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

West Virginia. 1 believe that it will
surely happen that when the proposed
investor looks over the States where
GOA, can be successfully mined, and
sees that his mining property will be
entirely i'm the control of the miner he
Will go elsewhere where he may not
have 20 encounter this state Of affairs.
I believe that every fair minded per
son will agree with me that there may
Dee coal miners who will be good in
spectors; but / do not think that labor
ing in the coal mines as a coal miner
for six years is prerequisite TO being
"a good inspector. I submit that a
practical knowledge of coal mining is
a requisite to make an inspector, but it
may happen that whilst a man may
have the mere knowledge of digging
coal. that mere qualification of itself
is not sufficient, because, while he may
be a good coal miner. there may be a
dozen other qualifications necessary TO
make a good inspector. which the miner
may not possess. A man may be
most excellent coal miner, but in all
probability would be a very poor in
Spector.
The inspectorship is one of the most
important Offices in the State. This
proposition will be thoroughly under
stood when the great power of the mine
inspector is considered. He can cause
any change to be made in any mine
operation as shall seem best to him.
He can force any operator TO eXpend
thousands of dollars in changing the
plans of his mine. in the operation Of
his work and the control Of the same.
He can apply, without bond, to the
Circuit Court for injunction, and his
power is almost unlimited over the
operator Ii is. therefore, especially
necessary that there should be no an
tagOniSm between the operator and the
inspector; but that the inspector should
have a fair and impartial view Of the
rights of the operator and at the same
time be perfectly willing and able TO
protect the rights of the miner. Whilst
/ have no question in the world that
some Of the inspectors should be en-
gagged in the mining of coal, l have no
question but that it is wrong to pre-
clude any one else than a coal miner
from becoming an inspector Of mines
in the State.
The inspector should have a fair
knowledge Of mine engineering. He
should be thoroughly skilled in all the
questions of fire damp; in the opening
of mines. and be fairly familiar with
an the complicated machinery needed
nv the present system of mining. he
should be able 10 intelligenuy gather
and present statistics and show TO the
world our wonderful wealth OF coal. l
do not believe that one who has spent
six years i'm the darkness Of the coal
mine is always fitted TO do this class Of
WORK. This State needs intelligent,
earnest and persistent advertising OF
her coal resources. and this cannot be
accomplished by men whose only quail
iicati0n is six years experience as coal
miners.
In the second place there is absolute
ly no necessity for five mine inspectors
i'm West Virginia. AS a matter OF TACT
TWO mine inspectors can easily DO all
the work and do it well. Under the
present law the mine inspector Of the
Second district has kanawha and Ma
SON counties with thirty-twO mines.
We have within the State III mines.
and there has been no complaint OF the
want of mine inspection. There has
been only one accident in West Nir-
ginia Of any importance during the
last four years. and that accident did
not result i'm any wise from want Of
care of the mine inspector. In the
State of Ohio they have 1850 mines
with eight mine inspectors as against
cur III mines with five inspectors.
Thus one inspector in the State of Ohio
has nearly as many mines to look after
as AN five of the West Virginia inspec-
tors under this bill The increase from
1894 To 1896 was only three mines; and
is it right that two inspectors should
be created for these three mines?
most earnestly submit that there
is no necessity for this change, and
that it will be dCubtfully looked upon
bv those proposing to invest capital
i'm this State in the mining business.
and will certainly have a bad effect up
ON the mines already in operation. In
addition to this it would make an in
crease Of s.. 800 in the expense which
is n virtual waste of the States money.
livery earnestly submit that ii is very
upwise for the Legislature to do any
thing which will have a tendency to
interfere with this great industry for
he sole purpose of giving employment
I'D people of any shade of political COM
nleXiOn. am certainly of the opinion
that this action can do no good to the
state. but it will almost surely result
i'm doing great harm; and | submit 10
the Legislature the question whether
or not 1t is willing TO take the risk Of
the passage of this bill Ii is a Ques-
ton. not of politics. but of business.
W. A. MACCORKLE.
Governor.
To THE Is. OF Z.