1900 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. MINING LAWS OF PENNSYLVANIA. cxlv
One rap or whistle to hoist coal or other material.
One rap or whistle to stop cage or car when in motion.
Two raps or whistles to lower cage or car.
Three raps or whistles when persons are to be hoisted, and for
engineer to signal back ready when persons are to be hoisted, after
which persons shall get on the cage or car, then one rap shall be given
to hoist.
Four raps or whistles, to turn on steam to the pumps.
But a variation from the above code of signals may be used by permission
of the mine inspector: Provided, That in any such case such
changed code shall be printed and posted.
Rule 71. No person or persons shall go into any old shaft or abandoned
part of the mine or into any other place which is not in actual
course of working without permission from the mine foreman, nor
shall they travel to and from their work except by the traveling way
assigned for that purpose.
Rule 72. No steam pipes through which high pressure steam is
comeyed for the purpose of driving pumps or other machinery, shall
be permitted on traveling or haulage ways, unless they are encased
in asbestos, or some other suitable non-conducting material, or are
so placed that the radiation of heat into the atmosphere of the mine
w ill
be prevented as far as possible.
Rule 73. Where a locomotive is used for the purpose of hauling
coal out of a mine, the tunnel or tunnels through which the locomotive
passes shall be properly ventilated and kept free as far as
practicable of noxious gases, and a ventilating apparatus shall be
provided by the operator to produce such ventilation when deemed
necessary and practicable to do so by the mine inspector.
Rule 74. No inexperienced person shall be employed to mine out
pillars unless in company with one or more experienced miners, and
by their consent.
ARTICLE XXI.
Penalties.
Section 1. Any person or persons whomsoever, who shall intentionally
or carelessly injure any shaft, safety lamp, instrument, aircourse
or brattice, or obstruct or throw open air ways, or take
matches for any purpose, or pipes or other smokers' articles beyond
any station inside of which locked safety lamps are used, or injure
any part of the machinery, or open a door in the mine and not close
it again immediately or open any door which opening is forbidden,
or disobey any order given in carrying out the provisions of this act,
()!• do any other act whatsoever whereby the lives or the health of
persons or the security of the miners or the machinery is endangered,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished in a
manner provided for in this article.