MINING OPERATIONS.

THIRD GENERAL REVISION, 1911.

LAWS 1911, P. 388.

JUNE 6, 1911.

AN ACT to revise the laws in relation to coal mines and subjects relating thereto, and providing for the health and safety of persons employed therein.

NOTE.-Sections 1 to 6, inclusive, are included under the title, Miners' Examining Board-State Mining Board, page 70.

SEC. 7. MAPS REQUIRED.-(a) The operator of every coal mine in the State shall make, or cause to be made, an accurate map or plan of such mine, drawn to a scale not smaller than 200 feet to the inch. All measurements shall be in feet and decimals of a foot. On such maps shall appear the name of the State, county and township in which the mine is located, the designation of the mine, the name of the company or owner, the certificate of the mining engi neer or surveyor as to the accuracy and date of the survey, the north point and the scale to which the drawing is made.

SURFACE SURVEY.-(b) Such map or plan shall accurately show the surface boundary lines of the coal rights pertaining to each mine, and all sections or quarter-section lines or corners within the same; the lines of town lots and streets; the tracks and side-tracks of all railroads, and the location of all wagon roads, rivers, streams, ponds, location and depth of holes drilled for oil, gas or water that penetrate a workable coal seam, and the elevation above the coal seam of any stream or body of water that might endanger the mine.

UNDERGROUND SURVEY.-(c) For the underground workings, said maps shall show all shafts, slopes, tunnels or other openings to the surface or to the workings of a contiguous mine; all excavations, entries, rooms and cross-cuts; the location of the fan or furnace and the direction of the air currents; the location of pumps, hauling engines, engine planes, abandoned works, fire walls and standing water; and the outcrop line of the seam, if any, on the property.

The general outline of all areas in which pillars have been drawn shall be indicated on the map.

Each underground map also shall show, in feet and decimals thereof, the elevation of the floor of the coal at reasonable intervals on the main entries and cross entries from the bottom of the shaft to the face of the workings; such elevations shall be referred to the floor of the coal at the bottom of the hoisting shaft.

MAP FOR EVERY SEAM.-(d) A separate and similar map, down to the same scale, shall be made of each and every seam, which, after the passage of this Act, shall be worked in any mine, and the maps of all such seams shall show all shafts, inclined planes or other passageways connecting the same.

SEPARATE MAP FOR THE SURFACE.-(e) A separate map also shall be made of the surface whenever the surface buildings, lines or objects are so numerous as to obscure the details of the mine workings if drawn upon the same sheet with them, and in such case the surface map shall be drawn on transparent cloth or paper, so that it can be laid upon the map of the underground workings, and thus indicate the relation of lines and objections [objects] on the surface to the excavations of the mine.

THE DIP.—(f) Each map shall also show by profile drawing and measurements, in feet and decimals thereof, the rise and dip of the seam from the bottom of the shaft in either direction to the face of the workings.

COPIES FOR INSPECTORS AND RECORDERS.-(g) The original or true copies of all such maps shall be kept in the office at the mine, and one true copy thereof shall be furnished to the State inspector of mines for the district in which said mine is located, and one shall be filed in the office of the recorder of the county in which the mine is located, within thirty days after the completion of the same. The maps so delivered to the inspector and to the recorder shall remain in the custody of said inspector and recorder during their respective terms of office, and be delivered by them to their successors in office. They shall be kept at the office of the inspector and of the recorder, and be open to the examination of all persons interested in the same, but such examination shall be made only in the presence of the inspector or the recorder. Neither the inspector nor the county recorder shall permit any copies of the same to be made without the written consent of the operator or the owner of the property.

The county recorder shall properly index such map as part of the title record of the property affected.

A copy of each map and extensions to the same shall be furnished the manager of the mine rescue stations for his use in connection with rescue work only.

ANNUAL SURVEYS.-(h) An extension of the last preceding survey of every mine in active operation shall be made once in every twelve months prior to July 1, of every year, and the results of said survey, with the date thereof shall be promptly and accurately entered upon the original maps and all copies of the same, so as to show all changes in plan or new work in the mine, and all extensions of the old workings to the most advanced face or boundary of said workings which have been made since the last preceding survey. The State inspector, the county recorder and the manager of the rescue stations shall be furnished with a copy of the said extended map or of the extensions to said map.

ABANDONED MINES.-(i) When any coal mine is worked out or is about to be abandoned or indefinitely closed, the operator of the same shall make, or cause to be made, a final survey of such mine; to show the entire worked out area when the mine was closed, and the results of the same shall be duly extended on all maps of the mine and copies thereof herein required to be filed. SPECIAL SURVEY.-(j) The State inspector of mines, or the State Mining Board, may order a survey to be made of the workings of any mine in addition to the regular annual survey, the results to be extended on the maps of the same and the copies thereof, whenever the safety of the workmen, unlawful injury to the surface, unlawful encroachment upon adjoining property, or the safety of an adjoining mine requires it.

