The Monte Vista journal., 1899-04-29
To Prsvsas Aaine Accidents.

Among the bills that have become
laws since the adjournment Of the
Twelfth General Assembly IL one Of
great importance to the mining inter
ests Of the state. Under the title. An
act TO amend an act entitled An act
to create a state bureau OF mines and
to define the duties of the commission.
or Of mines,'" Representative Ryan
Introduced and secured the passage OF
a bill that not only does ns the title
Implies. but also goes into the subject
OF mining In the state. filing new reg
ulations of very comprehensive char
ncter for the gov, nnien, Of the Indus
ny. Most OF thcee We're framed with
view TO better protect the lives Of
men employed In and about the mines
OF the state.
+, After briefly touching upon the du.
Ties OF the commissioner and his depu.
ties the bill goes into the question Of
tie storage and use Of explosives re-
| quirinE all powder to In kept In u mag
nxlnc prepared for that purpose exclu-
sivcly at safe distance from any
mine. Only u sufficient quantity TO per
form the work OF one shift ix to bc
taken from the magazine nj one time.
OILS and other combustiblc substances
must be- stored separately. and mine
| owners must provide suitable and safe
devices for the warming or thawing
OF giant powder,
The commissioner OF mines is au.
thorixed TO regulate nLd limit the
amount OF nitro-p0wder kept or stored
In general supply stores IN towns or
camps where there is no municipal
law governing the same.
Miners are prohibited the use Of met.
al bars OF any kind for tnmping
charges OF powder Into driil holes.
All Old ilmbcrs shall bc removed ns
soon ns practicable md shall not be
permitted 10 decay underground.
No person addicted to the Use OF in
toxlcating liquors or under the ngc OF
eighteen years shall bc employed us
hoisting engineer.
One provision makes II compulsory
to have nil hoisting machinery equip.
ped with an Indicator showing plainly
the position Of the bucket or cngc ~,
NIL times. One man To br known ns u
eager must bc employed for the cx.
elusive labor Of loading aud unload.
Ing the cagc nt different levels and OF
giving all signals TO the hoisting On.
ginccr.
The commissioner Of mines IL 10 cs.
tnblish code Of signals for the hoist.
Ing and lowering OF cages, the same to
Dc adopted by NIL mines making use OF
hoIsting machinery.
Provision In made for tho protection
Of all surface workings from iirc by
requiring n sufficient quantity Of hose
In properties where water In available
md requiring chemical firv cxtingulsh.
crs In other properties.
No person rhnll ride uf0n nny cage,
bucket or skip loaded with tools, tim.
her. powder or other mnterin, cxccp,
to nssist In passing the load through
shnft or incline aud then only upou
special signal.
To give or cause TO liz given fulrc
signals 10 any engineer readers such
offender guilty Of n mistcmea nor mn.
der tho new net. md the same penalty
ID TO apply To nny person riding uIon
cage Or bucket under false signals
indicating to the engineer that nobody
| " aboard.
An shafts more than nifty feet In
depth must i,c pnrtlilonci on Into two
| cOinta RI mcnts. one for thu cage and
tho other for ladder. which II 10 t,r
kept In good rrpnir for emergencies.
The laddcrwsy mus, liz securely bulk.
headed Ht least twenty-five feet below
tho surface. connecting with the opcn
mir by = separate drift. thus alYordins
an easy channel for escape In rsss Of
frc or accident. the inddrrways cutting
tho surface nj safe distance rrum m
Inhnnnabl~ buildings.
Al stations or levels shalt b~ pru.
vIicd each with u pnssngcwny around
the working shaft M ihnt J,Assing ever
the working compartment may In
, avoided. Guard rails 10 prevent utv,,.
pants II tho different levels from fail.
Ing Into the shaft shall he provided n
each station.
Any prrs0u destroying or removing
any f~nclug or covering from Aiout thu
oi~nlng of . shaft shall t,e llat.e 10 q
nns of e:sm or slx months in,prisea.
n,snt. or both.