1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

cxii MINING LAWS OF PENNSYLVANIA. Off. Doc.Kule 24. Any miner or other workman who shall discover anythingwrong with the ventilating current or with the condition ofthe roof, side, timber or roadway, or with any other part of themine in general, such as would lead him to suspect danger to himselfor his fellow M'orkmen or tothe property of his employer, shallimmediately report the same to the mine foreman or other person,for the time being in charge of that portion of the mine.Any person or persons who shall knowingly or wilfullyKule 25.damage, or without proper authority, remove or render useless anyfencing, means of signaling, apparatus, instrument or machine, orshall throw open or obstruct any airway, or open a ventilating doorand not have the same closed, or enter a place in or about a mineagainst caution, or carry tire, open lights or matches in places wheresafety lamps are used, or handle without proper authority, or disturbany machinery or cars, or do any other act or thing wherebythe lives or health of persons or the security of the property in orabout a mine or colliery are endangered, shall be guilty of an offenseagainst this act.Kule 2G. Gunpowder or any other explosive shall not be stored ina mine, and a workman shall not have at any time in any one place,more than one keg or box containing twenty-five (25) pounds, unlessmore is necessary for a person to accomplish one day's work.Rule 27. Every person who has gunpowder or other explosive in amine, shall keep it in a wooden or metallic box securely locked, andsuch box shall be kept at least ten (10) feet from the tracks in allcases where room at such a distance is available.Kule 28. Whenever a workman shall open a box containing explosiveor while in any manner handling the same, he shall first placehis lamp not less than five (5) feet from such explosive and in such aposition that the air current cannot convey sparks to it, and a workmanshall not approach nearer than five (5) feet to an open box containingpowder, with a lamp, lighted pipe or any other thing containingfire.Kule 29. When high explosives other than gunpowder are used inany mine, the manner of storing, keeping, moving, charging and firingor in any manner using such explosives, shall be in accordancewith special rules as furnished by the manufacturers of the same.The said rules shall be endorsed with his or their official signatureand shall be approved by the owner, operator or superintendent ofthe mine in which such explosives are used.Kule 30. In charging holes for blasting in slate or rock in anymine, no iron or steel-pointed needle shall be used, and a tight cartridgeshall not be rammed into a hole in coal, slate or rock with aniron or steel tamping bar, unless the end of the tamping bar is tippedM^ith at least six ((») inches of copper or other soft nietal,