Monroe County Coal Mines July 1889-June 1891

 

 

District 1 Inspector Thomas Binks, Ottumwa

Year ending June 30, 1890 17 mines 626 miners employed, 120 other employees amount paid for mining $221,975 amount paid for labor $80,338 value of product $391,149.18

Year ending June 30, 1891 18 mines 609 miners, 192 other amount paid for mining $255,773 amount paid for labor $95,508 value of product $536,172.58

New mines opened: Wapello Coal Co., No. 1 shaft at Hiteman; Soap Creek Coal Co., slope No. 2 at Foster; Wilson and Baxter's shaft at Fredric; the Thatcher mine at Seymour. The principal points where mining is done are, Albia, Hiteman, Coalfield, Hickory, Fredric, Avery and Foster.

 

Fatal Accidents

An inquisition holden at Jack Oak Mines in Monroe county, Iowa, on the 25th day of January, 1890, before H. C. Eschbach, coroner of said Monroe county, State of Iowa, upon the body of James Cullinane there lying dead by the jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed. The said jurors upon their oaths, do say: We do find that the said deceased came to his death by falling from the top of Jack Oak shaft down to the bottom below. We further find that deceased came to his death purely accidental and not through the carelessness or negligence of any person or persons connected with the management of said coal mines. We further find that due and proper diligence was exercised by the operators of said coal mines for the prevention of accidents of a similar character, and that no blame is attached to anyone. W. E. Rendall, Geo. B. Harris, Clark N. Bone Jurors Attest: H. C. Eschbach, coroner Monroe County, Iowa.

 

At an inquisition holden at Hiteman, in said county, on the 11th day of March, 1891, before H. C. Eschbach, coroner of said Monroe county, State of Iowa, upon the body of John Swanson, there lying dead, by the jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed. The said jurors upon their oaths do say, we do find that said deceased came to his death by falling of slate while working in the mines at Hiteman. In testimony whereof the said jurors have hereunto set their hands this 11th day of March, 1891. Chas. A. Sandstrom, David Coalson, M. A. Coalson, jurors. Attest: H. C. Eschbach, Coroner of Monroe County, Iowa.

 

Non-Fatal Accidents for the biennial period ending June 30, 1891

• July 13, 1889 W. J. Brothers, miner, leg broken from falling of prop stone. Residence Albia
• September 25, 1889, Ruby Miller, miner, back, face and body injured from falling black jack. Residence Avery
• January 8, 1890, A. Bradshaw, miner, leg broken in three places from mining out coal loosened by shot. Residence Albia
• January 10, 1890, A. Peterson, driver, slightly injured from pit car run over him. Residence Albia
• January 13, 1890, W. H. Burt, miner, slightly injured from falling coal. Residence Albia
• January 30, 1890, C. Holman, miner, face and arm bruised from explosion of shot. Residence Albia
• March 22, 1890, Neal Beck, miner, seriously injured from falling slate. Residence Foster
• June 3, 1890, Pete Burt, miner, back injured from falling slate. Residence Foster
• July 10, 1890, P. F. Lof, miner, back injured from falling slate. Residence Foster
• September 21, 1890, J. Mathews, driver, ankle broken from pit car. Residence Avery
• January 12, 1891, L. Johnson, cager, toe cut off when caught by cage. Residence Hiteman
• January 22, 1891, S. Williams, miner, back injured from fall of slate. Residence Hiteman
• January 22, 1891, I. Williams, miner, eye put out from flying coal, premature explosion. Residence Hiteman
• February 4, 1891, W. H. Peterson, miner, back and shoulders hurt from falling slate. Residence Hiteman
• February 18, 1891, W. Banks, miner, badly burned from explosion of shallow shot. Residence Hiteman
• February 18, 1891, B. Evans, miner, badly burned from explosion of shallow shot. Residence Hiteman
• February 18, 1891, G. Devol, miner, badly burned from explosion of shallow shot. Residence Hiteman
• February 18, 1891, G. Nightingale, miner, badly burned from explosion of shallow shot. Residence Hiteman
• March 13, 1891, C. B. Jones, driver, cut on scalp from between mule and car. Residence Hiteman.
• March 13, 1891, D. Rees, miner, cut on scalp from falling slate. Residence Hiteman
• March 14, 1891, M. Hurd, trapper, face, breast and hand burned from coal oil explosion. Residence Hiteman
• April 15, 1891, A. Johnson, miner, hips seriously hurt from falling slate. Residence Albia

 

Fifth Biennial Report of the State Mine Inspectors to the Governor of the State of Iowa, for the Two Years Ending June 30, 1891. Thomas Binks, James Gildroy, Morgan G. Thomas, Inspectors.