The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-11-15

tousnS are completed, viii hs 81
~ ~eaIS-nSe or eighty feet abesa
0ttne arr In the third place III
twasa oesire that breakthroushs he
~eeeh ehtries and rooms, when ,hs,.
are closed, will be closa5 - -
granite, hire brick, stone. or Smoh
oSnsr material as will MI. S
oreakthrough air-tight. WIZ a. ne
ehumerate these things as he ,b,,"Me
s4e-Ieo 10 close up these braaEs
- rsporLeo that in many Instances
sin, eahlnroushs are filed up by
Empty throwing in the slate ana -
tuse coming from the coal na, re
III not filled up close To the ront
OF the mine, and for that reaeon
Iuere IS an opportunity for the air ,
4scape; and naturally II taEes ~
shortest a to escape. because -,
me loss through breakthroughs thai
al NOT Closed up n made air-tieht
miners believe that the en-
CT es in all dust -.
should be s%orinkled with water everS
ewehty-tour hours" Why? In order
10 keep these entries damp: in order
10 prevent the possibility of dust ex-
plos:ons; and I believe that YOU are
gong TO be troubled more for some
Years 10 come with dust explosions
- Msst virginia than you are with
The miners believe that in al,
mines where fire damp accumulate
mat they should be insDected nv
competent fire bosses, and the result
OF ms inspection should be posted
at the mouth of the mine before
starting time OF each shift, in order
mat 'ne men who are going Into thai
mine mat contains fire damp will
KNOW from the report of the bosses
"nether there is any danger and will
tell whether they are safe or unsafe"
In largely developed mines the
miner believes hat the members of
the commission should very erious-
ly c9psider the ad~visability of doing
We call supplying air. by such
melfbds as In your best Judgment
you think right, and in addition to
that{ that not more than fifty men
shoutd work in a single air current.
IN oqter words, when a current of air
S Kissing through the working
place. and supplies fifty men with
Ie~ntiiItion, the same air current
should not travel on and supply fifty
or n more. Because that
air is -mpregnated more or less with
fumes or gases or what
ever there may be in the mine
In entries where doors are placed
to turn the current of air, We believe
that the doors should be tended by
boys to keep them closed, or by any
automatic arrangement that the oper-
ators nay see fit to secure. Placing
loors on entries to turn the air cur,
lent does not produce the result,
Unless b a door is closed all the
ume. except of course, when the
trappers let the drivers in the mine
90 through.
AS L slated a moment ago In regard
20 the enforcement of any law thai
nay be enacted. the miners believe
hat instead OF reducing the penal
,.eS 1t O be Increased, with an
Imprisonment penalty clause added.
| have 10 idea what is in the minds
OF memters of this Honorable Com.
rmission with reference to hat sub.
,ect; but n thing is certain thai
"here, men are not allowed to say
hat they believe in a strict enforce
operators OF the State should step in
n say the law must be respected.
L believe that all agree that the Law
should provide sunucIent penalties IC
insure Its enforcement to the letter.
n IL m? Information is correct, the
minimum penalty which is under ad
y.sement by the members of the
Commission for enforcement must
Je made part of the law. is S1U.OU.
4 will say frankly. MIR. Chairman. and
nope everybody Will accept my stare
4nent in the same kind spirit.
speaking as n representative oil
.he miners n volcInS thelr Senu-
.nent we would just as leave you had
40 penalty as a MINIMUM penalty
OF $1,000; 1t does not mean anything.
/ have heard among the miners anu
Others thai: one object of the mini
mum penalty is~--jdst to be able to
lake a man before the Justice or the
reace. 1 have nc desire TO question
The integrity or honesty of the JUS
ice OF the Feace. but as a represen-
.aLive OF The miners l shall never
agree to the Justice of the Peace be-
.ng tribunal to enforce the law OF
this State or of any other State III
ms counlry l have my reasons;
you kno" my reasons.
We believe, Mi. Chairman, that
here are three causes that conLri-
cute to the loss OF lie; incidentally;
here Is an additional cause X
Iour. One of the causes Is, made
quate mining laws properly en-
forced; another OF the causes is the
IacL Inat there are 81 many men go
Ing MO the mines or ms coun.f
mI,h no kno wledge OF the LANCER in
cldent to the MINER Another cause
IS the Ignorance OF the men working
IN The MINES when he does not kno"
What the hanger IS; another Is
The failure IN some OF the
NINE owner VINO have not the prop
er regard Tor the protection or nd
ruan .-.e; not WIN any wlllful desire
20 sacrlnce life, but ecaus OF a de-
SIRE to enter markets. No one has