The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-03-27
Mine Inspection in Idaho---Bell Reviews
Fourteen Years of Active Service-.His
Practical Mining Experience
tFrom Report Of r. N. Bell Stat Inspector
and not crowded.

I and not crowded.
| Electric accidents due TO trolley
wire contact In the levels have not
been uncommon, but these, conditions
have gradually been improved and the
risk largely eliminated by the substi-
tuition Of storage battery motors in
sub -level operations which are now
commonly used with the exception Of
one big mine which reduced its cur
rent from $50 to $50 volts, pressure
ordinarily considered safe. The rec
ord especially in connection with the
extensive shaft handling Of men in
deeply, steeply inclined and vertical
shafts, mostly from underground sta
lions at remote distance from the
surface. is one that ! am not ashamed
OF my connection with. I am not ego
tistical about these results at all, and
while operators have occasionally
convicted me Of being exacting in the
safety requirements, / am willing to
give the bulk Of the credit where 1t
belongs for these results, to the big
mine arrangements and their modern
mechanical equipment; to the super
intendents, foremen. shift bosses in
charge and. in recent years, to their
Live activity in first aid and safety
measures. l also pay my respects and
appreciation in this connection to the
master mechanics and their associ-
ates, electricians, hoist men, cagers
rope men and powder men, who have
carried such large crews daily back
and forth to their work suspended on
wire for such long period in such
relative safety, particularly in the big
shafts which are also daily used for
extensive modern skip hosting meth
DDS
Credit to Mine Managers.
want to pay a tribute of appreci-
alton to the principal managers of the
large mines, who have generally con-
sidered my Improvements orders and
recommendations favorably, where
they were economically feasible, and
in fact have encouraged suggestions
along these lines. Our principal OPP
orators are, I believe. conscientious in
their efforts to prevent accident oc-
currences a fact which is evidenced
by their generous support and en-
couragement of modern, up-to date
safety first measures.
| Miners generally demand that
practical miner be selected for mine
inspector and they are right and jus
titled that the position he filled by
such a man Of practical underground
experience, the more the better, but
the work involves much more knowl-
edge than the average practical miner
generally possesses to reasonably exc
cute its varied functions. Ninety five
per cent of the ground broken in the
Idaho mines is cut by machine drills.
A man may be ever so good Judge
of ground and drill pusher, but, for
instance, If his aid stops coming
through his machine, he is practically
helpless to proceed with his work I'M
til a higher grade worker remedies the
i
electrical or hydraulic cause, and may
be located anywhere from 100 feet to
100 miles away from his operation
and whose only remedy involves a
high grade of technical training that
is decidedly beyond the ability of an
ordinary practical miner, who, while
very essential, is only one Of the many
cogs that go to make up the complex
mechanism and head work, as well as
back work, involved in big modern
mine operation.
II the present method of admins
tering the mine inspection work In
this state is changed, its future eff
fectiveness must be based on intelli-
gent selection without political con-
sideration and with an adequate sal
AIRY sufficient to attract man of the
necessary experience and ability. To
properly execute the law as at pres
ent framed would require man OF
$4,000 annual salary capacity as the
position is called upon to criticise the
work Of men to that caliber and from
that on down the line.
, Qualifications Required.
The present duties of the office re-
J auire man not only to be practica
J miner, but he should be a practica
master mechanic, a master electrl'
clan, mine superintendent foreman
shift boss yard boss, geologist, min.
eralogist, ventilation engineer, lawyer
: author and politician, as his work Il
called upon to criticise all these prac
tical and highly trained technical ant
: other abilities and the office work al
E SO involves, besides the encourage
: ment OF mining development, tn
; conflicting pastime Of fighting wild
8 cats and protecting lambs. on the in
: vestment side Of the business.
> An ordinary mine foreman, unde
I Or esent conditions in the Idaho IN
I dustry, receives $3.50 per month, an
r many contract miners during the wa
r period have exceeded that and ordin
9 airy muckers $3.50. Any future chang
!, in the personnel Of the department
d should figure on salary for the pc
: lsition of not less than 5000 per year
Tho nhasa M the work of this de