of the foremen and miners the number of accidents from this cause should be reduced to a considerable extent.
Haulage Systems.
Table 53 shows the number of men killed underground by mine cars and locomotives covering periods for which continuous records are available, including 1913. This class represents one-eighth of the total number of men killed in and about the coal mines, or 0.42 per 1,000 men employed. During the periods covered 6,056 men were killed by mine cars and locomotives. (See fig. 3. Pis. I and II.) This number, however, does not include accidents due to electricity on haulage systems nor injuries inflicted by animals. Details relating to haulage systems of all of the various States are not available, but as an example to show the character of haulage used it has been possible to prepare tables for Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia, and the anthracite and bituminous mines of Pennsylvania.
84 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Table 54 shows the number of horses and mules and steam, electric, and compressed-air locomotives used in the Pennsylvania coal mines from 1898 to 1913. The number of animals used in anthracite haulage has not changed materially during this 15-year period. The number of steam locomotives has practically doubled, the number of electric locomotives has increased from 24 to 781, and the number of compressed-air locomotives has increased from 10 to 161. The number of horses and mules used in bituminous haulage in Pennsylvania has doubled during this period. The number of steam locomotives has increased but slightly, whereas the number of electric locomotives has increased from 122 in 1899 to 1,933 in 1913. The use of compressed-air locomotives has increased in about the same ratio as in the anthracite field, there being 13 in 1899 and 168 in 1913.
Table 53.— NUMBER OF MEN KILLED UNDERGROUND BY MIKE CARS AND LOCOMOTIVES IN THE COAL MINES OF THE UNITED STATES, BY STATES, DURING PERIOD SHOWN ENDED DEC. 31, 1913, FOR WHICH CONTINUOUS RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE."
State.
Number of years in period
ended Dec. 31, 1913.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000 employed.
Alabama
Arkansas
Colorado
Georgia
Illinois
Tnriiansi
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maryland
Michigan
Missouri.
Montana
New Mexico
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania (anthracite) . . Pennsylvania (bituminous) .
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming
Total..
a This table is based on Table 5 and is for periods indicated, by States, for which continuous records are available. It does not necessarily check with Tables 3 and 4 for the reason that the latter tables include intermittent records prior to the period having continuous records.
In 1900 of the total amount of coal mined in Illinois, 5.5 per cent was transported by electric haulage underground, 10.1 per cent by cable haulage, and 84.4 per cent by horse and mule haulage. In 1912 the electric haulage systems handled 67.7 per cent, the cable haulage 0.7 per cent, and horse and mule haulage 31.6 per cent. In figuring these percentages the amount of coal handled by hand and
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 85
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86 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, lcftO-lMA.
Table 55.— PERCENTAGE OF COAL HANDLED UNDERGROUND IN ILLINOIS MINES BY ELECTRIC, ROPE, AND ANIMAL HAULAGE WITH FATALITIES DUE TO HAULAGE SYSTEMS.
Year.
Percentage of coal hauled by a—
Number of men killed in haulage accidents.
Electric haulage.
Rope system.
Animals.
Total.
Per 1.000 employed.
o Calculated from data published in the State mine inspectors' annual reports.
Table 56.— SUMMARY OF THE NUMBER OF MINE LOCOMOTIVES IN WEST VIRGINIA DURING THE FISCAL YEARS ENDING JUNE 30, 1899-1913, INCLUSIVE.o
Number
of
mines
using
locomotives.
Number of locomotives in use.
Year.
Electric.
Steam.
Compressed air.
Gasoline.
Total.
ne
Compiled from State mine inspector's annual reports.
other haulage was small and was therefore disregarded. Table 55 shows the percentage of coal handled by the three systems. The fatalities, shown in a parallel column, include in addition to those due to mine cars and locomotiTes underground, 13 fatalities due to animals and 8 fatalities from electric shock as being attributable to the haulage system. The table shows in general an increasing rate, which is due not so much to electricity as to the more rapid transit and the nearer approach to railroad operations.
Table 56 shows the number of mine locomotives in use in West Virginia from 1899 to 1913. The number of mines using locomotives in 1899 was 63, while in 1913 it was 502. The number of electric locomotives has increased from 24 in 1899 to 1,365 in 1913. The number of steam locomotives has decreased slightly, having dropped
COAL-Mine FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1870-1914. 87
from 64 in 1899 to 46 in 1913. The use of compressed-air locomotives has not increased and in 1912 gasoline locomotives were introduced, 17 being installed in that year and 28 in 1913.
Table 57— MINING MACHINES AND ELECTRIC-HAULAGE MOTORS IN OHIO MINES."
Mining machines.
Electrichaulage motors.
Year.
Electric.
Compressed air.
Total.
m m
m
o Compiled from the annual reports of the State mine inspector.
& Not reported.
In Table 57 is shown the number of electric haulage motors used in Ohio from 1889 to 1913. In 1889 there was only one electric haulage motor; in 1913 there were 612. The table also shows the increase in the number of electric and compressed-air mining machines.
Accidents Due To Electricity.
Table 58 shows the number of fatalities by States in and about the coal mines due to electricity since its introduction into the mines. These include both surface and underground fatalities, of which there were 710. The largest percentage of this number of fatalities was due to direct contact with the trolley wire. This group represents practically 50 per cent of the total number of fatalities. The next largest group is that due to contact with machine feed wire, by which 131 were killed, representing 18.45 per cent. The miscellaneous column is unfortunately large, inasmuch as sufficient details were not given in the description of the individual accidents in order to enable a proper classification of these fatalities. Many of them were reported simply as "electrocuted," no details whatever being given; hence this column represents 128 fatalities, or 18 per cent of the total.
88 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18*70-1914. 89
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90 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
In Table 59 is given a classification of accidents due to electricity as compiled from the coal-mine inspectors' reports of Great Britain. The majority of the fatalities were caused by alternating current at voltages ranging from 250 to 650. It is to be expected that the majority of the accidents should be within this range of voltage, as it is used almost exclusively at the mines.
Table 60.— NUMBER OF MEN KILLED BY SHAFT ACCIDENTS IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES OP THE UNITED STATES, BY STATES, DURING PERIOD SHOWN ENDED DEC. 31, 1913, FOR WHICH CONTINUOUS RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE."
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Alaska and California
Arkansas
Colorado
Georgia and North Carolina .
Idaho and Nevada
Illinois
Indiana.
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maryland
Michigan
Missouri.
Montana
New Mexico
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania (anthracite)... Pennsylvania (bituminous) . Tennessee
Utah
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia. Wyoming
Total.
Years.
a This table is based on Table 5, and is for periods indicated, by States for which continuous records are available. It does not necessarily check with Tables 3 and 4 for the reason that the latter tables include intermittent records prior to the period having continuous records.
Mine Shafts.
Table 60 shows the number of fatalities, by States, due to accidents at shafts and subdivided into four different groups, as falling down shafts, objects falling down shafts, cages or skips, and miscellaneous. During the period represented 1,811 were killed by shaft accidents, of which number 843 occurred in and about the anthracite mines. The large number of fatalities at the anthracite mines is not exceptional for the reason that practically all of the mines are opened by
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 91
shafts, whereas in the bituminous mines, except some in the Central and Western States, the majority of the mines are opened by slopes and drifts. During 36 years only 217 were killed by reason of shaft accidents at the Pennsylvania bituminous mines, while in Illinois during the 29-year period 266 men were thus killed. The average number of men employed per year in the Pennsylvania bituminous mines is about twice the number employed at the Illinois mines (Table 7), showing that the high Illinois rate, which is more than three times as high as at the bituminous mines of Pennsylvania, is due to the fact that the mines are operated through shafts instead of slopes and drifts. The Illinois mines are more nearly comparable with the anthracite mines in this respect.
More than one-half of all fatalities at shafts are due to persons falling down the shaft, either from the surface or from the various landings. Cages and skips are responsible for slightly over one-third of the shaft accidents. These two causes offer a good field for safety work, and, as shown in Table 4 and figure 1, the accidents at coal-mine shafts .are being reduced by reason of vigilance on the part of the inspectors and the installation of safety devices by the operators.
Surface Shops And Yards.
Table 61 shows the number of men killed at surface works about coal mines in the United States during continuous periods as indicated including 1913. The fatalities recorded in this table do not include accidents to coke-oven workers, as these have been eliminated in every case where sufficient information was given to identify the victim with the coking industry. The number-of surface fatalities as shown is 3,573, representing 7.37 per cent of the total number killed in and about the mines. The rate per 1,000 men employed is 0.24. Of the total number killed 2,321 were at the surface workings of the anthracite mines and a large percentage of these were killed in the breakers. The accidents in the breakers have been included by reason of the fact that this is one of the branches of the industry which is absolutely necessary to prepare the coal for the market. The coke-oven fatalities of the bituminous field were eliminated for the reason that they are considered foreign to the preparation of the coal for market. It is a second step in which the coal, so to speak, is manufactured into another product.
Almost one-half of the surface fatalities are due to mine cars and locomotives and railway cars and locomotives, thus pointing out the need for closer supervision and better equipment of haulage systems. Boiler explosions and bursting steam pipes are responsible for 214 fatalities. Machinery claimed 775 victims, 629 of which were at the anthracite mines and include many breaker accidents. 14355°— Bull. 115—16 7
92 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18T0-1914.
Table 61.— NUMBER OF MEN KILLED BY SURFACE ACCIDENTS ABOUT THE COAL MINES OF THE UNITED STATES BY STATES, DURING PERIOD SHOWN ENDED DEC. 31, 1913, FOR WHICH CONTINUOUS RECORDS ARE AVAILABLE.o
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a This table is based on Table 5, and is for periods indicated, by States for which continuous records are available. It does not necessarily check with Tables 3 and 4, for the reason that the latter tables include intermittent records prior to the period having continuous records.
Accidents Classified By Occupation.
Data for mine accidents as related to the occupation of the employee are far from complete. Many of the mine inspectors' reports give the occupation of the man who has been fatally injured, and from these reports it is an easy matter to actually compile figures for certain States showing the total number killed in each occupation. However, these reports, with but one or two exceptions, fail to give the actual number of men employed in the specified occupations, and since data of this character are lacking, it is not possible to arrive at any true comparative hazards for the various occupations. The fatality figures may show a larger number of men killed in one occupation, possibly ten times as many, than in some other class of work. At the same time, there may be twenty times as many men engaged in this particular work, so that the hazard would not be as great as indicated by the actual number of men killed. For example, there are rela-
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1S1Q-1Su. 93
tively few shot fixers in the mines as compared with other underground employees, and the actual number of shot firers killed is therefore much smaller than in some other occupations, yet it is an extremely hazardous occupation. To obtain the relative hazard of each occupation the number engaged therein is necessary.
Mine inspectors' reports for the State of Pennsylvania from 1902 to 1913, inclusive, show both the number of men killed in certain of the principal occupations and the corresponding number of men employed therein. Table 62 shows fatalities by occupations in the anthracite mines from 1881 to 1913, inclusive. The corresponding number of men employed, however, is shown only for miners and
Mine foremen and assistants.
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Figube 6.— Average number ol men killed per thousand employed in anthracite and bituminous mines of Pennsylvania, by occupation, 1902-1913. (Based on Tables 62 and 63.)
miners' laborers. Beginning with 1900 complete figures to and including 1913 are given for the number killed, as well as the number employed in the various occupations. The highest fatality rate is for the anthracite miners, which averages for the period 1900 to 1913, 6 per 1,000 men employed. The fatality rate for the miners' laborers is 4.29 per 1,000 employed. The fatality rate for fire bosses and assistants is 3.86, as compared with 4.29 in the bituminous mines. The rate for mine foremen and assistants is also higher, being 2.28 as against 1.86 in the bituminous mines. The relative occupational hazards for the two periods covered, for both the anthracite and bituminous coal mines of Pennsylvania, are graphically shown in figure 6.
94 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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96 Coal-Mine Fatalities Ix The Exited States, 1870-1914.
Table 63 shows the number of men employed and number killed, classified by occupations, in the bituminous mines of Pennsylvania from 1902 to 1913, inclusive. During the 12-year period the fatality rate for miscellaneous employees was 5.35 per 1,000 men employed; fire bosses, 4.29; drivers and runners, 3.96; and miners, 3.83.
Nonfatal Injuries In Coal Mines Ln The United States.
There are no complete records of the nonfatal injuries at the coal mines in the United States. In 1911 the bureau collected direct from the operators statistics relating to nonfatal injuries for that year. The number of serious ° injuries reported was 9,106 and of slight injuries, 22,228. These reports were doubtless incomplete, as many of the mining companies were not keeping complete records of all accidents at their mines. Furthermore, there were but few compensation laws in effect which compelled the operators to keep records of nonfatal injuries.
The number killed per 1,000 employed in the metal mines is less than in the coal mines when compared on an equal time basis of 300-day workers. In view of this fact there is no reason to believe that the number of nonfatal injuries should be less in the coal mines than in the metal mines.
The best figures available on this subject are those collected by the United States Bureau of Mines for the metal-mining industry. The bureau has issued reports covering a period of four years, 1911 to 1914, in which the number of nonfatal accidents reported represent about 30 per 1,000 wherein the injured person was off duty 20 days or more by reason of disability. The bureau's reports show that approximately 150 men per 1,000 received minor injuries resulting in a disability varying from 1 to 20 days. These figures are based upon voluntary reports of the mining companies to the Bureau of Mines. Since there is no Federal law requiring these reports, it is believed that the above rates are too low. This view is supported by a special study of metal-mine accidents for 1914, which contains the reports of 258 companies whose accident records are reasonably complete. The study shows that 50 per 1,000 are seriously injured (disabled 20 days or more), while 270 per 1,000 are slightly injured (disabled 1 to 20 days). These injuries, however, apply only to, and are based on, 75,000 men employed either underground or in the open-pit mines, excluding all surface, shop, and mill men. Taking the average metal-mine rate for a period of four years as a basis of injuries in the coal mines, there would be approximately 22,900 persons seriously injured and 114,500 persons slightly injured each year.
o Serious injuries include those causing a loss of time of 20 days or more. A slight injury is one causing a loss of more than one day but less than 20.
Coal-Mine Fatalities Ik The United States, 1870-1914. 97
In 1911 two-thirds of the serious and slight injuries in the coal mines were due to falls of roof and pillar coal and mine cars and locomotives. About one-half of the nonfatal injuries in the metal mines were due to these two causes, showing that there are more injuries in the coal mines from them than in the metal mines. The coal mines have a much larger area of roof exposed than do the metal mines, and in most cases the haulage system is more extensive by reason of the longer haul and the excess tonnage handled, thus increasing the coal-mine hazard as compared with metal mines. These being the principal causes of nonfatal injuries, there seems reason to believe that the above estimate is too low rather than too high.
Tables 64, 65, and 66 show the injuries as reported by the State mine inspectors in their latest published reports for the States indicated. These tables represent 6,719 injuries, which have been classified according to the part of the body injured, and also by causes. The accidents are also tabulated by States with reference to the part of the body injured and the cause of the injury. These tables are far from being complete, inasmuch as they represent only the more serious injuries. For example, the report for Illinois includes only those accidents in which the injury resulted in a loss of 30 days' time or more. In some of the States no time is specified and no statement given to indicate what class of injuries is included in the report.
These tables will be of some assistance to the hospital department of the various coal mines, inasmuch as they point out the part of the body receiving the most injuries and will give the surgeons and others an idea as to the surgical equipment necessary to properly take care of the injuries to be expected in and about the coal mines.
NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF INJURIES RECEIVED BY MEN EMPLOYED IN AND ABOUT COAL MINES, BY PARTS INJURED.
Number. Percentage.
Head 427 6.36
Face 290 4.32
Shoulders 330 4.91
Arms 544 8.10
Hands 948 14.11
Body 1,190 17.71
Hipandpelvis 281 4.18
Legs 1,987 29.57
Feet 722 10.74
Total 6,719 100.00
With the enactment of compensation laws in the various States, it is hoped that in the near future there will be more complete data available to afford a basis for a detailed study of nonfatal injuries.
98 Coal-Mike Fatalities Ik The United States, 1870-1914.
However, sufficient data concerning fatal injuries have been collected and tabulated herein to form a basis for an intensive study of the various accidents by causes. Any safety device, rule, regulation, law, or instruction to miners that will reduce fatal accidents will also reduce the nonfatal accidents. The difference between the two
Figube 7. — Analysis of nonfatal injuries showing part of body injured and percentage for each location.
classes of accidents is only one of degree or severity. The cause still remains the same: fall of rock, mine car, or explosive. If a falling rock strikes a man on the head or body it may kill him, but if it strikes only his foot or hand, seriously injuring him, the cause, fall of rock, is the same. By removing the, eause of fatal accidents, the number of nonfatal accidents will be.greatly reduced.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1014. 99
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104 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Fatalities At Bituminous Coal Mines.
Inasmuch as bituminous coal mining differs so much from the mining of anthracite, Tables 67 and 68, covering the bituminous coal-mining industry from 1890 to and including 1914, have been
compiled. Complete data prior to 1890 would be desirable, but for a study of present-day mine accidents it is believed that these tables go back sufficiently far to show the actual hazards of the bituminous mines.
The total production and the number of men em- s' ployed in all bituminous 2 2 mines of the United States
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1.2 are given in Table 67. In f § the second part of the same table are given the produc- a tion and number of men em- w ployed in those States which Z I are under inspection service and for which accident records are available. In 1890, 89.60 per cent was represented by inspection States, whereas for the same year 85.96 per cent of the employees were in the same group.
Table 68 shows the fatalities at bituminous mines by the same groups of causes as in Tables 4, 5, and 6, which include the anthracite mines. It also shows the actual number killed in each group and the percentage of fatalities due to each class, as well as the number killed per 1,000 men employed. Figure 8 shows the fatality rates by principal causes from 1891 to 1914. In 1890 the number killed by falls of roof and pillar coal per 1,000 men employed was 1.259. This rate gradually increased until
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 105
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 107
in 1909 it was 1.951. Since 1909 the rate has been decreasing until in 1914 it was 1.548 per 1,000 men employed. With reference to mine cars and locomotives the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed in 1890 was 0.163. The rate increased quite uniformly to 0.593 per 1,000 employed in 1913. The rate for 1914 was slightly lower. The fatality rates due to gas and dust explosions have been very erratic, reaching the highest point in 1907, when the rate was 1.796 per 1,000 employed. Since the year 1907 this rate has decreased, although irregularly, to 0.523 per 1,000 employed in 1914.
The fatality rate due to explosives gradually increased from 1890, during which year the rate was 0.182 per 1,000 employed, to 1903, when it reached its highest point, 0.339 per 1,000. Since the introduction of permissible explosives and more strict rules concerning the handling and use of explosives, together with more efficient mineinspection service, the fatality rate has gradually decreased until in 1914 the number killed per 1,000 employed was 0.096. This reduction is illustrated in figures 5 and 8.
The number of accidents at shafts has decreased slightly, whereas the number of those on the surface shows a gradual increase.
The percentage of coal mined by machines since 1891, when the first records are available, is shown in figure 10. In 1891 only 5.26 per cent of the bituminous coal was mined by machines. The quantity has steadily increased year by year until in 1914, 51.7 per cent of the coal was reported as machine mined. The upper curve in figure 10 includes all hand-mined coal as well as that shot off the solid as distinguished from the machine product. Details of accidents as related to machine mining follow.
Machine Mining.
A study of coal-mine accidents would not be complete without some reference to machine mining. It would be very desirable, indeed, if it were possible to tabulate data for a period of years, showing the actual number of men employed in machine-worked mines, together with the corresponding casualties oocurring therein. Data of this character are not available, however, and hence it is impossible to make such a study. The United States Geological Survey, however, has for a number of years, 1896-1913, collected and published data showing the percentage of coal mined by machines in each State, and this information is used as a basis for the study of mine accidents as tabulated herein.
In comparing figures of production, number of men employed, fatalities, etc., for the 18-year period, those States have been included in which complete accident-fatality records and the number, of employees are available. Inasmuch as details are lacking to show the number of mines where mining machines are used, the only other alternative whereby comparative results may be obtained is to group the States according to the percentage of coal mined by 14355°— Bull. 115—16 8
108 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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machines. Four groups have therefore been used as follows: Group I includes those States in which less than 20 per cent of the coal produced was mined by machines, leaving the other 80 per cent of the coal as mined by hand or shot off the solid. Group II includes those States in which 20 to 39 per cent of the coal produced was mined by machines. Group III includes those States in which 40 to 59 per cent of the coal produced was mined by machines. Group IV includes those States in which 60 per cent or more was produced by mining machines.
Table 70.— NUMBER AND TYPE OF COAL-CUTTING MACHINES IN OPERATION IN THE UNITED STATES, 1899 TO 1914, INCLUSIVE.""
Number of machines in use.
Year.
Pick.
Chain breast.
Long wall.
Short wall.
Radial axe or post.
Total.
i Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. :
GROUPING OF STATES, ACCORDING TO PERCENTAGE OF COAL MINED BY MACHINES, FOR THE PERIOD 1896-1913, AND NUMBER OF YEARS EACH STATE IS REPRESENTED IN EACH GROUP.
[Group I, less than 20 percent mined by machine; Group II, 20 to 39 percent; Group HI, 40 to 59 percent;
Coal-mining States.
Groupj
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Georgia
Illinois
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The fatalities during this period have been divided into two classes, namely, common and exceptional. Common accidents are those of daily occurrence in which less than 5 men are killed at one time. Exceptional accidents are defined as those including mine disasters in which 5 or more men are killed at one time.
Production.
Table 73 shows the production of coal for Group I from 1896 to 1913. The production of this group, 113,995,776 tons in 1896, has gradually declined until in 1913 it was only 39,509,308 tons. Group II (Table 76) produced in 1896, 16,780,981 tons and reached its highest point in 1902. In 1913 the production of this group was 41,373,914 tons. A number of States, in Group II, passed from this group into Group III (Table 79) in 1904, so that Group III, while not producing any coal in 1896, produced 340,591,068 tons in 1913. Group IV (Table 82), in which more than 60 per cent was mined by machines, does not make its appearance until 1900. It then dropped out for four years and appeared again in 1905 with 25,552,950 tons. In 1913 this group produced 57,048,913 tons.
Number Of Men Employed.
Tables 73, 76, 79, and 82 show the number of men employed in each group for the period covered (fig. 9). The number employed in Group I, 197,180 men in 1896, has gradually declined until in 1913 there were 67,714 employed in this class of mines. Group II began in 1896 with only 34,306 men and gradually increased to 207,976 men in 1904. At the close of 1904 a large percentage of this group passed into Group III, so that although Group III does not show any employees in 1896 there were 366,880 employees in 1913. The number of men in Group IV varies from none in 1904 to 75,452 in 1913.
Effect Of Machine Mining On Fatality Rates.
Table 69 shows by States and years the number of mining machines in use from 1891 to 1914. During this period the number of machines has increased from 545 to about 17,000, and the production per year per machine has increased from 11,398 tons in 1891 to 14,802 tons in 1913. Table 70 shows the number of each of five different types of machines in use since 1899.
As there has been an enormous increase in the use of mining machines, Tables 69 to 85 have been compiled for the purpose of analyzing accidents as related to this method of mining. When mining machines were first introduced, there were many who felt that they added another serious hazard to the coal-mining industry.
112 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Although their use may have increased the number of accidents due to machinery and electricity, yet the results shown in Tables 69 to 85 and figures 10 to 15 do not seem to bear out the first impression. The increase of accidents due to machinery and electricity seems to be more than offset by the decrease in fatalities due to explosives, as shown in Table 5.
As indicated, the fatality rate, in those groups where the percentage of machine mining is largest, is lower than in those groups where the amount of coal undercut by hand or shot from the solid is the largest.
As indicated in Table 71 and figure 10, the first three groups are practically of the same rank, each employing slightly over 2,000,000 men during the 18-year period. Group IV is much smaller, employing only 522,293 men. The total production for the first three groups is nearly the same, so that comparisons for those groups may be made on an equal basis. The total number of men killed in exceptional accidents, in all of the groups, was 5,183, and in common accidents, 21,475. In Group I the number of fatalities due to exceptional accidents was 2,476, representing a rate of 1.11 per 1,000 employed. The exceptional-accident rates per 1,000 men employed are 0.76 for Group II, 0.38 for Group III, and 0.20 for Group IV. The rates for common accidents are 2.98 for Group I, 2.81 for Group II, 2.92 for Group III, and 2.62 for Group IV. There is a gradual decline in the total-fatality rate, ranging from 4.09 per 1,000 employed, in Group I, to 2.82 in Group IV. The number of fatalities per million tons mined in Group I is 6.89 for the entire period, and in Group III, which has the lowest rate, is 4.00, for Group IV it is 4.16.
In Table 72 (figure 11), the four groups are compared by principal causes of accidents, showing the percentage of fatalities and the number killed per 1,000 men for each group.
Causes Of Accidents.
The fatalities due to falls of roof (figure 11) are practically the same for each of the four groups, ranging from 1.70 in Group I per 1,000 men employed to 1.79 in Group III. The percentage of fatalities due to falls of roof is lowest in Group I, ranging from 41.66 in Group I to 60.90 in Group IV. The comparison on a percentage basis is not however as true as that based on the actual number of men employed. A sudden increase or decrease in one particular class of accidents affects the total, and percentages derived from this base will be more or less altered. When comparisons are made on the basis of actual number of employees, a large disaster due to one cause will not alter the comparisons for the other causes as the rates are derived from a base that remains unchanged.
114 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914.
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PER CENT MACHINE MINED. Figure 10. — Total number killed, fatality rates, men employed, tons produced, and days active at the
bituminous coal mines of the United States, by groups based on the percentageof coal mined by machines, 1896-1913. (Based on Table 71.)
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914. 115
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There is but little difference in the f atality rate by reason of accidents due to mine cars and locomotives (fig. 11). In Groups I and IV the rates are practically the same, being 0.35 and 0.34 respectively, but in Groups II and III the rates are slightly higher.
Gas And Dtxst Explosions.
The most striking difference in the number of fatalities in the various groups is in accidents due to gas and dust explosions. It will be noted that 29.40 per cent of all of the fatalities in Group I were due to gas and dust explosions, and that the percentage due to the cause declines as the percentage of machine-mined coals, only 6.92 per cent of the total fatalities in Group IV being due to this cause. As stated above, the percentage comparison is not as fair as that based on the number of men employed. The fatality rate in Group I due to gas and dust explosions was 1.20 per 1,000 men employed during the 18-year period, in Group II the rate was 0.66, in Group III, 0.39, and in Group IV, 0.19 per 1,000 employed. These differences are shown in figure 11.
Explosives.
As would be expected, the fatality rate due to explosives (fig. 11) is higher in Group I than in the other groups. In Group I the maximum amount of explosives is used and much of the coal mined is shot off the solid; its fatality rate is 0.33 per 1,000 men employed. In Groups II, III, and IV, where less explosives are used, the fatality rates are 0.23, 0.12, and 0.15 per 1,000 employed, respectively. In the latter two groups there is a minimum amount of explosives used in the coal mines.
With reference to miscellaneous underground, shaft, and surface accidents there is no variation of importance.
Mining Conditions.
These figures are not absolute proof that lower fatality rates in Group IV as compared with Group I are due to the larger use of ma chines in the mines of Group IV. Many small mines are included in Group I in which hand mining prevails. The small mines do not always have the most improved equipment, and many times less attention is given to safety measures. The mines in Group I use a maximum amount of explosives, are operated under all classes of roof conditions, and include all types of coal beds ranging from thick to thin with various degrees of inclination, from horizontal to vertical.
The hand-mining mines are in most cases operated more hours a day and, as shown in Table 71, more days a year as compared with Group IV. The number of days active is 218 for Group I, 212 for Group II, 227 for Group III, and 192 for Group IV. With the exception
of Kentucky, the employees in Group IV are all on an 8-hour basis. The other groups contain many 9 and 10 hour men.
As regards the mines in which the major part of the coal is mined by machine, they include but few small mines and hence have more systematic management. When a mine has reached the stage where the management is financially able to install machines, it is usually conducted on a more business-like basis than are the small and poorly financed properties, has better haulage systems, and more efficient ventilation. In machine mining a minimum amount of explosives is used and in a mine where machines are introduced it is essential that good roof conditions prevail and that the coal bed is of reasonably uniform thickness. Also machines are operated in the flatter lying beds and are seldom used in the steeply inclined measures. The majority of the States in which the largest percentage of coal is mined by machines are operated on an 8-hour basis and less days per year, hence the time of exposure to the dangers of mining is less.
Fatality Bates On Basis Of Coal Mined By Machine.
The total fatality rate at the four groups of mines, based on the percentage of machine-mined coal, from 1896 to 1913, is shown in figure 12. The upper part of the figure represents, as indicated, the total fatality rate at bituminous coal mines during this period. The second or middle part of the figure shows the fatality rate due to "common" accidents, that is, those in which less than 5 men are killed at one time. These rates are reasonably close together, Group IV showing the lowest and Group I, as a whole, the highest rate. The lower part of the figure shows the fatality rate due to "exceptional" accidents. Here again Group I is high, and is followed closely by Group II; Group IV is exceedingly low.
The amount of coal mined per day per man in the various groups of mines is given in figure 13. The curves show that in Group I, in which less than 20 per cent of the coal was mined by machine, the average number of tons mined per day is 2.72 (Table 73) ', While in Group III it ranges from 2.80 to about 3.90 tons per day. Group II is more erratic, and since 1910 many of the mines originally in this group have passed into Group III, so that since that year there has been a decrease in the amount of coal produced per man per day. Group IV remains practically stationary, with an average of 3.53 tons per day.
Figure 13 also shows the fatalities per million tons mined according to the four groups outlined above. In Group I the fatality rate is exceedingly high when based on the number of tons mined per fatality. This rate varies from 4.06 to 10.68, the average being 6.89 (Table; 73). As would be expected, the number of fatalities per milhon tonsjjproduced in Groups III and IV are considerably lower than in the other two groups, the average being, respectively, 4.00 and 4.16.
118 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18"70-114.
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Paet Ii.— Coal-Mine Statistics For Each State By Calendar Years.
Introduction.
The following pages give detailed information of the coal-mining industry by States, arranged in alphabetical order, and calendar years. Most of the information has a bearing on the accident hazard. Comments are made on the coal-bearing area of each State, the character of the coal beds, that is, whether the beds are thick or thin, flat or inclined, and data are given concerning the roof conditions. There are also notes on the methods of mining, whether long-wall, roomand-pillar, etc., with statements as to whether the coal is mined by hand, machine, or shot off the solid.
In the State tables are complete figures for the production of coal from the beginning of the industry to the end of 1914; also the number of men employed, the number of fatalities, and the fatality rates per 1,000 men employed and per million tons of coal produced since the beginning of inspection service. The tables also give the number of days the mines were operated each year, the number of tons of coal mined per man, per day, and per year, together with the number of mining machines in use since 1891, or since their introduction into the mines, if adopted at a later date.
There is also for each State one table showing all the fatalities by causes and calendar years, for which complete records are available, and with this as a start it should be an easy matter for each State to continue its records on the calendar-year basis. There will also be found under each State data as to the number of hours worked per day and the number of men employed in each group of 8, 9, or 10 hour workers. Fatality rates have also been calculated on the basis of a uniform year of 2,000 hours, so that true comparisons of one State with another may be readily made. Under each State will also be found a list of all of the mine disasters in which five or more men were killed at one time. The last table under each State gives data concerning strikes and lockouts, showing the number of men involved and the total amount of time lost.
While the area of the coal fields will be found under each State,
the accompanying table shows, in addition, the estimated original
supply, the production in 1913, and the total production to the close
of 1913; and in the last column is shown the estimated available
supply of coal in the various States at the close of 1913 as estimated
by the United States Geological Survey.
134 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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136 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18*70-1914.
Alab Ama.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The Alabama coal fields form the southwestern end of the Appalachian coal region, which extends from Pennsylvania to Alabama. There are four distinct fields: The Coosa field, on the southeast; the Cahaba field, somewhat west of the Coosa; the Warrior field, 7 to 10 miles west. of the Cahaba field; and the Plateau field, in the northeast corner of the State and northeast of the Warrior field, and not entirely separate therefrom. These fields were originally connected, but have been separated since their formation by erosion along the fines of faults or anticlines. The total remaining area is now about 8,500 square miles not including the area, probably of considerable size, beneath younger rocks to the southwest of the visible margin of the coal-bearing rocks.
Coosa Field.
The Coosa field, or basin, is a structural trough 6 miles wide extending for 60 miles through Shelby and St. Clair counties and containing about 260 square mfies. It is faulted along its southeast margin, so that in general only the western half of the trough remains. The coal beds dip to the southeast at angles varying with the locality from 10° to 50°. However, the structure is less simple than the above description indicates, for at the north end there are a number of small subordinate basins due to local faults and folds, and in the southern two-thirds, the structure, although it is rather more regular, is affected by internal faults and folds. The conglomerate, sandstone, and shale, which comprise the coal-bearing rocks, are of great thickness, probably not less than 10,000 feet as a maximum. The best known part of the field is the northeast, where there are 18 coal beds, each of which varies considerably in thickness from place to place, the m inim um thicknesses varying from zero to feet and the maximum thicknesses from 8 inches to 5 feet 8 inches. These beds he in the small subordinate basins above mentioned and in the upper 4,000 feet of the rocks, so that their total area is probably not over onetenth of the area of the field, say 35 square miles. In the other parts of the Coosa trough the coal beds are not so well known but appear to be few and comparatively thin. Excepting two beds the character of the Coosa coals has not been adequately determined. So far as shown by the tests made, the coal is high-grade bituminous with low sulphur and medium ash contents and of about the hardness of the southern Appalachian coals generally. One bed is reported to yield good coking coal.
OOAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1870-1914. 137 OAHABA FIELD.
The Cahaba field, or basin, like the Coosa field, is a synclinal trough lying a few miles west of the Coosa field. It is about 68 miles long and extends from the northeastern part of Bibb County through Shelby County into St. Clair County, its average width is about 6 miles except in the southwest third where it expands to twice that width, and its area is about 350 square miles.
Like the Coosa field the eastern half of the Cahaba trough is faulted, except for a few miles at the south end, where the southeast limb of the syncline in a vertical or slightly overturned attitude is preserved. Along the western margin of the trough the dip varies from 10° to 60° southeast. In the north half of the field this southeast dip prevails to the fault in the southeast, but extending along the middle of the southern half of the field the southeast dip is interrupted by a high anticline with a vertical dip on the northwest limb and a dip of 40° on the southeast limb near the crest, but diminishing gradually to a low dip southeastward to the boundary fault, except for the few miles where the southeast limb of the trough is preserved. In this area the rocks bend abruptly upward and stand vertical at the surface. In addition to these major folds, there are a number of subordinate basins along the southeastern margin, caused by transverse folds with dips of all degrees up to vertical. Several faults of varying magnitude are known, but apparently faults are few.
The coal-bearing strata, conglomerate, sandstone, and shale, are about 9,000 feet thick in the southern part of the field and about 5,000 feet in the northern part.
In the southern part there are at least 17 coal beds that in some part of their extent are 2 feet or over in thickness, the thickest bed being 5 to 6 feet. Most of the beds, with the exceptions of local thinning or thickening, range from 2 to 4 feet in thickness.
The coal is high-grade bituminous with a low to medium ash content, a generally low sulphur content, and, as a rule, is of average hardness. It is said to make a good quality of coke, but the yield is lower than the Warrior coals, so that the product is all consumed as domestic, steam or gas coal.
Warrior Field.
