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accumulation of gas, to place at least two conspicuous obstructions across the roadway not less than twenty feet apart, one of which shall be outside the last open cross-cut.

7. Upon completing his examination, to make a daily record of the same in a book kept for that purpose, for the information of the company, the inspector and all other persons interested; and this record. shall be made each morning before the miners are permitted to enter the mine.

8. To take into his possession the entrance checks of all men whose working places have been shown by his examination and record to be dangerous, and to give such entrance checks to the mine manager before the men are permitted to enter the mine in the morning.

§ 25. DUTY OF INSPECTOR.] (a) Any loss of life or personal injury in or about any coal mine shall be reported without delay by the person having charge of said mine to the State mine inspector of the district in which the mine is located, and the said inspector, in case of injury, if he deem necessary from the facts reported, and in all cases of loss of life, shall go immediately to the scene of said accident and render every possible assistance to those in need.

Every operator of a coal mine shall make or cause to be made and preserve for the information of the State mine inspector, upon uniform blanks furnished by said inspector, a record of all deaths and all injuries sustained by any of his employees in the pursuance of their regular occupations.

CORONER'S INQUEST.] (b) If any person is killed in or about a mine, the operator shall also notify the coroner of the county, or in his absence or inability to act, any justice of the peace of said county, who shall hold an inquest concerning the cause of such death. The State mine inspector may question or cross-question any witness testifying at the inquest.

INVESTIGATION BY INSPECTOR.] (c) The State mine inspector shall make a personal investigation as to the nature and cause of all serious. accidents in mines under his supervision. He shall make a record of the circumstances attending the same, as developed by the coroner's inquest, and by his own personal investigation, which record shall be preserved in the files of his office, and a copy thereof filed with the State Mining Board within thirty days from the conclusion of such investigation, and such report shall thereupon become part of the records of such board. To enable him to make such investigation he shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses and to administer oaths or affirmations to them, and the cost of such investigations shall be paid by the county in which such accident has occurred.

Any person having charge or custody of the records, files, documents, reports and proceedings of the State Mining Board provided to be made, filed or kept under the provisions of the laws of Illinois, in case of serious accident shall furnish to any person or persons interested, a certified copy thereof upon application, and upon the payment or tender of fees at such rates as are now paid in this State to the clerks of circuit courts in counties of the second class for certified copies of records, and refusal to furnish such copies shall constitute a misdemeanor.

APPROVED June 28th, 1915.

FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT IN COAL MINES-ACT OF 1910 AMENDED.

§ 1. Amends section 1, 2 and 6, Act of 1910, as amended in 1913.

§ 1. As amended, provides for fire fight-
ing equipment in coal mines.

§ 2. As amended, paragraphs (j) and (m) changes capacity of fire extinguishers required.

§ 6. As amended, paragraph (d), changes capacity of fire extinguisher required.

(HOUSE BILL No. 857. APPROVED JUNE 23, 1915.)

AN ACT to amend sections 1, 2 and 6 of an Act entitled. “An Act to require fire fighting equipment and other means for the prevention and controlling of fires and the prevention of loss of lives from fires in coal mines," approved and in force March 8, 1910, as amended by Act approved and in force June 7, 1911, as amended by Act approved June 26, 1913, in force July 1, 1913.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That sections 1, 2 and 6 of an Act entitled, "An Act to require fire fighting equipment and other means for the prevention and controlling of fires and the prevention of loss of lives from fires in coal mines," approved and in force March 8, 1910, as amended by Act approved and in force June 7, 1911, as amended by Act approved June 26, 1913, in force July 1, 1913, be amended to read as follows:

§ 1. On and after July 1, 1910, except as hereinafter in section 6 of this Act is provided, the following requirements for fire fighting equipment and other means for the prevention and controlling of fires. and the prevention of loss of life from fires in coal mines shall be strictly observed by all persons, firms, corporations or associations maintaining and operating a coal mine within the State of Illinois.

§ 2. (a) There shall be provided a supply of water for fighting fire underground which shall have a head from a standing body in a pipe, tank or pond.

