Appropriations 1957 1958

General Funds ....................$92,826 $91,760
Special Funds ............................ 6,690 7,360

$99,516 $99,120

BUREAU OF MINES
Frank J. Powers, Director
City Building, Westernport Telephone: Westernport 4031

The first Mine Inspectors were appointed by the Governor in 1878
to serve in Allegany and Garrett counties. These inspectors func-
tioned independently, reporting only to the Governor, until 1916,
when they were placed within the Board of Labor and Statistics.
The inspection powers became a function of the Bureau of Mines
upon its organization in 1922 as a unit of the Department of Labor
and Statistics. When the Board of Natural Resources was organized
in 1941, the Bureau was transferred to the newly-created Department
of Geology, Mines, and Water Resources. The Director of the Bureau
is appointed by the Governor from a list of eligible persons certified
by the State Employment Commissioner. The Bureau of Mines
inspects all mines within the State for proper sanitation, ventilation,
and safety standards in all mining operations. All persons or cor-
porations engaging in open-pit or strip mining operations are re.
quired to register with the Bureau before starting operations and to
report periodically during such operations. Effective June 1, 1955, all
strip-mining operators must obtain a permit from the Bureau, pay a
filing fee of $200, and furnish bond at $100 per acre, said bond to be
released when acreage has been backfilled and meets with the
approval of the Director of the Bureau. The Bureau of Mines
examines all applicants for certificates of competency as mine fore-
men, assistant mine foremen, and fire bosses. It conducts classes in
mining operations throughout the western part of the State and
furnishes training in gas detection to men applying for first-class
certificates and fire boss certificates of competency. This work is
being done in cooperation with the United States Bureau of Mines
(Code 1951, Art. 66C, secs. 478-648R).

Mine Examining Board

Chairman: Frank J. Powers
Ellis Ellifritz, Miners; Arthur P. Hoffa, Sr., Operators

The Mine Examining Board consists of the Director of the Bureau
of Mines, who also acts as Chairman of the Board, and two persons
appointed by the Governor, one representing the miners and the
other the operators. Each appointee serves until his successor is
appointed and qualifies. The Board examines applicants for the rat.
ing of first-class mine foreman and fire-boss and issues "certificates
of competency" to each successful applicant upon payment of the
stipulated fee. (Code 1951, Art. 66C, secs. 478-648R).

Appropriations 1957 1958

General Funds .................$48,021 $53,128
Staff: 7.