The Warrior coal field, or basin, lies 7 to 10 miles west of the Cahaba field and extends westward nearly to the State boundary. It is a quadrangular area, including all or parts of the following counties: Jefferson, Walker, Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Marion, Franklin, Lawrence, Winston, Cullman, Morgan, and Blount. The Warrior field is not
138 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
definitely separated from the Plateau field on the northeast, and their limits have not yet been definitely defined. The combined area of the two fields is about 7,600 square miles. Along the southeast edge of the Warrior field the strata dip 90° to 40°, or less, to the west; but throughout the remainder of the field are nearly flat or gently and broadly warped. The rocks, conglomerate, sandstone, or shale are about 3,000 feet thick.
The number of workable coal beds is about fifteen. They constitute the following groups from below upward: Black Creek, Mary Lee, Pratt, and Brookwood, each named from its most important coal bed. The bottom of the Black Creek group is about 900 feet above, and the top of the Brookwood is about 2,300 feet above, the bottom of the coal-bearing rocks, so that the main coal beds extend through about 1,400 feet of strata.
The Black Creek, the lowest and most extensive bed, averages about 3 feet thick and is an excellent domestic coal, for which it is mainly used. The Mary Lee group contains five beds, but at all points one "big seam," which possibly may be everywhere the same bed, or at different points may be one or another of the five beds. This "big seam" is of great areal extent, varies from 5 to 10 feet in thickness, and includes many thin or a few thick clay partings. The Pratt group likewise contains five coal beds, of which three are important, one of the three being the Pratt bed, which over large areas is 3 to 5 feet thick, with at some places a thin parting or two and at others being all clean coal. The Brookwood group includes three or four beds, of which the Brookwood bed is the most important) being 3 to 7 feet thick. This group, being high in the coal-bearing rocks, occupies only a relatively small area in Tuscaloosa County. The "Big seam," Pratt, and Brookwood beds are the thickest in the Warrior basin. In 1899 the Pratt beds yielded 65 per cent of the total coal production from the basin, and in recent years about 33 per cent.
The average composition of 23 samples of the different coal beds of the Warrior basin is approximately as follows: 2.4 per cent moisture, 28.4 per cent volatile matter, 59 per cent fixed carbon, 10.2 per cent ash, and 1 .74 per cent sulphur. It is a high-grade bituminous coal of medium hardness and a domestic steam and coking coal. Practically all the coke consumed in the State is made from coal from the "Big seam," Pratt bed, and the beds of the Brookwood group, of which the principal one is the Brookwood.
Plateau Field.
The Plateau field comprises a long belt on Sand Mountain extending from the Warrior field, with which it is continuous on the south-
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 139
west, to the northeast corner of the State, a number of detached areas to the northwest of the Sand Mountain belt, the detached area of Lookout Mountain, and the semi-detached area of Blount Mountain on the southeast of Sand Mountain. These various areas he mainly in Madison, Jackson, DeKalb, Etowah, Marshall, and Blount Counties.
The character of the rocks is the same as in the other fields, but their thickness and the number and thickness of coal beds are not well known. There are perhaps four or six different beds, more or less local in extent, which range from 2 to 4 feet in thickness.
Except on the western edge of Blount Mountain, where the rocks are vertical, the dip is slight and in most parts of the field the rocks are nearly flat.
Mining Methods.
Coal mining was first begun in the Coosa basin in 1836, and in the Cahaba field in 1856. General uniformity in mining methods prevails throughout the Birmingham district with the exception of slight modifications which are rendered necessary by differences in the geologic structure. In the Coosa and Cahaba basins the coal-bearing strata generally dip from 5° to 30°, but, as on the southeastern margin of the Cahaba basin, the dip is 60° or in places even 90°. Practically all of the mines are opened by slopes, the main entry following the dip of the coal. From these slopes the coal is mined by the roomand-pillar system. In the central and western parts of the Warrior field, where the coal beds are nearly flat and the coal is above the drainage levels, the mines are opened almost exclusively by drifts. Along the southeastern margin of the Warrior basin, where the dip is 40° to 90°, the mines are opened by slopes; at a few mines shafts are employed for reaching the lower coal. Shafts are also used in the southern part of the basin where the coal-bearing formations pass below the drainage level. The room-and-pillar system of mining also prevails in this part of the district. In 1899 only one mine was reported as using the long wall system, and only per cent of the output was mined by machines, whereas in 1913 the machine-mined coal amounted to 23.3 per cent. The number of machines' in operation in 1899 was 53, and in 1913, 377. In 1912, 35.1 per cent of the coal was shot off the solid, and in 1913, 39.9 per cent, an increase of 5.8 per cent. Tail rope, endless rope, electric, and mule haulage are employed.
Roof.
So far as the character of the roof is concerned, whether sandstone or shale, it is generally strong. The roof of the Thompson bed 14355°— Bull. 115—16 10
140 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914.
(southern part of the Cahaba field) is of shale 10 feet thick that slakes rapidly and falls badly, so that it is necessary to put in heavy timber in the main haulage ways. A fragile shale roof is reported in a few mines.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The office of inspector of mines of Alabama was created by an act approved February 18, 1891, applying to all coal, iron, or other mines where 20 or more men were employed underground. The inspector was appointed by the governor, and was required to examine every mine at least once every three months. By an act approved February 16, 1893, the operators were required to notify the inspector of fatal accidents, and the inspector, at the operator's request or the request of three miners, examined into the cause of such accidents, and preserved in his office a record of each accident of which he received notice. Biennial reports were rendered to the governor. The act of February 18, 1895, made it the duty of mine operators to report to the inspector serious as well as fatal accidents in and about the mines. A chief inspector and two associate mine inspectors were provided for by the act of February 16, 1897, the chief inspector to report biennially to the governor. The act of April 18, 1911, authorized the governor to appoint an inspector of coal mines for each milhon tons of coal mined, or majority fraction thereof, based on the output for previous years as compiled by the chief mine inspector, one of the inspectors so appointed to be designated chief inspector, and the others associate inspectors, and one of them to be a mining engineer. The law required the inspector to report to the governor before the legislature convened.
The practice of mine operators in Alabama is to report to the inspectors all accidents causing 10 days' disability. A serious injury is considered as one causing disability for 30 days, a slight injury being one which disables an employee 1 to 29 days. Only the serious injuries are published in the inspector's annual reports.
In 1915 there were one chief inspector and six district inspectors.
Accidents.
The accompanying tables show the number of fatalities by causes and calendar years since 1893 as compiled from the State mine inspectors' annual reports. These tables also show the percentage of accidents, classified by principal causes, and the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed over a period of 21 years for which continuous records
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 141
are available. The fatality rate during this period is 5.25 per 1,000 men employed. Since 1897 to the end of 1913 there have been 12 disasters in which 5 or more men were killed at one time, representing a total of 500 fatalities, or approximately 27 per cent of the total
FATALITIES IN ALABAMA COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING 21 YEARS,
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Coal-Mine Accidents In Alabama In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
Belle-Ellen
Belle-Ellen
do
do
do
do
Yolande No. 1
do
do
Abernant ,.
do
do
do
killed from 1893 to 1913. Falls of roof are responsible for 38.31 per cent of all the fatalities since 1893; gas and dust explosions combined represent 33.32 per cent. The average production of coal per fatality was 118,865 tons, or there were 8.41 fatalities per million tons mined.
Since 1903 practically 62 per cent of the men employed in the mines of Alabama have been on a 10-hour basis. This alone partly accounts for the higher rate when compared with Iowa or Ohio, in which States all of the men are on an 8-hour day. The average number of hours worked a year per man is 2,255, as compared with 1,495 for Ohio or 1,704 for Iowa (Table 40). The fatality rate reduced to a 2,000-hour basis becomes 5.78 for the 10-year period 1903- 1913, as compared with 6.52 per 1,000 men actually employed.
142 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Number Of Hours To The Working Day. By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Alabama.'
t
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
' 20,555
t a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. & Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN ALABAMA AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OP 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-honr workers.
Tables have been compiled showing the f atality rates for all the States both on the basis of actual employees and the number of 2,000-hour workers, so that by referring to Tables 40 and 41 a true comparison of Alabama with other States may be readily made. The tables of statistics for the State follow:
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 143
Statistics Of Steikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
Alabama."
Year-.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
1"
o Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
144 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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146 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Arkansas.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The semibituminous coal field of Arkansas occupies the westcentral part of the State, having a length from east to west of 75 miles. At the Oklahoma-Arkansas line it is about 50 miles wide and at the eastern extremity about 25 miles wide. It comprises about 1,580 square miles, of which 75 per cent is considered as productive. The coal-bearing rocks occupy the larger part of Crawford, Franklin, Sebastian, Johnson, and Logan counties.
The lignite field of Arkansas occupies the eastern part of the State and is possibly coextensive with the Tertiary rocks of the Mississippi Valley. The estimated area of these rocks is 6,000 square miles, but workable lignite has been discovered at only a few places, and at no place is it mined on a commercial scale.
Semibituminous Field.
The semibituminous field is the eastward extension of the Oklahoma fields, but in Arkansas there is only one coal bed of commercial importance, the Hartshorne, which lies just above the massive Hartshorne sandstone and at the base of the Spadra shale. This coal is mined extensively in the vicinity of Huntington, Midland, Greenwood, and Jenny Lind, in the western part of the field, and is from 3 feet to 8 feet thick. Where the bed is less than 4 feet thick, it is generally clean coal, but where the thickness increases to 6 or 8 feet the bed is broken by many soft shale partings.
The field as a whole is a broad, open synclinal basin or trough, with many minor folds and faults that break the regularity of outline and seriously interfere with economical mining. The Hartshorne coal bed outcrops around the rim of the basin, but only part of the exposed outcrop is thick enough to mine under present conditions.
The coal is of high rank, comparing favorably with the Pocahontas and New Eiver coals of the Appalachian region. In the west end of the field it is semibituminous, but its rank increases eastward to semianthracite about Spadra and Kussellville.
Mining Methods.
The first records of coal production in Arkansas extend back to 1840, when 220 tons of coal were mined. The production has gradually increased to 1913, when 2,234,107 tons were produced. Most of the mines are opened by shafts, but a few are opened by slopes. The room-and-pillar method of mining prevails throughout the State. About 99 per cent of the coal produced comes from the Huntington field, from what is known as the Hartshorne seam of Oklahoma.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1911. 147
Coal-mining machines were used in Arkansas in 1896, at which time there were 14 machines in operation, producing about 3 per cent of the coal. Fifteen to 20 machines were kept in operation until the close of 1902, and from that year until 1910 no mining machines were used in the State. In 1911 there were 14 machines in use, producing a little more than 1 per cent of the coal mined. In 1913 there were 27 machines, producing slightly over 11 per cent of the coal. In 1912, 92 per cent of the coal was shot off the solid; in 1914, 78 per cent was thus mined.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
By an act approved March 7, 1889, the legislature of Arkansas established a Bureau of Mines, Manufactures, and Agriculture, under the supervision of a commissioner, whose duties included the collection and publication of statistics setting forth the extent of the mineral resources of the State, the purpose being to encourage immigration to Arkansas. The act made no provision for the investigation or reporting of mine accidents, but a subsequent law, approved April 4, 1893, which was still in force in 1914, provided for the appointment by the governor of a mine inspector, to whom all fatal or serious accidents in coal mines should be reported by mine operators. The inspector investigates all fatal accidents to determine the cause thereof. He is required to personally inspect all coal mines in the State where 20 or more men are employed underground, to insure the safety and health of the workmen, and to see that the provisions of the act are properly observed and enforced. The act is not applicable to mines employing less than 20 men. Annual reports are rendered to the governor on the 1st day of November of each year.
Mine operators report to the inspector all injuries resulting in at least two days' disability, and these are included in the annual reports which the inspector renders to the governor. Injuries involving 10 or more days' disability are classified as serious, all others being considered slight injuries.
In 1915 the inspector employed no assistants.
Accidents.
The accompanying tables (Nos. 87 and 88) give the production, number of employees, and number of men killed in and about the coal mines of Arkansas, compiled from the best records available. The accident records began with 1897, although the inspection service began at an earlier date. There are no records for the years 1899, 1900, and 1904, and the record for 1903 is incomplete. For the 9-year period for which continuous records are available, 1905 to 1913, inclusive, 107 men were killed, representing a fatality rate
148 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
FATALITIES IN ARKANSAS COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING 9 YEARS,
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 9 years
Coal-Mine Accidents In Arkansas In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date. "
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number of men killed.
Kansas and Texas
No. 44. Bonanza No. 20
Powder and dust explosion.
of 2.42 per 1,000 men employed. The production per fatality was 180,117 tons, or there were 5.55 fatalities per million tons mined. There have been two serious mine explosions since 1897, in which 25 men were killed.
The 8-hour day prevails in Arkansas and the actual number of hours worked per man a year is 1,314 (Table 40), as compared with 2,255 hours for Alabama and 1,539 hours for Missouri. A fatality rate for the 10-year period, 1903 to 1913 (except 1909), for which
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Arkansas.
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Number of men
employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total number of men
employed.
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
o Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
b Census year.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 149
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN ARKANSAS AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
complete data are available, is 2.36 per 1,000 men employed. This, however, reduced to a common basis of 2,000-hour workers, shows a rate of 3.74 per 1,000. Table 41 shows the other States worked out on a similar basis, so that comparisons may be readily made. The tables of statistics "for the State follow :
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines
Arkansas."
In
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of aays lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
150 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18*70-1914.
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 153
California.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The area and distribution of the coal fields of California are described by Parker" as follows:
There are in California a number of small, widely separated coal fields, chief among them the Mount Diablo field of Contra Costa County, the Corral Hollow field of Alameda County, a small area in Amador County, the Priest Valley and Trafton fields of San Benito County, and the Stone Canyon field of Monterey County. The first two, which are on the eastern border of San Francisco Bay, and consequently in the westcentral part of the State, produce black lignite or subbituminous coal. The areas in Monterey County are more to the south and in or hear a region which has been considerably distorted. The coals are of the same geologic age as those farther north, but they have been altered into true bituminous coals. The alteration in the San Benito County area has not progressed so far as in the case of the Monterey County coals, but they closely approach the bituminous grade. None of them possess coking qualities.
The records of the State Mining Bureau of California show a production of coal in that State as early as 1861. It was at that time one of the 16 coal-producing States, and, relatively, of some importance as a coal producer. During the latter part of that decade and throughout the following decade the coal production of California exceeded 100,000 tons annually and reached a maximum of 236,950 tons in 1880. Since 1881 the production has been irregular, having been influenced chiefly, up to the beginning of the present century, by the imports of Australian and British Columbian coals, the receipts of Australian coals depending principally upon the wheat production and shipments from the Pacific coast. Since 1900, with the great increase in the production and use of petroleum which began in that year, coal production in California has fallen to an insignificant quantity.
Accidents.
Tables 89 and 90 show the production of coal and the number of men employed since 1889, for which reasonably complete records are available. Records of fatalities, however, date back only to 1909. In 1876 there was one explosion at Nortonville, in which six men were killed, and in 1909 there was another at Chancellor, which also killed
COAL-MINE ACCIDENTS IN CALIFORNIA IN WHICH FIVE OR MORE MEN WERE KILLED.
Date.
Name o£mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number of men killed.
Mine explosion
six men. As is shown by the table following, the coal-mining industry of California is small, hence little attention has been given to the collection of accident and labor records. With the passage of the compensation laws no doubt more complete records will be available in the future. The tables of statistics for the State follow:
Parker, E. W., The production of coal: Mineral Resources of the United States ior 1913, U. S. Geol. Survey, 1914, pp. 819-820.
154 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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156 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Colorado.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal fields of Colorado comprise an area of about 19,700 square miles, but in 3,800 square miles of this territory the coal beds may be 3,000 feet or more below the surface.
The fields may be grouped geographically into three groups, known as the Eastern, Park, and Western groups. The fields of each group occupy more or less irregular synclinal basins along the foothills, and on the sides nearer the mountains the rocks are more or less upturned and disturbed.
The Eastern group includes the Trinidad, Canon City, and Boulder coal fields, which yield about two-thirds of the coal now mined in Colorado. The Park group includes the fields in the South, Middle, and North Parks in the north-central part of the State, and is not extensively developed.
The Western group is the largest in area. It includes the Yampa field in the northern part of the State, and, to the south of the Yampa, the Danforth Hills, White River, Grand Hogback, Glenwood Springs, Crested Butte, Grand Mesa, Book Cliffs, and Durango fields, the Durango being in the extreme southwestern part of the State. About one-third of Colorado's coal is produced in this group of fields.
Character Of Coal Beds.
In the Trinidad field the coal beds are the same as those of the Raton field in New Mexico and range from 3 J to 9 feet in thickness. In some sections as many as 7 workable beds have been discovered, all of which are contained in the lower 900-foot level of the Vermejo (formerly called Laramie) formation. In the southern part of the field the measures lie nearly horizontal, but to the north the inclination increases slightly, varying from 3° to 10°. The Trinidad field contains a large amount of coking coal and manufactures about 600,000 tons of coke annually. In some mines in the vicinity of Starkville a thick sandstone forms a good roof; in other mines there is a "draw slate" between the coal and sandstone, making a poor roof. In the vicinity of Gray Creek the coal bed is almost level and is rather irregular, ranging from 4 to 14 feet thick.
The second field, as regards production, is the Boulder field, north of Denver. There the coal is much softer than that of the Trinidad field, being classed as subbituminous (black lignite). The associated rocks are also softer, rendering mining more difficult than it is where the rocks are harder and form a better roof. The coal beds range in thickness from 3 to 14 feet and generally are flat-lying, except near the west edge of the basin, where the coal and also the adjacent sandstone and shale beds dip strongly to the east.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 157
In the Canon City field the rocks throughout most of the field dip west about 2° to 5°. Along the western margin of the strata is a thrust fault cutting across the coal measures, and near this fault the beds are sharply upturned, in some instances being practically vertical. The coal beds range in thickness from 2 to 6 feet and generally are free from partings.
Mining Methods.
The production of coal in Colorado dates back to 1864, when about 500 tons was mined. The production for 1913 was 9,232,510 tons. The total production for the State up to the end of 1913 is 175,361,698 tons. In 1911, of 140 of the principal mines 41 were shaft and 99 were slope and drift mines. In Las Animas County, which is the largest producer, over 40 mines are slope mines; only one or two are shaft mines. The room-and-pillar system of mining prevails largely throughout the State.
In the Canon City district, the long-wall system has been used to some extent in coal beds that vary from 3 to 4 feet thick and are tapped by shafts 300 to 400 feet deep. At the Kadiant mine, where the coal bed is 3 feet to 3 feet 9 inches thick, a combination of the room-and-pillar and the long-wall methods is used, and the coal is undercut by electric machines. The coal is jointed and breaks. into large lumps. At the Diamond mine, in the vicinity of Canon City, the coal beds dip 55° to 75°. At the Royal Gorge mine the dip is about 50° and the two coal beds mined are separated 5 feet to 7 feet. The lower bed is mined first by upward stoping from a horizontal level. The Littell mine is opened by a shaft 1,065 feet deep (1908), which is the deepest coal shaft in the State. The coal at this point dips about 5° to the west and is feet thick.
Coal-mining machines have been in use in Colorado since about 1891, at which time 20 machines were in operation. This number has gradually increased until in 1914 there were 306 machines in use, producing 25 per cent of the coal.
Shooting off the solid is practiced less in Colorado than in many other States, the coal thus mined in Colorado being 11 to 14 per cent of the total coal produced. About 60 per cent of the coal is produced by hand mining methods. The amount of coal mined per man per year in 1887 was 333 tons; in 1913 it was 770 tons.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The Legislature of Colorado, by an act approved February 24, 1883, provided for the appointment of an examining board, to examine applicants for the position of State inspector of mines. From the
158 Goal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
list of eligibles thus established the governor was authorized to appoint a mine inspector for a term of four years. Section 12 provided that the act should apply to any coal mine where more than 12 men were employed underground. The inspector was required to examine at least once each quarter every mine employing more than 20 men, to make a record of such inspection, showing the number of employees, and number of accidents and deaths, and to file a report in the office of the secretary of state on the first Monday in November preceding the biennial sessions of the legislature. This report was included in the biennial report of the secretary of state.
AH accidents causing loss of life or serious personal injury were reported by the operators to the inspector. An act of April 8, 1885, extended the inspection law to cover all mines employing more than 10 men, and required the inspector to examine such mines quarterly. On April 2, 1887, a law was approved directing the inspector to render a biennial report to the governor showing the number of persons employed and the number of accidents and deaths from injuries in and about the mines; the inspector was also authorized to employ clerical or other assistance not to exceed $1,500 per year.
An act approved April 4, 1913, authorized the governor to appoint a chief mine inspector and the chief thus selected to appoint five deputy inspectors. The chief and deputy inspectors are selected from a list of eligibles established by a board of examiners. The chief mine inspector divided the State into five districts and assigned one deputy inspector to each district. An annual report for the year ending December 31 is rendered to the governor, the report to enumerate all deaths and accidents causing disability for 5 days or more. Operators are required to render monthly reports of fatal and nonfatal accidents to the inspector, in addition to sending to the chief inspector immediate notice of all fatal accidents.
Accidents resulting in 5 or more days' disability, which under the law are reported to the inspector by mine operators, are published in the inspector's annual reports and are classified as serious or slight according to the judgment of the State mine inspector.
In 1915 the inspector was assisted by four deputies.
Accidents.
Tables 91 and 92 show the total number of fatalities by causes and calendar years since 1883 as compiled from State mine inspectors' reports. The accompanying tables show the percentage of accidents, classified by principal causes, and fatality rate per 1 ,000 men employed, over a period of 28 years, 1886-1913, for which continuous records are available. The fatality rate during this period is 7.14 per 1,000 men
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 159
Fatalities In Colorado Coal Mines By Principal Causes During 1886 To
Causes.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Coal-Mine Accidents In Colorado In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
Inrush of water from
old shaft. Mine explosion
White Ash
Jefferson County
do .
do ..
Powder and mine explosion.
do
..do ..
Toller
Toflerville
do
Victor American No. 3.
Mine fire and explosion.
do
employed. There were 19 accidents in which. 5 or more men were killed at one time, representing slightly over 28 per cent of all of the fatalities due to mine accidents. Of the total number of fatalities 49.02 per cent were due to falls of roof and pillar and 29.75 per cent to gas and dust explosions. The average production of coal per fatality during this period was 96,798 tons, or there were 10.33 fatalities for each million tons mined.
Beginning with 1903 and including 1912 about 50 per cent of the men were on a 10-hour basis. In 1913 the 8-hour law became effective and only a few men were employed for a longer day than eight hours. The time element has been taken into consideration and tables compiled on this basis for comparison with other States. The fatality rate for the 10-year period, 1903-1913 (Table 40), based on the actual
160 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Number Of Hours To The Working-Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Colorado."
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Number of
men employed other
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per day.
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men
e'm-
ployed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Total number
of men
employed.
" Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. & Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN COLORADO, AND THE FATALITY RATE, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
number of employees is 8.71, whereas on the number of 2,000-hour workers it is 8.02 per 1,000. During the 10-year period the men averaged 2,172 hours employment per year. Table 41 shows the fatality rate for each year on the 2,000-hour basis, 1903-1913, for each State, so that a true comparison of Colorado with other States may be readily made.
The tables of statistics for the State follow.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1§70-1914. 161
Statistics Of Steikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
Colorado.
Year.
Number
of men
affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
o Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
162 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Georgia.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
Parker a describes the coal-productive area of Georgia as follows
The coal-productive area of Georgia underlies portions of two counties in the extreme northwestern corner of the State. The Walden Basin of Tennessee crosses Dade County, in Georgia, and extending southwesterly becomes the Blount Mountain and Warrior Basins in Alabama. The Lookout Basin, a narrow outlying area, extends from Etowah County, in Alabama, in a northeasterly direction into Walker County, Ga. The total area of the coal fields in Georgia is estimated at 167 square miles the smallest coal area of any Appalachian State. Not all of the field is workable. Extensive operations have been carried on in both counties, however, but all of the production in 1913 was by two companies operating in Walker County. On account of its high percentage (80 per cent) of fixed carbon and its low sulphur content, the Lookout Mountain coal (Walker County) gives a large product of excellent coke which is sold to the furnaces of Chattanooga and of other points in Tennessee and in Georgia.
The earliest report by the United States Geological Survey on the production of coal in Georgia is for 1860, when 1,900 tons were mined. The production gradually increased to its highest point in 1903, when 416,951 tons were produced, and since then has gradually declined to approximately 200,000 in recent years. No mining machines are used in the coal mines of Georgia. The reports of the United States Geological Survey show that all of the coal in 1913 b was shot off the solid. Of the total production, approximately onethird of the coal is washed.
Accidents.
Tables 93 and 94 show the total number of fatalities by causes and calendar years since 1909. They also show the percentage of accidents and fatality rate per 1,000 men employed. The average production of coal per fatality during this period was 148,111 tons, or there were 6.75 fatalities per million tons mined.
o Parker, E. W., Production of Coal, Mineral Reseources of the United States for 1913, TJ. S. Geol. Survey, 1914, p. 825. b Parker, E. W., op cit., p. 825.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 167
FATALITIES IN GEORGIA COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEAHS
Number killed.
Cause of accident.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Shaft
There is no mine inspection in the State. The tables of statistics for the State follow:
168 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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170 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Illinois.
Abe A And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The Illinois coal field is the western part of a broad and relatively flat basin which extends eastward into Indiana and southeastward into Kentucky. On the southwestern border of the field the coal beds are turned up perceptibly, and on the south the margin is marked by a much steeper fold, which is overturned and faulted near Shawneetown where it crosses Ohio Eiver. On the north border the coal beds are bent into a low, though sharply defined anticline which extends from La Salle southeastward toward Clark County. Minor folds, local in extent, occur in different parts of the basin, but in general the beds dip gently from the margins of the field to a central deep area where the coal-bearing rocks have a thickness of about 1,500 feet.
Character Of Coal Beds.
There are in the Illinois field a number of coal beds of varying thickness, each of which, however, is fairly regular and continuous over large areas. The coal production of Illinois is from six beds, Nos. 1 to 3 and 5 to 7. No. 6 is the most important and averages 6 feet thick. This bed produces over 50 per cent of the coal; No. 5 produces 25 per cent; and No. 2, 10 per cent.
The beds are practically horizontal and have been opened at different depths in the various counties. In Gallatin County two coal beds have been mined at depths of 60 and 180 feet, the upper being
5 feet thick and the lower 3 feet thick. In Macoupin County, near Virden, coal No. 5 is 7 feet 8 inches thick at a depth of 320 feet. In St. Clair County, near Belleville, coal No. 6 is 8 feet 4 inches thick at a depth of 380 feet. In Marion County, at Centralia, coal No. 6 is 7 feet thick at a depth of 569 feet and at Sandoval 6 feet thick at a depth of 603 feet. In Sangamon County the principal coal bed is
6 feet thick with a good limestone roof and is opened by shafts varying from 65 to 225 feet in depth. In Perry County the Belleville, or No. 6, coal bed is 5 to 6 feet thick at depths varying from 30 to 200 feet and dips slightly north. A shaft at Assumption, Christian County, is 1,003 feet deep, being the deepest in the State.
Illinois coal is bituminous, but has a moisture content as it comes from the mine of 7 to 16 per cent. The best coal contains 7 to 10 per cent of ash, one-half to 3 per cent of sulphur, and 40 to 50 per cent of fixed carbon.
Mining Methods.
The record of coal-production for Illinois begins in 1833, during which year 6,000 tons were mined. The production for the State has gradually increased until in 1913 it amounted to 61,618,744 tons.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 171
As in Indiana, the shaft mines largely predominate over slope and drift mines, which number less than 50. In 1897 only 52 out of 853 mines used the longwall method, and these were in the northeastern part of the State in the No. 2 bed, where the coal is only 3 feet thick. In the other mines the room-and-pillar system of mining prevails with slight alterations for individual mines or different coal beds. In 1897 only one-half of the coal was undercut before blasting, leaving about 50 per cent as shot off the solid. In 1912, 40 per cent of the coal was shot off the solid, but in 1913 this was reduced to 32.3 per cent. In 1888 there were 272 mining machines in the mines, producing 18.9 per cent of the coal, and in 1913 there were 1,845 machines, which produced 53 per cent of the coal, or 17,685 tons per machine. The coal, being horizontal and uniform, is well adapted to machine mining.
Most of the mines are dry, and but little pumping is required. The deeper mines are drier than the shallow ones and require sprinkling to prevent accumulation of dust.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The inspection of coal mines in Illinois was inaugurated by virtue of an act of the general assembly approved March 27, 1872, which became effective July 1, 1872. By section 11 of this act the county surveyors were constituted ex-officio inspectors of mines within their respective counties, each with authority to call to his aid a reputable practical miner. The act also provided that all accidents causing loss of life or serious personal injury at any coal mine or colliery should be reported to the county mine inspector, and that all fatal accidents should also be reported to the coroner of the county in which the accident occurred. It was made the duty of the inspector to investigate all accidents thus reported to him, and all expenses incident to his investigation were payable by the county in which the accidents occurred.
By an act approved June 18, 1883, effective July 1, 1883, the State was divided into five mining districts, and a State mine inspector for each district authorized. Each county was authorized to appoint an assistant mine inspector, if it so desired, such county inspector to perform his duties under the direction of the district mine inspector. The act directed that accidents should thereafter be reported to the district mine inspector instead of the county inspector, and that fatal accidents might be reported to a justice of the peace in the absence or inability to act of the county coroner.
Subsequent laws have made no change in the reportability of mine accidents as above set forth. There are now 12 inspection districts in the State.
172 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Accidents.
Tables Nos. 95 and 96 show the total number of fatalities by causes and calendar years since 1885, and the total production of coal. They also show the percentage of accidents, by principal causes, and fatality rate per 1,000 employed over a period of 29 years, for which continuous records are available. During this period there were 3,409
FATALITIES IN ILLINOIS COAL MINES. BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS
Number killed.
Cause of accident.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Shaft
Coal-Mine Accidents In Illinois In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
Mine explosion
Inrush of surface water into workings.
Cardiff
Cardiff
Blown-out shot
Powder explosion
S
Mine explosion
Cage with men fell down shaft.
Powder explosion
Mine fire and explosion
Breese-Trenton
St. Paul No. 2
Shoal Creek No. 1 O'GaraNo. 9
North or No. 1
do
United Coal No. 1
do
fatalities or 2.52 per 1,000 men employed. There were 14 accidents in which 5 or more men were killed at one time, representing about 12 per cent of the total fatalities. These large accidents include the mine fire at Cherry in which 259 men were killed at one time. The average production of coal per fatality during this period was 251,900 tons or 3.97 fatalities per million tons mined.
Practically all of the mines in Illinois are operated on an 8-hour basis so that a comparison with 10-hour States on the basis of days worked is not a proper method. The time element has therefore been taken into consideration and a table compiled on the basis of the actual number of hours worked so that a true comparison with other
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 173
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Illinois."
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. 6 Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN ILLINOIS AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number
of 2,000
hour
workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
States may be made. The fatality rate for the 10-year period, 1903- 1913 (Table 40), for IUinofe on the 2,000-hour basis is 3.26 as compared with 2.55 based on the actual number of men employed. During the 10-year period, the men averaged 1,567 hours per year as compared with 2,132 hours in West Virginia.
The tables of statistics for the State of Illinois follow:
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
Illinois."
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total number of days
lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total number of days
lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
" Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U.S. Geol. Survey.
174 Coal-Mine Fatalities Ix The United States, 1870-1914.
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178 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Indiana. Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal-bearing area of Indiana amounts to about 6,500 square miles and includes 26 counties in the southwestern portion of the State. Nineteen of these counties are producing coal on a commercial scale. The coal measures contain over 20 horizons, in which coal beds of varying thickness have been found. Of these eight are of workable thickness over much or all of the field and several others are locally of workable thickness. In the center of the field as many as seven or eight beds are workable in a single area. Ordinarily over most of the field not more than'three workable beds will be found.
The coal measures in Indiana have a total thickness of approximately 1,300 feet. Of these 1,300 feet there are 600 feet of barren beds at the top, a 500-foot interval which contains most of the workable coals, followed in descending order by 200 feet or more of rocks consisting mainly of sandstone.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The eight different coal beds mined vary from 3 to 9 feet in thickness. The coal in the eastern part of the field is called block coal or semiblock because of its breaking into rectangular blocks. It is very pure, noncoking coal. The strictly "block coal" is found in Fontaine, Parke, Clay, and Owen Counties. South of that the coals in the easternmost counties are semiblock. The block coal occurs in small basins which vary in extent from a few acres to several square miles, owing to the irregular surface of the rocks upon which they were laid down. The coal may be 3 to 5 feet thick in the center of a basin but thins out gradually toward the edges. The western counties of the Indiana field contain bituminous coal. The bituminous beds vary from 3 to 10 feet in thickness, most of the workings being in beds over 5 feet thick. In 1910, 26 mines were mining coal from beds over 7 feet thick. These coals lie regularly with a slight pitch to the west and southwest, and in many parts of the field are regular in thickness. Practically all of the mines have a clay floor and shale roof. The No. 5 coal is overlain with black shale, commonly broken with pyrite concretions, that locally will hold up indefinitely over a 40-foot room without any posts. Most of the beds, however, have roofs of shale that tends to disintegrate rapidly in the summertime, especially in the air passages, and requires close posting.
COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1870-1914. 179 MINING METHODS.
The earliest records of coal production in Indiana are for 1840, when 9,682 tons were mined. The production increased gradually until in 1913 it was 17,165,671 tons.
Most of the commercial mines are opened by shafts varying from 50 to 450 feet deep, only a few being opened by slopes and drifts. From the shafts the mines are opened by main entry and air course, each 8 feet wide, separated by a 12-foot pillar. The coal is mined almost exclusively by the room-and-pillar. method, which varies in detail in different districts and even in different coal beds of the same district. The mines are usually well equipped with the latest appliances, including electric machines and self-dumping cages.
Mining machines were first used in 1884. The "block coal''' was first successfully mined by machines in 1894. In 1891 there were 47 mining machines in operation and in 1913 there were 732 which produced 56.7 per cent of the coal mined during the year. Of the total number of machines used 365 were of the chain-breast type. The average production per machine in 1913 was 13,302 tons.
About 30 per cent of the coal mined is shot off the solid; hand mining produced only about 11 per cent of the total output in 1913.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
An act approved March 8, 1879, which became effective May 1, 1879, authorized the governor to appoint a mine inspector, whose duty was to inspect each coal mine in the State at least twice a year. The inspector was required to render annual reports to the governor and to state therein the number of mines operating, the production of each mine, and such other information as the inspector deemed necessary. On February 26, 1889, the department of geology and natural science was created and placed under the supervision of a director, who was also the State geologist. The department consisted of four divisions : Geology and natural science, mines and mining, mineral oils, and natural gas. The chief of each division was appointed by the geologist. The office of mine inspector was abolished, and the chief of the division of mines and mining, to be known as the inspector of mines, was directed to perform all duties previously performed by the mine inspector. Annual reports of the inspector were included in the annual reports of the department. The inspector was authorized to employ one assistant.
An act approved March 2, 1891, covering coal mines employing 10 or more men, made it the duty of mine operators to report, under penalty, all mine accidents causing death, and upon receipt of such a
180 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
notice the inspector and coroner were required to investigate the cause of the accident. The act of March 4, 1891, restricted the appointment of inspector of mines to persons who had passed an examination satisfactory to the State geologist. On March 6, 1897, an act was approved directing mine operators to report to the inspector all accidents which prevented the usual working of a mine for 24 consecutive hours, or resulted in injuries causing death or requiring the attendance of a physician or surgeon. On March 11, 1901, the number of assistants to the inspector was increased to two, and on March 9, 1907, the number was further increased to four. The latter act also required that each mine should be inspected at least three times each year.
