The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-02-12


wilmington C. NJ n Company .-.-....... 1900
l"IAl -.---.- ---.--.---... $4,000
CONDITION OF The MINES As TO SAFETY
AND VENTILATION.
When We speak of safety in mines, we
should be understood to mean the least
danger, as such a thing as safety in a mine
is impossible Of realization. 1t has been
with truth observed, that the miner, aside
from the work he performs, each day he
descends into the nine, stakes his life
against the numerous causes of danger
which surround him, in addition to
those PertaIng to any other kind
Of employment. The condition Of the
machinery and cables with which
he Is lowered into and from
the mine; the means Of escape in case Of
ire; the condition Of the winding shaft,
from which strata loosen and fall refine |;
the character of the top or ceiling Of the
mine; the quantity and character OF the
air furnished him; the presence and alb
sence OF certain gases that give life or
death. All these causes. and many more,
20 to make up the extra hazardous charac-
ter Of the miners employment. Of all the
sources Of danger to the miners life and
health, none nor all others put together
has or is doing 30 much mischief a. the
want Of proper ventilation. More miners
have been slaughtered or smOthered
through want Of ventilation than have died
or been killed BY all the other dangerous
agencies that surrounds our miners. And
while we cannot speak approvingly of all
the mine-owners here. for their endeavOrs
to make ventilation what il should be, the
majority are doing everything in their
power to keep II good, and where it il bad
to improve it. A majority of all the
working places have comparatively good
air, while q large minority are insufhciently
and poorly ventilated. In some cases Of
poor ventilation here, there is an excuse
as where the present mining operations are
worked into, or are in close proximity to
the abandoned mines, causing thereby
considerable difficulty IN keeping the choke
damp, that has accumulated from those
abandoned works, from mixing IN with and
Adulterating the current Of pure air
Wherever IN Q. w. & v. companys
works, and Star Coal cOmpany's works,
complaints have arisen for want Of air,
during the last year, it has been mainly
from this cause.
the readiness with which the coal com
panles Of this county, through their agents
here, have complied with ali the exactions
Of the mining law, whenever their atten-
tIon has been called to anything omitted,
or Committed, contrary 10 its provisions,
and to the facilities furnished US to the
end, that our duty might be discharged
according tO our conception Of its require
ments.
ACCIDENTS SINCE MAY 22, 1875.
Upon taking hold of the business Of
Inspector of Mines, tor this county, on
the 22d Of May. 1875, We found It neces-
sary to institute some system by which
We might, in compliance with our duty,
tabulate the number Of serious accidents
occurring in and around the mines, from
any and all causes. To this end We for
wsrded to the superintendents of the va
rlous coal companies here, circular, Of
which the following Is copy.
BRAIDwooD, Ills.,
May %, 1875.
DEAR SIR wish to inform you that
have received a certificate of appointment
from A. j. Mlthewson, county surveyor
of Will county. authorizing me TO act for
him mine inspector, aud that | have as
sumed the duties Of that position. To en-
able me to do my duty, | will require
| your aid ia the manner following: When
any accident occurs to any person ~ or
about your shsft, or shafts, the N sct Of
which is 10 render the person injured un-
able to follow his employment on the
day Of Its occurrence, you will please re-
port the same to me at my office III Braid
wood, by mail OF otherwise, giving the
particulars a. far an you know them, with
IN "a hours after the occur .ence- A fail
ure To observe this requirement will be
| followed by the penalty, providing for
| the health and safety Of persons employ
ed IN coal mines.
Yours respectfully,
WM. MOONEY, Assist. Mine lnspC etor.
Conformable 10 above request the su-
perlntendents of mines here have report
| ed, from time to time, the following acci-
dents.
June Is, 1870, Thomas Young, serious
u bruised BY tall Of rock, in Eureka shaft
No. l.
June 23l, Antoni Fellows, IN e shaft
seriously injured by fall Of rock on road
way.
August 9, 1875, Joe Bell, seriously in
iured BY fall Of rock iE roadway Of Eureki
shaft No. 2.
August 8, 1875, Michael Flynn, part o
two tlnge:s taken of while engaged at worl
on roadway in Eureka shaft No. 2.
August %. 1875, james Cherre, loo
injured at Diamond shaft No. 2, while en-
gagged on roadway
August 80, 1875, John Geddes, in 'E
shaft. ankle crushed between cars Oh
roadway.
S, S,ptember 3. 1875, Michael Grace, ii
III" shaft, head badly bruised by fail o
rock while mining.
September ls, 1875, Andrew Steiner, il
III shaft, while pushing loaded cars