1898 - Coalmininghistorypa.org

No. 11. BUREAU OF MINES. xitli( iiatunil freedom oi' the iiidividual, but it is not iu consistent withthe rights and safety of others, who should be not merely allowedsecure enjoyments of the fruits of their labor, but should have guaranteedto them a life without hazard from the wilfulness of thelaw breaker. This regulation comes fully within the power of thelegislator and is no iuore objectionable than the prohibition of incendiarism01- assault, the erection of frame dwellings in cities, etc.Fines imposed upon the violators of the rules will accomplish as^\l)olesome a respect for them underground as on the surface. If thelegal macliiuery were simplitied, it would seem that the results would{i.pproach those attained in Great Britain. There is no reason whywe may not have added to the present law, an amendment enumeratingsuch coutraventioiis as would risk an explosion or in any waythreaten danger to the culprit or hisi mate. Certainly the classoi legislation now proposed is no more of an invasion of privaterights than was the oi'iginal law an invasion to property rights, andwhile the wisdom of such a proposition may be questioned, itsfavor at our handsi.successin England speaks in itsThe writer has associated with miners and lias been one all of hislife. There is nothing about a coal mine, either inside or outside ofthe mine, that he has not done with his own hands, from being trapperboy to superintendent, and he believes that miners can be compelledto take care of themselves and obey the law, and also believesthat with the proper discipline in the mines, they would be as obedientto well known rules as men employed in other vocations.the other hand, if thej' are allow'ed to do about as they please and areunder no restraint, they become careless and lose respect for thelaw, and often in their anxiety to get out a greater quantity of coal,they neglect everything else, even to the extent of risking their lives,which many of them lose on that account.While the writer believes that specific penalties should be inflicted(.u miners for contravention of the mine laws, he does not wish it to beunderstood that mine officials and operators should not also be punishedfor their contravention. On the contrary, they should, and itis true that the letter of the law reaches the operators for any oftheir negligent acts and i)unishes them for violations more readilyand with greater ease than it does the miner. It is the boundenduty of all persons connected with mining either directly or indirectly,to use all their elforts in endeavoring to reduce the numberof accidents in the coal nunes of this State. The law of 1885, im-]tosing educational (lualihcations upon miners for positions of responsibilityabout the mines was intended to ])roduce better results,both as to the proj)er development of the mines and the care of theli\es and limbs of those em])loyed in them than had previously existed,and there is no doubt that in a great degree, it has, and I be-On