An act approved March 6, 1911, created a bureau of inspection, to consist of three departments: Inspection of mines, inspection of boilers, and inspection of factories. The new bureau was placed under the supervision of a chief inspector appointed by the governor. The governor also appointed three deputies, one for each of the departments comprising the bureau. Each deputy inspector was authorized to appoint five assistants, with the approval of the chief inspector.
Up to 1915 it was the practice of operators of mines employing 10 or more men to report to the inspector all accidents causing death or requiring the attendance of a physician or surgeon, and all such accidents were published in the inspector's annual reports. Injuries causing disability for two weeks were classified as serious, all others being considered slight.
The legislature of 1915 passed a workmen's compensation act, effective September 1, 1915, to be adniinistered by the Industrial Board of Indiana, which was also provided for by the act. The department of inspection of mines and mining was transferred to the industrial board. Under the compensation law all employers of labor are required under penalty to report to the board all accidents causing injury to an employee whereby the employee is incapacitated for work more than one day. The department of mines, under .the jurisdiction of the industrial board, consists of one chief inspector and five assistants, who are appointed by the board with the concurrence of the governor.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1370-1914. 181
Accidents.
The accompanying tables show the total number of fatalities by causes and calendar years since 1881 as compiled from State mine inspectors' reports. They also show the percentage of accidents, by principal causes, and the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed for a period of 19 years for which continuous records are available. The fatality rate during this period is 2.16 per 1,000 men employed.
FATALITIES IN INDIANA COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total , 19 years
Coal-Mine Accidents In Indiana In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Killed.
Mine explosion
do
do
Powder and mine explosion.
Indiana has been fortunate in that it has had but few disasters (only four) during this period in which 5 or more men were killed at one time, the total number being 29 fatalities, or slightly over 4 per cent of the entire number. To offset this, however, there were 132 fatalities due to explosives, representing 19.44 per cent of the total. The average production of coal per fatality during this period was 291,062 tons, or 3.44 fatalities per million tons mined.
Indiana, like Illinois, is an 8-hour State, and in order to make it comparable with other States, where 9 or 10 hours are considered a working day, a table has been compiled whereby the time element has been taken into consideration. The fatality rate for the 10-year period 1903-1913 (Table 40) based on the actual number of employees
182 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Indiana."
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U.-S. Geol. Survey. b Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN INDIANA, AND THE FATALITY RATE, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000
2,000-hour workers.
is 2.20 as compared with 2.95 on the 2,000-hour basis. Table 40 gives all of the States on this basis for the 10-year period, so that a comparison with other States may be made. During this period the men worked 1,487 hours per year as compared with 2,034 hours for the bituminous fields of Pennsylvania.
The tables of statistics for the State of Indiana follow.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 183
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
INDIANA, a
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total.
days
lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
184 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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188 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1810-ISfli.
Iowa.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal fields of Iowa are in the Pennsylvanian series of the Carboniferous system and occupy the central and southern part of the State. The total coal-bearing area is about 20,000 square miles, of which 13,000 square miles include outcropping coal beds that are considered workable under the present economic conditions. In 1913, 21 counties were reported as coal producers.
The principal producing areas are in Marion, Mahaska, Monroe, and adjacent counties, which produced 43 per cent of the coal in 1913; Polk, Jasper, and Dallas counties of the same group produced 32 per cent; and Appanoose and Wayne counties, containing the Mystic or Centerville bed, produced 17 per cent. This bed is very persistent over a considerable area.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The Iowa coal is bituminous, non-coking, and contains a high percentage of sulphur in the form of pyrite. The coal is used largely for steaming purposes. Practically all of the beds are horizontal or dip about 10 feet per mile. Most of the coal beds are opened by shafts of different depths, as follows: Lucas County, 321 feet; Appanoose and Wayne counties, 200 feet; Adams County, 400 feet; Polk County, 156 feet; Webster County, 16 to 100 feet; and Marion County, 150 feet. There are a few slope and drift mines.
The coal beds of the Des Moines group (the lower part of the Pennsylvanian series) vary from 3£ to 5 feet or more in thickness and, with the exception of the Mystic bed, are somewhat faulted and irregular. The thickest coal in the State occurs in Marion County, where beds 4 to 12 feet thick have been opened. The Mystic or Centerville bed is about feet thick, has a strong roof, and is adapted to longwall mining methods.
Mining Methods.
Coal mining in Iowa began about 1840, for which year the records show a production of 400 tons. The production has gradually increased until in 1913 it was 7,525,936 tons.
Nearly all of the mines are operated through shafts and the coal is mined by the longwall and room-and-pillar methods. In 1891, 9 machines were introduced into the mines and the number gradually increased to 56 in 1898. Since that date the number of machines has been gradually reduced. Of 62 mines in Appanoose County in 1904, 16 used the room-and-pillar method and 46 the longwall method. Longwall mining machines are used rather extensively. A large amount of coal is shot off the solid,but records showing the extent to
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914. 189
which this is practiced are not available prior to 1911. In 1912, 69 per cent, and in 1913, 72.3 per cent of the total production was shot off the solid. The hand-mined coal amounts to about 20 per cent of the total, while that produced by machines is less than 2 per cent.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
Section 1567 of the Iowa Code of 1873 directed that the board of supervisors of each county in which coal or other minerals were found should appoint an inspector of mines, who, upon application of mine owners, operators, or employees, examined the atmosphere of such mines as affecting life or health. If gas was found in sufficient quantities to jeopardize life or health, the inspector was authorized to require the operator to provide additional shafts or entrances for proper ventilation, and a penalty was provided for failure to carry out such demands of the inspector.
On March 18, 1874, the foregoing provisions were superseded by a law requiring the county inspectors, who were appointed as under the previous law, to examine each mine twice a year, provided more than 10 miners were employed therein. Operators were required, under penalty, to notify the inspector of all fatal and serious accidents, and, if fatal, to notify the county coroner also. The inspector was required to examine into the causes of accidents and to preserve a record of his inspections. The law of March 30, 1880, consolidated the inspection service under the jurisdiction of one State mine inspector appointed by the governor. The act applied only to mines employing more than 15 men, and the inspector was required to make an annual report to the governor, enumerating therein all accidents in and about the mines. An act approved March 18, 1884, extended the inspection law to cover all mines employing more than five men, and required the inspector to render biennial reports to the governor on August 15 preceding the regular session of the State legislature.
On April 10, 1886, the governor was authorized to divide the State into three districts and appoint a mine inspector for each district, the inspectors to report to the governor as before. A law of April 12, 1888, provided for a board of examiners to examine candidates for the office of mine inspector. By an act approved May 6, 1911, mine operators were required to report on August 1 of each year to the district inspector, for the year ending July 1, the number of employees in and around the mines, in addition to sending to the inspector an immediate notice of fatal and nonfatal accidents.
All injuries, whether serious or slight, are reported to the district mine inspectors, but only those causing disability for at least 10 days are considered serious injuries and published in the inspectors' annual reports.
190 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Accidents.
The accompanying tables, Nos. 99 and 100, show the total number of fatalities by causes and calendar years since 1880, as compiled from the State mine inspectors' reports. These tables also show the percentage of accidents, classified by principal causes, and fatality rate per 1,000 men employed, over a period of 26 years for which
Fatalities In Iowa Coal Mines, By Principal Causes, During The Years
Cause of accident.
Number tilled.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 26 years
Coal-Mine Accidents In Iowa In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Killed.
Lost Creek No. 2
Albia
Do.
continuous records are available. The fatality rate during this period is 2.22 per 1,000 men employed. Iowa has been fortunate in that there have been but two disasters, in which five or more men were killed at one time. The fatalities represented by these two disasters are only 4 per cent of the total number killed during the above period. Of the total number of fatalities, 59 per cent were due to falls of roof and pillar coal, 10.53 per cent to mine cars and locomotives, and 10.25 per cent to explosives. The average production of coal per fatality during this period was 204,390 tons, or 4.89 fatalities for each million tons mined.
Since Iowa is an eight-hour State, the time element has been taken into consideration, and tables have been compiled on this basis for comparison with other States. The fatality rate for the 10-year period, 1903-1913 (Table 40), based upon the actual number of employees, is 1.94, whereas based on the number of 2,000-hour workers it is 2.27. During the 10-year period the men averaged 1,704 hours per year, as compared with 2,447 hours for Virginia. Table 41 shows
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 191
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Iowa.
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8. 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Total number of men.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. & Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN IOWA AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
a Census year.
the fatality rate for each year on the 2 000-hour basis (1903-1913) for each State, so that a true comparison of Iowa with other States may be readily made. The tables of statistics for the State of Iowa follow :
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines Ini
Iowa."
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
192 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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196 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914.
Kansas.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal-bearing measures of Kansas comprise about 18,600 square miles, of which 3,100 square miles are known to contain workable coal beds. The coal-bearing area occupies a strip covering about 3 to 4 counties wide entirely across the eastern end of the State, but the best beds are found in Cherokee and Crawford counties in the southeast corner.
The coal beds of this State belong to the Carboniferous system and occur in the southwest extension of the coal-bearing rocks of the Iowa-Missouri field. About 90 per cent of the coal mined in the State is from the Weir-Pittsburgh beds in Crawford and Cherokee counties. About 6 per cent of the coal is produced in the Atchison- Leavenworth district from a depth of 700 feet to 1,150 feet.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The coal beds of Crawford and Cherokee counties are practically horizontal, and occur at depths of 30 feet to 250 feet. The coal is bituminous, and produces a large amount of dust when mined. The beds vary in thickness from 3 to 10 feet, those in the Cherokee shale being very irregular. The thicker parts of the workable beds lie in "swamps" or basins of very irregular outline. Rolls in the floor and roof cause differences of level of 20 to 30 feet in many of the mines and a difference of as much as 60 feet has been observed in a single mine. It seems that these irregularities are due to unevenness of the original bottom upon which the coal was formed.
Mining Methods.
The earliest statistics of coal production in Kansas are for 1869, when 36,891 tons were mined. In 1913, the production was 7,202,- 210 tons. Practically all of the coal is mined by the room-and-pillar system, but some longwall mining is done in Osage County. About 85 per cent of the mines are opened by shaft; 11 per cent are strip pits, and 4 per cent are drift mines. In southeastern Kansas considerable coal is mined by stripping with a steam shovel. In places as much as 40 feet of cover is removed in stripping.
Mining machines were introduced into Kansas about 1897 but their use has been confined to a limited number of mines. In 1908, there were 17 machines in use; in 1913, only 9 were used, producing 0.3 per cent of the coal mined in the State, 14.8 per cent was mined by hand, and 85.5 per cent was shot off the solid.
The State mine inspector in his report for 1913 states that in Crawford and Cherokee counties 982,546 12J-pound kegs of powder were
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914. 197
used, or one keg for every 7.22 tons of coal produced. In addition, he also estimates that 1,029,000 pounds of dynamite and 46,450 pounds of permissible powder were used. He also states that:
The extreme danger in the increased and excessive amount of explosives used is hereby made apparent and can not be gainsaid. Had these figures of dynamite and permissible powder been reversed the condition under which the mines were operated, in my opinion, would have been vastly improved as far as their safety is concerned. This may also account in a certain measure for the grade of coal produced at some of the mines.
Repobtable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Sebvice.
The governor of Kansas was authorized by an act approved February 27, 1883, to appoint an inspector of coal mines for two years from June 30, 1883. Mine operators were required to report to the inspector all accidents causing serious or fatal injuries, and, if fatal, to the coroner of the county in which the mine was located. A monthly report by the inspector, showing the number of accidents and deaths from injuries and number of men employed, was required to be filed with the secretary of the State board of agriculture on or before the first Monday in each month. The act of March 13, 1885, required the inspector to render annual reports to the governor on the 1st day of February of each year. The mine operators were required by the act of March 13, 1897, to render quarterly reports of accidents to the State mine inspector. The method of selecting the mine inspector was changed by an act approved January 6, 1899. By this act an association of miners was authorized, consisting of a delegate from each organized body of five or more miners in any county, city, or mining camp in the State. The State association held annual meetings and elected a president, vice president, and secretary, and the secretary so elected succeeded to the duties of State mine inspector.
On February 5, 1913, an act was approved creating a department of labor and industry under the control of a commissioner of labor and industry. The commissioner was made ex officio factory and mine inspector, with authority to appoint an assistant of at least five years' experience in coal mining. In 1914 the inspection of coal mines was carried on by the assistant commissioner and five deputies.
All injuries, whether serious or slight, are reported to the inspector and are included in his annual reports, but no definition is given as to what constitutes a serious or slight injury.
198 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914:.
Accidents.
Tables 101 and 102 show, by causes and calendar years, the total number of fatalilfies since 1884, excepting 1886, 1888, and 1892, for which years reports are not available. These tables also show the percentage of accidents, classified by principal causes, and fatality rate per 1,000 men employed for a period of 21 years for which continuous records are available. The fatality rate during this period is 2.45 per 1,000 men employed. Of the total number killed
FATALITIES IN KANSAS COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS
Cause of accident.
Number Hied.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 21 years
Coal-Mine Accidents In Kansas In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
Cage with men fell down shaft.
Fidelity No. 1
No. 16
Spencer-Newland
(1893-1913), 49.05 per cent of the fatalities were due to falls of roof and pillar coal, and 24.81 per cent to explosives. The amount of coal mined by shooting off the solid is approximately 80 per cent of the total production. The average production of coal per fatality during the 21 years was 203,153 tons, or 4.92 fatalities for each million tons mined. The average production per man a year was 497 tons, or 2.56 tons per day.
During the period 1884 to 1913, inclusive, there were three mine disasters in which 52 men were killed, representing slightly less than 8 J per cent of the total number killed in the coal mines of Kansas.
In Kansas, more than 95 per cent of the men are on an eight-hour basis, and for comparative purposes the time element has been taken into consideration and tables compiled. It will be noted that the fatality rate for the 10-year period, 1903-1913 (Table 40), based on actual number of employees, was 2.70 per 1,000 men employed, and reduced to a 2,000-hour basis was 3.45 per 1,000. Table 41 shows
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 199
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Kansas."
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
t Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN KANSAS, AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number Of2,000-
hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
the fatality rate for each year on the 2,000-hour basis (1903-1913) for each State, so that a true comparison of Kansas with other States may be readily made.
The tables of statistics for the State follow.
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
Kansas."
Year.
Number
Total
of men
days
affected.
lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total
Average number
days
of days
lost.
lost per
man.
" Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S, Geol, Survey.
200 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18"70-1914.
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Kentucky.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The two coal fields of Kentucky are located in the extreme eastern and western parts of the State.
The Eastern coal field has an area of about 10,270 square miles, of which about 70 per cent may be considered as productive. . The rocks in this field are practically horizontal, except those in Bell and Harlan counties, which he in the great synclinal trough east of Pine Mountain. In the middle of this trough the coal beds are flat-lying, but on either rim they dip steeply toward the axis of the trough. The stresses which caused the great trough have produced several minor folds in its bottom and also a few faults, which cause considerable trouble and expense in mining. The principal producing counties are Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Letcher, Perry, Pike, and Whitley. In 1913, the field produced 11,098,906 tons, as compared with 8,517,640 for the Western field.
The Western field is a continuation of the Indiana-Hlinois field and has a coal-bearing area of about 6,400 square miles, of which 65 per cent may be considered as productive. This field, which includes Butler, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, and Webster counties, is the southeastern part of the big flat basin that carries the coal of Indiana and Illinois, but the rocks are much more disturbed in the Kentucky part than they are in those parts lying in the other States. The line of disturbance, extending in an east-west line across southern Illinois, continues across the western Kentucky field. Along this line from Shawneetown, Illinois, to Litchfield in Grayson County, the rocks are tilted and broken by faults to such an extent that mining is difficult and expensive.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The Eastern field belongs to the Pottsville group of the Allegheny formation and contains 12 or more coal beds of workable thickness and quality. The coal of these beds is usually of high-grade gas or coking quality and some of it is cannel coal. The Blue Gem and Jellico beds, which extend into Tennessee, average about 22 inches thick. This coal is extensively mined and finds a ready market as a domestic and steam fuel. Other coal beds contain 8 to 9 feet of workable coal. In Breathitt County one of the coal beds that is extensively worked is 30 inches thick and has a thin shale roof above which is a stratum of limestone. In Pulaski County, one of the important beds is 35 inches thick and has a dip of about 1 per cent. In Bell County, one of the most productive beds is 36 to 42 inches thick and is horizontal.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914. 205
There are three important coal beds that are worked in various parts of the western district. Coal A (No. 12) is about 80 inches thick at the Pierce mine in Muhlenberg County, it is of excellent steaming quality and has been used to a limited extent for coking, but is not of commercial importance for this use. The thickness of this bed varies and in general the roof is fire clay and shale. Coal B (No. 11), known also as the Danville bed, is one of the principal sources of commercial coal. It varies in thickness from 12 to 84 inches and is cut. by clay slips and disturbed by rolls. It is 40 to 100 feet below the surface and is 25 feet below the No. 12 coal. At the Pierce mine, Muhlenberg County, the coal is 78 inches thick, and in Hopkins County, is about 84 inches thick. At Madisonville there is a thin stratum of shale between the coal and a limestone capping, whereas at Nortonville the limestone rests directly on the coal. Bed D (No. 9, equivalent of No. 5, Illinois) is more regular than the other coal beds and produces about 75 per cent of the coal of the western district. It is 56 to 60 inches thick and extends throughout the larger part of 8 counties. It is about 300 feet below the surface and is opened by shafts. Coal Fb (No. 5), also known as the "Fourfoot" coal, is extensively mined at De Koven, Union County, where it has a maximum thickness of 54 inches. The roof is black shale 1£ to 2 feet thick. There are a number of other coal beds in the State, varying in thickness from a few inches to 40 and 50 inches, some of which are worked.
Mining Methods.
Coal mining in Kentucky began in a small way in 1828, during which year 328 tons were reported as the annual production. The production has gradually increased until in 1913 it was 19,616,600 tons. The majority of the coal is mined by the double-entry, roomand-pillar method. In the eastern part of the State practically all of the mines are opened by drift or slope, whereas in the western field there are a number of shaft mines. In 1900 there were 23 shaft mines in the State, the others being opened by slopes or drifts. The following description a given by Dr. C. J. Norwood covers the mining methods of the year 1889.
Almost without exception, the mines of Kentucky are worked on the "pillar-androom " system, with either single (with parallel air course) or double entry, usually the former. Sometimes one portion of the bank will be worked with single entry and another portion with double. The only two instances, known to the writer, in which long wall was tried resulted in failure; and one instance in which square work was attempted resulted in crushed pillars. The rooms are usually turned every 30 or 33 feet, and widened to from 18 to 21 feet. The necks are usually 6 to 12 feet long by 6 to 8 feet wide in the western field, and 8, 12, 18, or 20 feet long by 6 to 9 feet wide in the eastern field. The lengths of the rooms vary so greatly that a general statement on
Report of the inspector of mines of Kentucky, 1889,
206 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
that point can not well be given. Sometimes they are driven a distance of 600 feet from one entry through to the other; again, rooms are started from parallel entries to meet midway, and will be driven up only 200 to 250 feet.
In the western field the rooms are almost invariably single. In the eastern one they are often double, or two rooms are worked from a single "parting. "
It is not uncommon for rooms to be turned from the main entry, in the eastern field; in the western one it is seldom done.
In both fields single entry, with parallel air-course (rooms sometimes being turned from the air-course), is the more common of the two systems followed. Double entry is oftener followed in the western field than in the eastern. Sometimes, when single entry with parallel air-course is adopted it is ultimately modified, in order to curtail expenses, by continuing room width what began as narrow work.
In the eastern field all of the openings, with one exception, (a short slope), are drifts, considerably above the level of drainage. (And the mines there are the wettest in the State). In the western one, the coals are reached by shafts, slopes and drifts.
These methods have not changed materially except possibly in the increased number of mining machines since their introduction in 1884. In 1893, there were 70 machines in operation in the Kentucky coal mines, which produced 20 per cent of the State's output. The number of machines has gradually increased until in 1913, 1,263 mining machines produced 73.2 per cent of all of the coal mined in Kentucky.
Shooting off the solid has been and still is prevalent in Kentucky, but with the increase in the number of mining machines, there is a slight decrease in the amount of coal shot off the solid. In 1911, 16.2 per cent of the coal was thus mined and in 1913, 15.7 per cent.
A large amount of the underground haulage is by mules, which are used largely for gathering the coal from the working face and delivering it to a rope haulage or electric haulage system.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The mine-inspection law of Kentucky was approved by the governor and became effective May 10, 1884. The law related only to mines in which more than 5 persons were employed at one time. The first State inspector was appointed May 12 and entered on duty May 14, 1884. He was required, among other things, to report to the governor not later than October 10 on the condition and operation of the coal mines and to enumerate in his report all accidents in or about the mines. The law, however, contained no provisions compelling operators to report accidents to the State inspector, and the official record of mine accidents in Kentucky from 1884 to 1888 is therefore somewhat incomplete. The defect in the original law was remedied by an act approved April 6, 1888, making it the duty, under penalty, of mine operators to furnish accurate information to the State inspector, on blanks supplied by him, as to all accidents in or about the mines.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 207
An. act approved March 23, 1914, designated the office of inspector of mines as the department of mines and changed the inspector's title to chief inspector of mines. The act applies to all coal mines in which 6 or more men are employed, and requires the superintendents of such mines to render the chief inspector monthly reports of all fatal and serious accidents, showing the cause of such accidents, and such other information as the chief inspector may require. Fatal accidents are also required to be reported immediately to the district inspector. Each district inspector is required to examine each mine in this district at least once every four months. Monthly reports are rendered by the assistant inspectors to the chief inspector, and annual reports are rendered to the chief inspector within 60 days after the close of the calendar year. The act requires that the chief inspector shall prepare and file his annual report for printing within six months after the close of the calendar year.
The first assistant inspector was provided for by the acts of December 3, 1892, and June 9, 1893, and he entered upon his duties July 1, 1893. Since that time the inspection force has been further increased, so that in 1915 the force consisted of one chief inspector and five assistant inspectors.
It is the practice of mine operators to report to the inspector all accidents causing death or injury resulting in disability for at least 7 days, and all such accidents are published in the inspector's annual reports. Nonfatal injuries are classified into three classes: Serious, severe but not serious, and slight. The inspector has defined these classes as follows: Serious injuries include fractures, paralysis, dangerous injuries to internal organs, injuries permanently affecting muscles (as may come from burns, cuts, lacerations), dislocations, injuries necessitating amputation, crushed bones, and injuries of similar importance; severe but not serious injuries include those that, while they may be painful and cause loss of a week or more, leave no permanent effects or are not dangerous, such as bruises, cuts, and strains; slight injuries include bumps, scratches, strains and minor hurts that cause no cessation of work, or only for a few days (less than a week). Slight injuries are not recorded in the inspectors' annual reports.
Accidents.
The accompanying State tables (Nos. 103 and 104) show the total number of fatalities by causes and calendar years since 1884, as compiled from the State mine inspector's reports. They also show the percentage of accidents and fatality rates per 1,000 employed by principal causes, over a period of 26 years (1888-1913) for which continuous records are available. The fatility rate during this period is 1.98 per 1,000 men employed. There were 10 accidents in which 5 or more men
208 Coal-Mine Fatalities Ik The United States, 1870-1914.
FATALITIES IN KEJTITrCKYCOALMINES.BYPRINCIPALCAUSES, DURING THE YEARS
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 26 years
Coal-Mine Accidents In Kentucky In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number Mlled.
Tate..
Powder or mine explosion.
Mine explosion
Blown-out shot
Mine explosion
Powder and mine explosion.
Mine explosion.
Powder and mine ex— plosion.
Mine explosion.
Stearns No. 5
South Carrollton
Clay
Providence No. 3
Coil
Taylor
Overcome by gas
were killed at one time, or a total of 91 men, representing 14 per cent of all fatuities. The average production of coal per fatality during this period was 292,541 tons.
During recent years about one-half of the men were on a 10-hour basis; one-fourth on 9 hours, and one-fourth on 8 hours. The time element has been taken into consideration and a table compiled on
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Kentucky.O
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed
Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U.S. Geol. Survey. t, Census year.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 209
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN KENTUCKY, AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number ol 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2, 000-hour workers.
this basis for comparison with data on other States. The rate for the 10-year period (1903-1913) under consideration, based on the actual number of employees is 2.23 per 1,000, whereas on the number of 2,000-hours workers it is 2.36 per 1,000 (Table 40). During the 10-year period the men worked 1,885 hours per annum as compared with 2,447 hours per annum in Virginia. The tables of statistics for the State of Kentucky follow:
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
Kentucky."
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total
days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
c Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
210 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 213
Maryland.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal fields of Maryland, a southward extension of those in Somerset County, Pa., occupy a strip along the western border of Allegany County about 20 miles long and averaging 5 miles in width and the greater part of Garrett County, comprising a total area of 455 square miles. The coal measures occupy broad, open, north and southwest synclinal folds, which are separated by eroded anticlines and are in the lower Carboniferous or Devonian rocks. There are five basins, known as Georges Creek, Upper Potomac, Castleman, Lower Youghiogheny, and Upper Youghiogheny. The present production of coal is almost exclusively mined from the first two basins. The prominence of the Georges Creek basin has led to the use of the name of Georges Creek coal, and until recent years practically all of this coal came from the Pittsburgh seam or "Big Vein." The coal beds are usually flat, seldom attaining a dip of 10°.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The following description of the principal coal-producing beds of Maryland is taken from the report a of the Maryland Geological Survey on Allegany County for the year 1900:
The Elkgarden or "Big Vein" is more extensively developed in the Georges Creek basin, especially in the vicinity of Frostburg, than in West Virginia, where it derives its name. The "Big Vein" varies in thickness from 5 to 7 feet up to more than 20 feet, the latter thickness having, moreover, been exceeded at one or two isolated points where pockets of unusual thickness have been reached. Its usual thickness is from 10 to 12 feet, and in general it has been found to thicken southward. The coal is very clean and of the highest quality, affording a low percentage of both ash and sulphur. It is in most respects the finest steam coal known and is extensively used where the highest grade coals are demanded.
The Elkgarden coal occurs at the base of the Monongahela formation, and is probably the equivalent of the Pittsburgh vein of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, although on account of the structural conditions under which it is found it differs materially from the latter in its physical and chemical properties.
Thin, persistent bands of slate or dry partings subdivide the "Big Vein" coal into three definite members, each of which possesses special characteristics. These beds are known as Roof coal, Breast coal, and Bottom coal.
The Roof coal includes several more or less important layers of coal of varyingpurity and thickness, separated by thin beds of shale. Except in the northern part of the basin these roof coals are not removed in mining, since they are of particular importance as a support for the overlying strata.
The Breast coal is the thickest and the most valuable member of the "Big Vein" coal. North of Frostburg it seems to retain its purity through a thickness of scarcely more than 2 feet, while south of Lonaconing it is sometimes more than 7 feet thick and without impurities. Near the top there is a 2 to 8 inch layer of bony coal, but this is rarely sufficiently impure to necessitate its rejection. Near the bottom there is a
aClark, W. B., and others, The mineral resources of Allegany County: Eept. Maryland Geol. Survey, 1900, pp. 177-178.
214 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, lO-lMA.
4 to 6 inch band of soft "mining ply, " which is jet black, has a brilliant luster, and shows a strong tendency to break into small cubical blocks.
The Bottom coal is 2J to 3 feet thick and generally contains two thin slate bands. Other impurities are sometimes present, but they are seldom of a very serious nature. On account of the slate bands the bottom coal for many years was not mined, but under an improved system of mining these thin slates are now easily removed and the coal readily taken up.
The Davis (6-foot coal bed) is one of the most important of the small-vein coals of the State. The report a describes it as follows :
Near Westernport, where the seam approaches 6 feet in thickness, the coal has been mined for a number of years, and although seldom put upon the market as a competitor of the ' ' Big Vein " coal, it has nevertheless supplied a considerable part of the demand in Westernport and Piedmont and is now finding a wider market.
Throughout the lower Georges Creek Valley the Davis coal reaches a greater thickness and is more important than any other coal except the "Big Vein." This coal always contains partings of either shale or sandstone, while bone-coal is not infrequent. There is at times considerable sulphur in the lower bench. At some points in the lower Georges Creek Valley the Davis vein is quite clean and, in general, seems to improve in quality southward. The Davis vein in Allegany County generally has a roof composed of shale, overlain by heavy sandstone. The Davis coal is situated about 125-150 feet above the base of the Allegany formation. This vein is generally regarded as the approximate equivalent of the lower KLttanning coal of Pennsylvania.
The Thomas (3-foot coal) varies in thickness from 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet 2 inches. The coal is clean and has been successfully opened north of Westernport. The bed has a characteristic shale roof and a fire-clay floor. The coal is generally regarded as the equivalent of the Upper Freeport.
Mining Methods.
The earliest records of the production of coal in Maryland are for 1820, during which year 3,000 tons of coal was mined. The production has generally increased until in 1913, 4,779,839 tons was mined. Most of the Maryland mines are worked by the room-and-pillar method from drift entries, there being only a few slope mines. Tailrope haulage is used to some extent, whereas mule haulage is used extensively. There are relatively few mining machines in use and these are of the pick or puncher type. In 1900 there were 10 machines in operation, producing 138,014 tons, or 3.4 per cent of the coal mined in the State. In 1904 the machine-nmied coal amounted to 10 per cent of the total production. In 1913, 91.5 per cent of the coal was mined by hand, 1.7 per cent by machine, and 6.2 per cent was reported as being shot off the solid. Although the greater part of the Maryland production is mined by hand, the record of individual efficiency of the miners is high. The average production of each man in 1913 was 847 tons, or 3.42 tons for each working day.
a Clark, W. B., and others, op. cit., p. 173.
Coae-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 215
Reportable Accidents And Obganization Of Inspection
Service.
An act approved March 30, 1876, authorized the governor to appoint a mine inspector for Allegany and Garrett counties whose duty it was to inspect every coal mine at least once each month. When notified by the coroner of either county, the inspector was required to attend inquests and to investigate the causes of fatal accidents at the mines. Annual reports were rendered to the governor and all mine accidents were enumerated therein. On March 24, 1902, a law was approved extending the inspection service to include clay and fire-clay mines, and directing the inspector to examine all mines as often as possible, but at least once every two months. All fatal and serious accidents in and about the mines were required to be reported to the inspector by mine operators.
It is the practice of the operators to report all accidents to the inspector, and all accidents thus reported are published in the inspector's annual reports. Injuries causing less than 7 days' disability are considered as slight.
Up to 1915 the mine inspector employed no deputy or assistant inspectors.
Accidents.
Tables 105 and 106 show the number of fatalities and men employed from the beginning of -inspection service, 1876, to date, as compiled from the State mine inspectors' reports. The fatality rate for the years for which continuous records are available, 1889' to
FATALITIES IN MARYLAND COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS 1889 TO 1913, INCLUSIVE, a
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 23 years.
a Excludes 1907 and 1908, for which the report for the fiscal year ending Apr. 30, 1908, was not available.
Coal-Mine Accidents In Maryland In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date 1909, Jan. 25.
Name of mine Washington No. 5.
Location of mine Franklin.
Nature of accident Mine cars.
Number killed 5.
216 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914.
1906 and 1909 to 1913, inclusive, covering 23 years, is 1.87 per 1,000 men employed. The amount of coal produced per fatality was 459,193 tons, or there were 2.18 fatalities per million tons mined. During this 23-year period 220 men were killed, of which number 57.73 per cent was due to falls of roof and 13.64 per cent to mine cars and locomotives. Maryland has been remarkably free from gas and dust explosions; the fatality rate from explosives is also low, representing only 2.27 per cent of the total number killed.
The 10-hour day prevails in Maryland and for comparison with data on 8 and 9 hour States Tables 40 and 41 have been compiled. The fatality rate for the 8-year period 1903 to 1906, and 1910 to 1913,
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
MINES IN MARYLAND, a
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
' 41
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. b Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN MARYLAND AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
inclusive, based on the actual number of employees is 2.18, whereas if reduced to the basis of 2,000-hour workers, the rate becomes 1.79. The number of hours worked per year per man in the coal mines of Maryland is 2,428, as compared with 1,620 in Michigan and 2,034 in
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 217
the bituminous mines of Pennsylvania and 2,132 in West Virginia. The tables of statistics for the State of Maryland follow :
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
Maryland."
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
218 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1S10-1Su.
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222 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Michigan.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal-bearing area of Michigan comprises about 11,000 square miles and occupies a basin in the central part of the lower peninsula between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The field extends from Jackson County on the south to Roscommon County on the north and from Tuscola County on the east to Kent County on the west. The principal mining operations are in Bay and Saginaw Counties in the northeastern part of the field.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The structure of the field is a comparatively flat basin modified by minor undulations. There are at least seven coal-bearing horizons in which coal may be considered as workable at certain places. The three principal coal beds are the Upper and Lower Verne and the Saginaw. The Upper and Lower Verne beds usually are close together and in a number of places are mined as one bed of coal. These beds vary in thickness from place to place, but the thickness of a single bed is not generally more than 3 feet. The combined thickness of the two beds within 10 feet of strata may be 7 feet. These coal beds are more or less undulating and in one instance a rise of 22 feet within 150 feet without faulting has been noted. In consequence of this irregularity many of the working plans of the mines in which the workings follow troughs are very irregular, and as most of the merchantable coal is less than 4 feet, some being less than 2 feet thick, large areas of this coal are left untouched. They are 100 to 150 feet below the surface. The Saginaw bed is somewhat
deeper.
Mining Methods.
The records for coal production for Michigan began in 1860, when 2,320 tons of coal were mined. The production in 1913 was 1,231,786 tons. Practically all of the, mines are opened by shafts 100 to 150 feet deep. The room-and-pillar system of mining is the principal method in use. The longwall method was tried at one or two mines but it was abandoned for the reason that there was too much danger of shattering the roof and letting in water from the glacial overburden. Mining machines were first introduced in Michigan in the Bay City district and became an important feature in Michigan mines in 1899, when 25 machines produced slightly over 10 per cent of the coal. In 1913, 70 per cent of the coal was produced by machines and 29.5 per cent shot off the solid.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870—1914. 223
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The legislature of Michigan, by an act approved May 2, 1899, authorized the commissioner of labor to appoint an inspector of coal mines, the inspector to examine all coal mines in the State and to report, from time to time, the results of his examinations to the commissioner of labor. The results of the inspector's examinations were incorporated in the regular annual report of the commissioner. The inspector was authorized to enter any coal mine at any time for the purpose of inspection or to collect statistics relating to "hours of labor, wages, industrial, economic and sanitary questions or matters, scales and oils." It was specified in an act approved May 10, 1905, that the law applied to "any shaft in process of sinking, and any opening projected for the-purpose of mining coal." On June 2, 1909, a law was approved directing the commissioner of labor, under whose supervision the inspection of coal mines was carried on, to include in his annual reports beginning April 1, 1910, a statement showing the number of persons employed and the number and character of accidents in all departments of labor in the State.
All mine accidents are reported to the inspector and are published in his annual report to the commissioner of labor. Serious and slight injuries are neither segregated nor defined.
In 1915 the inspector employed no assistants,
Accidents.
Tables 107 and 108 show the total number of fatalities by calendar years and causes from 1899 to 1913, inclusive, as compiled from the State mine inspector's reports. Beginning with 1900 to and including 1913, for which continuous records are available, 98 men were killed,
FATALITIES IN MICHIGAN COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 14 years
representing a fatality rate of 2.16 per 1,000 men employed. Of the total number of fatalities 52.04 per cent was due to falls of roof-and-
224 Coal-Mike Fatalities In The Tjnited States, 1870-1914.
pillar coal, 15.31 per cent to explosives, and 10.20 per cent to shaft accidents. Michigan has been fortunate in the matter of mine disasters, none having occurred in which 5 or more men were killed at one time. No fatalities are reported as due to gas and dust explosions. The average production per fatality during the 14-year period above referred to was 200,919 tons, or 4.98 fatalities per million tons mined.
