Birmingham state herald., 1896-12-13
IRON AND COAL MINING
The Full Text of the Bill Introduced by Mr. Altman to Regulate Mining of Iron Coal and Other Minerals
 in Alabama

all necessary instruments for measure ment of air in coal mines, and whatever chemical instruments the said inspector may recommend from time to time.
 Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the opera tor agent or superintendent of each mine to keep at the mouth of the minie, or at such other place about the mine as shall be desig- mated by the mine instructors a stretcher properly constructed and a wooden and waterproof blanket in good condition for use in carrying away any person who may be injured at the mines; provided, that where more than 200 men are em- uloyed two stretcherS and two Woolens and two waterproof blankets shall be k2pt in mines generating fire damp. A sufficient quantity of linseed or olive oil bandages and linen shall be kept in store at the mine for use in emergencies, and bandages shall be kept at all mines.
 Sec. II. Be it further enacted, That It shall be the duty of mine foremen at coal minss to see that proper breakthroughs are ma de in all room pillars al such dis tances apart as in the judgment of the mine inspector may be deemed requisite, not more than twenty yards apart, for the purpose of ventilation and the ven- ti1lation shall be conducted through said break-throughs in to the rooms by means of check-dOorS made of canvass or other suitable material placed on the entries or on other suitable place and he shall not permit any room to be opened in advance of the ventilation current. Should the mine inspector dircover any room, entry, airway or other working place being driven in advance of the air current con- trany to the requirements of this section, he shall order the workmen working in such place or places to cease work at once, until the law is complied with.
 Sec. 12. Pe it further enacted. That the nfatc a,,H tTr of inv nn a mine, shall keep a. sufficient supply of props and other timber used in the mines, so that the workmen may, al any time. be able to prop tn IT working places. and the owner, agent or operator shall afford the miners working in their mines proper other timber needed by them in their respective working places.
 Sec. 13. Be it further enacted. That all safety lamps used for examining mines, or for working therein shall be The prop erty of the operator, and shall be in the care of the mine foreman, his assistant or fire-boss. or other competent person. who shall fill, trim and examine and de- liver the sa me locked In a safe condition. to the men when entering the mine be- fore each shift. for which service a charge not exceeding cost of labor and material may be made by the operator. sufficient number of safety lamps, but not less than 25 percentUm of those in use, shall be kept at each mine where gas has at any time been generated in sufficient quantities to be detected by ordinary safety lamp for use in case of emergency. It shall be the duty of every person who knows his safety lamp to be injured or defective to promptly report such fact to the party authorized here in to receive and care for such lamps; and 1t shall be the duty of that person to promptly report such fact to the mine foreman.
 Sec. II. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the owner, operator or manager of any coal mine to have and maintain at least two available open ings to the surface from each seam or stratum of the coal worked in such mine, exclusive of furnace upcast, shaft or slope; one of said openings to be known as a manway or escape-way in case of an accident. The escape-way shall be kept in safe and available condition and free from steam and dangerous gases and all other obstructions, and if said opening is shaft it shall be fitted with safe and convenient stairs, with steps of an average width of ten inches and nine inches rise, not less than two feet wide and not to exceed an angle of 60 degrees descent, with landing of not less than eighteen inches wide and four feet long. at easy and convenient dis tances. Reasonable time, however, shall be given to said owner, operator or man. ager to prepare man-Way or safe-Way, but in no case to exceed twelve months. Provided. however, that in coal mines opened subsequent to the passage of this act there shall be escapeways not less than fifty feet from the main entrance thereof
 Sec 15 Be 1t further enacted, That not more than ten men shall be allowed to work in any mine until an escapeway is provided for. Said escape-way shall not be less than six feet wide nor less than five feet and six inches in height.
 Sec. 16 (a.) Be 1t further enacted, That applicants for first and second class mine foreman's certificates shall be at least twenty-three years of age and shall have at least five years practical experience after having attained to the age of flf- teen years as miners, Superintendents at or inside of any iron ore or coal mine shall be citizens of this state and men