Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-01
OPERATORS DISSENT.
Report of tho Bituminous Mine Commission
signed by Inspectors and dMiners-Opera-
tors Refuse to sigma Law Submitted,


Report of the Bitaminous Mine Commission
! signed by Inspectors and Miners-Opera-
tors Refuse to sigma Law Submitted,
Claimed to Be a Superior One.
IFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT
HARRISBURG, April 30-The Governor sent
to the Legislature this afternoon the report OF
the Bituminous Mine Commission, with the bill
agreed upon by the majority Of its members.
The report is signed by she eight mine inspect
ors and eight miners but the eight operators
refused to sign it or to recommend tho bill.
The bill. npon which the commission spent 2s
days labor at an expense to the State OF about
s., 500. is vouminous document The various
laws relative to the management and ventila-
tion of bituminous mines are codihed and many
most important changes made. Its trainers
claim that 1t is the best mining law in the
United States, and in many respects superior
to the English law. The principal changes pro-
posed are as follows:
Some of the Changes Proposed.
Mining engineers employed to make plans Of
workings are made liable to the penalties OF the
law for any inaccuracies in the plans OF maps.
Elevations must be taken every 300 feet, based
on the tide level, so that when subsequent
workings approach abandoned mines the dan
ger of flooding may be avoided. Copies of all
maps, with extensions of workings added
every six months. must be furnished the mine
inspectors. The second opening" required by
law must extend into the main body OF the
workings, thus giving two means OF escape. and
no one is permitted to work moro than 5OV leet
ahead of two such passageways. mere tne
seam incllnes with workings on both sides OF
the slope, but with an escape way on only one
side, overhead passages above the slope irust
5e provided every oo feef CO wSuid "i
have prevented the loss of life at the DUNBAR
mine.
The minimum amount of air to be supplied
each person employed Is increased from l0U
cubiclfeet to $50, and whenever two or more
mine inspectors decide that this amount Is IN
sufficient 20 insure health and safety in any
mine. it shall be increased as they may direct.
One of the most important changes is the in
PRODUCTION of the ''split air'' system. The main
volume of air forced into q mine must be split
into divisions and not more than 81 persons are
to work in any ono division. If properly car
ried out, this provision will lessen the loss OF
life should explosions occur, as the men en-
ployed IN divisions other than that where
rate afr supply. Had this system been in use
at the Mammoth mIne. it is probably that at
least one-half of the men would have been
saved All stoppngs between the main intake
and return air courses must be built OF stone
or brick, laid in cement or mortar.
The Use of Electricity.
The use of electricity in mines generating
fredamp is prohibited, as the emission of
sparks from electric wires or machinery would
certainly ignite explosive gas. All mines
generating fredamp must be examined by the
fire bosses every morning within three hours
before the miners go to work, and at frequent
intervals during working hours. All mines
below water level generating firedamp must be
worked with locked safety lamps Should tile
operators of any mine deem this unnecessary
and burdensome in their case, they may apply
to the courts for the appointment OF three
competent persons, who shall make an exam-
nation and hear the testimony from the mine
inspector Of the district, the mine foreman and
fireboss and miners employed therein. and
their finding as to its necessity shall be hnal
The interference of the mine superintendent
with the mine foreman in the performance OF
his duties under the act is prohibited unless
the mine superintendent has certificate OF
competency, the issuing OF which is provided
for. The burning OF impure oil. storing OF
combustiblc materials and the taking of more
than eight pounds Of powder or four pounds OF
high explosives into the mine by any one
person are also forbidden.
The other members ut the commission are
very much surprised ut the refusal Of the oper-
ators to sign the report and the bill. The main
trouble had been with the miners. who desired
to make more radical amendments and both
inspectors and miners had made many changes
and compromises in order to satisfy the operat-
ors and secure their Endorsement of the meas
ure Among the concessions to the operators
were the fixing the minimum amount of air for
each enploye at l50 instead of 200 cubic feet,
increasing the number OF men to be employed
in each "Split" of air from 90 to b, and giving
them the right of appeal to the courts in the
matter of the use of safety lamps.
1t was the general supposition among the
other members that the operators would sign
1t, but aftef consultation on 1t they refused TO
do SO, but would assign no reason for their &C.
tion. They have as yet filed no minority report