Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-02-02
THE LESSON or t1Gk BRANCH
ExrL0sloNsEFFRt'r OF u
DECIAL DECISIONS ON STATE
MINE DEPARTMENT. - NEW
MINING LAWS SUGGESTED.

Editor Daily Leader:
A month has now elapsed since
the flrst explosion at Lick Branch
and II seems that the fate OF these
poor unfortunate men has made nc
lasting impression ON thu public
mind nor called forth q single word
of protest or sympathy from our
legis ators now in SESSION at Charles
ton.
The people at large may be ex-
cused for their apparent indiffer-
snce because they have been led TO
tsa-eNe that these disasters were
unayo dable and that everything
possible was be ng done to minimize
the dangers incident to coal min
ing. This is as far from the truth
as fiction can possibly be from fact.
The Mining laws are wosfu iy mad
Nquate. but even as they are they
are being grossly violated all over
the Flat Top coal field. and In such
a manner that the inspectors cannot
be ignorant or the fact. Inspector
Phillips admitted in his testimony
be.ore the leg slative committee that
he had not Inspected the Lick
Branch mine since August last, not
withstanding that the law plainly
states that all mines must be in
spected II least every three months
He al.o admitted according to press
dispatches) that he gavh the owners
perm ssion to resume aiming opera
tons at the mines after the chief
inspector had refused to do 80. AL
who entered the mine after both
explosions declare that the dust in
many places wa several inches deem
and that every part OF the mine was
extremely dry. Why did not In
spector Phillips order tn dust wa
tered down as plainly provided by
law?
The state emp oys one chief and
twelve district inspectors for which
at pays the sum OF twenty-four thou
sand dollars annually for salaries
alone. 1t also pays all necessary
expenses incurred by these inspect
ors in the performance of Their du-
ties and fifteen hundred do lars for
The printing and disseminating OF
Their annual report. A large sum
indeed and one for which the state
should receive much better results.
have been work ng in inspect
or Phillip distr ct ever since his
appointment as inspect and in ali
that time l have seen MIN but once
ms de of mine and numerous min
ers have informed me that they
have never seen him at all, a though
he has made regular visits to most
pieces where | have worked and
ported his notices OF in, pection de-
claring everything to be In good
cond ton.
Now the plain, unvarnished truth
OF tho matter is that Inspector
Phillips, at least, does not inspect
n the true sense OF tie word but
simply goes with the bc.s a'ong the
main entries and other places where
the ar $ good and then inspects the
fan and machinery around the tip
pie, and then writes his notice OF
Inspection and goes his way leav-
ing the miners 60 their fate.
No Inspector can con1cientiously
inspect mine unless he visits every
part Of II and questions every miner
and other employe regarding it's con-
dition, and n making these lnspec-
lions he should never be accompa-
MED by any boss or other represen-
tatiye OF the company owning the
mine. Then and only then can he
find out the true conditions existing
How can he find ont whether places
are be ng driven ahead OF air or
not I'M ess he SECS where the miners
are wording AMI Jocks? or declare
that no black damp or explosive gas
exists unless he examines every
part OF mine. There may be an
abundance OF fresh air on the en-
tries, while a hundred feet away
men are gasping for breath, or
enough gas may exist to blow up the
IN ne and destroy every soul in It.
1t is the firm belief of the writer
that had former Chief Inspector
Paul been alb to enforce the Law
last spring that the last explosions
would not have occurred.
Many of your readers doubtless
recall his futile attempt TO close the
Turkey Gap mine in an effort 70
make the owners comp'y with the
law regard ng the use OF steam To-
comotivcs I'm coal mines and again
at Jed. when he ordered the mine
at that place closed on account OF
insufficient ventilation and the pre-.
ence OF dangerous quantities OF gas
In tn latter care It would seem
from The number and identity Of tho
men testifyjng against the state that
the combined influence of the opera.
tors Of this field was brought to bear
against CHIEF Paul and his deput es
-.ffh go