The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-04-24
INDUSTRIAL SUPERVISION.
Care Taken by Belgium to Pro.
tect WOrkmen in Mining
Industry.

Consul Mentally of Liege reports
that the ownership of land in Bel
GUM does not imply any rights beyond
certain depth. and should the owner
of the surface discover coal deposit
underlying his property he must first
obtain a governmental concession be-
fore he can operate.
The land bevond the prescribed
depth in which the coal has been dis
covered may be conceded to a person
other than the owner of the surface.
who may operate under certain gov
ernmental regulations. one of which
is that the owner of the surface is
entitled to 3 per cent of the value of
the coal extracted.
Any foreigner. either for himself or
company. can obtain a concession:
however. the owner of the surface and
the discoverer of the coal deposit have
preferred claim for a concession
Before Il concession is granted the
applicant must Justify against dam
age to the surface and to properly
develop and operate the mine. as we'll
as to meet any other conditions i'm
posed by the government.
The mine pays to the government
an amount determined by the value
and importance of the concession.
after which 1t must pay to the gov
ernment a sum proportioned to the
value of the total extraction. The
government names the conditions
under which the mines as we'll as other
industrial establishment shall be oper-
ated, and to protect and safeguard the
health and lives of the workmen. as
well as to provide for the public safe
ty. The government superintends the
policing of the mines. the use of ex-
plosives and the workings of the mine
with reference to the sanitary condi-
i, tions and the mechanical workings
The open mines producing alluvial
iron ore, pyrites, or alum shale, as
we'll as the metallurgical works are
also licensed by the government.
The minister of industry and labor
appoints a state board of mining en-
gineers, authorized to regulate the
lishments considered dangerous or I'M
sanitary. whether shaft or open mines,
quarries, factories. coke oven plants
and briquette works.
The mining territory of the govern
ment is divided into two special dis
tricts, each being superintendent by a
general inspector. one of which re-
| sides at Liege. the other at Charleroi.
There are nine mining circuits under
the supervision of mining inspector
for each. Immediately upon the an
nOuncement of a mine accident COM
mittees are appointed to investigate
the cause. with power to mitigate the
possibility Of recurrence. The "of-
| flee of accidents and the firedamp"
was established to protect as far as
| possible against all accidents in gen.
eral, but those due to fredamp in
| particular. In the administration of
mines is general inspector of ex-
| plosives as we'll as geological depart
ment. which latter department is
charged with keeping an up-to-date
| map of the kingdom. as well as that
! of the mines.
Under an act Of April, 1897, work
men can be appointed deputies to
! supervise the mines, and the govern
ment does appoint, the term being for
three years. These inspectors are re-
| quired to enter and investigate the
| condition and regulation of the mines
| at least is times each month. To pro-
mote public safety the government
| regulates the manufacture, sale, stor-
| age, conveyance and mode of trans
| porting of all explosive materials or
| substances Houses in which these
| explosives are stored are subject to
| frequent investigation and both night
| and day supervision.
Industries other than those above
mentioned are under the supervision
| of the minister of commerce and labor
Under his administration is established
a board of inspection of industry"
whose Office is to report the develop
ment OF industries and to ascertain
and report in what manner such in
dustries could be improved There is
also a superior council of industry
and commerce." appointed under
royal decree, and to whom questions
are referred. This board is composed
of A industrial and % commercial
members. The manufacturers and
traders union elect delegates to CO.
operate with the board.