The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-01-10
SECOND DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
MORNING SESSION

sessions was dispensed WIN
| Messrs. Owens and Mclean were ap-
pointed Committee to examine
| I.mas' hooks and report on the same.
A communication was received from MT.
lanes. stating that through severe indis-
no.;t,on he was prevented from meeting
With the Convention. Mr.. Mclaughlin
presented the following resolution, which
was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That this Convention learns with
regret of the illness Of its efficient and re-
spected Secretary, Mr. John James, and hopes
that the hand of Providence will ere long re-
store him to health and strength and spare
him to perform the duties to which he has
been appointed.
Resolved, That copy of the foregoing be
published in our proceedings and forwarded
to his family.
The minutes Of the last two sessions
were read and adopted.
The discussion Of the Miners law was
then taken up.
Mr.. Slater inquired why the law should
be enforced in one section and remain n
dead letter in Others.
DISCUSSION ON THE MINERS LAW.
Mr.. Morgan stated that in st. Clair the
provisions of the Law were complied with.
| They had selected their own sub-inspector
no objection being ofersd.
Mr.. Walliscroft stated that the differ
ence between SangamOn and st. Clair
counties was this That the men controll-
ed the latter and the bosses the former
and the reason was, one body was organ
| lied and the other was not
Mr.. Rutledge, of Alton, Madison coun-
ty, stated that in his section the law had
been complied with, every mine owner with
one exception having acceded to its provi-
sions They had also selected their own
sub-inspector and everything was working
harmoniously. He presented, however,
the following amendments to the law as the
Recommendation from his Union:
The law Is very defective IN some of it's
clauses. Section (6) should be amended
50 as to read cages and slides" instead Of
boxes and carriages" No single link
chain ought to be used for hosting pur-
poses All mines both in large and small
seams ought to have plans of their works,
and have them recorded, as great quaint
ties of coal are lost, particularly in the
small seams, owing to not knowing the ex-
tent of old works, and what drowned waste
is left.
All hosting engines should have an in
dlcatOr and foot brake.
All mines. both in large and small seams,
ought to have two distinct shafts, at least
fifty feet apart.
Powder in large quantities should not be
kept in the mines.
MIR. Owens of Belleville read his report
a. sub-inspector, which has already been
published in the ADVOCATE. He said that
there were sixty-eight r,ircs " his district.
At first he encount. .gd some trouble in en-
forcing the law, but an injunction always
brought the owners to terms.
Mr.. Mclaughlin of Braidwood stated
that the companies in Will county, with
one exception, had complied with the re-
quirements Of the law, but they had found
il difficult ii the case referred to to enforce
its provisions, as no penalty was attached
to the NJ elect of officials to perform their
duties.
Mr.. Lpckhart Of (iirard stated he
worked in a mine whose depth was 304
feet, but DO escapement shaft had been
provided. Bartell mine at CarlinvIlle,
27O feet deep, had been Oh fire for some
time, and although mems lives are jeop-
ordized in il every day no steps whatever
had been taken to provide for their escape
in case Of an explosion
Mr.. Walliscr0ft OF Springfield stated
that at one mine in his neighborhood, 152
feet deep, an escapement shaft had been
sunk, but no gates or cages had been pro-
vided In the other pits, $50 feet deep,
no notice whatever had been taken Of the
law, as no inspector had been appointed.
Mr.. Adams Of Brazil stated that the
miners Of Indiana had been endeavoring
for three years TO get an escapement shaft
law in that State. At the last session of
the Legislature the bill was defeated, but
Mr. Clifford, their representative, was de-
termined to make another attempt to get
it placed on the statutes.
Mr. Slater of LaSalle said the law was
a dead letter in his section of the country.
Several O. the mines had been worked for
long time and were in very dangerous
condition especially LaSalle shaft. in
which several explosions had taken place.
The mines had been on fire for a number
Of years, and nobody knew at what hour
it might break out and destroy every soul
in the mine. The inspector and deputy
know nothing about mines, and acknoN J.
edge that they do not. The distance be-
tween the Rockwell and LaSalle coal shafts
is one mile, and the men objected to work
ing longer without an escapement. Two
entries were driven through to Rockwell
shaft, the coal taken therefrom was slowed
away for future use, and no track was laid.
These entries had become filled up, and al
the present time the only way a miner can
make communications is to crawl for a
space Of 200 or 800 yards on his hands and
belly, and substituting turpentine for oil
The ventilation was horrible, and many
men had to load their cars in the dark.
Mr.. Kinghorn said that as at present
enforced not more than 1900 out Of 20.
600 miners derive any benefit from the
Miners Bill"
Mr.. Owens stated it was well to remem.
Der that out of thirteen members on the
Committee on Mines and Mining, but two
or three had proven friendly to the bill,
and consequently its friends had to do the
best they could under the circumstances.
On motion, the reports Of the several
delegates, with the recommendations and
amendments to the law, presented were
ordered to be placed on file.
These reports are too lengthy to insert
in the present issue, but will appear from
time to time. ED. ADVOCATE.
Mr.. Morgan offered the following, which
was unanimously adopted
WHEREAS, We consider the present min.
ing law deficient In It's provisions and indsfi
mite in its applications; and
WHEREAS, 1t has become m absolute ne.
cessity to have it amended in such a manner
as to make it applicable to all circumstances
in which miners are placed in the prosecutor
Of their dangerous occupation; therefore
Resolved, That we earnestly urge on al
the miners throughout the State Of Illinois
the necessity Of endeavoring to return to the
next General Assembly men who will pledge
themselves he amend the law SO as to give the
necessary protection to the Life and limb Of
the miner; and, also, the election OF county
Mr.. Kingdom advised the appointment