STATISTICS OF ACCIDENTS TO MINERS.

The annual report on mineral statistics, "Statistique de l'industrie minerale et des appareils à vapeur en France," contains the data relating to accidents in mines and quarries in France. The number of injuries and class of disability resulting for the period 1901 to 1908 are as follows:

CASES OF INJURY AND RATE PER 1,000 EMPLOYEES, IN MINING AND QUARRYING, CLASSIFIED BY RESULTS, 1901 TO 1908.

[Source: Statistique de l'Industrie Minérale et des Appareils à Vapeur en France et en Algérie, 1901-1908.]

Below ground:

1901.

1902.

118,743

1903.

120,941

1904.

123, 201

1.24

1905.

126, 954

21,915

1.16

1906.

129,624

26,585

117,335 19,651 167.48 164 1.40 197 1.68 18,993 161.87 297
19,313 162.65 151 1.27
20,392 168.61 144 1.19
20.746 168.39 153
172.62 147
205.09 1,235

9.53 344 2.65

222.85 156 1.17 344 2.58 28,726

244.30 149

1.05

Above ground:

.73

2.30 19,802 160.73 508
20,847 164.21
24,357 187.91

4.12

632

4.98

649

5.01

2.89 32,949

ground:

1901.

1902.

1903.

1904.

163,796 22,925 139.96 198 1.21 252
164,810
167, 213
171,792

22,793 138.30 180 1.09 267
23,574 140.98 170 1.02
399
24.026 139.86 184 1.07 358
25,610 146.28 182

1.04 351

1.62 21,725 131.82 621
2.39 22,386 133.88 619
2.09 22,910 133.36 574
2.00 24,351 139.09 726
2. 27 28.155 157.79
2.39 33,041 179.71
2.57 37,966

3.77

3.70

3.34

4.15

710

3.98

495

2.69

194.72 1,260

6.46

CASES OF INJURY AND RATE PER 1,000 EMPLOYEES, IN MINING AND QUARRYING, CLASSIFIED BY RESULTS, 1901 TO 1908-Continued.

CASES OF INJURY AND RATE PER 1,000 EMPLOYEES, IN MINING AND QUARRYING, CLASSIFIED BY RESULTS, 1901 TO 1908-Concluded.

During the period 1901 to 1908 the total number of accidents of all kinds in all the occupations included in the preceding table has increased from 94.83 cases per 1,000 employees in 1901 to 142.37 cases per 1,000 employees in 1908. As in other countries, the temporary disablements are responsible for the major part of this increase. The grand total also shows a decided increase in the rate of permanent disablements during the period. Except for the year 1906, when there were 1,235 deaths in coal mining underground, the rate of fatal cases shows a tendency to remain constant. The various groups of occupations given in the table show that the general tendencies as to increases in the accident rates have been approximately the same in all groups.

The causes of the injuries shown in the preceding table are as follows:

CAUSES OF INJURIES AND RATE PER 1,000 EMPLOYEES IN MINES AND QUARRIES, 1901 TO 1908.

[Source: Statistique de l'Industrie Minéral et des Appareils à Vapeur en France, 1901-1908.]

CAUSES OF INJURIES AND RATE PER 1,000 EMPLOYEES IN MINES AND QUARRIES, 1901 TO 1908-Concluded.

Sickness insurance in France, as far as institutions are concerned. of which the Government has taken cognizance in the way of special legislation or the granting of subsidies, may be considered under two groups, namely, the mutual aid societies and relief funds maintained by employees in certain industries or establishments, such as the miners' funds, etc.

MUTUAL AID SOCIETIES.

The mutual aid societies are the oldest and at the same time the most common institution in France for the collective assumption of the burden entailed by sickness, accident, or the infirmity of old age. They differ from the benefit societies in the United States in