558 Chronicles of Science. [Oct., 



annually the sacrifice of about a tbonsancl human lives in the pro- 

 duction of upwards of 100 millions of tons of coal. 



As the last act of this drama for the year, Lord Elcho called 

 the special attention of the House of Commons to a memorial 

 signed on behalf of 30,000 miners, "praying for a special inquiry 

 into the recent accidents in coal-mines, that have resulted in great 

 loss of life." To this Mr. Secretary Bruce's reply is worthy of 

 preservation : — " It was natm'al that the workmen, whose lives were 

 constantly threatened, should look to the Government for protection 

 from dangers, and, within proper hmits, the Government ought to 

 grant them that protection ; but, at the same time, the workmen 

 ought themselves to co-operate. Their occupation was attended by 

 peculiar dangers, from which no Government could wholly exempt 

 them. By the co-operation of the men those dangers might be 

 much lessened ; but, in the absence of such co-operation, he altogether 

 despaired of seeing a reduction in the number of lives lost in con- 

 sequence of accidents in mines. The Government ought to have in 

 every locahty a certain number of competent men to hsten to every 

 warning and rumour of danger, but it was no pa>-^ of their duty to 

 examine personaUy into the state of every colliery!" It is part 

 of their duty to inspect every infant school to ascertain if the 

 teacher is competent, and to grant money for its support, but the 

 lives of colliers, often placed at the mercy of ignorant men, are of 

 no moment. So says the Home Secretary ! 



A conference of delegates from various associations of coal- 

 miners was held in Manchester on Monday the 23rd August. At 

 this meeting the delegates advocated, with their usual indiscretion, 

 the eight hours system, and, as it appears to us, indulged, most 

 unfortunately, in a series of misrepresentations regarding the 

 Government Inspectors and the Colliery owners. Desiring above all 

 things that the rights of labour should be acknowledged, we cannot 

 but feel that the endeavour now so constantly made by the delegates 

 to sow the seeds of evil between the employer and the employed is 

 only postponing for an indefinite period the end desired. The miners' 

 grievances are many ; but it must never be forgotten that the miners 

 have duties as well as grievances, and that the removal of the one 

 depends greatly upon the faithful performance of the other. At 

 the meeting to which we have referred, it was urged that all the 

 blame regarding accidents rested with the masters, who were, when- 

 ever an accident happened, to be convicted of manslaughter, if not of 

 murder. Is it possible that the speakers could have been ignorant 

 of the positive wilfulness of the men themselves, who, in defiance 

 of all the rules, act as if they believed they had some especial 

 immunity from danger? Let us hope that in time some better 

 system of training will place the coal-miner beyond the injurious 

 influences of men who so sadly misrepresent the truth. 



