The Virginia enterprise., 1905-03-10
WOULD HAVE INSPECTOR OF MINES.

through fear.
WOULD HAVE INSPECTOR OF MINES.
Representative Saari Introduces Bill
Providing for Appointment Of Same.
Representative Saari has made
the hit of the present Legislative
session by the preparation of a bill
providing for the creation of the
office of inspector of mines, whose
duties it shall be to see that the
miners employed in the state per-
form their duties under conditions
ensuring for them a reasonable de.
gree of safety.
The bill provides that in any
county of the state having at least
five mines in operation the county
board shall by July !, 1905, appoint
an inspector of mines whose term
of Office is to be for three years.
The board is to fix his compensa-
ton and travelling expenses, and to
remove him whenever in the judg-
ment of the board the best inter.
ests of the owners and employees of
such mines may demandit.
The qualifications of the inspec-
tor are that he is to be at least 25
years of age, citizen of the state
and a resident of the county in
which he is appointed, of good
moral character and temperate
habits, and shall have had previ-
Gus to his appointment practical
experience as miner or otherwise
engaged as an employe in mines of
the state at least six years, or a
mining engineer having had previ-
Gus to his appointment at least
four years. practical experience in
iron mining, and having had at
least one years experience in this
state. He must not be while in Of
flee in any way interested as an
owner operator, agent stockholder,
or engineer of any mine. He must
make his residence or have his Of
flee in the mining district of the
county for which he is appointed.
His salary is to be fixed. by the
county board at a sum not to ex-
ceed $1,000 per year, with actual
travelling expenses not in excess of
$500 per year. He must take an
oath to support the constitution of
the United States and the state and
that he will do his duty, and he
must also give 5000 bond. -
He must visit all the working
mines of his county at least once
every ninety days, and oftener if
requested to do so by the owner,
operator or agent of a mine, or by
twenty of its employees. He is to
closely inspect such mines, and
condemn all places where he finds
that the employees are in danger
from any cause. He is to compel
the erection of a partition between
all shafts where there are ladder
ways, where men must go up and
down. He shall order men work
ing in dangerous place to quit
work, and notify the mining people
to secure the place from existing
danger, which notice must be in
writing and clearly define the
limits of the dangerous place and
specify what needs to be done to
make it safe. All openings into
which people may tumble must be
safeguarded by the mine.owners.
If, after the inspector has ordered
! work to cease in place he be.
lieves to be dangerous, the mining
companies keep men at work there
for any other purpose than to carry
out the directions of the mining
inspector relative to making such
place safe, the companies are to be
liable for all accidents causing in
jury or death to any employe aris-
ing by reason of such place or
places not having been repaired or
changed as directed by the inspec-
tor.
The inspector is given full right
to enter upon and inspect the mines
of his county, and it is made the
duty of the mining people to give
him every facility aud to furnish
all maps, plans, drawings, ETC., also
guides to show him through the
mine. 1t is made a misdemeanor
for mining company to fail in
this duty, punishable by a fine of
500 to $500.
Whenever there is loss of life or
serious injury in mine, the man
ager or superintendent must give
notice of it to the inspector, giving
particulars, and if he thinks it
necessary the inspector is to 60 at
once to the scene and make such
suggestions and render such assist
ance as he thinks necessary. He ia