The workingman's advocate., 1872-03-23

of that statement IN the person OF MIR. TART
side. whose hands and face still bear the
scars Of burning by fire-damp in one Of his
own mines in St Clair county while the
repeated serious, and even fatal explosions,
that have from time to time occurred in
the VIII county mines, and the Streator
mines, show the recklessness with which
desperate men will sometimes subordinate
falsehood to their own selfish purposes If
time would permit, | could cite to you
scores Of Instances Of serious and fatal &C.
cidents in the mines Of this State resulting
from fire-damp, but l will not trouble you
further on that subject.
One more thing, and then have done
1t was strongly insisted before the commit
tee on mines and mining last winter, that
the miners, as class, were as healthy and
as little liable to accident as any other class
of men in the country. That statement is
as untrue as the fre-damp story, and |
knew it at the time, but thought / would
bring an expert forward to disprove that,
so | addressed letter to Mr. Charles, who
is the secretary of one of the foremost life
insurance companies in the country, from
whom | received the following reply and
copy Of the questions put to him by me,
together with his answers to the same
OFFICE or MUTU AL BENEFIT LIFE INs. Co.
uF NEWARK, New JERSEY,
Chicago, May 10, 1871.
lion J. HnchctiGc, BelIsrate, Illinois
MY DEAR SIR Enclosed is a paper eon-
tanning my opinions ON what miners are l.
posed to, and what is necessary for their pro-
lection. The latter must necessarily be Of
three parts-frst their own care of them
selves Second, the care and watchfulness
of the mine-owners. And thirdly SUPER
vision of both by the Legislature
| wish, most sincerely, that the General As
sembly would pass some salutary law for the
better care OF the miners, as also Of the mines.
With best wishes for yourself and the cause
Won have at heart,
remain yours, very truly,
WILLIAM CHARLES.
Question lst. Are Won now and have you
been IN the past acquainted with the working
miners, as class, with their occupation and
its effect On their general health
Answer have.
q. 3d Where dill you acquire that knowl-
edge, and under hat circumstances!
A. In England and the continent of Eu-
rope, whilst pursuing my profession rs miner
illogical and geological engineer.
occupation of = miner in coal mines on their
general health. and what is their aVerrgs
health when compared with other trades and
occupations q.
A. Coal miners are more exposed than
other trades and occupations, by having to IN.
cur risks to life and limb from machinery, III
descending and ascending to and from theiI
work, to exposure from working IN " ater and
from wearing wet clothes also from falling in
shafts and excavations, from the falling of rock
timber and debris. and from Premature ant
accidental discharges where blasting is used
also from defective drainage and defective ven
tiation.
q 4th. Are coal miners, as a class, sub
Jet t. any disease peculiar to them. If So statt
what regulations, in your Judgment, would
best conserve their health and promote theil
longevity. whilst following their occupation a.
coal miners:
A. They are especially liable to contrast
diseases Of the lungs and brOnchia BY nhail-
ing noxious vapors and gases mixed with the
air in mines, and through defective ventilation,
thereby compelling them to inhale vitiated ali
deprived of portion of its oxygen by pre-
vious respiration In fact, even with the most
approved means Of ventilation, the atlnos-
phere under ground cannot be called pure, it
from blasting Carburetted hydrogen (eoal-
gas. and in the lowest pits and excavations,
carbonic acid gas, which, on account Of its
higher specific gravity is not driven of, as are
the lighter gases, by ordinary mine ventila-
tion.
Miners are further exposed to heart disease
caused in part by the greater labor given to
that organ IN performing its functions, for the
want of fresh air. and where ladders are used
in descending and ascending, by the continued
STRAIN ON the chest, whereby the hearts ac-
tion is naturally accelerated They are further
rendered liable. a. stated in the previous an
swer. by working for many hours at time in
wet clothes, continually exposing them to colds
rheumatism and pulmonary diseases.
In many instances they are exposed to the
explosion OF fire-damp, or carburretted hydro
gen, aggregating in the inner and higher work
ings, when the flame Of lamp is brought into
contact Herewith.
To neutralize the effect OF these ills, every
mine should have two or more shafts properly
supplied with means OF communication with
the surface. No drift or level should be AZ
lowed to he extended more than sixty feet
without having two places of exit in case Of q
break in the level Ventilation should be en-
sured BY pipes in the roof Of the levels, in
where necessary, or with pipes and water Jet,
on a fire draft at the surface to draw off rapid
ly noxious gases and vapors as soon as hber-
ated in the works.
Effective power for drainage should in all
cases, be provided, and a ''sump" deep enough
to hold the drainage from the levels, and the
floor sunk so as to form a covered ditch for the
water to reach the "sumps" without exposing
ha Ynav, &n ru-ol,-u Ah--.,rL -
As far as practicable, mine-Owners should per
suade or compel the men to wear flannel shirts
and drawers, for self protection, while working
in wet levels. Where fire-damp aecIimulates,
safety lambs should be used, compulsorily IL
necessary, with fines sufficiently 0nerous i'm
posed, for working with naked lamp 1t is
lamentable fact that most of the terrible &C.
cldents caused by the explosion Of fire-damp
proceeds from breaches of this Salutary rule
for keeping the lamps closed
q. 5th. State what the relative risks 70
life and limb are between miners and those
following other occupations
A. There is and can be no comparison be-
tween coal miners and other occupations
operatives in powder mills but even here thew
have good AIR to work in, which the miner has
not. He Is exposed, in descending and ascend
MI a. and frum his work, to the dangers re-
ting from defective machinery or ladders,
and from timber and other bodies falling
through the shaft He is also exposed TO The
dangers a falling FOofs, the crushing together
Of the levels and shafts, the premature dis
charges IN blasting and accidents resulting
from the breaking Of machinery whereby e,
cape is prevented
To psOtect the miner properly, freouept in.
spectiOn Of the machinery used in deacenllino
and ascending the pits is necessary, 70 be sure
that all is safe and strong Good and sufficient
timber shOuld be proSided TO sapport the roofs