accompanied by a guide furnished by such owner, lessee or agent.
This, however, shall not prohibit persons seeking employment at such
mine, or the duly authorized representatives of the employes, from
entering upon the property as may be necessary to make such
application to the proper authority or to transact business,
provided such persons do not enter the mine until given permission
to do so, and do not stand on the tracks, go near the machinery, or
other place of danger. (Penalty, Sec. 976.)



=GENERAL PROVISIONS.=


Sec. 965. [=Qualifications of miner.=] Each person desiring to work
by himself at mining or loading, shall first produce satisfactory
evidence, in writing, to the mine-foreman of the mine in which he is
employed, or to be employed, that he has worked at least nine months
with, under the direction of, or as a practical miner; provided,
however, if the mine in which such person is to be employed
generates explosive gas, or fire-damp, he shall have worked not less
than twelve months with, under the direction of, or as a practical
miner. Except as hereinafter provided, until a person has so
satisfied the mine-foreman of his competency, he shall not work, or
be permitted to work at mining or loading unless accompanied by a
competent miner.


[=Inexperienced miner.=] The provisions of this section shall not
prohibit a person not so qualified from working in a mine by