Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1880-05-01
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
THE INSPECTOR ADDRESSES THE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, WEIGH /.
MAST Frs, AND MINERS.

MAST Frs, AND AINER6.
To the Superintendent Of the Coal
Companies of Alegany and Garrett
Counties
GENTLEMEN Having been COM
missioned by the Hon. VIM. 7. Ham
ilton, Governor of the State of Mary
land, under the law of 1878, as Mine
Inspector for the counties Of Allegany
and Garrett, respectfully call your
attention to the following provisions
of the aforesaid law:
l. You are required to provide a
sufficient amount of fresh air in the
uorking-place of each miner in your
employment, independent Of the
strong current that is reported to be
passing through the main headings of
| your several mines. That such is the
spirit and intent of the law there can
he no doubt in your minds as intelli-
gent men.
2. You are required by law to fur
nish all the timber that is necessary
for the safety of the miners, and de-
liver the same at the working place
of each miner in your employment.
| II am glad to know that this section of
the law has been Of late generally resrected
| by your several companies. But If there
are any companies not comp ying with this
| provision, | call upon said companies to
obey 1t at once and thereby save trouble
and expense. There 10 no alternative lift
me as qualified officer but to see that Its
provisions are carried into effect. Non
compliance with this section has caused
more discomfort in the minds Of our miners
than any other grievance, and am deter
mined to ascertain the true meaning of this
section.
| 8. You are also required by law to
provide correct and accurate scales for
weighing coal mined by each miner.
| 4. The law provides also that each
traveling-way be made safe by having
all loose coal and rock overhead tim
bered and secured against falling upon
any of your employees while in the
performance of their duties.
! In conclusion, let me suggest to you
| the necessity of requiring your boss
miners to give more attention to the
men under their charge. You should
require them to visit the working
place of each and every miner daily,
for the purpose Of ascertaining if he
has his timber properly placed to Sc
cure his own safety by securing the
ever treacherous slip that is SO fatal
to the lives of many. We have a
striking example Of the good effect Of
this policy in the mines Of the Georges
Creek Coal and Iron Company, where
the boss miners are required to give
strict attention to the timbering. In
a period of twenty-seven years there
have been only four lives lest, which
goes to prove that if this suggestion
is carried out we can greatly diminish
the loss of life in our mines.
Yours very respectfully,
| THOMAS Brown,
May l, 1880. Mine Inspector.
To the Weighmsasters Of the Coal Com
panies Of AUyany and Garrett
| Countless
| GENTLEMEN Having been ap-
pointed and qualified as Mine Inspsc-
tor of the counties above named,
respectfully call your attention to the
following requirements of the Law
touching the performance of your Of
fetal duties
You are required TO make oath be-
fore q Justice of the Peace of the
county wherein the mine for which
you weigh coal is situated, and deliv-
er copy of the same to the Mine In
spector, that you will perform the du.
ties of weighmaster at such mine with
honesty and fidelity; that you will
keep true account of the coal SO
weighed, and credit to each and every
party or parties mining the same the
actual amounts so mined. at the rate
Of 2,240 POUNDS per ton.
You are also required to keep list
Of the numbers of the mine cars, an d
the weight of coal in each car, and
place said list daily in some place
where the miners interested may in.
spect it.
have strong reason to believe that
some persons acting as wsighmastsrs
in the counties aforesaid, are in the
habit Of giving up the slate wherein
they have credited each miner with
his respective number of cars and
weight Of coal therein at the close Of
each day work, to some official of the
company owning or operating said