broken limb, how to place an injured man on a stretcher, and how to carry him. These photographs are posted in the dry houses and in superintendents' offices and are seen daily by large numbers of men. While it can not be said that all hospitals are so complete as the one described, nor that the same interest is shown in extending its usefulness to the utmost, it must still be said that throughout the range communities the hospital service is excellent.

The doctor in charge of the hospital is the "mine physician." The method of maintaining the service is uniform throughout the ranges and is like that found in many other mining districts. From the wages of the employees is deducted $1 each month. The company selects the physician, but he is paid out of the funds collected from the men.

Single men and men with families pay the same fee, which entitles employees to hospital service not only in case of accidents, but of sickness, contagious diseases excepted. It also entitles them to medical attendance for themselves and families in their homes, except in cases of venereal diseases and of confinement. For these a charge is made, though in confinement cases the charge is nominal.

AID FUNDS AND INSURANCE.

From the earliest days on the Mesabi range some form of relief fund was provided in a few mines, though it has not been till within the past few years that the system has been generally adopted by the mining companies. In 1898 the Minnesota Iron Company, with mines on both ranges, had in operation a relief fund maintained in equal proportion by the employees and the company, the assessment being 40 cents per month per man. In case of accident pay began after five days and continued not to exceed six months at the rate of $20 per month for married men and $15 for single men. The death benefit, paid only when the death was the result of an accident, was $500, and the sum paid in case of permanent disability was from $150 to $300. The Fayal Iron Company had the same system with but slight variation in respect to the amount of benefits paid. Both companies required a formal release of the company before payment of the benefits. This requirement has been discarded by the Oliver Iron Mining Company, the successor to these companies, but in a few cases, where the plan of maintaining a joint fund is followed by the independent companies, this requirement is still made. Thus section 13 of the rules of the Cleveland-Cliffs Company, operating the Crosby mine at Nashwauk, reads as follows:

The receipt of relief of the benefit fund, in case of accident, relieves this company from all liability and is in lieu of all damages, and said company reserves the right to retain all sums due for indemnities until a release is properly executed by all persons interested in or injured by the death or disability of such employees.

The company in this case contributes 30 cents for each 50 cents paid into the fund by the men. Payments begin three days after the injury and continue during the disability, not to exceed six months, at the rate of $25 per month. The death benefit is $300. Since the company contributes only three-eighths of this, it is regarded by the employees as an injustice to require a release upon the payment of $112.50 out of the company's funds, or as an alternative the surrender of the right to participate in a fund created so largely by the men themselves. This criticism applies to very few of the Minnesota mines, since very few of the companies at the present time make any stated contribution to the relief funds. The funds provided for the relief of injured workmen and there are such funds in connection with nearly all the mines-are, with the few exceptions referred to, contributed wholly by the men. Till the middle of the year 1908, when a change of policy was adopted, to be noted later, the main features of these plans of relief were the same, though in the minor details they differed somewhat. A small sum, usually 50 cents a month, was deducted from wages and administered by a committee of officers and workmen.

The rules governing the aid fund at the mines of the Oliver Iron Mining Company seem to have been the model for other companies and may best therefore be described. These rules are uniform throughout both ranges, with slight modifications at such mines as the Fayal, which inherited certain provisions from an earlier company. The mines of the company are grouped into districts for general administrative purposes, and the aid fund is in the custody of a financial officer of the company for the whole district, though a separate account is kept with each mine. Dues are charged to each man the first day he works, the amount prior to July 1, 1908, being 50 cents per month. "Examining committees" of three members, whose duty it is to pass on all applications for aid, are appointed by the captains of various mines from among the employees. The application is accompanied by a certificate of the mine physician stating the period of disability and other details.

Payments from the fund are made as follows: In case of disability caused by injuries received in the course of their employment the men receive $25 per month. The "said payment shall commence on the fifth day after the person injured has been put under the care of the mine physician, and shall continue only until such measure of health as is possible under the care of the mine physician has been established, and in no case for a longer period than a term of six months." In case of death the benefit is $300, and in case of loss of sight or when "so crippled in limb as to be wholly or partially and permanently unfitted for any labor whatever thereafter, he shall receive the sum of $240 in full and these amounts shall be in lieu

of all monthly compensation, and when made, all obligations on the part of the aid fund and treasurer thereof for account of such contributions shall cease." If monthly payments have been made these are deducted from the $240. Certain rules control the committee in allowing claims. It must decide that the injured person was in discharge of duty" and that the accident, injury or death was not during or occasioned by drunkenness, breach of the peace, violation of or attempt to violate the laws of the land." Members who disobey certain mine rules, as that against riding on a skip or bucket, or as to the manner of removing a charge in case of a "missed hole," are declared not entitled to benefits. These rules, however, are included in the regulations primarily as a means of discipline and are judiciously administered in the interest of the mine and its workmen.

