Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-03-22
A Timely Interview With the State
Inspector.
THE PARTISAN CHARGES AGAINST Him
For Neglect Of Duty Entirely Rsfuted :
Short History of His Work-sr'
yeazey on His WaytO
Wheeling.

OF the Sentinel called upon MI 'eaASy "
interview him in regard 10 the range OIL hiS
work, the character OF his duties, and to
ascertain what he had 10 say in regard 70
the complaints against him that have ap'
peared in the newspapers throughout the
StaJe.
We found Mr.. Veazey engaged at work.
and Immediately
Opened Fire Upon Him
by stating our business. He politely ex-
pressed his, readiness to give US any intor'
nation regarding his Office which would be
of interest to the public, and the following
conversation ensued:
Sentinel-Mr. Veazey, have noticed IN
the State papers considerable discussion 10
reference TO yourself. Inquiries as 10
YOUR whereabouts have been made, the
charge is published that you have not YET
visited a single mine, and that the miners
throughout the State are complaining that
YOU have neglected your duty. have not
vet noticed any statement ot yours reiut
ing the charges, and, as 1t IS SUBJECT
which is attractin,; considerable attention.
thought perhaps you would be willing
10 give TO the public your side OF the
matter?
MIR. Veszey-I am adverse to rushing
into print when am attacked, preferring
rather TO wait until | made my report TO
The Governor, which report will show
clearly exactly what have done, as well
as afford me
Perfect VIndicatiOn.
However, do not mind giving an account
of what have done so far-and we may
as well commence at the beginning, -,
Lighting a cigar, and setting hlmsell
comfortably in chair, he proceeded;
The mining law passed the Legislature
February %, 1888. Its object was to regu-
late the working, ventilation and drainage
OF coal mines, and TO provide for the ap
pointmeDt of q mine inspector. Inc act
directed the Governor to appoint an IN,
spec,or on or before the first OF July, and
| received my appointment on the 3lst OF
Nav. II was sometime before made up
NV mind to accept the position, and 1t was
not until July Ii that | qualified. section
8 of the act directs that the owner or the
lessee OF every mine employing fifteen or
more miners shall prepare a map or plan
of the workings of such mine within SIX
months after The passage of the law. BY
virtue OF this limit it could scarcely be
said that the act was in operation before
six months from its passage. Section
provides that it shall be the duty OF the in
spe ctor OF mines at least once every twelve
NOR tbs, oftener il necessary, to carefully
Examine All Coal Mines
in the State, a map or plan of which is re-
quired to be made, and see that they are
properly ventilated and drained, and work
ed in a manner that would be safe for the
parties working therein. Section says II
shall be- the duty OF the owner or lessee OF
every mine employing fifteen or more
men TO provide for the proper drainage and
ventilation within six months after the
passage of the act.
Taking the view that the law did not 90
into effect until six months after the pas.
ssge of the act, did not begin the work OF
inspection until the first OF September last.
Sentinel-Since which time | presume
you have been actively at work.
MIR. Veazey-Ies; | began in the Kama
wha district, because there are more mines
there together than in any other section OF
the State, there being titty.nine mines in
operation in two counties-k anawha and
Fayette, and one in Putnam, making sixty
in all. These mines will average force OF
fifty men each, which would entitle them
all 10 an inspector under the law. To give
you all idea of the magnitude Of the work,
| will here say that the first thing | am
obliged to do is to inspect the mine, which
will take on an average, day to each one.
An inspection is
No Small Matter.
am obliged to 80 through each mine, and
make careful and accurate measurement
OF the current OF air with an instrument
have for that purpose. The law of this
State does not state the quantity OF air re-
quired. 1t simply provides that.there shall
oe a sufficient amount of pure air in each
working heading. But | have, in my
WORK, adopted the standard named in the
law OF Ohio and the bituminous region OF
Pennsylvania, which Is loo cubic feet per
minute for each man working. For in
stance, il there are 100 men at work in a
mine il would take 10000 cubic feet per
minute, which should be properly distrib.
uted through the workings. TO make this
inspection il requires q great deal of time,
and often am obliged to traverse great dis
tauCes under ground. Well, after ] COM
plete the inspection, am obliged to care
fully examine the maps or plans to see
what is to be done in the way of drainage
or ventilation, and write such instructions
as | deem necessary. All this takes one
day additional TO each mine. / am also
obliged 70 see that my instructions
Are Carried Out,
and there is but one way to do this proper.
ly-thst is, to see TO it in person. OF course
it is not necessary to revisit every mine,
but there are cases in which ! am obliged
to re-inspeCt. Now, from this, you can
readily see that the inspection OF these SIX.
ty mines must necessarily have taken fully
five months OF my time. 1t is occasionally
necessary for me to enforce the penalty in
cases where my instructions are disregarded,
rrl fuE al
have had very little of such unpleasant
duty to perform, the operators generally
obeying the instructions. You cal now
see that my time has been taken until
about the first OF February in the Kanswha
region. Since then have been inspecting
other mines in the State, south of the B &
o. railroad; and am now through inspecting
south OF the road aud
East OF Grafton
on the road. l shall now take in the mines
west OF Grafton on the Psrkersburg branch
and then north on the main stem to
Wheeling, taking each mine at Fairmout
and other points IN rotation. After this Is
done, will be obliged to go down the Ohio
river to Mason county, where l will com.
plete my work. | shall then make my au-
nualreport, which was due on the first Of
January. However, as it was impossible
for me to complete the work by that
time, it was useless TO send in a partial re.
port .-I q
sentirel-When do you expect to COM
plete your work?
Mr.. Yeszey-By the first of May, There
or theresbouts," as the lawyers say. In
medistely upon the completion of my re.
port it will te necessary for me tn begin
on my second round, and | will be c1u-
stsntiy on the 60 until the expiration Of
my term of office.
Ssntinel-What is your opinion OF the
mining law, Mr.. Veszy? Does it not need
revision?
MI. Veszey-Well, in the first place the
law gives 10 one man more work than
he can we'll attend TO. As it is the In.
specIor is unabls to visit the mines often
enough. The large territory and the great
smnupt OF work at each mine prevents .
proper performance OF the duties.
A Pointer for LEGISLATORS.
The State should be divided into two dis.
,ricis, each with an inspector, in order thSt
he inspections may be facilitated. Mary
land requires her inspectors TO visit each
mine once 8 month. West Virginia il
nAr9rslly divided into two inspection dis
Iicts, the Baltimore aud OHIO and ths
Chesapeake and Ohio systems. I Va: