Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-12-29
AID VENTILATION OF
coal MINES

I
act relating to INSPECTOR of Ooal Mines
and Ventilation of Coal Mines be and
hereby are amended to read As follows.
and that said act be and Is amended BY
adding thersts the following sections,
numbered twenty foar ga and twenty
| i've (y51.
| Section /. That the Governor shall ap-
| point q suitable person inspector Of coal
mines in and for this Territory. Who
| shall bold bis Office for the term OF two
wears from and sitter the first Monday
In February. 1855. and until his succes
sor is appointed and qualified and no
person shall be appointed unless be Il
possessed of q competent knowled9e
and has practical knoviedge OF min
| ing aud engineering and diferen. sys-
tens Of working and ventllsting coal
mines aud OF the nature and properties
of the noxious and poisonous gases OF
mines, particularly fire damp; and such
person shall be reputable coal miner
Of known experience and practice at
the time of his appointment he will
also be a sober man, and If be shall be
at any time found in state Of intoxica-
ton il vii be sufficient cause for his
removal.
Sec. 10. II at such inquest it sha Il ap-
pear 10 evidence that the accident was
oaused BY neglect or fault of any per
son or persons or defect in or about the
mine or mines. the coroner shall make
full written report thereof to the Ia
spector of Mines for his information
and assistance In the prompt enforce
uent of this act, and shall therein mo-
tify the Inspector in particular OF such
neglect or defects as require his imme-
date action.
Sec. Ii. That the inspector may enter,
inspect and examine any mine in the
Territory, and the works and machinery
belonging thereto, at all reasonable
times by night or by day 80 as not to
unnecessarily ebstrues or impede the
working of any mine or mines, and to
make inquiry into the state and oondi-
ton of the mine or miRes as to the VEN
tilation, works and machinery, and gen.
eral security; and the owner or owners,
agent or operator of such mine or
mines are hereby required to furnish
the means necessary for such entry and
Inspection. of which inspection the in
spector shall make a record noting the
time and all the material circumstances,
and if the said owner, agent or operator
aforesaid shall refuse to permit such
inspection or furnish the necessary
means for such entry and examihati' \
and inspection. the inspector shall file
his affidavit setting forth such refusal
with the Judge of the district in which
said mine is situated, either in term
time or vacation, or. in the absence of
said Judge, with any other District
Judge of this Territory most convenient
n nd nj q r
order on such owner. agent or operator
him to permit and furnish such neoes-
sary means for the entry and inspection
Of such coal mine, or to be adjudeed te
stand in contempt of court and pun
ished accordingly, and whenever loss oil
| life or serious personal injury shall
occur by reason of any explosion OF
| any accident whatever in or about any
coal mine it shall be the duty of the
person having charge Of such coal mint
to report the facts thereof without delay
to the inspector of such mine or mines
and II any person is killed thereby tt
notify the Coroner Of the county als0
or in bis absence or inability to act, any
Justice of the Peace of the county
where such mine 10 located, who shall
hold an inquest as in other cases by Law
provided. and the inspector shall, II be
deem it necessary from the facts report
ed or other Information, go immediate
ly to the scene OF said accident, anG
make such suggestions and render sact
assistance as he may deem necessar.
for the safety Of the men. And the in
spector shall investigate and ascertain
the cause of such explosion or accident
and make q report thereof, which b,
shall preserve with the other records o
his Office and to enable him to max
such Investigations be shall have powe
to compel the attendance of wituesse
and administer oaths or aft nations t,
them, and the costs of such investiea
tons shall be paid by the county il
which such accident has occurred, II
the same manner as costs of Coroner:
inQuests are now paid. And the failur
of the person in charge of the coal min
in which any such accident may hav
occurred, TO give notice to the inspecte
or Coroner, a. provided for in this sec
ton, shall subject such person to fin
of not less than $l00 nor more thai
$500. 10 be recovered in the name of th
Territory. before any Justice of tn
Peace of such county, and such I'm
when collected shall be paid into th
county treasury for the use Of the cOun
ty in which such accident may hav
occurred.
Sec. IA. The Inspector while In offic
shall not act a. agenttmanager or mir
ing engineer, or be interested in operai
ing any mine. IL shall be his duty to us
every precaution to insure the healt
and safety of the vorkmen employed
all mines. He shall personally Wis
and inspect each mine and all the vori
ing places therein at least once in ever
three months, and shall see that all sh
provisions and requirements of the Ia
are faithfully observed and 0beyed an
the penalties Of the Law enforced. b
shall collect and tabulate the followin
facts-nameiy, the number of acres q
workable coal lands in the Territor,
the number and thickness of the 90
beds and their respective depths belo
the surface, how they are mined
whether by shaft, slope or drift Il
number IF mines IN operation, Il
number OF men employed therein, an
the average yearly production in ton
together with an estimate of the amour
of capital employed in coal mining /
the Territory. and any other informs
ton relative to coal mining that be ma
deem necessary all Of which facts I
tabulated, together with statement ,
the condition Of all as to safety an
ventilation, and the general result
his examination into the causes of q
accidents in and about the coal min
. OF the Territory he shall fully set for,
In an annual report to the Governo
With bis Recommendations as 10 SUD
other legislation on this subject as ms
! be proper. In addition to sach annu
report, said Inspector shall, on the Or
Monday of May, August and Novembe
Of each year. make report to the Go
efnor of his proceedings, the conditie
and operations of all mines for the
periods, which, together with said a
nual report, shall be Published by q
\ Governor In some newspaper in eeper
circulation in the Territory. For Il
enforcement Of this and the act
uhich it 10 an amendment, the Inspect,
! msy call upon the Prosecuting Alto
ney Of the district In which any nit
, violating said acts ID located for bis q,
vice and services in any case. aad
shall be the duty of such Prosscutir
Attorney 10 give such sdvios and rend'
! such services - may be necessary ar
proper IN the premises.
Sec. -. In case any coal mine do,