If the State inspector of mines or the State Mining Board shall believe any map required by this Act is materially inaccurate or imperfect, the State inspector or State Mining Board is authorized to make, or cause to be made a correct survey and map at the expense of the operator, the cost recoverable as for debt: Provided, if such test survey shows the operator's map to be correct, the State shall be liable for the expense incurred, payable in such manner as other State accounts incurred by the State Mining Board.

PENALTIES FOR FAILURE.--(k) If an operator of any mine refuses or wilfully neglects, for a period of three months, to furnish the said State inspector, the county recorder and the manager of the rescue stations the map or plan of such mine, or a copy thereof, or of the extensions thereto, as provided for 54915°-19-Bull. 16915

in this Act, such operator shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, in the discretion of the court, and shall stand committed to the county jail until such fine is paid, and, in addition thereto, the State inspector or State Mining Board is hereby authorized to make, or cause to be made, an accurate map or plan of such mine at the expense of the operator thereof; and the cost of the same may be recovered by law from the operator in the same manner as other debts by suit, in the name of the State inspector or the State Mining Board, and for his or its use, and copies of the same shall be filed by him or the board, one each with said recorder and said manager of the rescue stations.

SEC. 8. SINKING SUBJECT TO INSPECTION.—(a) Any shaft or other opening in process of sinking, or driving, for the purpose of mining coal, shall be subject to the inspection of the State inspector of mines for the district in which said shaft or opening is located.

(b) Over every shaft that is being sunk or shall hereafter be sunk, there shall be a safe and substantial structure to support sheaves or pulley ropes at a height not less than 15 feet above the tipping place. The landing platform of such shaft shall be so arranged that material can not fall into the shaft while the bucket is being emptied or taken from the hoisting rope. If provisions are made to land a bucket on a truck, said truck and platform shall be so arranged that material can not fall into the shaft.

(c) Rock or coal shall not be hoisted except in a bucket or on a cage when men are in the bottom of the shaft; and said bucket or cage must be connected to the hoisting rope by a safety hook, clevis or other safety attachment. The rope shall be fastened to the side of the drum and not less than three coils of rope shall remain on the drum. In shafts over 100 feet in depth, suitable provision shall be made to prevent the bucket from swinging while being lowered or hoisted, and guides provided for this purpose shall be maintained at a distance of not more than 75 feet from the bottom of the shaft.

(d) An efficient brake shall be attached to the drum of the engine used for hoisting in shaft sinking, and the drum shall be provided with a flange on each end not less than 4 inches in height.

(e) Not more than four persons shall be lowered or hoisted in or on a bucket in a shaft at one time, and no person shall ride on a loaded bucket.

(f) All blasts in shaft sinking shall be exploded by electric battery.

(g) Provision shall also be made for the proper ventilation of shafts white being sunk.

(1) No one but a certificated hoisting engineer shall be in charge of the hoisting engines while a shaft is being sunk.

SEC. 9. Two PLACES OF EGRESS.-(a) For every coal mine in this State, whether worked by shaft, slope or drift, there shall be provided and maintained, in addition to the hoisting shaft, or other place of delivery, an escapement shaft or opening to the surface, or an underground communicating passageway with a continuous mine, so that there shall be at least two distinct and available means of egress to all persons employed in such coal mines.

DISTANCE FROM MAIN SHAFT.-(b) In mines sunk after the passage of this Act, the first escapement shall be separated from the main shaft by such extent of natural strata as may be agreed upon by the inspector of the district and the owner of the property, but the distance between the main shaft and the escapement shaft shall not be less than 500 feet nor more than 2,000 feet; Provided, that in mines employing ten (10) men or less the distance between the hoisting shaft and the escapement shaft shall not be less than two hundred and fifty (250) feet.

UNLAWFUL TO EMPLOY MORE THAN TEN MEN.-(c) It shall be unlawful to employ underground, at any one time, more men than in the judgment of the inspector are necessary to complete speedily the connections with the escapement shaft or adjacent mine; and said number must not exceed ten men at any one time for any purpose in said mine until such escapement or connection is completed.

The time allowed for completing such escapement shaft or making such connections with an adjacent mine, as is required by the terms of this Act, shall be three months for shafts 200 feet or less in depth, and six months for shafts less than 500 feet and more than 200 feet, and nine months for all other mines, slopes of [or] drifts, or connections with adjacent mines. The time to date in all cases from the hoisting of coal from the hoisting shaft: Provided, that in mines employing ten (10) men or less, the time for completing the escapement shaft shall not be more than six months from the time of hoisting coal.

STAIRWAYS OR CAGES.-(d) The escapement shaft at every mine opened after the passage of this Act shall be equipped with a substantial stairway, set at an angle not greater than forty-five degrees, which shall be provided with handrails, and with platforms or landings at each turn of the stairway.

