The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-12-07

work could fully understand, and
unless the man having this failing
could be on hand at all times, he
could have nothing done In an-ex-
plicit manner, SO that one Of tho
very essential parts ora mine fore
man is to be able to explain both to
his superior and his subordinates,
the way and manner Of doing things
} that he wishes done, and If he has
the quality Of defining clearly his
ideas, so that the other man can
understand, he is much more
valuable foreman any where you
place him. Therefore, the ability
to tell others, as above stated, Is a
most important factor in this part
Of the work. Another essential
point Of value to the mine fore
man is tine necessity for care and
minute observation, for unless
man has the faculty for seeing
things, and remembering them, he
cannot be 4 success as a mine fore
man. and the man who gives at
tention and notices as he travels
the mine will always see something
whereby he can improve conditions,
| regardless Of how perfect others
may think them to be-
The Physical Conditions.
We will now dwell on the physical
conditions. The great mistake that
many owners of coal properties
make, is, that they hear in some
distant parts, of man who is
making success in operating a
coal mine, and they write to him
and employ him at large salary,
without knowing anything about
who, or what conditions were
responsible for his success, and
they employ him as manager,
general superintendent, or mine
foreman, and give him absolute
charge Of planning and developing
the mine, when the facts are, that
he may know nothing whatever, of
that part of the work, and if the
details had been gone into, it might
have been learned that the chief
engineer, the General Manager, or
some other person was responsible,
other than he, for the success of
the operation that he had previous
ly had charge of, and when left to
plan for himself he may prove to be
an absolute failure, and what we
wish to imply is this, that on a coal
properties before the permanent
drift mouth, shaft or slope should
be opened, property should be gone
over carefully under the supervis-
ion Of a practical and experienced
coal mining engineer, and each en-
try, airway, brake through, room,
etc, should be designated on de-
Velopement map, or projection, so
that when the mine foreman comes
to take charge of the mine, he has
plan TO work by, and is held re-
sponsihle only to execute the work
as the map calls for, for much as
We would have it otherwise, it is
nevertheless true, that the average
mine foreman is not capable Of TAX
ing the property and planning it sue
cessful and needs the assistance as
outlined above, and in the majority
proficient and expert enough, to
plan and lay off work for himself
is usually in demand elsewhere Gin
a superior position) and all that
should be- expected Of q Grine fore
man is the handling of his men and
the execution Of the work, in &C.
cordance with the plan as above
stated.
Mine FOreman's First Duty.
The first duty Of the mine fore
man is the protection of human
life, and the property under his
care, and to this end, he should al
ways know that the ventilating ap-
paratuses, the airwavs, hall ways,
travelling ways, etc., ore safe and
in proper condition, for the men to
enter and return. from the mine. He
should be man who is versed in
all Of the dangers incident to coal
mining, wiz, he should have full
knowledge Of the danger from coal
dust, loose rock, mine gases, the
danger Of advancing towards old
and abandoned working, filled
either with gas or water and give
minute attention to duties along
| these lines. --------~"- .----------.------~-
Some Unreasonable Demands.
It is not my intention to deere
ciate he ability, intelligence and
past accomplishment Of the mine
foreman, but in this, as in all other
states, there have been demands
made upon all mine foremen, that
| were not in keeping with the posi-
ton. For instance, an owner of an
! himself, knew nothing whatever
about coal mining, would organize
coal company and proceed to open
the mine and develop the property,
without making any survey or
WORKING plan Of any kind whatever