Since 1905 practically all of the men employed in and about the mines of Michigan have been on an 8-hour basis. This, to a certain extent, accounts for the low fatality rate compared with other States, in which the men are employed 9 or 10 hours. The average number of hours worked per year per man in Michigan was 1,620
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Michigan."
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. 6 Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN MICHIGAN AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number
of 2,000
hour
workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
s
during the 10-year period, 1903-1913, as compared with 2,172 in Colorado or 2,034 in Pennsylvania (bituminous) and 2,447 in Virginia. The fatality rate (Table 40) based on the actual number of
Coal-Mike Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 225
men employed, is 1.83 for the 10-year period, as compared with 2.26 based on the 2,000-hour workers. Table 41 shows the fatality rates for a period of 10 years based on the 2,000-hour year for all the States, so that by referring to this table a true comparison of Michigan with other States may be seen. The tables of statistics for the State of Michigan follow:
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
Michigan
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
226 COAL-MlSTE FATALITIES in THE UNITED STATES, 18"70-19H.
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228 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Missouri.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The productive coal area of Missouri comprises much of the northern half of the State, and a strip on the western border. It extends north into Iowa and west into Kansas. As in Iowa, the terms Des Moines and Missouri groups are applied to the upper and lower coal-bearing measures, respectively, both of which are in the Pennsylvanian series of the Carboniferous system. The Des Moines, which includes nearly all the coal beds of present economic importance, outcrops in about 16,000 square miles and also underlies the Missouri group in about 8,000 square miles.
Character Of Coal Beds.
In the north-central part of the State the coal beds are horizontal; in the western and northwestern part they dip northwest about 8 feet per mile.
The Missouri coal is low-grade bituminous, and more than 90 per cent is produced from the Des Moines group. The Bevier field in the north-central part of the State produces about 30 per cent of the coal from a bed varying 3 feet to 6 feet in thickness. The roof is sandy shale and sandstone of only moderate stability. The bed in the Lexington field is 14 to 26 inches thick and produces 25 to 30 per cent of the coal. The roof is a black, slaty shale with a strong limestone cap rock and is almost ideal for longwall mining.
The Southwestern field includes Henry, Barton, and Bates counties and produces about 20 per cent of the coal from a coal bed 3 to 4 feet thick. In these counties there are a few open-pit mines. The Novinger field (Adair County) produces 'about 10 per cent of the coal from a bed that is about 3 feet thick. There are several smaller fields in other parts of the State.
Mining Methods.
The earliest statistics of coal production for Missouri date back to 1840, when 9,972 tons of coal were produced. The production for 1913 was 4,318,125 tons.
In 1912 there were about 214 mines in operation of which 136 were opened by shaft, 36 by slope, 25 by drift, and 7 were strip pits. Of this number 102 used the longwall method, and 94 the room-andpillar method of mining. The longwall method is used almost exclusively in the Lexington field, where the coal is thin and has a good roof. In the other fields various forms of room and pillar methods are used. Electric haulage is used in 13 mines; mule haulage in 94, and hand haulage in 41 mines. Fifty-eight mines were ventilated by natural draft, 52 by furnaces, and 88 by fans. Hoisting at 80 mines was by steam power, at 3 by electricity, at 64 by horsepower, and at 5 by hand power.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914. 229
Mining machines have been used in Missouri since 1896, when 4 machines were operated, producing 2.6 per cent of the coal. The number of machines has gradually increased until in 1913 there were 104 machines producing 20 per cent of the coal. It is reported that 46.8 per cent is shot off the solid, and 23.6 per cent is mined by hand.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The first mine-inspection service of Missouri was provided for by the act approved March 23, 1881, authorizing the court of every county where coal mines were situated to appoint a county mine inspector. It was made the duty of mine operators to report to the inspector, under penalty, all fatal and serious accidents at their mines, and, if the accident was fatal, it was to be reported to the county coroner, or, in his absence or inability to act, to any justice of the peace in the county. If deemed necessary from the facts reported, the inspector was required to go to the scene of the accident, render assistance, investigate the cause of the accident, and preserve a record of his investigation with the other records of his office. The county inspectors rendered annual reports to the "Commissioner of Labor Statistics," showing causes of accidents, number employed in and about the mines, etc.
The law of March 30, 1887, consolidated the inspection service under the jurisdiction of a State mine inspector appointed by the governor on the recommendation of a board of examiners. The inspector thus appointed rendered annual reports on October 15 to the bureau of labor statistics.
The act of April 26, 1899, created a bureau of mines, mining, and mine inspection, and authorized the appointment of two mine inspectors — one for coal mines and the other for lead and zinc mines — the inspectors being given authority to appoint a secretary. The act of March 27, 1901, required the inspector to report to the governor by April 15. of each year. An assistant inspector was authorized by the act of March 30, 1907. The coal-mine inspection force was increased by the act of March 25, 1913, which authorized the appointment of a chief inspector and two assistants inspectors, the chief inspector to render annual reports to the governor on January 1 in accordance with existing laws.
It has not been definitely determined in Missouri when an injury is sufficiently serious to come within the requirement of the law that it shall be reported to the inspector, but it is the practice of the operators to report all injuries causing three or four days' disability, and these are published in the inspector's annual reports. Of the injuries reported to the inspector, those resulting in disability of an employee for at least 30 days are classified as serious, all others being considered slight injuries.
230 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Accidents.
The number of accidents in the coal mines of Missouri, by causes and calendar years, is contained in Tables 109 and 110. These tables also show the total number and percentage of f atalities classified by principal causes, and the fatality rate per 1,000 men employed for a period of 26 years (1888-1913), for which continuous records are
FATALITIES IN MISSOURI COAL MINES, BY PEINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS
Cause of accident.
Number tilled.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
em- .
ployed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 26 years
Coal-Mine Accidents In Missouri In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number
tilled.
Keith and Perry No. 6. Atlas
Rich Hill
do
available. The fatality rate during this period is 1.78 per 1,000 men employed. During the 26 years there was only one serious mine disaster, in which more than 5 men were killed at one time. This was a mine explosion in 1888 in which 24 men were killed, representing slightly over 6 per cent of the total number of fatalities during the period covered. Falls of roof and pillar coal are responsible for 62.17 per cent; gas and dust explosions, 10.58 per cent; and explosives, 11.38 per cent. The average production of coal per fatality was 229,541, or there were 4.36 fatalities per million tons of coal mined.
About 97 per cent of the men employed in the coal mines of Missouri since 1903 have been eight-hour men. As there are a number of States in which men are employed 9 or 10 hours per day, the time element has been taken into consideration, and tables compiled on this basis for comparison with other States. The fatality rate for the 10-year period 1903-1913 (Table 40), based on the actual number of men employed, is 1.30 per 1,000, and on the number of 2,000-hour workers is 1.70. During the 10-year period the men averaged 1,539 hours per year as compared with 2,463 hours in New Mexico, 2,132
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 231
Number Of Hours To The 'Working-Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
MINES IN MISSOURI.a
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9,
or 10
hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
o Complied from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. & Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN MISSOURI AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
in West Virginia, and 1,704 in Iowa. Table 41 shows the fatality rate for each year on the 2,000-hour basis for each State, so that a true comparison of Missouri with other States may be easily made. The tables of statistics for the State of Missouri follow:
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
Missouri.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
232 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18'70-1914.
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COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN - THE UNITED STATES. 1870-1914. 235 MONTANA. AREA AND DISTRIBUTION OF COAL FIELDS.
The coal fields of Montana are widely distributed over the eastern two-thirds of the State, and have an aggregate area of about 39,000 square miles. From a commercial standpoint there are only three important fields in the State. These are, according to production, as follows: (1) Ked Lodge field in Carbon County, (2) Bull Mountain field in Musselshell County, and (3) the Great Falls field in Cascade County.
The Red Lodge field comprises an area of about 50 square miles, but the number and thickness of the beds compensate in large measure for the small size of the field.- The beds dip to the southwest toward the Beartooth Mountain, from which they are separated by a great fault.
The Bull Mountain field has a known productive area of 630 square miles, being a great synclinal basin lying mainly between Yellowstone and Musselshell rivers. This field has developed since the building of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway in 1908.
The Great Falls coal field, which contains about 1,500 square miles, is south and east of the town of Great Falls. This field is one of the first to be developed in the State, but owing to the heavy percentage of ash the coal can hardly compete with that from Red Lodge and Bull Mountain.
The Milk River field, in the northern part of the State, as well as the great lignite fields in the eastern part, cover large areas, but are only slightly developed.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The coal beds of the Red Lodge field vary from 3 to 12 feet in thickness ; the coal is high r grade subbituminous, slacks readily, and for this reason pillars will soon crush when left standing, and thus allow the roof to fall. The coal about Bridger, a little to the northeast of Red Lodge, is bituminous, but only a little of this coal is mined at present.
In the Bull Mountain field the coal beds occupy a synclinal trough. There are 10 to 16 feet of clean coal; the dip does not exceed 6°. The mines are opened by shafts ranging from 137 to 350 feet deep. The quality of the coal is about the same as that mined in the Red Lodge field.
In the Great Falls field the beds are 3 to feet thick, with a slight dip to the north. At Sand Coulee, the principal mining center of this field, the beds are flat and about 10 feet thick. The coal is bituminous and intrinsically of higher grade than from either of 14355°— Bull. 115—16 16
236 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
the fields so far described, but the heavy percentage of ash detracts greatly from its commercial value, and the field, which up to 1907 held first place in the State's production, has now dropped to third place.
In the Milk River field the roof in most cases is a soft sandstone or carbonaceous shale, making it necessary to leave considerable coal to keep the entries from caving in. Extensive timbering will be necessary when mining is done on a large scale.
Mining Methods.
The mines at Chestnut, Gallatin County, are the oldest in the State, having been opened in 1867, and coal hauled from them long distances by teams. The records show that the production of coal in Montana began in 1880, when 224 tons were reported as mined. In 1913 the production was 3,240,973 tons, of which Carbon County mined 1,187,270 tons. The mines are opened by drift, slope, and shaft, and are mined by the room-and-pillar and pillar-and-stall systems. At Stockett the roof is sandstone, and the coal is mined by machines. Machines are also extensively used at Belt. In 1896 there were 62 mining machines in use in the State, which produced 37.5 per cent of the coal; in 1913 there were 97 machines, producing 33.2 per cent of the coal, Whereas 35 per cent was shot off the solid, and 31 per cent was reported as being mined by hand.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The first mine-inspection law of Montana was approved March 14, 1889, and provided for the inspection of all mines where 5 or more men were employed, except mines operated only by the owners or lessees. The inspector was authorized to employ an assistant to act in cases of emergency, as in cases of accidents, or in the absence of the inspector. The assistant's salary was on a per diem basis and his employment was limited to 100 days a year. Mine operators were required to report to tbe inspector or his deputy all fatal and serious accidents in and about the mines. The inspector was required, whenever possible, to go to the scene of the accident and investigate the cause thereof; and if it was not possible for the inspector to visit the mine, the person in charge was required to obtain written and sworn statements from persons who had witnessed the accident. The inspector rendered annual reports to the governor and enumerated therein all accidents of which he had received notice.
On March 4, 1897, an act was approved directing the deputy inspector to devote his entire time to his official duties. On March 18, 1901, an act relating exclusively to coal mines was approved, and
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 237
the governor was authorized to appoint a coal-mine inspector. An act approved March 4, 1913, created a department of labor and industry, consisting of a commissioner, boiler inspector, inspector of mines, and coal-mine inspector, and directed that the annual reports of these inspectors should be combined in one volume and published biennially. The authority to appoint the deputy inspector was transferred from the coal-mine inspector to the governor by an act approved March 31, 1913.
Mine operators in Montana report to the inspector only those accidents causing at least 14 days' disability, and these are published in the inspector's annual reports. Accidents causing disability for less than 14 days are not considered serious.
Accidents.
Tables 111 and 112 show the number of fatalities in and about the coal mines in Montana, classified by causes and calendar years since 1889, as compiled from the State mine inspector's reports. The years 1896 and 1899 are left blank, as reports for these years were not available. Continuous records for 1900 to 1913, inclusive, show that 159 men were killed in and about the coal mines in Montana,
FATALITIES IN MONTANA COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 14 years..
Coal-Mine Accidents In Montana In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
do...
representing a fatality rate of 3.89 per 1,000 men employed. Of this number 55.34 per cent were killed by falls of roof and pillar coal and 14.47 by mine cars and locomotives. Montana has been free from disasters due to gas and dust explosions. The production per fatality was 186,276, or there were 5.37 fatalities per million tons of coal
238 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
mined. There have been two mine fires, in which 17 men were killed.
The 8-hour day prevails in Montana and the time element is, therefore, taken into consideration for comparison with other 8-hour and with 10-hour States (Table 40). The total number of hours worked per year is 1,930, as compared with 2,447 for Virginia or
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Montana."
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other than 8, 9, or 10 hours per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
o Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. & Including day men who work 10 hours, c Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN MONTANA AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000
2,000-hour workers.
2,255 for Alabama. The total number of hours of labor performed has been converted to a 2,000-hour basis and fatality rates shown in Table 41, for comparison with other States. The fatality rate on the actual number of men employed during the 10-year period 1903 to 1913 (except 1909) is 4.08, as compared with 4.23 fatalities per 1,000 on the basis of 2,000-hour workers. The tables of statistics for the State of Montana follow:
Coal-Mine Fatalities Is The United States, 1870-1914. 239
Statistics Of Stkikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
Montana."
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
2b0
Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Eesouroes, U. S. Geol. Survey.
240 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE TTtfltED STATES, 1870-1914. 243 NEW MEXICO. AREA AND DISTRIBUTION OF COAL FIELDS.
The coal fields of New Mexico comprise about 13,000 square miles but most of this large area is undeveloped and the producing districts are small and widely scattered.
The most important field, both as regards quality of coal and amount produced, is the Raton field, which is the southward continuation of the Trinidad field of Colorado. It extends about 40 miles south of the State line to the Cimarron River, and from the base of the Rocky Mountain Range eastward about 50 miles. Its area is about 960 square miles.
The largest area is the San Juan River region in the northwestern corner of the State. Its area is about 10,000 square miles, but only two small districts in this great field are developed at present. These are Gallup, on the Santa Fe Railroad, at the southern end of the field, and Monero, or Lumberton, at the north end. The coal at Gallup is subbituminous, and at Monero bituminous. The Los Cerrillos field, in the central part of Santa Fe County, contains about 35 square miles, and is noteworthy as the only western field outside of Colorado that is producing anthracite. Operations in the White Oaks field of Lincoln County are small, and the production is limited to local consumption. Mining on a small scale is also carried on at Carthage, in Socorro County, in a small isolated field containing bituminous coking coal.
Character Of Coal Beds.
Practically all of the coal mined in the Raton field comes from a few large mines working the lowest bed of coal. This bed varies from 4 to 12 feet thick. There are at least four other coal beds thick enough to be of economic importance, although comparatively little development has been done on them. The second bed from the bottom, known as the Sugarite coal, has been opened east of Raton at the Sugarite mine, and the third bed has been developed to some extent at Yankee, and is believed by some to be the same as the coal bed opened at Brilliant, which is situated in Dillon Canyon, northwest of Raton. No producing mines have been opened on the higher coal beds. The coal beds in the Raton field he nearly flat, and mining is not particularly dangerous, except for gas in some of the mines.
In the Gallup district the coal beds, as a rule, he nearly flat, except on the rim of the basin, 3 miles east of Gallup, where they sharply upturn. There are five coal beds in this district, ranging in thickness from 2£ to 7 feet.
244 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
The coal beds of the Los Cerrillos field dip about 18° east. There are three important beds, varying in thickness from to 7 feet with the higher grade of coal in the northern part of the field. The northern part also contains some anthracite coal which has been produced by an intrusion of igneous rock, and which gradually merges into coking and semicoking coals to the south.
The only other field in which active mining is carried on is a few miles east of Socorro. This field contains coking coal, but the beds are so broken by faults and covered by recent material washed in from the surrounding higher land that mining is expensive and uncertain.
Mining Methods.
The records of coal production in New Mexico extend back to 1882, during which year 157,092 tons of coal were produced. The production has gradually increased until in 1913 the total amount was 3,708,806 tons. In 1898 the 29 mining machines in use produced 16.5 per cent of all the coal mined. During 1905 and 1906 there were no mining machines in operation, but in 1907 three machines were introduced, and the number has gradually increased until in 1914 45 machines produced 16 per cent of the coal. In 1911 31.2 per cent of the coal was shot off the solid, but with the increase in the amount of machine-mined coal the amount shot off the solid was reduced to 17.6 per cent in 1913. From 65 per cent to 75 per cent of the coal is mined by hand.
The coal mines of New Mexico are operated on single and double entry systems through slopes and drifts. One large company operates a triple-entry system. Coal is mined by the room-and-pillar method. In 1913 there were three longwall mines and three panelsystem mines. Many of the mines are very dry, and humidifiers have been installed. Shot firers are employed. Mule, horse, and electric haulage are in use. The following extracts are from the State mine inspector's report for 1910.
The Tocco mine, near Albuquerque, has the distinction of operating the thinnest coal seam developed in New Mexico, one of the thinnest worked in the United States, and one that ranks also with the thinnest mined in Europe. The seam is from 12 to 15 inches thick, with 1 to 3 inches of bony coal at the top, leaving 10 to 13 inches of clean coal to be mined. A slope has been sunk 355 feet, with an average dip of 25°, and cross entries have been driven about 30 feet apart. The props used are from 10 to 13J inches long. The coal is bituminous, free from sulphur, and is a good blacksmith's coal. The product of the mine is hauled to Albuquerque, N. Hex., where it is sold for blacksmithing purposes at from $9 to $12 per ton of 2,000 pounds.
The mines at Dawson are worked as follows:
Triple main entry; double-cross entry; room-and-pillar, robbing on retreat. All main drift entries are 10 feet wide by 6 feet high; main cross entries, S feet by 6 feet.
o State mine inspector's report, 1910, pp. 17, 20.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914. 245
Cross entries off cross entries are 8 feet wide by 5 feet 6 inches high ; main air courses are 10 feet by 6 feet and other air courses 8 feet wide by 6 feet. All workings are substantially timbered and haulage ways and traveling roads are lighted by electricity. Main entry pillars are from 100 to 300 feet thick; main cross entry pillars, 50 to 100 feet. Average length of rooms, 350 feet; room centers, 60 feet; width of rooms, 20 feet; size of room pillars, 40 feet. The mines are ventilated by exhaust fans on the surface. Shots are fired by electricity after all persons are out of the mine.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
By an act of Congress approved March 3, 1891, official inspection of coal mines was authorized in all Territories where the aggregate annual production of such mines exceeded 1,000 tons. The appointment of the inspector was vested in the President of the United States. Under the provisions of this law, the first mine inspector for the Territory of New Mexico was appointed July 1, 1892, and entered upon duty August 30, 1892. Section 15 of the act provided that a full and written report of all fatal accidents should be made to the mine inspector within 10 days after such death shall have occurred'. Annual reports for fiscal years ending June 30 were rendered to the Secretary of the Interior. New Mexico was admitted to the Union on January 6, 1912, and the former Territorial mine inspector was continued in office. The office of State mine inspector was created by an act approved June 13, 1912, and the first State inspector was appointed September 20, 1912. The State law requires mine operators to keep a record of all accidents at their mines, to which record the inspector shall have access, and to at once report to the inspector by telegraph or telephone all accidents resulting in death, such immediate report to be followed, within 10 days, by a full and complete written report of the accident. It was made the inspector's duty to proceed without delay to any mine within the State upon receipt of notice of any explosion or other accident resulting fatally or jeopardizing the lives of the men working in such mine. Annual reports are rendered to the governor for years ending November 30.
According to the State inspector, the number of nonfatal accidents published in his annual report is not complete, as the reporting of such accidents is not made compulsory by law, and some operators do not report all injuries at their mines.
In 1915 the State inspector had no clerical or other assistants.
Accidents.
Tables 113 and 114 show by causes and calendar years the total number of fatalities in and about the mines of New Mexico, since the beginning of inspection service in 1893 to the end of 1913, as compiled from the territorial and State mine inspectors' reports. The
246 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, Io-Im.*.
21-year period from 1893 to 1913 shows 568 fatalities, of which 56.51 per cent was due to gas and dust explosions, 28.17 per cent to falls of roof and pillar coal, and 7.57 per cent to mine cars and locomotives. The fatality rate for New Mexico is exceedingly high by reason of the disaster at Dawson, in which 263 men were killed at one time.
FATALITIES IN NEW MEXICO COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS 1893 TO 1913, INCLUSIVE.
Cause of accident.
Number MUed.
Total.
Percent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 21 years
Coal-Mine Accidents In New Mexico In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident .
Number killed.
Blossburg No. 3
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The fatality rate during this period is 11.43 per 1,000 men employed. By referring to Table 40 it will be noted that the fatality rate for common accidents — that is, those in which less than 5 men were killed at one time — based on the actual number of employees is 4.84 per 1,000 men, for the 10-year period 1903 to 1913, inclusive, excepting 1909. The number of fatalities due to exceptional accidents — that is, those in which 5 or more men were killed at one time — is 9.70 for the same 10 years. The fatality rate due to common accidents is a little higher than in a number of other States. The one disaster at Dawson overshadows all others and for this reason the total rate is exceedingly high. Table 40 also shows that the number of hours worked per year per man is 2,463, as compared with 1,495 for Ohio and 2,034 for the bituminous mines of Pennsylvania. By reducing the fatality rate of common accidents to the basis of 2,000-hour workers, the rate becomes 3.93 as compared with 3.84 for Ohio and 2.82 for the bituminous mines of Pennsylvania.
COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, lSlO-lOTi. 247
Number Of Houes To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In New Mexico."
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. ' Census year.
NUMBER OP HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN NEW MEXICO AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000
2,000-hour workers.
From 1903 to the close of 1912 practically all of the men in the mines of New Mexico were employed on a 10-hour basis, but in 1913 the majority of the men were employed 8 hours a day. Table 41 shows the fatality rates on the 2,000-hour basis for a period of years, so that a comparison with other States may be easily made. The tables of statistics for the State of New Mexico follow:
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In New
Mexico."
Year.
Numberof men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
o Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
248 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 251
Nobth Carolina.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal-bearing formations of North Carolina are contained in the Deep River and the Dan River fields and are of Triassic age. The Deep River field extends from the northern boundary in a southwesterly direction through Durham, Haywood, and Wadesboro, entirely across the State and a short distance into South Carolina. The field averages about 12 miles wide and contains 250 to 300 square miles. The Deep River coal is bituminous and in some places has been more or less coked by igneous intrusions.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The coal beds dip about 15° southeast and vary from 1 foot to 8 feet in thickness. Mining has been conducted in this field in a desultory way since the early sixties. From 1860 to 1865 it is estimated that about 65,000 tons of coal was produced. One of the most important mines worked in recent years is the Cumnock, which is opened by a shaft 8 feet by 12 feet in cross section and 460 feet deep. This mine has been the scene of two serious mine explosions in which 62 men were killed.
The Dan River field consists of a small coal-bearing area in the north-central part of the State and is 50 or 60 miles northwest of the Deep River field. The Dan River field extends from the Virginia-North Carolina line in a southwesterly direction and is about 30 miles long and 4 to 7 miles wide. The coal beds are 2 to 7 feet thick and dip about 34°. A small amount of coal was mined from this field during the Civil War, but since that time little mining has been done there.
Tables 115 and 116 give further details concerning the number of men employed, coal produced, accidents, etc. These tables are meager and incomplete, but contain all the data available.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
There is official mine-inspection service in North Carolina, but as the State is not a regular producer of coal, the occasional output is too small to place the industry on a commercial scale. The tables of statistics for this State follow.
Coal-Mine Accidents In North Carolina In Which 5 Or More Men Were
Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
Mine explosion
do
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a Revised Statutes, 1905, sec. 4940. 14355°— Bull. 115—16 17
252 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-191*. 253
North Dakota.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal beds of North Dakota are lignitio, and occupy about 35,000 square miles, or practically the western half of the State. Ninetyseven townships contain at' least one bed of lignite 7 feet thick, and at least 100 other townships contain beds 4 to 7 feet thick. The lignite beds are horizontal and occur at depths ranging from near the surface to a depth of at least 300 feet.
Mining Methods.
Lignite has been mined in North Dakota by ranchers and others since the territorial days of the State, and the first records of production were obtained in 1884, when 35,000 tons of coal was mined.
The production in 1913 was 495,322 tons.
In 1911 there were practically 100 mines in operation, 20 of which were surface and 80 underground mines. Of the underground mines, 69 were opened by slope or drift and 11 by shaft. The mines are opened by single and double entry and the coal mined by the roomand-pillar method, the rooms being 12 by 100 feet to 22 by 300 feet; pillars are 8 to 20 feet wide. The length of entries varies from 100 to 5,000 feet. In 1911, there were 15 mines with entries over 1,000 feet long. The largest number of deep mines is in Ward County, where the mines vary from surface pits to 200 feet in depth; 21 mines are over 100 feet deep. In Adams County the deepeest mine in 1911 was 300 feet.
Ventilation is usually by an air shaft in connection with slope, drift, or entry.
Mining machines have been in use in a limited way since 1896. In 1914 there were 14 machines in operation, producing 41.1 per cent of the coal mined. Twenty-six per cent was shot off the solid and 6.3 per cent was mined by hand.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The State engineer of North Dakota was made ex-officio State coalmine inspector by an act approved March 14, 1907, with power to employ necessary assistants. The engineer renders biennial reports to the governor, showing the condition of each mine, number of men employed, and such other information as he deems desirable.
The law does not require operators to notify the inspector of mine accidents, but the inspector has requested the operators to report all accidents, however slight. All accidents thus reported are published in the biennial reports of the inspector. No distinction is made between serious and slight injuries.
254 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Accidents.
Tables 116 and 117 show the total number of fatalities in and about the coal mines of North Dakota from 1908 to the end of 1913, as compiled from the State mine inspectors' reports. During the 6-year period 1908 to 1913, inclusive, there were- 13 fatalities, of which 46.16
FATALITIES IN NORTH DAKOTA COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS 1908 TO 1913, INCLUSIVE.
Cause of accident.
Number tilled.
Total.
Percent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 6 years..
per cent were due to falls of rock, 23.08 per cent to explosives, and 15.38 per cent to mine cars and locomotives. The production per fatality during this period was 203,020 tons, or there were 4.93 fatalities per mini on tons mined. North Dakota has been fortunate in that there have been no serious mine disasters in that State. The fatality rate during this period is 3.12 per 1,000 men employed.
Since 1903 practically one-half of the men have been employed on a 10-hour basis. By referring to Table 40 it will be noted that during this period the men averaged 1,974 hours per year. During the
NUMBER OF HOURS TO THE WORKING DAY, BY YEARS, IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN NORTH DAKOTA."
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, and 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. & Census year.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 255
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN NORTH DAKOTA AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
5-year period 1908 to 1913 (exclusive of 1909) for which complete data are available, the fatality rate based on the actual number of employees is 4.08 as compared with 4.01 based on the number of 2,000-hour workers. Table 41 shows the figures on the 2,000-hour basis for a period of years by States, so that a comparison with other States may be readily made.
The tables for the State of North Dakota follow:
STATISTICS OF STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN NOBTH
Dakota."
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
256 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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258 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Ohio.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal-bearing area of Ohio covers about 12,600 square miles, and occupies 30 counties in the southeastern part of the State. It is a part of the northwestern side of the great Appalachian coal basin which stretches from northern Pennsylvania to central Alabama. As it lies on the northwestern side of the basin the general dip of the beds is southeast toward the middle, but there are a few small folds which break up the continuity of the southeastward dip, and in some places cause a dip in the opposite direction. The most pronounced fold of this kind trends north to south and enters the State near Marietta. The coal beds and associated rocks extend to the northeast into West Virginia and Pennsylvania and to the southwest into Kentucky.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The coal beds of Ohio are numbered from the bottom upward, coal No. 1 being the lowest bed. Coal No. 1 has been most extensively developed in the northern part of the State, but it occurs in isolated areas along the west side of the field. It is from 3 to 6 feet thick at- Brier Hill and at Massillon. The roof is shale ranging from 5 to 40 feet in thickness. The coal is jointed, hence its name, block coal. It is noncoking, but of good steaming quality. The No. 2, or WeHston bed, is 45 to 75 feet above No. 1 and is seldom more than 2 feet thick, although at WeHston, Jackson county, it is 4 feet thick. The roof is shale and the coal non-coking.
The No. 5 bed, or Lower Kittanning, extends in an almost unbroken outcrop across the State. It is mined in almost every county of the Ohio coal field from southern Mahoning on the north to Hanging Rock on the south. It is generally less than 3 feet thick, but at Mineral Point, Zanesville, and New Castle, it is 4 to 5 feet thick. The coal is of good coking quality, but because of the thinness of the bed minin g machines are not used extensively, the coal being largely mined 'by pick mining.
No. 6 bed, or the Middle Kittanning, also extends under a wido area. In the northern part of Columbiana County it is less than 1 foot thick. In the southern part of the county it is worked extensively, although it is only 20 to 30 inches thick. In Coshocton County, it attains a thickness of 3 feet to 4 feet 10 inches. At Shawnee it is known as the Hocking Valley seam, and in many places contains 10 feet of mineable coal. From 32 to 38 per cent of the State's production comes from this bed.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-19U. 259
The No. 7, or Upper Freeport, is not so extensive as the lower beds and varies in thickness from 5 feet 4 inches to 6 feet 9 inches. This is one of the best steaming coals in the State.
The No. 8, or Pittsburgh, is the most important bed of the upper coal measures. The coal rests on a bed of fire clay and is 4 to 6 feet thick. This bed extends into West Virginia and into Pennsylvania.
Mining Methods.
The accompanying table shows the number of mines opened by shaft, slope or drift, from 1892 to 1912, inclusive. At first the singleentry system of mining prevailed , but in the early eighties the doubleentry system was introduced in a number of the larger mines, and now, although the single-entry system still prevails in some mines where the bed is thin, most of the mines are opened by the doubleentry system, also some are opened by the three-entry system.
Mining machines are used extensively in coal beds Nos. 6, 7, and 8. Prior to 1877 all of the coal mined in Ohio was mined by pick. During this year the first mining machines were introduced in the State and the use of machines has steadily increased until in 1913 there were 1,681 machines in operation, producing 21,535 tons each, or in all 90.2 per cent of the coal of the State. The electric machines were introduced in Ohio in 1889 and their number has gradually increased to 1,604 in 1913. In 1891, 89 compressed-air machines were in use in Ohio mines and in 1905 the highest number, 145, was reached. There were only 49 in operation in 1913. Less than 4 per cent of the coal is reported as being shot off the solid, and slightly over 4 per cent as being mined by hand.
Prior to the introduction of mining machines in Ohio, the coalmining work was performed principally by skilled miners from England, Scotland, and Germany. This class of miners has gradually been supplanted in the State by labor from southern Europe. The table on methods of opening and ventilation at Ohio mines follows:
260 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
NUMBER OF COAL MINES IN OHIO, CLASSIFIED BY TYPE OF OPENING AND METHOD OF VENTILATION FROM 1892 TO 1913, INCLUSIVE.
Mines opened by—
Method of ventilation.
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Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
By an act approved March 21, 1874, the Legislature of Ohio provided for the inspection of all coal mines in which more than 10 men were employed at one time. Under this act the first State inspector was appointed April 6, 1874, and entered upon his duties the following day. The act made it the duty of any person having charge of any mine to which the law was applicable to report forthwith to the State inspector and the county coroner any explosion or other accident causing loss of life. The inspector was required to render a report to the governor on or before the 1st day of January of each year, and to enumerate therein, among other things, all accidents in or about the mines.
On April 12, 1884, the State was divided into three districts, and the enforcement of the laws relating to mining was intrusted to a chief mine inspector and three district inspectors. The inspection service was also extended to include fire-clay, iron-ore, and other mines, as well as coal mines. The number of districts and district inspectors was increased by statute from time to time, until in 1913 there were 12 districts, each having an inspector. On March 12, 1913 a law was passed, and approved March 18, 1913, discontinuing
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914. 261
various State departments and offices, among them being the office of chief mine inspector, and transferring all powers and duties of the inspector to a newly created State industrial commission. Under the provisions of this law, the new commission assumed the duties and functions of the chief inspector of mines on September 1, 1913, and established the office of chief deputy and safety commissioner of mines.
All accidents are reported to district inspectors and are included in the annual reports of the industrial commission. Injuries involving disability for three weeks or more are classified as serious, and all other injuries are slight.
Accidents.
Tables 118 and 119 show the total number of fatalities by causes since the beginning of inspection service in 1874 with the exception of the fiscal year 1879, for which no report was published. These tables also show the percentage of accidents, classified by principal causes, and fatality rates per 1,000 men employed for a period of 30
FATALITIES IN OHIO COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS 1884
To 1913, Inclusive.
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 30 years
Kg
Coal-Mine Accidents In Ohio In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
Brookfi eld
Suffocated by gas from mine locomotive.
Mine explosion
Mine explosion
San Toy No. 1
Belle Valley
years (1884-1913), for which complete records of employees and fatalities are available. The fatality rate during this period is 2.39 per 1,000 men employed. Ohio has been fortunate in the matter of large disasters, there being only 3 during this period causing the death of more than 5 men at one time, representing only 1£ per cent
202 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, lo"70-1914.
of the total number killed. Falls of roof and pillar are responsible for 65.84 per cent of the fatalities; mine cars and locomotives are second with 12.08 per cent. The average production of coal per fatality during this period was 251,152 tons, or 3.98 fatalities for each million tons mined.
Since 1903 more than 97 per cent of the men employed in the mines have been on an 8-hour day. The time element, therefore, has been taken into consideration and tables compiled on this basis for comparison with other States. The fatality rate for the 10-year
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Ohio.®
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, and 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
i Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
& Census year.
NUMBER OP HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN OHIO AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Year.
Days worked.
Total hours per year,
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
period 1903 to 1913 (Table 40) based upon the actual number of employees is 2.94, whereas based on the number of 2,000-hour workers it is 3.94. During the 10-year period the men averaged 1,495 hours of labor per man, as compared with 2,132 hours in West Virginia, and 2,034 hours in the bituminous mines of Pennsylvania. Table 41 shows the fatality rate for each year on the 2,000-hour
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18*70-1914. 263
basis for each State, so that a true comparison of Ohio with other States may be readily made. The tables of statistics for the State follow.
STATISTICS OF STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN OHIO.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
o Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
264 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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268 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Oklahoma. Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal fields of Oklahoma have an area of about 10,000 square miles. In general the rocks of these fields dip slightly west under the Great Plains, but in Oklahoma the regular westward dip is interfered with by many local folds. On this basis the coal fields of the State may be divided into two parts as follows: (1) that part north of Canadian River in which the rocks are only slightly disturbed, and (2) the part south of Canadian River in which there are many strong anticlines and synclines that make the coal beds dip in various directions and at different angles. The part north of Canadian River is the southward continuation of the Kansas fields, but with the coal beds in greatly reduced thickness. The part south of Canadian River is similar to and a continuation of the folded and faulted fields of Arkansas. Local faults occur in the McAlester anticline near Mc- Alester.
On the northern slope of the McAlester anticline the coal-bearing rocks are tilted until the coal beds are almost vertical, and from Hartshorne to Atoka the beds are also steeply upturned. In this respect the Oklahoma coal fields are similar to those of Washington, certain parts of Colorado, and the anthracite fields of Pennsylvania. They differ from the coal fields of Washington in that the coal has not been crushed or changed in character by structural movement of the inclosing rocks.
