The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-11-23
Evening H@r5ld
TUESDAY NOVEMBER % 1897
nine Laws OF the State.

from the rigid requirements he hH
laid down for the eighteen mine iu-
spectors of this state. Thelatter will
lees administration, and will no
longer be their own masters. Here
tofore they were not subject to the
authority Of any state OH ial al
though they were required to make
an annual report to the Secre a of
Internal Affairs. Things are different
now under the requirements of the
new mine law.
The law passed by the last le isla
ture creatingthe bureau OF mines and
miniag places the mine inspectors
under the control of the chief of This
bureau, Mr.. Brownlee, and the utter
is preparing to rigidly enforce the
law. With this object i'm view he had
a conference with the mine inspectors
recently, and the latter were given to
understand they are expected to file a
monthly report Of the accidents, in
spections, etc, in their districts; thar
il they did not carry out his instruc-
tlons rigidly he would take steps to
have the offending inspectors re
moved Some of the inspectors, it is
said, did not take very kindly to Mr.
BFownlee's plans, but these differ
ences were adjusted, and there is not
likely to be any friction between the
chief aud the inspectors i'm the future
Mr.. Brownlee wilIissue instructions
TO mine foremeu, in cases of serious
or fatal accidents, to Immediately
telegraph to the Inspector of the dis
triet, and report to that official the
time Of the accident, fatal or not
fatal, the number of persons injured.
their age, nationality, whether mar
ried or single, the number of children
left, extent and cause of the injury.
The foreman is also required TO state
who first reached the scene Of the
accident, the name and location Of
the mine, the name of the operator,
i, railroad 10 mine and the nearest rail
road station.
The inspector is instructed to furn-
fish a report showing the circum-
stances and responsibility OF the ac-
cident to the chief of the Bureau of
Mines as soon as possible after in
vestigation. Mine operators are re
quired to furnish the bureau with an
annual report giving the name and
location OF their mines, whether a
strike or suspension has occurred at
oolliery or mine or opening of col
liery during the year, the cause of
the strike or suspension, whether it
was ordered by labor organizations,
the extent to which it succeeded, the
number Of persons involved, loss OF
wages to operator and employees, the
numbezrof native-born and alien
arsmpfoyes and other information Of a
like character.
The operators are invited to furn-
iah such other information and data
az they may choose, with the under
standing that it will be held strictly
confidential by the bureau. The in
spectors are required to furnish, by
The 4th of every month, a detailed
report of the number OF inspections
made In their district and a vast
Gnount OF technical information
about the mines inspected. One re
quirement is that they shall investi-
gate the appliances for signaling
from the bottom of the shaft or slope
to the engineer In charge of the
hoisting engine, to ascertain if they
ara suitable and whether the cages,
hosting ropes, bride chains and
safety appliances are in good condi-
ton and work properly.
Mr.. Brownlee has ordered the in
speetors to make a semi-annual eX-
animation OF the mines in their dis
trict and report the result not later
than the last weeks of January and
July. The inspectors are required to
furnish the number of employees of
each mine, the number of mules en-
ployed, the means of ventilation, the
character Of the mine, the system Of
mining and the character of ma
shinery used, together with a state
ment as to whether proper precau-
tions, are taken to ecure the safety
q all persons employed in the mine
and adjoining mines.
The inspector is also to state
whether he considers the method Of
mining, drainage, hauling and Yenti-
lation the most practical and econom-
zeal that could be adopted to secure
the largest amount OF coal in the
field. having in view the safety Of
employees and the reasonable remun-
GRAFTON Of the operator Mr.. Brown
L. esVs the law is defective in many
Nrespects and will endeayor to have it
hanged by the next Legislature.
hose employed in and about the
Aes will watch with much interest
Deration Of the new mine law
the rigid system devised by
now chief Of the bureau. 1t is to
hoped that its enforcement will
h in much good to employer and