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

28 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
agement properly and well, the standing of his colliery will sink down withthe
pressure of miscellaneous expenses, only to be seen in his books.
Practice in a manager or boss is a pre-requisite qualification, but it requires
more than practice and experience in a boss. He should possess the
executive ability and be fully conversant with the details of modern systems
of mining and mine machinery, and have the independent firmness of
a just arbiter, to see that the just rights of either party should not suffer in
his hands.
Mine Accidents.
Accidents arising from falls of coal are generally the result of bad timbering.
They are the most numerous of all other accidents connected with
coal mining, and all miners understand this yet there are many men to be
;
found, and who are practical enough, that grossly neglect timely propping,
and fall victims to their own folh^. There is no adequate apolog}" to be
made for this class of persons.
Explosions of fire-damp arc the next great source of casualties amongst
miners, many of which could be avoided by a rigid enforcement of the mine
regulation and a proper degree of circumspection on the part of the miners
themselves. In many of the collieries explosive gases are generated to an
alarming extent, and become even fearful and hazardous to work in. Notwithstanding
all this danger the miner clearly understands all this, but he
is often so circumstanced that to evade his responsibilities to his family and
others, that he becomes oblivious to impending dangers, and manfully risks
his life for a principle that thousands more fortunately circumstanced would
shrink from. The operator who neglects to establish mine regulations, or
if established neglects to put them into force, is, to a certain extent, accountable
for the injuries thereby sustained, nor can he waive the responsibility
of the injury, having all the authority and direction of affairs in his
own hands, and under a laxity of duty permits the men in his employ to
disres^ard the law or mine rules.