Sec. 967. [=Examination of machinery, ventilating current, etc., by miner or owner.=] The miners employed in a mine may appoint two of their number to act as a committee to inspect, not oftener than once in every month, the mine and the machinery connected therewith, and to measure the ventilating current. If the owner, lessee or agent so desires, he may accompany such committee or appoint two or more persons for that purpose. The owner, lessee or agent shall afford every necessary facility for making such inspection and measurement, but the committee shall not in any way interrupt or impede the work in the mine at the time of such inspection and measurement. Within ten days after the inspection and measurement, such committee shall make a correct report thereof to the chief inspector of mines, on blanks furnished by him. (Sec. 906; Penalty, Sec. 976.) Sec. 968. [=Appropriation of land for mines, how made.=] The owner, lessee or agent of a coal mine, may, when such owner, lessee or agent does not own or control suitable surface ground for openings for the ingress and egress of persons employed therein, for the means of ventilation as provided for in this act, for the means of draining said mine as may best protect the lives and health of the persons employed therein, for the protection of the employes and property, for conducting the water from the mine to any natural water course, or for suitable roadway from any opening to a public highway, appropriate as hereinafter provided, for any one or more of such purposes any required intervening or adjoining lands, and make openings, lay pipe for conducting water, and maintain roadways into, upon, over, under or through same, provided that no land shall be appropriated for a roadway more than twenty feet in width, and no land for any other one of such purposes in excess of one-quarter of an acre. Such owner, lessee or agent, whether a corporation, firm or individual, shall be governed in proceedings to appropriate such land by the laws relating to the appropriation of private property by corporation; but no land shall be so appropriated unless the court is satisfied that suitable land cannot be obtained upon reasonable terms. Sec. 969. [=Examination and survey of mine by owner of land adjoining.=] Each person owning land adjoining a mine worked for the production of coal, and each person interested in such mine, who has reason to believe that the protection of his interests therein or in the coal on his adjoining land requires it, upon making affidavit to that effect before a justice of the peace or other proper officer, may enter such mine and have an examination or survey of it made, after giving three days' notice, in writing, to the owner, lessee or agent of such mine. Such examination shall be made at such time, and in such manner, as will least interfere with the working of the mine.