The financial operations of the miners' aid fund of the Oliver Iron Mining Company's mines on the Vermilion range, in the Hibbing district, and in the Adams-Spruce district during the years 1904 to 1908, inclusive, are given in the table which follows:

FINANCIAL OPERATIONS OF THE MINERS' AID FUND OF THE OLIVER IRON MINING COMPANY'S MINES IN THREE DISTRICTS, BY YEARS, 1904 TO 1908.

The mode of providing these funds is not so generous on the part of the operators as it is on the part of certain coal-mining companies where the operators contribute to the maintenance of the funds. Nevertheless the plan has been of great service to the workmen.

They generally recognize the fact, and it is only occasionally that protests against the deductions from wages have been made. Complaint is often heard, however, because there is no indemnity for the first five days' loss of time. The rules of some companies provide for payments to begin with the date of disability, in case the disability extends beyond five days, but not otherwise. In the summer of 1908 a change of policy was inaugurated by a large number of the independent companies, out of which some interesting developments may be expected. The change was brought about in connection with the problem of liability insurance, which was then before the mining companies.

Nowhere is the unsatisfactory working of the employers' liability law more clearly seen than on the iron ranges of Minnesota. Here is an industry in which the hazard is great and accidents frequent, while the workmen are geographically compact and the means of communicating news about accidents are naturally good. The workmen, it is said, are further improved by organization. It is charged by the employers that an industry has been organized for exploiting the operators, and the miners, too; that as soon as an accident occurs communication is set up with the injured for the purpose of making a case against the company if one does not already exist. The countercharge is made that the agents of the company obtrude themselves upon the injured person when he is still weakened and dazed, and that statements are secured from him, often through an interpreter, as to the way the accident occurred, which are later used to defeat his just claims for damages. If the workman does not seek, or accept, the services of a lawyer, he is at a great disadvantage in dealing with the company. If he does employ a lawyer it is usually on the 50 per cent basis; and even if judgment is in favor of the plaintiff the loss of time and personal expenses while attending court greatly reduce the amount he receives. Typical cases may be recited. A man had his eye put out by a blast left carelessly by the preceding crew. The company would make no settlement, and he sued for $2,000. He was then offered $100 by the company. He got judgment for $500, half of which went to the lawyer. A man sued for $20,280 for injuries and on a second trial got $500, half of which went to the attorney. For cases settled out of court the attorney's fee may be less, but the workman has to spend in such cases a large share of what is due him to get the remainder. Some companies settle as many cases out of court as possible; others follow the policy of carrying them through the courts.

The United States Steel Corporation has always carried its own insurance, and the business of the independent operators has been divided among several liability companies, who have found it necessary during the past two years to increase their rates.

Beginning with July 1, 1908, an accident insurance company entered into a working agreement that has new features in it so far as the ranges are concerned. The mining companies, acting as trustees for their employees, take out a "workmen's collective" policy and use the dues formerly administered by the joint committee for relief to pay the premiums. The dues have been increased to 75 cents per month, and this sum paid as premiums secures to the workmen the following benefits, now called "insurance:"

Clause A.-If the death of any employee shall result within ninety days from such injuries independent of all other causes, the company will pay to the assured a sum equal to twenty-six (26) weeks' wages, computed at the rate per week received by such injured employee at date of accident, but such sum shall not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars.

Clause B.-If any employee shall within ninety days, as the result of such injuries independent of all other causes, lose by actual separation at or above the wrists or ankles both hands or both feet, or one hand and one foot, or shall irrecoverably lose the sight of both eyes, the company will pay the sum as provided for in clause A.

Clause C.-If any employee shall within ninety days, as the result of such injuries independent of all other causes, lose by actual separation at or above the wrists or ankles one hand or one foot, the company will pay one-third the sum as provided for in clause A.

Clause D.-If any employee shall within ninety days, as the result of such injuries independent of all other causes, irrecoverably lose the sight of one eye, the company will pay in satisfaction of all claims for such injury a sum equal to one-eighth the sum as provided in clause A, but not exceeding two hundred dollars.

Clause E.-If such injuries independent of all other causes shall immediately, continuously and wholly disable and prevent such employee from engaging in any work or occupation for wages, the company will pay the assured an amount equal to one-half his usual weekly wages for the period of such disability beginning with the sixth day of such disability, not exceeding twenty-six weeks in respect of any one accident; but such sum shall not exceed five hundred dollars in respect of any one injured person during the policy year.

Certain advantages, it is said, accrue to the men by this new plan. It is said in the first place that an increased insurance is given. Under the old plan the death benefit was in nearly all cases $300. For those whose wages amount to more than $600 per year the benefit is increased; and nearly all workers are on more than a $600 basis. The following classification of men according to the wages paid during the first six months of 1909 at a group of mines operating both openpit and underground works is fairly indicative of the wages paid: