1900 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

xcviii MINING LAWS OF PENNSYLVANIA. Off. Doc.
Section 1.
ARTICLE XI.
Props and Timbers.
It shall be the duty of the owner, operator, superintendent
or mine foreman of
every mine to furnish to the miners all
piops, ties, rails and timbers necessary for the safe mining of coal
and for the protection of the lives of the workmen. Such props, ties,
rails and timbers shall be suitably prepared and shall be delivered to
the workmen as near to their working places as they can be conveyed
in ordinary mine cars, free of charge.
Section 2. Every workman in want of props, ties, rails or timbers
shall notify the mine foreman or his assistant of the fact at least one
day in advance, giving the length of the props or timber required:
and in case of danger from loose roof or sides, he shall not continue
to cut or load coal until the said props and timber have been properly
furnished and the place made secure.
Section 3.
A failure to comply with the provisions of this article
shall be deemed an offense against this act, and shall be taken to be
negligence per se on the part of the owner, operator, superintendent
or mine foreman, as the case may be, of such mine, in action for the
recovery of damages for accidents resulting from the insufficient propping
of such mine, through failure to furnish the necessary props or
timbers.
ARTICLE XII.
General Rules.
The following general rules shall be observed in every mine to
which this act applies:
Rule 1. The owner, operator or superintendent of a mine or colliery
shall use every precaution to ensure the safety of the workmen
in all cases, whether provided for in this act or not, and he shall
place the underground workings thereof, and all that is related to
the same, under the charge and daily supervision of a competent person
who shall be called "mine foreman."
Rule 2. Whenever a mine foreman cannot personally carry out the
provisions of this act so far as they pertain to him, the owner, operator
or superintendent shall authorize him to employ a sufficient number
of competent persons to act as his assistants, who shall be subject
to his orders.
Rule 3. The mine foreman shall have charge of all matters pertaining
to ventilation, and the speed of the ventilators shall be particularly
under his charge and direction; and any superintendent who
shall cause the mine foreman to disregard the provisions of this act
shall be amenable in the same manner as the mine foreman.
Rule 4. All accessible parts of an abandoned portion of a mine in
which explosive gases have been found, shall be carefully examined