The Labor enquirer., 1883-11-10
DENVER, COLORADO. SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 10, 1883
with a density equrl 70 caroutchoue.
L. a., age 81 years Miner all his life
whole lungs dyed with black matter.

IL. a., age OF years Miner all his lie ;
whole lungs dyed with black matter.
Although pathologists do not agree,
says DR.. Hutchinson, about the exact
cause or the origin of this carDonaceous
matter, whether caused by mechanical
inhalation of black matter or by chem
ical action Of breathing carbonic acid gas
matters little to the miner. All agree
that the lungs are blocked up with, car
bonaceous matter, by foul air and some
thing peculiar to the art of mining, and
all agree that the more pure the air the
more healthy the lungs These facts urge
for more air to circulate, and better ven
Itilation in mines.
SOME VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS.
would say that from fifty to eighty
feet, according to the nature Of the
mine, would be a reasonable distance
between crosscuts, and that all break
throughs, except one at face Of entry, be
closed up and made air tight brattice.
trapdoors orotherwise, SO that the air
lmay sweep to the crossdnt last made, as
provided in section four of mining laws; !;
and all mines governed by the statute
shall be provided with artificial means
of producing ventilation.
Men and boys are in the habit of rid
ing up slopes and shaftes on loaded cars
contrary to law. This practice must
cease. All future offenses will be dealt
with as provided by law Many boys
Itundertwelve years of age are now em-
lployed in some mines, the same being
contrary to law. Superintendents of
coal mines are hereby notified that all
boys under twelve years of age and be-
tween the ages ofrtwelve and sixteen
years, if they cannot read and write,
must be removed from all mines in ac-
Ecordance with section 2, which reads as
follows; "f-.'. f. +,
.F.,.I THE COLORADO LAW. -,
No young person under twelve years
of age, or woman or girl ofany age, shall
be permitted to enter any coal mine to
work therein, nor any minor under six
teen years unless he can read and write.
There are in many cages used to hoist
and lower men in shafts that have no
tapproved safety catches thereon. | will
state that this important part of section
8 must be complied with at once The
miners attention is called to section 10,
which reads as follows "Any miners,
workmen or other persons who shall in
tentionally injure any shaft, lamps, in
struments, air courses or brattice. or OBJ
struct or open airways, or open door
and not close it again, or carry lighted
pipes or matches into places that are
worked by safety lamps, or handle or
disturb any part of the machinery, or
enter any place of the mine against cau4
ton, or who intentionally and wilfully
neglects or refuses to securely prop the
roof of any working place under his con-
/
troll, or disobey any order given in car
rying out the provisions. of this act, or
do any other act whereby the lives or
health of persons, or the security of the
mines, or machineryis endangered, shall
be deemed guilty ofa misdemeanor, and
may be punished by fine or imprison-
ment, at the discretion of the court.
l will state that the several committees
of miners at mines need not make
monthly inspection, if they have every
reason to believe that the boss has al
ready com piled with the law, but where
the law is utterly disregarded I want to
be notified of the same. All the proVi-
sions of the law will be faithfully and
impartially enforced so far as it is in the
power of the inspector to do so.
JOHN MCNEIL,
.., State Inspector of Mines.