Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-01-16
FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNORS
RECOMMENDATION TO THE
LEGISLATURES.

AAS A0ho"AuS Is tue III text OF
the governors message as IL relates
20 the state department OF mining.
II is worthy OF mention In connec-
ton with his extended references To
the first Lick Branch disaster, that
the second occurred two days before
his message was read to the legis-
Nature; after the message was writ
ten and printed. however. the gov
ernor agrees with the general public
that the conclusions drawn by cor
oner's jur.es in mine disasters rara-
ly amount TO anything.
The message says:
Mr. John Laing was appointed q
I'LL the vacancy in the office OF cni,i
OF the department OF m mes made by
the resignation OF Mr.. Paul Mr.
Paul was appointed to post on
with q much higher salary in the de-
partnent OF the national govern
ment hav ng charge OF the investlg ga
ton into mines and m uing, and de-
sired his resignation to take effec,
the 18th OF last October At my
special insistence he gave oversight
to the department for some time aft
er that but drew no salary from the
state. thought myself very for
tunate In gett ng Mr. Lang to &C
cept the office at the small salary
provided. He did SO as a sense of
d ity, because the salary OF $4,000 a
year is several thousand dollars less
than he could command in private
employment. Large min ng inter
ests In this state are paying their
inspectors from four to Ave thous-
and dollars a year. ask you to in
crease the salary OF the chef. Mr..
Laing was selected by me and in
duced to accept the office because I
believe him to be thoroughly COM
petent. honest and capable. Hav-
ing been a practical miner for years
and also an operator, he thorou ghly
knows both s,des and is in a posi-
ton to give each a square deal,
which am confident he will do
without fear, affection or favor. /
had hoped we could get through the
year without another serious disas-
ter: but, on the 29th OF last month
an exp.os.on occurred n the Lick
Branch mine In Mcdowell county,
owned by the Pocahontas Galleries
Company, whereby nifty men lost
ths'r lives. Fortunately Chief LANG
had -four deputy inspectors In that
part OF the state. inspecting mines
at the time the explosion occurred
and they hurried to the scene OF Che
disaster, and gavs COOL AID In the
work OF rescue. Mr.. Laing followed
them as soon as possible and was on
the ground until the last unfortu-
nate was removed from the mine.
The coroner's jury rendered a YER
dict that the cause OF the explos! on
was not known, but which declared
none of the nine peop'e blamewor-
thy. Just how tho jury could arrive
at that result is a Lille puzzling. If
the cause OF the disaster was not
known 1T would seem impossible 20
know that no one was to blame for
4. Chief Laing, however, has insti-
tuted thorough investigation of
the cause OF the disaster. The fact
that Investigations by coroner's ju:
ries into mine disasters rarely
amount to anything.
The remedy very largely in the
hands of the owners OF the mines.
II they were responsible for the loss
OF life they would take more care
in employing properly equipped su-
perintendents at the mines and take
more precautions to sec that these
men did their duty. They would not
allow shooting of the solid and 9TH
er dangerous practices.
1 recommended TO the last ses-
sion of the legislature that IT pro-
vide funds whereby the chief In
spector could employ a competent
clerk or assistant in his office, 80
that the chief could get ou4 IN the
field and make personal observations
The legislature having failed TO do
this, and finding 1t, in my judgment
absolutely necessary, have been
supplying the chef with funds TO
the amount of 800 per month pay
able out Of the civil contingent fund
to pay the salary OF such a clerk.