NEIMME-JBA-7 NEIMME-JBA-7-1/2 31st August 1895 Letter from J.B. Atkinson, receiver unknown, commenting on an accident that lead to the death of Andrew Brunton in a mine in the Shotts district. He argues with the contention of a Mr. Ewell that the accident could have been avoided had the provisions of the Coal Mines act been carried out or his further belief that all the collieries in that district had been worked in the same culpable and criminal manner as the pit in question. Mr. Atkinson continues by arguing that the accident was probably the result of a lack of checking of the workplace by a fireman before workmen began, although adds that the matter was complicated by the nature of the repair work being carried out. The Coal Mines act as it stands , he continues, does not enforce the checking of a place under General Rule 4 before it is to be repaired or brushed, a problem which Mr. Atkinson says he has frequently called attention to and has recently brought a prosecution touching on the subject. Regarding the case in question, he remarks that he has had some difficulty in convincing mine owners to inspect places prior to the miners ordinary shift beginning at 6 a.m. He adds that if the brushers came to work before this shift the inspection would not be necessary, but an inspection during the shift would still be necessary under General Rule 4(ii). He also adds that brushers might be appointed as inspectors, although adds that their position as contractors for getting minerals may rule them out under the Mines act. The miners themselves, he adds, are often expected to examine for themselves when repairing away from their normal workplace. He further argues with Mr. Ewell's contention that the case shows the necessity for more Inspectors of Mines, saying the problem lies more with lax mine owners than the incompetence of the Inspectors involved. He contends that in this case Inspectors cannot be expected to stop miners going down a pit on a Sunday night outside their normal work hours. To him the idea that Government Inspection of Mines is a farce is disproved by the evidence of greater safety in mines following the passing of the various Coal Mines acts, the death rate improving from 1 in every 233 men before the passing of the first act 5 years previously to 1 in 624 during the five years following. NEIMME-JBA-7-3 31st August 1895 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to H. Kindersley, Argyllshire, informing him that the most important part involved in receiving a certificate of competency as a manager or undermanager of a mine is proof that the person in question has five years practical experience in a mine. He encloses a form giving particulars of procedure for the benefit of Mr. Kindersley's friend. Mr. Atkinson adds that one of his brothers had worked for 3 years at a colliery 100 miles from Calcutta in India. The second from J.B. Atkinson to R. Chisholm Robertson, Glasgow, promising to enquire further into the question of weighing to a quarter cwts at Smithfield colliery. NEIMME-JBA-7-4 31st August 1895 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to the editor of the East of Fife Record, Fife, thanking him for the loan of a newspaper cutting containing a report by a Mr. Galloway on the Pittenween coalfield. He asks them to send him a copy of the report when it is published in pamphlet form and he promises to pay for the copy. The second from J.B. Atkinson to Turners Ltd, at Tarbrax collieries in Fife, confirming that they have started to draw coals from their first pit and are making an outlet to their second pit. NEIMME-JBA-7-5 31st August/1st September 1895 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to the Wemyss Coal Company, Fife, confirming the appointment of Hugh Meikle as the undermanager of Wemyss collieries. The second from J.B. Atkinson to John Weir, Dunfermline, dated 1st September, providing information from the annual return concerning persons employed by the Morrisonshaven pit in the Great and Jewell coal seams owned by the Prestongrange Coal and Firebrick Company. NEIMME-JBA-7-6 August 1895 Plan containing statistics. NEIMME-JBA-7-7 August 1895 Plan containing statistics (see overleaf) NEIMME-JBA-7-8 August 1895 Plan with nil written on it. NEIMME-JBA-7-9 August 1895 Plan with nil written on it, signed by J.B. Atkinson (see overleaf) NEIMME-JBA-7-10 2nd September 1895 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson, receiver unknown, professing his disagreement with the court as to the cause of an explosion, saying