The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-08-25

cause of some OF our mine disasters
in other state, until many regard them
as humorous sayings. That the care
iessness of mine workers have been
used many times as o cloak TO cover
the negligence of mine and state Off
cials have nottHe least doubt; but
be that rightA or wrong as TO the cause
of mine fatalities in other states, so
far as the mine fatalities OF our own
state is concerned, no one that will
give the matter an impartial investiga,
ton will deny but what the charge
against The miners OF Iowa has too
much truth in it to be regarded as a
joke. Much as We would like to, we
can not get away from the fact that
whoever else may be careless there
are also careless mine workers. If
there are operators and mine fore
men, and there are some, who are not
always as careful as they should be
to see that their mines are fully com
plying with all the requirements OF the
law; that will take advantage of their
position to impose conditions some
times that may appear uncalied for;
let us not forget that there are also
some mine workers, who are not al
ways vigilant to observe all the law;
that will retaliate for conditions i'm
posed when the opportunity offers it.
self; that wants to do very much as
they please and that will kick against
and ignore rules and regulations that
were adopted with no other motive in
view than that of their protection and
safety. These matters should receive
the sober thought of every mine work
er il he wishes to do his part to re-
duce the number OF mine accidents.
Responsibility Divided.
But the operator in my humble
opinion makes serious error when
he delades himself to believe that he
is entirely guiltless of the accidents
referred to. Modern conception of
the responsibility and the duties of
employers OF labor have made his po-
sition of holding the miner wholly re-
sponsible for the safety of his work.
ing place an untenable one. Whether
lie is coming to hold him more and
more responsible for the life and
health of those in his employ. And
who but he who employs without re-
striction in our state, the inexperienc-
ed and the careless miner, should be
responsible for their safety, regard.
less of what part of the mine they
may be employed, or the labor they
may be performing? Were every
mine worker careful and equally capa-
BILE to take care of his working place,
no inspection or supervision by an
other party, nor q number of other
things would be necessary; and it is
this fact that all mine workers are not
careful and equally capable to take
care of their working places, that
makes it imperative upon him who
employs them, to see that some more
experienced and careful person or
persons be designated to watch over
those of less experience and care, so
as to save them from harm or destruc.
ton. The same is true of their atti-
tude towards drivers. The mine fore
man or the boss driver will invariably
inform q new driver of the places on
his run where he Is to sprag the cars,
and the number of sprays he should
use. To some this instruction given
when employed is needed and is sufti-
cient, but 10 others it is not, and
soon they risk it down steep hills as
fast as the mule can run with few
sprays or none at all, and the least
mishap means almost instant death.
True enough drivers should not do
this, and are guilty of wrong doing to
do SO, after, they have been told not
TO do it.; but are mine foremen and
boss drivers doing their full duty sim
plg by telling drivers to use sprays,
and that probably not more than once,
in very formal way, and then know
lngly allow them day after day to en-
danger their lives by driving over
these places without sprags2 For
mine official TO notify his employees
to do or not TO do a certain thing
and then continually allowing them to
violate his instruction is not enough
to prevent accidents, nor does 1t in
truth free him OF being responsible
in part for their occurrence. The
peace officer in our town would not be
doing his full duty simply by caution
ing the auto driver not to drive to
exceed the speed limit of the city or
state. and then permit him to ride ha-
bitually as fast as he could; nor by
notifying the people not to violate the
law and then allow them continually
to do IL with impanity; neither is
the NINE official doing his full duty
simply by telling his employees to do
or not to do certain things.
Escape Ways.
Regent disasters in mines have
very impressively called our attention
anew TO the necessity OF every mine
having in convenient places safe
ways Of escape, and no question OF
late has, and is giving the Inspector
greater difficulty to settle than this;
especially is this true in extensive
mines.
The problem Of making law to in
sure more and better escape ways that
would be just and applicable TO all