Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-12
MINES AND MINERS.
Some Needed Reforms Sug-
gested.
rreependsncs OF the Register.

WHEELING, Sept. H., 1879.
This time propose to notice a few OF
the leading or principle points at issue,
in which coal miners are each lndlvldu-
ally interested, and which are crying
evil and an open shame that they are not
rcmrdcd is more the result OF negligence
on the part of the coal miners them
selves than of any one else, as the claims
have never been brought prominently
forward nor presented in brief and
candid manner for the judicOus and
serious consideration of the citizens OF
this State; and first, notice the neccssi-
ty Of every mine having two sepa-
rate and distinct ways in and out.
This may appear matter oil
small Importance To any one
not acquainted with coal mining, but to
those who spend the biggest half OF
their lives in these cavcrns, it is of the
utmost importance. How many lives
have been sacrificed through negligence
on this point will probably never be
known, but the figures, could
they be compiled and presented TO the
world, would be startling and terrible.
There is not doubt but with the SUI
perior knowledge, which we possess,
and with our advanced mining engineer
ing skin, there is no necessity TO run
any risks OF this kind any longer, and
coal miners are earnestly urged to unite
together and use every honest endeavor
to remove this danger which is hanging
over our heads every day. Another
point which | call coal miners attention
TO is the necessity of a State Inspector
Ofmincs. As soon as We begin To consider
the hopelessness OF our cause as long as
il is left to the mercy and at the will OF
operators; then we may say fairly that
we have begun TO learn by experience
that a State Inspector Of Mines is abso-
lutely necessary. We need only point
to Ohio for proof. 1t was the proud
boast Of one of the Legislators OF that
State that the mines OF Ohio were bet
ter ventilated and more precautions
used TO render them safe than n any
other State in the Union, and yet the
first official report OF the Inspector OF
Mines revealed a state OF things that
would make any honest man blush
for shame; and until We organ
ize together and work and think
and so operate with our brother
workmen OF other trades, we
,an never expect to reap any benefit or
look for any improvement. Another
point is the curtailing Of the hours that
a man spends in the mine. This is a
purely personal matter in the eyes OF
the public at large. They do not sup
pose that any interference is necessary
or at all called for, as miner is sup
posed TO leave his work and come out
at almost any time he wishes TO do so.
But here is Just where the evil comes in.
This leaving 10 every miner 10 deter
mine for himself now many hours he
will remain in the mine, as large num-
Der Of miners do not understand the
laws Of health, IL broken up,
and the fact that these men
do it in ignorance, compels
men who know better and who wish for
achange to comply with the too common
custom of spending too much OF their
lives in the coal mines. Coal miners,
| ask YOU seriously shall these things
continue in their present state, or shall
we combine one with the another and
use the power and privileges that We
have 10 try and make our calling more
safe and respectable? ! claim, myself,
that eight hours in coal mine at once
is as long as any miner has right to
stop or operator to allow, and it be-
hooyes US TO join hands to-day and
make ready and not have this to do when
the time for action comes. Another
point is in making the operator re-
sponsible for any accident that can be
proved to have happened through any
negligence Of the management Of the
mine. This is something that deeply
concerns every miner as in case OF ac-
cident the operator always tries 10 prove
negligence on the part Of the miner and
so escapes having to pay any damages.
As I.srAL