that there was insufficient evidence for their contention that the owners had not taken proper precautions with their boilers. His careful examination inclines him to agree with the opinion of the Board of Trade inspectors. The second from J.B. Atkinson, receiver unknown, giving his opinion that there is no reason to disallow the central pit or Sheriffyards colliery from exemption from the use of gunpowder in cartridges especially since it is situated between two other collieries that have been allowed the exemption and it is as free from fire-damp and coal dust as the other two. NEIMME-JBA-7-11 5th September/6th September 1895 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to the McCracken Brothers at Brownrigg Colliery, Airdrie, confirming their stopping of their pit at Brownrigg and their intention to sink a pit to the Kiltongue and Drumgray coals in the lands of Langdale. The second from J.B. Atkinson to W.C. Lynn at Bridgeness colliery in Boness, dated 6th September, promising to visit Grange colliery on the 9th September to see the area where the accident to a Mr. H. Dowdie occurred. NEIMME-JBA-7-12 7th September/9th September 1895 Three letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to John Hall, checkweigher, at the no. 1 pit at Shieldhill colliery, Falkirk, informing him that he can see no provision in the Mines act that would help the miners in their objection to coal lost in transit underground not being paid for. He adds that the miners would have to protect themselves in this matter. The second from J.B. Atkinson, receiver unknown, agreeing to the application for exemption from 2 shafts at the no.4 pit at Longlee colliery under section 18 (iii) (a) of the Coal Mines act, providing no more than 20 people are allowed to work underground in connection with the shaft at any one time, no fire is used for ventilation or any other purpose, the second shaft is completed as soon as possible and the exemption expires on the 31st December 1895. The third from J.B. Atkinson to A. C. Mackintosh, Austruther, dated 9th September, thanking him for sending a copy of the pamphlet about Pittenween Coalfield, enclosing a postal order to pay for it. (see NEIMME-JBA-7-4, 1st letter). NEIMME-JBA-7-13 7th September 1895 Letter from J.B. Atkinson, Glasgow, to the Right Honourable Sir M.W. Ridley, M.P., Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State, Whitehall, confirming receipt of Certificates of Appointment for himself and his two assistant inspectors, as required by Section 70 of the Factory and Workshops act of 1878 and supplied to all Inspectors under the Factory and Workshop act. NEIMME-JBA-7-14 10th September 1895 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to F.R. (Fred) Atkinson, informing him that he knows no-one likely to require boilers other than in those places he has already mentioned; that he thinks that the report into the Denny explosion will probably find that the accident was caused by gas fired from a lamp or light and exacerbated by coal dust, rather than a shot, adding that ammonites or some safety explosives should be used there; that the coal and oil trades in his area are fair, and should improve if the iron trade mends; that 'Fred's business will be subject to fluctuations and that his family are all well after three months in Fife. The second from J.B. Atkinson to William Donaldson at Auchinstilloch Gas Coal company, Glasgow, returning 4 tracings of the Auchinstilloch Colliery- the 3ft,4ft, 9ft and 6ft. seams. He advises Mr. Donaldson to immediately send them to the Home Secretary in the envelope he has also enclosed which will not need a stamp. NEIMME-JBA-7-15 10th September 1895 Two letters- The first from J.B. Atkinson to John Hall, checkweigher at the no.1 pit at Shieldhill colliery, Falkirk, reiterating his argument that he does not see any clause in the coal mines act which would allow him to act in the case of coal lost in transit underground (see NEIMME-JBA-7-12, 1st letter). He adds that wages are fixed in accordance with ordinary mining practice and includes the expected loss of some coal from the hutches, adding that he thinks the method regarding tareing of the hutches in use when Mr. McLaren visited him seems fair to him and that the tareing should not take place when the tares are completely clean or overly dirty. The second from J.B. Atkinson, receiver unknown, referring to the detaining of Mr. Johnstone on the 1st, 12th, 20th and 25th of August for approx. 2 and 3/4 hours,1 and a quarter,3 and 2 hours respectively.