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

Ex. Doc] Reports of the Inspectors of Mines. 59
time specified to see if they had complied, but not when going to malve a
general examination of anj^ mine.
The mine officers in my district cannot possiblj' have any idea of the
time of the inspector's visit, unless they should guess at it from seeing him
passing to neighboring mines, and judging from the time of his former
visit, that it may not be a great while before he paj^s them a call. I am
decidedly of the opinion, that they ought not to know anything of the in-
tention of the inspector to visit their mine, in order that they might be
prepared at any time for such inspection, and, I think, such a course is
better for all concerned ; hence I always make my visits when it suits me
best so to do, having some regard to the time and relative number of gen-
eral examinations to the respective collieries of my district.
I would say right here, that I have always told the workmen in the pres-
ence of the officers, that I considered it, not only their privilege, but their
duty as well, to call my attention to any imminent danger to the health,
limbs, or lives of any person in or around the mines. I say further, that
they should fii'st call the attention of the mine officers to the threatening
danger, therebj^ giving them an opportunit}' to provide against such a case-
But, that if they do not then atten