The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-26
STATE WILL BE
DIVIDED INTO A
DOZEN DISTRICTS
Inspector For
Each District

& CHARLESTON, Feb. 2G.--ln the
Inst few hours Of the regular session
of the 2Sth general assembly Of the.
State OF West Virginia, some mining
LEGISLATION was enacted that viii prove
beneficial to everybody connected with
the mining interests of the State.
While only one bill on this important
subject was passed by both houses,
1t is a large one and thoroughly GOV.
ers the subject for which 1t was de-
signed.
One OF the most important fea.
TIRES OF the bill Is section four,
where the chief Of the department OF
mines by and with the approval Of
the GOVERNOR shall divide the State
into twelve mining districts ana
eqaalize as far as possible the work
OF each district mine Inspector The
salary of each Of the district mine
inspectors is fixed at $500 per an.
nun with his actual expenses and for
this sum is 1t the opinion of the
trainers of the lsw mar men can be
secured who are capable OF thor.
oushly inspecting the coal mines Of
the State. The deputies are required
to have a practical knowledge OF
mining and the proper ventilation
and drainage ofmines. together with
a knowledge of the dangerous gases
that Turk in the bowels OF the earth.
These deputies may be removed by
the chief inspector TOR sncompetency.
neglect of duty, drunkenness and
other good causes. They shall re-
port of the chief inspector monthly
the number and condition of the
mines they have visited during the
month and shall also issue to the
orerator certificate of inspection.
The chief Of the department OF
mines Will have increased powers
under the new law. He will aave
the sole power Of the appointment Of
deputies. The salary of the chief
mine inspector has been increased toI
$4,000 per year and the first ap.
polntment under the new law must
be made to begin July /. 1909, and
the term Of Office Shall be for four
years. The governor shall have tho
power to appointment TO lie confirm.
ed by the State Senate.
One section Of the bill requires the
operator agent Of every coal mine in
the State to make or cause to be
made a map Of the inside workings
of the mine and supply the inspector
OF his district with the same. The
mfp must be removed twice year
and the operator must notify the
district inspector who shall forward
his map and have the same extended
with complete survey of the mine.
The new law requires the mine
foreman Or his assistant to furnish
TO every person employed in the mine
a copy of the mining laws and rules
OF such ming and instruct him as to
the. particular danger incident to his
work in the mine. Every inexper.
fenced person SO employed shall
work under the direction OF the
mine foreman, his assistant or such
other experienced miner rs shall be
designated by him until he Is famil.
lar with the danger connected with
his work. No changes has been made
in this section in regard to the pro:
vision in the old law prohibiting
more than twenty persons 10 be EN-.
ployed in a mine with less than two
outlets.
Metal tubes must be provided from
the top to tho bottom Of each shaft
through waith conversation may be
carried on between persons at the
bottom and others at the top of the
shaft: also the ordinary means ot
signalling aud an approved safety
catch and overhead cover on the
cage and at the top of the shaft q
safety gate.
MI slopes, engine planes or motto,
roads used by persons in any mine.
shall be made or sufficient width tpI
hermit persons to pass moving cars
With safety, or refuge holes of am
pie dimensions. and not more than
sixty feet arort, shall be made on
one side OF said slope, engine plane
or motor roads a,tl these refuge
holes must be keep clear of obstruc-
tions and he kept whitewashed at AMI
times.
In regard 10 ventilation, that nos
essarily requisite for mines. the law
requires tt.t tferss must he main
tanned no less than one hundred
cubic feet or air per minute for each,
and every person employed in tho
mine and as much more as the dis.
trict inspector shan require Break
tarouehs shah he made not 10 ex
ceed n,rhtv feet apart. NOT moro