The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-05

ence which commands the appreciation and conf
denee OF all who seek It's protection. The
necessity me, do5 dpT s9ch rOo.s d.ePartmend with
anime ali insurance companies is sanctioned 10y the
wisdom Of experience And as have heretofore re-
marked, the result OF the protection thus afforded,
Is, that whilst foreign companies do immense bust
ness In this State, so little confidence IL had In those
Of pennsylvania that their business is almost Gu
tlrely confined within the State limits aud even here
foreign companies maintain an ascendancy.
In view of these facts, earnestly repeat the re-
commendaton made to the Legislature at its last
session. that an Insurance department be established
and superintendent appointed by law, who shall
have supervision and control over all insurance
companies allowed to transact business within
the State The community IS deeply interested In
this matter, and demands legislative protection.
Our laws In relation to life insurance companies
are defective and need revision and correction.
Without the protection refe red TO these laws bear
uneuually upon our own and foreign companies The
latter being protected by legislative enactment are
enabled to transact an immense amount OF business
within the limits OF this Commonwealth, whilst our
companies, having no such protection, can do but
little in other States. The consequence is that for
eign companies can readily afford to pay license Of
fUe hundred dollars to conduct their extensive ope-
ratiOns in Pennsylvania, whilst our companies would
be sorely oppressed by the imposition OF the same
license tax in States where their operations
ceedlngy limited. And yet these other States have
retaliated upon license law, by adopting its pro-
visions and demanding from our companies the
same amount OF license in each State that we de-
mand OF their companies in ours These is not only
oppressive to our own neglected companies, but It
fails to furnish just ana equitable revenue from
the various companies for the amount OF business
transacted.
THE AvoSDAIE DISASTER.
The recent disaster in the Avondale coal mine in
LuZerne county, is stu fresh in the minds OF the
people. 1t caused thrill of horror to spread
throughout the country and even in Europe 1t has
been productive of the most painful emotions and
deepest sorrow for the sufferers. Women and children
who had been accustomed to regard the occupation of
the miner as one of ordinary character, now look
upon IL as frauRht with danger, and part with rela-
tyes and friends when about TO pursue their peril
ous occupation, with fearful forebodlngs. And even
fhn g Ff1u min frnrN
calling, and demands greater protection than has
hitherto been Afforded.
(The Governor then details at length the clrcum-
cumstances OF the AvOndale disaster, with which
our readers are already familiar)
The mines in many cases are constructed and
managed in the most selfish and parsimonious man
ner, the owners eXacting the largest
amount of profit from them, from the least
possible outlay: consequently, some OF them like
that OF the AvCndale are nothing but underground
man-tTaps, without any other outlet than wooden
chimneys, and these constantly liable to become
blazing volcanoes, through which escape is impos-
sble. The lives OF so useful class OF men as our
miners should not and must not be permitted to be
thus sacrhced upon the altar Of h1man cupidty.
Yet q reprehensibe neglect to give them that pro-
lection by law which their valuable services at best
laborious and dangerous, unquestoDaby deserve
renders our mining system worse than that of any
other country whilst our mining interests are un-
equalled by those OF any other part of the world.
The most appalling accidents on record have been
traced to unsafe methods OF ventilation, and more
especially to the employment of furnaces at or near
the bottom OF the shafts Where the furnace is used
and the smoke is carried through wooden chimney
1t seems almost certain that later, by the
inevitable accumulation OF SCOT or carbon upon
the Homework, it must ignito from the ascending
sparks or from the heat Of the furnace, and con-
Migration ensue. TO guard against this it should be
made obligatory, If the vcntating furnace be still
allowed to build the chimneys the sides OF the shaft
and The buildings surrounding it at the tip with in
not sure safeguard, for the fire Is liable at any
moment to communicate with the ''ire-danp" or
other gaseous yapors that despite all known means
OF prevention, VIII generate in the best regulated
mines. The proprety OF dispensing entirely, there
fore, with the furnace has received the serious con-
sideration or scientific miners and engineers and
the FAM in many instances has been substituted
which, being worked by machinery at the surface
produces more constant current or air. dispenses it
more freely through the gangways and chambers,
and in all respects accomplishes the obi ct des ed
with better effect; and when the shafts aud sur
sibility OF danger This system OF venta-
tion, with advantages so palpably OBJ
vious, will, no doubt be universally adopted. But
the very nature of mining operations subjects them
to other dangers. The walls and roofing of the
mines, from the effects OF blastng and other causes
frequently give wsy and I'll up the gangways so as
to render them impossible, as in the more recent
calamity at stockton, which resulted In tue death of
ten persons. Hence 1t is absolutely necessary, and
should be imperativeli demanded, that every mine
should have more than tingle avenue OF ingress
and egress. Whether as regards fire. or any other
source OF danger to which the miner Is exposed
this is his surest promise Of safety. Whatever
system of ventilation may be approved, or safety
lamp adopted, the means OF escape from the mines
when danger occurs, will depend very materially
upon the provision made for the exit of the miner
u, U,
working the mines should be unhesitatingly
ado pted and the system adopted rigdly enforced.
The inquiry, therefore, into the causes which pro-
duced this shocking catastrophe-the various theo-
res that have been promulgated concerning it, the
remedies for the prevention Of similar occurrences
hereafter, the construction and ventilation OF col
lieres, and the modes Of conducting their operations
SO that the operatives may prosecute their labor
without fmperlling their lives, are proper subjects
for legislative consideration
Such laws as You may enact can most certainly be
enforced by competent inspectors in the mining dis
trics, who should be chosen with strict regard to
character, integrity, capabty and scientific know
ledge, and whose duties should be so specially de-
fined that they cannot be misunderstood.
therefore most respectfully and earnestly recon-
mend mat TINS whole subject receive the attention
its Importance demands, and that law be passed.
general in its character and so stringent In its
provisions that the people OF this Commonwealth
will never again be appalled, by calamity within
her limits so sad as that OF Avondale.
BOARD OF PUBLIC CHARITIES.
In accordance with an act OF the last Legislature
Board OF Public Charities has been appointed con-
sisting Of the following gentlemen, viz :-General
Thomas Inc L, Kane, FOR five years; +, B, Penniman
years; George l.. harrison, Esq two years and
----,------, -, one year. The board organized by
eiecung General Kane, President, aud Hon. Wilmer
Wolthington, Secretary and General Agent. From
the establishment Of this board and especially from
the nigh character and qualifications OF the gentle
men VINO have consented TO assume its important
trusts and responsibilities, have reason to hope
for the most beneficial results This change in the
management OF our charitable affairs is deemed OF
the highest In porlance by many persons intimately
conveIsant with the workings and management or
these institutions.
A thorough review OF all the establishments re-
ceiypg appropriations from the State by this board
Will give an assurance to the Legislature and tho
people, which they have never heretofore p0ssessed
that their benefactions will be worthily bestowed
and properly employed.
Some time during the present session, the board
VIII present TO the Legislature report Of the condi-
tioL and requirements OF the various institutions
that have been recipients OF appropriations from the
State, with such reconmt ndaiOns as may be deemed