Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-05-20
LAWS AFFEcTiN q MINERS.
Colorado Legislature kaAets Measures Ne
Esrdiox several Important Matters

In the Colorado Legislature. and sew
eral became laws, the most important
of which is the Moore elght-hour law.
by the terms OF this act the opef-
atofs of all classes of mining property
are required TO employ their workInen
for shifts not 10 exceed eight hours
each, and the same provision applies
To shelters and other works for the ~.
duction aud refining of ores. This law
Is expected To work a general reforma
ton among the owners and operators
Of mines. shelters aud some classes of
mills, In which men have often beeu
compelled 10 work shifts OF such
length as TO materially shorten their
lives. IL was asserted when the bill
was pending before the Legislature
that mine owners have required their
employees to work underground from
early dawn until dark, thus leaving
them NO opportunity 10 ,lo more than
catch teeting glimpse of the light or
day.
In the House the Moore bill went
through the breakers with ruSit but
Ia the upper branch, where are repre-
scented more property interests than la
the other II met with sturdy and pro,
tractcd opposition There an attempt
WAS ninde to so modify the measure as
= except the c0al producing proper.
ties from It's provisions, but this wus
voted down. aud tn. bin passed with
a good majority its progress was
watched with great interest by the Ia.
Dor element Of the entire stats. Though
effective, the bill j. short. covering ON,
~ fourteen lines OF the regular printed
form. Its full text follows
BE II enacted 10y the General AS
s"mbly of the State Of Colorado.
Section I. The period 81 employ.
ment of worklngmsh In all under.
ground mines or workings shall b.,
eight hours per dag. except In eases OF
emergency where life or property Is In
Imminent danger.
See. . The ps,fia-t nf employment
of workIngmen In zmeitrrz and in D II
other institutions for the r.,luctlOn
and refining Of ores or metals. shall be-
eight hours per day. except ia eases ~
emergency whert life OF property il IL
Imminent danger.
SEE. J Any person. body corporate
agent. manager ur employer who shall
Violate any of the provisions of sec.
lions and Of this act stall b.. ,Isemed
guilty ut misdenleannr. and upon
conviction shall b. punished by tins
Of not less than $50 or more than glfp.
or by Imprisonment uSt more than alx
months or hy both fine gud imprisou.
u1ent"
The bill did not carry au emergency
clause. and hence win not become cf.
fectiye for ninety days from the time
Of becoming IAw. Governor Thomas
affixed his signature late In the lrgis.
-Itiye session.
The ssr- of Explosives
one of the laws enacted by the lnst
General Assembly IL that relating To
the proper care Ut high explosives In
mines. found In section ~ OF tile net
amendat0ry Of the act establishing n
bureau of mines. House bill Me-. 2t2,
The act provides.
First-Fhat explosives must he store,I
In magazine provided for that pnr
pose alone; said magazine to be- pincc I
far enough from the working shaft.
tunnel or incline to Insure the same
remaining intact in the event the en-.
tire stock Of explosives in said maya.
zine be exploded; tlnit NIL explosives In
excess of tbe amount required for n
shifts work must be kept in said mag.
azlne. that no powder or other explo.
siye be kept or stored iu underground
workings where men are employed
that each mine shall provide aud en-.
pioy suitable device for thawing or
warming powder aud keep the same In
condition for use: that oils. candles OF
other combustible substances shall NOT
he Kept or stored in the same magazine
with explosives.
Second-That the commissioner of
mines shall have authority to regulate
aud limit the amount of nitro powder
| stored or Kept In general supply stores
IN mining camps or mining towns
where there Is no municipal law gov.
ernlng the storage of same.
Third-Tbat oils. candles and other
infiammable materials shall be stored
OF Kept In building erected for TINT
purpose, aud at u safe distance from,
Tie main buildings and at "a safe dis.
lance from the powder magazine. and
their removal from said building fol
use shall be In suclt quantities NJ arr,
necessary to meet the requirements of
d day only.
| Fourth - That no person sball
: whether working for himself or I'm the
employ Of any person, company OF cor.
l'oration. while iouding or charging 4
hole with nitro Elycerine powder, o,
other high explosives. use or employ
any steel, iron or other metal tampIpl
bar, nor shall any mine manager, su
perintendent. foreman or shift boss. OF
/ other person having the management,
or direction or mine labor. allow OF
| permit the use of such steel. iron q.
other metal tamplng bar ny employees
under his management or direction.
The act also provides for the linins
of all shafts. aud for regulations gov
erning the hosting of buckets npt
Cages, for the employment of compe
tent bolsting engineers. for uniform
code of signals to be established by til,
commissioner Of mines. for adequat,
protection against fire, for properl,
protected ladder ways, for safe exits
ANA the protection of working stations