. JOHN WALTER SMITH, ESQ., GOVERNOR.

163

foreman of any coal mine to employ more than twenty per--
cons within said coal mine, or permit more than twenty
persons to be employed therein at any one time, unless they

CHAP. 124.

Number of
persons
employed.

are in communication with at least two available openings to
the surface from each seam or stratum of coal worked in such
mine exclusive of the furnace upcast; but provided, that in
any mine operated by a shaft or slope and ventilated by fan,
if the air shaft shall be divided into two compartments, one
of them, may be used for an airway and the other for the pur-
pose of egress and ingress from and into said mine by the
persons therein employed, and the same shall be considered a
compliance with the provisions of this section hereinbefore set
forth. And there shall be cut out or around the side of every
hoisting shaft, or driven through the solid strata at the bottom
thereof, a traveling way not less than tive feet high and three
feet wide, to enable persons to pass the shaft in going from
one side of it to the other without passing over or under the
cage or other hoisting apparatus. The Mine Inspector may,
upon application, if he deem it necessary, grant a period of
time not exceeding eighteen months in which the operator
shall provide the second opening, under such terms as the
inspector shall prescribe, and the second opening required may
be through an adjoining mine if the way thereto and the
opening itself be kept and maintained in proper condition.
Section 209 B of Article 1 and Section 164 A of Article 12.

To have two
openings.

The shaft or outlet, other than the main shaft or outlet, shall
be separated from the main outlet and from the furnace shaft
by a natural strata at all points by a distance of not less than
one hundred and fifty feet (except in all mines opened prior to
June 30, 1901, where such distance may be less, if, in the
judgment of the inspector one hundred and fifty feet is im-
practicable). If the mine be worked by drift two openings,
exclusive of the furnace upcast shaft, and not less than thirty
feet apart shall be required. Where the two openings shall
not have been provided as required hereinbefore by this Act,
the Mine Inspector shall cause the seoond to be made without
delay; and in no case shall furnace ventilation be used where
there is only one opening into the mine.

PASSAGES REQUIRED.
Section 209 o of Article 1 and Section 164 B of Article 12.

Shaft to be
separated
from main,
outlet, etc.

Unless the Mine Inspector shall deem it impracticable, all
mines shall have at least two entries or other passageways, one
of which shall lead from the main entrance and the other from
the other opening into the body of the mine, and said two
passageways shall be kept well drained and in a safe condition
for persons to travel therein throughout the whole length, so

Passages
Required.