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

X INTRODUCTORY TO Off. Doc.
where men deliberately and agaiust all laws and common sense, enter
a mine or a place in a mine with a naked light, when they have been
repeatedly told not to do so, and even going so far as to secrete
matches or manufacture a key to open their safety lamps in order to
get a light for their pipes. They fail to put up props at the proper
time, neglect putting sprags to protect the coal from falling on them,
use an iron bar (o ram a cartridge back in a hole, and do many other
things that they know themselves they should not do, all of which
are prohibited by law. They may do these things with impunity
for a while, but the danger is there, and like a thief in the night, it
Cometh when least expected, and the inevitable results follow. Thes«;
are conditions that are undoubtedly difficult to combat. No occasional
inspection or regulations on paper can take the place of intelligent
supervision of the mines. A mine foreman's first duty
should be the care of the health and lives of the men in his charge;
kind but rigid discipline should be their motto. Sentiment should
have no place in the administration of the laws. They should at all
times show a good example by a strict observance of the laws, and
sliould not at any time lose sight of the fact, that these are duties
they owe to themselves, the men they have charge of,
as well as to
the State which has commissioned them for that purpose. I believe
with Inspector Williams that what is really necessary to reduce th?
number of accidents in these days is a discipline that compels obedi-
Mine foremen should not think that be-
ence to well known rules.
cause they have received or hold a certificate, the law is com])lied
with. They must, by their ability and effort fulfil the duties that are
implied in that certificate. Never has there been a time when this
was more apparent. The time has come when, if the certificated
mine foreman wishes to retain a certificate and position, he must have
fewer accidents, which are caused by violations of the mine laws.
Miners and men employed in and about the mines should be made to
observe the laws and rules j)rescribed for their safety, as it is not only
their own lives they ])ut in jeopardy, but the lives of their fellow-workmen
as well. F:ach man should be a watch on his neighbor, and when
he sees or knows of him, in any way, breaking the law, he should re
port him to the proper authorities. I know that men say they don't
like to tell the boss about any misd(Mneanor of their friends, but the
man who breaks the law is not their friend, but their worst enemy,
and should be caused to h-gally suffer for his misdeeds. We seldou)
hear, however, of any one being prosecuted. It is interesting to note
the difference in this connection between the mines in Scotland as
compared with the mines in this State. In 1800 in Scotland there
were 486 prosecutions of workmen and 40!) convictions. The follow
ing table shows the nature of the offen