The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1874-02-26
A Bill to Regulate. Mines and Mining

SECTION l. Be it enacted Jy the General
Assembly Of the State of Ohio, That there
shall be appointed by the governor, with
the advice and consent of the Senate one
mine inspector, who shall hold his Office
for four years. subject, however, to be re-
moved by the governor for neglect of
duty or malfeasance in office. Said in
spector shall have knowledge of chemis-
try, geology and minerology, and prac-
tical knowledge of the different systems
of working and ventilating coal mines,
and of the nature and properties of the
noxious and poisonous gasses of mines,
particularly fire-damp, and mining en-
gineering; and said inspector, before en-
tering upon the discharge of his duties,
shall take an oath or affirmation to
discharge the same faithfully and impair
tally which oath or affirmation shall be
endorsed upon his commission, and his
commission, so endorsed, shall be forth
with recorded in the office of the secre-
tary of state, and such inspector shall
give bond in the sum of five thousand
dollars, with sureties to the approval of
the governor, conditioned for the faith
full discharge of his duty.
Sec. 2 Said inspector shall give his
whole time and attention to the duties
of his office, and he shall examine all the
mines in this state as often as his other
duties will permit, to see that the provis-
ions of this act are obeyed; and it shall
be lawful for such inspector to enter, in
spect and examine any mine in this state
and the works and machinery belonging
thereto, at all reasonable times, by night
or by day. but so as not to unnecessarily
obstruct or impede the working of the
mine; and to make inquiry into the
state and condition of the mine as to
ventilation and general security, as re-
quired by the provisions of this act; and
the owners and agent of such mine is
hereby required to furnish the means
necessary for such entry and inspection,
of which inspection the inspector shall
make a record, noting the time and all
the material circumstances; and it shall
be the duty of the person having charge
of any mine, whenever loss of life shall
occur by accident, connected with the
working of such mine or by explosion, to
give notice forthwith by mail, or other
wise, to the inspector of mines and TO the
! coroner of the county in which such mine
is situated, and the coroner shall hold an
inquest upon the body of the person or
| persons whose death has been caused; ;
and inquire carefully into the cause
| thereof, and shall return a copy of the
verdict and all of the testimony to such
inspector. No person having personal
interest in, or employed in the manage
ment of a mine where a fatal accident
occurs, shall be qualified to serve on the
jury impanneled on the inquest
SEC. ). Such inspector, while in office,
! shall not act as an agent, or as a manager
or mining engineer, or be interested in
operating any mine, and he shall annu-
ally, on or before the first day of Janu-
ary make report to the governor of his
proceedings, and the condition and oper-
alton of the mines in this state, enumerat-
| ing all accidents in or about the same
! and giving all such other information as
he may think useful and proper, and
making such suggestions as he may deem
| important as to further legislation on
| the subject of mining
| SEC. f. Said inspector shall receive a
salary of three thousand dollars per
annum, and his necessary travelling eX-
penses, to be paid in quarterly Install
ments; and he shall have and keep an
Office in the state house, at Columbus, in
which shall be carefully kept the maps
and plans of all mines in this state, and
also all records and correspondence
papers and apparatus, and property, per-
! tanning to his duties, belonging to the
state, and which shall be handed over to
| his successor in office.
SEC. 5. Amy vacancy occurring when
the senate is not in session, either by
death, resignation, removal by the gov
ernOr, or otherwise, shall be filled by ap-
pointment by the governor, which ap-
pointment shall be good until the close
of the next session of the Senate, unless
the vacancy is sooner filled as in the first
section provided.
SEC. 6. There shall be provided for said
inspector all instruments and chemical
tests necessary for the discharge of his
duties, under this act which shall be
paid for on the certificate of the inspector,
and which shall belong to the state
Sec. Z. The owner or agent of every
coal mine shall make, or cause to be
made, an accurate map. or plan of the
workings Of such mine, on a scale of one
hundred feet to the inch, true copy of
which the said owner or agent shall de
posit with the inspector, within six
months after the passage of this act, and
another copy of which shall be kept at
the office of such mine; and the owner
or agent shall, thereafter, on the Goth
day of December, of each year, file with
said InSD0CtOp a. statemant and Olan of