the Secretary of State in his office; and said Chief Inspector shall give bond in the penal sum of five thousand dollars, with surety, to be approved by the Governor, for the faithful discharge of his official duties. Said Chief Inspector shall be liable to dismissal for wilful neglect of duty, or misconduct or malfeasance in office.

Said Chief Inspector shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office, among which shall be the supervision of the training of miners in "mine rescue" methods and, to such extent as his other duties will permit, the dissemination of information among miners concerning mining methods and mine accidents and their prevention. While holding office he shall not act as agent or as a manager or as mining engineer for, or be interested financially in operating, any coal mine; but he may, in his discretion, comply with requests for advice as to appropriate methods for mining the respective coal beds in Kentucky, provided such requests do not interfere with the performance of his duties and he does not receive pay for such advice.

The office of the State Department of Mines shall be in Frankfort, where adequate offices shall be furnished him, unless the Governor shall deem it more advantageous for it to be elsewhere, in which event the Governor is hereby authorized to name such place as to him may appear appropriate; but there shall be no allowance for office rent should the office be located elsewhere than in Frankfort. The offices of the respective assistant inspectors shall be at such place within their districts as the Chief Inspector may designate, and they shall be allowed of fice rent not to exceed fifteen dollars a month, in the discretion of the Governor.

salary of three thousand dollars, payable monthly, as other salaries are paid and he shall likewise be allowed and paid his necessary traveling and other expenses incurred on account of and when engaged in the discharge of his official duties, and he shall be allowed not to exceed twelve hundred dollars per annum for clerical assistance, in the discretion of the Governor.

$ 3. Whereas the number of coal mines in Kentucky now exceeds seven hundred, having more than doubled within the last two years, and is still rapidly increasing, rendering it physically impossible for the present inspection force of the State Department of Mines to inspect all the mines as often as proper care for the safety and health of the persons employed therein requires or the law sets forth, the Governor of this Commonwealth is hereby authorized and dirceted to appoint three additional assistant inspectors of mines, who shall hold office for four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The appointment of these as well as the appointment of all assistant inspectors shall be made by the Governor, and each such inspector herein appointed and those hereafter appointed shall hold office for four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. All said assistant inspectors shall have a thorough knowledge of the different systems and working and ventilating coal mines and of the nature and properties of mine gases, especially explosive gases and coal dust, and shall have a thorough and practical knowledge of mining gained by at least five years of experience at and in coal mines at least three years of which must have been in the mines. Said assistant inspectors, before entering upon the discharge of their official duties, shall be sworn to discharge those duties faith

fully and impartially and to the best of their skill and ability, which oath shall be certified by the officer administering it and said certificate shall be filed with the Secretary of State in his office, and each of said assistants shall give bond in the penal sum of two thousand dollars, with surety to be approved by the Governor, for the faithful discharge of his official duties. Each of said assistants shall give his entire time and attention, to the duties of his office, which shall consist of the inspection of coal mines, and of aiding under the direction of the Chief Inspector of Mines, in carrying out and enforcing the provisions of the laws relating to the inspection of such mines; also of training crews of miners, at the mines within their respective districts, in "mine rescue" methods and in methods of dealing with mine fires; also of taking charge of mine rescue and recovery work when mine explosions or mine fires occur within their respective districts, in the event the Chief Inspector should not be present; also to assist in such work in other districts when so directed by the Chief Inspector; also to reopen mines or portions of mines that have been sealed on the account of the presence of fire, when called upon by the owner or operator so to do; and to perform such other duties as are set forth in the mining laws.

Each assistant inspector shall receive an annual salary of eighteen hundred dollars, payable monthly, and shall likewise be allowed and paid his necessary traveling and other expenses incurred on account of and when engaged in the discharge of his official duties.

$ 4. The Chief Inspector of Mines is hereby authorized and directed to partition the coal fields of the State into divisions which shall be known as mine rescue divisions, of which there shall be not

to exceed two in the western coal field and not to exceed three in the eastern coal field. In each division there shall be a station, the location of which shall be determined by the Chief Inspector of Mines subject to approval by the Governor, at which station shall be kept apparatus, appliances, and supplies for use in the work of rescue and relief upon the occurrence of explosions or mine fires, and for the training of miners in such work.

The Chief Inspector of Mines is hereby directed to provide each station, as it shall be located, and himself with such apparatus, appliances and supplies as may be necessary and he shall designate one of his assistant inspector of mines to have charge of each station.

For the purchase of such rescue apparatus and appliance, there is hereby appropriated a sum not to exceed forty-five hundred dollars. The supplies of oxygen and of necessary chemical for the apparatus shall be purchased by the Chief Inspector of Mines as need from time to time and paid for as other expenses are paid, on the order of said Chief Inspector approved by the Governor; and so shall the cost of any repairs that may become necessary from time to time be paid.

§ 5. All Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

Approved March 26, 1918.

CHAPTER 26.

AN ACT relating to the maintenance of inter-county seat State aid roads.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

§ 1. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Public Roads to determine the standard up to which

inter-county seat roads constructed with State aid shall be maintained by the counties. Said Commis sioner of Public Roads shall make and promulgate such rules and regulations as may fully advise the county as to the requirements of said Commissioner. When any county in the State makes application for State aid it shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Public Roads to forthwith ascertain whether intercounty seat roads previously constructed with State aid have been maintained up to the standard so prescribed, and if he finds that said roads are not properly maintained by the counties he may specifically direct what work shall be done to said roads to bring them up to his requirements, and if the county fails to comply with his specific directions such county so failing shall not be entitled to receive State aid except as provided in section 2, until such time as his requirement has been met.

§ 2. If any county shall fail and refuse to maintain such road when so constructed, the Commissioner of Public Roads may apportion to the county any State aid to which it may be entitled, an 1 may use any part or all of said sum for maintaining such roads and bringing them up to the standard so prescribed. After said roads have been brought up to the standard any balance of the State aid which has been apportioned to said county may be allowed it to construct State aid roads.

§ 3. All laws or parts of laws in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

Approved March 26, 1918.