TABLE X-SHOWING ACCIDENTS IN LEAD AND ZINC MINES BY COUNTIES FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1895.

JASPER COUNTY.

ACCIDENTS IN LEAD AND ZINC MINES.

The number of accidents for the year ending June 30, 1895, is in excess of the recorded number of the year previous.

This year furnishes a total of 55 accidents, of which 23 were fatal and 32 non-fatal. The year previous furnished a total of 46, of which 17 were fatal and 29 non-fatal.

The increased number of accidents this year, is in part, due to an increased production of ore, and the larger number of men employed. The chief cause of increase this year is, we think, the result of greater watchfulness and care in collecting these statistics, than heretofore exercised in the matter. Experience leads us to the conclusion that the increase is not in reality as great as our figures indicate, as we have every reason to believe that accidents have not been fully reported in the past.

In confirmation of above conclusions, my predecessor, Mr. Woodson, in his report for 1892, page 245, states: "The fact is that in a great majority of the cases herein reported, no report was sent us as is required of mine operators under the laws of this State." We have been compelled to seek our information from outside sources, and from a careful scrutiny of the newspapers of certain sections of the State.

In my letter transmitting my report for 1893, I had the following reference to accidents: "The number of accidents will be found very small in proportion to the number of men employed. It, in fact, includes only those reported voluntarily. Not being in office at all during the year for which this report is made, I could not secure more information."

Again, in my report for last year, page 265, I called attention to this subject as follows:

While this table is to the best of my knowledge correct, it is very probable that a number, especially non-fatal accidents are unreported. One reason for this is, the fact that the most of the mining, especially in the Southwest, is done by sub-lessees, and when an accident happens to a man in a mine so operated, the mine-owner seldom hears of it, and consequently no report is made to me.

From the above it will be noticed that the results attained in securing statistics relative to fatalities in lead and zinc mines, have been arrived at under difficulties and with an element of uncertainty as to correctness associated with all former years.

The following table shows the number of tons of ore mined for each life lost during the past five years, based upon the records arrived at under the circumstances as above described:

For the year 1891 there were 11,723 tons mined for each life lost.

To all appearances, the above figures indicate a great increase each succeeding year in the fatalities attending the production of lead and zinc ores. Yet, how is it possible to reconcile them with the notorious fact that many more safeguards are thrown around the miner today than was ever before dreamed of; that the mines are in better working condition and supplied with many new appliances, having for their object the comfort and better protection of employees; that the operators, aside from humane considerations and from a purely business standpoint, more than ever provide against accidents to avoid expense, litigation and serious delays. I am fully convinced that the increased fatatilies are due solely to the causes mentioned. Being satisfied that there had been an indifference in reporting accidents, and knowing that operators were averse to giving prominence to accidents, under the impression that in making a report it might reflect on the mine or its management. I determined that nothing would be left undone this year to secure a correct report on accidents. To this end every operator was furnished blanks and requested to make report of any and all accidents occurring during the year. Newspaper.account of accidents were looked after and the same followed up until a report was forthcoming. In a large number of instances personal application was made for them and inquiries instituted at all mines to discover, if possible, if any accident had occurred of which we had no record. I think we got them all and feel confident that this fact accounts for the increase.

The following table shows cause of the various accidents with the percentage due to each: