The output per person employed below ground was 335.7 statute tons, and above, and below ground, 264-8 statute tons. The quantity of coal raised was 128,990 tons more than in the previous year. The value of the coal during the year is almost the same as in 1905, being 1.3 penny per ton more. Again the owners have courteously enabled me to give the value for almost the whole of the output, the value at the mine having been ascertained for 11,013,242 tons. The values for several years past are: The following table gives the monthly values, obtained from three collieries in different parts of the district, the same collieries for which similar information has previously been reported. These are the net values at the pit, taking cognisance of contracts, small coal, &c. : TABLE (5). The Act requires the owners to give the number of days on which coal was drawn. The following table gives the information for a number of the largest pits throughout the district. The total number of days worked in the year was 119 more than in the previous year, at the same selected pits. The total quantity of coal produced in Ireland was only 93,662 tons, of which 74,915 was Anthracite. This is 3,327 tons more than in 1905, which was the lowest year since 1897, when the output of coal was 135,025 tons. The value of coal at the mines throughout the year was 8s. 10-75d. per ton; the total being £41,663. The value of the fireclay was 3s. Od. per ton. The total value of the minerals was £42,620. The output per person employed below ground was 166.46 tons, per person employed above and below ground 127.44 tons. In North and East Lancashire there have been 50 fatal accidents, causing the death of 51 persons. Of this number, 46 accidents occurred underground, causing the death of 47 persons; four fatal accidents occurred on the surface, causing four deaths. In the previous year there were 28 lives lost in 28 accidents; there has therefore been an increase of 22 accidents and 23 deaths therefrom. This is a remarkable increase; however unpleasant, it must be calmly considered. The average annual loss of life during the past 10 years has been 487; the average annual loss of life during the preceding 10 years was 554. The average annual number of persons employed in each of these two periods was 42,334 in the last 10 years compared with 37,179 in the preceding period. The average annual death rate per 1,000 persons during the period from 1906 to 1897 was 115, whilst that for the period from 1896 to 1887 was 1.49. The death rate for 1906 is 1.14. The increased loss of life in 1906 is under the heads of falls of ground and miscellaneous accidents underground. Under the head of falls of ground the increase is in the number of fatalities on roads. In 1905 there were three fatalities from falls on roads, in 1906 there were 15. Under the head of miscellaneous accidents underground there was a marked increase in the deaths from sundry causes; in 1905 there were 2 deaths and in 1906 there were 8 deaths; 5 of these were deaths from blood poisoning following slight scratches, cuts, and bruises. From explosions of fire-damp or coal dust there has again been no fatality. Not only no fatality, there has not been any person injured. From falls of side there were seven accidents, causing seven deaths; from falls of roof 22 accidents, causing 22 deaths. Within shafts there were two accidents, causing two deaths. From miscellaneous causes underground there have been 15 accidents, causing 15 deaths. On the surface there were four fatal accidents, causing four deaths. Three of these were on railways and sidings. One fatality occurred in Ireland, in a shaft. A list of the fatalities is given in Appendix I. The following list classifies the fatal and the non-fatal accidents reported: SUMMARY OF FATAL and NON-FATAL ACCIDENTS, classified according to PLACE Summary of Fatal and Non-Fatal Accidents, &c.—continued. The death-rate from accidents per 1,000 persons employed in Lancashire was: below ground, 1338; above ground, 425; and below and above ground, 1.145. The death-rate in Lancashire per million tons raised, for underground workers, 3.985; above and below ground, 4:324. The number of tons of mineral raised in Lancashire per death, underground, 250,901; above and below ground, 231,222. The number of persons employed underground per life lost, 747; number employed above ground, 2,349; number employed above and below ground, 873. Hours of shift The HOURS of the SHIFT in which the ACCIDENTS HAPPENED. Fatal accidents 7 3 14 20 11 17 12 21 13 14 77 6 8 4 4 The hour of shift in which the greater number of fatal accidents, of non-fatal accidents, and of fatal and non-fatal accidents, is seen to be the 6th in each case. Of those killed, 3 were over 60 years of age (67, 65, 60); 11 were between 50 and 40; 13 were between 40 and 30; 13 were between 30 and 20; 8 were under 20 (one 19, two 18, two 17, two 16, and one 15). Of the 52 fatalities, 31 occurred to persons over 30 years of age. |