The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-07-13
MINE RULES
ARE FORMULATED.
They Are the First of the Kind
Ever Issued.
BY CHEF MINE INSPECTOR.
They Are Adopted to Prevent as Much az
Possible the Loss of Life Through
Accidents Caused In
Mines.

Columbus, July ia code of rules
governing mining operations in the
state has been formulated by Chief
Mine Inspector Biddison. The rules are
the first of the kind issued by the de-
partment and they were adopted to pre-
vent as much as possible loss of life
and limb through accidents caused by
negligence in the mines. Mining ex-
perts have approved of the rules. Ac-
cidents occurred with greater frequen-
| cy during the last six months than ever
before in the history Of the department
| and this alarming record induced the
inspector to take precautionary action.
| The new rules will make additional
work for the district inspectors and
| several have made complaints to Mr..
| Biddison. with the result that he has
told them they could either enforce the
laws or resign. Copies of the circular
| given below will be distributed all over
| the state and Inspector Biddison re-
| spectfully solicits the aid of the press
in securing the successful operation of
the rules. Following is the code:
| STATE MINING DEPARTMENT,
| Columbus, Ohio, July 9, 1900.
General Order No. ALL operations
in mining coal in the state of Ohio,
l w
be governed by the following special
rules, together with any other rules and
regulations that may be stipulated by
law:
| No. 1.-Two separate outlets for min
ers and mine labor must be provid-
ed and maintained. Law governing
| breakthroughs must be strictly COM
piled with
No. "A current of air of sufficient
velocity to render harmless or expel
any poisonous or noxious gases at each
and every working place must be pro-
vided and maintained.
No. 3.-At any working place where poi
sonous or inflammable gases are found
in dangerous quantities current of air
having a velocity of 300 feet minute
jmust be provided and maintained.
No. All breakthroughs or airways
must be closed by brattices, trap doors
or otherwise except the one nearest the
face of the workings.
| No. 5.-Butt entries must be provided
with check doors or the necessary con-
trivances to conduct the air to the face
of the rooms where more than three
parallel rooms are driven the required
distance for breakthrough. Break
throughs in rooms must be opposite
each other and the one nearest the
| working face kept clear Of COB or other
material that would obstruct the pas
sage of air. Air in butt entries will be
measured at the breakthroughs nearest
the working face Of the rooms on the
same. Good judgment must be used in
enforcing this rule. Air must be con-
Quoted to all working faces of the mine.
Rooms parallel to each other and which
are to be ventilated by the same cur
rent of air must be driven as near even
as possible, and in no case shall a room
be driven more than twenty yards in
advance of breakthrough for the inlet
Of air Unless special provision has been
made for ventilating same.
No. Elm all mines were fire damp is
found a suitable and competent person
must be employed to carefully examine
the working places and according to
law report their condition before the
miners or any mine laborer is permitted
to enter the same. Openings or entry
ways to abandoned workings in mines
must be fenced off or some contrivance
be used to prevent the entering of same
unaware.
No. Amy wells drilled for oil or gas
on property from which the coal has
been or Is being mined must be accu-
rately located on the map and a state
ment accompanying the same setting
forth the nature Of the production of
the we'll, or wells, IL producers; If aban-
doned, state present condition.
No. S.-Ventilating and hosting ma
chinery must be kept in sound and
healthy condition. Ventilating appa-
ratuses, airways, or air courses and air
shafts or air drifts must be so construc-
ted and have sufficient capacity to
ventilate a mine as required by the
foregoing rules and regulations.
No. 9.-It shall be the duty of the
mine boss to explain to the miners and
mine laborers that breakthroughs near
est the face of rooms are airways un-
der the state mining laws, and that the
penalty is fine and Imprisonment for in
any way obstructing a free passage of
air through the same.
No. 1850 far as possible dust and
slack should be removed from the mines
to prevent fires caused by spontaneous
combustion and dust explosion.