The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-04-18
ArHoRoueH INSPECTION
Iron county's Mine Inspector Adopts System
Leaving Nothing Overlooked


Iron county has a real mine inspector
on the job these days. The new mine
inspection law. put through the Mich
igan legislature by the effort of w.
Frank James. the candidate for con-
gress from this district makes IL inn
perative upon the mine inspector, II
he lives up 10 his oath Of Office, 10
give the men working in the mines
real protection and that is what Mr.
Jobe, our mine inspector is doing.
Not only the men but the mining OPP
orators are benettting by Mr.. Jobe's
rigid inspection and enforcement of
the law 50 far as he has power to do
so. Incompetent bosses and superin-
tendents don't like it and resent the
activity of the inspector in behalf of
safeguarding the mems lives but the
real, live superintendent and the care
fully inclined mining operator is tickl-
ed TO death at il as through it he learns
of all the short comings liable TO bring
accident and cause loss of life and
money.
In order that there may be no mis-
understanding on the part of mining
operators over points discovered and
discussed during his inspection tours,
Mr.. Jobe has devised new system of
reports which he makes Co the com
pany following each inspection and in
this report every minute detail is gone
into and called TO the attention of the
operator In his report he divides the
work into twelve departments as fol-
lows. shaft, travelways and working
places, handling men in and ont Of the
mine, powder house, fuse house, use
of explosives, pump house, motors,
sinking. first aid, general, number of
men.
It is not necessary for US TO name
every item of this report out few of
the most important ones may be of in
terest Under shaft are such items as
condition Of cages, skips, skip roads.
safety catches, do men ride and how,
ladder ways and lights condition of
cables and when last inspected Under
travel ways lights, timbering, name
and location of places not deemed safe,
names and number of men working in
places deemed nnsafe, name of person
cautioned, trolly wires protected. who
loads men and number allowed TO ride,
and any fooling liable TO bring on ac.
cidents. Under powder house and the
location as to safety, light. heat and
supervision. Under fuse the same as
powder. Under use Of explosives the
conveying. charging. missed holes
names of careless men and loose pow
der, caps etc.
The next section is devoted 10 motors
and covers such points as lights, gongs,
and rnethod of driving. Sinking is the
next section and such points as pentice
used, thickness, openings, bucket. lad
der way, covering OF shaft, timbers
cleaned of debris. and method OF blast
ing. Then follows section on first
dlu III WHICH bhc oupphco anu NohNi-
tions are noted. A section under
'General covers such points as are
not covered in the foregoing such as
fire protection above and below ground.
Two very pointed questions under this
head are 'Have all serious accidents
been reported TO the mine inspector"
and "Are your instructions followed
promptlyf"
Then follows head "number of men
employed by which the exact number
of employees may be determined each
visit
Mr.. Jobe is working hard to bring
the standard of Iron county mines mp
above the average If possible. The re-
cent expansion of the iron mining in
this country has resulted in the APP
pointment of many young superin-
tendents. some of whom need the care
ful assistance of the mine inspector.
1t is natural for young operators 70
want TO "keep down costs and many
times this keeping down costs"
means higher costs in the end both
in mems lives and inefficient mining.