systems and where the suction did not come up to specifications have made recommendations for slight changes in the system which would increase it to the necessary amount. After such changes were made the inspector would be again sent to test the system before it was accepted.

Respectfully submitted,

WILLIAM NEWELL,

Mechanical Engineer.

REPORT OF THE MINE INSPECTOR.

Hon. JAMES M. LYNCH, Commissioner of Labor:

SIR: I beg to submit my report on conditions in mines and quarries in this State for the year ending 30th of September, 1913. There were 42 mines and 155 quarries operated.

The number of persons employed during the year was greater than the previous year by 1,082, showing a total of 8,500. The increase being mostly in muckers and trammers accounts for the increase in number of accidents reported from "haulage and mine cars.'

Fatal accidents decreased from 28 (my report last year showed 27 and was subsequently increased through death of another injured person) to 21, or from 3.77 to 2.47 per 1,000 employed.

ence.

Fatalities at one of the iron mines of the State where 228 men were employed underground were unusually heavy. Four were killed two from explosives and blasting, one by skip, and one by falling into open workings. At another iron mine where an average of 653 were employed underground, the fatalities were lower than usual. One was killed by drilling into the remains of an unexploded charge; one was caught by a skip while walking from sink; one by fall of rock from roof, and one caught by axlepin of car from which he had jumped. The first accident was due to carelessness of a driller of over twenty-five years' experiThe second was due to lack of discipline by allowing persons to walk up on skip-track from new floor. The third was due to defective roof. The fourth resulted from breaking the mine rules. The fifth and sixth fatalities resulted from careless acts of the deceased. An employee, for some unknown reason, ran his hand up between the two lighting wires (within 5 feet of a lighted lamp) and took hold of the middle of three insulated cables carrying 440 volts, and 5 feet 10 inches above the floor. Subsequent tests showed that 137 volts were obtainable through the insulation at this point. A second employee, an Italian, and a number of his countrymen had an argument about the safety from shock from the insulated cable, and to prove his contention he placed his two hands on the cable and he also was killed.

The alterations and improvements made and being made at the second of the above-mentioned mines are very satisfactory. The work was commenced in June and will be completed early in 1914. In one mine, one shaft will hoist ore only, and the men will go in and out of that mine through another shaft. The latter is being equipped with a new hoisting engine for hoisting ore from new ore pocket at foot of the first and vertical half of the shaft, and one compartment is equipped with a two-deck man-cage. At foot of vertical shaft the men will be transferred to the man-cage of the inclined shaft. To hoist ore on the inclined shaft to the pocket at foot of vertical shaft a new electric hoist is being installed and a separate engine will lower and hoist men in mancage on the incline manway. The shaft also is being retimbered. In another shaft improvements are the confining of one compartment for the hoisting of ore and using the other compartment for pipes and cables. In still another shaft timbering is being repaired and a two-deck man-cage is in operation. The discarding of a four-drum hoist and making the above alterations and additions are real improvements that will minimize the risk of accidents. They represent the direct result of orders issued by the Department under date of June 4th, and it is only fair to add that these improvements go considerably beyond what was anticipated in such orders.

The percentages of fatalities from various causes were as follows:

The following Tables 1 and 2 show the number and causes of accidents, fatal and nonfatal; Table 3 shows comparative figures for 1912 and 1913:

TABLE 1.- FATAL ACCIDENTS IN MINES AND QUARRIES DURING YEAR ENDING 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1913.

To arrive at these figures a statement was secured from all operators of mines and quarries, giving the average number employed by them monthly during the year, and from these monthly averages an annual average was computed. Fatal accidents are those that cause instant death or were reported as resulting in death up to November 12th. Surface men in separators and crushers are not included as mine and quarry employees.

TABLE 2.- NONFATAL ACCIDENTS IN MINES AND QUARRIES DURING THE YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1913.

Operators have now acquired the habit of recording and reporting all accidents. In fact many reports received specify that "the accident has not resulted in loss of time to the employee." The accidents reported have not increased in relation to tonnage owing to the improved methods of quarrying and haulage.

The majority of blasting accidents occur in October and November when dynamite becomes insensitive. The introduction of nonfreezing dynamite is a good feature. Other explosive accidents and misfires are due in large part to faulty priming methods, and I much regret the lack of missionary work among blasters. The employment of incapable and irresponsible persons as blasters is a source of danger to themselves and their fellow-workmen.

The lack of a uniform system of priming induced me to submit a device for safe priming to the United States Bureau of Mines, Washington, D. C., and the report received from them expressed