(b) Such water supply shall be conducted into the mine in an iron or steel pipe or pipes not less than two inches in diameter, which shall have not less than two hose connections at the bottom of the hoisting shaft, and two hose connections at the bottom of the air and escapement shaft designated as such under the law, and two hose connections in each stable which is located less than five hundred (500) feet from the bottom of either of said shafts; and there shall be iron or steel pipes not less than two inches in diameter in the entries and passageways leading from the bottom of each of said shafts to such extent and such position that with one (1) fifty-foot length of hose the water may be carried into all such entries and passageways within three hundred (300) feet from the bottom of each of said shafts and into the corresponding area in slope and drift mines, such area to be designated in this Act as the fire protected area;

(c) Provided, that in mines having one hundred and twenty-five (125) feet or less head at the bottom of the incoming supply pipe, the incoming pipes and the pipes having hose connections shall be not less than three (3) inches in diameter. The pipes in the mine shall have hose connections not more than fifty (50) feet apart beginning at the bottom of the incoming supply pipe or pipes.

(d) There shall be kept constantly on hand at the bottom of each shaft where hose connections are required, in condition for immediate use, not less than two (2) fifty (50) foot lengths of one and one-half (12) inch inside diameter linen hose or rubber-lined cotton hose, which shall have been tested to a pressure of two hundred (200) pounds to the square inch; all of such hose and connections therefor on the supply pipes shall have American standard iron pipe threads. The nozzles on such hose shall be not less than three-eighths (3%) nor more than five-eighths (%) inch in diameter.

(e) Where any part of any passage or other excavation within one hundred and fifty (150) feet of the bottom of the hoisting shaft or the air and escapement shaft designated as such under the law and in the corresponding area in slope or drift mines, is timbered, with cribbing or more than one layer of lagging not including caps or wedges, above the cross bars, there shall be two lines of automatic sprinklers on the under side of such timbering, attached to not less than one and one-half (12) inch pipes connected with the fire fighting water supply, and such sprinklers shall not be more than ten (10) feet apart.

(f) In cribbing or lagging as last aforesaid, which is more than three (3) feet in vertical thickness, there shall be also, as near the top thereof as is practicable, automatic sprinklers connected with the water supply as last aforesaid and there shall be one such sprinkler for each eight (8) feet square or horizontal area of such cribbing or lagging.

(g) In every underground stable, located within one thousand (1,000) feet of the hoisting shaft or the air and escapement shaft designated as such under the law, there shall not be less than one (1) automatic water sprinkler for each area eight (8) feet square in said stable; such automatic sprinklers shall be connected with iron or steel pipes not less than one and one-half (12) inches in diameter along the roof or ceiling in the stable, which shall be connected with the fire fighting water supply.

(h) All automatic sprinklers shall be of the fusible plug type and shall not require a temperature of more than one hundred and sixty-five (165) degrees Fahrenheit to release the water.

(i) In all underground stables other than those heretofore in this Act referred to, there shall be kept barrels full of water and two metal pails with each barrel. Such barrels shall be not more than fifty (50) feet apart, and there shall not be less than [two] 2 barrels full of water and two (2) metal pails with each barrel in each entry or passageway into which such stable opens and not more than fifty (50) feet from the opening of the stable.

(j) There shall also be one (1) not less than two and one-half (212) gallons chemical fire extinguishers and two (2) not less than six (6) gallon hand-pump buckets in each stable and in each entry or passageway into which such stable opens not more than fifty (50) feet from the opening of such stable: Provided, that in mines employing ten (10) men or less underground, the chemical fire extinguishers shall not be required. Such chemical fire extinguishers and hand-pump buckets shall be kept filled and ready for use.

(k) Provided, however, that in coal mines in which less than ten (10) men are employed, in which there are no stables, in lieu of said.

water supply with pipes and hose, there may be substituted the following: There shall be kept within the fire protected area in each such mine, barrels full of water not more than fifty (50) feet apart, and with each barrel there shall be two metal buckets; and there shall also be kept within said area not less than six (6) hand-pump buckets of not less than six (6) gallons capacity, and said buckets shall be kept filled and ready for use.

(1) A barrel within the meaning of this Act shall be any substantial vessel holding not less than fifty (50) gallons.

