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

Thomas, his son, seriously injured BY fall
Of rock, in Star Coal Company 3 new shaft.
October %. 1875, William Cummings,
at the Star Coal Company q shaft ''B, had
his leg broken by fall Of rock.
November 8, 1875, John Barr, nc
Diamond shaft No. 2, had his hand
seriously crushed.
November 10, 1875, Joseph Hinckle, in
Diamond shaft No. 2, by falling of cross
beam in roadway, the esult Of collision
arising from loaded cars rnnning uncon-
trolled down a steep decline, had his head
fearfully fractured.
November is, 1875, Harry Cliff, in 20"
shaft, had his foot hurt by fall Of rock at
his working face.
November 18, 1875, Peter J. Dew, At
Il" shaft, had finger cut of while in the
act Of turning car ut the bottom Of the
shaft
November "a, 1875, George Dale, at
the H" shaft, while IN the act Of remov-
ing coal al his working place, had his hand
fearfully wounded.
November "a, 1875, James Chapman, At
Eureka shaft No. 2, while engaged work
ing at the mining face, was injured by O
fall Of rock.
November 20, 1875, John r ,ck, at Star
Coal ComPany'S mine No. 2. injured by a
fall Of slate.
November 80, 1875, WIN. D.stAn, At
Star Coal Companys shaft No. 2, had his
foot injured.
December 4, 1875, WIN. Pearson, 1t
Diamond shaft No. 2, was seriously in
jured by a rock falling on him, while en-
gagged ia the act Of undermining
December 6, 1875, Ell. Hurne, at H"
shaft, had his shoulder hurt bT o fall Of
rock.
December 20, 1875, John Kerr, in "H"
shaft had his hand seriously injured by q
fall Of coal And on the same day, In the
same place, Frank Mussle had his leg
seriously injured by a fall Of coal
Deeembe 2I, 1875, Thomas Hughes, at
Eureka shaft No. 2, injured by a fall of
rock.
The foregoing is complete list Of the
sccidents occurring in the mines Of this
county, up to this date as far As reported.
1t by no means follows that the above
shows all the accidents that have occurred
during the past seven months. We have
very frequently learned Of accidents,
several days after their occurrence, and
upon making inquiries regarding WIZ they
were not reported, have been uniformly
told by all the superintendents, that, in
nearly every case Of an accident occurring,
the persons knowing Of it failed Or refused
To have 1t reported.
In conclusion, we will submit to your
Excellency, in accordance with the pro
visions Of section II, Of Mining Law, such
suggestions as, in our judgment, II enacted
into law, would make the Mining Law Of
Illinois in fact, what il Is only IN name, %
Wit A Law providing for the health and
safety of persons employed IN coal mines.
And, first, As to csc lpement shafts.
Section OF the law as II nos stands
provides Ill substance that an escapement
shaft, Or two distinct means of iugress or
egress to each mine, (excepting those in
which less than fifteen miners are employ
ed), shall not be provided, until after q
lapse of from one to SIX years, depending
on the depth such escapement shaft may
have to be sank. aud, strange az il may
appear, the greater the depth and conse-
quent danger, the longer the time i under
the operation Of the present law, until the
mich needed escapement Ia provided.
This, IN our judgment, is wrong, and
shouid be remedled by having this section
Of the Law 50 amended that after given
date all shafts and slopes should be pro
vided with two distinct means of ingress
and egress, without regard to depth or the
number Of workmen employed.
Section l. Of the Mining Law provides
for inspectors Of mines, and constitutes the
county surveyor, eX -oficio, within their
respective counties, mine inspectors Ii
provides for their calling 70 their aid some
reputable, practical miner, and fixes the
compensation, to be paid by the county
board, not TO exceed g. per Gay.
1t is now here evident and it is has to
discover what reason could prompt the
Legislature u make the county Surveyor
mine inspectors, when il Is uotorlOusly
true that not une il ten Of the c1un.
ty surveyors know sufficient about miniLg
10 discharge the duties of mine inspector
intelligently, and however capable and
willing they might he, 1t is still harder u
see what reason could actuate the Legisla-
ture to ask the county surveyor to work
for s. day, when he acted a. mine in
spector, when he can aud does get 80 per
day, for attending to his legitimate busI-
ness. Ia il any wonder that one Of those
county surveyors, IN answer to the ques-
tion Why he did not attend to the KAN
nation ~ the mines in his district, re-
Piled, that while he could make S6 per
day Oh top Of ground, he was not going
under the ground for S5 per day. Neither
is it any wonder that the business is left
wholly unattended u, Or almost 40, eH
cept the attention which is given BY the
practical miner, who il called 70 the aid
Of the county surveyor
The manner Of appointment, and the
character Of the person appointed, With
view Of improving the condition u our
mines. as " safety and ventilation, re-
quires some alteration, that must b. ub-
vIous To the Legislature, whenever its at
tentlon is called 70 the present clumsy
system Of mine inspection. For IL should
be understood that no matter how per
feet the money Law Is Or may BE-, Il il nov
and always viii remain comparatively use
less unless enforced by a vigorous and
careful system VI Natchfulness that can
only be had and maintained through the
appointment Of willing and comPstent in
spectors.
Respectfully,
Excellent sir,
Your obedient ser ants,
I