The southern part of the coal field is the more important, as more than three-fourths of the coal mined in 1913 came from that section. The larger part of an area embracing Craig, Rogers, Tulsa, Wagoner, Okmulgee, Muskogee, Mcintosh, Haskell, Sequoyah, Le Flore, Coal, Latimer, and Pittsburg counties, all in the eastern part of the State, is knovm to contain coal.
Character Of Coal Beds.
There are seven coal beds in this field that are thick enough to be worked on a commercial scale. There are, however, two groups of beds from which most of the coal mined in the southern part of the field has been obtained. These are the Hartshorne coal beds, generally two in number, at the top of the Hartshorne sandstone, and the two McAlester coal beds near the top of the McAlester shale, and from 1,500 to 1,800 feet above the Hartshorne group. The Hartshorne beds are in places about 50 feet apart, and in other places they meet. West of Wilburton the upper bed is absent. The lower bed is 4 to 5 feet thick and the upper one is about 4J feet thick. East
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 269
of Wilburton there are two beds about feet thick in the McAlester group; but about Hartshorne, McAlester, and Savanna there is onlyone bed, which ranges in thickness from 3 to 5 feet.
The Henryetta field in Okmulgee county was recently opened. It contains a bed of coal averaging 3 feet in thickness, and lying practically horizontal at depths varying from 100 to 200 feet, and is worked mostly by machines. .The coal is not as good as other Oklahoma coals but serves as a good steam and railroad fuel, and can be produced more cheaply than the other coals to the south of Okmulgee County. Two important mining towns, Henryetta and Dewar, have recently been built as a result of the development of this coal field. The Henryetta coal field, unlike the southern coal fields, is not on segregated lands. The coal beds in Pittsburg, Coal, Latimer, and Le Flore counties and part of Haskell County, are on segregated coal lands belonging to the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian Nations.
Mining Methods.
The earliest records of coal production in Oklahoma are for 1880, when 120,947 tons of coal was produced. The production in 1913 was 4,165,770 tons. About 60 per cent of the mines are opened by slopes and drifts with lengths on the incline varying from 50 to 3,500 feet. The shaft mines number about one-third of the mines in the State, and vary in depth from 70 to 800 feet. The coal is mined entirely by the room-and-pillar method. Some of the mines are quite gaseous, and much dust is produced in mining.
In 1896 there were 56 mining machines in operation, which produced 14 per cent of the coal mined in the State. In 1898, there were 75, which produced 19.9 per cent of the coal. The use of mining machines gradually declined until in 1907 there were only 11 machines in operation, producing less than 1 per cent. Since that date, the number of machines has gradually increased until in 1913, there were 103 machines in operation, producing 16.1 per cent of the coal.
Shooting off the solid is practiced to such an extent in Oklahoma that in 1912, 86.4 per cent of the coal was thus produced. This proportion, however, was by the increase of machines in 1913 reduced to 80.9 per cent. The laws of the State compel the payment of wages on the basis of run-of-mine, hence a tendency to encourage the practice of shooting-from the solid. Holes are usually drilled 6 to 10 feet deep, and sometimes as much as 14 feet with no undercutting nor channeling. Sufficient powder is charged to break the coal with the result that much fine coal is produced. In some instances
270 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
these long holes are charged with dynamite. Dust is scattered throughout the mine, the roof is loosened more or less, and at least 15 per cent of the coal shot down is thrown into the gob and lost. This method of mining produces unsafe conditions in the mine in addition to being wasteful, as much of the coal is so badly crushed that it is unfit for commercial uses.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The act of Congress establishing a mine-inspection service in all Territories where the output of coal exceeded 1,000 tons annually was approved March 3, 1891. Under this act the first inspector in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) entered on duty March 20, 1893. Mine operators were required to report to the inspector all cases of fatal accidents at their mines, such report to be in writing and made within 10 days after such death occurred. Annual reports for fiscal years ending June 30 were rendered to the Secretary of the Interior.
A State department of mines and mining was created by an act approved April 6, 1908, and under the provisions of this law the appointment of a chief mine inspector and three district inspectors was authorized, the inspectors to investigate all accidents, injuries, and deaths at mines. The first report of the State inspector covers the period from November 16, 1907, to October 31, 1908, and annual reports since the latter date have been issued for fiscal years ending October 31.
It has been the practice of mine operators to report to the inspector all fatal and serious accidents. Since the enactment of the compensation law, all accidents causing a disability of one day or more are reported. All accidents reported are included in the inspector's annual reports and are classified as fatal or nonfatal, but no distinction is made between serious and slight injuries.
In 1915 the inspection force consisted of one chief inspector and three deputy inspectors.
Accidents.
Tables 120 and 121 show the production of coal, number of men employed, and the number of f atalities in and about the coal mines of Oklahoma. The fatalities as tabulated have been compiled from the Territorial and State mine inspectors' records, and are complete from 1893 to and including 1913. During this period of 21 years, there were 729 f atalities representing a rate of 5.45 per 1,000 men employed.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1&14. 271
FATALITIES IN OKLAHOMA COAL MINES, BY PEINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS
Number Hied.
Cause of accident.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Shaft
Surface
Total, 21 years
Coal-Mine Accidents In Oklahoma In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
No. 11
Mine explosion
No.l
do
Blown-out or windy shot.
No.l
Milby and Dow
Central Slope 77
No. 19
Mine explosion
Witteville
Dynamite explosion. . .
Hailey-Ola No. 1
Eock Island No. 8 . Great Western No. 2. . .
Western No. 5
No. 1
Mine explosion
The amount of coal produced per fatality during this period was 71,111 tons, or there were 14.06 fatalities per million tons mined. Of the total number of fatalities during this period 35.94 per cent was due to gas and dust explosions, 20.99 to falls of roof and coal, and 15.77 per cent to explosives. Mine cars and locomotives claim 10.70 per cent of the fatalities. Since the beginning of inspection service March 20, 1893, to and including 1913, there were 12 mine disasters in which 5 or more men were killed at one time, as shown in the accompanying list.
Since 1903, the majority of the employees at the coal mines in Oklahoma have been on an 8-hour basis. Fatalities have, therefore, been calculated on the basis of a 2,000-hour year, showing that the rate for Oklahoma on this basis is 6.81 for the period of 1903 to 1913, except 1909. This compares with 5.08 based on the number of actual employees for the same period. The number of hours worked per year per man is 1,406, as compared with 1,564 for Kansas, and 2,132 for West Virginia. The Oklahoma rate based on the actual number
272 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Oklahoma."
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, and 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number
of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
4S7
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources. U. S. Geol. Survey.
& Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN OKLAHOMA AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000
2,000-hour workers.
1S8
a Census year.
of employees appears to be slightly less than the fatality rate in West Virginia, but when reduced to the uniform basis of fatalities per 2,000-hour workers, the rate becomes 6.81 for Oklahoma, as compared with 5.18 for West Virginia. For comparative purposes, Tables 40 and 41 have been compiled so that it is an easy matter to compare Oklahoma with other States. The tables of statistics for the State of Oklahoma follow:
' Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-19U. 273
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
OKLAHOMA.a
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
274 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Oregon.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal in Oregon is subbituminous. The Coos Bay field, which is the principal one in the State, occupies a small structural basin in the vicinity of Coos Bay and contains 230 square miles. It extends north and south and is about 30 miles long, with a maximum width of 11 miles. There are other coal fields in the State, but none of them has been worked to any extent, so do not enter into the question of mine accidents. The Coos Bay field may be divided into six parts, consisting of four basins and two arches. The basins containing workable coal are the Newport, Beaver Slough, Coquille, and South Slough. The arches contain no coal. The structure of these basins* may be considered as simple, the dip being slight. There are a number of faults, but these are of little importance.
The Newport basin, the principal one that has been worked, contains about 6 feet of coal in three benches, yielding 5 feet of coal that can be mined. The roof is sandstone and requires comparatively little timbering. The top bench of coal is usually left with the upper parting to form the roof.
The Beaver Slough basin contains five beds, the most important being the lowest one, which contains over 6 feet of coal. This bed has been mined at Beaver Hill.
Mining Methods.
The first records of coal production for Oregon are for the year 1880, when 43,205 tons was reported. Three mines have been opened by drifts and slopes in the Newport basin, and the coal is mined by the room-and-pillar method. In the Beaver Slough basin one or two mines have been opened by slopes and a small amount of coal has been mined by the pillar-and-chute system.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
No provision has been made by the State of Oregon whereby accidents in or about coal mines shall be reported to a State official. The coal production of the State since 1880 has averaged less than 64,000 tons annually. Keports of accidents have, since 1910, been voluntarily rendered to the Federal Bureau of Mines by the mine operators at the close of each calendar year.
Accidents.
The production of coal, number of men employed, and the number of fatalities, as far as complete records are available, are given in Tables 122 and 123. The fatalities at coal mines have been recorded
278 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, lcV70-1914.
only since 1909, but the number of employees has been reported since 1890. For the five years for which continuous records are available, the accident rate in Oregon is comparatively low, being 2.69 per 1,000 men employed, but on the tonnage basis it is high, being 10.37 fatalities per million tons mined. There have been no serious coal-mine disasters in Oregon. The tables of statistics for the State follow :
Fatalities In Oregon Coal Mines, By Pkinctpal Causes, During The Yeae
Number killed.
Cause ol accident.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground :
Shaft
Strikes And Lockouts.
During 1914, the first year in which there were labor troubles in Oregon, 21 men were on strike, resulting in the loss of 798 days, or an average of 38 days per man.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 279
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 281
Aeea And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania occupy portions of Sullivan, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Carbon, Schuylkill, Dauphin, and Northumberland and Columbia counties in the northeastern part of the State. They comprise an area of 480 square miles, and form four distinct fields, as follows: The northern or Wyoming-Lackawanna field, in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties; eastern-middle or Lehigh field, in Luzerne and Carbon counties; southern or Schuylkill field, in Dauphin and Schuylkill counties; and western-middle field. A brief description of each field is given in the following paragraphs:
Character Of Coal Beds.
The coal beds of the anthracite fields of Pennsylvania are described by Stock " as follows :
Northern Field.
From Forest City to Pittston and from Pittaon to Nanticoke, north of the Susquehanna, the maximum dips are 10° to 20°, while between Pittston and Nanticoke, south of the Susquehanna, steeper dips, ranging from 60° to 70°, are found, and near Glen Lyon the measures are overturned and badly broken. There are numeous anticlines and synclines in the measures which can sometimes be traced on the surface, the synclines being often marked by ridges and the anticlines by valleys.
A marked feature of the northern field is the buried valley of the Susquehanna, extending from Pittston to Nanticoke. This is the bed of a former glacial stream which has cut down into the coal measures in places, thus cutting out large areas of the upper coal beds. The valley is now filled with sand, and there are numerous pot holes in it, which add an element of uncertainty and danger to the mining.
The Wyoming-Lackawanna basin is deepest (2,200 feet) midway between Wilkes- Barre and Nanticoke. About 4 miles above Pittston, near Lackawanna station, only 100 to 150 feet of the coal measures are left, but northeast from here, several miles above Scranton, the coal measures sink again to a depth of 700 feet, and then rise and spoon out beyond Forest City.
It is difficult to state the number of workable beds, as beds are now being worked in the upper end of the Lackawanna Valley which a very few years ago were neglected and considered unworkable. The splitting of a large coal bed into several smaller beds, which divide and are sometimes separated by as much as 200 feet of rock, renders it impossible to correlate beds in different parts of the field until continuous sections can be made by means of actual mine workings. As the result of measurements of 891 sections by the second geological survey of Pennsylvania, 81.8 per cent of the total coal in the Wyoming basin is or may be considered marketable coal, the remaining 18.2 per cent being interbedded slate, shale, and other refuse. The deposits in this section are particularly free from refuse, and the comparative freedom of this section from plication and folding gives a high percentage of marketable coal.
Eastern-Middle Field.
The structure of the eastern-middle field is simple, consisting of a succession of anticlines, usually with broad flat crests and shallow intervening basins only about
H. H. Stock, The Pennsylvania anthracite coalfields: 22dannualrept., 1900-1901, U.S. Geo!. Survey, 1901, p. 69.
282 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, lflTO-lSU.
500 to 600 feet deep, the sides dipping 10° to 40°. This gives a large extent of outcrop, and the comparative shallowness of the basins has been very favorable to mining, so that the field has been extensively developed and its structure quite thoroughly determined. The Mammoth, Buck Mountain, Primrose, Parlor, Portland, and Gamma beds vary in thickness in different localities. The second geological survey of Pennsylvania estimated that from 75 to 77 per cent of the total thickness of coal was marketable.
Southern Field.
The southern field consists of a number of connected basins which grow gradually deeper from north to south, culminating along the foot of Sharp Mountain in very deep, highly upturned, and greatly contorted measures. The Pottsville conglomerate in this region is very thick, ranging from 1,100 to 1,475 feet. It is made up of coarse materials, and contains a number of valuable coal beds, especially at the western end. At the point where the main field subdivides into the two westwardly extending basins there are 6 Lykens Valley beds in the conglomerate, each 3 to 10 feet thick. The coal measures proper are at least 2,500 feet thick, and 20 different coal beds have been worked. From measurements of 275 sections the second geological survey estimated 72 per cent of the coal as marketable.
Western-Middle Field.
In the western-middle field the beds incline steeply, the average dip being 35 to 40 degrees. There has been much folding, sliding, and shifting of strata, which has crushed the coal in many places and mixed with it slate and bony coal partings. The coal measures are 1,200 feet thick, and contain from 10 to 12 different beds, many of them of great thickness and with comparatively small intervening barren intervals. The Lykens Valley beds are also found in the conglomerate, or No. 12, and toward the western end of the field these beds are rained; 1,144 sections throughout the field give 23 per cent of refuse in the coal, but it is not safe to estimate more than 75 per cent of the original deposit as marketable coal.
Fire damp is found in many of the deeper mines, particularly in the Wyoming region and in the western end of the Schuykill region. In a number of mines it is present in such quantities that the use of safety lamps is absolutely necessary.
Mining Methods.
In each of the anthracite fields there are a number of places where the coal outcrops near the surface, and where conditions are favorable for mining the coal by open-pit methods. The overburden is stripped by hand labor, steam shovel, or wire-rope tramway and the coal quarried out and hauled by incline to the surface, or if the stripping pit communicates with the underground workings the coal may be taken through underground haulage ways to the bottom of the shaft or slope and then hoisted to the surface.
Most of the mines are shaft and slope mines, the slopes being driven in the coal from the outcrop, and the shafts being always vertical and usually so placed as to cut the coal at the lowest possible elevation on the property in question. The room-and-piller system is the one usually used for underground mining, but owing to the deposits being
Coal : Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 283
steeply inclined and more or less irregular, the system has to be adapted to meet local conditions in mining the various beds. It is impossible to carry out a typical room-and-pillar system, as in the flat bituminous coalbeds. The details of the system under different mining conditions vary so widely that a comparison of mining methods from different districts or localities gives the impression that the coal is mined by several systems having nothing in common. On close inspection, however, the fact is disclosed that they all have three features which are identical: (1) The breasts, or rooms, or working places are all long and comparatively narrow; (2) they are driven nearly parallel to each other; and (3) they are separated by long narrow pillars of coal, broken only by small openings for ventilation.
These three features, which are common to all anthracite workings in Pennsylvania, are the identifying characteristics of the "pillar-andbreast," "pillar-and-room," "post-and-stall," "stoop-and-room,'* or "bord-and-pillar" system. The geologic peculiarities of the anthracite coal beds explain why the mining methods differ so radically in detail from those employed in other beds. Coal beds ranging from 3 or 4 feet up to 70 feet in thickness are worked on dips varying from horizontal to vertical.
From the bottom of the shaft or slope a gangway and a parallel airway are driven in opposite directions from the shaft or slope and along the strike of the bed. From these gangways rooms or breasts are turned either at right angles or obliquely, the angle of turning being dependent upon the dip of the seam.
"Flat workings" is a term applied to those coal beds which vary from horizontal to a dip of about 25°. When the coal bed is flat, it is usually opened by a shaft sunk through the overlying measures. Gangways are driven from the bottom of the shaft, and when they have reached a sufficient distance to permit a thick pillar of coal being left to protect the shaft, breasts are opened from the upper side of each gangway.
Where the inclination is more than 30°, the coal will slide without the use of sheet-iron chutes, and it then becomes necessary to stop up the lower end by a battery, built of logs or heavy planks. This acts as a support for the broken coal and allows the breast to fill to the face with coal, thus giving the miners a broken-coal platform on which to stand while working.
The battery workings may be divided into two general classes: (1) Where the coal is stored in the breast and the rock and refuse taken out through a chute, and (2) where the rock is stored in a breast and the coal taken out through chutes. Details of the various modifications of these systems are given fully by Chance. 6
a Chance, H. M., Mining methods and appliances used in the anthacite coal fields: Second Geol. Survey of Pennsylvania, 1883, p. 129. 6 Chance, H. M., loc. cit.
284 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
In the anthracite mines rotary drills are used and the coal is broken by the use of black powder. Dynamite or giant powder is used largely for rock work and sometimes for driving gangways in coal. Dynamite shatters the coal so badly that it is not used extensively for the mining of coal. The coal is not undercut as a general rule, and it is only recently that special mining machines have been developed for the anthracite field.
Table 50 shows the amount of explosives used in the anthracite fields from 1899 to 1913. It will be noted that the increase in the amount of dynamite used has been about fivefold since 1899, whereas the amount of black powder used has increased only about one-third. In 1909 permissible explosives were introduced into the anthracite mines and in five years the quantity used has increased from 666,807 pounds to 3,323,645 pounds in 1913. The fatalities due to the use of explosives in the anthracite mines are given in Table 49.
Every known form of haulage is to be found in the anthracite mines; the main ones are indicated in Table 54. The number of horses and mules used in the mines has remained practically the same since 1898, averaging about 15,000 per year. The number of steam locomotives used has almost doubled, whereas the number of electric locomotives has increased from 24 in 1898 to 781 in 1913. The number of compressed-air locomotives has increased from 10 in 1898 to 161 in 1913. Cars are usually gathered from the rooms by mules except where the grade is sufficient to run the cars out by gravity. The cars vary in size from 70 to 140 cubic feet and in capacity from If to 4 tons. They are usually built of wood with iron bands, although steel cars have been introduced in recent years.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The official inspection of coal mines in Pennsylvania was established by an act approved April 12, 1869, applicable only to anthracite mines in Schuykill County. The appointment of the inspector was vested in the governor, and the inspector was required to investigate the cause of every accident resulting in death or serious injury. Mine operators were required to report to the inspector within 24 hours all accidents resulting in death or personal injury. The inspector rendered annual reports to the governor and enumerated therein all accidents in and about the mines.
An act approved March 3, 1870, terminated the services of the inspector appointed under the act of April 12, 1869, and authorized the governor to appoint, upon the recommendation of the examining boards, six mine inspectors — three for the counties of Luzerne (including what is now Lackawanna County) and Carbon and three for the counties of Schuylkill, Dauphin, Northumberland, and Columbia.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 285
Annual reports, in which all accidents were enumerated, were rendered to the governor. An act approved April 5, 1870, divided the inspection counties into two districts and authorized the appointment for each district of a clerk, to whom the inspectors were required to render monthly reports of deaths and injuries.
On May 9, 1871, an act was approved requiring coal companies in counties where there was no inspector to furnish a report of all accidents to the auditor general, who was required to publish an annual report and state therein the causes of such accidents. The auditor's report was published under the title of "Mineral Statistics of Pennsylvania." The act of April 25, 1873, transferred the authority to appoint the mine inspectors from the governor to a majority of the board of examiners provided for by the act of March 3, 1870, but the appointive power was again vested in the governor by an act approved May 18, 1878. On June 30, 1885, an act was approved applicable to all anthracite mines employing more than 10 men. The anthracite counties were divided into seven districts and the inspectors were required to render annual reports to the secretary of internal affairs. The number of inspection districts was increased to eight by an act approved June 2, 1891. An act of July 15, 1897, made it unlawful to employ as a miner any person not holding a certificate of competency from the miners' examining board established by the act. An act of July 15, 1897, established a bureau of mines in the department of internal affairs.
An act approved June 8, 1901, effective January 1, 1902, changed the manner of selecting the mine inspectors by making the office elective instead of appointive. The number of elective districts was reduced to 6, but the number of inspectors was increased to 15. It was provided that the inspectors should be elected from among a list of eligibles certified to the secretary of state by the examining board. The inspectors so elected rendered monthly reports to the chief of the Bureau of Mines and also rendered annual reports to the secretary of internal affairs.
An act of April 14, 1903, established the department of mines.
On May 3, 1905, an act was approved increasing the number of districts to 7, and the number of inspectors to 20, and requiring the inspectors to make annual reports to the chief of the department of mines. An act of May 5, 1911, provided for 8 elective districts and 21 inspectors, and an act of June 1, 1915, increased the number of anthracite inspectors to 25.
Under the inspection laws, it is the practice of the operators to report to the district inspectors all injuries causing disability for 6 days or more. The district inspectors, in their reports to the department of mines, omit accidents of a less serious nature, so that only the more serious injuries are published in the annual report of the
286 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
department of mines. The department has not officially defined a serious injury, and it is left to the discretion of each district inspector as to which of the accidents reported to him by mine operators may be eliminated from his report to the department.
Accidents.
Tables 124 and 125 show the total number of men employed and the number of men killed from the beginning of inspection service in 1870 to date. During the period 1870 to 1913, inclusive, 17,716 fatalities occurred in and about the anthracite mines, representing a rate of 3.42 per 1,000 men employed. The amount of coal mined per fatality was 124,968 tons, or there were 8 fatalities per million tons mined.
Table 125 shows the number of fatalities by causes, in conformity with the latest reports of the State mine inspector and so adapted as to conform with the standard form used by the Bureau of Mines. This classification gives much more detail than is ordinarily available, and it is believed will be of material assistance to operators, inspectors, and others, who are making a study of mine accidents, their causes, and their prevention.
Of the total number of fatalities that have occurred during this period, 41.65 per cent was due to falls of roof and coal; 13.56 per cent to mine cars and locomotives; 10.10 per cent to explosives; and 7.59 per cent to explosions of gas. The percentage of fatalities due to explosives in the anthracite mines is practically 5 times that in the Pennsylvania bituminous fields, given in tables relating thereto, whereas the rate per 1,000 men employed is 7 times as high as it is in the bituminous fields of the State.
Since 1869 to the end of 1914 there have been in the anthracite field 80 accidents in each of which 5 or more men have been killed at one time. A complete list of these disasters is shown in the accompanying table.
FATALITIES EST PENNSYLVANIA ANTHRACITE COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES DURING THE YEARS 1S70 TO 1913, INCLUSIVE.
Cause of accident.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 44 years
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 287
ACCIDENTS IN PENNSYLVANIA ANTHRACITE MINES IN WHICH 5 OR MORE MEN WERE
Killed.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Killed.
1880 May 3.. 1882 May 24.
1885 Apr. 6.. 1885 Aug. 11.
1886 Aug. 30. 1886 Sept. 13
1890 Feb. 1.. 1890 Mar. 3.. 1890 Apr. 2..
1893 Apr. 1.. 1893 June 22.
1894 Feb. 13. 1894 July 17. 1894 Oct. 8..
1902 Nov. 29. 1902 Dec. 9.. 1904 Jan. 30.. 1904 May 5... 1904 May 5... 1904 May 25..
1905 Feb. 18.. 1905 Mar. 9...
Spencer... Avondale. Potts
Heine & f; lassmire.
Preston No. 3
West Pittston
Otto Eed Ash..
Henry Clay
Wadesville
Potts
Audenried
Lykens Valley .
Kohinoor
Buck Ridge
Cuyler
West End
Plymouth No. 2.. Nanticoke No. 1..
Fair Lawn. Marvine
Conyngham
Tunnel.
Kaska William.
Nottingham
Susquehanna No. 4 . .
Jersey No. 8
Spring Mountain No. 1
Richardson.
Susquehanna No. 1 . Lytle
York Farm
Neilson
Susquehanna No. 1 .
Gaylord
East Sugar Loaf
Henry Clay
West Bear Ridge
Dorrance
Twin
Shaft No. 3
Wadesville
Jermyn No. 1 . . .
Von Storch
Kaska William..
Midvale. Exeter..
Buck Mountain
Buttonwood
South Wilkes-Barre.
Maple Hill
Lance
Locust Gap
Williamstown
Auchincloss
Lytle
Clear Spring
Conyngham
Shenandoah City..
Potts ville... Plymouth... Potts mine. .
Middleport
Girard ville
West Pittston..
Branch Dale.
Shamokin
Wadesville... Locust Dale.. Audenried...
Shamokin
Shenandoah..
Shamokin
Raven Run.. Mocanaqua. .
Plymouth.. Nanticoke..
Scranton... do
Wilkes-Barre.. Ashland
Middleport.,
Plymouth
South Wilkes-Barre.
Nanticoke
Ashley
Jeanesville
Glencarbon.
Nanticoke... Minersville.
Pottsville
Shamokin
Nanticoke
Plymouth
do
Stockton
Shamokin
do
Mahanoy Plane
Wilkes-Barre
Pittston
South Wilkes-Barre. . Wadesville
Rendham... Scranton — Middleport..
Wilkes-Barre... West Pittston..
Mahanoy
Plymouth
Shamokin
South Wilkes-Barre.
Mahanoy City
Plymouth
Locust Gap
Williamstown
Nanticoke
Minersville
West Pittston.. Wilkes-Barre... Shenandoah
Mine explosion
Mine fire
Explosion of breaker
boilers. Cage fell down shaft. -
Fell down slope
Smoke from Durning
breaker.
Mine explosion
do
do
do
Mine fire
Mine explosion
do
Mine fire
Fall of roof
Gas from boiler fires
in mine.
Mine explosion
Buried Dy inrush of
quicksand.
Mine explosion
Suffocated by inrush
of mine gas.
Mine explosion
Suffocated by inrush
of mine gas. Mine car fell on men
in cage.
Mine explosion
do
do.
.do-
Drowned by inrush of water from abandoned workings and asphyxiated by gas from fire built by imprisoned men.
Imprisoned by rush of coal and suffocated by mine gas.
Mine explosion
Drowned by w a t e r from old workings.
Mine explosion
Mine fire
Mine explosion
— do
Fall of roof
Dynamite explosion. . .
Mine fire
Boiler explosion
Mine explosion
.do.
Fall of roof
Mine explosion
Crosshead fell down
shaft.
Mine fire
do
Drowned by water
from old workings.
Mine fire
Mine car fell on men
in cage.
Mine explosion
do
do
Dynamite explosion. .
do
do
Mine fire
Suffocated by gases
from locomotive.
Fell down shaft
Fall of roof
Fell down shaft
do
Dynamite explosion. .
288 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1570-15*14.
Accidents In Pennsylvania Anthracite Mines In Which Soemoee Men Were
KILLED— Continued.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident. ; Killed.
Susquehanna Xo. 7
do -
Mount Lookout
do
Powder explosion
No. 11
S
Mine explosion
South Wilkes-Barre
No. 5. Price-Pancoast
Mine explosion.
Mine explosion
East Brookside
Overwinding of cage . .
Collapse of bottom of
cage. Mine explosion
Since 1903, the Pennsylvania anthracite mines have been operated on a 9-hour working day, and, for comparison with other States in which the mines are operated 8 or 10 hours, Table 40 has been compiled. The table shows that the number of hours worked per year per man in the anthracite field is 1,985, as compared with 2,034 for the bituminous field. The fatality rate in the anthracite field based on the actual number of employees is 3.73, during the 10-year period 1903 to 1913, except 1909, whereas based on the number of 2,000-hour workers it is 3.76. The difference in this instance is slight, but for Ohio, where the hours worked per year are 1,495, the fatality rate
Number Of Hours Worked In And About The Pennsylvania Anthracite
MINES AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000
hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
a Calculated on the 9-hour basis.
b Census year.
(JUAL-MIJN1S J'ATALlTiJits iN THE UNITED STATES, 1870-1914. 289
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Pennsylvania
Anthracite Mines."*
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U.S. Geol. Survey. 6 Approximate.
based on the actual number of men employed is 2.94, and on the number of 2,000-hour workers is 3.94. The fatality rate in Ohio on this basis more nearly equals the rate in the anthracite field than when based on the actual number of employees. From these tables, comparisons with other States may be readily made. The tables of statistics for the anthracite mines of Pennsylvania follow:
290 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, lffMHlSU. 293
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294 Coal-Mine Fatalities Ik The United States, 1870-19U.
Area And Distribution Of Coax Fields.
The bituminous coal fields of Pennsylvania are in the western and southwestern part of the State, and comprise the northern end of the great Appalachian series of coal measures. The fields include about 14,200 square miles, covering 12 counties and parts of 21 other counties. The structure conforms to the system of Appalachian folding in long northeast-southwest waves, locally modified more or less by minor cross folds. In the northwestern part of the area the strata gently undulate, with extremely slight dips, generally of but a few feet to the mile, but in passing eastward these undulations increase to well-marked folds along the eastern margin of the main body of the coal field.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The bituminous coal fields of Pennsylvania are described by Parker 3 as follows:
The coal-bearing rocks all belong to the Pennsylvania series and have a total thickness in the southwest comer of the State of about 2,600 feet. The great bulk of the coal mined comes from the Allegheny and the Monongahela formations, formerly known as the "Lower" and the "Upper Productive Coal Measures." Below the Allegheny formation is the Pottsville, containing, in the western part of the State, the Sharon and the Mercer coals, which have been worked only in restricted areas. The Allegheny formation, with a thickness of 250 to 350 feet, contains at least seven coal horizons, all of which yield workable coal locally. They are called, beginning at the bottom, the Brookville, Clarion, Lower Kittanning, Middle Kittanning, Upper Kittanning, Lower Freeport, and Upper Preeport coals. It is now definitely recognized that the coals of these horizons do not occur in continuous beds, and in many cases not in exactly the same horizons; yet it is clear that the corresponding geologic horizons mark times of conditions generally favorable for coal formation, and that no coal of wide extent is found at other levels. As a rule, the coal beds are not characterized by details of section, roof, or floor by which they can be clearly recognized , except over limited parts of the field. No one of them is continuously workable, but the Lower Kittanning and the Upper Freeport coals are widely workable, and the Lower Freeport has a splendid development over several counties in the northeast part of the field. The Brookville or A coal is of workable thickness in spots over a large part of the marginal belt of the coal measures, especially in Jefferson, Clearfield, Center, Cambria, and Somerset counties. The Clarion or A' coal reaches workable thickness in about the same belt, though the two are seldom of workable thickness in the same section. Both of these coals are apt to be impure when thick. The lower Kittanning or B coal is the most persistent, uniform, and reliable of the Allegheny coals, although it is thinner than the Freeport coals, seldom exceeding a thickness of 4 feet. It is exposed in workable thickness and purity in 11 of the counties. The Middle and the Upper Kittanning horizons, C and C, contain but little workable coal, though the Upper Kittanning shows cannel coal at a number of points and stands fourth in productivity. The Lower Freeport coal, D, is finely developed in Clearfield, Jefferson, Indiana, and Cambria counties — in the well-known Moshannon (Clearfield), Reynoldsville-Punxsutawney, and Bamesboro-Patton basins. Over most of the rest of the territory this seam is either worthless or of too low grade for competition in the present market. The Upper Freeport or E coal is a variable and complex bed, extending in gross workable thickness over most of its area, although over a considerable
o Parker, E. W., Coal: Mineral Resources of the United States for 1910, U. S. Geol. Survey, pt. 2 p. 195.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 295
part of this territory it is too much broken up and too impure for profitable mining. It appears to be entirely absent in some localities.
As a whole, the Allegheny formation yields about 40 per cent of the total output of bituminous coal in the State.
For about 600 feet above the Upper Freeport bed occurs the Conemaugh formation or "Lower Barren Measures." It contains six or more coals, which, however, are workable only in very restricted areas, their best development being found in the Berlin Basin in Somerset County.
Just above the Conemaugh formation lies the Pittsburgh coal, the most uniform in quality and thickness, and for a given area the most valuable coal bed in the bituminous field of Pennsylvania. Although not of as high a grade as the best Allegheny coals to the east, and although varying greatly in quality from east to west, on the whole the Pittsburgh coal, on account of its thickness, its regularity, its high grade, its adaptability for the production of coke and illuminating gas, has long been the most famous bituminous coal bed in America. It is confined to the southwestern part of the State. The bed gives 9 feet of available coal over large areas, and seldom runs under 4 feet. Above the Pittsburgh coal occur the Bedstone, Sewickley, Uniontown, and Waynesburg coals, which are of good workable thickness locally, but in the presence of the great Pittsburgh coal are but little mined.
Methods Of Mining.
The earliest records of the United States Geological Survey show that bituminous coal has been mined in Pennsylvania since 1840. Most of the bituminous coal mines of Pennsylvania are opened by drift from the outcrop, or by a gentle slope down the dip of the bed. There are but few relatively deep mines as compared with the deep coal mines of Europe, the anthracite fields of Pennsylvania, or the metal mines. In the earlier years of the industry many of the mines were opened by single entry, but in recent years the larger operations and newer mines are opened by double or triple entry. The room-and-pillar system is used throughout the bituminous fields of Pennsylvania.
In 1896 about 12 per cent of the coal was reported as being mined by machines. The amount of coal produced by machines has steadily increased until in 1914 it was 53.8 per cent. Shooting off the solid is not extensively practiced, the total amount of coal thus produced being less than 3 per cent. About 35 per cent of the coal is reported as being mined by hand. In 1914, there were 6,326 machines in operation.
Table 54 shows the increase in mechanical haulage in the bituminous mines from 1899 to the close of 1913. In 1899 there were 122 electric locomotives in operation and in 1913, 1,933. The number of compressed-air locomotives has also increased from 13 in 1899 to 168 in 1913. The number of mules and horses used in underground haulage has practically doubled since 1898. The amount of black powder (Table 50) used in the bituminous coal mines has a little more than doubled since 1899, whereas the use of dynamite increased gradually from 1899 to 1907. Since 1907 the amount of dynamite used has decreased rapidly, and has largely *been replaced by the use of permissible explosives.
296 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The first law providing for the inspection of bituminous mines in Pennsylvania, approved April 18, 1877, applied to all mines employing more than 10 men, except mines which did not generate fire damp, black damp, or other dangerous or noxious gases. A board of examiners was provided for the purpose of examining applicants for appointment as mine inspector. From a list of eligibles thus established the governor was authorized to appoint three inspectors, one for each of three districts into which the bituminous coal fields were to be divided by the examining board. Each inspector was required to examine all mines in his district as olten as possible, to make a record of such examinations, showing the number of employees, number of deaths and injuries in and about the mines, and to file a record thereof each month in the office of the secretary of internal affairs, to be included by the secretary in the annual report of his department. Operators were required to notify the district inspector of all fatal and serious accidents, and on receiving such notice the inspector was required to visit the mine and investigate the cause of the accident.
An act approved May 25, 1878, repealed the provision in the law of April 18, 1877, which exempted from the inspection law those mines which did not generate fire damp, black damp, or other noxious or dangerous gases. The law of June 3, 1881, increased the number of inspection districts to four, and the number was further increased to six by an act approved June 13, 1883. The latter law also required the inspectors to make annual reports to the secretary of internal affairs.
On June 30, 1885, the examining board was authorized to divide the bituminous coal fields into eight districts, the governor to appoint a mine inspector for each district. An act approved May 15, 1893; authorized the examining board to further divide the bituminous fields into districts of not less than 60 mines nor more than 80 mines, and the governor was authorized to appoint an inspector for each district established by the board.
