Mr. Southern's Report. REPORT on the INSPECTION OF MINES in the NORTHUMBERLAND, NORTH DURHAM, and CUMBERLAND DISTRICT, for the Year ended 31st December 1873.By GEORGE WILLIAM SOUTHERN, Esq. SIR, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 23rd March 1874. I HAVE the honour to submit to you, in accordance with the 48th section of the Mines Regulation Act, my annual Report as Inspector of Mines, in charge of the Northumberland, Cumberland, and North Durham District, for the year 1873; this being the first year since the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1872, came into operation. Below 1 give the number of persons ordinarily employed in and about the colleries of the district, and the quantities of minerals raised, during the year 1873, as gathered from the returns required to be made by the 38th section of the Act. The number of persons employed were: The females enumerated are, with the exception of three, all employed at the collieries in Cumberland. The minerals raised in the district during the year 1873 are as follows: These figures show an increase both in the number of persons employed, and the quantity of minerals raised; (but a somewhat less production of minerals per individual,) over last year, when there were 39,000 male persons employed in and about the collieries, and 13,010,000 tons of coal raised. I regret to say that the number of fatal accidents which have occurred in this district during the past year, is in excess of those which took place in the previous year. There being 92 fatal accidents, causing the death of 95 persons in 1873; as against 74 accidents and 77 resultant deaths in 1872. The following table shows the number and nature of the fatal accidents, which have been reported during the past three years.. It is gratifying to observe that there has not been a single fatal accident arising from an explosion of gas during the year, and I think, from the improvement which is being generally made, with regard to the ventilation and the discipline enforced in the use of safety lamps, that there is reasonable ground for the hope that this state of things may continue. It will be seen from the table that the increased number of fatal accidents has taken place, in great part, from falls of coal and stone, which is by far the most prolific source of accidents in mines; these accidents moreover are often difficult, if not impossible, to prevent, however great may be the care and attention paid, both by the workmen and officials, to the timbering of the working places. In some seams the roof is of a very treacherous nature, having fissures which cannot be observed in the course of working, and sometimes containing "cauldron bottoms," which are exceedingly dangerous, as in many instances nothing indicates their presence, neither the sight nor the sound produced by a blow or "jowl," and they drop out altogether without warning. Although the supervision with regard to timbering is, I am happy to say, as a rule, good in this district, yet I would urge the officials to still greater attention, as this is almost the only means by which these accidents can be prevented. The avocations of the several persons who received fatal injuries from this class of accidents, during the year 1873, are shown in the following table: The accidents in shafts have been of a similar number and description to those of previous years, and do not call for any special remarks here. With regard to the miscellaneous underground accidents, the only class which require any general remarks, are those arising from explosions of gunpowder; of which there have been five fatal cases, as against none in either of the two previous years; and this notwithstanding the fact that the regulations of the new Act are much more stringent, with respect to the use of powder, than those of the old Act. No regulations, however, can provide against the great carelessness and want of knowledge sometimes displayed by the workmen in its use. I take this opportunity, therefore, to impress upon colliery managers the necessity of cautioning their officials and workmen against tampering with shots in any way beyond the regular manipulation, and the great danger which is run by returning too early to a shot which has missed fire. Special care should be taken in charging and stemming shots, where naked lights are in use, and the powder is introduced loose. As a large proportion of the coal in this district is very hard, and so requires the use of much powder in working it, this subject calls for the particular attention of the managers. The accidents on the surface have been of the usual character, except that there have been three fatal cases of boiler explosions. They occurred at Seghill, Marley Hill, and Usworth Collieries. The cause of these accidents is frequently very difficult to arrive at; evidence being generally given to the effect that there was sufficient water in the boilers at the time of the explosion, and that the pressure of steam was not too great for the strength of the boiler plate. I cannot help expressing my opinion, however, that want of water, defective plates, or plates made of iron of inferior quality, and sometimes the general deterioration of the boiler, caused by the use of bad water, or its having been worked for an excesive period of time, are the principal causes of these calamities. It should be one of the most important duties of the engineer to see that his boilers are thoroughly cleaned at regular periods, and to examine them to see that they are free from defective plates and workmanship. The mastery of the whole question of boiler engineering requiring as it does such a thorough practical, as well as scientific, knowledge of the subject, I think it would be conducive to the safety of both life and property if all boilers were insured by some respectable company, who by the attention they pay to the condition of the boilers they insure (by means of periodical inspections by competent judges, who refuse to allow a boiler to work in an unsafe condition), tend greatly to lessen the risk of explosion. This ought not in any way to decrease the attention paid by the colliery engineers to their boilers; nor do I think it would have that effect, but rather the reverse. I would also warn colliery owners and managers against the use of very old boilers, as when a boiler is past a certain age it is, as a rule, untrustworthy. It must be borne in mind with regard to the increased number of fatal accidents which have occurred last year, that there was also a large increase in the number of persons employed in and about the mines; and that to some extent this increase is made up of persons altogether unaccustomed to mining operations, they being attracted to the pits by the high wages which have obtained of late, and being from their want of experience peculiarly liable to accidents. There have also been reported to me during the year 138 accidents, which did not prove fatal, causing injuries to 140 persons, and of which the ensuing is a list. I consider it an important feature in the new Act, that it renders it compulsory to report all accidents, to any person employed, arising from explosions of gas, powder, and boilers, and all serious accidents arising from any cause whatever. The investigation of these accidents has frequently led to recommendations being made, and precautions used against their recurrence, and thus in all probability prevented some fatal accidents. The following table is interesting as showing the proportion of fatal accidents in mines due to different causes, in this district and also in the whole of Great Britain, during the year 1873. |