THE COAL MINES REGULATION ACT, 1872, 35 and 36 Vict., c. 76. INTRODUCTION, AND DIGEST OF THE ACT. c. 76. AFTER having occupied the attention of the Legislature for several Sessions, and having excited deep and extensive interest, the question of the future regulation of mines in Great Britain and Ireland has received a definite solution by the passing of the Coal Mines 35 & 36 Vict. Regulation Act, 1872, and of the Metalliferous 35 & 36 Vict. Mines Regulation Act, which follows it c. 77. in order in the Statute Book. These two Statutes, taken together, repeal the previous Repeal of forenactments for the regulation of mines, so that we must look to them alone, after they have once come into operation, for the law upon the subject. mer Acts. It is with the former of these Acts that we Coal Mines propose to deal in the present volume. It Act, 1872. B Act, 1872. Coal Mines applies to the whole of Great Britain and Ireland, the latter country being for the first time brought under such regulation. It embraces within its authority, mines of coal, mines of stratified ironstone, mines of shale, and mines of fire clay; the two latter of which have not hitherto been the objects of statutory interposition. Should there be a doubt under which of the statutes any particular mine is comprehended, the Secretary of State has power to decide the question. See Home lar, Nov. 28, pendix. The question as to the particular mines comprehended within the two Acts we have mentioned has already been the subject of consideration both by H. M. Inspectors and the Home Secretary, and the following conclusions have been arrived at: That the Coal Mines Regulation Act comprises 1. Ball ironstone in stratified measures. 3. The hematites, as in the Churnet Valley. 4. All ores worked in connection with coal. Whilst the ordinary hæmatite mines of Cumberland, Lancashire, Scotland, Forest of Dean, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, &c., which occasionally assume a partially stratified form as at Cleator, &c., fall under the Metalliferous Mines Regulation Act. Also that all workings below ground are mines, but that quarries which are worked by baring or removing the cover are not mines. So large a proportion of the enterprise of the |