Sanatory inquiry - towns in Scotland : report on the sanatory condition and general economy of the town of Tranent, and the neighbouring district in Haddingtonshire / made to the Poor Law Commissioners by S. Scott Alison.

  • Alison, Somerville Scott, 1813-1877.
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sanatory inquiry - towns in Scotland : report on the sanatory condition and general economy of the town of Tranent, and the neighbouring district in Haddingtonshire / made to the Poor Law Commissioners by S. Scott Alison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    that a candle would sometimes not burn where and when they were working?; and they thought it possible that some means might he devised in the way of more thorough ventilation ibr the abatement of the evil. The employer of tiiese people is a most kind and liberal gentleman, and is most desirous of promoting the welfare of his workmen. Perhaps it would be possible to devise some measures for the abate- ment of this evil. exchiaur ^'^^ would be very desirable that some provision were made for exclud- stone-ciaft, 'nS.stone and coal dust from the lungs of miners. I think such a pro- Sic, from the vision might be obtained. Were that object effected much health and lungs. many lives would be preserved. coiuexies^ i° Accidents happening among the workpeople in collieries around lenes. Xranent are a fruitful source of distress and privation in that neighbour- hood. A week seldom ])asses without some serious accident occurring in one or other of the collieries, and several persons are killed or die in consequence of accidents every year. These accidents arise from the falling in of the roof, the sudden and unexpected fall of coal before the collier has time to draw back,sand the rending of ropes. I feel this to be an important subject, but one on which 1 will not at present say much. I think all serious accidents occurring in collieries and other great works should be inquired into. Where life is lost a thorough investiga- tion should take place, and when parties are in fault they should be exposed and punished according to the magnitude -of the offence, or carelessness, or inefficiency of apparatus. There are no coroners in Scotland, but there ought to be, as in Eng- land and Ireland, to inquire into all cases of violent, deaths. Besides this, I think it would be well, and only what is due to the pro- tection of the people engaged in such works, that all collieries should be in.spected occasionally by persons appointed by Government, and their condition as to efficiency and other respects duly reported. I am pretty sure about fifty people under my care, and connected with col- lieries, have lost their lives in consequence of accidents occurring in these works around Tranent, and I do not remember of an investigation having been made by the sheriff in more than one instance. Practice of There exists a common practice of employing children at tender years chiuir^nm ^'^^ coUieries around Tranent. They are sent down the pit as soon collieries. they are able for any considerable exertion. Many are employed at ihe age of seven and eight, and 1 dare say there are some younger. They, for the most part, assist the parents: sometimes they are let to strangers, who, of course, will make the most of them. They are em- ployed for can-} ing the coals which the adult hews out. In that instance, I believe, they are called bearers. They likewise shove the waggon loaded with coal from the place where the adult is working to the bottom of tiie shaft, and return it when emptied ; and I believe they are then called putters.'' These children work, I believe, for ten and iwelve hours at a time. Some work during day, some at night, accord- ing as they belong lo the day or the night shift. The education of these children is sadly neglected. Their growth and health are much injured, and many die inconsequence before arriv- ing at manhood. Children to a collier, when above the years of infancy, prove no burden: they are, on the contrary, the source of profit. It often happens that a few young children support their parents, who are too dissipated and lazy to work; and it is quite common for these children, by their exertions, to prove the sole support of parents who iire unable to work, in consequence ol disease and bodily injuries; and thus it appears that tliese poor and unfortunate children, by dint of exertions beyond their strength, and which sendtliem to an early t-rave, afford that relief which should be granted by the powerful and affluent of the land—administer that succour v\hich the rich withhold.