Illinois Compiled Statutes
225 ILCS 705/ - Coal Mining Act.
Article 17 - Crosscuts And Stoppings

(225 ILCS 705/Art. 17 heading)

(225 ILCS 705/17.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 1701)
Sec. 17.01.

(a) Away from the pillar for the mine bottom, crosscuts between
entries shall not be made more than 60 feet apart without permission of the
Mining Board. But such consent shall not be granted except in case of fault
or to experiment and test some new method or plan of mining coal.
(b) Any person desiring to test some new method or plan of mining coal
that proposes to drive entries without crosscuts must first inform the
Department of such desire. Thereupon the Department shall fix a date for
the investigation and hearing before the Mining Board of such methods and
plans and notify all parties interested of such date when the employer and
employees may be represented at such hearing.
(c) Any new method of mining during the experimental stage shall be
under the direct supervision of the Mining Board and by and through its
consent only.
(d) Should any new method of mining coal with crosscuts more than 60
feet apart be proven to be safe in the judgment of the Mining Board after
investigation, tests, and experimentation, the Mining Board shall be
empowered to declare such system or method as conventional at the mine
involved.

(Source: Laws 1957, p. 2413.)

(225 ILCS 705/17.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 1702)
Sec. 17.02.

When undercut or sheared, or undercut and sheared, the entry,
crosscut, and room-neck may be advanced concurrently, but not more than one
cutting shall be shot in the room-neck until the crosscut is finished.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/17.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 1703)
Sec. 17.03.

When not undercut or sheared, the entry and crosscut may be
advanced concurrently, but no room shall be opened in advance of the last
open crosscut; and after the entry has advanced 15 feet beyond the location
of a new crosscut, only one shot shall be fired in the entry to two in the
crosscut at the same shooting time.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/17.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 1704)
Sec. 17.04.

A crosscut, where practicable, shall be provided at or near the
face of each entry or room before the place is abandoned.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/17.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 1705)
Sec. 17.05.

In crosscuts connecting main and cross entry inlet and outlet
air courses, the permanent stoppings shall be erected of masonry, concrete,
or other incombustible material, and shall be erected within 600 feet of
the face of main and cross entries at all times. Temporary stoppings of
wood or other equally effective material shall be maintained, as nearly air
tight as possible, between the last permanent stopping and the cross cut
nearest the face in main and cross entries. In room and stub entries the
stoppings shall be built of wood or other equally effective material. All
stoppings shall be kept in good condition, so as to keep the air up to the
working faces.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/17.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 1706)
Sec. 17.06.

The first crosscut between all rooms off any entry shall not be
more than 60 feet from the rib of the entry. Additional room crosscuts
shall not be more than 60 feet apart.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)

(225 ILCS 705/17.07) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 1707)
Sec. 17.07.

If the conditions are such that in the judgment of the Mining
Board, expressed in writing, it is considered equally safe and more
advantageous to leave a blind pillar between not less than every three
rooms, the Mining Board may grant the authority to leave the pillar,
subject to review by the Mining Board on complaint of either interested
party.

(Source: Laws 1953, p. 701.)