Neimme-Jba-6
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NEIMME-JBA-6 NEIMME-JBA-6-1 29th December 1893 Letter from J.B. Atkinson, Glasgow, to the Right Honourable H.H. Asquith, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, Whitehall, informing him of an accident to William Main, a miner at the Limefield no.33 Oil Shale mine owned by Young's Paraffin, Light and Mineral Oil Company for the information of Her Majesty's Inspector of Explosives. The 15 year old was injured on his left hand when a detonating cap exploded. The injured party had picked up the detonating cap which had been left by some miners who had prepared a shot which had missed fire. After the shot missed, the miners extracted the charge and replaced it with another without stemming the hole fixing it with another detonating cap, leaving the original near the place they kept their explosives. Noticing this, Mr. Main took the cap and proceeded to pick at it with a sharp instrument whereupon it exploded. NEIMME-JBA-6-2 29th December/30th December 1893 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to the Pumpherston Oil Company,Seafield Works, Bathgate, confirming their abandonment of the Houston coal at their Seafield Works. The second from J.B. Atkinson to James Thomson, miner, Falkirk, dated 30th December, confirming the receipt of Mr. Thomson's letter concerning his accident at Mannebrigg colliery but advising him that he cannot comment on how much compensation he believes would be appropriate and should consult a writer. NEIMME-JBA-6-3 December 1893 Plan for East Scotland mines signed by J.B. Atkinson confirming the (abandonment?) of the main coal seam at the No.4 pit at Haywood colliery; the Houston coal seam at the day mine at Seafield colliery; the Gas coal seam at the East day mine at Lochore colliery; the coal seams at the nos. 1 and 3 pits at Whiterigg colliery; the Splint coal seam in the pit at Ranyards Brick works and the Lochgelly Splint and Parrot coal seam at the pit at Saline colliery. NEIMME-JBA-6-4 December 1893 Plan for East Scotland mines signed by J.B. Atkinson confirming the (abandonment?) of the Gas coal seam at the no.9 pit at Haywood colliery; the Houston coal seam at the Seafield day mine; the coal seam at the Shieldhill brick (?) pit; the slatyband Houstons (sic) at the Staurigg pit; the oil shale seams at the Hermand oil shale mines and the Splint coal seam at the Drumbow colliery no.2 pit. NEIMME-JBA-6-5 December 1893 Plan for East Scotland containing statistics signed by J.B. Atkinson. NEIMME-JBA-6-6 December 1893 Plan for East Scotland containing statistics signed by J.B. Atkinson. NEIMME-JBA-6-7 31st December 1893/ 2nd January 1894 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to W.H. (Bill) Atkinson asking him for his opinion as to whether to include notes on three cases in his list of total accidents- a miner whose leg was broken on the 23rd February 1893 and died on 16th April due to congestion of the lungs, a 68 year old bottomer who went missing in a mine on the 14th November and wasn't found until 2nd December, with the post mortem suggesting that the deceased had heart disease and had gotlost, crawled into a low passage and died and a miner whose arm injury was considered slight but who died of pneumonia after leaving the hospital. The second from J.B. Atkinson, Glasgow, to H. Mungall, Cowdenbeath, promising to visit Cowdenbeath the next Friday concerning the case of (the death of?) Merryton Hunter. NEIMME-JBA-6-8 4th January 1894 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson, Glasgow, to the Right Honourable H.H. Asquith, Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State, Whitehall, returning a copy of the summaries for 1892 with a list of figures as to fatal accidents for 1893 filled in. The second from J.B. Atkinson to Burns, Aiken and company, Glasgow, proposing a visit by himself and Mr. Ronaldson to the company's office on the 8th January to discuss their proposed new Special Rules. NEIMME-JBA-6-9 4th January/5th January 1894 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to W.H. (Bill) Atkinson giving his opinion that an accident referred to in his enclosed papers should be included (in a list?) and that a staple(stable?) accident should be classed as 'in shafts'. The second from J.B. Atkinson to James Barrowman, Stoneacre, asking him if it is possible to renew a subscription to, and send on copies that have not arrived, of the Transactions to Gavin R. Green of the Freemans Coal company at Abbotsford colliery near Dunedin in New Zealand. Mr. Atkinson explains that Mr. Green has sent him a letter that promises to send his new subscription on receipt of the missing parts and also expresses his desire to become a Federated member, and that he does not think that they should be unduly harsh to their 'distant' members for late payments, etc. NEIMME-JBA-6-10 5th January 1894 Letter from J.B. Atkinson, Glasgow, to the Right Honourable H.H. Asquith, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State,Whitehall, asking for permission to begin proceedings against Alexander Rigg, the manager of Mannebrigg colliery for failing to fence off the entrance to the Mill Coal seam of the no.1 pit at the colliery on the 13th November 1893 and therefore breaching General Rule 10, Section 49 of the Coal Mines Regulation act 1887. The failure to do so led to the injury of the roadsman James Thomson who fell down the pit. NEIMME-JBA-6-11 5th January 1894 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to Mr. Ronaldson, Mining Inspector, confirming that he has sent on a copy of the Rules without modifications to Burns, Aiken and Co. bar the eliminating of the word 'possible' in the first rule which he thought had been agreed (see NEIMME-JBA-6-8, 2nd letter). He also apologises for missing a golf game due to the weather. The second from J.B. Atkinson to Burns, Aiken and company,Glasgow, enclosing a copy of the New Special Rules with modifications made to meet certain objections and now submitted for the consideration of the Coalmasters Committee by himself and Mr. Ronaldson (see above letter, etc.) NEIMME-JBA-6-12 6th January 1894 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to J.T. Clifford of the Law Accident company,etc. disagreeing with some of the terms proposed in answer to his proposal to insure against accidents with the company. Mr. Atkinson suggests that Mr. Clifford's idea that mining inspectors add any extra risk which would require an extra premium or lessening of the payments to be made cannot be proved. The second from J.B. Atkinson to R.M. Morton of Fordell colliery,Fife, confirming that the company has begun to work a small area of coal in the Lochgelly Splint and five feet seam of coal in their no.4 pit. NEIMME-JBA-6-13 6th January 1894(/6th February?) Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to A.D. Lindsay, procurator fiscal, Airdrie, enclosing a report by Mr. Johnstone on the no.5 pit at Knownoblehill colliery and suggesting the manager Mr. Dick is guilty of working the pit in contravention of Section 16 of the Coal Mines act. He asks Mr. Lindsay to take the necessary steps to bring the matter to the attention of the Sheriff, since he has obtained consent from the Home Secretary to begin proceedings against the manager. The second from J.B. Atkinson to R. Martin of Niddrie collieries,Portobello,confirming the appointment of James Dunn as the under-manager of the no.11 pit at the colliery in place of David Archibald. NEIMME-JBA-6-14 6th January/8th January 1894 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to R.M. Morton of Fordell colliery,Fife, confirming that the winding of the coal in the Lady Ann Pit shaft at the colliery has been discontinued for the time being. The second from J.B. Atkinson to J.B. Dalyell,Hamilton, dated 8th January, asking to meet with Mr. Dalyell at Hamilton on the 10th January to travel to Auchenheath and discuss his proposed exemptions for the no.1 and 2 pits at Gairdwood. NEIMME-JBA- 6-15 6th January/8th January 1894 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to the Bellsdyke Coal company, Airdrie, confirming that the company has ceased to work the Lower Drumgray seam in their no.4 pit. The second from J.B. Atkinson to Gavin R. Green, Abbotsford colliery, Fife, assuring him that he will receive the Transactions he has asked for, and suggesting that it is a good idea to become a federated member (see NEIMME- JBA-6-9, 2nd letter) NEIMME-JBA-6-16/17/18/19 6th January 1894 Letter from J.B. Atkinson, Glasgow, to the Right Honourable H.H. Asquith, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State,Whitehall, confirming his receipt of a memorandum connected with the regulation of coal mines and a copy of a proposed bill amending the Coal Mines Regulation act 1887. He goes on to make various comments on the proposed amendments: suggesting among other things that the interference of a mine owner in the choice of a checkweigher should be made illegal as it will undermine the confidence of the miners; laws concerning safety lamps should be stricter; timber should be provided by owners in working places, with the various alternatives provided being struck out; guides should not be made compulsory in sinking pits; abandoned shafts should be filled up wherever possible; no more restriction of gunpowder is needed in his district; mineral oil should be available to use in mines but should not be stored in them; the position of under-manager should be abolished or made clearer as to its duties; a checkweigher should not interfere with any aspect of mining other than his duties allow; the keeping of books would be made almost impossible in some mines due to the damp and the placing of refuge holes should not be as prolific as suggested in the amendment.