Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of ...

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 123
1872 " in England. The general rules in said act are embodied in the
fifty-first section of the act itself, and are well worthy of the consideration
of our law-makers, many of whom I know feel a deep interest in the welfare
of those who are employed in our coal mines. The provisions of some of
those rules are in substance incorporated into our law, and there are some
of them which would not apply to our mines ; but there are other rules
that might be framed wliich would be applicable in this country and wholly
inapplicable in England.
I am aware that we have a certain class of men in the coal region who
will cr}^ out against any proposition of this kind, and who will declare that
"we have too much law already," &c. The possibility of having too much
law, I admit only in cases where the law is an unjust one, and so indefinite
that it cannot be enforced, and the sole object I have in view in recommending
the rules I am speaking of, is to make our present law more effec-
tive. The fift3'-second, fifty-third, and fifty-fourth sections of the British
act provide for special rules in the following words :
"In addition to the general rules, but not at variance with them, each
mine must have its own set of special rules, framed to meet the special
circumstances of the mine. The object of special rules is : First. To pre-
vent dangerous accidents. Second. To provide for the proper discipline
of those employed in the mine. Special rules have the same force as if
they were contained in the act."
"How Made.—Special rules are to be prepared, in the first instance, on
behalf of the owners, and are, together with a notice, to be posted up during
a fortnight on the premises ; such notice to be printed and to be to the
ettect that, at the end of the fortnight, the rules will be submitted to the
inspector of mines for the district, and that, in the meantime, any person
employed in the mine is entitled to forward an}- objection to the inspector,
at his address, as stated in the notice. On the expiration of the fortnight,
they are to be sigued by the owner, agent, or manager, and to be trans-
mitted to the inspector, together with a certificate that the rules and the
notice have been posted as aforesaid. The Secretar}^ of State may, within
forty days, object to the special rules, if they are insufficient or unreasonable,
and require them to be modified. These requisitions must be com-
plied with, or else referred to arbitration. After forty days, special rules,
if not objected to, become established, and are to be signed by the inspector"
of the district."
It is not necessary to adopt this mode for the framing of these rules ;
other mode might be adopted, but I recommend the plan contained in the
above extract as a very good one. It is painfully evident that we need
some such rules for the government of our mines, and, with the sole purpose
of doing all in my power to prevent accidents, on the 9th of April, I issued
a circular containing the following rules, wliich I sent to all superintend-
ents and mine bosses:
any