1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

cviii MINING LAWS OF PENNSYLVANIA. Off. Doc.Section 1.ARTICLE XLProps and Timbers.It shall be the dut}^ of the owner, operator, superintendentor mine foreman of every mine to furnish to the miners allpiops, ties, rails and timbers necessary for the safe mining of coaland for the protection of the lives of the workmen. Such props, ties,rails and timbers shall be suitably prepared and shall be delivered tothe workmen as near to their working places as they can be conveyedin ordinary mine cars, free of charge.Section 2. Every workman in want of props, ties, rails or timbersshall notify the mine foreman or his assistant of the fact at least oneday in advance, giving the length of the props or timber required:and in case of danger from loose roof or sides, he shall not continueto cut or load coal until the said props and timber have been properlyfurnished and the place made secure.Section 3.A failure to comply with the provisions of this articleshall be deemed an offense against this act, and shall be taken to benegligence per se on the part of the owner, operator, superintendentor mine foreman, as the case may be, of such mine, in action for ther(!covery of damages for accidents resulting from the insufficient propl)ingof such mine, through failure to furnish the necessary props ortimbers.ARTICLE XII,General Rules.The following general rules shall be observed in every mine towhich this act applies:Rule 1, The owner, operator or superintendent of a mine or collieryshall use every precaution to ensure the safety of the workmenin all cases, whether provided for in this act or not, and he shallplace the underground workings thereof, and all that is related tothe same, under the charge and daily supervision of a competent personwho shall be called "mine foreman,"Rule 2, Whenever a mine foreman cannot personally carry out theprovisions of this act so far as they pertain to him, the owner, operatoror superintendent shall authorize him to employ a sufficient numberof competent persons to act as his assistants, Avho shall be subjectto his orders.Rule 3. The mine foreman shall have charge of all matters pertainingto ventilation, and the speed of the venlilalors shall be particularlyunder his charge and direction; and any superintendent whoshall cause the mine foreman to disregard the provisions of this actshall be amenable in the same manner as the mine foreman.Rule 4. All accessible parts of an abandoned jjortion of a mine inwhich explosive gases have been found, shall be carefully examined