THE PERILS OF COAL MINES.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPEOTATOR:]
Sra,—Having had something to do with the preparation of the special rules for the safe working of collieries in the district con- tiguous to that in which Mr. Wales is inspector, I hope you will permit me to make a few remarks on your very able article of December 13 on "The Perils of the Coal Mine." The prin- ciple you enunciate, that the managers and overmen of the mine should carefully watch the timbering, and be responsible for a strict supervision being maintained over the men who are responsible for the timbering, if properly observed, must avert many deaths ; but with respect to the suggestion thrown out that the actual work of timbering should be taken from the colliers,. there can be no better answer than a quotation from Mr. 3. C._ Fowler's book on "Colliers and Collieries ":—" Underground workmen should be strongly impressed with the feeling that a mining occupation, even under the most favourable circumstances, is fraught with danger, and that each man's safety in a great measure depends upon himself."
If the owners of mines in Wales were to undertake to do the timbering for the colliers, they would be guilty of an act that would diminish the feeling that at present exists that "each man's safety in a great measure depends upon himself," and instead of a diminution, we might have to regret an increased number of accidents from that prolific source of danger in coal mines, "falls. of roof."—I am, Sir, &c., Newport, Mon., 20th December. Jeux E. WARD.
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