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

132 Repobts of the Inspectors of Mines. [No, 10,
Caves are frequently occurring in tliese days in our mines, and we are
liable at any time to have great loss of life from this cause, and I believe
we are far more liable now than thirty-two 3^ears ago, for tlie reason that
our mines of late years are not one quarter so well propped as they were
then. Then, again, our mines in many localities are liable to sudden inun-
dations, and to be filled with water. In many places they run under the
rivers, and in other cases mines are being worked imder old abandoned
workings which are full of water, and caves may occur at any time in those
places, ingulfing the workmen with an ocean of water, without our having
any means of knowing where the danger may exist.
Now, this clause in the law has been wholly disregarded, almost uni-
versally in this district, and I had, and am still having, what might be
deemed unnecessary trouble with the corporations, in my efforts to have
those maps furnished. There are miles of underground workings, of
which there are no maps. The boundary lines, the inclination of the
strata, and the survey stations are wanting on the majority of them that
we have, all of which are important to have, but space will not permit me
to explain further, at this time.
Examination of Mine Bos.xc!).
Bills are annually introduced in the Legislature to prohibit an}' person
that is not competent to liave charge of steam engines, and to prohibit the
practicing of medicine b}^ quacks, and for other purposes, which nre very
proper and much needed. But I most respectfully submit that there is
no profession where greater damage is done to lives and property through
incompetency, than that of mine boss, and I do not hesitate to assei't that
the standard of qualifications for this important office is away down below
zero. The manner in which many of our collieries are worked is a great
loss, in a pecuniary sense, to the operators, for acres of coal are lost to
them and to the country, often because the mine bosses are incompetent
to devise ways and means to mine it ; and in other cases, they go in and
gut out the coal, without any regard to the future safety of the colliery.
Any expert, who will take the trouble of glancing at the map of Jermyn's
Green Ridge shaft, on another page, will see an example of the gutting
process. But the worst aspect of the case is, that they know literally
nothing about the science of mining, nor about the science of ventilation,
and, hence, are wholly incompetent to take care of the health and safety
of the men and boys employed in the mines, and who are under their
charge. Many of them are entirely illiterate, know nothing of the value
of figures, and make no effort to improve themselves. They get into po-
sitions through favoritism, and not on their merit. Many of them are se-
lected because they are of a disposition pliable enough for the corporations
to make willing tools of, to oppress the workmen and crush them with
their petty tyranny.
I earnestly recommend that an act be passed, providing for a commis-
sion or board of examiners, whose duty it shall be to examine all persons