Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-03-01

'o"7Eins is the fun text of Tho mes
-, y, O'Eer1o, -iacCorkle To- the
LEGISLATURE. veto.ag the mine i,spsrror
o'4s. 1t should be read and studied
" every coal operator and miner i'm
-A H. OH WEST VIRGINIA.
executive Department.
charleston, February 1g. 1897.
gentlemen OF the House of DELEGATES.
IreturH substitute for House bin No.
O. e--'..e1 An Aet concerning mine
ventilation ana inspection. without my
approval and do accordingly Veto the
rms law mobiles the existing law as
20 mime inspectors and removes from
once the three Inspectors now holding
under present ~1oltncut bv the GOV
elnoI ana substitutes instead thereof
L'e mlne inspectors. To- bee appointed
Oy the incoming Governor
Inc OIL under consideration provides
IN effect that the Governor of the State
shalI appoint one mine inspector for
eacn or the Iour mining districts Great
ed Dy the act and chief mine in
specJ0r. Who shall superl ise and con-
uol an mine inspection of the State Of
West Virginia. The bill provides that
every person SD appointed must be q
citizen OF West Virginia. have practical
knowledge of mining and properly ven
ulating and draining mines. and must
be q coal miner of az least six years
experience as a miner I'm the coal
Of
spectOr shall be $1,000 q year. with
$500 for expenses. and the other four
mine inspectors shall have $1,000 SALE
airy each year, and not more than $500
for expenses.
The act provides that the Governor
of the State and the chief mine in
speCtOr shall divide the State into four
different districts and the four mine
inspectors shall each have charge of a
separate district under the supervision
of the chief inspector.
The change made i'm the present law
by this bin is very radical. There is
an increase Of two inspectors. with an
increase of $500 of expense. The bill
especially provides that these inspec-
tors shall not be chosen by reason Of
their fitness for the important duties
which they have TO perform, but espec-
tally provides that they shall be coal
miners who have labored in the mines
for at least six years.
suggest that the passage Of this
bin is attended with TOO much risk 70
our greatest commercial interest. lt
must have a delGteriOus effect upon this
greatest industry OF our State. The
greatness of West Virginia is founded
upOn our coal Nothing else approx
mates coal I'm It's effect upon our mar
velous prosperity. Large cities have
been built fro this State by the sole IN
nueuce of the coal mining industry.
. NL1Ecus or.dollars have been invested
here. predftated upon this product The
prosperity of the Capital City OF this
State depends absolutely AID entirely
upOn the mining of coal The Chief
and permanent source of wealth Tor
the~fext hundred years mrst be 10 our
U5C9ucti0n of coal lt is true that we
have o. magnificent wealth OF unoer'
br- within % comparatively short time
IL will be exhausted. To is also true
rb,+ orl. X ATE is uuderlaid with oceans
of oil. but the history oil JnaL Huio
.tor.e +bar ir cannot be permanently
depended upon for the continuous pro-
d,,crior OBJ wealth. Therefore. We
must look to our coal as our certain
and sure method of becoming q great
commercial State
yve nrodrcad i'm 1895 1l.936+6S tons
of coal OF the value of SN,O9-,95'. ana
MO erDIoyfd last year I'M the coal M
5,,-+,.,- 69- men For ten years our
i-.rssse has been marvellous. This IN
$50 has been brought about under
the prescn- system
can the Legislature or West I-ll'"
,eord to DO anything that Would 'li-
Dqfs hamper or hinder the progress OF
this oraar Industry withing The borders
s,..e Sfafo' Can We afford Tor mere
-,,litieaI effect or political place. to I'M
800 with our commercial greatness.
hove the kirduest feelings towards
-r- minor and have done everything
.-.t,f7 INV mower SD far as legislation
~. .o,,carro5 and SD far as the admins
-rs+iCn of affairs from the Executive
C#co would allow me. 90 assist the
80. brr I dn not believe that with
,-,s- sum o.. money invested nm the
l"e 49, ~ COAL I'm this State that the
i'''-l'- 7;,5,,s-ry of the State should be
n,- entirely and aps3iule'S U"oel INV, ,.
control ~ the miner me '" -t,.
t.tts which should be respected "t
;r1.--,r in and the operator o. 'o''
,-.,rsrrv also hes ms llSu'S' WIG"
lrc,,rI be- respected i DO hoi ue'.e't
- one moment thct either tue l'','.'
+be c.9I operator, edV4 A"'in@ ms
rosnectfve rights I'm the prGGGc,lo NO. vi
trfs GREAT commodity, sAou'U no 80 49,.