The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-04-06
A BILL
CONCLUDE

,,ro sAaayn IN and about coal mines and col
I,.T1e. shall be kept in good order, and the
...,per ar agent. as aforesaid, shall have said
h,ilers examined and inspected by com
,,.tent boiler maker, or other well qualified
,.srson. as often as once every SIX months,
tnd oftener if needed, and the result OF
very such examination shall be certlhed
IN writing 10 the mining inspector and the
w, az each shaft shall also be securely
t.nced by vertical or fiat gates, properly
,overing and protecting the area of such
hiatt arl the entrance Of every abandoned
LIME and air. or other shaft, shall besecure-
10 fenced Of and every steam boiler shall
Y. provided with proper steam guage,
water guage and safety-valve and all un-
foreground self-acting or engine-planes OF
,,,ngwavs. on which coal cars are drawn
and persons travel, shall be provided with
some proper means Of signalling between
the stopping places and the ends Of said
,J,nes or pangways and sufficient places
Il refuge at the sides Of such planes or
anyways shall be provided at intervals Of
no, more than twenty feet apart.
Sec 9. Whenever loss of life or seri-
ors personal injury shall occur, by reason
az any explosion or of any accident what
soever in or about any coal mine OF collie
r.. il shall be the duty Of the party having
charge Of such coal mine or colliery to give
notice thereof to the mine inspector, and
i any person is killed thereby, to the cor
nner Of the county also and said inspector
shall Immediately go To the scene If the
said accident, and make such suggestions
and render such assistance as he may deem
necessary for the safety of the men. And
the inspector shall investigate and ascer-
tain the cause of such explosion or accident,
and make a record thereof, which he shall
preserve with the other records Of his Office
And to enable him to make such investiga-
lions he shall have power to compel the at
tendance of witnesses and administer oaths
nr affirmations to them and the cost Of
such investigation shall be paid by the
county in which such accident has occurred,
IN the same manner as costs If cnruners
induests are paid. And the failure Of the
person in charge Of the coal mine or col
nery in which any such accident may have
occurred to give notice to the inspector OF
coroner. as provided for in this section,
shall subject such person to fine Of not
less than twenty-five dollars nor more than
me hundred dollars, to be sued for in the
name and for the use Of the county in
which any such accident may have occur
red.
sec. 10. In all cases in which punish
snent is provided by tne or Imprisonment
under this act, for breach of any of its
rroylslons, the fine shall not be less than
ten dollars nor more than one hundred dol
lars, or the imprisonment not less than ten
days nor more than six months, or both, at
the discretion Of the court; except as
specially provided in section nine Of this
ct.
Sec. IL. The county surveyors are here
by constituted ex-ofhcio inspectors OF mines
within their respective counties, and it
shall be their duty respectively TO call to
their aid some reputable, practical miner
said inspector, and any miner 80 called 10
their aid, before entering upon their duties,
shall be sworn to faithfully discharge the
duties imposed upon them by law. Said
inspector and said miner shall receive such
compensation for their time actually EN-
ployed, to be verified by their respective
affidavits, as shall be liked by the county
board, not exceeding FIVE dollars per day
each, to be paid out Of the county treasury,
for one inspection every year, but in all
cases where, ON inspection, the provisions
If this act shall appear not to have been
complied with in operating a mine. the
owner or operator Of such mine shall pay
the expenses thereof 10 be recovered, if
necessary, as provided in section two If this
act
Sec. L. The inspector provided for I'M
der this act shall make personal inspection,
from time to time, Of all the coal mines and
colheries in his county, and shall see that
every necessary precaution is taken to en-
sire the health and safety Of the workmen
therein employed, that the provisions and
requirements Of this act be faithfully OBJ
served and obeyed, and the penalties Of the
law enforced against all who willfully dis
obey its requirements He shall also col
let and tabulate the following facts, that is
to say: The number of acres of workable
coal lands in his county the number and
thickness Of the coal beds, and their re-
spective depths below the surface how
they are mined, whether by shaft, slope or
drift the number Of mines in operation,
the number Of men employed therein, and
the aggregate yearly production in tons; to-
gether with an estimate of the amount az
capital employed in coal mining in his
county, and any other information relative
to coal mining that he may deem necessary.
All of which facts, so tabulated, together
with statement of the condition Of the
mines as to safety and ventilation, and the
general result Of his examination into the
causes of all accidents in and about the coal
mines and colieries Of his county, he shall
fully set forth in an annual report TO the
governor, with his recommendation as to
such other legislation on this subject a.
may be proper. He shall also furnish such
information as he may have obtained on
this subject, when called for by the State
Geologist
Sec. 49, 1t shall be lawful for the in
spector provided for in this act to enter, ex-
anime and inspect any and all coal mines
or colheries, and the works and machinery
belonging thereto, at all reasonable times
by day or night, but 30 a not to hinder or
obstruct the necessary working Of such coal
mines or cOlGeries and the owner or agent
Of every such coal mine or colliery is here
by required 10 furnish all necessary facili-
ties for such entry, examination and inspec-
ton and If the said owner or agent. an
aforesaid, shall refuse TO permit such in
spection, or to furnish the necessary facili-
ties therefor, the inspector may file his aai-
davit, setting forth such refusal, with the
Judge oftbe circuit in which said mine may
be situate, either in term time or in vaca-
ton, or in the absence of the Judge, with
the master in chancery for the county in