Gilpin observer., 1899-04-13
LAWS AFFECTING MINERS.
Colorado Legislature Enncts Measures Re
gsrding Several Important Matters.


gsrding Several Important Matters.
Many important measures drafted in
the interest of miners were introduced
In the Colorado Legislature, and sew
eral became laws, the most important
OF which is the Moore eight-hour law.
BY the terms of this act the oper-
ators of all classes of mining property
are required to employ their workmen
Tor shifts not to exceed eight hours
each, and the same provision applies
to smelters and other works for the re-
duction and refining of ores. This law
Is expected to work general reforma.
tion among the owners and operators
or mines, smelters and some classes OF
mills in which men have often been
compelled to work shifts of sucli
length as to materially shorten their
lives. 1t 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 to do more than
catch fieeting glimpse of the light of
day.
In the House the Moore bill went
through the breakers with rush. but
in the upper branch, where are repre-
sented more property interests than in
the other it met with sturdy and pro-
tracted opposition. There an attempt
was made to so modify the measure as
to except the coal producing proper
ties from its provisions, but this was
voted down. and the bill passed with
good majority. Its progress was
watched with great interest by the Ia
Dor element of the entire state. Though
effective, the bill is short, covering on
ly fourteen lines of the regular printed
form. Its full text follows:
BE it enacted by the General AS.
sembly of the State of Colorado:
Section /. The period of employ
ment of wOrkingmen in all under
ground mines or workings shall be
eight hours per day. except in cases OF
emergency where life or property is in
imminent danger.
Sec. ?. The period of employment
of workingmen in smelters and in oil
other institutions for the reduction
and refining of ores or metals, shall be
eight hours per day. except In cases OF
emergency, where life or property is i'll
imminent danger.
"Sec. 3. Any person, body corporate.
agent, manager or employer. who shall
violate any of the provisions of Sec
tiOns l and 2 of this act shall be deemed
guilty Of misdemeanor, and upon
conviction shall be punished by fine
of not less than $50 or more than $500.
or by Imprisonment not more than six
months or by both fine and imprison-
ment."
The bill did not carry an emergency
clause. and hence will not become eff
fective for ninety days from the time
of becoming law. Governor Thomas
.lff ci~ lnt IN In, hn 1nUfc-
lative session.
The Care of Explosives.
One of the laws enacted by the last
General Assembly is that relating to
the proper care of high explosives i'm
mines. found in section 20 of the act
amendatOry of the act establishing Il
bureau of mines, House bill No. 2l2.
The act provides:
First-That explosives must be stored
in magazine provided for that pur-
pose alone: said magazine to be placed
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 maga-
zine be exploded; that all explosives In
excess of the amount required for Il
shifts work must be kept In said mag
aZine: that no powder or other eXplO-
sive be kept or stored in underground
workings where men are employed:
that each mine shall provide and EN-
ploy n suitable device for thawing or
warming powder and keep the same In
condition for use: that oils, candles or
other combustibIe substances shall not
be kept or stored In the same magazine
with explosives.
Second-That the commissioner OF
mines shall have authority to regulate
ana 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
erning the storage of same.
Third-That oils, candles and other
infammable materials shall be stored
or kept In n building erected for that
purpose, and at Il safe distance from
the main buildings and at safe dis
tnnce from the powder magazine, and
their removal from said building for
Use shall be In such quantities as are
necessary to meet the requirements of
n day only.
Fourth - That no person shall.
whether working for himself or In the
employ OF any person, company or cor
poration. while loading or charging n
hole with nitro glyccrine powder, or
other high explosives, use or employ
any steel, iron or other metal tamping
bar. nor shall any mine manager, su
perlntendent. foreman or shift boss. or
other person having the management
or direction of mine labor. allow or
permit the use of such steel. iron o.
other metal tamping bar by employees
under his management or direction.
The act also provides for the lining
of all shafts, and for regulations gov
erning the holsting of buckets and
cages. for the employment of compe-
tent hoisting engineers, for II uniform
code of signals to be established by the
commissioner Of mines for adequate
protection against fire, for properly