LANCASHIRE, CHESHIBE, AND NORTH WALES. 75 



they are worked simultaneously with the levels. The latter 

 practice, however, almost invariably leads to a sacrifice of 

 pillars ; and it is worthy of remark, that during the past year 

 the great explosions of firedamp in the Ince Hall coal and 

 cannel works,* and Bent Grange collieries, both took place 

 in mines worked upon this plan. 



The ventilating powers used in the district are of great 

 variety, comprising furnaces in the pit, and on the surface ; 

 chimneys connected with engine and other fires on the sur- 

 face; boiler fires in the pits; steam jets, and discharged 

 steam from surface and underground engines ; waterfalls, and 

 water jets ; air pumps ; and fans, worked by hand and steam 

 engine. Whilst in a large number of instances, especially in 

 cold weather, ventilation is carried on without artificial 

 power. 



The steepness of the seams in many of the mines of this 

 district, especially of Lancashire and Cheshire, and the ex- 

 tent to which underground machinery is necessarily applied, 

 render the working of the mines more than usually danger- 

 ous. The return of colliery accidents for this district for the 

 years 1851, 1852, and 1853, show an average of 145 acci- 

 dents, attended with the loss of 215§ lives per annum. 

 This, at the rate of 38,000 persons employed, as ascertained 

 for the intermediate year 1852, gives an average annual loss 

 of S-Aftr lives per thousand persons employed. A sacrifice 

 which cannot be considered otherwise than exceedingly 

 alarming. 



In the Belgian coal mines, which in point of danger as 

 regards steepness and firedamp, more closely resemble those 

 of this district than other parts of Great Britain, the loss of 

 life by accidents during the 5 years ending 1849 averaged 

 only 3-riiV per thousand. And even in the years 1851 and 

 1852, when accidents were more rife, it only amounted to 



* Since this was written another grcnt explosion Ims takfii plarc in the same 

 pit at this colliery. 



