In the table below the same accidents are classed after the order of their importance.

Nature of the Accidents.

Total of victims.

Fire-damp,

302

Fall of stones, crushing in, &c. .

292

Various causes,

171

Various accidents in the pits,

138

From ropes and chains,

99

Falling from ladders,

49

Explosion of powder,

39

Inundations,

36

Totals,

1126

In pursuance of this momentous subject of coal mining accidents, the recently published report of the mining operations between the years 1840 and 1844, inclusive, developes some interesting statistics. It is seen that while the production of coal in the kingdom has increased twenty per cent., the number of working miners has only augmented seventeen per cent.

In the same lapse of time the total number of these disasters augmented thirty-nine per cent., and that of the victims have increased only nineteen per cent. This augmentation of the number of victims. bears principally upon the wounded, which has increased fifty-two per cent., while the number of killed has diminished to fifteen per

The foregoing table, derived from the "Compte Rendu de 18391844," is arranged in the order of importance of the several classes of accidents, at separate periods of time, and calculated by the actual per centage in every thousand workmen.

The increase or decrease in each class of accidents is rendered

sufficiently apparent without further comment. We would only notice that, contrary to prevailing opinion, founded on the increased depth of the mines, the loss of life by fire damp has remarkably declined. The accidents attributable to the crushing in of the roof, the falling of stones, coal, &c., has more than proportionately increased within the same period of time.

The magnitude of the catastrophe that occurred at the coal works of L'Esperance, at length attracted serious attention. During the years 1839, 1840 and 1841, the subject of establishing relief institutions in the mining provinces was advocated by the ministry, and eventually decided by several royal decrees. The archives of the ministry contain several propositions which were made upon this subject. M. Auguste Visschers,* the present director of the administration of the Belgian mines, published an article which attracted much notice, and which was reprinted in 1843. It is entitled, "Notice of the establishment in Belgium, of Provident Institutions, caisses de prévoyance, for the benefit of the Working Miners."+

In the subjoined note, A. will be found the titles of many of the publications which appeared in Brussels, in relation to this subject, by distinguished writers. To these works we will refer those of our

* To whom the author of the present volume is personally indebted for valuable documents on this interesting branch of statistics, and from which he has not hesitated to make copious extracts.

Literally, "foresight chests;" the object being not merely to afford relief, but to encourage in the mining population habits of foresight. Mining Review, Vol. XX. p. 167, 171. Note A. Caisses de prévoyance.-The following publications treating more or less directly upon this subject, have been printed in Brussels of late years.

I. Rapport sur les Caisses de prévoyance en faveur des ouvriers Mineurs, presented to the king by M. Nothomb, Minister of Public Works, 24 June, 1839.

II. Rapport sur les Caisses de prévoyance en faveur des ouvriers Mineurs, presented to the king by M. Desmaisières, Minister of Public Works, 19 December, 1841.

III. Rapports Annuels des Commissions Administratives des Caisses de prévoyance en faveur des ouvriers Mineurs, instituées dans les Provinces de Hainaut, de Liége et de Namur, several years.

IV. Rapports sur les Institutions de Bienfaisance du Royaume; official reports in 1825, 1826, 1827, 1828, &c.

V. Essai sur les Moyens d'améliorer le sort des ouvriers, by Count Arrivabene, 1832.

VI. Des Caisses d'épargne et de leur Influence sur les Classes Laborieuses, by M. Ducpetiaux, 1831.

VII. De la Condition Physique et Morale des jeunes ouvriers et des Moyens de l'améliorer, by the same, 1843.

VIII. De l'establissement de Caisses de prévoyance en Belgique, en faveur des ouvriers Mineurs, by Auguste Visschers, 1839 et 1843.

IX. Eleven publications and reports upon the same subject, in relation to local establishments in the provinces of Liege, Hainault, Namur and Luxemburg, and the arondissements of Mons and Charleroi,-1839, 1840 and 1841.

The generous bounty of the king, appreciating the acts of heroism and courage to which the accidents in the collieries frequently give rise, has expressly instituted a medal of recompense in favour of working miners. The royal decree of the 19th October, 1840, determined the form and model of this medal, divided into two classes, [gold and silver.] Both of them bear on one side the effigy of the king, and on the reverse the insignia of the miner's profession, with these words inscribed upon the exergue:

ACTE DE DEVOUEMENT, RECOMPENCE NATIONALE.

readers who desire more detailed information on a matter of no ordinary interest.

We have only to add in this place a short resumé of the general plan and condition of these useful institutions, chiefly on authority of the reports of M. Desmaisieres and M. Visschers.

The organization of the caisses de prévoyance in the five subdivisions of the Belgian coal basins, is the same throughout. The statutes are approved by the king: the governors of the provinces preside over the administrative commissions, which are composed of "exploitants" and master workmen, and render annual accounts to governors. The resources for these institutions are derived from deductions from the wages of the men, equal to one-half per cent., and from contributions of the mine owners to the like amount.

Each year, since 1840, the legislature has voted about 42,000 francs; three important societies contribute at least 5000 francs; the provincial council at Hainault annually votes 6000 francs: to these may be added the funds derived from endowments, and from the donations and bequests of individuals. Independently of the temporary relief afforded to the widows, orphans, and dependents on the deceased, the benefits are still further extended by furnishing the means of instruction to the children. Thus, the institution, in providing for the moral wants of living generations, continue to ameliorate the future conditions of the working miner. The benefits are not limited solely to the alleviation of the physical necessities.