The number of inspectors was increased in 1894 to 10, in 1901 to 12, in 1903 to 15, in 1905 to 16, in 1906 to 18, in 1907 to 20, in 1909 to 21, in 1911 to 25, in 1912 to 26, in 1913 to 28, and in 1915 to 30.
Mine foremen were required to make monthly reports to the district inspector showing all accidents resulting in personal injury to mine employees. On June 9, 1911, an act was approved by which the State was divided into 25 bituminous districts and the chief of the department of mines was authorized to increase the number of districts with the approval of the governor. The district inspectors were directed to render both monthly and annual reports to the chief of the department of mines, and to enumerate all accidents in and about the mines.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 297
Under the inspection laws it is the practice of the operators to report to the district inspectors all injuries causing disability for 6 days or more. The district inspectors, in their reports to the department of mines, omit accidents of a less serious nature, so that only the more serious injuries are published in the annual report of the department of mines. The department has not officially defined a serious injury, and it is left to the discretion of the district inspectors as to which of the accidents reported to them by mine operators may be eliminated from their reports to the department.
Accidents.
Tables 126 and 127 show the production of coal, number of men employed, and the number of fatalities in and about the bituminous coal mines of Pennsylvania. The record of the number of men employed and the fatalities is complete from the beginning of inspection service in 1877 to the end of 1913. The fatalities, as shown in the accompanying tables, have been compiled from the annual volumes of the State mine inspectors' reports. In a few instances slight changes have been introduced, owing to the fact that some of the earlier inspectors' reports included accidents at coke ovens, and others included deaths due to natural causes. In all cases where sufficient information was given, all fatalities that occurred which were foreign to the mining operations have been excluded from the tables.
During the 37-year period 1877 to 1913, inclusive, there were 9,473 fatalities attributed directly to the coal-mining industry. This represents a fatality rate of 2.87 per 1,000 men employed. The amount of coal mined per fatality, during the entire period, was 271,832 tons, or there were 3.68 fatalities per million tons mined. Since 1879, there have been 37 mine disasters in each of which 5 or more men were killed at one time, the total fatalities thus represented being 1,268, or about 13 per cent of the entire number since 1877. Of the total number of fatalities, 56.93 per cent was due to falls of roof; 15.33 per cent to mine cars and locomotives; and 13.82 per cent to gas and dust explosions. The fatality rate due to explosives is exceedingly low, being only 1.95 per cent of the total, as compared with 24.81 per cent in Kansas, 19.44 per cent in Indiana, 13.47 per cent in Illinois, and 3.27 per cent in West Virginia.
FATALITIES IN PENNSYLVANIA BITUMINOUS COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES DURING THE YEARS 1877 TO 1913, INCLUSIVE.
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Per cent.
Per 1,000.
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 36 years
298 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, lSO-lM.*.
Accidents In Pennsylvania Bituminous Mines In Which 5 Or More Men
Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
Mill OrooV
Mill Creek
West Leisenring
do
Bast
SoQocated by inrush
of mine gas. Powder and coal-dust
explosion.
Kettle Creek
Clinton County
Mount Pleasant
Mine explosion
do
do
do
Port Royal No. 2
do
do
Rolling Mill
do
do
do
do
Clyde
Fredericktown
Hazel Kirk No. 2
TJnlling Mill
do
Fell down shaft
Mine explosion
Darr
Rachel and Agnes
do
do
Dynamite and mine explosion.
Mine explosion
do
do
Lackawanna No. 4
Franklin No. 2
East Canonsburg
Mine explosion
Superba and Lemont .
Cloudburst flooded mine.
18
Smokeless.V alley No. 1 Patterson No. 2
Mine cars
Mine explosion
Not included in State inspector's tabular statement of mine fatalities.
Table 127 showing the fatalities by causes has been amplified from the bureau's regular form by subdivisions under "Falls of roof and coal," "Gas and dust explosions," "Miscellaneous underground," and "Miscellaneous surface." This is in conformity with the State inspector's latest reports, and in no way does it conflict with the bureau's classification in comparing fatalities by causes with those of other States. The main headings have been maintained as indicated in the table by numerals; the subheadings are indicated by letters. This classification gives operators, inspectors, and others an opportunity to study the mine accidents more in detail.
Since 1903 practically one-half of the men in the bituminous coal mines of the State have been on an 8-hour basis, as shown in the accompanying table, the remainder being 9 and 10 hour men. In order to make a true comparison of Pennsylvania with other States Tables 40 and 41 have been compiled showing the fatality rate based on the actual number of men employed and also on the number of calculated 2,000-hour workers. The number of hours worked per year per man in the Pennsylvania bituminous fields is 2,034, so that
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 299
there is but slight variation in the fatality rate based on the actual number of employees during the 10-year period 1903 to 1913 (except 1909) which is 3.39 per 1,000, and that based on the number of 2,000-hour workers, which is 3.34. The number of hours worked in Virginia is 2,447, in West Virginia 2,132, and in Ohio 1,495. With such varying periods of exposure to the hazards of the mining industry, it is essential that the time factor be taken into consideration.
NUMBER OF HOURS TO THE WORKING DAY, BY YEARS, IN AND ABOUT THE PENNSYLVANIA BITUMINOUS MINES.o
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other than 8, 9, or 10 hours per day.
Total number of men
employed.
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U.S. Geol. Survey. & Census year.
Number Of Hours Worked In And About The Pennsylvania Bituminous
MINES, AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-
hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-houx workers.
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Pennsylvania
BITUMINOUS MINES.a
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. 14355°— Bull. 115—16 20
300 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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304 Coal-Mine Fatalities Ix The United States, 1870-1914.
Tennessee. Abea And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal fields of Tennessee are from 50 to 70 miles wide and extend northeast and southwest across the State from Chattanooga on the south to Middlesboro, Ky., on the north. The coal-bearing areas comprise about 4,400 square miles, of which it is estimated about 47 per cent may contain coal of economic value.
The coal fields may for convenience be divided into a northern and a southern division. The northern area, which produces most of the coal mined, may be subdivided into the Jellico Basin, comprising parts of Campbell and Scott counties; the Wartburg Basin, including parts of Morgan, Anderson, and Scott counties; and the Middlesboro Basin, including Campbell and Claiborne counties. The southern division, which is known as the Chattanooga district, includes the Sewanee Basin, a part of the Cumberland plateau, the Walden Ridge Basin, and the Lookout Basin.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The coal for the most part is bituminous throughout the State, but there is a limited area of cannel coal in the Jellico district. The beds, though reasonably uniform in thickness over limited areas, are relatively thin and the coal is variable in quality. The coal beds are nearly horizontal in most regions of extensive development except for local folds and rolls. The coals in the northern districts are a good grade of steam and domestic fuel, whereas in the southern districts the Sewanee coal is better adapted for coking purposes.
The Jellico coal in the Jellico district varies from 3 to 4 feet and the Blue Gem coal from 1J to 2 feet. Many mines are operated in these two beds, but most of them are mines with a small output. The coal iu the Middlesboro Basin varies from 4 to 5 feet in thickness and is extensively mined in Mingo Hollow and elsewhere. The coal in the Wartburg Basin is variable in thickness and quality, ranging from 3 to 5 feet in thickness.
The coal in the Chattanooga district is nearly horizontal except over local areas, as along Walden Ridge, where it is greatly disturbed. The Sewanee coal ranges from about to feet in thickness and is generally found badly crushed and contorted and sometimes intimately mixed with "rash," which in this crushed form is very difficult to separate from the coal.
Mining Methods.
The earliest records for the production of coal in Tennessee are those of 1S40, during which year 558 tons were mined. The production has gradually increased and in 1913 amounted to 6,903,784 tons. The mines are practically all opened by drifts, a few by slopes, and only two by shafts, and the coal is mined largely by the
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1014. 305
room-and-pillar system. Few of the mines in the State are large producers and in many of them mule haulage alone is used. Roof conditions average fairly good when proper precautions are taken in timbering. About 57 per cent of the' mines are ventilated by fans and about 30 per cent by furnaces. Most of the mines are wet and there is little chance for dust to gather, but some of them are very dry and considerable dust is produced in mining the coal. In a few of the dry mines adequate sprinkling cars are provided, but in two or three dry mines no attempt is made to sprinkle, and the mines are dangerously dusty.
There were 8 coal mining machines in use in 1897 and 252 in 1913. The amount of machine-mined coal for the latter year was 26.7 per cent of the total output, or 7,312 tons per machine. In 1912, 32.9 per cent of the coal mined was shot from the solid and in 1913, 37 per cent was mined by this method; 36.3 per cent was mined with hand picks.
As early as 1891 an agreement between mine operators and miners prohibited shooting coal off the solid, but this contract is too frequently broken in practice.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service. ,8,
The first mine-inspection law of Tennessee was passed April 7, 1881. It required that all accidents at mines should be reported to the inspector of the district in which the mine was located, and, if fatal, to the county coroner. The enforcement of the law was intrusted to the geologist of the bureau of agriculture, statistics, and mines, with power to employ such assistants as were necessary. The inspector was required to preserve in his office a record showing the cause of all accidents in the mines. . An act approved March 29, 1887, consolidated the inspection service and placed it under the jurisdiction of one mine inspector, whose office was maintained at Chattanooga, and to whom all accidents were to be reported by the mine operators. The inspector rendered annual reports to the gov- ' ernor on January 1 of each year. On March 23, 1891, an act was approved by which the office of mine inspector was consolidated with the bureau of labor and mining statistics, under the supervision of the commissioner of the bureau of labor, statistics, and mines. The scope of the work of the new bureau was made to include the inspection of all mines, collieries, mills, and factories, and all accidents at such establishments resulting in loss of life or serious personal injury were to be reported to the commissioner of the bureau, the commissioner to render annual reports to the Governor. An act of April 3, 1903, separated the mine inspection service from the bureau of labor and mining statistics, established the office of chief mine inspector, and authorized the governor to appoint one
306 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
chief inspector and two district mine inspectors, the chief to specify the counties which should compose the two districts. The act applied to both coal and metal mines, and the chief inspector was required to render annual reports to the governor, and to enumerate therein all accidents, both fatal and nonfatal.
Accidents.
Tables 128 and 129 show the production, number of men employed, and number killed in and about the coal mines of Tennessee as compiled from the reports of the United States Geological Survey and the State mine inspector's reports. Continuous records of f atalities have been kept since 1891 to the end of 1913. During this period there were 859 fatalities, representing a rate of 4.30 per 1,000 men employed. The amount of coal produced per fatality was 119,280 tons, or there were 8.38 fatalities per 1,000,000 tons mined. Of the total number of fatalities 42.03 per cent was due to falls of roof; 39.47 per cent to gas and dust explosions, whereas mine cars and locomotives caused 5.70 per cent, and explosives a like percentage.
FATALITIES IN TENNESSEE COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 23 years
Coal-Mine Accidents In Tennessee In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
Mine explosion
do
do
do...
do...
Cross Mountain
do
Since 1895 there have been five disasters in which 327 men were killed. A list of these disasters is given in an accompanying table.
Since 1903 slightly over one-half of the men have been employed at the mines on a 9-hour basis. During the 10-year period 1903 to 1913, excepting 1909, the men were employed 2,100 hours during the year. The fatality rate based on the actual number of employees as shown in Table 40 is 3.40, but when computed on the basis of equivalent 2,000-hour workers becomes 3.23. By comparing Tenn-
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 307
essee with Ohio on the basis of actual number of employees, it will be noted that the Tennessee rate is much higher, being 3.40 as compared with 2.94 for Ohio. The men in Ohio were employed 1,495 hours per annum, so that reducing the fatality rate to 2,000-hour workers the Tennessee rate is 3.23 as compared with 3.94 for Ohio. A similar comparison may be made with other States in tables 40 and 41.
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines Of Tennessee.!*
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total number of men
employed.
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
6 Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN TENNESSEE AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
iio. 314
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
Tennessee.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
308 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 311
Texas.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal-bearing rocks that carry bituminous coal comprise an area in northern Texas a little more than 200 miles long and 45 miles wide, but coal beds are limited to an area of about 8,200 square miles in Wise, Palo Pinto, Erath, and McCulloch counties. The structure of this field is a gentle monocline, the beds dipping northwest about 100 feet to the mile.
In the southern part of the State, near Eagle Pass, Maverick County, is a Cretaceous coal bed which is mined to some extent.
The Tertiary lignite beds extend entirely across the State from Mexico to Arkansas; the known workable areas cover about 2,000 square miles, and there are about 53,000 square miles that may contain workable beds. Of the total amount of coal mined, about onehalf is lignite.
Character Of Coal Beds.
In the bituminous field there are three workable beds, but the ones most largely mined are No. 1, which is the. lowest, and No. 7, which is the highest. These coals are of Carboniferous age. No. 1 is continuous for at least 80 miles, and in Wise County is 14 to 26 inches thick; in Park County, 18 to 26 inches thick; in Palo Pinto County, 26 inches thick; and in Erath County, 28 inches thick.
With few exceptions the coal bed has a strong shale roof and shale floor. The No. 7 bed has the same structural features as No. 1 and is continuous for about 250 miles. It is 12 to 42 inches thick. Near Cisco the bed is 33 inches thick.
In the lignite field the beds that are worked are thick, generally ranging from 6 to 8 feet.
Mining Methods.
The earliest coal-production report for Texas was in 1884, when 125,000 tons of coal was mined. The production for 1913 was 2,429,- 144 tons. Of the 48 mines in operation in 1913, 8 were opened by slopes, and 43 were opened by shafts varying from 45 to 418 feet in in depth. About one-half were opened by single entry and one-half by double entry. One-third of the mines are operated by the longwall method, and two-thirds by the room-and-pillar method. Steam hoists are used at practically all of the mines. Electric and mule haulage are used underground, while 3 mines were using gasoline motors.
The majority of the mines are ventilated by fans and only two by furnaces. In 1897, there were 5 mining machines, and in 1913, 24 machines. In 1913, 61.5 per cent of the coal was mined by hand and 4.2 per cent by machines, and 25 per cent was shot off the solid.
312 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IX THE UNITED STATES, 1870-191-t.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The law enacted by the Texas Legislature April 30, 1907, authorized the governor to appoint a State mine inspector for all coal mines, upon the recommendation of an examining board, also provided for by the act. The first inspector was appointed September 30, 1909, and was directed to see that the provisions of the mining law were properly enforced. The law, however, did not require mine operators to report accidents to the State inspector.
Accidents.
Tables 130 and 131 show the production of coal and the number of men employed in the mines of Texas since 1889. Complete accident records, however, were not kept prior to 1909. During the 5-year period 1909-1913, there were 25 fatalities reported in and about the coal mines of Texas, representing a rate of 1.06 per 1,000 men employed. The amount of coal mined per fatality was 412,359 tons or 2.43 fatalities per million tons mined. Texas has been free from serious mine disasters.
FATALITIES IN TEXAS COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING 5 YEARS 190
To 1913, Inclusive.
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
S.00
Total, 5 years.
Since 1903, practically one-half of the men in the State have been employed on an 8-hour basis. Tables 40 and 41 have been compiled for comparative purposes. It will be noted that the employees of Texas worked 2,101 hours per year. The fatality rate for the period 1903 to 1913, inclusive, except 1909, based on the actual number of employees, is 1.08 per 1,000 men employed, and based on the 2,000-hour days becomes 1.05. This rate may be readily compared with rates of other States by referring to Table 41. The tables of statistics for the State follow :
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 313
NUMBER or HOURS TO THE WORKING DAY, BY YEARS, IN AND ABOUT THE COAL
Mines In Texas.®
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. 6 Including daymen who work 10 hours. c Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN TEXAS AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per
2,000-hour workers.
STATISTICS OF STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS IN AND ABOUT THE COALMINES IN TEXAS"
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U.S. Geol. Survey.
314 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
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Utah.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal-bearing areas of Utah comprise about 10,570 square miles, which are roughly divisible into three fields. The Wasatch field is the largest, and includes parts of Carbon, Emery, Grand, Uinta, and Wasatch counties. The next largest field is in the southern part of the State, and occupies the larger part of Garfield, Iron, and Kane counties. The other field is in Summit County, in northern Utah, and is relatively unimportant, although mining operations at Coalville have been carried on since 1870. The greatest amount of development has been in Carbon and Emery counties, Carbon County producing about 90 per cent of the coal mined in the State. The principal districts in Carbon County are Sunnyside, Kenilworth, Castlegate, Pleasant Valley, Spring Canyon, and Hiawatha- Black Hawk.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The coal and the associated rocks in the Wasatch field have been subjected locally to serious folding and displacements, but in gen- v eral the deformation has been uniform, resulting in regular structure and low dips. In western Carbon County and in Emery County the coal-bearing rocks are highly folded and cut by numerous faults, which render mining expensive and uucertain. But in the eastern part of the developed field the coal either lies nearly flat or dips only 3° to 7°.
The beds as a rule are thinner in the eastern than in the western part of the field. The coal in two beds, both of which are mined, in the Sunnyside district is about 14 feet thick, whereas in some of the western districts, as at Kenilworth and Hiawatha, the coal of a single bed ranges from 15 to 20 feet thick.
The coal beds in general are not uniform in thickness over large areas and in many places are known to be very lenticular. Rolls and "horsebacks" are common in some districts and in many places the latter oftentimes cut out a considerable part of the coal bed.
The southern coal field has never been exploited on a commercial scale, but the coal ranges in thickness from 4 to 8 feet.
Mining Methods.
Coal was first mined on a commercial scale in Utah in 1870, when 5,800 tons was produced. The production in 1913 was 3,254,828 tons, and in 1914, 3,103,036 tons was mined. Most of the mines are opened by drifts, entries, or slopes, and the coal is mined by the room-and-pillar method. The principal mines are worked on the double-entry system and at one of the typical mines the rooms are 24 feet wide by 400 feet long, separated by 40-foot pillars. Wherever
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1?70-1914. 317
the coal extends 7 to 9 feet in thickness the excess is left on the roof and is taken down only when the pillars are drawn. Most of the mines are comparatively dry and the coal yields considerable dust when mined. The State mining law requires extensive sprinkling systems in such mines and most of the operators rigidly observe the law. Coal is rarely shot from the solid and is usually undercut (by machine or hand pick) or sheared before being shot. Electric shot-firing systems are in common use.
Coal-mining machines were first introduced into Utah in 1896 and in 1913 there were 50 machines in operation. During 1913 the machine-mined coal equaled 19.2 per cent, coal mined by hand-pick methods equaled 74.2 per cent, and that shot from the solid equaled 4.2 per cent.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
An act of Congress approved March 3, 1891, authorized the President of the United States to appoint a % mine inspector for each Territory in which the aggregate annual production of coal exceeded 1,000 tons. Under the provisions of this law the first mine inspector for Utah was appointed August 23, 1892. Section 15 of the act provided that a full and written report of every fatal accident should be made to the mine inspector within 10 days after such death should occur. Annual reports for fiscal years ending June 30 were rendered to the Secretary of the Interior. Utah was admitted as a State in January, 1896, and under a law approved April 5, 1896, the first State inspector was appointed April 6. The State inspection law covered all coal and hydrocarbon mines employing more than six men, and the inspector was required to examine all such mines at least quarterly, and to render an annual report to the governor. Mine operators were required to report to the inspector every fatal accident within 10 days after the accident, .and every nonfatal accident involving disability for one week or more. An act approved March 20, 1911, authorized the employment of a deputy inspector and repealed the provision of the previous laws limiting the inspection service to mines employing more than six men.
All accidents reported to the inspector by mine operators are published in the inspector's annual report, but only those involving disability for at least 30 days are classified as serious accidents.
Accidents.
Tables 132 and 133 show the number of men employed, the production of coal, and the number of fatalities as compiled from the best records available. The State mine inspectors' reports show fatal accidents back to 1892, and are complete from that year to
318 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18"70-191±.
date. The total number of men killed during the period 1892 to 1913, representing 22 years, was 355 or 9.25 fatalities per 1,000
Fatalities In Utah Coal Mines, By Principal Causes, During The Years
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions a
Explosives 6
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 22 years..
a Includes Winter Quarters mine disaster at Scofield, May 1, 1900, in which 200 men were killed by a powder and dust explosion, representing 56.34 per cent of the fatalities, or 5.21 per 1,000 for the 22-year period.
' See footnote
Coal-Mine Accidents In Utah In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date May 1, 1900.
Name of mine. . .- Winter Quarters Noa. 1 and 4.
Location of mine Schofield.
Natureof accident Powder and mine explosion.
Number killed 200.
men employed, of which number 57.75 per cent' was due to gas and dust explosions. This includes the explosion at the Winter Quarters mine in 1900, in which 200 were killed at one time. This one disaster represents 56.34 per cent of the total fatalities during the 22-year period. Falls of roof represent 26.76 per cent, or 2.48 fatalities per 1,000 men employed. The quantity of coal produced per fatalitity was 89,252 tons, or 11.20 fatalities per million tons of coal mined.
Since 1903, the mines have been operated on an 8-hour basis, and for comparison with States having 9-hour and 10-hour working days, Tables 40 and 41 have been compiled. It will be noted that during the period 1903 to 1913, except 1909, the men were employed 2,109 hours per year. The fatality rate based on the actual number of employees is 4.15 per 1,000, whereas, when reduced to the uniform basis of 2,000-hour workers, it becomes 3.93, which compares favorably with the rate in Ohio, where the rate on the same basis is 3.94. Similar comparisons with other States may be made by reference to Table 41. The tables of statistics for the State follow.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 319
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Utah."
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 ' hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number
of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed
Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U.S. Geol. Survey. Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN UTAH AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-taour workers.
STATISTICS OF STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN UTAH.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
320 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IX THE UNITED STATES, ISO-lM/i
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COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1870-1914. 323 VIRGINIA. ABBA AND DISTRIBUTION OF COAL FIELDS.
The coal-bearing area of Virginia comprises about 1,550 square miles in the Appalachian region, 200 square miles in the Brushy Mountain fields, and 150 square miles in the Atlantic Coast region. Of the latter, the larger part is in the Richmond Basin. This basin extends in a north and south direction through parts of Goochland, Henrico, Powhatan, and Chesterfield counties. It is about 30 miles long, with a maximum width of 10 miles, and its eastern edge is about 13 miles from Richmond. There are also one or two other isolated fields in the Atlantic coast region, but mining in these has been of little importance.
The Brushy Mountain fields include long narrow strips of coalbearing rocks nearly across the State. These rocks are of lower Carboniferous age and are some of the oldest coal-bearing strata known in this country. Some of the coal is of the semianthracite rank.
The Appalachian region includes a large area in the southwestern part of the State, with the principal mines in Wise, Russell, Tazewell, and Lee counties. More than one-half of the coal mined in the State comes from Wise County. The coal-bearing rocks lie in a broad, fiat, synclinal trough lying between the southeastern edge of the coal field and Pine Mountain. In the middle of the trough the beds are generally fiat, except where they are disturbed by small folds and faults. On the edges of the trough the beds are strongly tilted, in some places even standing vertical.
Character Of Coal-Beds.
The coal in the Richmond Basin is a bituminous coking coal. The coal beds are steeply inclined and are 4 to 30 feet thick, and in a number of places have been cut by intrusions of diabase, producing natural coke. It has been estimated by Shaler and Woodworth that at a distance of one mile from the outcrop the depth of the beds is 2,500 feet, and it is possible that the beds may extend to a depth of 4,000 feet. The coal beds are broken by faults that make systematic mining difficult.
The coal beds in the Brushy Mountain fields range from 3 to 12 feet in thickness, but the beds contain many partings of shale which make mining expensive and the products of the mines difficult to market. Although desultory mining has been done on these coal beds for a long time, only a little coal has reached the market.
In the main bituminous field the coal beds are much more numerous and valuable. In Lee County 12 beds of coal are of workable
324 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. ,
thickness, ranging from to 6 feet thick. In the Big Stone Gap district the most important coal bed is the Imboden, which ranges from 4 to 13 feet in thickness. There are also a number of beds from 4 to 8 feet thick lying above the Imboden.
On Toms Creek the Upper Banner coal, ranging from 5 to 8 feet thick, is the most important bed. This bed has a shale roof and a hard shale floor.
In Dickenson County the coal beds below the Gladeville sandstone are thin, but above that sandstone 10 beds are recognized, which range in thickness from 2 to 12 feet. The Lower Boiling bed is 4 feet thick with shale roof and clay floor. The Glamorgan bed is 4£ feet thick with shale roof and shale floor. The Pardee bed is about 9 J feet thick.
Mining Methods.
Coal was first mined in the Richmond Basin in 1750. In 1789 regular shipments were made. Production records begin with 1822 with 5,400 tons. The larger mines are opened by slopes and vertical shafts, the latter being 400 to 500 feet deep. In the earlier days colored labor was employed under the supervision of English and Welsh miners, and the mining systems were largely adapted from English practices. In recent years Hungarian and colored labor is employed, largely under the direction of local or Pennsylvania managers. With the development of the southwestern Virginia field the Richmond Basin remained practically dormant after 1883. Renewed activity has prevailed during the last 4 years.
As in West Virginia, the room-and-pillar method of mining prevails largely throughout the Appalachian region with practically all of the mines opened by drift entries. In 1887 there were only 8 mining machines in operation, but in 1913 there were 187 machines, producing 47.6 per cent of the coal; 19.7 per cent was mined by hand, and 32.6 per cent shot off the solid. The production per man in 1913 was 964 tons.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The mine-inspection service of Virginia was established in accordance with an act approved March 13, 1912, applying to all coal mines in which five or more persons were employed in a period of 24 hours. The appointment of the inspector was vested in the commissioner of the bureau of labor and industrial statistics, to whom the inspector was required to render annual reports for years ending June 30. Mine operators were required to report to the inspector all accidents
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18*70-1914. 325
causing loss of life or serious personal injury, stating the cause of such accident, and the inspector, if he deemed it necessary from the facts reported, was required to visit the scene of the accident and render such assistance and advice as he deemed necessary for the future safety of the men.
No rules have been adopted by the Bureau of Labor as to what constitutes a serious injury such as the law requires shall be reported to the inspector, but all accidents of which the inspector receives notice are included in his annual report to the commissioner.
In 1915 one coal-mine inspector was employed.
Accidents.
Tables 134 and 135 show the production of coal beginning with 1822, the number of employees beginning with 1888, and the number of fatalities from 1909 to date. Although Virginia was one of the first States to produce coal, yet systematic records of accidents in that State have not been kept until recent years. There have been a number of serious mine explosions, extending as far back
FATALITIES IN "VIRGINIA COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 5 years
Coal-Mine Accidents In Virginia In Which 5 Or More Men Were Killed.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
Near Richmond
do
Mine explosion
Chesterfield
Coalfield
do...
do
do
do
do
do
do. .
do...
do
Mine fire and explosion
do
do
do
do
do
Carbon Hill
Carbon Hill
do
do...:
do
Dynami le explosion. . .
Old Dominion No. 1 .
do
326 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
as 1839, as shown in the accompanying list. During the five years,
1909 to 1913, for which continuous records are available, there have been 251 fatalities, representing 6.37 fatalities per 1,000 men employed. The quantity of coal produced per fatality was 138,644 tons, or 7.21 fatalities per milli on tons of coal mined. Of the total number of fatalities during the 5-year period, 52.19 per cent was due to falls of roof-and-pillar coal, 12.75 per cent to mine cars and locomotives, and 9.96 per cent to gas and dust explosions.
Practically all of the men employed in and about the coal mines ia Virginia are on a 10-hour basis, hence to permit comparisons with States on the 8-hour or the 9-hour basis, Tables 40 and 41 have been compiled. The number of hours worked per man a year in Virginia is 2,447 as compared with 2,132 hours in West Virginia, and 1,495 hours in Ohio. In order that true comparisons may be made with reference to the hazard of the mining industry, the time element has been taken into consideration and rates worked out on the basis of the number of 2,000-hour workers, as shown in Tables 40 and 41. Based on the actual number of employees, the rate for the 4 years
1910 to 1913 is 6.74 per 1,000. This reduced to the basis of 2,000-hour workers becomes 5.26 per 1,000, as compared with 5.18 for West Virginia, and 3.94 for Ohio. Table 41 shows figures for the other States worked out on a similar basis, so that comparisons may be readily made. The tables of statistics for the State follow.
Number Of Hours To The Working Day, By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Vtrginia.O
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
Census year.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 327
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN VIRGINIA AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2, 000-hour workers.
328 Coal-Mine Fatalities Ix The United States, 1370-1914.
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330 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, 187t)-l14.
Washington.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal fields of Washington comprise an area of about 1,800 square miles in the northwestern part of the State. They may be grouped into four fields, as follows: North Puget Sound, including Whatcom and Skagit counties; south Puget Sound, including King and Pierce counties ; Roslyn Basin, in Kittitas County; and the southwestern field, including Lewis and Cowlitz counties. King, Kittitas and Pierce counties are the principal producers.
The north Puget Sound field extends from the coast south of Bellingham northeastward to the foot of Mount Baker. It is the south limb of a great syncline. The coal beds dip to the northwest at varying angles, ranging from 35° near the coast to 90° at Cokedale and 45° at Glacier. The quality of the coal ranges from coking bituminous coal at Cokedale and Blue Canyon to anthracite at Glacier.
The south Puget Sound field is characterized by a series of parallel folds, usually in a north-south direction. The principal mines at Wilkeson and Carbonado are on the west slope of an anticline, where there are a number of overthrust faults. The structure in this field is complicated by folding and faulting and the intrusion of igneous rocks.
The Roslyn field, in Kittitas County, is a more regular basin, with a slight pitch to the southeast. The dip of the coal-bearing rocks varies from 10° to 20°, and the basin is free from faults.
The southwestern field is in general a broad, flat basin, but on the east side, next the Cascade Range, the coal beds are badly covered by lava flows. Here the coal is of low rank, being classed generally as the lowest grade of subbituminous coal.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The coals of Washington vary from lignite through semibituminous to bituminous coking coal. In a number of the districts the coal produces a large amount of slack or fine coal when mined.
Near Bellingham the coal bed that is now worked is 14 feet thick, whereas at Cokedale there are beds 20 feet thick. Gas is prevalent in these mines. The Blue Canyon bed has an average thickness of 7 feet, and at Glacier it is about 6 feet thick, but badly crushed and distorted.
The coal beds in the South Puget Sound field are more numerous, but the strata are so disturbed that coal beds can seldom be identified from mine to mine, even though the properties are contiguous and in some cases the mine workings connect. The center of production in King County is about Black Diamond. The principal beds here are the Upper McKay, which ranges from 4 feet 4 inches to 4 feet 9
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 331
inches, and the Lower McKay, which is 4 feet 7 inches to 6 feet 3 inches in thickness. At New Castle there are four productive beds, varying from 4 to 12 feet in thickness, some of which have been worked down the dip to a depth of about 2,000 feet. At Renton there are two beds, varying from 7£ to 8 feet in thickness. The most important producing area in Pierce County includes the mines on Carbon River from Wilkeson on the north to Montezuma on the south. At Wilkeson there are three coal beds, averaging each about 6 feet thick. At Carbonado at least 10 coal beds, which range in thickness from 2 feet to more than 8 feet, have been worked. The Wingate bed, about 5 feet thick, is the best in the mine. The Carbonado mine has considerable gas, especially on the west side of Carbon River.
In Kittitas County the mines are gaseous, one disastrous explosion occurring during 1910, in which 10 men lost their lives. Another explosion occurred in 1902. At Roslyn coal is being mined from beds 4 feet 6 inches thick from a shaft 604 feet deep. The roof consists of shale. At Clealum, in the same district, coal is being mined from a bed 4 feet 2 inches thick at a depth of 250 feet.
Mining Methods.
The coal beds are faulted and upturned in many sections, so that it is necessary to mine coal from steeply inclined seams. The mines are opened by shafts, slopes, and drifts. In the Roslyn field the beds are very dry and require sprinkling to prevent the accumulation of dust. The double-entry room and pillar systems of mining are used. At Carbonado the mines are opened by slopes and drifts, some of which extend nearly 2 miles into the mountain side.
A number of the larger collieries in Washington have opened their mines by slopes and the coal is mined by the pillar-and-breast system, abo.ut 90 per cent of the coal being extracted. In the northern field the coal beds are opened by shafts and drifts and in some cases the coal seams are gaseous.
In 1896 there were three mining machines in use, producing only 3 per cent of the coal. The number of machines remained about the same until 1909, when there were 18 machines, and in 1913 there were 63 machines, producing 7.2 per cent of the total coal. Shooting off the solid is used for more than one-third the total production.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
An act approved November 28, 1883, effective January 1, 1884, authorized the governor of the Territory of Washington to appoint an inspector of coal mines for all mines employing more than 10 men. In addition to rendering an annual report to the governor, the inspector was required to make a special report on all accidents 14355°— Bull. 115—16 22
332 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN TLT *,I.-li.„,
causing loss of life or serious bodily injuries. Operators were required to notify the inspector and coroner of all fatal accidents, and upon such notice an investigation was conducted to determine the cause of the accident. The act of February 4, 1886, required operators to notify the inspector of all serious accidents as well as fatal accidents.
On February 2, 1888, an act was approved by which the Territory was divided into two inspection districts, with an inspector for each district appointed by the governor. The State legislature enacted a law which was approved March 5, 1891, relating to the inspection of coal mines, but the requirement as to the reporting of fatal and serious accidents was not changed. The inspectors were appointed by the governor upon the recommendation of an examining board, and were required to file annual reports with the secretary of state before February 1, covering the previous calendar year.
The act of March 6, 1897, provided that the inspection law should apply to all coal mines employing 10 or more men, but that operators of mines enploying less than 10 men should notify the inspector as soon as 10 men were employed.
On March 5, 1907, a law was approved providing one mine inspector for the entire State until there are 60 mines in operation, and dividing the State into districts, containing not less than 10 nor more than 60 mines each, and an inspector for each district, as soon as the number of operating mines in the State exceeds 60. An act approved March 13, 1911, authorized the State mine inspector to appoint, with the consent of the governor, a deputy inspector, who should hold office during the pleasure of the State inspector.
Prior to 1912 it was the practice of the operators to report only those injuries causing at least 30 days' disability, but since that year, when the workmen's compensation law became effective, the operators have reported all injuries resulting in disability for 5 days or more and these are published in the inspector's annual reports. Serious injuries are those resulting in 30 days' disability, all others being considered slight injuries.
In 1915 the inspector was assisted by one deputy.
Accidents.
Tables 136 and 137 show the production of coal, the number of men employed, and the fatalities in coal mines as compiled from the reports of the United States Geological Survey and the State mine inspectors' reports. Complete records of fatalities from the mine inspectors' reports are available from 1889 to 1913, a period of 25 years. During this time there were 640 fatalities, representing a rate of 6.14 fatalities per 1,000 men employed. The amount of coal produced per death was 93,606 tons, or 10.68 fatalities per
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 333
FATALITIES IN WASHINGTON COAL MINES, BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS 1889 TO 1913, INCLUSIVE.
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 25 years
Fatalities Due To The Dip Or Pitch Of Coal Seams In Washington Mines,
Cause of accident.
Runaway cars, and men falling from cars or skips
Total
a Compiled from State mine inspector's reports. COAL-MINE ACCIDENTS IN WASHINGTON" IN WHICH S OR MORE MEN WERE KILLED.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
FfflTiTi-lin
Lake Whatcom
Carbon Hill No. 7
Smoke from burning air shaft.
No.5
Roslyn
.do
Northwestern
million tons of coal mined. During this period there have been 10 mine disasters in which 5 or more men have been killed at one time, making a total of 202 fatalities. Of the total number of fatalities during this 25-year period 30.47 per cent was due to gas and dust explosions; 28.44 per cent to falls of roof and coal; and 12.65 per cent to mine cars and locomotives.
