Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-05-01
APRIL. 80. 1880.


Mr.. Editor Allow me through
the columns of the JOURNAL to ad-
dress few words to the miners of
Allegany and Garrett counties.
FELLOW MINERS II have been
commissioned by the Governor Of
Maryland and qualified according to
law as Inspector of Mines, and will
enter upon the discharge of my Off
cial duties at an early day. My OBJ
ject in thus addressing you is to call
your attention to the following facts:
After a close examination of the
fifth section of the mining law, find
there is no ons required, in case CT
any person or persons who may lose
their lives while engaged at work in
or about any of the coal mines of said
counties, TO give notice to a coroner
or magistrate for the purpose of hold
ing an inquest. You will perceive at
once that this defect renders this i'm
portant section of the law imperative;
therefore, call upon every miner in
the above named counties to cooper
ate with aud assist me in carrying
out the spirit aud intent of this Sec
L
tion of the law, by giving notice at
once to the nearest magistrate in case
of any of their fellow miners losing
their lives in their respective mines.
The magistrate or coroner is then re-
quired TO notify the Inspector, whose
duty it is to be present at every in
quest to examine closely into tie cause
by which said person or persons lost
their lives. If you fail to render me
this cooperation and assistance I will
not expect to hear of any grumbling
and growing about neglect of my
official duties. All that you can e1-
rect of me in regard TO this matter is
TO recommend in my annual report
to the Governor an amendment oil
this section of the law.
A large majority of you are aware
that the law is not what it ought to
tein many respects, and as my duties
will bring me in contact with the
whole of you, I hope by an inter-
change of views to be able to recon-
mend such amendments as are neces-
sary. You have done we'll to obtain
and keep it on the statute book; it
will be easier to amend it than to
have new law.
| Here let me state that have no
idea of pleasing every one of you,
believing as l do that neither saint or
angel is capable of doing so; and as l
do not claim to be either the one or
the other Of those celestial beings, it
would be folly for me to expect to do
any such thing. My oath requires
me to discharge my duties in an i'm
partial manner. This I will do to
the best of my ability, keeping with
in the limits OF the law at all times
and under all circumstances raging
no attention TO the chronic growler
that is to be found in every mine
with his hundred and enc imaginary
grievances to be redressed that do
not come within the scope of my du-
ties. In case of my presence being
needed at any of the mines ofteuer
than my monthly visits will willing
| ly visit such mine upon receiving re-
lsponsible information, the writer Civ
ing his full name as a guarantee Of
good faith. l will pay no attention
to anonymous communications, either
public or private, but pledge My
honor that all proper communications
will be held strictly confidential.
l am only required by law to re-
port annually to the Governor, but in
my first tour through the several
mines of the counties, I will visit
every working-place in each mine and
report through the columns of the
FRosTBURG MINING JOURNAL the
condition of the mines visited, and
how the law is obeyed at the same,
regardless of fear Oh favor from bosses
or miners.
Iremain your fellow miner,
THOMAS BROWN,
| Inspector of Mines.