Originally published in the Enumclaw Courier, February 19, 1909
Dave Botting was named Manager of Mines of the Pacific Coast Coal Company in 1922
OLYMPIA, Feb. 13. — Dave Botting, the state mine inspector, was here during the week in the interest of a number of protective measures he is seeking to have enacted into law.
One is to amend a law, which now permits boys of 14 or more to work underground, to make the minimum age 16 years.
Another is to require guide posts put up in all workings to indicate the way out for the benefit of new employees in case of accident.
Then he wants a law to compel the use of magnetic lock lamps instead of the key lock. The former cannot be opened and thus will prevent the injury from the igniting of explosive gases. He also wants the air tested in the mines every week and a permanent record kept, so blame may be placed if foul gases accumulate.
And finally he wants a commission of five to frame a new mining code. And he wants on this commission, not a bunch of lawyers or politicians, but one practical mine engineer, one mine operator, two underground mine workers and the state mine inspector.
Dave Botting was my grandfather and I know that he was passionate about mining safety. Orphaned as a young boy he had come to Black Diamond from the California mining are with a couple of younger siblings. As a teenager he worked in the mines to support his family and later became the State Mining Inspector. He never forgot the dangers of the mines and worked hard to improve conditions for miners.
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Great read! Had a vision beyond his era
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