The beneficial effects of this system are best evidenced by the practical working since its introduction. On the 1st of January, 1842, the proportion of mining establishments, [exploitations,] associated on the foregoing principles, and the number of workmen who had enrolled themselves as members, were as follows:

Hence we perceive that the affiliated coal establishments of Belgium amounted to fifty-seven per cent. of the whole number, and the workmen attached to the provident societies were not less than eighty-one per cent. of the aggregate mining population. This is the best indication of the general approbation, by the miners themselves, as well as the owners and lessees of the collieries, of these institutions, throughout Belgium.

"Thus, happily," concludes M. Dermaisieres, "have these humane projects been most nobly brought about, by the influence of the proprietary, by the wisdom of the government, and by the parental solicitude of the sovereign.

The working miner, left to himself, has not the foresight, and does not possess the influence necessary to bring to a good issue such projects as these. It is then for the manufacturers and for the civil

administrations to set on foot the establishment of beneficent and relief funds. Modern philanthropy has nobly pleaded the cause of the workman. What is important above all, is to protect them against the reverses which continually threaten industry, in all the gigantic extension to which it has reached. It is not enough to provide for his health-for his comfort-he ought to be habituated to reflect as to the future. Once accustomed to do this, and theworkman will become more moral; because he will be persuaded that his condition will be ameliorated.

GERMANY.*

The mining art was early diffused through the states of Germany. Various edicts granted privileges, or what were then called franchises, to the cities of the mineral districts.

In the greater part of these ordinances we perceive "dispositions protectrices" to the workmen; particularly the assurance of certain aid to himself and to his family, in cases of accident.

The ordinances of 1524 and 1538, made for the mines of Hartz, [Hanover,] assured to the wounded labourer, besides medical aid, the enjoyment of his pay, for eight weeks, if the working company made profits; but only during four weeks if it lost. Hence we observe that it was the mining company on whom the expense devolved.

A similar ordinance, of the 22d July, 1564, made in the electorate of Trèves, reserved a certain weekly sum from all the workmen's wages, towards these objects. This is the earliest edict which makes mention of a reserved fund, introduced by fixed regulation.

An edict of the margrave of Brandebourg, 20th Oct. 1599, bestowed franchise and privileges on the city of Tarnowitz, in Silesia. Art. I. of this act founded a common fund, to be supported by moneys retained from the pay of the working miners. Its object was to contribute to the foundation and construction of churches and schools, and at the same time to afford Christian assistance to the wounded workmen; or, in case of death, to their widows and orphans.

We will not here enumerate all the ordinances prescribed in favour of the mining workman, and the establishment of common funds. Similar institutions exist even in SWEDEN, for the working forgemen, sick or wounded; each owner of forges, every master forgeman, contributes. The simple workman bears a reserved amount equal to the half of that which is contributed by the master forgeman.

Germany presents us, from an early period, an example of two institutions by which we might profit. 1. Mutual insurance funds for poor mines: 2. Relief societies-"caisses de secours"-for the

miners.

The first of these institutions is especially useful in the infancy of the art of working the mines; but when,--extraction having attained considerable amount, the production tends to exceed the require

* Abridged from the "Notice sur i'établissement, en Belgique, de Caisses de Prévoyance, en faveur des Ouvriers Mineurs." Bruxelles. 1843.

ments of consumption, is all insurance between the mines, all association for works of general utility superfluous? The system of insurances against risks of every kind has only been developed within a few years, in Belgium and in France. Mines are penetrated with the necessity of remedies against the evils of unlimited competition; against the disorders which it has tended to produce. Even in Belgium, already, one of our financial societies has suggested the formation of a species of institution, [syndicat,] for the industry of the high-furnaces and forges. These ideas should not be lost. Public riches as well as private fortunes suffer from the disorders of excessive competition; of an imprudent excitement, given to the productive forces. The history of late years should serve us as a warning.

"Caisses de secours" for poor miners, wounded or sick, at length exist in Belgium, but the government alone could not have established them. In Germany, the development early given to the "exploitation" of mines; the important number of workmen devoted to this branch of industry; the revenues which the princes derived from it; the influence which they enjoyed in these mine operations, by virtue of the principle which attributes them to the sovereign, [droits régalien,] have induced the depositories of power to regulate all that which concerns the extraction from the mine, the duties, and the relations of masters and servants. Sacrifices were at first alone imposed on the working companies; subsequently the workmen were called on to contribute. The princes granted subsidies or privileges to the "chests;" in many of the mines free action was reserved to the benefit fund.

These institutions were regulated by some suitable persons, chosen by the officers of the prince. The funds were inclosed in boxes having several keys. Sometimes also the workmen bore a part in the directing commission.

The working miners were not, in Germany, and are not now, abandoned by their masters: the authorities are careful to provide for their necessities. These chests were sometimes very rich. According to Jars, the revenues of the Caisse of the poor miners of the department of Freyberg, amount annually to 24,000 livres: about the year 1757, the capital, invested at five per cent. interest, was 32,646 livres.

THE PRUSSIAN STATES.

As regards legislation over the aid afforded to the workmen, in mining casualties, the articles 214 to 220, of the general code of the Prussian states, were formed, in order to generalize and reproduce the various local statutes. It is unnecessary to cite them here.

Finally, public authority has recently sanctioned regulations for the established provident institutions, in favour of working miners, in Rhenish Prussia.