Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-02-02

fore a Judge who in all probabilst,
has no practical knowledge o. Goa
mining and prove TO HIM that q
mine is IN a dangerous condition
before he can enforce his orders The
state wou 4 do we'll To dssm ~ a.
its In pectcrs and put the money /,
pays them to some other use, for m
a case OF this kind the weight O,
testimony will generally be found
on the de of the operator and such
a judge will quito naturally decide
tho case in 1avor OF tho side pro
-enting the largest number OF wit.
nesses as our esteemed JUICE ala an
the Jed case.
The operators OF this field have
persistently fought every effort 10
properly regulate the min ng indus
try and IL would seem that they
were deluded into the belief tina,
they were immune from exp osions
despite the terrible examples at po-
cahontas.
Those decisions by our c,rcu I
judge in the Turkey Gap and Jed
cases were pointed cut py the writer
at the time as positive calamity
to the state and no feels that ae
has been abundant vindicated by
recent events.
The present leg stature should
remedy the defects In tho law point
ed out by Judge Harndon and II
should go further and psss adequate
laws to remedy the disgracsful con-
d tons existing throughout the
state.
As an experienced minor, who has
spent large part Of his fe mining
coal In different parts OF the United
States. wish to suggest the fol-
lowing which any mining law to be
OF any practical benefit, must con-
tain:
Frst. A law requiring al mine
foremen and fire bosses to pass
strict examination as to the theo-
ret cal and practical operation OF
coal mines before they are allowed
TO all these most important posi-
tons. These exam nations to be
held before a board appointed by the
state for that purpose. with power
to grant certificates OF competency
to those passing the required exam
nations.
second. A law requ ring the en-
p.oyment OF fire boss ut all m mes
employing over ten men.
Third. A law requiring all men
who shall hereafter enter the mines
to pass an apprenticeship OF at east
two years with a practical miner.
before they are allowed to mine coal
by themselves.
Fourth. A law requ ring that
all fans used for ventilating ,purpos-
es shall be kept constantly In OPP
Grafton. day and night.
The benehcent effects or such laws
II passed will be instantly apparent
for there will be an immediate
change from the present haphazard
methods of m ming to one OF science
and skill. so necessary to this great
industry.
There should be no further trif-
ing with This matter by our law
makers with other state leading the
way with measures that have POSI-
yely prevented explosions we can
no longer call them "visitationB of
providence or talk of preventing
them by hot air or the turning of
steam into the mines. What we need
an abundance OF fresh air, not
on the entries alone, but right up
to where the miner Is working and
keep this air moving all the time
and there will be nothing to explode
Stop inexperienced men from at
tempting to mine coal a, ID there will
be no windy shots.
Keep all dust watered down and
there will never be any 1n suspen-
ion"
With the dreadful disasters OF
Monongah, Stuart and Lick Branch
confronting the Les alature now in
session there should be no further
delay.
Th-re can be no possible excuse
for their failure to meet this ques-
tim squarely and deci-IveIy. Hop
Dg you wi ] gve this publicity In
the Leader in accordance with your
well known policy OF giving all sides
square deal. / ar1.
Yours respectfully,
JAMES l.. TAYLOR,
PA Beasley St, b uefeld. w. Va.
Feb 2, 1909