Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-03
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FORM.
ULArING LAW TO PROTECT
UNDERGROUND WORKERS.
THREE BILLS FAVORED BY
MINE WORKERS OF STATE
Operators May Oppose Some Of Their
Observation-Disclosures Construction Of
Mines and Machinery 10 Be Required
denominations Of Workmea Called
for In One Bill as Safety Measure.
Special to Times Republican.

special TO llHlPS- EseDuhllCdN.
Des Moines, March 3.-The commit
I tees on mines and mining will arrange
very soon for a hearing on three i'm
portant bills pending III the legislature
affecting coal mining in Iowa. The
miners are favorable to all these bills
bu, the operators probably will oppose
some parts of two CT them. If the three
were adopted it would work a large
change in the general conditions Of
coal mining in Iowa
The simplest of the bills is one by
Senator sullivan and Representative
Shankland OF Polk County, providing
that operators must furnish a wash
room, properly equipped and warmed
where the miners may wash after leav-
ing the mine. According to the mine
inspectors this convenience is not
furnished except in rare cases.
Senator Ream's bill to require that
miners must undergo an examination
before they can be permitted in mines
appears proper enough, but it is said
the operators do not want it. There is
provision, of course. that miners now
employed need not be examined. but
tlilSIS cOullllS INTO lEe 1Slu Will nave
to be examined by a board appointed
for that purpose to determine their
competency as miners and knowledge
of the ordinary things which a miner
must know if he is to work in safety
to himself and others
Need is Recent.
The real reason for this bill is that
there has come into the Iowa mine field
a vast number of ignorant persons
having no knowledge whatever of min
ing, unable to speak English. whose
very presence in the mines is menace
TO all others Most of the accidents oc-
cur where this class of workers
abound
The other bill is the general mine
bill by Senator Clarlson. which has
the APPROVAL of the head officers among
the mine workers and at least some OF
its features are favored by the operat-
ors. 1t contenplates a rewriting of
practically the entire code as it re-
ates to mining.
One of its first features is to make
the term of office of a state mine in
spector six years instead OF two, and
fixing their salaries at $4,000.
The mine operator must have made
and file with the mine inspector map
of his mine, showing all the working
parts of the mine, the coal rights
claimed, the streets and roads at the
surface, etc. A new map must be filed
each year showing the progress made
AT present maps are required only
when a mine is abandoned.
Careful Construction Required.
There is careful instruction in the
bill as to the construction of hosting
and air shafts, and the approval Of
the mine Inspector for the ventilation
of the escape ways, and for the placing
of conspicuous sign boards to guide
the miners in case of accidents. The
air shaft must be 300 feet from the
hosting shaft instead of 100 feet as
now At the bottom Of each hosting
shaft there must be travelling way
all around the shaft. and on slopes
there mus. be cut in the sides every
twenty yards a place OF refuge. Space
must be provided along the haulage
ways so that the driver may be safe
at his work.
Whenever room is abandoned it
must be completely closed up with some
solid material. and all except the last
two break thrus must be closed as the
work proceeds.
All these are precautions which the
number Of accidents. There are also in
Guided some matters of agreement now
in the contracts made but not in the
law as for instance, the requirement
that the operator shall furnish the
tamping material for the blasts
Complete Signal Code.
There Is included in the bin for the
first time complete code of signals
for bells or whistles. and if this is
adopted then there will be uniformity
all over the state and a miner going
from one to another will not have to
learn the special signals.
| In the bill is included a provision
which virtually makes the mine fore
| man a special inspector and requires
him to inspect the mine at least every
other day and to make a written report
on the same This IS a new feature.
for while mine foremen are supposed
I to look after the mine in general they
do not always make the inspections.
/ There are something like 10000 min
ers in Iowa. and the laws regulating
! the business have been patched up
from time to time for the past twenty
! FIVE years until they are said to be in
/ bad shape. The state has been free
4 from accidents recently, and it is hoped