The diamond drill., 1918-03-30
ECHOES OF AMASA-P0RTER
NINE ACCIDENT.

'Negaunee, Mich, Mch. % 1910
"Mr. George Newett,
Editor Iron Ore,
"Ishpeming. Mich.
"Dear Sir. have read your aru0ie
in the Iron ore OF March 9Th, concern
IN. the Amasa-Porter accident and ]
wish 10 take exception TO your obser-
walton concerning the duties and uses
OF mine inspector
81 note that you do not believe that
a mine inspector can help the mining
companies in the prevention OF acci-
dents and that you do not believe that
IL is necessary that the mine inspect
or make frequent visits to the various
mines under his supervision.
Il believe that the duties OF mine
inspector are very important and that
in many cases, frequent inspection OF
the mines by a careful and competent
mine inspector would prevent disas-
trous accidents.
"The laws Of Michigan are broad
enough TO give the mine inspector SUI
ficient authority to prevent any prac-
tices at a mine which are liable to re-
suit in fatal accidents to the employees
A careful and conscientious mine In
spector has an opportunity for a
broad insight into the various mining
practices of his district and he has
a much better opportunity to know
what methods OF mining are safe and
what methods are apt to result In ac-
cidents than the individual operator
who, as rule, sees only the particu-
lar mine In which he is working.
Tho mining company is primarily
operating a mine 20 make profit on
the ore which is being mined. As
a rule, mining companies at the pres
ent time observe so far as they know
every precaution for the safeguarding
OF the lives OF their employees, but II
sometimes happens that something Is
left undone in tho operation OF q
mine for the safeguarding OF the em.
ployes, on account OF its high cost &c
tho operation.
"A very common example OF this /.
the matter OF two openings to mine
The laws OF Michigan provide that
every operation shall have two open
ings or exits TO surface. This is 9
wise precaution and II should be fol
lowed in every case. 1t frequently
happens, however, on account Of the
cost OF two shafts that this provision
IS not followed and this frequently re
suits in fatal accidents. There are
numerous mines in Michigan which
could mention at the present time
which are operating without a provia
ion for two exits and an accident I.
liable to happen at any time TO th,
operating shaft which will result il
death to all who arc in the mine
"You refer to the accident at tn,
Mansfield mine as an example Of on'
wlsch could not have been prevented
by the inspection OF a mining inspee
tor It IS very possible that min'
inspector such as is commonly electe,
to fill this position would not have bec'
able to prevent this terrible accident
but an inspector familiar with mining
operations could easily have discover
ed that the operations were beinl
carried on only few feet under
river and could have stopped then
in timo to prevent the catastrophe
II believe that instead Of decryin
the duties of a mine inspector. effort
should be made TO elect more compe
tent inspectors to fulfn the duties q
the Office. These duties are so inn
portant that no one but most com
petent mining man should be allowe
10 fill them
"The mining inspector who file