, 1869-02-08

4 bill has p4ssed the House oF Repre-
senntves At Springfield requiring all
Of coal mines operated by
mtans Of shafts, where the dA'ly proaucs
is more than one hundred and fiity tons,
to sink an extra shah 10 furnish the
means Of escape tor miners In case Of
fire.
We think this bill was passed without |
due consideration. II !. is called fot By !
su existing imminent danger to the lives
Of miners. and II no better or cheaper
means can be devised to meet this dAn- !
gc1, It ought: 10 become law, but not
Otherwise We venture to say that no |
accident from fire has ever occurred in
the State Of Illinois, In or around coal
mine, that would have been prevented
CT even mlugated BY an extra ahsft-
Two-shirds Of the cost Of 4
coal mine consists Of its shAft. To re-
auire the sinking Of g second Ehatt Is
practically 10 add t8o-thisds to the cost
OF the nine without adding anything to
| It's economical value Where mine has
sbeen worked number OF yeara. and ITS
system Of "entries" and chambers has
ben planned with reference to a<stngle
shalt, the cos.o a1te1ipg it 10 afford sn'ts.
bic exit by another shafs, would, in some
cases, be g1eater than thetcu1irc ralue Of
The property. '..
l. Il is s.fe to say that the coal mines in
Illinois are not psying an average Of one
pc1 cent per anuum on the capital in
vested In them. There may be
q few infayored localities that aro paying
b fair profit but nine. out Of ten have
pAid absolutely nothing during the past
th1se years, white one.hat Of them have
heen living by assessments On the owa:
e1s. II the Legislature, by an arbitrary
act adds 0oss5 per cent 10 the cast Of ex-
is ing mines, This additional expense muss
be paid either by the miners in the form
: Ct reduced wages, or by the public
in the shape Of higher prices for coal !;
or the mines mutt stop. Northera 1Lli'
nots depends upon shaft mines alma.
wholly while Southern Illinois depends
upon them very ls1ge'y. Thete Il
probably Ten millions Of bona fde capita
/ invested In. coal mines In the Slate
Ia it wise tor the Logista.
lure to. rush through bill
| f1arght with such grave consequences t
? 20 iu1poslzntan intereat, and 80 lnsim ste
: ly connected with the fuel supply Of ii
= whole people? Would 1t be wise to pas
8 a law requiring every hotel snd boardin
Q housa keenr to erect fre-proof buitd
: I:iugs. Yet the number Of lives lost by I'll
70 in hotels AID boarding houses is IA
IS greater than Of those lost by fire in COL
shaftf. ... ..
;, Before passing the pending bill, tt
Is Legislature ought to make 3 practic
e and thorough investigation OF the sut
!" jsct. Il is easy Tor hundred men. 5
ae lecled at random and vested with It
r. legislative power OF she State. to "bres
III ttirgs" in the most innocent mauac
ae and with the best intentions. It is nj
60 easy to repair.the mischief attc1waz
- In some localities coal chats are coustsn
10 ly saturated with wate1, which herco!At.
II from :. the st1a,A through vhic
= they sre tunk.. Theae, Of course; canut
y burn under any circumstances, 1usuc
= csses TWO. shalss are no better than on
70 II the object OF the bill Is to provit
OF against the accident OF fire to the bulk
= Ing which covers the top Of the sha
u lei the law provide for 8 better class
~ buildings, tare-proof If need be.> Twen
u such buildings can he erected for Z
ne ntney that would be required TO sink
IN o1diasry coal shaff.