(m) All mines shall have at least one, not less than two and onehalf (22) gallon chemical fire extinguisher, and one not less than six (6) gallon hand-pump bucket, including those hereinbefore in this Act required, for each fifty (50) employees in the mine with a minimum of six (6) extinguishers and six (6) pump buckets, kept at convenient places designated by the mine manager throughout the mine, and three (3) fire extinguishers of two and one-half (22) gallons each in each building located within one hundred (100) feet of any shaft, drift or slope, and such extinguishers shall be recharged once every six months and a record made of the date of recharging in the mine examiners's report book: Provided, this does not apply to buildings constructed of fire proof material. Such extinguishers and buckets shall be kept filled and ready for use: Provided, that in mines employing ten (10) men or less underground, the chemical fire extinguishers shall not be required.

§ 6. The following requirements also shall apply to all coal mines developed within the State of Illinois after the passage of this Act: "Provided that paragraphs (a) and (b) shall not apply to mines where ten (10) men or less are employed."

(a) The hoisting shaft and the air and escapement shaft designated as such under the law in shaft mines and the air and escapement shaft nearest the main opening in slope or drift mines, shall be of fire proof construction, except that cage guides may be wood. All drifts and slopes that are opened after the passage of this Act must be of fire proof construction for a distance of three hundred (300) feet from the entrance: Provided, that this section shall not apply to shafts in actual course of construction at the time this Act takes effect.

(b) The roof and walls of the passageways leading from the bottom of the hoisting shaft and the air and escapement shaft designated as such under the law, within a distance of three hundred (300) feet from the bottom of either of said shafts, shall be of fire proof construction, except that the coal rib or pillar may be used as a wall in such passage

ways.

(c) All underground stables and the openings therein shall be of fire proof construction. Stables in mines opened after the passage of this Act shall not be located between the main and escapement shaft, or in direct line on the ventilating current or on passageways leading to the escapement shaft or shafts.

(d) At mines constructed in conformity with the requirements of this section of this Act, the fire fighting equipment described in section 2, and the fire drill described in section 5 of this Act shall not be required, except that there shall be kept at convenient places designated

by the mine manager, throughout each mine, one not less than two and one-half (22) gallons chemical fire extinguisher and one not less than six (6) gallon hand-pump bucket, for each fifty (50) employees in the mines with a minimum of six (6) extinguishers and six (6) pump buckets, and such extinguishers and buckets shall be kept filled and ready for use: Provided, that in mines employing ten (10) men or less underground, the chemical fire extinguishers shall not be required. APPROVED June 23d, 1915.

MINERS' EXAMINING BOARD-ACT OF 1913 AMENDED.

§ 1. Amends section 1, 2, 4 and 6, Act of 1908, as
subsequently amended.

§ 1. Certificates of competency-reissue
by State board.

§ 2. Miners' Examining Board, appoint-
ment-quorum-record-oath-

bond.

§ 4. Salary and traveling expenses.

§ 6. Monthly examinations-notice of time and place.

(HOUSE BILL No. 859. APPROVED JUNE 29, 1915.)

AN ACT to amend section 1, section 2, section 4 and section 6 of "An Act to provide for the safety of persons employed in and about coal mines, and to provide for the examinations of persons seeking employment therein in order that only competent persons may be employed as miners, and to create a board of examiners for this purpose and to provide a penalty for the violation of the same," and to repeal an Act entitled, "An Act to amend an Act entitled, 'An Act to provide for the safety of persons employed in and about coal mines and to provide for the examination of persons seeking employment as coal miners, and providing penalties for the violation of the same, approved June 1, 1908, in force July 1, 1908, approved June 5, 1909, in force July 1, 1909," approved June 27, 1913, in force July 1, 1913.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That section 1, section 2, section. 4 and section 6 of an Act entitled "An Act to provide for the safety of persons employed in and about coal mines, and to provide for the examinations of persons seeking employment therein in order that only competent persons may be employed as miners, and to create a board of examiners for this purpose and to provide a penalty for the violation of the same, and to repeal an Act entitled, "An Act to amend an Act entitled, 'An Act to provide for the safety of persons employed in and about coal mines and to provide for the examination of persons seeking employment as coal miners, and providing penalties for the violation of the same,' approved June 1, 1908, in force July 1, 1908, approved June 5, 1909, in force July 1, 1909," approved June 27, 1913, in force July 1, 1913, be amended so as to read as follows:

§ 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That hereafter no person shall be employed or engaged as a miner in any coal mine in this State without having first obtained a certificate of competency and qualification so to do from the "Miners' Examining Board" of this State, created by this Act. Miners who now hold certificates heretofore issued by any board of county mine examiners of this State may be permitted on or before

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