Practically all of the mines in Washington are operated on an 8-hour basis, and for purposes of comparison with 9 and 10 hour States, Tables 40 and 41 have been compiled. The number of hours worked per year per man is 2,023. The fatality rate based on the actual number of employees is 4.64, as compared with 4.58 when
334 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
reduced to the equivalent of 2,000-hour workers. Table 41 gives similar data for all of the States, so that comparisons of one State with another may be readily made.
NUMBER OF HOURS TO THE WORKING-DAY, BY YEARS, IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN WASHINGTON."
S-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number
ol' mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
S
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
b Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN WASHINGTON AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per
hour workers.
On account of the coal beds being badly upturned, necessitating working on steep pitches or dips, there is an unusual percentage of accidents due to coal, rock, or timber sliding down from a working face, from cars getting loose and running down an incline, and from men falling down chutes or slopes. About 30 per cent of the fatalities belong to this group, as shown in the accompanying table. In nearly all of the States, the bituminous coal beds are comparatively flat, but Washington is an exception in this respect. Outside of certain fields in Oklahoma and Colorado, and the anthracite fields in eastern Pennsylvania, there is not a district where the coal beds are as steeply inclined as in Washington. The tables of statistics for the State follow:
COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, ISlO-lSM. 335
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines In
Washington."
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, IT. S. Geol. Survey.
Coal-Mine Fatalities Ix The United States, 18?0-19U.
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914:. 339
West Virginia.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal fields of West Virginia occupy all of the area on the Western slope of the Appalachian Mountains. The entire area of the State is 24,022 square miles, of which an area of approximately 17,000 square miles is coal-bearing. Thirty counties are important producers. The 6 counties heading the list, in the order of their production in 1913, are McDowell, Fayette, Marion, Harrison, Kanawha, and Logan, each of which mined more than 4,000,000 tons of coal.
There are seven important fields, the three in the northern part of the State being (1) Fairmont field, including Harrison and Monroe counties ; (2) Elk Garden (Piedmont) , or Upper Potomac field, including Mineral, Grant, and Tucker counties; (3) Ph.iU.ipi field, including Preston, Barbour, and Randolph counties. The four fields in the southern part of the State are as follows: (1) New River field, including Fayette and Raleigh counties; (2) Kanawha field, including Kanawha and parts of Boone and Putnam counties; (3) Pocahontas field, including McDowell and Mercer counties, W. Va., and Tazewell County, Va. ; and (4) Big Sandy field, which is a continuation of the Kanawha district into Logan and Mingo counties.
In general the coal beds and the associated sandstones, limestones, and shales of the West Virginia fields dip northwestward toward the axis of the great Appalachian trough, which passes through the northwestern part of the State from the southwest corner of Pennsylvania to Wayne County on Big Sandy River. Notwithstanding the general regularity of this great trough, the southeastern side, especially in northern West Virginia, is affected by a number of anticlinal folds trending in the same direction as the axis of the great trough. These smaller folds cause the dips in places to be much steeper than the normal, and on the southeast flank of the arch, to be toward the southeast. This is well illustrated in the synclinal trough in Preston County east of the Chestnut ridge anticline.
Character Of Coal Beds.
All of the West Virginia coal is bituminous or semibituminous, the majority of which is of high rank.
The coal increases in rank from west to east across the State, the semibituminous coals being limited to small fields along the margin of the area. These fields of semibituminous coal are Pocahontas, New River, and Upper Potomac (Georges Creek). These coals are preeminently steam coals, going into the market as "smokeless," but they also are used to a limited extent in coke making.
The most important coal in the Fairmont and Elk Garden districts is the Pittsburgh (Elk Garden or 14-foot) bed, with an average
340 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UJXiitu siario, loiu-wn.
thickness of 8 feet 6 inches, of which 7 feet is usually mined. The Waynesburg and Sewickley coal beds occur in the Fairmont district, but are little worked. They vary in thickness from 5 to 10 feet. The Elk Garden district also contains the Thomas or Upper Freeport, 2 J to 3£ feet thick, and the Davis (Upper Kittanning or " Six- Foot") bed, varying from 4 to 11 feet in thickness. In the Kanawha district, the most important beds are "No. 2 Gas" and the Eagle (soft coking coal), varying in thickness from 3 to 5 feet, and the Coalburg and No. 5 (splint coal), varying from 4 to 6 feet thick.
In the New River field the principal beds are the Sewell, varying in thickness from 3 J to 5 feet; Fire Creek, averaging 3 feet, and the Beckley, varying from 4 to 6 feet. The Pocahontas field produces coal from the "No. 3" bed, which is 4 to 11 feet thick, averaging about 6 feet. In recent years considerable development work has been done on the "No. 4" and also on the Sewell bed.
Muting Methods.
The earliest records showing coal production of West Virginia are for 1863," during which year West Virginia became a State, and 444,648 short tons was mined. This tonnage has gradually increased until in 1913 the production amounted to 71,308,982 short tons.
As the majority of the beds outcrop at various places, nearly all of the mines are opened by drifts or slopes, few shafts being necessary for mining operations. The room-and-pillar method of mining is extensively used. In 1913, there were 1,479 locomotives in use in the mines, of which 1,365 were electric, 46 steam, 40 compressed air, and 28 gasoline.
Mining in the Elk Garden district began in 1881. In 1891, there were 8 machines used in the State of West Virginia, and this number has gradually increased until in 1913 there were 2,541 machines in use. The average production per machine in 1913 was 15,116 tons. About one-half of the machines used are of the chain-breast type. Of the total amount of coal mined, 55.3 per cent in 1913 was mined by machines; 43.6 per cent was mined by hand, and only 0.8 per cent was shot off the solid.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
An act approved March 11, 1879, authorized the judge of any circuit court in any county to appoint a mine inspector for such county, upon a petition signed by 100 voters showing that any coal mine employing more than 10 men was not sufficiently ventilated. Inspectors so appointed were required to report in writing on the first day of every term of said court the condition of all such mines and whether
" Prior to 1863 the production of coal in what is now West Virginia was reported as of Virginia.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 341
any employee had been injured, and the cause of such accident. By an act approved February 26, 1883, the inspection service was placed under the jurisdiction of a State mine inspector, and applied to all coal mines employing 15 or more miners. The inspector was required to render an annual report to the governor, showing number of employees, and number of persons killed or injured. The act of February 20, 1890, divided the State into two inspection districts and authorized the governor to appoint a mine inspector for each district, each inspector to render annual reports to the governor for years ending June 30. A chief mine inspector was authorized by the act of February 17, 1897, assisted by four district inspectors, who rendered monthly reports to the chief inspector. The department of mines was created by the act of February 25, 1905, and placed in charge of the chief mine inspector. The act of February 27, 1907, changed the title of chief mine inspector to that of chief of the department of mines, and the inspection law was extended to cover all mines employing five or more men. Various laws have increased the number of district inspectors until in 1914 there were twelve such
inspectors.
Accidents.
Tables 138 and 139 show the production of coal and number of men employed, together with the fatalities in the coal mines in the State. The fatalities have been compiled from the reports of the State mine inspectors and are based on a calendar year, and do not, therefore, necessarily agree with the inspectors' figures published for fiscal years. During the period from 1885 to 1913, for which continuous complete records are available, there were 4,748 fatalities, representing 4.97 fatalities per 1,000 men employed. The amount of coal produced per fatality during this period was 160,635 tons or 6.23 fatalities per million tons of coal mined. During this period there have been 30 mine disasters, in each of which 5 or more men were killed.
FATALITIES IN WEST VIRGINIA COAL MINES. BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, 1885 TO 1913
Inclusive.
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Fall of roof and pillar <coaI, rock, etc.)
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 29 years
342 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, ls/u-i±*. COAL-MINE ACCIDENTS IN WEST VIRGINIA IN WHICH 5 OR MORE MEN WERE KILLED.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of accident.
Number killed.
Powder and coal-dust explosion.
Mine explosion
Powder-smoke explosion.
Red Ash
Red Ash
Stafford
Stafford
do
Powder and mine explosion.
Powder explosion
Powder and mine explosion.
do
Powder and mine explosion. Powder explosion
do
Monongah Nos. 6 and 8.
do
do
do
do
do
do
Dynamite explosion.. .
Ott No. 20
Jed
Jed
do
do
Eccles Nos. 5 and 6 . - -
do
Suffocated by fumes from lire in fan house.
do
Of the total number of fatalities during the 29-year period, 51.64 per cent were due to falls of roof and coal; 21.82 to gas and dust explosions; and 11.73 to mine cars and locomotives. Fatalities due to explosives were comparatively few, representing only 3.27 per cent of the total. The percentage of fatalities due to explosives in Oklahoma for a period of 21 years was 15.77; in Ohio, for a period of 30 years, 7.02; and in Illinois, for a period of 29 years, 13.47.
Since 1903, both the 9-hour and the 10-hour day have prevailed throughout the State, there being more than 50 per cent of the men employed on a 10-hour basis. For a true comparison with other States where an 8-hour or a 9-hour day prevails, the time element has been taken into consideration, and Tables 40 and 41 have been compiled on the basis of the actual number of men employed over a 10-year period, 1903 to 1913, inclusive, except 1909; also on the basis of 2,000-hour workers. The fatality rate during the 10-year period based on the actual number of employees is 5.53 per 1,000, and reduced to the equivalent of 2,000-hour workers becomes 5.18. The number of hours worked a year per man in West Virginia is 2,132, as compared with 1,495 for Ohio. The Ohio rate based on the
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 343
NUMBER OF HOURS TO THE WORKING DAY, BY YEARS, IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN WEST VIRGINIA."
8-hour day.
9-hour day.
Men employed other than 8,9, and 10 hours per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
Number of mines.
Men employed.
number of men
employed.
4,67i 4,242 4,959 1,864
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
& Census year.
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN WEST VIRGINIA AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number of 2,000-hour workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000
2, 000-hour workers.
actual number of employees is 2.94, and reduced to the equivalent number of 2,000-hour workers becomes 3.94, so that the difference between the figures for the two States is not so great as would appear when the rates are based on the actual number of employees. Similar comparisons in these details may be made with other States by referring to Table 41. The tables of statistics for the State follow:
3Kouts In And About The Coal Mines In West Virginia.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
344 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE OJNilJkL> aL&x&o,
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Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 18*70-1914. 347
Wyoming.
Area And Distribution Of Coal Fields.
The coal fields of Wyoming comprise an area of about 25,000 square miles. In addition to this area, in which the coal beds are fairly well known, there are a number of deep basins such as Bighorn Basin, Wind River Basin, and Green River Basin, aggregating 16,000 square miles, in which coal beds are doubtless present, but are at such a depth as possibly to be unavailable.
The most important region in point of quality of coal and quantity produced is the Green River Basin, including the belt of disturbed rocks in Lincoln and Uinta counties. This region comprises about 18,000 square miles underlain by coal-bearing rocks, but an area of only 8,000 square miles contains coal beds that are now accessible. This region includes the Kemmerer and Rock Springs districts, which produce practically all of the high-grade coal of the State. The production of this region in 1913 was about 4,500,000 tons.
The region of next importance is the Powder River region, which has an area of 74,000 square miles. Of this, an area of about 11,000 square miles is believed to be underlain by coal beds more than 3 feet thick. The coal in this field is subbituminous, and Sheridan is the chief center of production.
In the Bighorn, Wind River, and Hanna Basins and in the belt of disturbed rocks in Lincoln and Uinta counties the coal beds are considerably disturbed and in places dip at high angles, but in other fields the dips are low and regular, or the beds are practically flat.
Character Of Coal Beds.
The general structure of the Rock Springs district of the Green River field is that of a dome, the axis of which is about 90 mile3 long extending north and south. The coal beds on the west of this anticlinal axis dip 5° to 30°, whereas those on the east vary from 5° to 10°. There are many normal faults of less than 100 feet in displacement. There are four coal-bearing groups, containing 20 beds 2 to 12 feet thick, aggregating 90 feet at Rock Springs, Sweetwater County, which produced in 1913 about 35 per cent of the State's output.
In the Kemmerer district, Lincoln County, there are three principal coal beds known as the Upper, Main, and Lower Kemmerer beds. These range from 4 to 14 feet in thickness and are generally considered as the best coals in the State. They dip 20° to 25° to the west. This district has the distinction of containing the thickest coal bed that has been mined in the United States. It is 84 feet thick in the old prospect entry, but as the coal slacked badly the mine was abandoned.
3-48 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914.
In the Powder River field, immediately east of Sheridan, there are 5 coal beds as follows: Healy, 10 to 15 feet thick; Felix, 6 to 30 feet thick; Arvada, 5 to 10 feet thick; Roland, 3 to 7 feet thick; and Smith, 4 to 10 feet thick. South of Sheridan is a small area, known as the Buffalo district, containing the Healy bed, which is about 15 feet thick, and the Walters bed, which is 35 feet thick. These beds are also horizontal. Sheridan County in this field produced 15 per cent of the State's 1913 output.
In the Little Snake River field the coal beds are inclined from horizontal to about 35°. JThe coal is 3 to 12 feet thick, with shale and sandstone roof.
In the Bighorn Basin the beds dip 3° to 56°, varying from 5 to 10 feet in thickness. Little coal has been mined from this area.
Mining Methods.
The earliest statistics of coal production in Wyoming are for 1865, when 800 tons of coal was produced. In 1913 the production was 7,393,066 tons.
In most of the mines thus far developed in the Rock Springs district the roof and floor of the coal beds are firm and give little trouble. The majority of the mines are opsned by slopes and a few by shafts. The room-and-pillar method of mining is used-in coal beds varying from 4 to 8 feet in thickness. In the Rock Springs district a large percentage of the coal is mined by shooting off the solid. There is comparatively -little gas in the mines.
In the northern part of the State, in Sheridan County, mines are opened by drifts and the coal is mined by room-and-pillar methods. The coal beds are thicker than in the Rock Springs district, varying from 10 to 19 feet, and in places are 25 to 30 feet thick.
Mining machines have been in use in Wyoming since about 1890. In 1913 there were 195 machines in use, producing 41 per cent of the coal; 36.7 per cent was mined by being shot off the solid; and 21.9 per cent by hand mining. A number of the mines are using electric coal-cutting machines, and haulage is by mules and electricity.
Reportable Accidents And Organization Of Inspection
Service.
The inspection of coal mines was placed under the jurisdiction of a Territorial mine inspector by an act approved February 25, 1886, covering all coal mines in which 10 or more men were employed. Operators were required to render to the inspector immediate reports of all fatal and serious accidents. All fatal accidents were to be reported to the county coroner also, and upon such notice an investigation was conducted to determine the cause of the accident. The inspector rendered quarterly reports showing number of accidents
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1911. 349
and deaths from injuries, number employed at the mines, etc., and published his report in at least one paper in each county in which there were any coal mines. The act of February 17, 1903, divided the State into two inspection districts and authorized the governor to appoint a mine inspector for each district, the inspector to render quarterly reports of accidents. By the act of February 27, 1909, the inspectors were required, within one week after the examination of each mine, to send a written report of such examination to the governor and also to file with the governor an annual report not later than December 1 of each year. There are no regular deputy or assistant inspectors, but the district inspectors are authorized to appoint temporary deputies to investigate accidents when it is impossible for the district inspectors to be present in person.
Prior to the enactment of the workmen's compensation law, mine operators reported to the inspectors only those injuries resulting in disability to an employee for at least 14 days, and these were published in the inspectors' annual reports. Under the compensation law, which became effective April 1, 1915, all' accidents at mines are required to be reported.
Accidents.
Tables 140 and 141 show the production of coal and number of employees since 1889 to the end of 1913. The fatality records are not so complete, continuous x-ecords being available only from 1908 to the end of 1913. During this period of 6 years there were 241 fatalities in and about the coal mines, representing 5.21 fatalities per 1,000 men employed. The production of coal per fatality was 169,801 tons, or 5.89 fatalities per million tons of coal mined. Of the total number of men killed during the 6-year period, 47.30 per cent was due to falls of roof and coal; 27.80 per cent to gas and dust explosions; and 9.13 per cent to mine cars and locomotives.
FATALITIES IN WYOMING GOAL MINES. BY PRINCIPAL CAUSES, DURING THE YEARS
Cause of accident.
Number killed.
Total.
Per cent.
Per 1,000
employed.
Underground:
Mine cars and locomotives
Gas and dust explosions f
Explosives
Miscellaneous
Shaft
Surface
Total, 6 years
350 COAL-MINE FATALITIES IN THE UNITED STATES, 1870-1914. COAL-MINE ACCIDENTS IN WYOMING IN WHICH 5 OR MORE MEN WERE KILLED.
Date.
Name of mine.
Location of mine.
Nature of s'accident.
Number killed.
Almy No. 4
do
Diamondville No. 1. . .
. do
Mine explosion
Mine explosion and fire.
do
Diamondville No. 1 . . . Haima No. 1
Kemmerer No. 4
Union Pacific No. 2. . .
Since 1881 there hare been 11 coal-mine disasters, in each of which five or more men were killed at one time, representing 428 fatalities. A list is given in the accompanying table.
Since 1907 the mines in Wyoming have been operated on an 8-hour basis, and for comparison with States having 9-hour and 10-hour days, the time element has been taken into consideration. The number of hours worked per annum per man in Wyoming for the 10-year period 1903 to 1913, except 1909, was 2,137. The fatality rate during the 5 years 190S, 1910, 1911, 1912, and 1913, for which complete records are available, is 5.38, based on the actual number of employees, whereas if based on the equivalent number of 2,000-hour workers it becomes 5.71. By referring to Tables 40 and 41, comparisons with other States may be readily made. The tables of statistics for the State follow:
Number Of Hours To The Working Day. By Years, In And About The Coal
Mines In Wyoming."
8-hour day.
Mer employed other
than 8, 9, or 10 hours
per day.
Total
Year.
Number of mines.
Number of men.
Number of mines.
Number, of men.
Number
of mines.
Number of men.
number of men
employed.
Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey. 6 Census year.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-19U. 351
NUMBER OF HOURS WORKED IN AND ABOUT THE COAL MINES IN WYOMING AND THE FATALITY RATE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF 2,000-HOUR WORKERS.
Days worked.
Total hours per year.
Number
of 2,000
hour
workers.
Fatalities.
Year.
Total.
Per 1,000 2,000-hour workers.
Statistics Of Strikes And Lockouts In And About The Coal Mines
WYOMING.a
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
Year.
Number of men affected.
Total days lost.
Average number of days lost per man.
ig09
a Compiled from annual volumes of Mineral Resources, U. S. Geol. Survey.
IX THE TjSTITED STATES, 1870-1914.
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Publications On" Mine Accidents And Methods Of Coal Mining.
Limited editions of the following Bureau of Mines publications are temporarily available for free distribution. Requests for all publications can not bo granted, and applicants should select only those publications that are of especial interest to them. All requests for publications should be addressed to the Director, Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C. -
Bulletin 17. A primer on explosives for coal miners, by C. E. Munroe and Clarence Hall. 61 pp., 10 pis., 12 figs. Reprint of United States Geological Survey Bulletin
Bulletin 20. The expkfcibility of coal dust, by G. S. Rice, with chapters by J. O.W. Prazer, Axel Larsen, Frank Haas, and Carl Scholz. 204 pp., 14 pis., 28 figs.
Bulletin 42. The sampling and examination of mine gases and natural gas, by G. Burrell and F. M. Seibert. 1913. 116 pp., 2 pis., 23 figs.
Bulletin 45. Sand available for filling mine workings in the Northern Anthracite Coal Basin of Pennsylvania, by N. H. Darton. 1913. 33 pp., 8 pis., 5 figs.
Bulletin 46. An investigation of explosion-proof mine motors, by H. H. Clark. 1912. 44 pp., 6 pis., 14 figs.
Bulletin 50. A laboratory study of the inflammability of coal dust, by J. C. W. Frazer, E. J. Hoffman, and L. A. Schol 1 , jr. 1913. 60 pp., 95 figs.
Bulletin 52. Ignition of mine gases by the filaments of incandescent electric lamps, byH. H.Clark and L.C.Ilsley. 1913. 31pp., 6 pis., 2 figs.
Bulletin 56. First series of coal-dust explosion tests in the experimental mine, by G. S. Rice, L. M. Jones, J. K. Clement, and W. L. Egy. 1913. 115 pp., 12 pis., 28 figs.
Bulletin 60. Hydraulic mine filling; its use in the Pennyslvania anthracite fields; a preliminary report, by Charles Enzian. 1913. 77 pp., 3 pis., 12 figs.
Bulletin 62. National mine-rescue and first-aid conference, Pittsburgh, Pa., September 23-26, 1912, by H. M. Wilson. 1913. 74 pp.
Bulletin 68. Electric switches for use in gaseous mines, by H. H. Clark and R. W. Crocker. 1913. 40 pp., 6 pis.
Bulletin 69. Coal-mine accidents in the United States and foreign countries, compiled by F. W. Horton. 1913. 102 pp., 3 pis., 40 figs.
Bulletin 83. The humidity of mine air, with especial reference to coal mines in Illinois, by R. Y. Williams. 1914. 69 pp., 2 pis., 7 figs.
Bulletin 99. Mine-ventilation stoppings, with especial reference to coal mines in Illinois, by R. Y. Williams. 1915. 30 pp., 4 pis., 4 figs.
Bulletin 101. Abstracts of current decisions on mines and mining, October, 1914, to April, 1915, by J. W. Thompson. 1915. 138 pp.
Technical Paper 4. The electrical section of the Bureau of Mines, its purpose and equipment, by H. H. Clark. 1911. 12 pp.
Technical Paper 6. The rate of burning of fuse as influenced by temperature and pressure, by W. O.Snelling and W.C. Cope. 1912. 28 pp.
Technical Paper 7. Investigations of fuse and miners' squibs, by Clarence Hall and S. P. Howell. 1912. 19 pp.
Technical Paper 11. The use of mice and birds for detecting carbon monoxide after mine fires and explosions, by G. A. Burrell. 1912. 15 pp.
356 Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1810-1914.
Technical Paper 13. Gas analysis as an aid in fighting mine fires, by G. A. Burrell and F. M. Seibert. 1912. 16 pp., 1 fig.
Technical Paper 14. Apparatus for gas-analysis laboratories at coal mines, by G. A. Burrell and F. M. Seibert. 1913. 24 pp., 7 figs.
Technical Paper 15. An electrolytic method of preventing corrosion of iron and steel, by J. K. Clement and L. V. Walker. 1913. 19 pp., 10 figs.
Technical Paper 17. The effect of stemming on the efficiency of explosives, by W. 0. Snelling and Clarence Hall. 1912. 20 pp., 11 figs.
Technical Paper 18. Magazines and thaw houses for explosives, by Clarence Hall and S. P. Howell. 1912. 34 pp., 1 pi., 5 figs.
Technical Paper 19. The factor of safety in mine electrical installations, by H. H. Clark. 1912. 14 pp.
Technical Paper 22. Electrical symbols for mine maps, by II. IT. Clark. 1912. 11 pp., 8 figs.
Technical Paper 28. Ignition of mine gas by standard incandescent lamps, by H. H. Clark. 1912. 6 pp.
Technical Paper 29. Training with mine-rescue breathing apparatus, by J. W. Paul. 1912. 15 pp.
Technical Paper 39. The inflammable gases in mine air, by G. A. Burrell and F. M. Seibert. 1913. 24 pp., 2 figs.
'Technical Paper 43. The effect of inert gases on inflammable gaseous mixtures, by J. K. Clement. 1913. 24 pp., 1 pi., 8 figs.
Technical Paper 44. Safety electric switches for mines, by II. H. Clark. 1913. 8 pp.
Technical Paper . Portable electric mine lamps, by H. H. Clark. 1913. 13 pp.
Technical Paper 48. Coal-mine accidents in the United States, 1896-1912, with monthly statistics for 1912, compiled by F. TV. Horton. 1913. 74 pp., 10 figs.
Technical Paper 52. Permissible explosives tested prior to March 1, 1913, by Clarence Hall. 1913. 11 pp.
Technical Paper 58. The action of acid mine water on the insulation of electric conductors; a preliminary report, by H. H. Clark and L. C. Ilsley. 1913. 26 pp., lfig.
Technical Paper 69. Production of explosives in the United States during the calendar year 1912, compiled by A. H. Fay. 1914. 8 pp.
Technical Paper 71. Permissible explosives tested prior to January 1, 1914, by Clarence Hall. 1914. 12 pp.
Technical Paper 75. Permissible electric lamps for miners, by H. H. Clark. 1914. 21 pp., 3 figs.
Technical Paper 76. Notes on the sampling and analysis of coal, by A. C. Fieldner. 1914. 59 pp., 6 figs.
Technical Paper 77. Report of the Committee on Resuscitation from Mine Gases, by W. B. Cannon, George TV. Crile, Joseph Erlanger, Yandell Henderson, and S. T. Meltzer. 1914. 36 pp., 4 figs.
Technical Paper 78. Specific-gravity separation applied to the analysis of mining explosives, by C. G. Storm and A. L. Hyde. 1914. 13 pp.
Technical Paper 84. Methods of preventing and limiting explosions in coal mines, by G. S. Rice and L. M. Jones. 1915. 45 pp., 14 pis., 3 figs.
Technical Paper 100. Permissible explosives tested prior to March 1, 1915, by S. P. Howell. 1915. 15 pp.
Miners' Circular 5. Electrical accidents in mines, their causes and prevention, by H. II. Clark, W. D. Roberts, L. C. Ilsley, and II. F. Randolph. 1911. 10 pp., 3 pis.
Misers' Circular S. First-aid instructions for miners, by M. \V. Glasgow, TV. A. Raudenbush, and C. 0. Roberts. 1913. 07 pp., 51 figs.
Coal-Mine Fatalities In The United States, 1870-1914. 357
Miners' Circular 12. Use and care of miners' safety lamps, by J. W. Paul. 1913. 16 pp., 4 figs.
Miners' Circular 13. Safety in tunneling, by W. Brunton and J. A. Davis. 1913. 19 pp.
Miners' Circular 14. Gases found in coal mines, by G. A. Burrell and F. M. Seibert. 1914. 23 pp.
Miners' Circular 15. Rules for mine-rescue and first-aid iield contests, by J. W. Paul. 1913. 12 pp.
Miners' Circular 10. Hints on coal-mine ventilation, by J. J. Rutledge. 1914. 22 pp.
Miners' Circular 21. What a miner can do to prevent explosions of gas and coal dust, by G. S. Rice. 1915. 24 pp.
Index
A. Page.
Abernant mine, Alabama, explosion 72, 141
Accidents not attributable to mining, omission of 5
personal element in 4
See also Fatalities and States listed.
Acton No. 2 mine, Alabama, explosion 73, 141
Adamson No. 1 mine, Oklahoma, accident. . 73, 271 Agnes and Rachel mine, Marianna, Pa., explosion 72, 298
Air compressors, number in Pennsylvania
coalmines 85
Alabama, coal mined by band, percentage ... 144
mined by machine, percentage 144
shot off solid, amount 144
value per ton at mine 144
ooal fields in, area 134, 136
coal mines, accidents 140, 141
days worked annually at 144
disasters, list of 141
fatalities at 144, 145
by causes 145
chart showing 26
fatality rates 144
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 142
hours worked daily 142
lockouts and strikes 143
men employed 12, 144
mining machines, number 144
mining methods 139
coal production 134, 144
per death 144
per man 144
mine-inspection service 140
mines, accidents reportable 140
Alaska, coal fields in, area i 135
Alderson No. 1 mine, Oklahoma, explosion. 70,271 Algoma No. 7 mine, West Virginia, explosion 71, 342
Almy mine, Wyoming, explosion 69,350
Almy No. 4 mine, Wyoming, explosion 69, 350
Amsterdam mine, Ohio, explosion 72,261
Animal haulage, Illinois 86
Pennsylvania 84, 85
Animals, fatalities from 14
Anthracite coal-fields, in United States,
areas 134, 281
Anthracite coal mines, Pennsylvania, fatality
rates, by occupation 93, 94
Appalachian coal fields, area 134
Arizona, coal field in, area 135
Arkansas, coal mined by hand, percentage... 150
mined by machine, percentage 150
shot off solid, amount 150
value per ton at mine 150
coal fields in, area 134, 146
Page.
Arkansas coal mines, accidents 147, 148
accidents reportable 147
days worked annually 150
disasters, list of 148
fatalities at 130
by causes 152
chart showing 26
fatality rates 150
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 149
hours worked daily 148
inspection service 147
lockouts and strikes 149
men employed 12,150
mining machines, number 150
mining methods 146
coal production 150
per death 150
per man 150
Ashland mine tunnel, Pennsylvania, accident 69,287
Athens No. 2 mine, Illinois, accident 71, 172
Atlantic Coast coal fields, area 134
Atlas mine, Rich Hill, Mo., explosion 73,230
Auchincloss mine, Nanticoke, Pa., accident 71,72,287,288
Audenreid mine, Pennsylvania, explosion.. 69, 2S7 Avondale mine, Plymouth, Pa., fire 69, 287
B. Backman mine, Hawks Nest, AY. Va., explosion 71, 342
Baker No. 5 mine, Clay, Ivy., explosion 72, 208
Banner mine, Littleton, Ala., explosion 72,141
Barthell No. 1 mine, Stearns, Ky., explosion 72, 208
Bast mine, Big Mine Run, Pa., accident 69, 298
Belle Ellen mine, Alabama, fire 70, 141
Bernal mine, Carthage, N. Mex., explosion 71, 246
Berryburg mine, W. Va., explosion...' 70,342
Berwind mine, Dubois, Pa., explosion 70, 298
Bevier coal field, Missouri 228
Big Muddy mine, Herrin, HI., explosion 71, 172
Bituminous coal, production by machines.. 110
Bituminous coal fields, area of 134
See also States listed. Bituminous coal mines, days worked annually 105
fatalities at 104
figures showing 114, 115, 118, 119
by causes 106
figure showing 104
percentage 106
figures showing 104,114
per 1,000 employed 106
figures showing 93, 115
See also States listed.
Index.
Page.
Bituminous coal mines , machine mining 107
percentage under inspection 105
production per man 105
figure showing 119
Black Diamond mine, Nortonville, Cal., explosion 69,153
Black Heath mine, Richmond, Va., explosion 69,325
Black powder. See Explosives.
Blanche mine, Standard, W. Va., explosion. 70, 342
Blocton No. 2 mine, Alabama, explosion 70, 141
Blossburg No. 3 mine, New Mexico, explosion 71, 246
Blown-out shots, latalities from 78
Blue Canyon mine, Lake Whatcom, Wash.,
explosion. 70,333
Boiler explosions, fatalities from 14
Bonanza No. 20 mine, Arkansas, explosion. 71,148 Bond and Bruce mine, Tacoma, Va., explosion 71, 325
Boomer No. 2 mine, West Virginia, explosion 73, 342
Bottom Creek mine, Vivian, W. Va., explosion 72, 342
Bowen mine, Colorado, explosion 70,159
Braznellmine, Bentleyville, Pa., explosion. 71,298
Breese-Trenton mine, Illinois, accident 71, 172
Brookfield mine, Ohio, accident 69, 261
Browder mine, Kentucky, explosion 72, 208
Buck Mountain mine, Mahanoy, Pa., explosion 70,287
Buck Ridge mine, Shamokin, Pa., fire 69. 287
Burnett No. 5 mine, Washington, explosion 71,333
Buttonwood mine, Plymouth, Pa., explosion 1 70, 2S7
Cabin Creek mine, Kayford, W. Va., explosion 71, 342
Cages or skips, fatalities from 14, 90
Cahaba coal field, Alabama 137
Calendar year, statistics by 27-50, 133
advantage of 4, 5
See also States listed California, coal mined by hand, percentage. . 154
mined by machine, percentage 154
shot off solid, amount 154
value per ton at mine 154
coal fields in, area 135, 153
coal mines, accidents 153
days worked annually 154
disasters, list of 153
fatalities at 154
by causes 155
men employed 12, 154
mini ng machines, number 154
coal production 154
per man 154
California State Mining Bureau on production
of coal 153
Cameron mine, Shamokin , Pa. , explosion ... 72, 288
Carbon Hill mine, Virginia, explosion 72, 325
Carbon Hill No. 7 mine, Carbonado, Wash.,
explosion V0, 333
Cardiff mine, Illinois, explosion 71, 172
Page.
Carlisle mine, West Virginia, explosion 73, 342
Catsburg mine, Monongahela, Pa., explosion 70,298
Central mine, Central City, Ky. t explosion. . 72, 208 Central Slope 77 mine, Carbon, Okla., explosion 71,271
Century No. 1 mine, West Virginia, explosion 71,342
Chain-breast machines in United States, number of. 109
See also States listed. Chance, H. M. , on mining methods in anthracite coal fields 283
Chatham mine, Fanmngton, W. Va., explosion 70, 342
Cherry mine, Illinois, fire 72,172
Chesterfield mine, Richmond, Va., explosion 69,325
Chicago' and Iowa mine, Albia, Iowa, explosion 70,190
Cincinnati mine, Finleyville, Pa., explosion 72, 298
Cinderella mine, West Virginia, accident- . . 73, 342 Clear Spring mine, West Pittston, Pa., accident 71, 2S7
Clyde mine, Fredericktown, Pa., fire 71, 298
Coal, available supply of 134
mined by hand. See States listed.
mined by machines 107,108
See also States listed, shot off solid. See States listed.
value per ton at mine 10
See also States listed.
Coal cutting machines, types of 109
See also Machines named. Coal fields in the United States, area by
States 134, 135
See also States listed.
Coal-mine disasters 65
by causes 66
by number of men killed 66
list of 69
See also States listed. Coal-mine fatalities. See Fatalities and States listed.
Coal mines, changing conditions in 26
men employed 5, 12
nonfatal injuries in 96
See also Bituminous coal mines and States listed. Coal-mining machines. See Mining machines
and States listed. Coal production. See Production.
Coaldale mine, West Virginia, explosion 71, 342
Coil mine, Madisonville, Ky. , explosion 72, 208
Cokedale mme, Trinidad, Colo., explosion. . 72, 159
Coke-oven accidents, omission of 5
Coke-oven employees, omission of 5
Colorado, coal mined by hand, percentage. . . 162
mined by machine, percentage 162
shot off solid, amount 162
value per ton at mine 162
coal beds, character 156
coal fields in, area 134, 135, 156
coal mines, accidents 158
reportable 157, 158
Index.
Page. Colorado coal mines, days worked annually. 162
disasters, list of 159
fatalities at 162
by causes 164
chart showing 26
fatality rates 162
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 160
hours worked daily 160
inspection service 157
lockouts and strikes 161
men employed 12, 162
mining methods 157
mining machines, number 162
coal production 162
per death 162
per man 162
Common accidents, definition of 67
Como mine, King, Colo., explosion 70, 159
Compressed-air locomotives, in Pennsylvania 85
in West Virginia 86
Compressed-air mining machines. See Mining machines. Conyngham mine, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., accident 71, 287
explosion 69, 287
Cook & White mine, Madrid, N. Mex., explosion 70, 246
Coosa coal field, Alabama 136
Coulterville mine, Illinois, explosion 69, 172
Crested Butte mine, Colorado, explosion 69, 159
Cross Mountain mine, Briceville, Term.,
explosion 72, 306
Cuatro mine, Tercio, Colo., explosion 71,159
Cumnock mine, North Carolina, explosion. . 70, 251 Cuyler mine, Raven Run, Pa., accident... 69,287
D.
Darr mine, Jacobs Creek, Pa., explosion. . . 71, 298
Dawson mine, New Mexico, explosion 73,246
Days worked annually in coal mines 10,11
average number 64
See also States listed.