If any escapement shaft, at the time of the passage of this Act, be equipped with a cage for hoisting men, such shaft, cage and all equipment used in connection therewith must conform to the requirements of this Act in reference to the hoisting and lowering of men.

PASSAGEWAYS TO ESCAPEMENT.-(e) Such escapement shaft or opening or communication with a contiguous mine as aforesaid, shall be constructed in connection with every seam of coal worked in such mine, and all passageways communicating with the escapement shaft or place of exit, from the main hauling ways to said place of exit, shall be maintained free of obstruction at least 5 feet high and 5 feet wide. Such passageways must be so graded and drained that it will be impossible for water to accumulate in any depression or dip of the same in quantities sufficient to obstruct the free passage of men. No passageway to an escapement shaft shall pass through a stable. At all points where the passageway to the escapement shaft or other place of exit is intersected by other roadways or entries, conspicuous signboards shall be placed indicating the direction it is necessary to take in order to reach such place of exit.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH ADJACENT MINES.-(f) When operators of adjacent mines have, by agreement, established underground communications between said mines as an escapement outlet for the men employed in both, the intervening doors shall remain unlocked and ready at all times for immediate use.

When such communication has once been established between contiguous mines, the operator of either shall not close the same without the consent of the operator of the contiguous mine and of the State inspector for the district: Provided, that when either operator desires to abandon mining operations the expense and duty of maintaining such communication shall devolve upon the party continuing the operations and using the same.

SEC. 10. GATES AT LANDINGS.-(a) The upper and lower landing at the top of each shaft, and the opening of each intermediate seam from or to the shaft, shall be kept clear and free from loose materials, and shall be protected with automatic or other gates. At the top landing cage supports, where necessary, must be carefully set and adjusted so as to securely hold the cage when at rest. LIGHT ON LANDINGS.—(b) Whenever the hoisting or lowering of men occurs before daylight or after dark, or when the landing at which men take or leave the cage is at all obscured by steam or otherwise, there must always be maintained at such landing a light sufficient to show the landing and surrounding

objects distinctly. Likewise, as long as there are men underground in any mine the operator shall maintain a good and sufficient light at the bottom of the shaft thereof, so that persons coming to the bottom may clearly discern the cage and objects in the vicinity.

HOISTING EQUIPMENT.—(c) Every shaft in which men are hoisted and lowered must be equipped with a cage, or cages, fitted to guide rails running from the top to the bottom. Said cages must be substantially constructed; they must be furnished with sheet metal covers adequate to protect persons riding thereon from falling objects; they must be equipped with safety catches. Every cage on which persons are carried must be fitted with iron bars or rings in proper place and sufficient number to furnish a secure hand-hold for every person permitted to ride thereon. There shall be attached to every cage on which men are, or may be, hoisted or lowered, a horn or other device with which signals can be given on the cage.

(d) In connection with every hoisting engine used for hoisting or lowering of men there shall be provided as follows:

BRAKE ON DRUM.—(1) A good and sufficient brake on the drum, so adjusted that it may be operated by the engineer without leaving his post at the levers. FLANGES. (2) Flanges attached to the sides of the drum, with a distance when the whole rope is wound on the drum of not less than 4 inches between the outer layer or rope and the greatest diameter of the flange.

ROPE FASTENINGS.-(3) One end of each hoisting rope shall be well secured on the drum, and at least three laps of the same shall remain on the drum when the cage is at rest at the lowest caging place in the shaft.

The lower end of each rope shall be securely fastened to the cage by suitable sockets and chains.

INDICATOR.-(4) An index dial or indicator that plainly shows the engineer at all times the true position of the cages in the shaft.

SIGNALS.-(e) At every mine where men are hoisted and lowered by machinery there shall be provided means of signaling to and from the bottom man, the top man and the engineer. The signal system shall consist of a tube, or tubes, or wire encased in wood or iron pipes, through which signals shall be communicated by electricity, compressed air or other pneumatic devices, or by ringing a bell. When compressed air or other pneumatic devices are used for signaling, provision must be made to prevent signal from repeating or reversing. The following signals shall be used at mines where signals are required:

FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP.-One ring or whistle shall signify to hoist coal or the empty cage, and also to stop either when in motion,

Two rings or whistles shall signify to lower cage.

Three rings or whistles shall signify that men are coming up or going down; when return signal is received from the engineer the men shall get on the cage and the proper signal to hoist or lower shall be given.

Four rings or whistles shall signify to hoist slowly, implying danger.

Five rings or whistles shall signify accident in the mine and a call for a stretcher.

Six rings or whistles shall signify hold cage perfectly still until signaled otherwise.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, one ring or whistle shall signify: All ready, get on cage.

Two rings or whistles shall signify: Send away empty cage.

Provided, that the operator of any mine may, with the consent of the inspector, add to this code of signals in his discretion. The code of signals in use at any mine shall be conspicuously posted at the top and at the bottom of