The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1877-02-03
THE MINER
Inspector Roys Annual Report.

oI wages ulspuleS WITH their employers,
have attracted great deal Of public at
tention. Not few Of these strikes have
been attended with intimidation and law
lessness, especially when the mine owners
have attempted to introduce new laborers
to supplant those on strike. Several bills
have been introduced in various State Leg
lslatures bearing more or less upon the
subject of strikes, the more direct purport
Of which have been to provide pains and
penalties for interference by threats, in
tlmidatioLs, or lnnuendOes of violence on
the part of strikers with laborers who we're
wiling to work during the prevalence of a
strike. The opponents Of such legislation
have held that the laws now upon the
statute books are amply sufficient to pro-
tect the rights of all parties in interest, and
that no additional legislation would be Of
any avail, either in preventing strikes or
il preventing outbreaks against Law and
order, and 50 far no new legislation has
been had upon the subject
Miners strike oftener Chan other labor.
ers, and their strikes are also more pro-
tracted, and are accompanied with more
bitterness Of feeling and lawlessness and
hence has arisen the demand 50 frequently
made Of late years for conspiracy laws and
legislation to prevent intimidation, vio-
lence, and other lswless acts during the
prevalence Of strikes al the mines
In refusing to pass any laws on the sub
ject. | thluk the law-making power has
acted wisely, because such laws sought
manly by mine-owners, would only in
crease the discomfort of the miners, and
cause them to feel that they were degrad-
ed at the behests of their employers. In
this country, where the government and
AL social progress Is founded on the will
and happiness of all the people, true states
manship consists In discovering the sources
OF discomfort, and then Of removing them
by necessary legislation. The very exist.
cnce of the Republic 10 associated with the
freedom and happiness Of the great army
Of laborlng men.
The sources OF discomfort among miners
arise not, IN my Judgment, 90 much in the
evil nature Of the men, as in the evil ge-
MUS 81 the mines, and not conspiracy Laws
are needed u compel miners 70 be Law
abiding citizens, but better ventilation il
needed to expel the demons Of the mines
those noXiOus gases, which, in remoter
ages the priests Of Germany we're wont t.
combat with religious eXorcisms.
The noxious and poisonous gases of Goa
mines are rre-damp (hght carbureted ny
drogen gasl black damp (carbonic acid
gas). white damp (carbonlc oxide gas, and
sulphureted hydrogen gas, also called
white damp by the miners. The more
fatal and dangerous of these gases main
ly for the reason that they are given off OF
produced III greater quantities than the
others the fire-damp and the black
damp. The former is the explosive gas.
that dread scourge Of many English coal
mines. 1t is found III greatest abundance
i'll mines varying from six hundred to
twelve hundred feet in perpendicular
depth. shallow mines seldom produce il
III alarming quantities, aud most Of such
mines are entirely free from it's presence
Black-damp is found in every mine, being
produced from causes which are in constant
operatlon-by human respiration, the ex
crementitions deposits Of men and animals
decaying timber, the decomposition Of
small coal and shale, the combustion o.
gunpowder, and the workmens lamps; anc
it is constantly exuding from the Goa
strata.
This gas is heavier than atmospheric air
IN the relation Of three to two, and wheT
found in pure state it occupies the hool
of the mines in a solid stratum. 1t, how
ever, readily diffuses through the air, obey
ing we'll known law of the diffusion o.
gases, and in this diffused state it is gen
orally found in the working places of Goa
mines. When three per cent. of it is mix
ed with the air of mines, the miners lamps
burn with dull, heavy flame, and go out
unless moved with caution. They are
therefore, hung on posts or on the pillars
sides. This Is the condition OF many
working places in mines in which no fire
damp is made.
The air Is best in the morning, becaus,
the circulation is partially, if not wholly
renewed i'll the night during the absenc,
Of the miners but in the afternoon anC
toward quitting time it becomes very foul
aud miners frequently leave work becaus,
their lights will no longer burn, or becaus,
they are 50 oppressed with languor anC
headache that they can no longer stay in
the mine.
The black-damp, however, is more in
siGlous than direct in its operations, grad
ually undermining the constitution am
killing the men by inches. BY reason o.
constant habit, young and robust minerI
are able to stay several hours in mine
after light goes out for want of fresh air,
where a stranger. unused to such scenes,
would fall insensible, and if not speedily
removed would die.
Mines are frequently in a very defective
state at the wall faces where the people ars
at work, while a good current Of air il
flowing along the main galleries of the
mine. Indeed, there may be many times
the quantity Of air required to ventilate a
mine well entering by the intake and re.
turning by the up-csst compartment, and
there be bad air prevailing at the working
faces. One part Of mine may also be
well ventilated while another part, par
ticularly the inmost workings, has bad air.
These results are caused by the air-courses
being too far behind, or by the air break
ing through faulty stoppings and badly
hung doors, and returning to the Hp-cast.
We have little ire-damp in the coal
mines Of the United States, and to this
circumstance, fortunate in one sense but
unfortunate in another, is due the prevail
ing bad air of the mines. Where fire damp
abounds strong and vigorous ventilation
must ever De maintained-the moving cur
rent OF air sweeping the faces of the work
ings where the people are employed. II
the state of the mine atmosphere is ne
elected for single hour, explosion follows,
carrying death and desolation in its track.
To guard against explosion, powerful and
costly furnaces or fans are erected, air