ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 725

SEC. 138. Whenever any place is being driven towards or
is in supposedly dangerous proximity to an abandoned mine
suspected of containing explosive gases or which may contain
a dangerous accumulation of water, bore holes shall be kept
not less than twelve feet in advance of the face and on the
sides of such working place, said side holes to be drilled
diagonally at intervals not exceeding eight feet. No places so
driven to tap water or gas shall be more than ten feet wide;
and no water or gas accumulation, nor any bore holes from
the surface, shall be tapped until all employees except those
engaged upon such work are out of the mine. Such work shall
be executed only under the immediate supervision of the mine
foreman. Provided, that coal shall not be mined within fifty
feet of any abandoned mine, suspected to be inundated with
water, until danger from such water has been removed by
driving a passageway to tap and drain it off; and Provided,
further, that barrier pillars standing in the vicinity of such
abandoned mine shall be in proportion of one foot of addi-
tional pillar thickness to each one and one-quarter feet of
water-head, if in the judgment of the district mine inspector
such thickness is necessary for the safety of persons and
property within the operating mine.

SEC. 139. Whenever clay veins, spars or faults are cut in
driving entries or other narrow work into solid coal, in gas-
eous mines, a bore hole shall be kept not less than three feet
in advance of the face or a like distance in advance of any
shot hole drilled for blasting.

CHAPTER. XX—Fire Protection.

SEC. 140. All underground storage, motor, pump and en-
gine rooms shall be constructed of incombustible material;
and it shall be the duty of every operator to provide and main-
tain some efficient means of fire protection approved by the
Bureau, at such points as the Bureau may prescribe. No
steam pipes shall be laid within any such mine, unless insu-
lated with approved material.

SEC. 141. No building shall hereafter be erected within
such distance of any ventilating fan, or entrance to or exit
from any main airway, shaft, slope or drift, excepting the
tipple and trestle thereto, as in the judgment of the Bureau
may constitute a fire hazard, unless the same be built of fire
proof material satisfactory to such Bureau; and at gaseous