Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania for the year .. . n a month before the disaster at thiscolliery occurred, and had not been published. This, of course, would notrelieve us of the obligation to enforce the law, but at the same time, in thecase of an entirely new system of legislation, it might incline us to a more tol-erant and less exacting view of the circumstances than we should other-wise feel bound to adopt. But the truth is, that so far as regards the du-ties of the mine-foreman or boss, there is no material difference, as respectsthe quest
Reports of the Inspectors of Mines of the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania for the year .. . n a month before the disaster at thiscolliery occurred, and had not been published. This, of course, would notrelieve us of the obligation to enforce the law, but at the same time, in thecase of an entirely new system of legislation, it might incline us to a more tol-erant and less exacting view of the circumstances than we should other-wise feel bound to adopt. But the truth is, that so far as regards the du-ties of the mine-foreman or boss, there is no material difference, as respectsthe question now presented, between the recent act of Assembly and thatof March 3, 1870. The eighth section of that act provides that every coalmine and colliery shall employ a practical inside overseer, to be calledmining-boss, who shall keep a careful watch over the ventilating appara-tus, etc. As we have before said, there can be no doubt that the defendant wasfully informed of the accident which had interrupted the working of thefan before the workmen had entered the mine on the morningf of the 11th. SCHARAR*S SPEED AND TIME Febr. 2-86. Inspectors of Anthracite Mines. 65 of August. Nor ciin it bo doubted that ho was an oflicerof snfficiont intel-ligence and familiarity with the business of mining to know that the minewas liable to become dangerous by reason of this state of things. What,then, was his duty? Clearly, to permit no one to enter the mine exceptsuch person or persons as would be prepared and competent to make acareful and skillful examination and report. There is some evidence iu thecase that the defendant did warn some of the workmen not to enter, andnotified them that the fan had stopped. But notice and warnings were notwhat the occasion and the circumstances oalled for—a stern and peremp-tory command was the one thing needful, and that the mine-foreman, asthe commander, had the right to give. It is admitted that this mine did not generate what are known
Size: 1372px × 1820px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookpublisherslsn, bookyear1885
