Report of the Bureau of Mines of the Department of Internal Affairs of ...

cii MINING LAWS OP PENNSYLVANIA. Off. Doc.
ti(;able to a proper length for the places where they are to be used,
and such props, caps and timbers shall be delivered in the working
places of the mine.
Section 2. Every workman in want of props or timbers and cap
pieces shall notify the mine foreman or his assistant of
the fact at
least one day in advance, giving the length and number of props or
timbers and cap pieces required, but in
cases of emergency the timbers
may be ordered immediately upon the discovery of any danger.
(The place and manner of leaving the orders for the timber shall be
designated and specified in the rules of the mine.) And if, from any
cause, the timbers cannot be supplied when required, he shall instruct
the persons to vacate all said working places until supplied
with the timber needed, and shall see that all water be drained or
hauled out of all working places before the miner enters and as far
as practicable kept dry while the miner is
at work.
Section 3. It shall be the duty of the mine foreman to see that
proper cut-throughs are made in all the room pillars at such distances
apart as in the judgment of the mine inspector may be deemed
requisite, not more than thirty-five nor less than sixteen yards each,
for the purpose of ventilation, and the ventilation shall be conducted
through said cut-through into rooms by means of check doors made
of canvas or other suitable material, placed on the entries, or in
other suitable places, and he shall not permit any room to be opened
in advance of the ventilating current. Should the mine inspector
discover any room, entry, air-way or other working places being
driven in advance of the air current contrary to the requirements of
^his section, he shall order the workmen working in such places
to cease work at once until the law is complied with.
Section 4.
In all hauling roads, on which hauling is done by animal
Ijower, and whereon men have to pass to and from their work, holes
for shelter, which shall be kept clear of obstruction, shall be made
at least every thirty yards and be kept whitewashed, but shelter
holes shall not be required in entries from which rooms are driven
at regular intervals not exceeding fifty feet, where there is a space
four feet between the wagon and rib, it shall be deemed sufficient for
shelter. On all hauling roads whereon hauling is done by machiner}",
and all gravity or inclined planes inside mines upon which
the persons employed in the mine must travel on foot to and from
their work, such shelter holes shall be cut not less than two feet six
inches into
the strata and not more than fifteen yards apart, unless
there is a sjjace of at least six feet from the side of the car to the
side of the roadway, which space shall be deemed sufficient for
sheltei : Provided, That this requirement shall not apply to any pai'ts
of mines which parts were opened prior to the passage of this act if
deemed impracticable by the mine inspector.