Decatur mine, Illinois, fire 71, 172
Deering No. 7 mine, Clinton, Ind., explosion 71, 181
Delayed blast, fatalities from 78
Detroit mine, West Virginia, explosion 71, 342
Diamond mine, Braidwood, 111., accident.. 69,172 Diamondville mine, Wyoming, explosions 70, 71, 350
Diamondville No. 1 mine, Wyoming, fire... 70,350
Dip of coal, fatalities from 333
Disasters, coal-mine 65
list of 69
See also States listed.
Door boys in mines, fatality rates of 94, 95
figure showing 93
Dorrance mine, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., explosion 70, 287
Dow & Milby mine, Oklahoma, fire 70, 271
Drift mines in Ohio, number of . .- 260
Drifton No. 2 mine, Freeland, Pa., accident. 72, 288 Drilling into unexploded charge, fatalities
from 78
Page. Drivers and runners in mines, fatality rates
of 94,95
figure showing 93
Dutchman mine, Blossburg, N. Mex., explosion 71,246
Dynamite. See Explosives.
E. East Brookside mine, Tower City, Pa., explosion 73,288
East Sugar Loaf mine, Stockton, Pa., explosion 70,287
Eastern interior coal field, permissible explosives used in 82
Eccles mine, West Virginia, explosion 73, 342
Echo mine, Buery, W. Va., explosion 72, 342
Eleanora mine, Dubois, Pa., explosion 71, 298
Electric dynamos, number used in Pennsylvania 85
Electric haulage in Illinois coal mines 86
Electric mining machines, number used in
Ohio 87
Electric locomotives, number used in Ohio. . 87
in Pennsylvania 85
in West Virginia 86
Electricity, accidents due to 87, 89, 90
See also States listed. Employees in and about coal mines. See States listed.
surface and underground 6
under inspection, percentage 10
See also States listed.
Englevillemine, Colorado , fire 71, 159
Ernest No. 2 mine, Pennsylvania, explosion . 72, 298 Eureka No. 37 rrine, Windber, Pa., explosion 72,298
Exceptional accidents, definition of 67
Exeter mine, West Pittston, Pa., accident.. 70,287
Explosions, gas and dust 73
list of 69
Explosives accidents 16
by States and causes 78
in anthracite mines 79
in machine mining 116, 121, 124, 127, 130
fatalities from 16,77,78
figure showing 80
fatality rates 16
quantity used by States 80,81
figure showing 80
short-flame, used in coal mines 81,82
See also Permissible explosives.
Fair Lawn mine, Scranton, Pa., explosion. . 69, 287 Falling down shaft or slopes, number killed
by 90
Falls of roof and pillar coal, fatalities from
Fatalities and machine mining 107
at surface shops and yards 91, 92
based on percentage of machine-mined
coal 110, 120, 123, 126, 129
by calendar years 4,7,8,9,27-59
by causes 14, 16, IS, 19, 27-59
by common and exceptional accidents. . . 67 figure showing ti8
Index.
Page.
Fatalities, by occupation 92
figure showing 93
by States 7,8,9,18
chart showing 26
from electricity 87, 88
from explosives 77
from falls of roof 82,83
from gas and dust explosions 74
from mine fires 75
under inspection service 10
See also States listed. Fatality rates Dased on machine-mined
coal 117, 120, 123, 126, 129
figure showing 114
on 2,000-hour workers 61
on underground and surface employees 19
bases for computing 60, 62
compared on uniform time basis 62
effect of machine mining on Ill
increase with changing conditions 26
increase with length of exposure 64
per 1,000 employed 10,16
figure showing 115
per 1,000,000 tons mined '0
See ateo States listed. Ferguson mine, Connellsville, Pa., explosion 71,293 Fidelity No. 1 mine, Stone City, Kans.,
explosion 71,198
Fire bosses and assistants, fatality rates oi. . . 94, 95
figure showing 93
Flying pieces of rock or coal, fatalities from. . 78
Franklin mine, Washington, fire 70, 333
Franklin No. 2 mine, Johnstown, Pa., explosion 72,298
Fraterville mine, Coal Creek, Term., explosion , 70, 306
Frontenac shaft No. 2, Kansas, explosion.. 69,198 Fuller mine, Searight, Pa., explosion 71, 298
G.
Gas and dust explosions 14, 16, 23, 73
by States 74
fatality rates, by years 16
in machine mining 116, 121, 124, 127, 130
Gasoline locomotives, number used in West
Virginia — . 86
Gaylord mine, Plymouth, Pa., accident 70, 287
Georgia, coal mined by hand, percentage 168
value per ton at mines 168
coal fields in, area 134, 166
coal-mines, accidents 166, 167
days worked annually 168
fatalities at 168
by causes 169
fatality rates 168
men employed 12, 168
coal production 168
per death 168
per man 168
Glassmire & Heins mine, Middleport, Pa.,
accident 69,287
Grapevine mine, Wilcoe, W. Va., explosion. 71, 342 Great Britain, electricity in mines, accidents
from 89,90
Great Britain, mine fires 76
Page. Great Western No. 2 mine, Wilburton, Okla.,
explosion 72, 271
Greeno mine, Tacoma, Va., explosion 72, 325
Grindstone mine, Pennsylvania, explosion. . 70, 298
H.
Hailey-Ola No. 1 mine, Halleyville, Okla.,
fire 72,271'
Hanna No. 1 mine, Wyoming, explosion and
fire 71,72,350
Hartshorne No. 1 mine, Oklahoma, accident . 70, 271
Harwick mine, Cheswick, Pa., explosion 71,298.
Hastings mine, Colorado, explosion 72, 159
Haulage systems in coal mines 83-
Hazel Kirk No. 2 mine, Monongahela, Pa.,
explosion 71, 298
Hazel mine, East Canonsburg, Pa., accident 72, 298 Heins & Glassmire mine, Middleport, Pa.,
accident. . : 69, 287
Henry Clay mine, Shamokin, Pa., explosion 69,70,287
Herrin Mine A, Illinois, explosion 72, 172
Hill Farm mine, Dunbar, Pa., fire 69, 298
Holden mine, Taylor, Pa., explosion 71, 288
Horton mine, West Virginia, fire 71, 342
Hours worked annually, by States 61
daily 64
See also States listed.
Idaho, coal field in, area 135
Illinois, coal mined by hand, percentage 174
mined by machine, percentage 174
shot off solid, amount 174
value per ton at mine 174
coal beds, character 170
coal fields in, area 134, 170
coal-mines, accidents 172
accidents reportable 171
days worked annually 174
disasters 172
fatalities at 174
by causes 176
chart showing 26
fatality rates 174
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 173
haulage systems 86
hours worked daily 173
inspection service 171
lockouts and strikes 173
men employed 12, 174
mining machines, number 108, 174
mining methods 170
quantity of explosives used 81
coal production 174
per death 174
per man 174
Imperial mine, Belle Valley, Ohio, explosion 72, 261
Indiana, coal mined by hand, percentage 184
mined by machine, percentage 184
shot off solid, amount 184
value per ton at mine 184
coal beds, character 178
Index.
Page.
Indiana, coal fields in, area 134, 178
coal-mines, accidents 181
accidents reportable 179
days worked annually 184
disasters 179
fatalities 184
by causes 186
chart showing 26
fatality rates 184
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 182
hours worked daily 182
inspection service 179
lockouts and strikes 1 83
men employed 12,184
mining machines, number 108, 184
mining methods 179
coal production 184
per death 184
per man 184
Injuries, nonfatal, coal mines 96
metal mines 96
parts of body injured 97, 98
figure showing 98
Inspection service. See Mine inspection service and States listed.
Iowa, coal mined by hand, percentage 192
mined by machine, percentage 192
shot off solid, amount 192
value per ton at mine 192
coal beds, character 1 88
coal fields in, area 135, 188
coal mines, accidents 190
accidents reportable 189
days worked annually 192
disasters 190
fatalities 192
by causes 194
chartshowing 26
fatality rates 192
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 191
hours worked daily 190
inspection service 189
lockouts and strikes 191
men employed 12, 192
mining machines, number 108, 192
mining methods 188
coal production ig2
per death 192
per man 192
Iowa and Chicago mine, Albia, Iowa, explosion 70,190
Issaquah No. 4 mine, Washington, accident . 70, 333
J.
Jed mine, West Virginia, explosion 72, 342
Jermyn No. 1 mine, Rendham, Pa., fire 70, 287
Jersey No. 8 mine, Ashley, Pa., explosion. . . 69, 287 Johnson No. 1 mine, Priceburg, Pa., explosion 71, 288 Johnston City mine, Illinois, explosion 71, 172
Kansas, coal mined by hand, percentage 200
mined by machine, percentage 200
shot off solid, amount 200
value per ton at mine 200
Page.
Kansas, coal beds, character 196
coal fields in, area 135,196
coal mines, accidents 198
accidents reportable 197
days worked annually 200
disasters . 198
fatalities 200
by causes 202
chart showing 26
fatality rates 200
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 199
hours worked daily 199
inspection service 197
lockouts and strikes 199
men employed 12, 200
mining machines, number 108, 200
mining methods 196
coal production 200
per death 200
per man 200
Kansas & Texas No. 44 mine, Huntington,
Ark., explosion 70,148
Kaska William mine, Middleport, Pa., accident 69,70,287
Keith & Perry No. 6 mine, Rich Hill, Mo.,
explosion 69, 230
Kemmerer No. 4 mine, Wyoming, explosion . 72, 350 Kentucky, coal mined by hand, percentage ... 210
mined by machine, percentage 210
shot off solid, amount 210
value per ton at mine 210
coal beds, character 204
coal fields in, area 134, 204
coal mines, accidents 207
accidents reportable 206
days worked annually 210
disasters, list of 208
fatalities 210
by causes 212
chart showing 26
fatality rates 210
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 209
hours worked daily 208
inspection service 206
lockouts and strikes 209
men employed 12, 210
mining machines, number 108, 210
mining methods 205
coal production 210
per death 210
per man 210
Kettle Creek mine, Clinton County, Pa.,. ex- Plosion 69,298
Kohinoor mine, Shenandoah, Pa., explosion. 69, 287 Krebs No. 11 mine, Oklahoma, explosion... 70,271
Labor at coal mines 12
See also States listed.
Laborers in mines, fatality rates of 93 94
figure showing 93
Lackawanna No. 4 mine, Wehrum, Pa., ex- Plosion 72,298
Lance mine, Ply mouth, Pa., explosion ... 70, 71 , 287 Laurel mine, Pocahontas, Va., explosion 69, 325
Index.
Lawson mine, Black Diamond, Wash., explosion 71,72,333
Layland No. 3 mine, West Virginia, explosion 73, 342
Lehigh No. 4 mine, Lansford, Pa., explosion. 73, 288
Letter mine, Zeigler, 111., explosion 71, 172
Lemont and Superba mine, Evans Station,
Pa., accident 72, 298
Leyden mine, Colorado, fire 72, 159
Lick Branch mine, Switchback, W. Va., explosion 72, 342
Lick Fork mine, Thacker, W. Va., accident . 72, 342 Little Cahaba mine, Piper, Ala., explosion. . 71, 141 Lockouts and strikes. See States listed. Locomotives. See Compressed-air locomotives; Electric locomotives; Gasoline locomotives; Mine cars and locomotives.
Locust Gap mine, Pennsylvania, fire 71, 287
Long-wall machines in use, number of 109
See also States listed.
Lorentz mine, Penco, W. Va., explosion 71, 342
Lost Creek No. 2 mine, Oskaloosa, Iowa, explosion . . . : 70, 190
Luke Fidler mine, Shamokin, Pa., explosion 71, 287
fire 70,287
Lykens Valley mine, Shamokin, Pa., explosion 69, 287
Lytle mine, Minersville, Pa., accident. . . 70, 71, 287
M.
McAlester No. 5 mine, Alderson, Okla., accident 70,271
Machine feed wire, contact with, fatalities
from 88
Machine loaders, fatality rates of 95
figure showing 93
Machine mining 107
See also Mining machines.
Machine runners, fatality rates of 95
figure showing 93
Machine scrapers, fatality rates of 95
figureshowing 93
Maitland mine, Walsenburg, Colo., explosion 71, 159
Mammoth mine, Mount Pleasant, Pa., explosion 69,298
Maple Hill mine, Mahanoy City, Pa., explosion 71,287
Mariana mine, Pennsylvania, explosion. . .. 72,298
Marvine mine, Scranton, Pa., accident 69,
Maryd mine, Pennsylvania, accident 73, 288
Maryland, coal mined by hand, percentage. . . 218
mined by machine, percentage 218
shot off solid, amount 218
value per ton at mine 218
coal beds, character 213
coal fields in, area 134,213
coal mines, accidents 215
accidents reportable 215
days worked annually 218
disasters 215
fatalities at 218
by causes 220
chart showing , 26
Page.
Maryland coal mines, fatality rates 218
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 216
hours worked daily 216
inspection service 215
lockouts and strikes 217
men employed 12,21S
mining machines, number 108, 21S
mining methods 214
coal production 218
per death 218
per man 218
Maryland Geological Survey, on coal beds of
Allegany County, Md 213
Men employed in anthracite mines 290
bituminous coal mines 105
figure showing 112, 114
coal mines, by States 5, 12
figure showing 21
relation to percentage of machine-mined
coal Ill, 120, 123, 126, 129
See also States listed.
Metal mines, nonfatal injuries in 96
Michigan, coal mined by hand, percentage. - . 226
mined by machine, percentage 226
shot off solid, amount 226
value per ton at mine 226
coal beds, character 222
coal field, area 134, 222
coal mines, accidents 223
accidents reportable 223
days worked annually 226
fatalities at 226
by causes 227
chart showing 23
fatality rates 226
chart showing 25
on 2,000-hour basis 224
hours worked daily 224
inspection service 223
lockouts and strikes 225
men employed 12, 226
mining machines, number 108, 226
mining methods 222
quantity of explosives used 81
coal production 226
per death 226
per man 226
Midlothian mine, Coalfield, Va., explosion. . 69, 325
Midvale mine, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., fire 70, 287
Milby & Dow mine, Dow, Okla., fire 70, 271
Mill Creek mine, Pennsylvania, explosion. . . 69, 298 Mine cars and locomotives, fatalities from. 16, 23, 84
by States 84
fatality rate per 1 ,000 employed 16, 84
See also States listed. Mine disasters. See coal-mine disasters and States listed.
Mine fires from spontaneous combustion 76
list of 75
Mine foremen and assistants, fatality rates
of 93,94,95
figure showing 93
Mine inspection service, coal-mining industry
covered by, percentage 20
employees under, percentage 10
fatalities under 10,105
Index.
Page.
Mine inspection service, growth of 25
production of coal under 10, 105
See also States listed.
Mineral No. 16 mine, Kansas, explosion 72, 198
Miners, fatality rates of 93, 94, 95
figure showing 93
Mining industry, accidents not attributable
to 5
Mining machines, accidents 88
by principal causes . 88, 110, 121, 124, 127, 130
coal mined by 107, 108
fatality rates 117, 120, 123, 126, 129
fatality rates affected by Ill
number, by States 108
types of, number 109
See also machines named and States listed. Mining methods. See States listed.
Missouri, coal mined by hand, percentage 232
mined by machine, percentage 232
shot off solid, amount 232
value per ton at mine 232
coal beds, character 228
coal fields in, area 135, 228
coal mines, accidents 230
accidents reportable 229
days worked annually 232
disasters 230
fatalities 232
by causes 234
chart showing 26
fatality rates 232
chartshowing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 231
hours worked daily 231
inspection service 229
lockouts and strikes 231
men employed 12, 232
mining machines, number 108, 232
mining methods 228
coal production 232
per death 232
per man 232
Monongah mine, West Virginia, explosion. . . 71, 342 Montana, coal mined by hand, percentage. . . 240
mined by machine, percentage 240
shot off solid, amount 240
value per ton at mine 240
coal beds, character 235
coal fields in, area 135, 235
coal mines, accidents 237
accidents reportable 236
days worked annually 240
disasters. 237
fatalities at 240
by causes: 242
chart showing 26
fatality rates 240
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 238
hours worked daily 238
inspection service 236
lockouts and strikes 239
men employed 12, 240
mining machines, number 108, 240
mining methods 236
Page.
Montana, coal production 240
per death 2-iO
per man 210
Moody mine, South Carrollton, Ky., explosion 72, 208
Morgan mine, Black Diamond, Wash., explosion 71, 333
Mount Lookout mine, Wyoming, Pa., explosion 72,288
Mulga mine, Alabama, explosion 72, 73, 141
N.
Nanticoke No. 1 mine, Pennsylvania, accident 69,287
Naomi mine, Fayette City, Pa., explosion. . 71, 298
Neilson mine, Shamokin, Pa., fire 70, 287
Nelson mine, Dayton, Tenn., explosion 70, 306
Newburg mine, West Virginia, explosion. . . 69, 342 Newland-Spencer mine, Mulberry, Kans., accident 73, 198
New Mexico, coal mined by hand, percentage . 248
mined by machine, percentage 248
shot off solid, amount 248
value per ton at mine 248
coal beds, character 243
coal fields, area 134, 135, 243
coalmines, accidents 245
accidents reportable 245
days worked annually 248
disasters 246
fatalities 248
by causes 250
chart showing 26
fatality rates 248
chartshowing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 247
hours worked daily 247
inspection service 245
lockouts and strikes 247
men employed 12, 248
mining machines, number 108,248
mining methods 244
coal production 248
per death 248
per man 248
North mine, Royalton, 111., explosion 73,172
North Carolina, coal, value per ton at mine. . 252
coal beds, character of 251
coal fields in, area 134, 251
coal mines, accidents reportable 231
days worked annually 252
disasters 211
inspection service 251
men employed 12, 252
coal production 252
per man 232
North Dakota, coal mined by hand, percentage 236
mined by machine, percentage 256
shot off solid, amount 256
value per ton at mine 256
coal fields of, area 135, 153
coal mines, accidents 254
accidents reportable 253
days worked annually 256
Index,
North Dakota coal mines, fatalities at 256
by causes 257
chart showing 26
fatality rates 256
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 255
hours worked daily 254
inspection service 253
lockouts and strikes 255
men employed 12, 256
mining machines, number 108,256
mining methods 253
coal production 256
per death 256
per man 256
Northern Appalachian coal fields, permissible
explosives used 82
XorthwesternNo. 1 mine, Ravensdale, Wash.,
explosion 73, 333
Northwestern No. 4 mine, Roslyn, Wash.,
explosion 72,333
Norwood, C. J., on mining methods in Kentucky 205
Nottingham mine, Plymouth, Pa., explosion. 69,
Objects falling down shaft or slopes, number
killed by 14,90
Occupation, fatalities classified by 92
figure showing 93
O'Gara No. 9 mine, Harrisburg, 111., explosion 72, 172
Ohio, coal mined by hand, percentage 264
mined by machine, percentage 264
shot off solid, amount 264
value per ton at mines 264
coal beds, character 258
coal field in, area 134, 258
coal mines, accidents 261
accidents reportable 260
days worked annually 264
disasters 261
electric haulage motors, number of . . . 87
fatalities 264
by causes 266
chart showing 26
fatality rates 264
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 262
hours worked daily 262
inspection service 260
lockouts and strikes 263
men employed 12, 264
method of ventilation 260
mining machines, number 108, 264
mining methods 259
number in operation 260
quantity of explosives used 81
coal production 264
per death 264
per man 264-
Oklahoma, coal mined by hand, percentage. . . 274
mined by machine, percentage 274
shot off solid, amount 274
value per ton at mine 274
coal beds, character 268
Page.
Oklahoma, coal field in, area 135, 268
coal mines, accidents 270
accidents reportable 270
days worked annually 274
disasters 271
fatalities 274
by causes 276
chartshowing 26
fatality rates 274
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 272
hours worked daily 272
inspection service 270
lockouts and strikes 273
men employed 12, 274
mining machines, number 108, 274
mining methods 269
coal production 274
per death 274
per man 274
Old Dominion No. 1 mine, Carbon Hill, Va.,
explosion 72, 325
Oregon, coal, value per ton at mine 279
coal field in, area 135, 277
coal mines, accidents 277
accidents reportable 277
days worked annually 279
fatalities 279
bycauses 280
fatality rates 279
inspection service 277
lockouts and strikes 278
men employed 12, 279
mining methods 277
coal production 279
per death 279
per man 279
Orenda mine, Boswell, Pa., explosion 73, 298
Orenda No. 2 mine, Boswell, Pa., explosion.. 72, 298 Oswald mine, Princeton, Ind., explosion. 70, 71, 181 Ott No. 20 mine, Elk Garden, W. Va., explosion 72,342
Otto Red Ash mine, Branch Dale, Pa., explosion 69, 287
P.
Pacific Coast coal fields, area 135
permissible explosives used 82
Palos No. 3 mine, Alabama, explosion 72, 141
Panama mine, Moundsville, W. Va., explosion 72, 342
Pancoast-Price mine, Throop, Pa., fire 72, 288
Parker, E. W., on California coal fields 153
on Georgia coal fields 166
on number of working hours at coal
mines 62
on Pennsylvania bituminous coal fields. 294
Parrel mine, West Virginia, explosion 71, 342
Parrishmine, Plymouth, Pa., explosion 72,288
Patterson No. 2 mine, Elizabeth, Pa., accident 73, 298
Payroll basis for computing fatality rates 60
at mine 290
coal beds, character 231
coal fields, area 134, 281
Index.
accidents reportable 284
air compressors, number of 85
days worked annually 290
disasters 287,288
electric dynamos, number of 85
explosives used, quantity of 80, 82
fatalities 290
by causes 292
chart showing 26
from explosives 79
fatality rates 290
by occupation 93, 94
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 288
horses and mules, number of 84, 85
hours worked daily 288
inspection service 284
lockouts and strikes 289
locomotives in, number of 84, 85
men employed 12, 290
mining methods 282
coal production 290
per death 290
per TnftTi 290
hand, percentage 300
mined by machine, percentage 300
shot off solid, amount 300
value per ton at mine 300
coal beds, character 294
coal fields, area 134,294
coalmines, accidents 297
accidents reportable 296
air compressors, number of 85
days worked annually 300
disasters 298
electric dynamos, number of 85
explosives used, quantity of 80
fatalities at 300
by causes 302
chart showing 26
fatality rates 300
by occupation 93,95
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 299
horses and mules, number of 84, 85
hours worked daily 299
inspection service 296
lockouts and strikes 299
locomotives, number of 84, 85
men employed 12,300
mining machines, number of 108, 300
mining methods 295
coal production 300
per death. 300
per man 300
Percentage basis for computing fatality rates . 60 coal mined by hand. See States listed, mined by machine. See States listed.
produced under inspection 10
shot off solid. See States listed, coal-mining industry under inspection. . 10,20
employees under inspection 10
fatalities from principal causes 16
Page. Permissible explosives used in Pennsylvania
coal mines 80
in various coal fields 81, 82
See also Explosives. Perry & Keith No. 6 mine, Rich Hill, Mo.,
explosion 69,230
Personal element relating to mine accidents 4
Pick machines in United States coal mines,
number of 109
See also States listed.
Pitch of coal seams , fatalities from 333
Pittston No. 14 mine, Pennsylvania, explosion 72, 288
Plateau coal field, Alabama 138
Plymouth No. 2 mine, Pennsylvania, explosion 69, 287
Pocahontas mine, Virginia, fire and explosion 70, 71, 325
Port Royal No. 2 mine, Pennsylvania, explosion 70, 298
Poteau No. 6 mine, Witteville, Okla., explosion 71, 271
Potts mine, Pennsylvania, explosion 69, 287
Potts mine, Locust Dale, Pa., explosion 69,287
Premature blasts, fatalities from 78
Preston No. 3 mine, Girardville, Pa., accident 69,287
Price-Pancoast mine, Throop, Pa., fire 72,288
Primero mine, Colorado, explosion 71, 72, 159
Principal causes of accidents, percentage killed, and number killed per 1,000
employed 16, 19
Production, anthracite coal 290
bituminous coal 105
coal, by machines 110,111
by States 20
in United States, 1807 to 1914 10
per death 10
per man 10, 20, 105
under inspection service 10
See also States listed. Prospect mine. Wilkes-Barre, Pa., accident 72, 73, 288
Providence No. 3 mine, Kentucky, explosion 72, 208
R.
Rachel and Agnes mine, Marianna, Pa., explosion 72, 298
Radial axe or post machines in United States,
number of 109
See also States listed. Red Ash mine, West Virginia, explosion ... 70, 342 Red Ash and Rush Run mine, Red Ash,
West Virginia, explosion 71, 342
Red Canyon mine, Wyoming, explosion ... 70, 350
Red Lodge mine, Montana, fire 71, 72, 237
Reportable accidents. See States listed. Richardson mine, Glencarbon, Pa., accident 70, 287
Richland mine, Dayton, Tenn., explosion. . 70,306
Richmond coal basin, Virginia 323
Robbinsmine, Ohio, explosion 69,261
Rock Castle mine, Alabama, explosion 73, 141
Index.
Page. Rock Island No. 8 mine, Hartshorne, Okla.,
explosion 72, 271
Rocky Mountain coal fields, area 135
permissible explosives used 82
Rolling Mill mine, Johnstown, Pa., explosion 70,71,298
Roof, falls of 82, 83
Rope system of haulage, Illinois mines 86
Roslyn mine, Washington, explosion 70,333
Royalton No. 1 mine, Illinois, explosion 73, 172
Rush Run and Red Ash mine, Red Ash,
West Virginia, explosion 71, 342
S.
St. Paul No. 2 mine, Cherry, 111., fire 72, 172
San Bois No. 2 mine, McCurtain, Okla., explosion 72, 271
San Toy No. 1 mine, Corning, Ohio, accident 71,261
Sandoval mine, Illinois, accident 71, 172
Seagraves mine, Eldorado, 111., explosion. . . 72, 172
Shaft accidents, number killed by 14,
Shaft mines in Ohio, number of 260
Shenandoah City mine, Pennsylvania, explosion 71, 287
Shoal Creek mine, Panama, 111., explosion 72, 73, 172 Shooting off solid. See States listed.
Short Creek mine, Alabama, explosion 72, 141
Short-flame explosives. See Explosives. Short-wall machines in United States, number of 109
See also Mining machines and States listed. Shot breaking through pillar, fatalities from. . 78 Skips. See Cages.
Slope mines in Ohio, number of 260
Smokeless Valley No. 1 mine, Johnstown, Pa.,
explosion 73, 298
Sonman mine, Pa., accident 71, 298
South Dakota coal field in, area of 135
South Wilkes-Barre mine, Pennsylvania, explosion 71,
72,287,288 South Wilkes-Barre No. 5 mine, Pennsylvania, explosion 72,288
South Wilkes-Barre shaft No. 3, Pennsylvania, explosion 69,70,287
Southern Appalachian coal field, permissible
explosives used 82
Spencer mine, Pottsville, Pa., explosion 69,287
Spencer-Newland mine, Mulberry, Kans., accident 73,198
Spontaneous combustion in mines, fires
caused by 76
Spring Gulch mine, Colorado, explosion 70, 159
Spring Mountain No. 1 mine, Jeanesville, Pa.,
accident 70,287
Stafford mine, West Virginia, explosion 71,342
Stag Canyon No. 2 mine, Dawson, N. Mex.,
explosion 73, 246
Starkville mine, Colorado, explosion 72, 159
Statistics of coal mines, by States 133
source and scope of 4
See also States listed.
Steam locomotives, number used in Pennsylvania 85
West Virginia 86
See also Locomotives. Stearns No. 5 mine, Kentucky, explosion. . . 71, 208 Stock, H. H., on Pennsylvania anthracite coal
fields 281
Stone Canyon mine, Chancellor, Cal., explosion 72,153
Strikes and lockouts. See States listed.
Stuart mine, West Virginia, explosion 71, 342
Suffocation by mine gases, fatalities from 14
by powder gas, fatalities from 78
Sullivan mine, Indiana, explosion 69, 181
Sumner mine, Pennsylvania, explosion 70, 298
Sunnyside mine, Evansville, Ind., explosion. 72,181
Sunshine mine, Colorado, explosion 70, 159
Superba and Lemont mine, Evans Station,
Pa., accident 72, 298
Surface accidents, by causes 14, 92
See also States listed. Surface employees, fatality rates based on . '. . 19
number of 6, 19
Surface fatalities, number of men killed and
fatality rates 16
Surface shop? and yards, accidents at 14, 91, 92
Susquehanna No. 1 mine, Nanticoke, Pa., explosion 70, 287
Susquehanna No. 4 mine, Nanticoke, Pa., explosion 69, 287
Susquehanna No. 7 mine, Nanticoke, Pa., explosion 71, 288
Sykesville mine, Pennsylvania, explosion.. . 72, 298
T.
Tamping, fatalities from 78
Tate mine, Stur,gis, Ky., explosion 70, 208
Taylor mine, Hartford, Ky., accident 72, 208
Tennessee coal mined by hand, percentage . . 308
mined by machine, percentage 308
shot off solid, amount 308
value per ton at mine 308
coal beds, character of 304
coal fields in, area 134, 304
coal mines, accidents 306
accidents reportable 305
days worked annually 308
disasters 306
fatalities 308
by causes 310
chart showing 26
fatality rates 308
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 307
hours worked daily 307
inspection service 305
lockouts and strikes 307
men employed 12, 308
mining machines, number 108,308
mining methods 304
coal production 308
per death 308
per man 308
Tercio mine, Colorado, explosion 71, 159
Index.
Page.
Texas, coal mined by hand, percentage 314
mined by machine, percentage 314
shot off solid, amount 314
value per ton at mine 314
oal beds, character 311
coalfield in, area 135,311
coal mines, accidents 312
accidents reportable 312
days worked annually 314
fatalities 314
by causes 315
chart showing 26
fatality rates 314
chart showing - - . 26
on 2,000-hour basis 313
hours worked daily 313
inspection service 312
lockouts and strikes 313
men employed 12, 314
mining machines, number 108, 314
mining methods 311
coal production 314
per death 314
per man 314
Thawing explosives, fatalities from 78
Thomas No. 25 mine, West Virginia, explosion 71,342
Tidewater mine, Vivian, W. Va., explosion. 71, 342
Toller mine, Tollerville, Colo., explosion 72, 159
Tonnage basis for computing fatality rates. . . 60 Transportation of explosives, fatalities from . 78
Trinidad coal field, Colorado 156
Tripp mine, Scranton, Pa., accident 73, 288
Trolley wire, contact with, fatalities from " 88
tool or bar striking, fatalities f rom . . . 88
Twin mine, Pittston, Pa., accident 70, 287
Two-thousand-hour workers, fatality rates
based on 61,62
number 61,62
See also States listed. Tunnel mine, Ashland, Pa., accident 69, 287
U.
Umpire mine, Brownsville, Pa., explosion. . 70, 298
Underground employees, fatality rates 19
by principal causes 19
number 6, 19
Unexploded charges, drilling into 78
Uniform time basis for computing fatality
rates 62
Union Pacific No. 2 mine, Cumberland, Wyo.,
accident 73, 350
United Coal No. 1 mine, Christopher, 111.,
explosion 72, 172
United Kingdom, See Great Britain.
United States, ooal, value per ton at mine ... 10
coal mines, disasters, list of 69
fatalities by calendar years and States ,
by causes 14
by States, 1839 to 1914 7, 8, 9
chart showing 26
men employed, by States 12
mining machines, number 108
coal production 10
Page. United States Geological Survey, acknowledgment to 5
coal-field areas estimated by 133
Utah, coal mined by hand, percentage 320
mined by machine, percentage 320
shot off solid, amount 320
value per ton at mine 320
coal beds, character 316
coal field in, area 135, 316
coal mines, accidents 317
accidents reportable 317
days worked annually 320
disasters 317
fatalities 320
by causes 322
chartshowing 26
fatality rates 320
chartshowing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 319
hours worked daily 319
inspection service 317
lockouts and strikes 319
men employed 12,320
mining machines, number 108, 320
mining methods 316
coal production 320
per death 320
per man 320
Ventilation of coal mines in Ohio 260
Victor American No. 3 mine, Delagua, Colo.,
Are and explosion 72,159
Virginia, coal mined by hand, percentage 328
mined by machine, percentage 328
shot off solid, amount 328
value per ton at mine 328
coal beds, character 323
coal fields, area 134, 323
coal mines, accidents 325
accidents reportable '... 324
days worked annually 328
disasters 325
fatalities 328
by causes 329
chart showing 26
fatality rates 328
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 327
hours worked daily 326
inspection service 324
men employed 12, 328
mining machines, number 108, 328
mining methods 324
coal production 328
per death 328
per man 328
Virginia City mine, Alabama, explosion 71, 141
Von Storchmine, Scranton, Pa., fire 70,287
Vulcan mine, New Castle, Colo., explosion. . . 70,
Wadesville mine, Pennsylvania, accident . . 70, 287
explosion 69, 287
Warrior coal field, Alabama 137
Index.
Warrier Run mine, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., accident 72,2S8
Washington, coal mined by hand, percentage. 336
mined by machine, percentage 336
shot off solid, amount 336
value per ton at mine 336
coal beds, character of 330
coal field in, area 135, 330
coal mines, accidents 332
accidents reportable 331
days worked annually 336
disasters 333
fatalities 336
by causes 338
chart showing 26
from dip or pitch of coal 333
fatality rates 336
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 334
hours worked daily 334
inspection service 331
lockouts and strikes 335
men employed 12,336
mining machines, number 108, 336
mining methods 331
coal production 336
per death 336
per man 336
Washington No. 5 mine, Franklin, Mo\, accident 72,215
West Bear Ridge mine, Mahanoy Plane, Pa.,
explosion 70, 287
West End mine, Mocanaqua, Pa., accident .. 69, 287 West Leisenring mine, Pennsylvania, explosion 69,298
West Pittston mine, Pennsylvania, breaker
fire 69,287
West Virginia, coal mined by hand, percentage 344
mined by machine, percent £ e 344
shot off solid, amount 344
. value per ton at mine 314
coal beds, character 339
coal fields in, area 134,339
coal mines, accidents 341
accidents reportable 340
days worked annually 344
disasters 342
fatalities 344
by causes 346
chart showing 26
fatality rates 344
chart showing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 343
haulage system 86
hours worked daily 343
inspection service 340
lockouts and strikes 343
Page. West Virginia coal mines, men employed. . 12, 344
mining machines, number 108, 344
mining methods 340
quantity of explosives used 81
coal production 344
per death 344
per man 344
Western interior coal fields, area 135
permissible explosives used 82
Western No. 5 mine, Lehigh, Okla., fire 72, 271
Whipple mine, Scarboro, W. Va., explosion. 71, 342 White & Cook mine, Madrid, N. Mex., explosion 70,246
White Ash mine, Cerrillos, N. Mex., explosion 70,246
White Ash mine, Jefferson County, Colo.,
accident 69, 159
Wilburton No. 19 mine, Oklahoma, explosion 71,271
Williamstown mine, Pa., accident 71, 287
explosion 72,288
Winter Quarters mine, Scofield, Utah, -explosion 70,318
Wyoming, coal mined by hand, percentage. . 352
mined by machine, percentage 352
shot off solid, amount 352
value per ton at mine 352
coal beds, character 347
coal fields in, area 135, 347
coal mines, accidents 349
accidents reportable 348
days worked annually 352
disasters 350
fatalities 352
by causes 353
chart showing 26
fatality rates 352
chartshowing 26
on 2,000-hour basis 351
hours worked daily 350
inspection service 348
lockouts and strikes 351
men employed 12, 352
mining machines, number 108, 352
mining methods 348
coal production 352
per death 352
per man 352
Y.
Yolande mine., Alabama, explosion. 71, 72, 141
York Farm mine, Pottsville, Pa., explosion. 70, 287 Youngstown mine, TJniontown, Pa., explosion 69, 298
Z. Zeigler mine, HI., fire and explosion 72, 172
o