This Is Our Life...Past Session - Needed Education in Coal-Mining

I am not an orator and have never said a word in public during my thirty years' experience in the coal mines of Colorado; but, being requested to speak by our worthy chairman, and as I am deeply interested in the future welfare of this organization, 1 will make an effort to say a few words in behalf of the Rocky Mountain Coal-Mining Institute, which we are about to organize. As 1 understand it, it is the object and intent of this organization not merely to assemble occasionally for the purpose of discussing various problems in coal-mining, and thus to obtain the best possible results in economic operations, but its especial duty will be to devise ways and means whereby accidents in coal mines will be minimized. Figuratively speaking. we are about to plant a tree in the State House of Colorado, and desire its roots and branches to extend over Wyoming on the north, New Mexico on the south. and Utah on the west. So we expect this tree to bear fruit over a vast area. We must remember that the planting of a tree, even in good soil, is useless unless we cultivate, prune, and nurture its development. If we will not do so, the tree will not bear the desired fruit. So, in order to make the Rocky Mountain Institute a success, we must not only start it off in good shape, but we must keep on adding to its strength in various ways, so that it will become a known factor and a recognized power over this broad territory. In other coal-mining states and countries of the world much has been accomplished through similar organizations to reduce loss of life among men engaged in the production of coal, and there is no reason why our institute in the West should not be equally useful and attain the same results. There are many ways by which this organization can be made beneficial to the men engaged, in various capacities, in handling the "dusky diamond." I will endeavor to confine my brief remarks to the necessity of a crusade of an educational nature among three classes of men that are directly and indirectly connected with coal mines. First-We need to educate ouselves. It is amazing how few of our number, holding positions of trust, and having charge of men in and around coal mines, are conversant with our brief mining laws and cognizant of our duties in enforcing them. Going down the line to our company men and miners, I think 1 can safely say that not over 5 per cent of them are in any way familiar with the statutes that have been enacted for their especial benefit and protection. This condition, 1 think, can be, and ought to be, remedied, and. if thoroughly done, the effect in reducing loss of life will soon become apparent. Now, to reach the officers or men in charge I consider an easy matter, which could be accomplished in this manner: Have our general managers or owners of coal properties issue a circular, compelling every superintendent pit boss, fire boss, or other officer having charge of men, to send them a copy of the mining law in their own handwriting every six months. But to come to the masses engaged in coal-mining. to get these men of various nationalities educated in the mining law, will be a difficult task indeed; but I think I have an original scheme that is practical, and which, if put in operation, would work wonders in educating our company men and miners. This plan is as follows: Have every school in every coal-mining district devote one-half hour on Friday afternoon after school hours to the familiarizing of all male pupils between the ages of twelve and sixteen years with the contents of our laws governing coal mines. At the end of each term of school, award small prizes- say, $5, $3, and $2- to those that are best posted, the principal of the school to be the sole adjudicator. Now, someone may say that this is causing extra work to our teachers, with no compensation. In this respect, I will vouch that 95 percent of our teachers will do this work gratis, providing we can show them the benefit of the system. If we go a step farther, and put an incentive before our teachers, probably it would be a good scheme to award a prize-say, $20 or more-for the best set of practical amendments to our mining laws complied by any school and its teachers, judges of the amendment to be members of this Institute and appointed by the President. There is no denying the fact that we need to be educated, and that we should adopt some system that will encourage a knowledge of practical and scientific mining amoung our present forces and the rising generation. Newspaper Men Need Educating Second-Our reporters and press agents need to