The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-26
Your committee calls attention to

Your committee calls attention to
one specific matter. Many of the
mines in the district known as the
Norfolk G western. before the pass
age of the act BY the Inst legislature
and before it went into effect on the
22d day Of May, were operating their
mines with steam locomotives. That
law forblds the use Of locomotives in
mines, except under certain conditions.
Many OF those mines were very large.
1t compelled the companies to change
the system from the steam system In
to an electrical system, which cost
many thousands Of dollars, and which
required time.
Your committee is further of the OPP
inion that the mine department was
placed in very difficult ant embarras.
sing position when under the new law
1t found SO many great changes that
would have to occur in many of the
mines OF the State in order to comply
with the law; and had the department
been harsh, suffering would have fol-
lowed. And while there have been
many disastrous explosions in the
State, yet your committee negs to re-
port that nowhere mas there been an
explosion caused by the leniency of
the department towards an operator in
permitting him to make this change
as he was able to do so.
Your committee is of the opinion
that the department Of mines has
shown great patience with the opera
tors in order to give them an oppor-
tunity to make the changes covered
by the new law, but that from now on,
the law should be enforced with vigor,
energy and persistence.
Fourth: ITO ascertain and report
what further legislation Is necessary
in order to prevent a recurrence of
similar disasters, and what further leg
isIation may be necessary to enable
the mine Inspector effectively to pro-
mulgate rules and regulations for the
conduct of mining operations, and Sc
cure the enforcement Of the law and
compliance with such rules and reguIa-
tfons."
In answering this inquiry, your com-
mittee has been given very gra ~
problem. In the first place, it is the
opinion Of your committee that there
should be two general Inspectors ap-
pointed by the governor, one of whom
should be practical mining engineer
who should have at least five years
experience in underground engineer
ing, and the other of whom should
be an installing and operating e1ectrt-
clan. The chief inspector should have
the authority to make reasonable rules
and regulations for particular mines in
particular districts. and in case such
rules were thought to be unreasonable
by the operator, the operator should
have the right to appeal tn the two
general Inspectors ard the chief, who
should constitute board Of appeal
and the conclusion reached by this
board should be the Jules and regula-
lions of that particular mine or dis
trict upon such hearing before the
board.
TIL purpose OF suggesting the APP
pointment of the two general fnspec-
tors by the governor, Is to give aoso-
lutte independence to the Two general
inspectors, SO that In cases OF appeal
it could not be said that The district
inspectors were under the domination
OF the chief inspector; but, instead
that they be given absolute tndepend'
ence to act according 20 Their sense o.
right. In all other regards these gen
eral inspectors should b. under the
chief, and should be at liberty to go
to any part of the State when SO or
dered by the chief. These general IN