The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-08
MEN CAN GET OUT 81,
OF MINE SAFELY
SO Witnesses for Defense Testified In
Richmond Injunction c Case.
SAY THE VENTILATION IS GOOD
MIR. Richmond, when on the stand,
Declared That lie Was Doing
Everything That lie Could In Rea-
son BE Expected to Do--A,I of the
Evidence Is in and Arguments to
Court viii BE Made Today.

Testimony for the defense was heard
yesterday before Judge Gunster in the
Injunction proceedings which Mine In
spector Roderck has brought against
the Elk Hill Coal and Iron company
to prevent it from operating Richmond
No. colliery in the northern part of
thin city until the mine laws are fully
complied with.
Mr. Roderick contends that the mine
laws provide that not over twenty men
shall be employed in any mine until
there is a second opening and that
these twenty men must be employed
exclusively in prosecuting the woGk of
making a second opening. They can
not be employed for the ordinary work
of cutting coal.
This Interpretation of the law is dis
puted by the defendants, who allege
that twenty men can be used for any
purpose. They allege that such was
the manifest intention of the law
makers or they would have made the
number less than twenty, for not more
than eight can be employed to advant-
age in making a second opening.
The case is of no little interest to
mine owners for the reason that here
tofore the law has been interpreted as
the defendants now maintain it should
be interpreted. Inspector Roderick
takes a radically different view of the
meaning of the act.
MIR. GRIER'S TESTIMONY.
Thomas Grier was the first witness
| sworn for the defense yesterday morn
ing. He was employed about the mines
of the Elk Hill Coal and Iron company
for over thirty years, severing his con-
| nection with the company last Septem-
Der. At that time he was superintend-
ent of the No. 8 colliery. After the
| second opening was driven to the Clark
| vein bucket was kept in the shaft to
| raise or lower men. This bucket was
| in use until he left the employ of the
| company. From the fourteen foot vein
up ladders We're fastened to the side of
| the shaft, which furnished a safe and
| available egress from that vein
| independent of the bucket. The
| bucket, in the opinion of the witness,
| furnished a safe means of getting from
the Clark vein During the month of
June or July last it was necessary one
| day to take the men out of the shaft
| and they We're removed in safety by
means of the bucket. The breaking
down of the engine over the main shaft
made it necessary to take the men out
through the second opening. At the
time he left the employ of the COM
pany the Dunmore vein was being
opened up, but had not reached that
| point where the slope leading to the
| Clark vein would begin. He admitted
that the mine was rather CASEY, and
| then, under cross-eXamination, went
into an elaborate statement of the ven-
| tilation Of the mine.
Other witnesses examined for the de-
| fense were James Eckelsby fireboss
Alexander Wardell, superintendent; w
II. Richmond, principal stockholder OF
the defendant company, and Johr
Mitchell, an experienced bucket man.
GIST OF TESTIMONY.
Their testimony in brief was to the