Right collar bone broken by fall of coal; caused by neglecting to sprag coal while undercutting it. Hip slightly bruised by a piece of slate with feather edge falling and striking him. Two ribs broken and shoulder bruised Collar bone broken by fall of coal which Fracture of right collar bone by a fall room. Two fingers badly bruised while unloading barrel of oil at bottom of shaft. Shoulder and hip badly bruised by a fall of slate, caused by mine carsleaving track and knocking prop out letting slate down on him. Left foot bruised by a fall of slate while Left leg broken below knee; caused by Simple fracture of right thigh. Nature and Cause of Accident. Clearfield, Leg broken and back and head bruised Right arm severely cut by a piece of NINTH BITUMINOUS DISTRICT. (FAYETTE, WESTMORELAND AND ALLEGHENY COUNTIES.) Connellsville, Pa., February 18, 1896. Hon. James W. Latta, Secretary of Internal Affairs: Sir: In compliance with the act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, relating to bituminous coal mines, approved May 15, 1893, I have the honor to herewith submit my annual report as Inspector of Mines for the Ninth District for the year ending December 31, 1895. The tables will show that during the year 5,652,813 tons of coal were mined in the district; this being an increase of 962,002 tons over the production for 1894. Also, the increase in production of coke for the year of 1895 over 1894 was 511,224 tons. The number of employes was 653 less than the preceding year. There was an increase in the average number of days worked of 623. A few of the coal miners were affected by local strikes, but, on the whole, the coal and coke men had a profitable year, and the workingmen had their wages materially advanced. There were 21 lives lost in the district during the year this being an increase of 10 over the preceding year. The number of injuries not fatal was 40, the same number as in 1894. Some of the accidents were remarkable; while some were the direct results of neglect. The table shows that the greater number of the miners killed were Americans or other English speaking people, so that ignorance of the language and of the mining laws cannot be blamed for their unfortunate end. The only advice that can be given is a caution for constant care and faithful observance of the mining laws. When men learn to value their lives more than the price of a wagon of coal the mine will lose its death record. How often does the investigation show that the last determination to set up the post for safety, or take down slate, was really the forerunner of death, and the coveted wagon is often loaded by another hand, perhaps the one that had a few moments before carried the lifeless form of a brother miner from the treacherous pit to daylight. Many new improvements have been made in the Ninth District during the year, especially in the ventilation of the mines. Five new fans have re placed defective furnaces or natural currents, three of the fans being of the Capell type. On the whole the mines are in good condition. Many of the mines described in this report are gas producers, but I failed to find gas standing in the gob. There were two fires of a local nature during the year, one at Darr mine, and the other at Port Royal mine. Neither of them occasioned any delay in work or the loss of life or limb. A description of the mines, the fatal and non-fatal accidents and the usual tables containing the statistics of the district will be found in another part of this report. All of which is respectfully submitted. The following statistics are compiled from the reports of the operators to this office for the year ending December 31, 1895: Number of mines in the district, 68 Coke manufactured and shipped in net tons, Ratio of tons of coal produced by each person em 1,985,206 ployed, 660 Number of lives lost during the year, 21 Ratio of tons of coal produced for each life lost, 282,640 Ratio of persons employed for each life lost, 428 Number of persons injured during the year, 40 Ratio of tons of coal for each person injured, 141,320 Number of persons employed for each non-fatal acci dent, 213.9 Number of days worked during the year, 14,224 225.77 Number of kegs of powder used in the mines, 14,700 623 Number of steam boilers used in the mines, 143 14 Number of steam pumps used in the mines, 59 1,735 Improvements Made in the Mines of the Ninth Bituminous District During the Year. At the Adelaide mine a new tail rope extension of 2,000 feet was made and a new brick engine house was erected, in which were located a pair of first motion engines, 20x36 inches. At Rainbow a new engine house was built, also a blacksmith house. The tail rope system was extended at this mine to another pit mouth, a distance of 1,300 feet, and a new Clark fan was erected. A new Guibal fan was installed at Banning, and a direct motion engine was attached to the same. A new flue boiler was placed at the Darr mine. At West Newton a new electric plant was built, comprising a 175 horse power engine; one boiler, 150 horse power; one engine, 15 horse power; used to move the cars on the tipple; and five new coal cutting machines of the Jeffrey type, At Forest Hill a new steel tipple with full equipment was completed. An electric locomotive, an electric pump, a new air shaft 90 feet deep and a Capell fan were the improvements at the Pacific mine. The fan is 8 feet in diameter and is run by electricity. At Ocean No. 2 a new Capell fan, 12 feet in diameter, a new boiler, a new electric pump and a blacksmith shop were the improvements of the year. A new electric pump was put in at Ocean No. 4. A new force fan, 8 feet in diameter was erected at the Baltimore |