Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-02-19
CAREFUL OVERSIGHT NEEDED.
february Is, 1881.

FEBRUARY l5 1881.
Mr.. Editor I'm connection with my
last letter In the JOURNAL, let me
again repeat what I have stated
through your columns before, viz
That the boss miners of our coal re-
gion do rot visit the working places
of the men under their charge as often
as they ought to; and through this
carelessness on their part the miners
settle down to a o.as-you-please
style of doing business.
The places are driven too wide so
as to require double row of timber,
but instead of that being attended to
the single row is neglected Now the
duties of the boss miner are to see
that the rooms are driven the re-
quired width, and to have the miners
to properly timber the same. Let us
see how they perform those duties.
1t is by visiting the miners once in
two weeks, and oftener once in four
weeks, and sometimes double that
length of time. Now he is not re-
sponsible for this state of affairs for
the reason that his superior officer
looks to him for certain amount of
tons daily, and his whole time is en-
gagged in looking after the drivers,
lifting cars upon the track, and talk
ing Latin to stubborn horses and
mules.
Now what does the law require
upon this subject:
SECTION o. And be al enacted, That 10
secure and provide for the health and
safety of the men employed therein the
owner, lessee or agent of each respective
mine shall employ competent inside over
seer, whose duty it shall be 10 keep a care
full watch over all the ventilating appa-
ratus that may be placed in said mine, rs
well as all the air-ways, all the travelling
ways and all the timterings, and to see
all loose coal or rock overhead be carefully
secured against falling upon any of the
miners engaged at work therein, as they
advance in their excavations.
Now, gentlemen superintendent
of your respective companies, Is this
section of the law carried out as it
ought to be? A majority of you are
aware that it is not. You have the
the practical men employed but you
impose other duties upon them SO
that it is impossible for them to at
tend to the duties required by law.
A majority Of the mine bosses in our
mines instead of attending to those
duties are employed as sort of a
ravelling jackscrew for lifting cars
upon the track, along with the drivers,
some CT whose backs | examined lately
and found them in a deplorable con-
dition-the hide being all peeled off.
And this condition of affairs is not
the fault of the roadsmen, as they
are often asked to repair tracks with
out the material to do it with. 1t is
equivalent to asking man to make
brick without clay.
Keep the tracks clean and in good
condition, and the driver will do
work with less danger to his own
body, and the mine boss will have
time to attend to his duties; if this is
done there will be less accidents.
1t also becomes the miner to use
more caution while engaged at his
dangerous vocation. There is enough
of unseen danger surrounding them
from the moment they enter into the
bowels of the earth until they emerge
from it. This ought to teach them
the improperly of such recklessness
that they often display in running
into danger seen by them with their
eyes open. They ought to pause and
think of their offspring that they have
been instrumental in bringing into
this world, and who are depending
upon them for their daily bread
they are in duty bound by the laws
Of nature to exercise all prudence for
the protection of their lives to enable
them to support their children. And
I hope that the unusual number of
accidents up to date Of this year will
have the effect of stimulating miners
to exercise their judgment more care
fully in regard to the safety of their
own lives.
Let me say to the officials of the
respective coal companies, taking the
advice to myself, let each one of us
do all in our power for the better pro-
faction Of human life in the mines.
We have evidence of the good re-
cults of q mining boss visiting the |