Show FRIDAY EV EVENIN I I IN MINES DECREASE I Loss of Life Lie of Coal DigI Diggers Diggers Dig Dig- gers Smaller in 1921 Than Tan Since 1903 Accidents at coal mines In the United States State in 1921 resulted in Sn a smaller loss of life than In any year yer since 1903 1803 according accord ing log to a a report Just compiled by the federal federal fed federal eral bureau of ot mines Information received from all aU state mine inspectors Inspector shows a total of 1973 men inca killed aa as a compared with 2271 27 In the preceding year a reduction of ta fatalities tal tes or more than 13 per cent The decrease was wal due largely to th fact that the bituminous mines word were weri Idle Idie much of the year on al account of tho the depressed condition of Industry In general and the tho re resulting re- re suiting lack of demand for coal coal The output output output out out- put for the tho year Is estimated by by- bY bythe the United States geological survey at net tons of which tons was wa bituminous bituminous bituminous coal and tons was antra- antra cite the total production representing a 0 decrease pf f f. f more than 23 per cent below the tonnage mined In 1920 1320 for every mil mu- million milon mi- mi lion lon tons of coal produced the fatality rate for tor the past pat year was aa 3 3 99 while for 1920 1120 It was wae Paradoxical ai as ol It may seem It I is I believed beloved that tho the idleness of the mines mines' during much of the year yea while resulting In fewer lives being being lost lost nevertheless was was was' partly party ros responsible for the Increased accident acci acci- dent lent ratio rato on the basis baIs of production Underground Un Un- operations tend to be become como more hazardous during periods of Idleness Idlene s be- be causo of Increased likelihood of roof falls fals gas as accumulations etc as a well vell wel aa as a a lessening lessen lessen- ing In ng of the morale of ot tho the workmen workmen workmen- resultIng result result- Ing ng in more moro frequent accidents when the themen themon thenon non mon return to work Mo Most MIt t of the fatalities were as a usual due to 0 falls fall of roof and ad side and haulage acc acct acci dents dent The year yea was remarkably free from fromi i large argo disasters there ther being but five accidents acci acci- dents killing five or more men each re resulting re- re In a a total of thirty-four thirty deaths death These deaths constituted but 17 11 per cent of if tho the years year's eara total of 1973 fatalities a a 1 lower ower record than for any any year during the put pact decade |